As a technology company supporting local businesses, we at SeTech Support like to help ease the frustration of buying new tech.  We work with you and your budget to help spec out whatever it is that you think you might need for your company.  We are not afraid to tell you that we think you should skip this, buy that, or wait a month or two.  We read Consumer Reports and other technology magazines and reports so that you don’t have to.

We do recommend that if you are considering new technology for your company, that you don’t just go for the newest or shiniest thing out there.  So many times these items were rushed to market and may have flaws that won’t be found out right away.

A couple of good quick guidelines for shopping for new technology are:

1. Test it before you buy it.  Go into a Best Buy or similar store where you can touch and see and feel the computer, “pad”, or phone before purchasing it.  If you don’t like the way it feels to type on or carry then you are going to be unhappy in the long run.

2. Don’t let them sell you something that you don’t need.  A lot of stores make more money on accessories or services they offer than they do on the technology itself.  Most of the time the “optimization” that companies offer is not worth the extra money.  Also, it means that your technology has been handled by someone else before you got to open the box.  It could potentially mean less time on your manufacturers warranty.

3. If a new operating system comes out give it 3-4 months before buying.  If you are in a hurry and need something right away to replace something else, then see if they have the old operating system available for purchase still.  This now includes phones as well as computers.  New OS (Operating Systems) come out even faster for phones than they do for computers.

4. Don’t be afraid to say “No” to extended warranties.  Even though that tech may have cost you a lot, if you take precautions like surge protectors, UPS, Virus protection, and regular maintenance then you will probably never need that warranty.

5. Don’t just buy accessories where you bought your technology.  Whether it is a case for a phone or a laptop bag or just an extra cable, you may be able to find great deals online for accessories.

6. You don’t have to buy today.  Take a little time picking and choosing the right item for you.  You may find a better deal someplace else.  Also, don’t be afraid to check online to see if you can find the same model of item for less.  There are several great online dealers that buy in bulk and as such can offer huge discounts over a Best Buy or CompUSA.

7. Last but not least, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact a tech person.  We review things, test things, and work on all sorts of equipment day in and day out.  If you don’t understand what the difference between those two laptops or phones, we can review the specs and explain the differences to you to help you make the most informed decision.

Don’t let technology overwhelm you.  There is a lot out there and there will be more and more on the market soon.  We can help.

Computers have come a long way in a very short time.  In 1998 it was a big deal to have a new operating system that had just come out.  Computers were lucky to have a 16GB harddrive. 128 MB of memory was enough to handle the operating system and two or three programs at once.  We were still using dial up and the internet was still just this really new thing.  It’s now 2011, we have USB Flashdrives that are cheap for 16GB.  Most computers need a minimum of 4GB (32 times the amount of the 1998 computers) of memory to run the operating system and all the new high end graphics.  Things are evolving faster and faster.  Computers are now coming out with harddrives that don’t have any moving parts.  Solid State drives are now becoming more and more reasonable.

It is not easy to let go of things that we know even though technology is evolving faster than we can keep up.  New things are coming out every 6- 12 months.  So how do you know when it is time to let go of computer technology?  It’s not easy even from a business stand point.  Still remember, after the first 3 years you have pretty much gotten all the depreciation from new computer equipment that you can.  If it was a high end piece you might be able to stretch that out for 5 years.  If the computer starts to have problems at 2-3 years it may be time to look at something else depending on the problem.  Also remember the old adage is true even for computers, you get what you pay for.  Something cheap may be a great quick fix if you need something right away, but it is not going to be worth it to fix it because replace value is so low.

When laptops first came out they were big, bulky, and expensive.  Now, not so much.  Laptops now start at $250 for simple netbooks to just surf the internet.  Most laptops are given a 2-3 lifespan and batteries for laptops are given about a year.  If you buy a higher end laptop and it needs repaired in the first year or two, repair it.  Most laptops have a full year warranty.  If a laptop is low end and even if it’s only 2 years old, the cost of a repair could be anywhere from $90 – $180 or even more.  So why spend almost half of what the unit was worth just to repair it.  As long as your data is safe; replace the computer.

