DAY 10 (Fri., Dec. 22nd): $100 Off Dell Inspiron desktop PC (reg. $499.99)
Enhanced design. No compromise. This highly expandable Inspiron Desktop PC has been reimagined to enhance the enjoyment that comes with owning a Dell desktop. Its revolutionary design offers a space reduction of over 45%, without compromising system performance, while featuring multiple expansion slots for future upgrades. Powered by a next-generation Intel Core i3 processor, with plenty of storage, improved cooling, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, immersive 5.1 surround sound*, HDMI, and six USB ports for maximum connectivity.
3.9GHz Intel Core i3 dual-core processor
Intel HD Graphics 630
1TB 7200 RPM hard drive
6GB memory (expandable up to 16GB)
Vertical-mount optical drive reads, burns CDs and DVDs
Integrated 5.1 surround sound*
Four USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports
Built-in media card reader (MMC, MMC Plus, SD, SDHC, SDXC)
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.0; Gigabit Ethernet
Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
This offer is only available Friday, December 22nd, 2017, while supplies last. Sorry, no rain checks. *Speakers sold separately.
DAY 1 (Wed., Dec. 13th): ASUS VivoBook X541N for $199.99 (reg. $299.99)
Full-sized, full-featured laptop at a miniature price! The ASUS VivoBook X541N offers a big 15.6-inch screen, Pentium processor, four gigs of RAM, one terabyte hard drive, and complete Windows 10 Home functionality for a full $100 off an already ultra-low regular price. The only thing lightweight about this notebook is its actual weight: just 2.2 pounds!
1.1GHz Intel Pentium processor
4GB DDR3L memory
1TB SATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
Optional external USB optical drive sold separately
Experience a next-level gaming experience with the Acer Aspire Nitro 5. Sleek design, striking red backlit keyboard, super-fast Solid State Drive (SSD), and plenty of processing and graphics power means high frame rates and effortless gameplay. All for a very affordable $799.99 (or finance it for $27/month o.a.c.). Just imagine how great this would look under your tree!
SPECIFICATIONS
2.5GHz Intel Core i5 quad-core processor (Turbo Boost to 3.5GHz)
8GB DDR3L memory, expandable to 32GB
256GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
15.6-inch (diag.) LED-backlit HD IPS display (1920×1080)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 with 4GB dedicated GDDR5 memory
1280×720 webcam with mic
Integrated SD/SDXC card reader
One USB 3.1 Type C port; one USB 3.0 port; two USB 2.0 ports; one HDMI port
Ethernet; 802.11ac Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 4.1
Windows 10 Home 64-bit
Connecting Point will feature a series of staff-picked HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHT gift suggestions over the next few weeks. Today’s suggestion comes from Tom, our marketing guy.
Mac Friday: It’s become a Black Friday tradition at Connecting Point!
Connecting Point won’t be open Thanksgiving day… or Thanksgiving night. And we’re not opening early on Friday morning. We’ll be open our usual hours, 9 am to 6:30 pm. But that doesn’t mean we’ll be sitting on the bench for this game. Just the opposite.
When we open, it’s gloves off, folks. Because once again BLACK Friday will be Connecting Point’s MAC Friday. From 9 to noon, every Apple® Mac® will be on sale, with discounts anywhere from 60 to 250 dollars when purchased with AppleCare Plus.
Mac mini $60 Off All Models*
Mac mini® features fourth-generation Intel Core processors, ultrafast 802.11ac wireless networking, two Thunderbolt 2 ports, great built-in apps, and MacOS® High Sierra. And it’s still the world’s most power-efficient desktop. From $499.99
Intel Core i5 or i7 processors
Intel integrated graphics
Hard drive or Fusion Drive
802.11ac Wi-Fi
Four USB 3 ports
Two Thunderbolt 2 ports
*When purchased with AppleCare+. Rainchecks will be offered if stock is depleted.
iMac $100 Off All Models*
iMac® [21.5-inch] features a brilliant widescreen display, powerful new seventh-generation Intel Core processor, superfast graphics, and more. All in a stunningly thin enclosure that’s only 5 mm at the edge. From $1099.99
iMac with Retina Display boasts performance at an all-time high with faster Intel Core processors, powerful Radeon Pro 500-series graphics, Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) connectivity, and stunning Retina 4K and 5K displays that shine 43 percent brighter and support one billion colors. 21.5-inch from $1299.99; 27-inch from $1799.99
*When purchased with AppleCare+. Rainchecks will be offered if stock is depleted.
MacBook Air $150 Off All Models*
The 13-inch MacBook Air® features 8GB of memory, a fifth-generation Intel Core processor, Thunderbolt 2, great built-in apps, and all-day battery life2. It’s thin, light, and durable enough to take everywhere you go—and powerful enough to do everything once you get there. From $999.99
*When purchased with AppleCare+. Rainchecks will be offered if stock is depleted.
