Accident Main Road, Lower Plenty/Montmorency

Around 25 minutes ago drove along Main Road, Lower Plenty. A small white car hard left the road onto the median strip. The car had severe front end damage. A fire truck was in attendance. Traffic was moving freely but care required as people were walking across the road. Kelvin Eldridge www.OnlineConnections.com.au Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer. No problem too small.

Tree falls on powerline in Montmorency

SP Ausnet spokeswoman Tara Albiston said the CFA reported a tree had fallen on a power line in Stephens St about 10.07am.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

18 calls from Montmorency residents

Eltham SES unit controller Glenn O’Donnell said there had been at least 18 calls from Montmorency residents between 7.15pm and 7.45pm on Christmas night, with flooding, building damage and fallen trees the biggest concerns.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Hailstones cover a yard at Montmorency

Hail storm hits the north of Melbourne... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Guillaume Zigan, 24, of Montmorency

Stonemason Guillaume Zigan sets to work at Coldstream winery Dominique Portet.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Salvation Army community worker Julie and Montmorency-Eltham RSL president Bill McKenna.

Montmorency-Eltham RSL last week donated $1000 to the Greensborough branch, which Salvos community worker Julie said would help up to 200 families and individuals struggling during the holiday season.... Read More

- Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for help with your computer problems.
No problem too small.

Windows XP support from Microsoft ends on April 8, 2014.

A number of people have asked me whether or not they should buy a new computer as their Windows XP computer is getting old. I ask, “is the computer doing what you want to do and is there anything it can’t do?” The answer is generally, “it is doing everything they want and there isn’t anything it can’t do”. So I answer, “only buy a new computer if you want to”.

Many people get concerned because they hear support for Windows XP has finished. I saw one press release from Microsoft that concerned me which said Windows XP support had finished, but when I investigated, it was for an earlier service pack. Windows XP SP3 (service pack 3) is still supported until April 8, 2014.

In terms of the timeline I’d suggest if you’re not in a rush to purchase a new computer, then consider that Windows 8 will be released possibly in the third quarter of 2012 and if I were to guess, there would probably even be a service pack released before Windows XP SP3 reaches end-of-life from a Microsoft support perspective.

If your computer is doing what you need and the hardware lasts, waiting until after Windows 8 is released means you’ll have the latest operating system which will last you many years into the future.

Many people find their computer is a bit slow. Once I clean up the computer they are surprised at how fast the computer is, and are more than happy to continue using the computer rather than buying a new computer.

My advice is change your computer when you need to or want to, not when the Microsoft marketing machine or a salesperson convinces you need to do something you don’t have to.

I would also suggest that even though Windows XP SP3 will continue to run after April 8, 2014, that you should consider moving to a newer operating system by that time. The security updates required in this day and age of online access will cease, at which time your exposure will increase. I would not advise clients to continue using Windows XP SP3 past this date except for specific purposes and with knowledge of the potential exposure.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support in Templestowe, Doncaster,
Doncaster East, Montmorency, Lower Plenty, Eltham area.