Let’s start by defining “cloud services.”

Per Wikipedia the definition of Cloud is: the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet).

To simply put, the cloud is just services that you might have once had in your office but they are now being provided on servers that don’t physically reside in your location.  Anyone who has ever had a hosted email or web server has used “cloud” services.

More and more services are being offered as a resource.  There are more options for website hosting than ever before.  You can now get software as a service where you pay a small monthly fee instead of buying the software once for a large sum.  Many companies who are embracing change regularly prefer this method because it means they can update quicker than when they had to pay one time fees.

Businesses now have the option of hosting whole virtual servers for employees.  This means that all the company financial and business data that they need to run their operation live on servers hosted somewhere.  It means for less infrastructure for some businesses who may not want a physical office and who would rather run their business with employees in different locations.

Add to all this the fact that you can now have Microsoft Office virtually instead of on your computer.  When you would pay for one license before you had to install it on one computer and then you couldn’t use it again.  Now with Office as a service you can pay monthly and have the same programs on multiple computers because you log into their servers to get access to your software.

People are on the go more than they ever were before.  “Virtualization” is a word we hear more often than not.  The business model of 9-5 and everyone working from the office is changing.  Are you changing with it?

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions about “Cloud” services and what your company may be able to do to get a little less dependent on the office.

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.

There has been a recent increase in spoofing attempts through email.  A lot of our customers have expressed concern over receiving emails that have been spoofed.  So we have taken a moment to try and explain what it is and what to watch for.

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.

Today’s small business owners need their computers to keep business running.  No one can afford to lose time due to a hard drive crash or a computer virus.  Here are a few recommendations we’ve put together to help you keep your computer running as it should.  If you have any questions, please give us a call.

- 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.

We always recommend to our clients that they install an active anti-virus to protect their computers.  This means that we want you to install something that scans all the time whenever you load a website.  There are several good versions out there on the market today.  However, we also understand that budgets can be tight and people may turn to free options.  The only problem with this is that since they are free they are sometimes the ones that people will write new viruses to get around these.  The people creating the viruses understand that more people are likely to opt for the free versions.

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.

Today we are more able to be an office unto ourselves.  We can go to a WiFi hotspot and find a place to work whether it’s a coffee shop, a restaurant or even a hotel.  All these places accommodate us and make it easy to check our mail, surf the internet, and even work on projects when we have the time.  With all this ability to work on the go sometimes we forget what we need to do to keep our technology current to keep being able to work on the go.

Geeks.com has written a great quick couple of tips to make sure that your laptop will serve you anywhere you go.  If you have any questions about these items, then please don’t hesitate to contact us.  We would be happy to help answer any of your questions.

Every day new information is coming out about how new technology is hitting the market for computers.  We have always been fascinated by the idea of ever shrinking computers and putting more powerful computers into ever smaller cases.  The most recent computer to make the news is the Plug Servers.  These servers are literally plug and play computers that you can use as a file server right in your own home.  If you are more interested in a cloud approach then you can use one of these for that as well.  These are not going to be the most robust servers like your more standard Microsoft Business Class Servers or Home Servers but these give users an option to have a server when they don’t need something so large.

Geeks.com shares with us a great article about the new styles of these tiny little plug in computers.  Take a look and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Many computer users know how easy it is to walk out of their house and connect up with several open WiFi hotspots almost anywhere they go from Starbucks to hotels and from Barnes and Nobles to some downtown areas including Downtown Raleigh.  The one thing that most people forget is that these are open networks allowing us to connect at convenience, but not protecting us and our sensitive data that may be on the laptop that we are using at the hotspot.

Of course, we recommend anyone who is out using their computer at hotspots use at the very least an active security suite that includes a strong antivirus program.  If you have questions about which ones are best a computer consultant can answer that for you.

Here is a great article showing the risks of using public WiFi hotspots (using Starbucks as an example.)