Technology has so many aspects, which are constantly
changing. Our monthly newsletter aims to demystify
the jargon and provide helpful advice and
information, on a range of topics that are relevant to
both home users and small businesses. Plus,
it's authored by CT Aspley's very own Sonia Cuff and
distributed to the Computer Troubleshooters global
customer base through our network of over 450
franchisees.
Find a topic that interests you and download the
full article (Adobe PDF file). Enjoy our back issues and make sure that you sign up
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"If
you have a presence on the internet (or if you are
considering it) then having your own internet domain
name adds to your credibility. It also means your I.T.
infrastructure can change behind it, but your customers
still have the same website address to visit. Your
domain name can also be used within your email addresses
(e.g.me@mybusiness.com instead of me@emailforfree.com).
This month we look at some of the traps of internet
domain name registration."
"Moving into a different
house or office can be very stressful, though many
moving companies offer practical tips for the packing
and relocation of your goods. So how can you ensure
that everything goes to plan with all of the technology
that you rely on? This month we offer 10 tips for
moving your technology."
"‘You
can guarantee that technology is always changing and
always improving. This is particularly true for
computer hard disk drives which provide the long-term
storage for your files. Not long ago, disk sizes of
250GB (Gigabytes) and 320GB would have only been needed
by businesses (who could have afforded them), but now
these sizes are accepted as standard for new home
computers.
This increase in storage capacity has come from an
improvement in the quality and cost-efficiency of the
components and the driving consumer need for more and
more storage space. It’s estimated that as much as 98%
of all information that exists today was ‘born digital’
i.e. it did not exist before someone created it in a
digital format. We’ve become a society that functions
on emails, websites and documents and all of that
information has to be stored somewhere. And that’s
before you’ve mentioned entertainment, with digital
photos, videos and music compounding our storage
problems. All of this is nicely supported by rising
internet speeds, which now make it possibly to email a
10MB attachment without taking 3 days to deliver it."
"‘Spam’
(also called unsolicited commercial e-mail) can just
seem like an annoyance, but it’s actually a thriving,
wealthy industry. How does this industry work and how
did you get caught in the middle of it? This month we
explore how ‘spammers’ earn a significant income and how
you can protect your main e-mail account."
"The
internet continues to rise in popularity as a resource
for people to research and source products, services and
even other people. This is driving businesses to
establish their own presence on the internet with a
company website. And, unless people know the name of
your company, they will most likely use a search engine
(like Google) to find out who can provide a particular
product or service in their area. So, getting a good
‘ranking’ (i.e. appearing on the first page or ideally
at the top) in the results can be a big advantage.
This has created a whole new science called ‘Search
Engine Optimization’ (SEO), or ‘the process of raising
web site visibility in search engines and directories to
increase targeted leads’. This month we explore a few
SEO tips to get you started"
March
2008 - Electricity - Friend or Foe?
"Most
technology depends on a clean, uninterrupted supply of
electricity. Unfortunately,
inconsistencies in your electrical supply or a sudden
complete loss of power can cause major damage to
computer systems and other sensitive equipment. This
month we investigate power problems and the devices that
are essential for protecting your technology
investment."
February
2008 - Staying Connected
"Do you expect your internet
connection to work when you want to use it? Do you
depend on this connectivity to run your business?
Unfortunately, the internet
consists of millions of
smaller domestic, academic, business, and government
networks, which are out of our control. It’s amazing
that everything seems to stay ‘up’ most of the time!
This month we explore problems which can impact your
connection to the internet."
January
2008 - Life Without Your Computer "Many people wait until
that fateful day when their computer crashes and then
they suffer the consequences. However, it is possible
to reduce the likelihood of some common problems
occurring, or address minor errors before they turn into
major outages or data loss. Many great options exist
for ensuring that your computer is maintained, protected
and monitored. But why would you pay for that? How
reliant are you on technology anyway?"
December
2007 - Electronic Greeting Cards "As
e-mail is more widely accepted as a communication method
for doing business, it is also more commonly being
turned to for sending good wishes to friends and family
members on special occasions and holidays. Slower,
dial-up internet connections used to limit us to sending
a text email as our message, instead of mailing a
letter. But now faster, broadband internet can handle
animations, movies and audio too. So, don’t be
surprised if you see more cards in your Inbox and less
in your letter box."
November
2007 - Remembering Secure Passwords "Passwords are your keys to accessing electronically
stored information. In many cases you may not notice
until it is too late that important details, regarding
your identity or your business, have been used. It is
critical to create ‘strong’ passwords and keep them well
protected, whilst also being able to remember them."
October
2007 - USB Devices
"Universal Serial Bus (or USB) has rapidly become the
standard for connecting devices to your computer. In
fact, many computers no longer ship with a floppy disk
drive as standard, but will have at least one USB port.
USB connectors are used by input devices (mice,
keyboards, scanners, digital cameras), output devices
(portable CD writers, printers), storage devices
(external hard disk drives, flash or USB memory
keys/sticks) and even decorations and novelty items such
as mobile phone chargers, flashing light snowmen, coffee
cup warmers and mini reading lights."
September
2007 - Important Technology Questions
"Asking for the price of a new computer is like asking
the price of a car. Although all cars have four wheels,
a roof and an engine, the similarities stop there. With
computers, as well as different brand names available,
there are many combinations of different component
specifications (e.g. processor speed, amount of
memory). Fortunately Computer Troubleshooters can help
you translate the technical jargon, but there is a large
non-computing side of the equation to ensure that you
are getting the best value for your money."
August
2007 - Printing
"It
is easy to feel overwhelmed by the large number of
printer models that are available. This month we look
at the two main types of printers (inkjet and laser) and
what to consider when making your purchasing decision."
July
2007 - Genuine Software
"The internet is full of deals for cheap computer
software, but you may not receive a unique, genuine
software license. Is there any harm in installing
copied or pirated software that is a fraction of the
normal retail price or borrowed from your friend? How
can you tell if it is a genuine, legal software
product? This month we explore how pirated software can
affect you and how to avoid it."
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