Computers don't always work. Luckily, we do.

Nummist Computer Consultants (NCC), located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, serves businesses and homes on site, on demand, carefully. Software tesing, computer support (Windows, Mac, Linux), digital media, data mining, research, and customized training are among our services.

For service inquiries, please contact us by email (josephhowse@nummist.com). Thank you for choosing Nummist Computer Consultants!

Testimonial

"If I had the ability to hand Joseph Howse a tester of the year trophy, I sure would. We need a dozen more just like him. This guy gave 110% and asked for more. Thank you Joseph and I hope you stick around for a long time." —Kelly Schwartz, Chief Community Officer, Sabayon Linux

Contents

Who We Are

Services

Frequently Asked Questions:

• Security
• Photography

Lists and Comparisons

Who We Are

Nummist Computer Consultants was co-founded in 2005 by brothers Sam and Joe Howse. Sam died in 2008, leaving behind an important body of research, and Joe continues the work of the company.

Joe Howse, MBA International Business and MA International Development, is a computer graphics instructor for kids and youth in the IWK Health Centre, a webzine editor for Strange Horizons, and a beta tester for Sabayon Linux. He is widely published as an industry analyst, journalist, video game reviewer, graphic artist, and award-winning nature photographer. He also has several years' experience working for Dalhousie University, the Global Microcredit Summit, and Trade Team Nova Scotia in teaching, business communications, event organization, and statistical research.

Sam Howse, PhD Computer Science and MA Economics, wrote highly reliable software. His research created an innovative new programming language for mathematically proving that software complies with specifications. He had extensive teaching experience in continuing education and university courses.

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Services

Software Testing

• Expert testing, bug tracking, and documentation.
• Service available for numerous platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
• For Web testing, service covers Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Konqueror, Chrome, and other browsers per request.

Customized Training

Partial list:

• Productivity with Microsoft Office (Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, etc.), OpenOffice, KOffice, or equivalents.
• Digital imaging with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Camera Raw, Illustrator, etc.), GIMP, Inkscape, or equivalents.
• 3D modeling and animation with the free and open source Blender package.
• Video editing with Mac (Final Cut Express, iMovie) or Windows (Movie Maker).
• Statistical modeling.

Art and Design Services

• Graphics and page layout: stationery, brochures, newsletters, logos, and more.
• Website design: smart, organized, rigorously checked, unique yet made to budget.
• Photography: for print publications, websites, promotions, fine art prints, etc. Digital or 6x9 film. Stock or assignment. Stock list includes travel, land/sea/cityscapes, nature, gardening, performing arts, animals/pets, abstract.
• 3D modeling and animation: using Blender or other software.
• Digitization of artwork (high-resolution): from canvas, paper, fabric, slide/negative, engraving, pottery, etc. See details.

Data Mining and Research

Partial list:

• Market and industry analysis: including data mining of financial statements and notes.
• Contact development and surveying: Find and study potential suppliers, purchasers, advertising channels, etc.
• Statistical and economic modeling: Estimate and optimize.

Maintenance and Upgrades

• Virus removal: professional service is more effective than anti-virus software alone.
• Security customization: networks, firewalls, Internet, email. See our security tips to get you started.
• Diagnostics and prescriptions: re-configuration for malfunctioning software.
• Purchasing advice: software, computer hardware, photographic equipment.
• Software installations.
• Hardware setup and upgrades.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Security

Q. How do I avoid getting viruses?

A. Your computer's best defence is for you and your fellow users to be cautious. Viruses can reach your computer via websites you browse (whether or not you choose to make downloads), email or instant messaging attachments you open, and any other means of file sharing, including portable media (diskettes, CDs, DVDs, memory cards, etc.), network file sharing, and peer-to-peer file sharing software. Do not visit a website, accept a file or join a virtual group if it is unfamiliar or suspicious to you. (To infer more about a website before you visit for the first time, you should choose search keywords that are as specific to your interests as possible, and you should read the site's blurb on the search engine. Alternatively, explore links from sites you already know.) Certain security settings in your web browser and email program can help prevent users from compromising your computer's security (see below). Also, you should keep Windows and other Microsoft products up-to-date by frequently visiting Microsoft Update (see also auto-updating below). Further, you should have up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware software running on your computer (see below).

Q. How should I manage security settings in Internet Explorer (web browser), and Outlook or Outlook Express (email), on Windows?

A. See our Recommended Settings for Internet Explorer and Outlook.

Q. How do I keep Windows up-to-date automatically?

A. We highly recommend the automatic updating feature of Windows in order to stay up-to-date with the latest security fixes from Microsoft. You can enable automatic updating by choosing:

• on Windows XP: Start menu -> Control Panel -> System -> Automatic Updates tab. The "Automatic" setting is recommended.
• on Windows Vista: Start menu -> Control Panel -> Classic View tab -> Windows Update icon -> Change settings tab. The "Install updates automatically" setting is recommended.

