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According to this article, 57% of businesses do not have a proper disaster recovery plan, I encourage you to start thinking about putting this on your to-do list for 2011.

Here are some interesting facts from our clients:

• 90% of our clients are backing their data up remotely, through some sort of automatic backup tool

• 98% of our clients are able to restore their computers entirely after a crash, regardless of PC type

Read the full article here: 57% SMBs Have No Disaster Recovery Plan (Informationweek)

It’s an unfortunate situation but it happens all too frequently in this unpredictable economy of ours – when budgets get tight, businesses will make cuts to their IT expenses. This can create a new set of problems if you are not maintaining the PC services, software and equipment for your business.

Read this article from Network World about how Deferring Your IT Maintenance Could Be a Ticking Time Bomb

As our Blue Steel customers already know, we provide weekly and monthly maintenance, after hours so we don’t disrupt the normal work day.

Don’t forget to visit our Facebook page and like us!

Technology is useful and for the folks who enjoy being efficient – like me. This article is a great summary of some of the items I talk to people about on a daily basis.  Of course, I have my own vendors that I trust and utilize, but the concepts are the same.

Read the full article from the New York Times: 10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Technology.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Still looking for the perfect gift? For the socially conscious geek, Discovery News has compiled a list of some cool yet geeky gifts that are also earth friendly:

• solar powered water bottle cap $20

• hand crank LED flashlight and USB Charger $14

• dissolving traveling toiletries $4/pack

For the full list, click here: 10 Eco-Geek Gifts for Under $30

As promised, with only 8 shopping days left until Christmas, here are some more geek-tastic gifts, reviewed by CNN’s Kristie Lu Stout:

Happy December everyone! The holiday season is underway and we want to help you when it comes to giving gifts that require some sort of technical knowledge.

Maybe you’re buying a Wii for your family, an Xbox 360 for your nephew who loves gaming or you want to buy Kinect but can’t remember which system it goes with!? It’s enough to make your head spin.

Thanks to Wired magazine, here is an extensive list of everything you need to know before buying a gaming console this holiday season.

For more tips on holiday gift giving – check out our recent post: Gifts for the Geek in Your Life

With only 32 days left to get your holiday shopping done, we’ve gathered some helpful links to find the perfect gift for the geek in your life:

• Holiday gift guide for the hungry geek (Geeks are Sexy)

• Perhaps they need a keyboard-silencing bag? (Geekologie)

• For the more traditional tech/gadget lovers in your life (Digital Trends)

• Head over to Think Geek for more smart & fun gifts!

Did you know that a recent study found computer keyboards in the office have more bacteria than toilets and bathroom door knobs?

If you eat lunch at your desk or make the unfortunate choice not to wash your hands thoroughly throughout the day, you are contributing to the problem!

Be sure to shake crumbs off your keyboard, wipe down the surfaces with a damp cloth and follow up with alcohol wipes, at least once a month.

You can also click here to read Dr. Oz’s tips on how to stay cold-free this winter.

Do you have an old PC that you need to discard? Holding onto an old piece of equipment because you aren’t sure what to do with it?

Here are 11 Uses for Old/Unwanted Computers, courtesy of Webestigate.com, including:

• Donating it to a local school

• Give it to a relative to use for a child

• Use it as a dedicated game server

For the entire article, click here – 11 Uses for an Old PC

If you would like to recycle your old and unwanted technology equipment, please contact Now IT Works for more information about e-cycling.

Don’t forget to turn your clocks back this weekend! Daylight Saving Time ends on November 7th and we will all get an extra hour added to our day. Don’t waste that time sleeping, instead head over to the Now IT Works Facebook page and become a fan! Be sure to follow us on Twitter too.

Did you know that every state observes DST except Arizona and Hawaii?

Have a great weekend everyone!