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.)

By now I’m sure you’ve seen those strange little bar codes popping up everywhere.  It started on the internet with sites like Google places and has moved to just about anything.  Movie posters now have them, products, stores, just about any where you go today you will find at least one of them.  So what are they and what are they for?

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.