#LeapIntoIT Kindle Fire Giveaway
It’s that time again! Time for us to have some fun, and help one of our Upstate, SC friends get something cool to play with.
We’ve given away stuff before, like Trend Micro anti-virus, a wireless IP security camera, a Cisco Flip Mino HD video camera, Microsoft Office 2010, and even a Microsoft X-BOX 360, but this is likely the most exciting thing yet, or at least the 2nd most exciting!
We decided that since it is a Leap Year, we will help one person leap into the tablet computer revolution by giving them one of the hottest little tablets out… The Amazon Kindle Fire! It is far more than just an eBook Reader, it’s a smokin’ hot tablet too! So hot, it’s on FIRE! =)
Let’s call it the “Leap Into IT” giveaway! #LeapIntoIT
Who is eligible?
Anyone who can walk into the Homeland Secure IT office at 104 Mauldin Rd, STE E in Greenville, SC to retrieve the tablet in person. We will NOT SHIP IT. Also, you must not be prohibited by law from participating in any giveaway, and all that legal mumbo-jumbo. Let’s put an age restriction on it too. You must not be older than, no wait, you must be at least 18 to participate.
Employees of Homeland Secure IT cannot play this silly game because they would never get any work done.
Past winners of Homeland Secure IT giveaways ARE eligible (Andrea, James, Hal, etc)
How do you get involved in this?
There is NO purchase necessary, but there are some things that you will want to do…
- Pass through our initiation process – This is where you tattoo your forehead with the Homeland Secure IT logo. Okay, this is optional.
- Sign up to this blog by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON over in the right-hand column. You can receive the daily blog posts in email first thing in the morning this way. And you can opt out later (after the contest is over) when you get tired of my yammering…
- Sign up for our SUPER LOW traffic mailing lists HERE … We rarely send anything out, so you won’t be too annoyed. You can unsubscribe from either or both at anytime, AFTER the contest end date.
- Go to our home page at www.HomelandSecureIT.com and hit the Google +1 button & Facebook “like” while you are there.
- Go to our Google business places page and leave a review and rating (hopefully a good one)
- Go to Merchant Circle and leave a review/rating
- Go to Yelp and leave a review/rating
- Go to Yahoo! and leave a review/rating
- LIKE us on facebook HERE … Follow us on Twitter HERE …
Here is a list of ways to connect:
http://www.homelandsecureit.com/connect.html
If you connect in a different manner and you feel it is important, email me, or tag me in a post so I can see what you have done and count that as well!
In review, it is up to you to determine how much, or how little you wish to get involved. The more ways you connect, the more chances to get this darn Kindle Fire!
How is the selection made?
Good question! We lay out a grid, with your each name written in it in the parking lot, and we then shoot a gerbil straight into the air, and in whatever grid the gerbil falls into, that’s our winner.
Okay, (maybe) it isn’t like that at all. No, in fact it is not.
On February 29th, 2012, I’ll take every name/email address from our mailing lists, all the names of those who have reviewed us on Yelp, Google Places, Yahoo! & Merchant Circle, all the mentions on Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, all the Likes and Follows on Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In, all the Google Plus +1s, and dump them into a spread sheet. Next I go to www.Random.Org and put the number of lines in my spreadsheet as the max number and generate a random number.
Whoever matches that number in the spreadsheet is contacted.
If they are out of the area and cannot get it in person, another number will be selected and the process repeated until we have a winner!
So, with that said… Let’s do this! Leap Into IT!!!!
We believe Trend Micro’s Titanium Internet Security 2012 is the best anti-virus, anti-spyware & anti-spam package at any price, however one lucky person is going to get it from us at absolutely no cost this month!
Titanium Internet Security 2012 includes everything you would expect in an anti-virus package with a few extras…
- Blocks email and image spam
- Blocks and finds malicious links in emails and IMs
- Blocks downloads and access to malicious websites
- Fake AV cleaner – eliminates malware posing as antivirus software
- Protects from viruses, spyware, worms, trojans, botnets and rootkits
- Utilizes the Trend Micro Smart Protection Network to proactively stop threats before they reach you
- Prevents unauthorized changes to your applications
- Skinable interface (allows customizing Trend with a favorite photo or image)
- Windows Firewall Booster
- Protect your children – restrict internet content and set access schedule for your kids with Parental Controls
- Maximize your PC’s performance – System Tuner improves PC performance by cleaning up browser history, cookies, temporary files, registries and more
- Protect and defend your data from loss and theft with Data Theft Prevention to keep information like credit card numbers and passwords safe
- Secure Erase – shreds computer files with sensitive information to keep it from being easily recovered
- Includes SafeSync – secure online backup with sync, sharing and mobile access (2 GB cloud backup)
- Includes a copy of Trend Micro Smart Surfing for Mac
So how can you score such great anti-virus for yourself or your business? Homeland Secure IT is a partner with Trend Micro and recommends this product as well as sells it and installs it. The suggested retail price is only 49.99 for the first year, with renewals generally costing less. You can call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com for more information.
