Book a fun dance party band for your next corporate event in Greenville Spartanburg Anderson!

 

We’re pretty sure you already know, but John M. Hoyt’s other job is with a band…

So, we would appreciate it much if you would consider HOT AS A PEPPER for your next corporate event in Greenville, Anderson, Spartanburg, Simpsonville (anywhere around the Upstate of SC).

In fact, it would be outstanding if every time you thought of live music entertainment, you thought of HOT AS A PEPPER!

The next public opportunity to see us is at the Sippin’ in Simpsonville event on September 29th.  Please let us know if you need more information!

We do fun and funky music that puts a smile on your face.  Many are dance tunes.

More information is over at the HOT AS A PEPPER website, or if you are into the facebook thing, you can go to our page there: HOT AS A PEPPER – Please be sure to LIKE us!

Thank you for your support!

Ultra small form factor HD 1.3 digital signage media player from Seneca Data & Homeland Secure IT

Seneca Data Digital Signage Media Player HD 1.3

Seneca Data Digital Signage Media Player HD 1.3

Seneca Data, a preferred partner of ours, has introduced a “game changing media player for the digital signage industry”, and we tend to agree.

This ultra small form factor computer is only 1.3 inches tall, allowing it to fit between flat panel monitors and the wall nicely. They support a wide range of Intel processors and are capable of functioning within a wide range of temperatures without affecting performance.

Key features include:

  • 2nd and 3rd generation Intel Core i3 through i7 processor support
  • Integrated Intel graphics (up to HD4000)
  • Wi-Fi and TV tuner options
  • Ultra small form factor – just 1.3 inches deep
  • The Seneca Data name – This company rocks our socks off

 

If you would like more information about the Seneca Data HD 1.3 Media Player, please contact us at 864-990-4748. We offer them for sale along with the entire line of Seneca Data and Nexlink products. Whether you need just one, or one thousand, we can help!

Keep an eye on your home from anywhere with the D-Link DCS-942L IP camera without going broke

D-Link DCS-942L IP Security Camera

D-Link DCS-942L IP Surveillance Camera

Here’s a fun one we offer for sale…   The D-Link DCS-942L IP camera.

This puppy is compact, and loaded with great features.

  • Resolution of 640×480
  • Infrared (see in the dark) with automatic cut filter
  • Ethernet connected
  • Wireless Wi-Fi connected!
  • Wall / desk mount included
  • Built-in microphone (listen in to the room it is mounted in)
  • Audio out – yes, that means you can talk to the people in the room!
  • Included software for recording to your computer (DVR / NVR)
  • Can record from web interface
  • Micro SD card slot for recording images to storage on camera
  • Email notifications, motion detection
  • Access anywhere from web browser, smartphone (android, iphone, etc)

This camera has all the features of the higher dollar professional series cameras, without the price. Perfectly suited for a small office, or your home.

Have a vacation home with internet access? How about a garage or outbuilding you want to protect?

With the purchase of an enclosure, it could potentially be used outdoors as the infrared emitters do not blind the video sensor when pushed against the glass of an enclosure.

If you would like one, or ten, give us a call. We are your Upstate D-Link partner and offer this and the entire D-Link product line here in the Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Simpsonville SC. 864-990-4748

 

Big power in a small package with the HP Envy Pro Ultrabook computer

HP Envy Pro Ultrabook

HP Envy Pro Ultrabook – Thin is in…

 

To quote Stevie Wonder, “Isn’t she lovely?”…

This is the HP Envy Pro Ultrabook, and it’s about as thin as you could possibly want. Any thinner is like typing on an iPad and certainly uncomfortable for extended periods of data entry, a complaint we sometimes hear from tablet and Macbook Air owners.