Desktops, however, tend to be a little more robust.  Their prices have not gone down as far as laptops but they also tend to have more processing power and more memory.  Overall they can do a lot of things that laptops just still aren’t quite capable of doing.  Most desktop computers start at $400.  If the desktop fails in the first 3 years it is probably worth it to repair it (as long as it’s not something intensive like a mother board issue which after the first year it gets harder to find the exact same motherboard and may have conflicts with newer hardware.)

If you aren’t sure of the value of your equipment and if it is worth it to repair or replace, I highly recommend finding a reputable computer repair person or center.  They will tell you if it’s worth it and most of them will only charge a small diagnostic fee that may be waived if repair is selected.  As always, if we can help, don’t hesitate to contact us.

For more information about repair or replace: please see Consumer Reports Magazine article “Repair or Replace It?” in the August 2011 edition. (On sale until August 1.)

This event started as a way for sci-fi fans of Firefly and the Serenity movie to have an outlet to be able to both watch the movie and give back. Each year the event has raised money for a charity called Equality Now. Over the last couple of years another charity has been added to the event called Kids Need To Read.

Both of these organizations are something that SeTech Support feels strongly about. This is our third year as a sponsor of the event. We are proud to help out in our small way and to give back to the community. Remember, events like these don’t happen without a lot of support and organizations like Kids Need To Read and Equality Now wouldn’t be here except for the support from various places. If you find something that you are passionate about and have a little extra money, consider sponsoring, donating, or helping in some way.

The rules have changed for disposing of old unwanted electronics in North Carolina.  All electronic items are now banned from landfills.  Please note that this means that if you have old computers or even old radios that you want to dispose of, you can not just drop them in your trashcan at the curb. More information about what is now banned from the landfill, please check out this site.

There are several options for recycling your old tech if you do not just want to haul it off to a local “convenience disposal center.”

First and foremost you can find a charity to donate your old technology and electronics to.  Just over in Durham, NC we have The Kramden Institute.  They work with under privileged children who need technology to help them get a better education.  There is also The United Way.  They support people who are looking to better themselves and get better work.  Also note, these are considered tax write offs because they are charitable donations to a non-profit.  **Note we are not tax consultants and any advice given here is solely based on general information only.  For exact write off amounts or any other tax concerns or questions regarding charitable donations, please contact your tax preparer or CPA.**

Also, you can try to take some of the metal components of the computers and go to a scrap metal recycling center.  This is one we found locally (we have not done any business with them so we do not use this as an endorsement of their business.)

When you decide that it is time to recycle your old technology and electronics don’t forget to remove any data that may be on a harddrive or flasshdrive.  Be cautious of your information.  Ask a computer consultant if you aren’t sure how to protect yourself.

1) What is spoofing?

A spoofing attack is a situation in which a person or program pretends to be another by falsifying data.

2) How do I detect spoofing and stop it?

First and foremost if you receive an email from someone and the text doesn’t sound like that person, do not open any attachments.  Second, check the email address.  If it’s someone like UPS, the US Government, US Department of Revenue, or any other large corporation or government agency then please go to their website and try to log in to check any items there.  Also, most large government agencies do not have time or money to email individual people.  Third, please see our last post about general PC Maintenance.  There we describe how to make sure you have adequate antispyware and antivirus protection.  Lastly, If you just aren’t sure, call or email the person who emailed you and see if they really sent an attachment.

The biggest one out there that we have seen making the rounds again is the UPS Notification of shipment.  There is a great breakdown of the one coming through email right now.  For more information, please check it out at the site linked here.

If you think that you might have been affected by a spoofing attack such as this, please do not hesitate to contact a computer tech.  We have tools that can help us remove it from your system before you become highly compromised.