However, since this is the Thanksgiving season, and we want to give you our thanks for supporting us this year, we are going to give away one copy of this software, and maybe a couple copies if the interest is high enough.
We will draw on December 1st and announce the winner on our blog, Twitter, Facebook and Linked In.
You enter by subscribing to our mailing lists HERE, subscribe to this blog, LIKE us or link us on Facebook, Mention us on Twitter, or give us a Google Review, or otherwise connecting with us.
Here’s a list of how you can connect with us!
For every way you reach out to us, we count that as an entry. So if you join our mailing list, leave a review on Google, post a link on twitter and like us on Facebook, that is FOUR entries ! If you have already connected because you love us, or because you wanted to win something like the X-Box we gaveaway, don’t worry, you are STILL in our list and need do nothing.
The winner who is selected must be able to come pick up the item at our office in Greenville, SC. We will not ship it to you. If you do not want it, or you do not claim it within 7 days, we will pick another winner!
Good luck!
What is your objection to cloud based data backup? Here are some points to consider… #Symantec #Cloud #DisasterReadiness
Offsite, online, cloud backup for your business
Homeland Secure IT encourages the use of backup solutions to complete your disaster readiness plan. One of our recommendations is to implement remote, cloud based backup. Even if you have existing onsite backup, it gives you an extra layer of protection.
We partner with some of the biggest and most trusted names in offsite, cloud based backup providers such as (locally owned) Servosity, Mozy Pro and of course, Symantec.
Below, Symantec.cloud counters some of the most common objections to backing up your data offsite:
“My data won’t be secure”
- With Symantec Backup Exec.cloud, your data is secured during transit using 128 bit SSL encryption and stored using 256 bit AES encryption when at rest in Symantec’s highly secure, enterprise-class facilities.
“Online Backup will drain my bandwidth”
- After your initial backup, Symantec Backup Exec.cloud uses block level, incremental backup and performs backup of file changes only.
- Symantec Backup Exec.cloud uses bandwidth throttling to minimize impacts to your business productivity.
“It will be too difficult to manage”
- Automate backups to run on a schedule, or to backup when file modifications occur.
- Let us manage your backups for you!
- It’s easy to administer yourself – hassle free set up in just three steps.
“Backup is too expensive”
- BE.cloud offers usage-based pricing with no per-user licensing fees
- Subscription fee includes support, maintenance, and enhancements.
- With this solution there is no need to pay for resources to manage and maintain the backup system or for off-site tape storage.
“We don’t really need backup, we use removable drives and discs”
- What happens if the drive/disc is damaged, fails, is lost or stolen?
- How often are you performing backup? – Using removable drives and discs is a manual process that requires time – your time – to manage them. What could you be doing if this process was automated? Would your backup happen more regularly than it does now?
- Are there PCs or laptops that aren’t protected by using this method?
- What would happen to your productivity if one of these machines suffered a disaster/hardware failure? Would your workers lose data they need to do their jobs effectively? Would you lose any customer records, business or financial information?
“We want to manage our backup onsite”
- On-premise backup solutions can be expensive and require someone (perhaps you) to maintain them.
- On-premise backup solutions place the burden of security, storage and tape/disc vaulting on you. They also expose you to the risk of losing equipment and data in the event of a local natural disaster. - Use online backup with your existing on-premise solution to address off-site protection!
- Online backup replaces large upfront investments with predictable subscription based pricing. Managed virtually onsite using a web browser, you can not only manage and monitor the backup of machines at your location, but also at remote offices and on the machines of your mobile workers.
If you would like to know more about backing up to the cloud, or would like to discuss your backup / disaster recovery plan, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com today. We provide complete service and sales of physical, onsite backup systems, from tape to disk in addition to cloud solutions.
Microsoft XBOX 360 Arcade
The moment has arrived!
