posted Feb 12, 2010 12:56 AM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
February 2010
With much fanfare, Apple has now unveiled its ‘iPad’ computer. Weighing 1.5 pounds and being 0.5 inch thin, it delivers a 9.7 inch touch screen without the bulk of a traditional laptop. Opinions about the device range greatly from ‘revolutionary’ to ‘an oversized iPod Touch’. Computer Troubleshooters has scoured the reviews to bring you the facts about the Apple iPad and what you need to know before purchasing one.
1. Battery Life – The iPad will run for up to 10 hours on battery power. This is better than most laptops, but significantly less than electronic book readers like Amazon’s Kindle. This may mean you need to charge your iPad every night if you’re away from a power source all day. Don’t leave home overnight without your power cable.
2. Touch Screen – The familiar touch screen of the iPhone has been improved to suit this larger device and allow more precise control of the select, scroll, drag, pinch and expand movements of your fingers. The iPad also supports portrait and landscape auto-rotation viewing of compatible software.
3. Accessories – From productivity enhancements to just plain fun, extra gadgets can be found for your iPad. Serious considerations include a keyboard dock or a wireless keyboard, as an alternative to the on-screen touch keyboard. More light-hearted options include a plastic steering wheel frame for driving games.
4. Connectivity - The iPad supports today’s fastest wireless network connections. You’ll pay extra for a 3G version, which adds data capability across the mobile or cellular phone network. Note, this won’t let you make phone calls from your iPad.
5. Apple software – Out of the box, you get 12 Apple software titles including iPhoto, iTunes and iBooks. iBooks is your virtual bookshelf and reader for electronic books. You can also purchase the iWorks applications for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations.
6. Other software – Like the iPod and iPhone, you’ll have easy access to over 140,000 software titles currently available from the App Store. Whilst these are not yet fined-tuned for the iPad, Apple has released a kit to software makers so watch out for iPad-optimized programs soon.
7. Internet browsing – Apple’s Safari web browsing software is pre-installed, but it doesn’t support Adobe’s Flash software. Flash is used for animations on some websites (though it’s less popular now), so if you rely on web-based functions check if you need Flash or not.
8. Multi-tasking – Like the iPhone, the iPad limits you to using one application at a time. As an example, you can’t play music whilst visiting websites.
9. Media – Apple will tell you the iPad is the best way to experience photos, video and more. It certainly could replace the laptops carried by sales professionals for their presentations and provide easy, lightweight storage of service manuals for tradespeople.
10. Camera – One important omission is a camera, especially for this generation that is used to uploading photos and videos to social networking sites. The rumours say there is a cut-out in the plastic bezel for one, so maybe it will be introduced in a later version of the device? Whilst the iPad’s design and features may sound great, any technology has to match your needs and how you work. So, whether you’re looking to purchase a notebook, netbook or iPad, talk to your local Computer Troubleshooters to ensure you’re getting the best tool for the job.
Contact US for more details. |
posted Jan 18, 2010 1:48 AM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
January 2010
At this time of year, many technology experts unleash their predictions for the next 12 months. Instead, Computer Troubleshooters surveyed you, our clients, to find out what you want to see in 2010. Your responses did not include house-cleaning robots or flying cars, but focused on better core technology components like security, file sharing and internet browsing. Here’s what you told us will be important in 2010:
Protection: Were new gadgets on the top of your wish list? Actually no, the majority of our clients still just want to know that they are protected against viruses, spyware and hackers. Though many software programs can now be found containing anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spyware, anti-spam and firewall capabilities, it’s still number one on your list to know that you have the right protection and that it’s working to block the latest threats.
Upgrades & Replacements: Whether it’s for increased speed or improved reliability, 2010 will see many of you upgrading your computer systems. You used to only need a computer to write documents and spreadsheets, send emails and browse mainly text-based websites. Now you need it to handle things like video sharing and web conferencing, which are placing unprecedented demands on your old software and hardware. Computer Troubleshooters can help you choose the right edition of Windows 7 or replace your old, bulky CRT monitor.
Problem-prevention: This year, more business clients want their computer problems to be prevented in the first place. With Computer Troubleshooters monitoring your systems, you’ll find out about important errors that are currently going unnoticed, so they can be fixed before they cause bigger problems and ‘unexpectedly’ crash your computer.
Remote support: Secure connections across the internet mean that you won’t have to wait for us to drive to your site and we’ll be able to see exactly what you see on your screen. Although this isn’t new in 2010, we’re hoping the adoption of this technology will increase this year so we can fix more problems, faster.