MacBook $150 Off All Models*
MacBook® delivers more performance in the lightest and thinnest Mac notebook ever. With new seventh-generation Intel Core processors, 12-inch Retina display,1a full-size keyboard, force-sensing trackpad, versatile USB-C port, and all-day battery life,2 MacBook features big thinking in an impossibly compact form. Available in Space Gray, Gold, Rose Gold, and Silver. From $1299.99
*When purchased with AppleCare+. Rainchecks will be offered if stock is depleted.
MacBook Pro 13-inch $175 Off All Models*
MacBook Pro® (13-inch) is razor-thin, featherlight, and now even faster and more powerful than before. It has the brightest, most colorful Mac notebook display. And it features up to 10 hours of battery life.2 It’s a notebook built for the work you do every day. Ready to go anywhere a great idea takes you. From $1299.99
The new MacBook Pro (13-inch) with Touch Bar is also razor-thin, featherlight, and now even faster and more powerful than before. It has the brightest, most colorful Mac notebook display. And it has the revolutionary Touch Bar®—a Multi-Touch–enabled strip of glass built into the keyboard for instant access to what you want to do, when you want to do it. The new MacBook Pro is built on groundbreaking ideas. And it’s ready for yours. From $1799.99
*When purchased with AppleCare+. Rainchecks will be offered if stock is depleted.
MacBook Pro 15-inch $250 Off All Models*
MacBook Pro (15-inch) offers a radiant 15-inch Retina display.1 Powerful quad-core Intel processor. Ultrafast SSD storage. High-performance integrated graphics. Great built-in apps. And a Force Touch trackpad and up to 9 hours of battery life.2 From $1999.99
The new MacBook Pro (15-inch) with Touch Bar is razor-thin, featherlight, and now even faster and more powerful than before.It has the brightest, most colorful Mac notebook display. It has new quad-core processors and high-performance Radeon Pro graphics on every configuration. And it has the revolutionary Touch Bar—a Multi-Touch–enabled strip of glass built into the keyboard for instant access to what you want to do, when you want to do it. The new MacBook Pro is built on groundbreaking ideas. And it’s ready for yours. From $2399.99
*When purchased with AppleCare+. Rainchecks will be offered if stock is depleted.
Give the gift of Apple TV: 32GB for $125*
Enjoy content from iTunes and apps like Netflix, Hulu, and ESPN—or use the Siri Remote to find just what you want. Add games and apps from the App Store to turn the living room into a game room, fitness room, classroom, and more.
*Reg. $149.99. Limited to stock on hand.
Freedom calls: Apple Watch Series 3 GPS + Cellular
Introducing Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular. Now you can leave your phone behind and still stay connected wherever you go. Answer a call from your surfboard. Ask Siri to send a message. Stream your favorite songs on your run.4 And do it all while leaving your phone behind. Introducing Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular. Now you have the freedom to go with just your watch.
And yes, we sell Windows PCs, too…
ASUS VivoBook Max 15 $199.99*
Great PC laptop at a breakthrough price! Bright, sharp 15.5-inch LED-backlit 1366 x 768 display. 500GB hard drive, 4GB RAM, 1.1GHz Intel Pentium processor, Intel HD 500 graphics, Bang & Olufsen sound, Windows 10 Home. And it only weighs 2.2 pounds!
*Limited to stock on hand.
1Display size is measured diagonally.
2Battery life varies by use and configuration. See www.apple.com/batteries for more information.
3Subscription may be required to access some content. Live sports subject to blackouts. Playback quality will depend on hardware and Internet connection. Available on iTunes. Title availability is subject to change. Some applications are not available in all areas. Application availability is subject to change.
It’s that time of year again. As days grow shorter and the calendar creeps ever closer to summer’s end, it’s time to think about heading back to school. And you can’t head back empty-handed, now, can you? You’ve got to gear up as if for battle. And Connecting Point has the right gear to win that battle…
A new MacBook. Apple’s MacBook offers the ideal balance of an effortless slim-and-light form factor coupled with the power to get things done. With new seventh-generation Intel Core processors, 12-inch Retina display,1a full-size keyboard, force-sensing trackpad, versatile USB-C port, and all-day battery life,2 MacBook features big thinking in an impossibly compact form.
It even comes in your choice of four stunning colors. Prices start at $1299.
Apple TV. Apps are now how you watch your favorite movies, shows, sports, and more. And it all starts with Apple TV. With the App Store on Apple TV, you can play big, exciting games on your big screen. You’ll also find apps that turn your living room into a fitness studio, a classroom, or a shopping destination. Add in the latest tvOS features and the Siri Remote, and there’s never been a better time to be a TV. From $149.
A new iPad.Four different sizes. Four different sets of capabilities. And four different price points, now starting at a super-affordable $329.
