Search found 209 matches

by blacktupelo
Fri Jul 17, 2020 6:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Best online cloud storage for large hard drive?
Replies: 17
Views: 1615

Re: Best online cloud backup for large hard drive?

I backup my iMac 2017 system with its 512GB SSD and an external drive using BackBlaze . It runs constantly and backs to BackBlaze' cloud file servers, accepting an unlimited volume of data from my system. I also use the B2 service from BackBlaze. It lets me create snapshots of specific folders at will. I keep a snapshot of all prior years of tax returns and associated files, a snapshot of my Photos library, and snapshots for any specific project, like the sale of our house earlier this year. Once the snapshot is created I can delete the original files & folders from the iMac's internal SSD. The cost of B2 storage is relatively lower cost. Just works. PS [7-21-2020] Backblaze has an optional 1 year retention of file updates or longer per...
by blacktupelo
Sun Jun 07, 2020 6:21 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Dad pulling retirements out of market. Advice Please!
Replies: 84
Views: 11701

Re: Dad pulling retirements out of market. Advice Please!

My spouse is 74 and I am 72. Our portfolio is 34% stocks and 66% bond funds (intermediate and short term). With Social Security for both of us, and three pensions the dividends from stock funds (wide asset allocation tilted to value and ~50% international) we are doing very well. Your father's fear is wise and indicates to me that his stock investments are too high.

We had that revelation in the 2007-2009 calamity but went to our current allocation as the market was recovering.

I support him moving to an allocation that lets him sleep at night and not have to react. I am sure there will be a virus #2 or a failed market.
by blacktupelo
Sat Aug 10, 2019 8:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Please Help Me Find a Travel Group for My 70-Year-Old Mom
Replies: 43
Views: 4399

Re: Please Help Me Find a Travel Group for My 70-Year-Old Mom

My wife and myself are your mother's age. Last year we started taking trips organized by Road Scholar.

They have trips in an extensive catalog covering North and Central America as well as destinations in Europe. Last September we went to Quebec for a week and this past Spring to Memphis.

Prices are reasonable.

We've also taken three shipboard trips by Lindblad: Alaska SE coast, Newfoundland and Baja California (to seek whales - We did see several).

Highly recommend both businesses.
by blacktupelo
Wed Apr 17, 2019 6:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: A week in Newfoundland, activites advise
Replies: 22
Views: 2698

Re: A week in Newfoundland, activites advise

The reconstructed Viking site at L'Anse Aux Meadows is definitely worth visiting. We were on a round the island boat so I can't comment on the roads outside of St. Johns.
by blacktupelo
Tue Apr 09, 2019 4:13 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Wood vs Laminate Flooring
Replies: 56
Views: 6155

Re: Wood vs Laminate Flooring

Our experience is with laminate put on the basement floor over old (80years) tiles. Traffic isn't great and the room looks much nicer. Wearing very well.

Also have a small 10x11 former open porch floor with laminate over the old tile. Oak look and going great.

Finally 10 years ago had laminate put over old linoleum in our kitchen and breakfast room. Lots of traffic, dirt. Wearing well with only one damaged spot after I dropped a heavy knife. When clean it looks very nice.

All three rooms used Quick Step laminate, three different surface patterns. We'd do it again.
by blacktupelo
Thu Aug 02, 2018 2:45 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Hiking vacation in November - any recomendations?
Replies: 35
Views: 5766

Re: Hiking vacation in November - any recomendations?

