It’s Time for a New Laptop

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Tiffany

There are many reasons to purchase a new laptop, from needing something with more power to just plain wanting something new. With places to purchase laptops popping up all over the place both online and off, it can be a little overwhelming when you start your search. Which brand do you buy? What do you need in the laptop to do what you need to do? How do you get the new laptop to have everything from the old laptop on it?

Are You a Good Laptop or a Bad Laptop?

We’ll let you in on a little industry secret: there are good laptop manufacturers, and there are not so good laptop manufacturers. Some manufacturers make very good quality laptops at very good prices. Some manufacturers make not so good laptops with low quality parts and very low power. The old adage is very true in that you do get what you pay for. In our experience, we find that some laptop manufacturers are in our store for repairs far more often than others, and there are studies done by outside companies that support those figures. By doing all this research, we’ve already done the first step in deciding on a new laptop for you. We don’t even offer the lower quality laptops for sale in our store!

Junk Software, Updates, and Patches, Oh My!

When you purchase a laptop, a lot of times it has more than just Windows installed on it. Many times, you’ll see trial versions of antivirus software, games, and other things that will just annoy you in 30 days to purchase them if they are not removed. On top of that, most manufacturers don’t do all your Windows updates and patches before shipping the laptop out. We know how much of a pain in the butt it can be to wait for your computer to restart itself over and over again before you even get a chance to use it, so we do all that work for you!

Pay Attention to the Data Behind the Curtain

Surely, you have data on your previous computer that you’d like to have transferred onto your new computer. The question is, how much are you going to be charged to move the information from that machine to the new laptop? While software programs themselves cannot be transferred, things like documents, spreadsheets, pictures, music, and videos can be moved. Some companies charge up to $100 to move your data over, but Computer Works doesn’t charge at all when you purchase the laptop from us! (some restrictions apply)

There’s No Place Like In-Home Setup

Bringing a new laptop into the house can be like bringing a new pet into the house; you have a lot of things to do before your household is back to normal. Your new laptop will need to be set up to connect to your wireless network, along with any printers or other peripherals you have. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can schedule an in-home appointment with one of our technicians to help you set everything up at a discounted rate!

We’re Off to See the Warranty…

When you purchase a new laptop, 99% of the time you are not purchasing it from an authorized warranty repair center. This means that regardless of whether you take the machine back to the place of purchase or not, it’s going to be sent out to the manufacturer. At Computer Works, while we cannot send the machine out for warranty for you, we can do a complimentary diagnostic and tell you what you need to tell the manufacturer to speed up your warranty repair. We can also, for a small fee, back up your data before you send the computer out.

Now, That’s a Horse of a Different Color

Ultimately, purchasing a new laptop is all about using the information you’re given to make the best decision for you. You may have done research online, but what if there is a question they didn’t ask? Who do you go to then? Computer Works thrives on face-to-face interactions with our customers. You like to ask questions, and we like to give answers. If you have something you want to know, would you rather wait on hold for someone in an overseas call center that might not even have an answer, or would you rather stop by or call to speak with someone directly who will try their best to get you the answer to your question? To us, the answer is simple!

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How Can We Help You?

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Tiffany

Nowadays, it almost seems like the ‘service’ has been taken out of the ‘service industry.’ When you call, it’s almost impossible to speak with someone on the phone, and when you do get a real person, they’re outsourced from a foreign call center. When you stop by, you’re treated like just another number, looked down on as nothing more than an annoyance.

Computer Works would like to put the ‘customer service’ back into the equation. Read on to find out how.

Hey, I Know You!

The last time you went to the store, did you see the same faces behind the counter that you did the last time you were there? Probably not, but at Computer Works, the answer is probably yes! We make sure that we hire knowledgeable, friendly employees that come back, day after day, to serve your computer needs. With this low turnover rate, we know that you’ll develop the kind of personal relationship with our staff that you can trust will treat you like family.

Vis a Vis

When you have questions, you want answers. And when you’re getting computer work done, you want personal, one-on-one attention that shows that the company cares about your computer as much as you do. Every time you walk in the door, your computer will receive the personal attention we give our own machines from the moment you drop it off until you pick it up.

Don’t Toss It – Fix It!

When something happens to your car, do you go out and buy a new one instead of repairing it? Of course not! Why would you do the same thing with your computer? Many computer repairs are not nearly as expensive as many other repair shops would have you believe. At Computer Works, we take a ‘repair first, replace last’ approach, knowing how much of a hassle it can be to get a new computer running the way you want it to.