It’s time to give away the Microsoft XBOX 360 gaming console….
Today I combined all our lists into one long Microsoft Excel spreadsheet… The list included names compiled from:
- General mailing list subscribers
- “Secure IT Alerts” mailing list subsribers
- Blog subscribers
- People who hit “like” on the www.HomelandSecureIT.com page
- People who “liked” our http://facebook.com/HomelandSecureIT page
- People who used the Google +1 button on www.HomelandSecureIT.com and on blog posts
- People who responded and retweeted about the contest
- People who responded and shared on facebook
- People who left reviews on Google or Merchant Circle
- People who TRIED to leave reviews but Google wouldn’t let them for some reason and they emailed me telling me
- People who posted on LinkedIn or left an endorsement
- People who told me they emailed info about the contest to someone
- People I found who used other creative ways to spread the word, including one who blogged about us!
- For grins, I included those who liked http://facebook.com/DocksideBand and related accounts too!
HP ProBook 4530s Notebook
Last week we had to cut the cord and let our baby girl go off to college… That was more difficult than I care to relate to you in a blog post!
One of the items on our task list was to secure a quality notebook that she could probably use for the four years she is in school.
Being obsessive-compulsive, I started comparing every notebook that was available to me that fit the specs I had determined (Keep in mind that Homeland Secure IT offers HP, Dell, Toshiba, Acer, Lenovo, Nexlink and more for sale). This was an overwhelming job!
Once I had narrowed it down to a handful of machines, with the proper specs and within the target price range, one notebook stood out.
It was the HP ProBook 4530s, and more specifically the XU015UT#ABA, based around the Intel Core i3, with 4 GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, DVD-Writer w/LightScribe, 802.11n wi-fi, gigabit network, Intel 3000 graphics, Bluetooth 3.0, built-in webcam & mic, Microsoft Windows Home Premium, memory card reader, even a biometric fingerprint reader, and more.
There’s lots of expansion available besides the card reader and connectivity, through the 4 USB ports (1 is USB 3.0), VGA and HDMI video outputs and an ExpressCard/34 port.
With its 15.6″ LED display, it is easy on the eyes, and uses a minimal amount of power. It is also fairly light for such a big notebook at 5.5lbs. The finish is “pretty” and the build is sturdy.
The outstanding 6+ hour battery life was what sealed the deal. And I tested it several times over after we got it to see just what the battery life was, and as advertised, it was on the nose, and better when using battery saving technologies like letting the screen darken when on battery.
This model is available at Staples currently for $579.oo, and amazingly enough, Homeland Secure IT can match their price, which is surprising since they buy in large quantities.
It comes with Microsoft Office Starter 2010, so all you need to purchase is a product key card (PKC) to enable the full versions of Microsoft Office, available at a minimal additional cost.
Whether you get the HP 4530s from us, or someone else, I don’t believe you can go wrong. Check one out!
For more information about notebook computers in the Greenville / Upstate SC area, either for yourself or your business, please call 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com
There's no such thing as a free lunch, but there IS a Free XBOX 360 from Homeland Secure IT available!
It has been too long since we gave something away! Well, that’s not entirely true… We “give away” excellent computer, server and network service, support and repair at amazingly low rates every day!
However, that is not what I am talking about. I’m talking about giving away an XBOX 360 Arcade system from Microsoft which will give you hours of enjoyment, or maybe act as a baby-sitter for your children, or possibly for your husband / boyfriend, etc…
I believe the retail value is about $200, but not being a gamer, I’m not entirely sure. I received this as a prize from Microsoft and not that I don’t appreciate the beauty of the packaging it came in, or the fact that it functions well as a door stop, it’s just that there is someone out there who will use it and enjoy it, so here we go… Time to Give It Away! (The Red Hot Chili Peppers said so!)
How do you win it?
There is NO purchase necessary, but there are some things that you must do…
- Pass through our initiation process – This is where you tattoo your forehead with the Homeland Secure IT logo. Okay, this is optional.
- Sign up to this blog by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON over in the right-hand column. You can receive the daily blog posts in email first thing in the morning this way. And you can opt out later (after the contest is over) when you get tired of my yammering…
- Sign up for our SUPER LOW traffic mailing lists HERE … We rarely send anything out, so you won’t be too annoyed. You can unsubscribe from either or both at anytime, AFTER the contest end date.
