Episode 1052 January 26, 2014

Trent works in the IT department at a local school, and they are currently running a Microsoft Exchange Server. They're thinking of moving over to Google Apps. What does Leo think?

Leo says that they pay a hefty fee for the Microsoft Exchange license, whereas Google Apps are free. They'll lose some functions, naturally, but you can't beat the price. Google is pushing hard to get education to adopt Google Apps, and recently, up to 20% of schools are investing in Chromebooks. Now is the time to make the move. GMail is a better mail system, anyway.

Mike is having trouble connecting to the Sony server on his Sony Bravia HDTV. Leo says sometimes the device can't see Wi-Fi and it'll lose the connection. Mike has a wired bridge though, so is there any other reason this could be happening?

Leo says that Mike should try using another device to see if it works. If he can rule out the bridge and the internet connection, then he can focus on the TV. Mike had to disconnect and re-register. It worked for a day and then stopped again. Leo says at that point, it has to be Sony's issue. Smart TVs leave a bit to be desired, Leo says.

One thing to try is the Chromecast. Also, Woot.com is selling refurbished Roku 3s for $65.

Paul wants to buy a new HDTV for the Olympics. What should he get in the 65" range? Leo says that Panasonic is getting out of the plasma business and now is the time to look hard at a plasma TV before they disappear. There are tons of good choices with Samsung, Vizio, and many others. The best TV out there right now is the Panasonic Viera. The ST, VT and the ZT, depending on his price range. The Panasonic Viera ZT60 is the top of the line.

What about 4K? Leo says he can get an inexpensive 4K TV right now, but they aren't very good TVs and there's no content for it anyway. In a few years, the TVs will be far better and even more affordable.

Mike's old PC died and he needs to replace it. His budget is $500. Amazon sells refurbished computers, so he's wondering if that's a good idea. What's the difference between refurbished and like new?

Leo says that third party refurbs make him nervous. If he's getting a refurbished computer, he should get it from the manufacturer. One good idea is a Chromebook. They're about $250. It's very simple to use because they're just a browser. They're secure, well made, and affordable.

If he wants to go the refurbished route, he should check the Dell Refurbished site. He can get a computer with Windows 7, too. Another option is a Inspiron 660s from Dell, which is brand new and only $399

Sam can get DSL from Verizon, but he's so far away, he can't get it very fast. So he went with DSLExtreme, which is half the price. Can he get another line and then multiplex it for more speed?

Leo says he can, and there's a product called Fusion that will do exactly this. It's dual ADSL2 lines. The problem is that he's so far away from the network hub, and DSL degrades rapidly over distance. Bonded ADSL will work, and he should ask DSL Extreme if they have Fusion in his neighborhood.

(Disclaimer: DSL Extreme is a sponsor).

Pam wants to get a plasma TV. She saw one at Office Depot for $249. Leo says that a lot of companies are getting out of the game and so they're being discounted. Samsung makes a pretty good plasma, but that cost means it's not very big. It's also probably only 720p. Leo suggests she pay more and get the 1080p TV. LG and Vizio are good too, but Leo prefers the Panasonic Viera. Leo also says if she can avoid getting a "smart TV" and add a Roku, it's even better because she can upgrade the smart functionality outside of the TV.