See http://www.ozarktrail.com . There are multiple segments of the Ozark Trail in Missouri that you would find enjoyable in November. Winter-like weather usually doesn't appear until late in the month. Some of the Missouri state parks offer cabins that are in proximity with the Trail.
by blacktupelo
Thu Apr 26, 2018 6:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How to be a good executor to family
Replies: 74
Views: 9600

Re: How to be a good executor to family

See https://www.lynda.com/Numbers-training- ... 262-0.html . Some public libraries have access to Lynda courses.
by blacktupelo
Mon Apr 16, 2018 2:15 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Trinity Study updated to 2018
Replies: 156
Views: 28443

Re: Trinity Study updated to 2018

FrugalInvestor wrote: Mon Apr 16, 2018 12:58 pm
retiredjg wrote: Sat Apr 14, 2018 8:45 am I'd love to read it, but can't open anything at Forbes. This has happened before. Anyone else having this problem? I'm using Safari 11.0.3
Using Chrome (a Chromebook to be more specific) and no problem opening.
Working for me with Safari 11.1 on macOS 10.13.4.
by blacktupelo
Sat Apr 07, 2018 4:22 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: What is your AA, given your age? and, Why?
Replies: 284
Views: 43545

Re: What is your AA, given your age? and, Why?

At 34/66, age 70. Market volatility teasing us and making it hard to get to desired 30/70 allocation. Only reason to take risk with stocks is inflation and longevity. 50/50 USA/International stock funds. Bonds in Vanguard short term index and intermediate term index bond funds.
by blacktupelo
Sun Aug 06, 2017 7:02 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Credit Card company email "Do you recognize this purchase?"
Replies: 27
Views: 4777

Re: Credit Card company email "Do you recognize this purchase?"

You are a good son. My father, now deceased at 92, was also set up by me to use a Mac and I did similar to what you describe. I had links in his macOS dock that connected to each of his banks, credit card, brokerage accounts, gas, electric, water, etc. I also put them on the Safari browser link bar. He also allowed me to use his online access info for these services so I could check the monthly statements. I also found it helpful for him and for me to use remote access software on my Mac ( TeamViewer ) that allowed me to watch what he was doing when he'd call to say things weren't work right. Saved him from frustrations and me from too frequent trips to his residence. Teamviewer is free for personal uses like this. I'm glad all worked out f...
by blacktupelo
Mon Jul 17, 2017 2:47 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Humid basement
Replies: 39
Views: 4504

Re: Humid basement

Our 79 year old two story house had a humid basement in the hot summers and running a dehumidifier took care of the situation.

A month ago we had improvements made to seal air infiltration points from our attic (also blew in lots of insulation) through two access points. The foundation sill in the exposed part of the basement was sealed with expanding foam.

The surprise in the basement afterwards has been that the dehumidifier hasn't run at all. The humid outside air just isn't being pulled in.

Check your situation in the basement.
by blacktupelo
Sun May 14, 2017 2:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Yellowstone Itinerary
Replies: 31
Views: 5866

Re: Yellowstone Itinerary

Visit the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman at the MSU campus. Dinosaurs (skeletons) and western art.
by blacktupelo
Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:20 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Larry Swedroe says "Goodbye."
Replies: 445
Views: 80218

Re: Larry Swedroe says "Goodby."

Larry, I believe you'll enjoy retirement once you've made the decision. I retired 20 years ago at 49 and don't regret my decision at all. The same year I changed from being an active trader to having an investment policy statement with Frank Armstrong's Investor Solutions. He's kept me on track now for two decades through a couple of shifts in asset allocation to our current 70% (bonds)/30% (stocks). Using DFA funds, Schwab and Vanguard funds and ETFs throughout for the asset classes in the portfolio. I didn't stop learning about investing and your books and commentary here and on other websites are the core of my continuing education. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. I enjoyed meeting you twice, once at a St. Louis County ...
by blacktupelo
Tue Oct 18, 2016 2:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Investment Buckets?
Replies: 12
Views: 2249

Re: Investment Buckets?

I think Frank Armstrong may have popularized the idea of buckets. At its' simplest is that for peace of mind in turbulent times that you should have a bucket of cash or cash-equivalents that you can draw from for your expenses for up to 5 years. It allows you to sleep at night during years like 2007-2008 without needing to sell securities that have fallen severely. You of course can adjust the number of years and the percentage of your expenses that the cash-bucket will cover. No need for separate account for the cash-bucket, you can just adjust cash, short-term bonds, CDs you hold in taxable accounts.