Netbooks: Have you seen any very cheap deals on laptop or notebook computers? Check again and see if they are actually ‘netbooks’. These small, slim, lightweight notebooks are designed mainly for using the internet and are less powerful than full-featured notebooks. As interest in netbooks grows, 2010 will see even greater growth in the netbook market.
Mobile web access: Large screens in slim mobile phones and improved mobile data coverage now place the internet in your pocket. Mobile versions of popular websites already exist, designed to reduce the clutter and display better on mobile phones. If you want to attract this generation of people to your business, launch a mobile version of your website.
Home technology: Home computers have become less about information processing and more about entertainment and keeping in touch. An increase in the usage of digital music and videos is driving a need for even more storage space in your home computer. And with many homes now having more than one computer, music and video sharing should become even easier. Though we’ve yet to see internet-connected refrigerators go mainstream, entertainment devices like Blu-Ray players and game consoles now want internet access. We wonder what’s next! Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about how to use this year’s advances in technology to make your life easier.
Contact US for more details. |
posted Dec 12, 2009 8:12 PM by E S Ong
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updated Dec 12, 2009 8:19 PM
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Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
December 2009
As we start winding down 2009, it’s time to start thinking about plans for the year to come. For most of us this includes things like financial planning & budgeting, updating our business plan, updating our marketing plan, and perhaps some year-end tax planning too. But have you thought about your 2010 technology plan?
Not to worry, your Computer Troubleshooter has. That’s our job, researching and learning new technologies that can help our clients improve their operations and even save money in the new year. In 2009 for example we saw:
· The launch of Windows 7 & Mac’s Snow Leopard operating systems.
· The rapid rise of web-based email and collaboration solutions.
· A new generation of malware threats, especially targeting social media (Facebook & Twitter), online banking, and rogue defense software.
· More home media integration as customers want to watch their iTunes movies on their big-screen HDTV’s.
· New smartphones from Apple, RIM(Blackberry), Google/HTC and more.
What will 2010 bring? We’re seeing a rise in “business enhancement” technologies, like VoIP phone systems and electronic document management systems. In many areas we see small businesses and even home users adopting more “cloud computing” (web based) services rather than relying on local servers, and increasingly we’re being asked for advice on promoting our small business clients on the web. All these are areas Computer Troubleshooters is investigating and developing – but we need your help!
We pride ourselves on being YOUR IT department, so we would like your feedback on what is most important for you. Please help us out by taking 5 minutes to complete our easy, 5-question survey at www.techsolvedforme.com. Your answers will help us make sure we’re working on the programs and benefits that matter most to you.
As always, we thank you for your business in 2009, and we look forward to serving you in the years to come.
Survey: www.techsolvedforme.com
Contact US for more details. |
posted Dec 12, 2009 8:06 PM by E S Ong
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updated Dec 12, 2009 8:18 PM
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Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
November 2009
Albert Einstein said “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. So, sometimes we need to escape the tether of our desk. But what if you need access to files or emails to work on your business challenges? This month we highlight the things to consider when working away from the office.
If you only need a few key documents, you may decide to copy them onto a USB drive to take them out of the office. Be very careful if these files contain private information such as financial figures or customer records, as USB drives can be easily lost or even stolen. Consider USB drives with security features such as password access and encryption. You also need to keep in mind whether other people would need to access and possibly update those same files in your absence, as you don’t want to end up with conflicts where your changes overwrite theirs or vice versa.
You may be able to access your emails via any computer with internet access, using a web browser version of your email software. This would require you to enter your name and password and is then encrypted, using the same security mechanism as internet banking and online purchasing systems.
Email access on mobile phones is also becoming increasingly popular. If you’re worried about the large attachments that you receive and how big your phone bill may become, most phones allow you to download only a small part of each message first. You can then decide which emails you want to see the entire contents of and which attachments you which to download fully.
You can even remotely control your office computer across the internet from another PC, seeing and actioning everything as if you were sitting back at your desk. Access can also be granted so you can use the local disk drives and printers at your location, and copy and paste information between the two computers. This, however, would require your office computer to be powered on.
If you normally use a laptop, you may be able to achieve seamless connectivity back to your office using a ‘virtual private network’ (VPN). This secure channel across an internet connection allows your laptop to act as if it’s plugged in back at your desk, including synchronizing files for later use when you are completely disconnected.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the best remote access method for you.