Even with automatic updates, you should still visit Microsoft Update immediately, and then occasionally, to check for updates that are not applied automatically.

Q. What anti-virus and anti-spyware software do you recommend?

A. For home computers running Windows XP or Vista, we recommend installing both Grisoft's AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition and Windows Defender. (For Vista, Windows Defender is actually installed by default.) These programs are available as free downloads from the publishers. For virus removal, another program we have used for clients is Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, also available free from the publisher.

Q. Are up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware programs 100% effective in identifying and removing viruses?

A. No. For example, some viruses are only partially deleted by anti-virus and anti-spyware scans, and the remnants can re-infect your computer. You should seek professional security help if your computer's virus symptoms persist despite up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware protection.

Q. Do I need to remove every virus (even adware) for my computer to be secure?

A. Yes. The problems caused by viruses (including Trojans, worms, spyware and adware) are not limited to what you can see. Any software that is stored on your computer (as viruses are) could sabotage your system settings (including security settings), monitor your keystrokes (for example, when you enter passwords or credit card information) or even allow someone else to control your computer remotely to attack other computers. One way or another, spyware or adware publishers seek to make money (or purely cause havoc) by invading your privacy. Given the range of possible damages, no virus is "Low Threat", in our opinion. In the case of multiple or persistent infections, sometimes the most effective way to eliminate viruses is to reformat your hard disk and re-install your software from scratch (after locating your original software CDs and backing up your data, of course!).

Q. Are music-sharing programs, such as Kazaa, or other peer-to-peer file sharing programs, safe?

A. Kazaa floods your computer with dozens to hundreds of viruses and spyware programs. (Many downloads claiming to be spyware-free Kazaa variants are also loaded with viruses and spyware.) You should consider seeking professional security help if your computer has ever had Kazaa installed it. Other music-sharing software could potentially have the same malicious intent. Even without malicious intent, music-sharing software (or any peer-to-peer file-sharing software) generally requires sub-optimal security settings, and accepting files from "peers" online is risky in itself. Beware, and consider that better security could save you more time and money than free music.

Q. In Windows XP or Vista, what are Remote Assistance and Remote Desktop?

A. When enabled, these Windows features may allow someone to control your computer remotely. Although you might want to enable Remote Assistance in order to receive technical support from someone you trust, in most cases, these features are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. You can disable (or when necessary enable) these features by choosing:

• on Windows XP: Start menu -> Control Panel -> System -> Remote tab. Uncheck (or when necessary check) "Allow Remote Assistance invitations to be sent from this computer" and "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer".
• on Windows Vista: Start menu -> Control Panel -> Classic View tab -> System icon -> Remote Settings tab. Uncheck (or when necessary check) "Allow Remote Assistance connections to this computer".

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Photography

Q. Are you able to digitize professional artwork?

A. Yes. Using quality hardware and panoramic stitching software, we can produce ultra-high-resolution photographs or scans of artwork—with practically no restriction on the artwork's dimensions. Unlike most photo labs or print shops, we are willing and able to handle gigantic image files and long, intensive projects—whatever is necessary to meet your quality needs.

Q. What kind of photography do you generally do?

A. Generally, any kind of outdoor photography. This includes outdoor events and performances, landscapes, seascapes, cityscapes, ruins, nature, gardens, animals, pets, ships, construction vehicles, and more. I also take an interest in exploring abract photography, along with optical and digital manipulations. As well, I photograph artwork.

Q. What photographic equipment do you use?

A. Depending on the circumstances, I choose from among compact digital, DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) or medium format film cameras. Each format has its advantages. For instance, digital compacts are silent, yet DSLRs offer the greatest shooting speed and can adapt to diverse lighting conditions. Classic medium format cameras, mounted with Zeiss-formula lenses and loaded with modern colour slide film, achieve subtle detail and expressive color. As for pocket-sized gear, I find my lens cleaning device and my mini-tripod indespensible. For heavier exercise, I bring an aluminium-legged panhead tripod, which travels almost conveniently by hanging upside down from the belt of my backpack. Despite all of that, it comes down to art and body temperature. Wear good gloves, especially if the camera is metal and the wind chill is Atlantic Canadian.

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Lists and Comparisons

"To list is to exist," as Mother used to say. Here are some lists and comparisons that we've assembled for our own purposes. This content is more specialized and technical than our answers to Frequently Asked Questions but if you share our interests you might find it useful.

120 Roll Film Database: Which companies are still making the stuff that you put in medium format film cameras? We strive to make this product directory exhaustive. There are informative notes on each film's exposure characteristics, and on whether it is also available in 4x5 sheet format.

More to come...

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