Computer Troubleshooters

Once upon a time we managed our lives and ran our businesses without email. 

In the 1960s and 1970s, email existed as a text-only messaging system for people connected to the same mainframe computer.  Today, nearly every teenager has an email address and it is now viewed as a ‘mission critical application’ in most businesses.  Now we’re struggling with email overload.  We’re receiving newsletters, defending ourselves from unsolicited commercial email (spam) and email viruses and sifting through work requests from clients in amongst jokes and recipes from friends. 

 This month we look at how to tame the constant flow of information and turn email into a productivity tool, not an overflowing bookshelf.  

What’s in your Inbox? – Your answer to this question should not be ‘everything’.  Your Inbox should be as empty as possible and should only contain current, short-term items to be actioned.  Emails usually fall into three categories:

                1) To be read (interesting but not urgent)

                2) To be actioned (things that I have to do)

                3) For my information (discussions between other people that I need to be aware of)  

Category 1  emails can be read now if you have time, or moved into a folder called To Be Read.  Go back to this folder to review any unread newsletters etc. over lunch or over a coffee.

Focus on maintaining category 2  emails in your Inbox and moving everything else.  Send any replies or action any items that can be handled quickly and immediately (e.g. requests for information that you can retrieve easily).  Avoid ‘email tennis’ by including options in your emails, for example instead of “when are you available to meet?” say “I’m available today at 2pm, tomorrow at 4pm or next Friday at 10am – which one would suit you the best?”. 

Category 3  emails can be read and deleted or filed into a folder if you really want to keep them for later reference. 

Folders – Folders can be used for retaining historical information, or for splitting up emails that still need addressing.  For example, create a folder called ‘To be posted’ for email enquiries that require something to be sent out in the post.  Then you can easily access all of these enquiries at one time to prepare the postal mail at the end of the day or end of the week, instead of searching for them throughout your inbox.  If you’re keeping an email ‘just in case you need it again’ it should be in a folder, not in your Inbox.  If you want to keep the latest jokes and recipes, place them in their own folder too or consider a separate email account for personal communications.

Protection – It’s essential to have a solution in place for handling viruses and malware that are sent via email.  You can also lose a good portion of your day just deleting spam emails, so consider a solution that will prevent most of those messages from hitting your Inbox in the first place.

Mobile access – Instead of being a constant interruption, receiving emails on your mobile phone can empower you to quickly reply, file or delete a message without being near a computer.  Now a few days out of the office won’t require an hour when you return to sort through a hundred missed messages.  If you want peace during a weekend or holiday, just turn the email connection off.

Give us a call,  if you’d like to know more about email protection, setting up folders or receiving emails on your mobile phone.

Fred Givhan, Owner
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363-6013
info@fixyourpc.net

As I wrote a few weeks ago, I still hope schools will embrace the iPad so that we get rid of the backpack!

Ok, here are 10 things to know about the Ipad.  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’.  I have 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 trades people.   
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 rumors 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?

While 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 us first, to ensure you’re getting the best tool for the job.

Fred Givhan
support@fixyourpc.net

Backing up your data!

Both Home Users and Office Users are equally guilty of not doing OFF SITE Backups.

Your computer maintenance list should include Data Back Up, right next to Virus Protection.   Data Loss is preventable.  If you are not maintaining your computers properly, you will have a problem and you can quote me on this!  You are running a huge risk!

CAUSES OF DATA LOSS

The most common cause of data loss is your computer’s hard drive failing. The hard drive in your computer will not live forever!  Eventually it will break and it will do so without warning.

Another cause of data loss is power surges or power outages.  We have seen a power surge fry an entire motherboard and destroy the file system on a hard drive.  The entire hard drive was lost.

Virus attacks are another cause of data loss.  Many computer viruses will delete files on an infected machine.  That’s why Virus Protection is just as important and Data Back Up.

WOULD YOU REALLY MISS THE DATA?

Do you have anything important on your computer, worth backing up?  Here are few things that come to mind:

• Email addresses
• Emails – Current and Old
• Browser Bookmarks
• Client Documents – Contracts and Negotiations
• Work Presentations
• Personal Finance – Records, Budget, QuickBooks Files, Spreadsheets
• Personal Files – Travel, Recipes, Correspondence
• Family History Project – Genealogy, Video, Photos, Documents
• Photos
• Music

This is not a complete list but will give you an understanding of how important your computer data is rather it is for personal or business use.

TRUSTED SOLUTION:

Instead of waiting until something doesn’t work, being without your computer and paying a large amount of money to fix it, why not try work to PREVENT this problem from happening.  We have a managed solution call HOST that is the equivalent of ONSTAR for your computer.  For $30.00 per month-per computer, we will maintain your computer, save you time, prevent downtown and in the long run save you money!

Fred Givhan, Owner
Computer Troubleshooters
6803 Hillcrest Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
214 363-6013
info@fixyourpc.net

1 YEAR HOST SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES: 

• FREE ANTI-VIRUS ($40 value)
• FREE ANTI-SPYWARE ($40 value)
• *PRE-SCREENED* WINDOWS BUG FIXES
• 1 REMOTE TUNE-UP ($99 value)
• CRASH AVOIDANCE AND SYSTEM HEALTH MONITORING
• QUARTERLY PC HEALTH REPORT
• UNLIMITED ONLINE BACKUP ($50 value)
• 20% DISCOUNT ON ADDITIONAL SERVICES! 

No more computer problems!! How does that sound? While we can’t guarantee you won’t have any problems, We can reduce the chance of downtime dramatically.   

HOME & OFFICE SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY FEATURES: 

• H.O.S.T. Warns you of potential problems.
• H.O.S.T. Ensures safe patch updates.
• H.O.S.T. Protects against Virus and Spyware.
• H.O.S.T. Securely backs up your critical data offsite.
• H.O.S.T. Speeds your PC with a Tune-up ($99 value). 

Stop computer problems before they start! 

The kids in our neighborhood, mine included, get the best education from our Highland Park schools but how many of these kids, have back problems?  From personal experience, my kid's backpacks are so heavy that they would make a marine flinch!  Hopefully, this new iPad will be embraced in the school system someday! 

Here I have put together some articles relating to the iPad.  Hope you enjoy...

• Intro on the iPad
• First Impressions
• Kindle vs Ipad, Which is better for Education
• Ipad vs Kindle
• Stephen Colbert at the Grammys with his Ipad

Check out this article about Windows 7 Godmode.  Now, this is worth the upgrade! Click Here