Frank explains in his article "The Growth Bucket and The Liquidity Bucket". I'm a client of his firm for 19 years.
by blacktupelo
Thu Jun 23, 2016 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: How Does a Password Manager Impact Day to Day (IOS and Mac)
Replies: 48
Views: 11411

Re: How Does a Password Manager Impact Day to Day (IOS and Mac)

I have recommended 1Password from Agilebits many times and continue to use it on Mac (10.11.5), iOS (iPhone, iPads). Recently changed to the Families version because it eliminates the need to have a copy of my vault in Dropbox or iCloud. Instead my vaults are now on 1Password's servers and I can use a Shared vault for items that I, my wife, and our power of attorney Personal Representatives can all access either with a client program on Mac, iOS or through a web browser. Since so much of our day to day activities are via web logins to accounts for banks, investing, health services, etc. it is essential to let others have access to our digital content. 1Password Families handles the need for us. The client programs are easy to use and have b...
by blacktupelo
Fri Jun 10, 2016 8:44 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone else long on Solar Sector?
Replies: 30
Views: 2597

Re: Anyone else long on Solar Sector?

Invest in solar energy industry only with play (aka 'can lose it all') money.

Remember the basic tenet that buying/selling individual stocks is a losers game because of the specific risk of one or even several companies or industries concentrates risk. You want to be diversifying risk as much as possible. Read Larry Swedroe, Bogle, etc. and they all agree.
by blacktupelo
Sat May 21, 2016 2:26 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Macbook Air - how to keep it running smoothly?
Replies: 18
Views: 3107

Re: Macbook Air - how to keep it running smoothly?

Just to add my 2 cents to BHUser27's note.

I do not use iCloud for Keychain; I do use 1Password on my iMac, iPad, iPhone, initially the client version synching via Dropbox and now with the Families version which keeps the item vaults in their cloud on Amazon servers.

I do use iCloud for Photos, Notes, Safari bookmarks, email, some Numbers and Pages documents. My photo masters are on my iMac and I take most recent photos with my iPhone. I find it really great to show photos to family and friends and have access to pictures going back to 1999 with my iPad or iPhone.
by blacktupelo
Sat May 21, 2016 1:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Macbook Air - how to keep it running smoothly?
Replies: 18
Views: 3107

Re: Macbook Air - how to keep it running smoothly?

BW1985, Yes appointments with an Apple Store Genius desk are free. If a repair is needed you may have to pay for the fix if you are not under warranty. My experience with MacBooks and other Macs is that you need to keep at least 10% free disk space so you can install OS updates and let the OS have sufficient space while running. Downloads are often a big culprit as are months or years of old emails and attached files accumulate. A program like DaisyDisk or plain old Finder deep diving into your Document folder and deleting old stuff you no longer need. Delete applications that you don't use. Archive photos that you don't need online. And empty the Trash - that is often ignored. Periodically shut down and restart your Mac; once a week or onc...
by blacktupelo
Mon Feb 15, 2016 12:35 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: should I give up on HP laptop - what next?
Replies: 40
Views: 4175

Re: should I give up on HP laptop - what next?

I had good experience with ordering and supporting Lenovo's business class laptops in a non-profit setting.

My recommendation is for Lenovo if you must use Windows OS. If not, my recommendation is for Apple Macbook Air or Macbook Pro depending upon your use cases.
by blacktupelo
Tue Jan 05, 2016 4:38 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Portfolio tracking software for Mac
Replies: 14
Views: 2421

