Tag Archives: Amazon

How Would You Use $100 Amazon Bucks? Join and WIN

Amazon-Gift-CardHave you been out to and joined the Average Guy Facebook page yet?  If yes, then great and thanks.  If no, then you are missing a great group of tech guys!  And now you can join and WIN!  How good is that?

Here’s the Story

The current group as of May 3, 2013 is at 140 members. When the group grows to 250 members, everyone in the group gets entered into a drawing for $100 gift card from Amazon for active members. Not a member, join today!

So how do can you help yourself win if you are already a member?  Tell your tech friends to join us there so we can reach our goal! Once the goal of 250 members is achieved, a name is picked.  It could be yours!

It’s that easy.  Sign up, tell a friend and WIN.  Don’t be #251!

Bonus Entry: Leave a comment below with what you would spend the extra hot $100 on and you will be added to the list one additional time!  Easy money!

Taking Advantage of Free Cloud Storage for 3-2-1 Backup (Updated)

Even Backup guys need to practice and plan for good backup strategies.  As a Microsoft Windows Home Server MVP and podcaster with the Home Server Show, you would think that of all people, I would have my backup plans documented well and in order.  Well, I do, kind of.  I have been running a bit loose lately and I thought it was time to tightening things up.

HPN40LAt home, I currently run a Windows Home Server (WHS) 2011 box with about 2TB of total storage space and 2 TB of storage to back those files up.  I also backup everything to a ioSafe Solo (an external hard drive that is fire and water proof) that has the most important 1 TB of my data backed up as well.  If there was ever a fire at my home, my data wouldn’t burn.

I will be moving my WHS and the data to the next version (Windows Server 2012 Essentials) some time in 2013 and I though now would be a good time get it all in the cloud for the migration.  Why the cloud?  First, I have been writing and updating a running post on Cloud Storage Options. Currently, cloud, or offsite data storage on someone else’s servers, is becoming more popular and inexpensive.  There are at lease 20 companies with some kind of offering.  You can get more details on it HERE.

The Average Guy’s Cloud Storage Know It Guyde

CloudStorageSurvivalGuideWith all the cloud and private cloud offerings that have come out recently, I thought it would be helpful to lay them out in some kind of matrix that I could update as things change.  Below is what I have seen to date.  If you know of one that I have missed to needs to be updated, please email podcast@theAverageGuy.tv and I will post the update.

Updated May 15, 2013 (added Copy.com)

Here are the costs of storing it in the cloud (Using a shared Excel Web App not doubt!)

 

Click on the Graphic for more info on each service:


copyCopy – 15 GB Free

Desktop App?  Windows, Mac OSX and Linux

Mobile Apps?  Apple iOS (iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) and Android

Where do your files reside? Local and in the Cloud

Can I share files? Yes

Max File Size?  No Limits

Helpful Links: https://www.copy.com/about/pr 

Comments:  From Barracuda Networks and focused on Business users.  Very strong referral program

Click this link to sign up and Jim scores free storage! https://copy.com?r=x7I9cx


 

Easily Store and Access Your Files

Amazon – 5 GB Free

A Review of The NEST Thermostat

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I was first introduced to the Nest as I was scrolling through my large list of RSS feeds in Google Reader in the fall of 2011.  Since then my interest has grown in the product.  The idea is perfect… take one of the items in your house, the thermostat and make it better. In the past the Nest was sold only through the website www.nest.com but on May 8th, 2012 the Nest became available at Lowes and more recently at the Apple stores and Amazon.com. It is always nice when a product comes to a local retail store so I can get some hands on experience and see the product in action even if it is only a demo.