- Go to our home page at www.HomelandSecureIT.com and hit the Google +1 button
- Go to our Google business places page and leave a review and rating (hopefully a good one)
- LIKE us on facebook HERE … Follow us on Twitter HERE …
For each one of those that you do, you increase your odds of winning considerably! The way the drawing will work is like this:
Every email / name on the blog and email subscription list will be combined into one long list. However many entries there are will be totaled and then I will use a random number generator like you might find at http://www.random.org/ will be used to pick a number and the person who appears on line number X from the list of combined subscribers will be selected. I will then contact them and see if they actually want it.
There are a few exclusions… IF you are not from the Upstate area of SC and are unable to stop by our office and pick up the console, then you should not bother, as I don’t want to pay or take the time to ship it to you.
IF you attempt to cheat by subscribing from bogus accounts, I will likely know and unsubscribe you.
IF you are under the legal age, whatever that is, then you should not subscribe. (Let’s assume old enough to drive a car to get a prize, or the age that is legal in your world).
IF you are forbidden by law or some other oddity that keeps people on your planet from playing our silly game, then you should not subscribe.
I think that’s it…. Sign up, and good luck…
On September 1st, the anniversary of asking my wifey to marry me, I will “draw” for the winner!
It’s almost that time again! Starting tomorrow, August 5th at 12:01am until August 7th at midnight, South Carolina’s Sales Tax Holiday will be in effect.
During this time, you can save 6% state sales tax on purchases in many categories, including the one we are most interested in, electronics.
A few examples from the www.sctax.org website of exempt products:
- Computer hardware service contracts sold in conjunction with computers
- Computer software (This includes Microsoft Office, Microsoft Windows)
- Computer software service contracts sold in conjunction with computer software
- Computer software service contracts when the true object of the contract is to obtain computer software updates during the contract period
- Computers (computer parts, such as computer monitors, keyboards and scanners, when not sold in conjunction with a central processing unit (CPU) and accessories are taxable) (Think notebook, desktop & tablet computers here)
- Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs (PDAs are hand-held computers used as daily planners. Please note that the exemption does not apply to cell phones with a PDA, computer applications or similar components.) (The rules are sketchy here, an Android tablet computer is a PDA OR a computer, not primarily a cell phone)
- Printer supplies (replaceable ink cartridges used in printers are exempt from tax as “printer supplies”)
- Printers (replacement parts are taxable)
You need to read the information at THIS SITE before making these purchases…
There are a number of exclusions and something VERY important for businesses to understand is that you cannot use the sales tax holiday for making purchases of items that will be used in your business or trade.
Homeland Secure IT will be honoring the sales tax holiday on purchases made tomorrow (Friday). It’s a great time to buy your college-bound child a new notebook computer!
We offer HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Nexlink and more… We can custom spec a computer today, place the order tomorrow and in most cases have it in your hands on Monday or Tuesday!
Call us at 864.990.4748 or email info@homelandsecureit.com
Yes, we’re going to do it again….
We’re going to give away something! Watch here for more info.
To be eligible, you will have to subscribe to this blog, our mailing list or our FB page *AND* be able to pick up whatever trinket it is in person… We’re not shipping it out =) (So it would be best if you were in the Upstate or Greenville SC area…
Best of the Upstate 2011 – Computer Service Provider
Please write-in Homeland Secure IT for Computer Service Provider
We believe that Homeland Secure IT is the best Computer Service Provider in the Upstate, and we are hoping you do too!
Therefore, we humbly request that you click on the Greenville News “Best of the Upstate 2011″ logo on the left and take a moment to vote for us!
Our category is item #9, “Computer Service Provider”, please write-in “Homeland Secure IT”.
I believe you can vote daily from June 19th through July 10th…
Thank you so much for your support!
John & Pamela Hoyt
I was asked by a client why we haven’t been giving away stuff… That’s a good question! I don’t know, we just got distracted with work or something.
If you remember from a while back, we gave away a Cisco Flip Mino HD camera that we won in a contest, and we also gave away a really cool wireless network security camera, some Trend Micro Titanium Anti-Virus product, and a few other little things here and there via silly contests with few rules.
So what should we give away and why?
The Flip was given away because you guys helped us win a contest, the network security camera was to introduce a product to you that we offer, and Trend was because was love their anti-virus product and want everyone to use it!
Stay tuned here, we will come up with something… Maybe an X-Box 360? (We won one of those ourselves!)