Re: Portfolio tracking software for Mac

I'm using Quicken for Mac 2016. I had been using Quicken for Windows on my iMac via a VirtualBox virtual machine of Windows 7. QMac 2016 is slower than QWindows and QMac's reporting isn't yet as good. BUT, QMac 2016 removes the need for Windows virtual machine and it appears that Quicken will continue to improve the Mac version. I ran Windows 2013 in parallel with QMac 2015-2016 for a year and I will stop using the Windows version once I have been able to complete my 2015 tax returns to see if there is anything I need from QWindows that isn't in information obtainable from the Mac version. I also keep my outside accounts (Bank, Schwab accounts) in Vanguard's Consolidated view even though the performance/return tracking by Vanguard is only f...
by blacktupelo
Thu Dec 24, 2015 7:37 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: My husband left me for a younger woman - help me take control of my finances
Replies: 36
Views: 10899

Re: My husband left me for a younger woman - help me take control of my finances

Take a look at what high level of asset allocation you think you can stomach before committing to an initial allocation. Vanguard offers a simple and understandable view of nine allocations starting at 100% bonds and ending with 100% stocks.

Best wishes,
by blacktupelo
Sat Nov 21, 2015 4:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?
Replies: 11145
Views: 2084786

Re: What Movie Have You Recently Watched?

The Martian. Good rendition of the book and the Mars scenery was excellent. Pretty good science and engineering though I doubt that the Earth-Mars transport would provide as much room as shown for the crew. More space = more material = more fuel needed. Compare to what the ISS interior spaces look like for more realistic situation.

If China and the USA and Europe could cooperate Mars exploration might become a reality but right now Congress has decided NASA can't do any cooperation with China.
by blacktupelo
Sat Nov 21, 2015 2:34 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Partnering with Yodlee
Replies: 153
Views: 32732

Re: Vanguard Partnering with Yodlee

Hodor,

go to Balances & Holdings, then under Outside Accounts, Add Accounts.

It should show a list of common financial institutions or you can enter a name of a bank or investment firm.
by blacktupelo
Fri Nov 20, 2015 4:52 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Vanguard Partnering with Yodlee
Replies: 153
Views: 32732

Re: Vanguard Partnering with Yodlee

I use a Mac, OS X 10.11.1 and Safari browser. I couldn't access the Yodlee system to add back my external accounts. Turns out that Yodlee software did not like my use of the 1Password extension for Safari. Disabled that and it worked as did opening a private window (with 1Password extension still enabled). Seems to work ok now getting the outside account updated info except one account at Schwab shows the symbols for holdings but three others do not.
by blacktupelo
Wed Nov 18, 2015 8:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Are individual stocks really a bad idea?
Replies: 55
Views: 11419

Re: Are individual stocks really a bad idea?

Owning a few individual company stocks can be a great way to achieve growth of your investments. But it requires that you have picked a stock that soars and you won't know that in advance. Just because it's great now (e.g. Apple) doesn't mean it will be a great investment in one year, five years, ten, etc. Better to invest in the whole worldwide market of shares with a portion of your savings and put the rest in insured CDs, low cost bond funds to balance the risk of the stocks. In my 20's-40's I thought I could pick stocks and bought stock options. Luckily I didn't lose everything. Most of our investments were in stock mutual funds and we got 401K matching dollars from our employer plus invested in our IRAs when they became available. We a...
by blacktupelo
Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:41 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Well, we did it! Moved to Vanguard from Ameriprise
Replies: 6
Views: 1328

Re: Well, we did it! Moved to Vanguard from Ameriprise

Frank Armstrong's online book was where I got my start in understanding an asset allocation approach to investing and it is still a convenient and free way to read online or download the PDF. Explains the terms and shows a process that you can follow on your own. I also recommend the books by Larry Swedroe.
by blacktupelo
Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:46 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Shiller - How Scary Is the Bond Market?
Replies: 29
Views: 6029

Re: Shiller - How Scary Is the Bond Market?

Here's Larry's Swedroe'slatest thoughts on interest rates.
Consider ignoring all interest rate forecasts and build laddered portfolios with an average maturity typically of about four to five years. That maturity balances the two risks of maturity (inflation) and reinvestment.
by blacktupelo
Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:10 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Upgraded to OS X 10.10 Yosemite
Replies: 38
Views: 6823

Re: Upgraded to OS X 10.10 Yosemite

I took the usual cautious approach to a new system release and downloaded Yosemite and put the installer on a USB thumb drive (8GB), then installed it on my external testing disk. Download went smoothly as did the creation on the thumb drive. Booted from the thumb drive and installed 10.10.0 onto the test drive. No problems there either.