The particular one above is the 14” version, and here are the features:

  • 14″ LED backlit large screen Ultrabook
  • HP Beats Audio
  • Up to 8 hours of battery life
  • Soft-touch base
  • Intel Core i5 1.70 dual core processor
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 320 GB HD
  • Gigabit ethernet
  • Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Built-in webcam
  • HDMI output
  • Genuine Microsoft Windows 7 Professional x64
  • .8″ x 13.4″ x 9.3″ at only 3.98 lbs
HP Envy Pro Ultrabook w/ i5

HP Envy Pro Ultrabook w/ i5

Get this notebook and enjoy a portable, yet powerful system that feels good in your hands!

Order today from us and pick it up at our Greenville office the next business day! 864-990-4748 for more information!

 

 

Record your Xbox or PS3 video game play to your PC, in HD with the Hauppauge HD PVR Gaming Edition

Hauppauge HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition

Record your Xbox or PS3 video game play to your PC, in HD!

HD PVR is the world’s first High Definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings from your Xbox or PS3 game play. HD PVR records Component Video (YCrCb) is recorded at resolutions up to 1080i, while audio is recorded using optical audio with Dolby AC3 or two channel stereo audio.

Record your Xbox 360 or PS3 game play on your PC in 1080i HD! Share you best games with your friends in HD!

As said on GeekTonic:

“Now I think anyone watching me play videogames is a sure-fire way to put them to sleep – or at least laugh at my videogame performance. But I know there is a very large number of videogamers using the HD PVR to record their video gameplay.

New features for the HD PVR Gaming Edition

The HD PVR Gaming Edition is specially designed for the dedicated Xbox360 or PS3 gamer. The Gaming Edition includes a new jet black case plus a universal Component Video cable, so you can bring 1080i video from your game console into the HD PVR. Also, we include Arcsoft ShowBiz, which allows you to record your game play in HD and upload directly to YouTube.

Product Type:   Video Recorder

Technical Information

Functions:   Video Recording
Video System:   PAL
Video System:   NTSC

Interfaces/Ports

Host Interface:   USB 2.0
USB:   Yes
Audio Line In:   Yes
Audio Line Out:   Yes
Component Video:   Yes
S-Video:   Yes
Composite Video:   Yes
Digital Audio:   Yes

Physical Characteristics

Form Factor:   External
Height:   2.8″
Width:   7.8″
Depth:   6.8″
Weight (Approximate):   3.00 oz

Miscellaneous

Package Contents: 

  • HD PVR Gaming Edition, with English manual
  • Jet Black Case
  • Component Video Cable Set, for use with Xbox360, PS3 and Wii
  • Component Video Cable Set to connect to your HD TV Set
  • Stereo Audio Cable Set
  • CD
  • USB Cable
  • 5v Power Supply, 110/220v

Warranty

Limited Warranty:   2 Year

If you want one of these bad boys, let us know! We offer all kinds of cool gadgets like this for sale.  864-990-4748 or use the contact form

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Daniel Smith left us far too soon – please help with a fundraiser for his family

A photo of Brittany Johnson and Daniel Smith. (Courtesy the Johnson family)

Daniel Smith & Brittany Johnson (photo from Fox Carolina / Johnson family)

In our busy lives, it’s rare to have an event that makes us immediately stop and think, “Wait…What?”  Exactly how I felt last week when news began to trickle that something terrible had affected my son’s world.

My Friday morning started with the usual rush of getting Brett up, fed, packed and out the door early since the football team travels to the elementary schools on game days to welcome the children in the drop-off lines.  After Brett finished he called me to ask if he could “run by” Chic-fil-a with some of his buddies before school.  He heard an abrupt, “No” from me and, “You forgot to take the trash down this morning!”  I was not thrilled with the thought of Brett driving to school upset with me at all, but he needed to get to his AP English class!  Soon after this conversation I received a text message from Brett saying, “Mom, I’m so sorry!  And I’m sorry I didn’t take the trash down. I’m having to go to a meeting with the team, the kid on the news was a JV player and I KNEW him!”