Contact US for more details. |
posted Oct 24, 2009 10:04 PM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
October 2009
From late October 2009, new computers will start to ship with Windows 7, the latest operating system from Microsoft. This month we look at some of the features that may entice you to upgrade:
At Home:
Share nicely – With most homes now having multiple computers, the ‘HomeGroup’ feature makes it easier to share printers and files (including music, pictures and videos). Entering a password connects your Windows 7 computer into the HomeGroup, and settings control which files are shared and which remain private.
Take the music with you – Windows 7 and Media Player 12 allow you to access and play media files from your home PC remotely via the internet on another computer.
Snap & Shake – Time to teach your mouse some new tricks! Aero Snap activates when you drag a window to an edge of your screen. Left or right edges automatically make the window resize to a full ‘top-to-bottom but half screen width’ size. Drag to the top of your screen, and your window will retain its width but stretch out vertically to fill your screen from top to bottom. Aero Shake lets you literally grab and shake a window to minimize all of the other open windows on your screen.
At Work:
Find more – The speed of the Start menu’s search feature has improved significantly. You’ll see search results from files and Outlook emails stored locally on your computer, including the text contained within email attachments. Search also extends beyond just your PC and can be configured to include results from your company’s network drives and public websites, using search connectors.
USB secrets – USB storage (in either keys or portable hard disks) has become more popular for people working at multiple locations or for storing backups. With BitLocker To Go (in Windows 7 Ultimate edition), you can now secure files on these devices by encrypting them with a lengthy password. This password can be remembered on your regular PC, and if it’s forgotten, a 48 character recovery key can be used on any Windows 7 PC to restore access to your files. Just don’t lose your recovery key too!
On The Go:
Performance – Windows 7 requires less horsepower to run than Windows Vista. Independent publications have reported that ageing laptops running Windows XP have become more responsive with Windows 7.
Saving power – Numerous features have been added to automatically preserve battery life, such as shutting off power to unused network ports and reducing background activities. There are also more tweaks for creating your own power-saving schemes, including setting the video quality and processor cooling options.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about your options for upgrading to Windows 7.
Contact US for more details. |
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posted Sep 17, 2009 5:45 AM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
September 2009
Social media allows users to interact with each other and discuss shared interests. Popular social media sites include: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, MySpace, Wikipedia, Digg, Delicious, Friend Feed, Flickr, Ning, Skype, Stumbleupon and many more. However, the three most popular sites include Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn which is what we will discuss this month. If you are not currently on these sites, try one for a week. You may be surprised with who you find: competitors, vendors, news sources, your dry cleaner, even your elementary teacher. You will certainly notice the number of businesses that not only have accounts but also are advertising on the sites. Here are some tips to help you establishing yourself online.
Experience Social Media – If you are not already established, visit these sites and choose a user name for you or your business. Start connecting with friends, family, and neighbors. Also start connecting with clients, vendors, news outlets, and leaders in your industry.
Find your Audience – You know all of that money you spend trying to reach your audience with television, radio, newspaper, and even search engines? Your audience is already using social media – you just have to find them. Use the search function on the site and type in your ideal buyer keywords. You will find groups dedicated to your industry, hobby, neighborhood, and even your pet.
Create a Social Media Plan – Identify the goals of your social media strategy. Do you want to increase your customer base? Offer advice? Increase sales? Increase website traffic? Find your high school sweetheart? Whatever your goals, write them down and create a plan of action to achieve them. Plan how you will measure the success of the strategy.
Measure Your Results – One of the key benefits of social media is how easy it is to measure. Measure the number of followers each week using a simple spreadsheet. You can also measure how many times your company is mentioned, linked, or your content is redistributed.
Once you’re there, look for Computer Troubleshooters on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. We look forward to interacting with you online.
Facebook - ‘No Computer Problems’ and ‘Technology Solved’
Twitter - @NoCompProblems and @TechSolved
LinkedIn – Computer Troubleshooters Company
Contact US for more details. |
posted Aug 10, 2009 6:39 PM by E S Ong
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
August 2009 Most business owners would agree that it’s easier to provide more solutions to an existing client than it is to find new customers. Repeat business comes from providing quality and value, but also from keeping in touch with your clients, reminding them of your services and promoting things you think they can benefit from. Email marketing is an easy and effective way to remain at the top of a customer’s mind for that next transaction, as long as your email marketing messages are appropriate and effective. Although it may seem difficult for a small business to manage an ongoing email marketing campaign, there are many simple and effective tools designed to make this easy and affordable. This month we highlight what to look for in an email marketing tool.