Was able to boot and login to Yosemite and basic stuff worked as expected.

I have a list of apps that need updating for Yosemite, so the next tasks are to round up those that can be updated before attempting to update my iMac system drive. Important apps like SuperDuper, 1Password5, Crashplan.
by blacktupelo
Sun Jun 01, 2014 11:02 am
Forum: Forum Issues and Administration
Topic: Printing with an iPad
Replies: 6
Views: 1471

Re: Printing with an iPad

I just printed this thread from my iPad Air running iOS 7.1.1 to a Brother USB printer via my iMac with Handyprint. No problems. Was using Safari browser.
by blacktupelo
Thu Oct 17, 2013 2:56 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quicken and Vanguard - Download Problem
Replies: 219
Views: 30742

Re: Quicken and Vanguard - Download Problem

Maybe we live in different multi-verses Doc ?
:confused
by blacktupelo
Thu Oct 17, 2013 12:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quicken and Vanguard - Download Problem
Replies: 219
Views: 30742

Re: Quicken and Vanguard - Download Problem

Vanguard web support replied to an email this morning telling me that the problems are fixed.

If direct connect transaction downloads still don't work for you, I suggest you call and let them know.
by blacktupelo
Wed Oct 16, 2013 11:48 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Quicken and Vanguard - Download Problem
Replies: 219
Views: 30742

Re: Quicken and Vanguard - Download Problem

Called Vanguard for fourth time since late September and web support said the 220 error is fixed. I tried it and it worked for me. They have not yet informed Intuit. I wrote Bill McNabb last week complaining about this fiasco. Communications from Vanguard about the problem was/is too little and as other posters have noted, best industry practice should have had Vanguard IT rolling back to the prior version of software that was working while they investigated what/why/how their changes were bad. At a minimum a notice of the issue and status should have been on the Personal web home page and updated frequently. Leaving customers with non-functioning connections for three weeks, esp. over an end of month period, is no way to treat owners. I to...
by blacktupelo
Mon Aug 12, 2013 4:25 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: MacBook Air with external monitor?
Replies: 8
Views: 2056

Re: MacBook Air with external monitor?

You can get Macbook Air displayport to VGA or to DVI or to HDMI adaptors (though many newer LCD monitors have display port) to allow you to have a larger primary or secondary screen to use with a Macbook Air. Get whatever size you want and can afford either Apple or other manufacturers.

See http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5019?view ... cale=en_US
by blacktupelo
Mon Jun 17, 2013 11:19 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: WiFi Router Recommendations?
Replies: 44
Views: 5472

Re: WiFi Router Recommendations?

I have the older generation Apple Airport Extreme Base Station and it is much better than the previous Linksys WRT54G, esp. when doing large file transfers from on computer to another - which would hang the Linksys, and wireless N speed is faster than G. The AEBS works well with Macs, Windows systems, iPads, iPod touch.

Also have a Airport Express old model which is also quite good but doesn't have the Ethernet jacks if you want to plug devices into the router. Used to use it to extend the range of the AEBS in my three floor house, but now it's serving as a wireless connection to a USB laser printer.

The newest AEBS is smaller footprint and is supposed to have even better range plus supports the new higher speed wireless stander.
by blacktupelo
Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:27 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Items stolen from baggage
Replies: 19
Views: 3175

Re: Items stolen from baggage

In 10.8, Time Machine allows you to do backups to encrypted disks. See http://support.apple.com/kb/PH11102?viewlocale=en_US.
by blacktupelo
Tue Jun 04, 2013 9:00 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Items stolen from baggage
Replies: 19
Views: 3175

