Spring is Here and we're enjoying the signs of it here in Eagle Creek...hope you are too wherever you reside...
Here are some topics we will be covering in this edition :
- Cloud Backup Special Extended!!!
- LinkedIn Invitation Explained
- Buying a new Computer?
- Our changing "Moving plans"...
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Cloud Backup Special Extended !!!
Ever lost your smart phone or had a hard drive crash? We keep a lot of our lives on digital devices now, and that important data needs protecting. Here's an opportunity to make sure you never lose your data again!
IDrive Online Backup, an award-winning cloud backup solution, is offering a special, exclusive offer this week: 75% off IDrive for only $14.88 for the first year, normally $59.99 This is a secure, affordable way to keep your critical files safe from data disasters. IDrive also makes your data accessible from an unlimited number of devices at no extra charge!
IDrive's features include:
Universal Backup - Backup on all of your devices at no extra cost. This saves you money, and ensures that your entire network is secure and linked up.
High-level Encryption - IDrive offers the gold standard for encryption: military-grade 256-bit AES. They also offer Private Key Encryption, allowing you to choose your own unique key phrase so no one but you can unlock your data.
Cross-platform Compatibility - IDrive supports PC and Mac computers, Android and iOS devices, and a host of servers including Linux and Windows.
IDrive was recently honored with the 2015 PC Mag's Editor's Choice award, in which they stated that "IDrive does just about everything you need an online backup service to do—and more."
To sign up for a year of IDrive's Online Backup solution for only $14.88 (marked down from $59.50!), simply click here.
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LinkedIn Invitation Explained...:
Some have asked why I presented an invitation for them to connect with me via LinkedIn and if it is something I think they would benefit by doing.
LinkedIn is a great business social networking site and is widely used by those with small businesses who are looking to create network relationships with other small businesses for the purposes of learning about their businesses and their services that might be beneficial, and also to provide them with what you are doing with your small business and the services you are offering.
If you don't have a small business or aren't interested in developing a business network then you would likely not find much benefit to joining LinkedIn and would therefore want to just delete the invitation. I have personally found a connection to LinkedIn to be a great way to share my Computer Technical Services and have enjoyed learning what others are doing too. You might want to visit LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/static?key=what_is_linkedin to see what they are up to.
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Thinking of buying a new computer?
I'm frequently asked "Tom, I'm going to be purchasing a new computer and I'd like to know what you think I should look for...". Here are some elements I encourage you to consider:
Brands I see the best results from: Lenovo, Toshiba, Dell
Processors: Intel Core i5 or AMD Phenom II x4
Processor speed: Nothing less than 2.2GHz
RAM: Nothing less than 6 gigabytes
Hard Drive: Nothing less than 1 terabyte
Laptop or Desktop? Generally I'm going to suggest a Desktop unless you are planning to travel and want to take your laptop with you. For the most part, unless you are a business traveler, I think you will far more enjoy traveling with a tablet PC like an Apple iPad or a Galaxy Tablet.
The reasons for leaning you away from laptops are as follows:
- Laptops tend to run hotter and heat is the enemy of a laptop.
- If a Laptop is set on a cushion, bed, floor, or table cloth those environments tend to smother the breathing ports and the motherboard overheats.
- Laptop screens and hinges are prone to be bent and cracked,
- Laptop keyboards are prone to have liquids poured into them, and
- The wireless features are less reliable than a fixed Ethernet connected desktop.
If you do purchase a Laptop you will need to decide if you need the following:
- A removable tablet screen? (an added expense)
- A touch screen or non touch? (touch is more expensive)
- A CD/DVD player?
- A backlit keyboard
And finally...which operating system to choose? Windows 7 or Windows 8.1??? I'm going to encourage you to choose a Windows 8.1 computer, though I think Windows 7 is an excellent operating system.
The reason I'd lean you towards a Windows 8.1 is because soon Microsoft will be launching their all new Window 10 and most Tech Support Agents, who have been beta testing it, indicate Microsoft has finally gotten the Windows 8.1 bugs worked out. Also, there is word that Microsoft will upgrade everyone who has 8.1 to 10 free of charge. Finally, most web developers are building their websites with Windows 8 and 10 compatibilities and to remain with an older operating system will eventually leave many web pages delivering you error messages that will be a hassle.
As always...if you do purchase a new computer and need it setup, configured, and all your current data from your retiring computer transferred to your new computer, I'd be happy to come out and take care of this for you.
I'm not a big fan of extended warranties, nor is Clark Howard the now famous Consumer Advocate, but each person should evaluate that issue for themselves.
Generally I don't recommend you purchase the cheapest model offered at your big box store...usually manufactures cut the quality of all the components in their cheapest models and you probably won't be happy with the performance. I usually suggest your anticipating a price somewhere between $450 and $700, rather than in the upper $300s.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy your new computer.
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Our Changing Plans...
Some have asked about our moving and traveling plans...so, here they are as of today...we have pretty much decided to not place our house on the market, which means we'll stay local for at least another season and be very available for onsite service with a continued encouragement towards the remote approach with TeamViewer.
As far as traveling...well...we aren't as certain on that yet. We had thought we'd travel from October through March but we are less certain of those plans. We'll keep you posted. For now we may take a week or two here or there through the summer but we've got you covered either by myself when we arrive at our destination or by Chris Moore at MetroPCWorks. Either way we'll do our best to serve your every computing need on a continual basis.
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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 $45 per hour and for the commercial setting it is $55 per hour and will continue through the month of March. 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 $12 per 15 minutes. 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 $12 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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