- Best Practices for General PC Maintenance –

1. Anti-Virus and Internet Security

Be sure that you have both an active Anti-virus and a Firewall program installed.  Make sure they update at least once a day.  Check to make sure that it runs a full system scan at least once a week.  We recommend TrendMicro Internet Security Standard or Pro but there are many good ones out there.

2. Get a Second Opinion on Your Anti-Virus

Use another program to check for “malware” aka spyware, adware, viruses and even fake anti-virus programs. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and Spybot S&D are good to use and they’re free.

3. Backup Early and Often

Over the past few years external hard drives have become an inexpensive and easy way to back up your important information, email, pictures, and music.  You can even backup your information online or use a program that takes a snapshot of your hard drive.  Remember that hard drives are cheap, hard drive recovery isn’t.

4. Keep Windows and Internet Browsers Updated

Check to make sure that Windows and Firefox are set to download and install important updates.  This keeps your system up to date and patches security holes.

5. Use the Built-In System Tools

Keep your laptop or desktop clean by running tools that come with Windows.  Disk Defragmenter and Disk Cleanup should be run once a month.  You can find them at Start-menu, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools.

6. Watch out for Piggy-Back Programs

Make sure you carefully read the screen when you install new programs or updates and uncheck any extra programs.  Some software companies have started including these “extras” which can slow down your system or compromise your privacy.

7. Don’t Play With Electricity

Plug your computer, router, printers, and other equipment into a surge protector or even better a battery backup(UPS).  These are great because they keep a power surge from zapping your equipment during a power flicker and provide a few minutes of battery power so you can safely turn off your computer.  They are a little more expensive than a power strip but a lot less expensive than replacing your computer.

These are called QR Codes.  Google says the following:

This unique bar code on the lower right of the sticker (known as a QR code) lets customers – and potential customers – instantly learn more about a business, by visiting a mobile version of the business’ Place Page on any supported phone. Here’s more on how it works and what you can do with it:

1. Make sure your phone can scan a QR code with its camera, either with an application that you download or via software that’s already installed on your phone. To find out what application to use for your phone, we recommend doing a Google search for the model of your phone along with “QR reader”.
2. When you see a QR code, use your phone’s application to scan it. If you’re scanning a QR code on one of the window decals that we’ve sent to thousands of U.S. businesses, you’ll quickly be taken to that business’ mobile Place Page on Google, where you can:
   • Read reviews to see what other users think about the business
   • Find an offer that the business has posted to their Place Page
   • Star the business to remember to check it out later, or to remember to visit again
   • Leave a review right after you leave the business. What’s a better time to write what you think, than when you’ve just visited?

From Website

Note: the above QR code is the Google Place QR code for SeTech Support.

So that is one way that QR codes can be used, but if it can be used to pull up a website and allow you to type in a review… think of all the other things it can do for you.  Obviously this only works with Tablets and phones that have a camera and have a QR reader installed.  There are several QR readers out there and if you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact us.

From Website

Please see the article shared here.

The other problem with free anti-virus scanners is that since they don’t have a large budget, a simple update can cause major problems for different types of operating systems.  This can happen with any anti-virus program.  We’ve seen problems in the past with Symantec and the only fix is for a computer repair person to come in and repair your computer for you.  This most recently happened with the AVG free version.  An automatic mandatory security update went through and caused a problem with Windows 7 64 bit systems.  Now this affected only a small number of users because the 64 bit system is still not as standard as the 32 bit system, but never the less with Windows 7 popularity growing the OS and system is becoming more popular.  As we sit here writing this update on a 64 bit system Windows 7 machine.

Please be careful when you select an anti-virus client.  The more caution you use and the more research you do the better and safer you will be.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact one of our technicians.

For more information on the problem with AVG, please see Laptop Magazine’s link posted here.

We are very thankful for our clients and customers and we wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season.