Re: Items stolen from baggage

As a Mac user, if you are traveling with your Macbook I strongly recommend you use Mac OS X Filevault 2 capability to encrypt your whole internal disk drive. And learn Disk Utility or buy Knox from Agilebits to create encrypted disk images for the data you keep on external disks. Neither prevents thefts, but at least you private data won't be accessible by anyone other than you.
by blacktupelo
Fri May 24, 2013 7:50 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Attention Mac Users - Vanguard Policy on On-line fraud
Replies: 17
Views: 3421

Re: Attention Mac Users - Vanguard Policy on On-line fraud

I've run Mac OS X systems since 10.2; am currently running 10.8.3. Mac OS X is not immune to malware infection and if you use the Java web plug-in you are vulnerable to infections of malware through that channel. I keep Java turned off in my browsers. Keep the OS X firewall turned on also and use a router with NAT and use WPA2 security on the router. If you use a Macbook, beware public WiFi connections. Keep your system up to date with Apple security software updates. While I've not had an infection in the past 11 years, I do keep an installation of ClamXav up to date and periodically run it to scan my Home directory. Doesn't take too long and provides additional peace of mind. I think an investment in backups and password management are ev...
by blacktupelo
Wed May 15, 2013 8:24 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Two questions regarding online security
Replies: 12
Views: 1221

Re: Two questions regarding online security

Public WiFi access points are easy for thieves to access the network traffic. Unless you are using a VPN to have an encrypted connection, your internet transmissions are open. Stick to fun stuff on your tablet at the gym. You can buy a reasonably good laser printer for $100 or less either USB or wireless if you want to print at home. The suggestion of creating PDF and physically transporting it to Kinkos is a good one but it's possible they copy the file onto one of their computers before printing it. Ask them not to or use one of their computers and print from the USB device without copying it to the PC's disk. If you are sending a document to someone a PDF works great and you can password protect it before emailing it; send the password i...
by blacktupelo
Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:15 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment
Replies: 40
Views: 5058

Re: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment

letsgobobby,

All I track at the total portfolio level is the year to date and full prior year change in total net worth. So my percentages do take into account spending, taxes paid, gifts, dividends, interest, capital gains, NAV changes.

The 30% in stock funds had a time weighted return for 2012 of 15.45%.

The 70% in bonds, bond funds had a change for 2012 of 3.6% gain in total value, including interest/dividends paid.
by blacktupelo
Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:48 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment
Replies: 40
Views: 5058

Re: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment

And I ditto what Aptenodytes replied to you.
by blacktupelo
Thu Apr 18, 2013 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment
Replies: 40
Views: 5058

Re: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment

Doesn't match your time periods exactly but for the last 12 months since April 2012 our performance has been 5.8% with a 70/30 bonds to stock allocation, after taxes. Bonds are mostly intermediate duration, and our stocks are a widely diversified asset class mix.

For the whole year, 2012 our return was +6.8%, including overpayment of estimated taxes was refunded in April 2013.

For 2013 year to date through 4-17-2013 we are +2.8% from end of 2012 after taxes.

I'm satisfied with these returns and asset allocation.

What's your 401k asset allocation currently? What's the diversification of the assets? What do you think you 'should' be getting?
by blacktupelo
Sun Mar 31, 2013 11:50 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backup software
Replies: 20
Views: 1513

Re: Backup software

Can you backup (using Crashplan) to a network drive?
If you have another computer on your LAN you can use Crashplan to backup to that computer. From the Crashplan description of Multiple Destination Backup:
Back up one computer to another. By backing up to another computer you own (and that is nearby and connected via a network), your initial backup and restore time is much shorter than it would be backing up to a computer via the Internet.
by blacktupelo
Sun Mar 31, 2013 11:39 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Backup software
Replies: 20
Views: 1513

Re: Backup software

The free version of Crashplan will let you backup to an attached external disk. For offsite backup, the same software can backup to the Crashplan servers. I use Crashplan at work for individual Windows 7 PCs and Macs and it's also used to backup our Linux server to offsite servers.

