When you are a computer technician, you get just about every type of question and problem that could ever sneak into a computer system. The vast majority of our calls are because unwanted borderline Malware programs were downloaded to the host machine. In almost every case, these programs were left in and allowed by the computer user. It is human nature to want to try different advertised programs that promise to speed up your computer. The truth be told almost every program will do the opposite and slow it down instead. The running process of the program will offset any realized speed increase. Once a system is compromised by one of these Malware programs, you will need expert help in removing all the garbage that came into your computer. In almost all cases, you will get a full recovery of your system. Now that we talked about a problem that can be resolved, we are going to discuss a few that have nothing to do with your computer and are usually not fixable on a local level. One of the items on the top of the list that we get many calls about is that a website like MSN suddenly looks different. Since we are creatures of habit we like things to be the way that we want them. Unfortunately in the digital world, this is just not going to happen. Website designers are always trying to look for ways to change the way their website looks. The new format for many new websites will look very much the same, as they are often composed from some very similar templates. So when you go to a site like MSN that you have become used to and loved for many years and it is suddenly changed, there is nothing you or anybody else can do to change it. At this point you have a choice either to stay with the new design or change to a new website. This includes many online e-mail programs. These venders are continually changing the page formats making it difficult to find many features after the change. Another issue that we often get calls about has to do with the inability to navigate...
Read MoreAlthough the Internet is an integral part of marketing and business today, it has been around for a shockingly short span of time. In fact, it wasn’t until 1996 that the Internet really started to take off. Back then, dial-up connections were the only option, and the Internet was used more for research and informative sites than for sales and advertising. In fact, the easiest way to see how the Internet was used in the past is to use sites like the Wayback Machine that allows viewers to look at websites from as far back as 1996. It is easy to see how quickly the Internet changed from being a text-based research tool to the photo-based advertising medium of today! Take a look at this infographic from Dr4ward that shows how the usage of the Internet has changed over time. Today, the cost of Internet marketing tops $200 billion according to Forrester Research. Companies have realized that they can spend a lot less online to reach a much larger market than they can offline. The 1990s In the 1990s, the marketing potential of the Internet was barely touched. Google was one of the first companies to offer online advertising, and most of the advertisements were for sites with less-than-reputable reputations. Text links were the first online advertising methods, quickly followed by graphic banner ads and annoying pop-up advertisements. Search engine companies, like Yahoo! and Google started to bring in huge profits from online advertising. The Early 2000s In 2000, the Internet marketing bubble burst. Flashing banner ads were no longer considered appropriate. The speed of the Internet increased, meaning that additional interactive features were added. This gave users the option to turn off pop-up messages- which of course, most people did. This caused advertisers to have to look for new ways to advertise online. The 2.0 marketing trend was the result of this, which focuses on relationship-based marketing. Companies started to use social media tools and other interactive features to engage with customers and reach out to potential customers. Engaging, viral advertising campaigns were introduced. The Mid 2000s Right when companies started to realize that they could build their brand through...
Read MoreMany years ago, if you had a computer problem then you couldn’t fix yourself then your options were both limited and expensive. Often you would either need to pay for someone to come and visit you to fix it or carry your computer down to the local computer repair store. Fortunately today thanks to super-fast internet connections in the USA and improvements in software, your computer can be repaired remotely without needing to leave your home or office. Basic online computer remote support was enabled back in Windows XP, but today’s Windows 7 and the upcoming Windows 8 operating systems have amazing remote support built in. There are also several 3rd party software solutions that you can assist between your computer and your support technician. How does online computer remote support work? If you have never used online computer remote support then don’t worry, the basics behind the process are simple. Using software and a fast internet connection, you can allow another person such as a repair technician to remotely control your PC from anywhere in the USA or even the world. For example, imagine if your Microsoft Word software is not responding with an error message and you can’t access the important document you were working on. Your first call nowadays can be to a remote support assistant. Once they identify your machine and location, they will ask your PC for permission to connect to. You will find a pop-up box will appear asking for your permission to allow the remote assistant to connect. Once you grant them permission, the help desk will be able to control your PC including the cursor. In this example, they will be able to quickly read the error message, fix the software by perhaps installing an update patch or re-installing. Once the repair is complete, you can then click to deny them remote access and end the connection. As you can see, online computer remote support can be very useful and offer fast resolutions. Top 3 benefits of Online Computer Remote support: Below are 3 of the most popular features of online computer remote support: Speedy repair – If you’re used to waiting hours or even days for computer repair then you...
Read MoreNot all that long ago, it wasn’t all that common to hear someone say that they worked from home via their computer and phone. As a matter of fact, the term “telecommuting” is a rather new catchphrase. Now you hear it everywhere, from news channels to online communities, telecommuting is all the rage. Other terms you’ll hear are e-commuting, or e-work. Of course there’s the rare individual that sits in their beachside villa, catching rays and fresh ocean breezes while checking in on the office. But for the majority it’s a matter of avoiding a daily two hour commute in smog filled traffic or for others, being able to raise their children at home, and not rely on outside care. The way in which business is conducted is changing at lightening speed. Even more and more emails and texts are being sent in lieu of verbal phone communication. Both for speed but email and text provides another layer of documenting a conversation for future reference. With the increase in telecommuting the need for additional office space will be decreased with the majority of telecommuters carving out an existing home space to serve the purpose. We will see an even greater need for fast, accurate wireless data transmission as even more signals compete with available air space as well as satellite locations in outer space. Handheld devices have also increased triple fold and we’ll see even more in the future. Companies from small business to large global corporations are exploring ways to allow employees the telecommuting option. A low cost “perk” that draws valuable and talented workers to companies. More and more paper files are disappearing and the electronic record is becoming the norm. The great news it we’re saving trees and lowering our carbon footprint in the process. With telecommuting however comes the need for computer repair resources when computer glitches arise. Thankfully with the advent of telecommuting came the business of remote computer repair. Knowing that you have a repair technician available virtually anytime, anywhere there’s an internet connection is reassuring. Hopefully in the near future we’ll see an even greater amount of telecommuters. Perhaps reducing highway traffic, saving trees with less printed paper, and giving folks more...
Read MoreDo you remember the very first time that you sat at a computer and could “search” the internet? I can remember it like it was yesterday, and in some sense it really was. It was in the early 90’s and I was visiting a friend and they were in the process of setting up a Chicago branch office for their company. There in the corner of the room was a brand new computer and it was hooked up and online. I sat down in front of it and my friend opened a new “window” for me and said, here use this “search engine”, it’s the best. That was one of the first times that I had ever heard the phrase “search engine” and I remember just how odd the term sounded. Until then when I thought of search I thought of physically looking for something, like a lost sock or favorite book. The word engine just confused matters all the more as engines belonged in lawnmowers and cars didn’t they? Not in a metal box on the desk? Before me on the screen was an empty white box where I was to type something to “search”. I suddenly remember feeling completely overwhelmed. I was staring at a tiny box on a screen but I may as well be looking at an endless ocean. What should I type? What should I search? I took me a minute or so to even think of one thing that I wanted to learn more about. The concept of being able to change my mind and search on something else wasn’t present at the moment. I almost felt that I had only “one chance” to pick something so I better make it good. My friend said, “go ahead, search something”. So I took the leap and typed into the little box and have never looked back… What did we do before the internet? For most of my young adult life I didn’t own a computer, surf the web or even have a cell phone. Homework was completed using an old fashioned typewriter and notes to friends weren’t via text but rather folded up pieces of paper that you had to somehow pass across a...
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