List management – If you already have permission to use your customer’s email addresses and you’ve been storing these in a database, spreadsheet or email program, you’ll want to be able to import this information easily. Also look for easy sign-up methods that integrate with your website but also allow you to manually add extra subscribers. List groups are a great feature too, allowing you to segregate your subscriber list so you can deliver content targeted to that particular segment of your customer base.
Templates – You want to deliver emails that look professional, but don’t require a professional developer to create HTML code changes every time you want to send something. Look for a tool with a broad range of templates that are easy to modify and re-use.
Measurable results – By reviewing statistical information about your email campaigns, you’ll be able to fine-tune your messages and identify what is working and what isn’t. Look for the ability to report on things like how many of your emails were opened and how many people clicked on links to find out more information.
Approved bulk mailer – Internet providers and anti-spam services identify sources of large volumes of emails and can ‘blacklist’ them to prevent a spam onslaught. Look for an email marketing tool provider who is known as an ‘approved bulk mailer’ and is accepted by many ISPs and anti-spam services.
Anti-spam law compliant – As many countries develop regulations to try and limit unsolicited email, make sure your email marketing tool is compliant with any local laws. These may include having to list a physical address in your emails and having to process unsubscribe requests within 10 days. Other anti-spam features are also desirable, such as ‘opt-in’ confirmation emails and a one-click unsubscribe process.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the right email marketing tool, so your business can easily take advantage of the sales potential in your own current client base.
Contact US for more details.
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posted Jul 13, 2009 5:25 AM by E S Ong
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updated Jul 13, 2009 5:38 AM
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Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
July 2009
We often get asked “what’s the best anti-virus software?” however that’s like asking a group of people what the best car is. Raise the subject of anti-virus software with a group of computer experts and you will get many different opinions. Here are some things to consider when selecting security software for your computer:
Retail box or download - Many good software products are not sold in retail chain stores but are available for secure purchase and download from the internet. This sometimes makes it harder to ask questions about the product, but remember that the retail sales person has a vested interest in recommending the product that they stock. Just because a large chain store stocks the software doesn’t mean it’s the best software for your needs.
Impact on PC performance – This can be a tough area to gauge just by looking at the software description. Check out the ‘Minimum System Requirements’ to see which software needs more resources (e.g. memory). Also, consider installing a time-limited trial version of the software (if available) to test it for yourself before parting with your money.
Updates & upgrades – All anti-virus software should entitle you to download the latest information (updates) about any new viruses for free, for the duration of your license subscription. Some software products also entitle you to upgrade for free if a newer version of the software is released, whilst others make you pay an upgrade fee.
Price – Software licensing comes in many different configurations, so make sure you are comparing the same kind of software license when you are comparing prices. Factors that influence the price include how long your subscription is for (allowing you to download those free anti-virus information updates), how many PCs can use the one license and whether the software is being installed in a student/academic environment, home, business or not-for-profit entity.
Management – If you run a business with more than one PC, a ‘network edition’ may be right for you. This allows the updates to be downloaded by one of your computers and distributed to the rest of them, instead of each PC downloading the update. It also provides an overall view of whether the software is working on each PC and if any infections have been found. These features reduce the time (and cost) it takes to manage your anti-virus software across multiple computers.
Additional features – Many anti-virus software vendors now also produce ‘security suites’, which include firewalls and protection against spyware, malware and spam. It may be more cost effective and resource effective to run one product to handle all of these security aspects.
Trusted recommendation – There are many independent testing laboratories and software review websites that publish the results of their anti-virus software comparisons. Your local Computer Troubleshooter also deals with a significant number of computers every year and will have developed a preference for the software they believe does the best job with the least amount of problems. Find out what software your CTer recommends – chances are they know it well and use it in their own business.
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter about the best anti-virus solution for your specific requirements.
Contact US for more details. |
posted Jul 3, 2009 5:42 AM by E S Ong
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updated Jul 13, 2009 5:37 AM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
June 2009
Did you know that you can have all of the business benefits of a server, without physically owning a server? These benefits include a common storage location for shared information, email and calendaring features and remote access, to name a few. However servers are often thought of as an expensive initial purchase, requiring ongoing maintenance and future upgrades. If your business is seasonal you may find that your technology needs also peak and drop with demand, yet you have to allow for those peak demand times.
