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Rick

Dual Monitors

Adam has long used dual monitors on his computer. This week I saw two customers who moved to dual monitors and a third who is considering it as well. I’ve been thinking about upgrading to two monitors also.

What’s the big deal about two monitors? Two monitors give you the ability to spread your work out. Think of it in the same way as buying a bigger desk to work on….you get more space to spread out your work, stapler, adding machine and other tools. With your computer and two monitors, you get the opportunity to spread out your digital tools and work.

You have to see it in action to really appreciate the benefit With falling computer prices and cheaper flat screen monitors, this type of computing is becoming more common and realistic economically.

Do your parents a favor, follow through with your favors

Most of my clients are over 50 and a good portion of them are over 65. I have learned that age has nothing to with computer aptitude. Computer aptitude is determined 99 percent by computer attitude. Those who are not afraid or intimidated by their computer are the ones who learn the fastest, no matter their age, gender or religious background.

One of my primary goals with my business, with the show and with the newsletter is to convey the message that you don’t have to be a computer wiz to use a computer.

I have many clients who do nothing but email on their computers and I don’t in any way feel that they are under utilizing their computer. If your life is made easier in any way because of your computer, then you are using it for its intended purpose.

The adventures of Rick and Adam in Glenwood

Today Rick and I spent a while in Glenwood working on the handout material for our eBay class to be held on May 2 from 1-4pm. Rick had to get his VW Van worked on and so I went along and we made a business meeting out of it.

After the van was done we stopped at the only tech store in Glenwood (Staples) and looked at all of the computers (about six of them) and other goodies.

We walked over to the digital cameras and looked them over quickly. While we were talking a salesman came over and asked if we needed help. "Yes," replied Rick, "What is a megapixel?"

The salesperson gave a short definition. "Are more megapixels better?" Rick asked. The sales person’s answer was amazing in its accuracy yet it showed how clueless sales people can be about thier customers.

Differential Diagnosis

That’s a term I learned while in Physical Therapy skill. It means asking a lot of questions and doing a lot of tests to come up with the most likely cause for a problem. That skill alone helps me work with computer problems every day. Asking the proper questions and getting the sequence of events in proper order make me hone in on the problem quicker.

Yesterday, I worked on a computer for a customer who wasn’t home and it quickly reinforced my need for getting a thorough history of the problem from the computer’s owner. Without it, I’m probing blind and looking for the most obvious problems, but it makes the process much longer.

Oops…I hate it when I make mistakes

I’m always the first to admit when I make a mistake, but damn I  hate making them! Especially when the mistakes affect a customer I’m working with at the time.

While uninstalling yet another copy of the bloated Norton Internet Security today, I ran into the Norton Password Manager. Unfortunately, some of my work (like anyone else involved in a business) becomes repetitive and robotic and that can lead to potential problems. I was getting "click happy" when I ran into this program (that I honestly had not seen anyone use yet) and before I thought to ask the customer if he used the program, I had already uninstalled the program. Fortunately, I saved the data, but the program was history…even System Restore couldn’t get it back and he didn’t have the CD for re-installation.

Know your Internet connection types

Rick has called me a cheater for using my user group notes and product reviews in place of a daily column. So, today I am not only writing an official Shotgun article, but I am also turning it in early.

I have seen several clients lately who are using the full priced AOL dial-up service. That means they are paying $25.90 for dial-up Internet. One person even had a seperate line for the Internet (add on another $20/month).

This is proof that AOL is like crack.

I thought I would give a breakdown of alternatives to paying AOL’s outrageous price. Suprisingly, the solution does not have to mean dropping AOL, but in my opinion it should.

Alternative Operating Systems

Not really alternative, but I wanted to get your attention. Today, three of my customers were not using Windows XP. Two were Windows 98 and one was an older Macintosh. It’s always fun for me to keep my hands on some of these older machines to keep my mind agile.

I am always amazed at how functional and quick Windows 98 can be. One of the customers called because their 98 machine was running extremely slow. Within 90 seconds of sitting down at their machine, I knew what was wrong. She had upgraded to the newest and biggest version of McAfee Security possible. We don’t recommend the large security suites from McAfee or Norton for any computer, but for older machines they can mean pure death. It took her computer a full five and one half minutes to boot up with the McAfee installed. When we took out the McAfee and added AVG instead, the computer booted up in less than two minutes. She was amazed and satisfied.