A new Windows laptop. Connecting Point carries the best and brightest in Windows portability, from industry heavyweights like Dell, HP, and Lenovo. And prices start as low as $300.
A new Beats audio solution. Like BeatsX, for example: the perfect wireless companion for your everyday life. With up to eight hours of battery life, you’ll experience authentic sound all day. With Fast Fuel, just five minutes of charging delivers over two hours of playback. The Apple W1 chip delivers easy pairing with your Apple devices and unique features like Siri integration. And the unique Flex-Form cable provides easy pocket portability, the included eartips provide comfort, and the secure-fit wingtips offer further stability. Shop the entire Beats line in our convenient online eStore, and have them shipped to your door or to our store.
UPDATE 05.25.17: Here’s Connecting Point’s Service Manager, Jason Kellogg (among others), in an interview about WannaCry and other ransomware hitting systems right here in the Rogue Valley. (Courtesy NBC5, aka KOBI Channel 5, the local NBC affiliate.)
You’re probably safe. But you really should make sure—now.
The first reports came out of Britain last Friday: The National Health Service found some of its Windows PCs under attack by a virulent piece of ransomware named WannaCry, foisted on vulnerable systems by a group calling itself Shadow Brokers. Then it attacked Germany’s national rail system. WannaCry exploits a critical vulnerability in Windows computers, a vulnerability that Microsoft had issued a patch for back in March. But for those not diligent with their operating system updates, many found their computers completely unusable, with a pop-up message informing them that their files were encrypted and locked. To release them, they needed to pay a ransom of £230 (about $300) to a BitCoin account.
By Monday morning, the attacks had surfaced globally, in particular in China, where many computers run on pirated versions of Windows and thus cannot be patched. The extortion scheme has now spread to 150 countries. Microsoft has pointed a finger at the U.S. government’s National Security Agency (NSA), which created hacking tools enabling this type of cyberattack – and then had them stolen by hackers. Ironic.
So are you at risk? If you’re using a licensed copy of Windows and have up-to-date security software installed, you’re probably fine – but let’s make absolutely certain.
Which versions of Windows are at risk?
WannaCry take specific advantage of a vulnerability in older Windows operating systems to infect and encrypt. These versions are Windows 8, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003. If you’re currently running Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, or Windows Server 2016 and have been diligent about system updates, you’re fine.
Here are some steps you can take to protect your PC from WannaCry:
If you don’t have a recent backup, make one immediately. Once WannaCry encrypts your files, your options become very limited. Restoring your system from a backup is one of them – but you can’t make such a backup retroactively. As we tell our customers: You should assume at all times that, 30 seconds from now, everything on your computer will go away… forever. You should always have multiple current backups, with at least one of them kept off-site (in case of fire or other disaster). Talk to one of our sales or service specialists about implementing a robust backup strategy as soon as possible.
Make sure you have the latest Windows updates and patches installed. As mentioned above, the security vulnerability that makes WannaCry and other attacks possible was identified and patched by Microsoft a couple of months ago – but it only works if it’s been installed. Windows 10 checks for updates on a regular basis, then downloads and installs them automatically. But in light of this recent attack, you should check to make sure you have the latest updates installed. To do this, click the Start button, then go to Settings > Update and security > Windows Update, and select Check for updates. Windows XP users can download a special patch Microsoft created to address this vulnerability. Find out how here.
If you’ve turned off Windows Update, turn it back on. Many users, weary of constant updates and patches, disable this important feature. Better to deal with a bit of inconvenience than risk infection by malware.
Use a good Internet security suite. PC Magazine has an in-depth review of the current offerings here. Get a good one, install it, and keep it updated.
Bring your co-workers into the loop. At your next staff meeting, budget time to go over “best practices” for using office computers. A good place to start: Don’t click on questionable links, and don’t open suspicious attachments. IT administrators should restrict user access to the company network to just the areas they need to do their jobs.
If you’re attacked, don’t hesitate. Act. Shut down the entire network immediately. Ransomware often threatens dire consequences if you turn off the computer or disable Internet access, but that is rarely the case. Security experts and law enforcement agencies warn against paying ransoms, since this only encourages fresh attacks further down the road. And paying the extortion fee does not guarantee your files will be unencrypted.
Get a Mac. While no longer immune to all viruses and other malware, Mac systems are far less prone to such infections. (The exception would be if you are running Windows on your Mac via something like Boot Camp or Parallels. Windows running on a Mac is just as vulnerable to WannaCry and other PC malware as any other Windows computer.) The same holds true for users running ChromeOS, Linux, or mobile operating systems like iOS and Android.
The experts at Connecting Point can offer assistance in making the transition from Windows to Mac as painless as possible (we’ve done it literally thousands of times). We even offer a monthly class to ease your switching journey.
