Greetings from EagleTech Computer Service!
Here are some topics we will be covering in this edition :
- Password Protection
- Refurbished Computers
- Flash Player Pop-ups...Watch Out!
- Continue using Windows XP ???
- New hourly fees
Hey, Spring is here...finally...warmer days, enjoying the great Northwest scenary and places to visit. I know my wife and I are looking forward to some great times of taking our horses on trail riding campouts, clamming at the Oregon Coast, and walks in the mountains. I hope you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the region we live in this Spring and Summer.
Thanks for being the great clients each of you are...!!!
Tom Sparks
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Keeper Password Security:
All of us struggle with the number of Passwords we have to keep track of. I've found and enjoyed a program by the name of Keeper Security that I highly recommend. Here is a link that will take you to their website to consider their service:
Click here to visit their site
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Lots of Refurbished Computers:
Right now I have a nice selection of computers I've refurbished. Each of them have had the operating system completely rebuilt. The hard drives have been thoroughly tested to be certain they are in excellent condition. All of the Antivirus and Utility Softwares have been loaded. They all come with a good warranty to help you feel safe in your purchase. They are a great way to save money, with prices ranging from $125 to $399, with selection from laptops, All-In-One PCs, and Desktop models.
They come with one hour of free setup service, where I will transfer files from your current computer to the new one and setup your printer and network. Let me know if you are interested in any of them and I'll bring them right to your home or place of business.
Here is a link to my website for the refurbished units I currently have available:
Click here to visit my site
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Flash Player Pop-ups...Watch out!
If you are surfing the internet and at some point a pop-up box announces that you are lacking an important flash update or Adobe Flash Player update don't go for it...it's likely a scam to get you to click on it. The next thing you know you will find a warning that you have a virus and need to pay some company a fee to take that virus off. The offer to remove the virus is the outward manifestation of the virus itself. It's like a nicely dressed criminal knocking on your door telling you they are from your local utilities company and need to come into your home and inspect your phone line, or gas pipe, etc., and then once they are inside they tie you up and rob you.
So what to do? Simple...just close your web browser, then reopen it, type in www.adobe.com and on the middle right side of their page they offer Adobe Flash Player updates. Update your Adobe Flash and if the pop-up you saw was valid the next time you go to that page it won't pop-up. If it was a scam, and it pops up again, then you REALLY know to avoid it because you just updated Adobe Flash. Back out of that site and email me and let me know you appreciate being helped to avoid a virus...just kidding, you dont' need to thank me, but in your heart you will... :).
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Continue using Windows XP ???
If you have to run Windows XP beyond the end of support deadline of April 8th, security firm F-Secure has published some helpful information to help users do that safely. At the very least you should:
**Install all Windows updates up to and including the final update.
**Move off Internet Explorer as your default browser. Install Google Chrome or Firefox.
**If you are running Microsoft Office 2003, fully patch that and tighten up security. Be wary of documents from unknown sources.
**Remove any software not in use, including both third-party software and stuff bundled with Windows XP.
**Uninstall Java unless you absolutely need it.
**Install an up-to-date security product that includes antivirus and firewall. Most often these days I'm suggesting Avast.
**If possible, disconnect the system from the internet. If not, firewall it.
**Don't get complacent about security.
**Come up with a plan to transition from Windows XP to a newer operating system if you possibly can.
Right now I'm transitioning many of my clients to Windows 7. The software cost is $100 and the upgrade labor cost is $125. Let me know if you'd like for me to do this for your computer.
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New Hourly Fees:
Taxes and Expenses have made it necessary for me to increase my hourly fee by a small amount. It's been over two years since I increased fees, but between Social Security taxes, Federal Taxes, State Taxes, TriMet Taxes, Multnomah County Business Taxes, increased costs in gasoline and car repairs...and I just have to increase my fees by a small amount.
My new hourly Residential fee will increase from $35/hour to $40/hour, and my hourly fee for the business client will increase from $45/hour to $50/hour.
For those times when I am able to serve your repair needs by using the "Remote Service" internet connection approach the savings can be substantial for you. For remote service my fee is based on a "Per 15 Minutes" basis. If you only need 15 minutes or less service then the fee will just be $10 and I only invoice, if you prefer, when you have used one hour. I will keep a record of each 15 minute increment and send along an invoice when your service needs have reached an hour. My clients have found this to be a huge benefit to them and I'm happy to provide this type of service any time an onsite visit is not needed.
As in past increases I have always been willing to maintain my previous fee if increasing it worked such a hardship on you financially that it would mean you could not afford to have your computer repaired. Just let me know if this is the case for you and I will make a special adjustment. I never want to leave any of my clients stranded. The current standard fees in the Tech Support Industry range between $65/hour to $95/hour for the Residential client and $95/hour to $130/hour for the Business client, so I've always tried to remain far below other Tech Support providers.
I look forward to serving you for years to come!
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Best of success to you in all your computing.
I’m here to assist you when you need it. As just a reminder... my onsite residential fee is $40 per hour and for the commercial setting it is $50 per hour. For those times when working remotely with your computer over the Internet is a good option then the cost savings to you are substantial since I only need to charge on a "15 minute" increment instead of the full hour fee for an onsite visit. This means just $10 per 15 minutes and no billing until it reaches one hour. Once again...for any clients you send my way, who use my services for an hour or more, I'd be happy to credit you with $10 of free computer service at your next call. Do let me know if you send folks my way and I'll keep notes on that as a credit for my next visit to you, and don't feel embarrassed to remind me you would like that credit when I visit.
Thanks so much!
Your Computer Technician
Tom Sparks
503-577-4201
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