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There's a subtle moment of panic and bewilderment on people's faces when I ask what their computer password is. Sometimes it'll roll off the tongue, but all too often an fearful expression descends, as though the police were demanding your driver's license. Passwords can reduce even a proficient user to the level of a novice. Know this though — if this is you, you are in the company of giants. No one can call themselves a password master. Everyone struggles to manage them. Password management…

or, why backups are more than an insurance policy If there's one thing tech geeks like us are known for, it's harping on the fact that everyone should have a backup. Keeping a second (or third!) copy of the important files on our computers, phones and iPads is second nature to us — but the reasons for doing so are something I think we sometimes take for granted. I'm a member of that generation privileged to grow up around computers, and as a coach I'm always working to figure out how younger…

If you've gone shopping for a new Mac in the last decade or so, you might've found just how difficult it is to snag a deal. Apple products are very rarely on sale, and their pricing is remarkably consistent, whether you're shopping online, in a corporate store, or at a third party retailer like our friends at Byte Computers. However, there is one place you can reliably find discounts on factory-sealed Apple stuff, buried in the links at the bottom of the official Apple Store website: the…

Hey Happy Another spot with a connoisseur’s selection of coffees brewed with attention & care, Hey Happy is ready for the mobile worker. A series of tables features power outlets and USB power right at the table - A very nice touch. A small but powerfully tempting assortment of treats (including Yonni's Doughnuts) provides an enjoyable distraction to work, as does watching the action of Lower Johnson out the front window. A great little downtown oasis tucked into the side of Market…

Over the last few years, in a predictable tide of announcement, anticipation and launch, Apple has released successive operating systems (A.K.A. macOS) for its Macintosh line of computers. Each year these new versions improve performance and reduce the overhead of existing features, as well as add additional features to take advantage of new technologies. If the computer is like a car, then the operating system is like the steering wheel, pedals and gauges. It is how we interface with the…

Hide+Seek This cool new café specializes in excellent coffee, brewed in a variety of methods — though the friendly staff and superb treats are great features too. There’s a variety of seating, from a hide-away bar at the back, to tables right in the large front window. It's a fantastic addition to Oak Bay Village, and several other services are nearby including a branch of the Greater Victoria Public Library. I'm a fan.

Serious Coffee - Cook Street Village Serious Coffee offers a wide selection of coffees, teas and snacks to file your remote work sessions. There’s a variety of comfortable seating and arrangements to meet one-on-one or with a few people and wi-fi is available. Centrally located in Cook Street Village, several other services are nearby if you need them and buses frequently travel downtown. And when you’re work is done, the expansive Beacon Hill Park is not far away!

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