New technology products come out with such rapid succession that sometimes it is hard to know what to buy and when.  Do you wait for that latest model phone to come out or do you get one as soon as your contract is set to renew?  Do you upgrade your laptop this year or wait a while to see what else is coming out from the various manufacturers?  Do you buy a desktop, laptop or a “pad”?  So many decisions to be made with technology on a regular basis that sometimes it can be completely overwhelming.

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.

Often the first thing we hear from a client is “I need this repaired.” Computer repair is what we do on a daily basis. We also take care of regular maintenance (think auto repair for your computer.) We pride ourselves in the fact that we have been doing this for about 18 years. We have seen all types of different technologies come and go. (Do you remember Divx?)

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.)

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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.

With the new release of the iPhone on Verizon’s network we understand that clients may have concerns or questions.  We’d like to help to clear up some of the confusion.  We found an article that tries to take some of the confusion out of the release coming February 3, 2011.  Just as a reminder the iPhone 4 has been out for almost 9 months.  Apple is releasing a new phone in July. Now of course this doesn’t mean that a new one will be quickly coming for Verizon.  We hope that this clears some things up for people.

From Website

Please see the article shared here.

Don’t forget that the first month in August is always tax free weekend at your retail stores. This includes most computers and other electronic equipment. The idea is to help lower the cost for things that are necessary for back to school. Please check out the link from the NC Department of Revenue for more information about what is included in tax free weekend and what does not qualify. This may be a way to find good deals on laptops, desktops, and other computer equipment. Just remember most stores know it is tax free weekend so they may only have small quantities available in store and if you need to special order, tax free may not apply.

Good luck and happy hunting.