In most cases, a server is not running at its full capacity 100% of the time. Technology companies are taking advantage of this fact by letting businesses share servers. This is now made possible by a couple of key factors: ‘virtualization’ of software (which enables multiple software systems to run on one physical box) and high-speed internet access. ‘Farms’ of high performing servers can be created that you can access when you need them … and only pay for that access when you need it.
Servers are located in specialized ‘data centers’ which are designed to house multiple computer systems. The location of the center is irrelevant, as you access it via your high speed internet connection. The term ‘cloud computing’ has been coined, referring to the fact that in a computer network diagram, the internet is represented as a cloud shape. This kind of ‘on demand’ access has also given rise to terms like ‘Software as a Service’. This refers to your ability to pay for accessing software during the time period that you need it, for the number of staff you need it for at that time - instead of needing to purchase a license outright.
This centralized storage and processing capability is great if you have multiple locations that need to easily share information (e.g. use the same database), without you needing to build your own server infrastructure. If you grow your operations, you’re not faced with having to add additional server hardware. Your ‘server’ also benefits from the data center’s other features such as power redundancy, backup and recovery strategy and systems monitoring and management. Often this underlying management is included as part of your access fee.
The downside to not having your server at your location is that your internet connection becomes critical, as it’s your only access link to your information. Consider channeling some of your cost savings towards paying for a business-grade and some redundancy (such as a second internet line or backup cellular internet access).
Talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter to see if your business would benefit from having its server in the cloud.
Contact US for more details. |
posted Jul 3, 2009 5:34 AM by E S Ong
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updated Jul 3, 2009 5:29 PM
]
Computer Troubleshooters
Global Newsletter
May 2009
Did you know that when your computer is connected to the internet, it has over 131,000 ‘ports’ that a hacker could connect to? These ports are like doors in a building and if they aren’t protected properly, then someone could sneak in without you noticing. If the hacker is not installing a virus, they can still do some serious damage without alerting your security software, including transmitting your personal information. So how do you watch all of these doorways to your information? You need a firewall!
In construction terms, a firewall is a fire-resistant wall that subdivides a building to stop the spread of fire from one area to another. In computer terms, we need to stop communications between your computer and others on the internet. A total block of all internet communication would be useless though, so you need a way of selecting which type of communications you want to receive. For this, computer firewalls have rules and filters much like construction firewalls have access doors.
Where do I put this firewall?
Firewalls can be on a hardware box (a separate unit or part of your internet modem or router) or can be software installed on your computer. Most popular security software packages also include a firewall. A hardware firewall is great for providing a barrier before your computer is even reached and will also mean that your computer doesn’t have to spend its precious resources on running the firewall software. It also reduces the risk of the firewall itself being compromised, as some viruses can try and disable security software features that are running on your computer. The downside is that a hardware-based firewall can be more expensive and not as easy to configure and maintain if you are unsure of how to use them.
If Microsoft gives me a firewall, do I need another one?
The Windows Firewall (on Windows XP Service Pack 2 and Vista) only examines inbound communications coming into your computer from the internet. If your computer becomes infected (e.g. if you install some free software that turns out to have a hidden nasty) then your outbound communication to other computers on the internet won’t be examined or filtered. This can turn your computer into a source of infection, impacting your security and internet connection. It’s also not recommended that you run more than one software firewall as this uses more processing power and can cause conflicts, so if your security software includes a firewall, turn off the Windows Firewall.
If I have a secure wireless connection do l need a firewall?
A wireless connection is another way to get onto the internet and wireless security controls who can use that connection. This is similar to allowing who can plug into your phone line. Once you are connected, your 131,000+ ports are still open to hackers, so you still need a firewall. A firewall may be included on your wireless router but it pays to check.
Why does it keep on giving me messages?
If you are doing something specific (like installing new software or troubleshooting a connection problem) you may need to temporarily disable your firewall. Software firewalls may alert you that a connection has been attempted and blocked and may ask if you wish to allow that kind of connection in the future. In general, if you are doing something new which would probably involve a connection to the internet, you can allow the connection - either ‘this time only’ or for all future connection attempts. If in doubt, block it, as you can always allow it later if you find that it is needed.
Firewalls provide an enhanced level of security that has now become the minimum standard to protect your computer. They do require a certain level of knowledge or a great computer support person, so talk to your local Computer Troubleshooter to ensure that you are protected.
Contact US for more details. |
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