By JAMES DERK, Scripps Howard News Service

For years, I have been harping on faithful readers to back up their computers -- or at least the data they want to keep.

Letters have filled the box this time around before we get to some product reviews next week so let's get right to them.
Q. I read that you purchased an Apple after many years of using a Windows machine. I am considering the same road and I am interested if there is anything you miss about the Windows world and if you could make the same decision again.

Obviously in these tough economic times more and more people are turning to online resources for networking, job hunting, support and even faith to support their road to recovery.

Questions piled in from my Midwestern readers following the ice storm that pummeled the region that left many readers with burned out computers and fried power supplies and motherboards. This topic is not limited to snow-covered regions so I thought I would cover those questions first.

Google is continuing on its path to world domination, this time releasing new software that extends the reach of its mail product onto mobile phones.

One of the frequent questions I get is how best to move stuff from one PC to a new one.
In many cases, the switch involves going from one operating system to another (like XP to Vista) so that makes things even more dicey.

I thought I would take some time out from playing "Mafia Wars" on Facebook to answer a few reader questions (and feel free to join my Mafia!).
Q. My anti-virus program said a program you recommended to clean my computer (ATF-Cleaner) is really a virus or a Trojan. What's the deal with that?

With the beta of Windows 7 released it wasn't but a day before the questions started to arrive about it. So I installed it on a spare desktop to see what the fuss was about. So I will answer your questions.

A new year has come and I thought I would take a few minutes away from Mafia Wars on Facebook to answer a few pressing questions you have tossed into my Inbox. Let's get right to them.
-- Q. I have downloaded the beta for Windows 7. Should I install it and what is the impact if I do?

The new year has brought new resolutions including a question from a reader who asked me about my recommendation for the best ways to back up a PC.