Over 30 Years Combined Technical Knowledge

When someone is working on your computer, do you want them to be fresh out of school, or do you want them to have been in the business for a while? Obviously, you’d want the person working on your computer to have been working on computers for a long time. That’s how it is when you take your computer to Computer Works. Our technicians have been in the business for over 30 years between them, and there are very few problems they have not come across answers to.

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The True Value of the Used Computer

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Tiffany

Not everyone needs a new computer. If you are one of those people who needs to be on the bleeding edge of technology all the time, this article is not for you. But if you’re the kind of person who just wants their computer to do what they ask it to do, read on to find out why a new-to-you computer may be better for you in the long run.

Lower Initial Cost

Let’s be honest; used computers cost less than new computers. It’s a simple fact. However, just because a used computer costs less doesn’t mean it won’t perform as well at certain tasks as a new computer. Many things, such as internet browsing, checking email, and word processing, don’t take very many resources to do… and do well. If you were to take a brand new computer that could practically launch a spaceship and hook it up to dial-up internet, it would still only load webpages at dial-up speeds. The speed of the internet is primarily decided by your internet provider, not your computer.

I Don’t Want Someone Else’s Problems!

If you purchase a computer from a friend, you are very likely inheriting whatever problems they may have had with the machine. That’s not true when you purchase a new-to-you machine from a reputable company like Computer Works. We go through all used machines before they even hit the floor for sale. We check things like the RAM and hard drive to make sure that they are working properly. We make sure there are no blown capacitors on the motherboard that can cause issues down the line. Then, we wipe out all traces of the previous owners and reinstall the operating system from scratch. All these steps ensure that you get the best computer for your needs, without having to worry about someone else’s problems.

Great for Kids

Either a used desktop or a used laptop can be one of the best investments a parent can make for their children. Not only will it keep problem children off the parents’ machine, but it will help to teach responsibility by giving them the option to do their homework on their own time, without being too distracted by things on the internet, hopefully. We’re finding that many households are becoming multiple computer households, as different school-age children need the computer all at the same time, leaving no time for the parents to spend time on the computer without sacrificing sleep.

First Time Users

Used machines are great for first-time computer users. With their low cost to get started, their known-to-work software, and Computer Works’ technical support just waiting to answer your questions, you really can’t go wrong with a used machine as a starter computer. This is especially good for those who aren’t sure they want a computer in their home, so the low initial cost means that if you decide it’s not time for a computer, you’re not really out much for just trying it out.

The Second Computer

As we stated earlier, a used computer is great for those households that are just looking for a second computer. Whether it’s because someone is monopolizing the internet or you just want your own machine, a second computer can be a godsend when it comes to keeping the household happy.

Computers are machines, and machines break. The second computer in the household can also keep your family from being stranded without a computer while the primary machine is in the shop. If your family is the kind of family that needs a computer up and running all the time, a second computer can be the difference between a week of headaches and a week of sanity.

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What Is the Best On-Site Backup Solution for My Home or Business?

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Tiffany

There is absolutely no excuse to not back up your data, even if it is only a few files that you would miss. If nothing more, you can use something as simple as a flash drive to save a copy of your data, and that $20 ounce of prevention now will save you easily a $1000 pound of cure down the line.

So what should you use to backup your data? That, ultimately, is up to you, but we do have some suggestions depending on your level of commitment.

External Hard Drive with Automated Software

The most basic solution for a single-computer backup is using an external hard drive with the automated backup software offered in either Windows 7 (Backup and Restore Center) or OS X (Time Machine). Both of these programs offer an automated solution that you only need to set up once, and they will continue to back up the data you set them up to back up until you tell them otherwise.

Pros: No fuss after initial setup; Automated; Very low setup cost

Cons: Can take up a large portion of your external hard drive if not set up properly; Computer must be on and external hard drive must be plugged in for backup to take place; Can be a headache if used for multiple computers

External Hard Drive, the Copy and Paste Method

If you don’t have Windows 7/OS X or don’t trust an automated backup, you can still use an external hard drive for your backup. Instead of using the automated software, you can manually copy and paste the files you want to back up to the external hard drive.

