>> News You Can Use

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DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT...’TIL IT'S GONE!

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	Take a second to think about all the information you store on your computer. Ok...it may take more than a second. In fact, it may take all day and even then you will not have a complete inventory. Office work, research, addresses of friends and family, schoolwork, financial information, thousands of irreplaceable family photos--they all go on your computer. Not to mention the expensive software that runs the entire system! But what happens when your computer goes on strike...when it just stops working? Do you have a plan to recover the data you need to run your life? Better yet, do you have an up-to-date backup waiting in the wings for just such an emergency? Don't wait until it's too late. Put the following tips to work and you could save hundreds, even thousands of dollars...not to mention a major headache! Hold On to Those Disks. You know those disks that come with your computer...the ones with all the software on them...the ones you throw in a drawer and forget about? Well - don't. Even though software often comes preloaded and ready to use, those disks and serial numbers are priceless. Keep them in a safe, memorable place and you'll be able to easily reload your software after a crash. Rule of Thumb. Those little USB flash drives or "thumb drives" that you see everyone carrying around now are an ideal, inexpensive way to backup small files for short periods of time. Whether you're moving information from one computer to another or you want to make sure a critical company report doesn't get lost before the client presentation, these handy devices are well worth the small amount of money you'll spend for 4 GB of peace of mind. Don't Get Burned...Do the Burning Instead. Most computers come standard with CD/DVD burners. Contrary to television commercials, you can burn more than just song compilations. Make the most of this device by backing up your important data regularly. Most DVDs can hold 4.7 GB, or you can double the data with double layer DVDs (known as DVD DL) that can hold up to 8.5 GB! Take it Outside. To backup every last byte of data, add an external hard drive that operates independently of your computer. Products like Seagate's FreeAgent storage devices offer you a variety of options...as well as the ability to access your information even when you're not at home, so you can open a document or even view your family photos from out of town. Leave Home Without It. For the best level of protection, move data out of the house altogether. Storing your IT off-site protects it from fire, theft, and flooding. And it's not as expensive as you might think. In fact, you can get a ton of space free from services like Yahoo! and AOL. At that price, the only thing you have to lose is your data if you don't back it up! Once the Damage is Done. If you've already lost your data, you may actually be able to recover it...the cost, however, runs anywhere from the hundreds to the thousands. The best place to start may be the inexpensive options, such as SpinRite for Windows PCs and Alsoft's DiskWarrior for Macs--both of which retail for around $100 or less. Don't wait until the worst-case scenario happens--act now to protect your important data file.

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SO YOUR KIDS WANT THEIR FIRST CELL PHONE...

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	Is your elementary school child asking you for their first cell phone? Are they telling you that all of their friends have one? Well, as amazing as it may seem, market research confirms that many "tweens" (8- to 12-year-olds) actually do have their own cell phone. Whether or not it's time to cross that bridge in your own family, here are a few suggestions that may help guide your decision if you decide to purchase one. Emergency Use Only If you only want your child to have a cell phone for truly emergency purposes, you can actually save money by purchasing an old used phone or handing one of your own down. A charged phone, even without a service plan, is still capable of dialing 911. True, this does limit its use to real emergencies, but in some cases that may be enough. Big Brother? More like Big Mother Many cell phones now have the option of GPS tracking, and for a fairly small monthly fee, parents can now access and track a child's location either through their own cell phones or through the Internet. GPS location is typically accurate to within 25 feet or less and is fairly reliable--though it still relies on the phone being charged and turned on. Some of the options offered by various providers include whether or not your child is notified when you check their location, as well as the ability to set up a specific area--where you are notified by a text message when your child leaves that area. Limiting Factors Some cell phones that are targeted towards younger children are designed without the standard number pad to dial numbers; instead, they offer just a few large buttons labeled with pictures. These phones require that you program numbers to these autodial buttons, thereby limiting who your child can call. The downside to these types of cell phones is that older children will not want to use them, as they do look like toys. Phones to Consider For younger children, consider the TicTalk by Enforma or the Verizon Migo. Options for older children may include the Disney phones, which offer a variety of parental controls such as limiting the numbers that can be dialed in or out, as well as limiting the use of the phone to certain times of day or week. Older tweens may prefer the Disney Mobile, though many of the above features are also available through most of the major cell service providers. Good Luck and Don't Look Back Just remember, once you cross this bridge it will be hard to go back, with those pesky service contracts locking you in--sometimes for a couple of years. If you want to test the waters, some of the options for younger children do not have service contracts, but are based on prepaid calling cards instead