I also use it to backup three home Macs to the Crashplan (Code42) servers. Reliable, low overhead software. Runs on Linux, Mac OS X, Windows 7.
by blacktupelo
Sun Mar 03, 2013 10:07 am
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iMac or PC (windows)
Replies: 46
Views: 4150

Re: iMac or PC (windows)

LadyGeek Quicken for Mac is not nearly as good as Quicken for Windows. I now use a Mac, but with Parallels to run Windows. ... Better - You have to learn how to use Parallels (more complex on the learning curve, additional overhead on top of the Mac OS) Faster - In theory, no. However, it's probably OK. Cheaper - Parallels is not free and you still need to purchase a Windows license (install disk) The OP will have to make this decision. Ask to see a demonstration of Parallels at the Apple store. I use Windows Quicken 2013 (prior to this version was running Quicken 2010) in a Windows 7 virtual machine but I use the free VirtualBox software from Oracle. It works, is updated with fixes for problems regularly and it is free (bought Win7 Home a...
by blacktupelo
Sat Mar 02, 2013 6:04 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iMac or PC (windows)
Replies: 46
Views: 4150

Re: iMac or PC (windows)

Note that if you are a fan of Chrome browser or Opera, they are also available on iPad. Safari is included from Apple and is customized for the iPad environment with targeted additional functionality.
by blacktupelo
Sat Mar 02, 2013 1:30 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: iMac or PC (windows)
Replies: 46
Views: 4150

Re: iMac or PC (windows)

If your email sending is limited you might find an iPad or competing tablet would fit your needs. iPad great for reading email, web browsing, keeping your calendar and sending short emails. Longish emails are OK if you have a bluetooth keyboard to use. Light weight and portable and the battery is better than a laptop Mac or Windows system. Windows 7 is pretty good OS but I still prefer Mac OS X; I use both. iPad is easiest to use once you learn the few basics. If you have wi-fi in your home it is best as you can buy the lower priced models without the cell data plan expense. If you only have wired ethernet then go for a refub Mac mini or Macbook Air or Macbook Pro and save 15% or more. Refurb iPads often too. Go to the Apple refurb store to...
by blacktupelo
Sun Feb 24, 2013 12:51 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Refurbished Mac Mini
Replies: 29
Views: 5416

Re: Refurbished Mac Mini

If you are buying a refurbished Mac mini from the Apple Refurb store, have no concerns. I"ve bought several iMacs from Apple and gotten good discount from retail price on these systems. They have the same warranty as a new system and I found nothing in them that indicated they were refurbished. In the latest system, it came with a 1TB disk when the website say it had a 500GB drive, so we got more than we expected. The seven Macs that I've bought or recommended that others buy for personal or business use have all been good systems and any small problems that developed were fixed under the warranty by Apple.
by blacktupelo
Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:02 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment
Replies: 40
Views: 5058

Re: 50 yrs old couple -please advise on my investment

Suming, Glad my post was of some help. Besides the reading recommendations, I'd also suggest looking these Vanguard web pages. They are succinct and very informative. Vanguard's " Investing Truth about risk: How Asset Mix Historically affected Volatility " to get an interactive view of the impact historically of different allocations to stocks, bonds, cash. And Vanguard's comparison portfolio allocation models (100% bonds, to 100% stocks) and the historical risk and returns for each (9 models shown). Going into 2007-2009 we were at a 60/40 (stocks/bonds+cash) and that episode drove home that we didn't really want to have so much risk now that we are retired. Now at 70/30 (bonds+cash/stocks) plus our retirement pensions and social ...
by blacktupelo
Fri Feb 15, 2013 8:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How to determine asset allocation
Replies: 12
Views: 1805

Re: How to determine asset allocation

Try Vanguard's "How Asset Mix Historically affected Volatility" to get an interactive view of the impact historically of different allocations to stocks, bonds, cash.

Then see Vanguard sample portfolio allocation models (100% bonds, to 100% stocks) and the historical risk and returns for each (9 models shown).