Pros: You choose exactly what gets backed up when; You can easily double check to make sure items were backed up; Little to no set up required

Cons: If you don’t remember to back files up, they won’t be backed up; If you’re not sure what to back up, you could miss important files; Can be a headache if used for multiple computers

Network Attached Storage

A network attached storage (NAS) device is basically a small, lower powered computer that has a lot of storage space. This computer connects to your network, usually through your router, and acts as a storage device for all computers connected to the network. Using a NAS device, you can easily use either an automated backup like those found in Windows 7/OS X or use the copy and paste method for multiple machines.

Pros: One device to back up multiple machines; Since the device is plugged into the network, no computer necessarily has to be powered on to do the backup; Usually has a very, very large amount of storage

Cons: If the network goes down, the device cannot be accessed; NAS devices can be a little slow when it comes to data transfer rates; Since multiple machines are backed up, you can accidentally overwrite possibly critical data

Blu-Ray and DVD Disks

Depending on the amount of data you want to back up, DVDs or Blu-Ray disks can be used to back up your important data. Depending on your burning program, you can create data disks using that, or copying and pasting using the Windows utility.

Pros: When the backup is done, you have a backup that usually cannot be overwritten; Very inexpensive if you don’t have a lot of data; Useful for backing up either single or multiple computers

Cons: If you backup your data frequently, you can quickly amass a large amount of disks; The more you back up, the more disks you need to use; Disks can easily be damaged, damaging the data on them

USB Flash Drives

USB flash drives are like miniature external hard drives. They have flash memory for storage, which means there are no moving parts inside the device at all. They come in sizes ranging from 2GB all the way up to 64GB.

Pros: Flash drives can be used to back up a small amount of files on multiple machines; They are easy to carry around with you if the files are needed elsewhere; They are pretty inexpensive

Cons: These items are easily lost or stolen; They can only hold a small amount of data, so if you need to back up large amounts, you will need multiple drives; Flash memory only has a finite number of writes – which is how many times data can be changed on the device – before they fail

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Commonly Misused Computer Terms

Posted on April 17, 2012 by Tiffany

If you’ve ever had a computer technician look at you funny when you asked them to do something to your computer, you may have been incorrectly using one or many computer terms. Many people assume they know the meaning of some of these terms, and whether used correctly or incorrectly, they are often the biggest source of confusion between technician and customer when it comes to computer repair.

Browser, Web Browser
This is the program you use to access websites on the internet. The most popular browsers at this time include Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, and Opera.

CPU, Processor
The CPU – Central Processing Unit – is the main brain of the computer. It is the physical component that does all of the computing and data processing for the computer.

Encryption
The process of obscuring or hiding information so that only authorized individuals can access it.

Firewall
A firewall is a piece of software that restricts access to and from the individual computer. Ideally, a firewall will prevent unauthorized access from outside sources, but a firewall will not protect you from all malicious software. Firewalls allow for exceptions, which are items that you permit to go back and forth through the firewall without having to ask your permission. Many pieces of malicious software trick you into allowing them as an exception to your firewall.

Format, Reformat
To format a computer is to wipe out all the data from the hard drive of the computer. To reformat the computer is to format it again.

Hard Drive
A hard drive is a physical component to the computer that stores the information for the computer when the computer is powered off. If things are not stored on the hard drive, they will disappear when the computer is powered off.

Log
A log is a file that includes information regarding how you interacted with a website. A cookie is an example of a type of log file.

Memory
Memory is not a good word to use when trying to describe a particular component in your computer. Memory can mean RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read-Only Memory). There is a big difference between the two. Use ‘RAM’ or ‘Hard Drive’ instead of just memory.

Motherboard
The motherboard is a physical component that could be compared to the spine of a human. All components inside the computer connect to the motherboard in one way or another. The motherboard allows the other various components to talk to each other inside the computer.

Obsolete
Many people use the term ‘obsolete’ to mean ‘not the newest’. In truth, ‘obsolete’ means ‘no longer valid or able to be used.’ Obsolete computer equipment includes things like machines that run DOS or punch card computers. Obsolete computer equipment does not include last year’s model of laptop.

RAM, Random Access Memory
A RAM chip is a physical component that affects the speed of your computer. RAM is the place where the processor does all of its calculations. The more RAM you have, the less you tend to see of the hourglass or wait symbol. Think of adding RAM as similar to adding horsepower to your car.

Reboot
Rebooting the computer is physically shutting the computer off, and then turning it back on.

Spam
Spam is the digital equivalent of junk mail received in your mailbox. It is usually unsolicited and sent to many people at once in hopes that even a small number of those people will click on the links inside for whatever purpose the original spam writer desired.

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