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Your Better Business Partner Because We Know Business Better... We Also Know Something About Computers |
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Question: I keep hearing about "Consumer Grade Computer
Equipment" and "Business or Commercial Grade Equipment".
What's the difference? Answer: Consumer Grade Equipment is
produced specifically for home and home office use. The internal components
are usually manufactured in a 4-stage process and carry a 12-month warranty.
Some manufacturers offer 3rd party warranty add-ons for additional fees. Business Grade Equipment is produced to
handle the stricter requirements of businesses. Most businesses don't have
time to call 1.800.TELETECH and have their employees try to make diagnostics
and repairs over the telephone. Business grade computers are made to last for
many years. The internal components are normally produced with a 7-stage
process making them fail less due to heat, stress, and static. Business Grade
Equipment normally comes with a 3-year on-site warranty. Question: Why can't I safely install any
software I want on my computer as long as my computer meets the software
developer's requirements? Answer: Software developers normally
test their software on the equipment that meets their minimum requirements;
however, the developer has no idea what additional software and or hardware
you may have on your computer. Nearly all windows based software programs share
files on your computer with other software programs on your computer. When a
new program is installed on your computer it overwrites several existing
files with its own files. When this happens, the new application may
adversely effect some older applications. Many times a new application may
cause the computer to not be able to boot. Before you install any software
application, READ the developers license agreement. Question: What main features
should I look at in determining the best computer for the money? Answer: The best computer is the one that was
purchased and lived up to its promises and your expectations. The most
important feature is the reputation of the company that produces the
computer. 50 watt speakers aren't as good as 40 watt after they've become
defective. 30 or 40 extra software titles aren't any good when they stop
working or you have to purchase upgrades from the developers before you can
use them. Many people feel that the best buy is the one that offers the most
processor speed, RAM, hard drive space, and software for the money. This is
not true, but it gives uninformed buyers a way to compare. Computers are like
automobiles. Cheaper is not always better, nor is the most expensive always
better. Question: What is a "Systems
Integrator"? Answer: A systems integrator is a
computer technology company that has the training and expertise to design,
install, and implement a complete office solution that provides information
technology solutions for one to hundreds of users on a Local Area Network and
or a Wide Area Network. A systems integration company will have many people
in its organization with many talents and expert training. Question: What is "IT Out-Sourcing"? Answer: IT Out-Sourcing is any
information technology assistance that a business employs from outside their
own firm. This can include Server Services as well as Desktop Services. Question: Why would a
company want to Out-Source IT rather than use their own employees? Answer: Evolution determined how most
small businesses are handling IT today. The average small business started
out with one computer and the company they purchased it from provided the
support. As time went on, they added more computers, then a network, then
even more computers. As the firm began to depend more and more on their
computers, support became a bigger and bigger issue. Downtime and upgrades
came to the forefront. Fires had to be put out and decisions had to be made.
No long term planning was ever made. Managers with no IT experience or
training made decisions based on the only factor they understood; money --
one is less than two. Rather than pay licensed professional technicians and
engineers they hired their brothers-in-law, or tried to make a runner or
other line employee their "IT Person". The biggest single mistake a
manager can make about IT is to think "There is nothing to this, my son
is a whiz on his computer and he's only nine years old. Anybody can work on computers".
In the drug addiction business it's called DENIAL. Someone with some IT
experience has got to be involved in IT decision-making. Just a
little information to ponder:
Every
firm is different. There is no fit-all solution. One firm
I know of has 30 computers and a full-time computer engineer. Another has
over 300 computers and out-sources all their IT needs. An
insurance firm hired and fired four computer science grads in less than a
year trying to meet their IT requirements. Each time the business had to hire
outsiders to repair the damage done by the new employee. Question: Why would I want to purchase an expensive
laser printer that only prints in black when I can get a color inkjet printer
for a fraction of the price of the laser printer? Answer: The cost of toner for a laser printer is
approximately 1.2 cents per page. The cost of ink for an inkjet printer is
approximately 5 cents per page. At just 1,000 pages that's a difference of
over $ 38.00. At 10,000 pages its over $ 380.00. Also, you need to consider
the duty cycle or meantime between failures of the printer you thinking about
purchasing. Depending on your workload, you may need both printers. Be
careful when you purchase more than one printer to connect to one PC. Most
PC's have just one parallel printer port. Most laser printers have a parallel
printer port. Also, if you have Windows ME on your computer it may not
support a new color inkjet printer. Be sure the manufacturer supplies a
Windows ME Driver. More To Come… |
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