This is when I stopped and thought, “Wait…What?”  I replied, “What was his name?  I love you so much!”

As the day wore on, the news alerts reported that Daniel Smith and his mother Sandy had been shot by his step-father before he turned the gun on himself in the yard.  I’m unsure how these young men and coaches managed to pull themselves together and win a football game that night.  John and I and other parents watched in tearful amazement from the stands as both teams approached the center of the field both before and after the game and knelt in silence and prayed.

After the game when I finally had a chance to talk to Brett, I was at a loss for words.  What is there to say to this?  How unnecessary!  How senseless!  How selfish!  How sad!  We said all of those words and more.  Sunday, our family sat in our church service as the youth pastor preached this particular Sunday and the sermon turned to Daniel.  Once again our hearts sank.  If there is any good in any of this, at least the pastor reported that Daniel had accepted Christ in late spring this year as he came to church youth events with his girlfriend.

Most of the Labor Day holiday, Brett spent with his team at the funeral and burial for Daniel and his mother, Sandra.  What a heavy burden for these young men to carry.  The only words that I can find to hold onto is that God is still good, even in the valleys.

Blogs are meant to share uplifting, inspirational information that help us personally or through business.  I guess today I had to share my broken heart as this event could have been any one of us.  Our time here is short, remember to love those that are in your life!

A fundraising effort is underway to assist with funeral costs for Daniel Smith please consider mailing a donation to Marathon Church, 315 Roe Road, Greenville, SC 29611.

Be warned – this video may touch your heart!

 

FOX Carolina 21

 

Pamela M. Hoyt

Mailbox level backup for your Microsoft Exchange server is more affordable than you might think!

How are you backing up your Microsoft Exchange server?

Many businesses are using the Microsoft provided NTBackup, which can backup the entire store, while others may be using another backup package that backs up the entire store. The super-budget minded may be using scripts to shut down the Exchange and then copy the store to an external hard drive.

Still others use a cloud backup solution that doesn’t support Exchange backup, so they do an NT Backup or something similar to a drive, THEN let the cloud software backup the backup to the remove servers.

Of course, the ideal way to backup your mail server is a combination of methods, from a full DR (disaster recovery) backup which can restore a downed machine in minutes, to an OS, file and backup solution like Backup Exec 2012 backing up to a tape library…   If you ARE using Backup Exec and have the BEWS Exchange Agent, then you can do some additional magic.

While an Exchange Store backup can return your Exchange database to a functional state should there be major corruption, or if your CEO loses his mail, you could go back in time and return everyone in the business to a point in time where the CEO’s mail was indeed working well.

Mailbox level backup, just like it sounds, lets you backup individual mailboxes, which can be restored without affecting others in the organization.  In the above scenario, the CEO has lost his mail, and if you are using mailbox level backup, you can have it back in minutes! This comes at a cost. Backup Exec with the necessary license to backup Exchange is a hefty amount of coin, though totally worth it.  Then you must configure various jobs to handle this, and have some place to put all this data (usually a tape drive or RDX or even a NAS / SAN, and sometimes just a USB external hard drive).

Should you be backing up your systems using file backup or image backup technology, and wish to add mailbox level backups, there’s yet another way to do this, and it is very affordable!

Servosity, our online backup partner, has mailbox level backup that can be deployed in minutes, and it’s only a couple dollars (plus the cost of the storage) per mailbox you wish to backup.  You don’t even have to backup EVERY mailbox, you could backup just important ones!

Of course you are interested now that you heard it is both available and affordable, so use the contact link from our navigation menu above or call us at 864.990.4748 for more information or to arrange a FREE 14 day trial of this product. We have been working with Servosity in the Greenville area for a number of years and the user satisfaction has been stellar!

 

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FINALLY! Windows XP has decreased in popularity enough to no longer be the number one OS!

We knew the time was coming, but we didn’t know when, exactly…….

According to an article on cnet.net, entitled “Windows 7 overtakes XP as Mac OS X passes Vista“, Microsoft Windows 7 has finally surpassed Microsoft XP as the most dominant operating system!  Predictions were all over the place, from 2013 to as far out as 2016, with a few people thinking it should have happened already.

As businesses and individuals have made the transition from XP to Windows 7, computer service and repair professionals have seen a sharp decrease in the number of machines that have been infected with viruses, worms and trojans. Well, a sharp decrease in Microsoft based computers. We’ve seen an increase in Apple Mac malware infections that is right in line with their increasing numbers.

In 2011, upwards of 30 percent of our computer service and support revenue was comprised of malware related repairs. So far, in 2012, with over half of the year behind us, we’ve seen a decline of over fifty percent in virus cleanup! It’s rare for Windows 7 machines to come through our door infected like we used to see with XP! (Though we still do see them).

You’ve probably heard already, but Microsoft is unleashing a new operating system on us, Windows 8, and though it is not even officially released, just the pre-release has a 0.23 market share!  How long will it be before it has the same kind of impact that Windows 7 has? WILL it have that kind of impact?

Here’s the numbers for those of you who don’t want to click the cnet link above:

Market Share:

OS Market Share for August 2012

Visualization of OS Market Share

42.76% Microsoft Windows 7
6.66% Apple Mac OS X 10.4 / 10.5 / 10.6 / 10.7 / 10.8
6.15% Microsoft Windows Vista
5.95% Apple iPhone, iPod & iPad
1.84% Android 2.2 / 2.3 / 3.2/ 4.0 & Kindle Fire
1.05% Linux

The percentage of Apple Market Share could be considered evil.

These stats are from NetMarketShare.com and can be found here.

For those who want to see all versions of Windows compared to Mac OS X:

OS Market Share August 2012 02

Visualization – All Windows Versions Combined

 

 

Homeland Secure IT will be closed for Labor Day – but available for emergency computer service

The crew at Homeland Secure IT will be enjoying some downtime this coming Monday!

Just because the office is locked up doesn’t mean we are not here for you though, so if Monday comes and your computer or server is having problems and you are NOT enjoying “down time”, then please call us anyway, as voice mail will go to our email accounts and we will return your call ASAP.

Hopefully, you will get a day off too, and enjoy a three day weekend.

Be safe, have fun!

 

 

2

How to save money on your Greenville & Upstate SC computer repair

Are you wanting quality computer service performed by trained and experienced computer service professionals instead of someone found in the back of a newspaper? A service center you can depend on, that has fast turnaround, and has an outstanding reputation?

Look no further than Homeland Secure IT in Greenville South Carolina! We offer sales, service and support both home and business computers, servers and network components. We repair computers whether we sold them to you or not!

If you want to save money, bring your computer to us! People from as far away as Georgia and Knoxville, TN travel to our location for us to repair their desktop, notebook or other components. We have had computers shipped to us from the coast, and from the North East too!

By bringing your computer to us, we are able to reduce our rates to an unheard of 75.oo per hour. With FREE estimates.  Why so cheap? Because we do not have to dispatch a technician to your location to perform the service. However, if you are in the Upstate and need service, we will happily go to you.

Save some money, call us and arrange a time to come in.  We suggest you do not just stop by, because sometimes everyone is in the field performing service.

Call us at 864-990-4748 or use the contact form in the menu above.

We are partners with and offer for sale many different lines of computers too!  A few brands we sell and work with regularly are HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Dell, Nexlink, Samsung, Acer, Asus, Sony, Microsoft, Cisco, Symantec, Trend Micro and a long line of others!

A few cities in the Upstate that people come from and we offer service to are Easley, Simpsonville, Six Mile, Clemson, Seneca, Duncan, Spartanburg, Anderson, Liberty, Taylors, Greer, Mauldin, Berea, Boiling Springs and anywhere within about an hour’s drive from Greenville.