Do you want to get more out of your computer investment? Call me at 1(254) 291-6871. The initial consultation is free. We’ll spend about an hour discussing your needs and you can decide how much you can benefit by having a full-time Information Technology Specialist at part-time costs.

My goal is to provide cost-effective expert advice on computer technology issues to the small businesses in Central Texas.

Trained and Certified Professional

15 Years Personal Computer Experience

15 Years experience as a Trainer

Free Initial Consultation

Locally owned and operated

Certified QuickBooks Professional Advisor

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Services Available

Assessment and Setup

I can help you determine what you need in order to do what you need done, help you get it at the best price, and help you get it working.

Training

One on one sessions, concentrating on tasks that you need to do. I’ll try to open your eyes to the potential of automation and make sure you are working the most efficient way. The best training starts with you asking, "How do I…?" Topics can include Windows, Microsoft Office products, WordPerfect products, QuickBooks and other popular packages.

Workgroup Lan installation

Sharing of printers and files in your office could potentially save you lots of money and time. I can help you decide if you can benefit from a LAN, and help you set it up if you can.

Custom Programming

Every business is different and one size doesn’t fit all. I can help you get the most out of your existing setup by building applications that let you work the way you want to, not the way someone else thinks you should. You’ll see a return on your investment sooner than you probably think.

Telephone Support

Many times you need the answer to a "How-To" question right away. I am available during normal business hours and many problems can be worked through with a phone call.

Web Page Upkeep

Are you on the Web? Do you need to be? I can help you decide if you can benefit from a web page and if you can, help you find the most efficient way to go about getting it done.

Networking

One thing that small business owners can do to get more production from their computer setup is to network the computers. Local Area Network , or LAN, hardware is becoming less expensive every day. Depending on your configuration and need for speed you could possibly get set up for less than the price of a decent printer. There are several things that are helpful to understand before deciding to network your computers. I have listed a few of them here to help you get started.

It is important to remember the difference between a LAN and the Internet. A LAN is the type of network you could have in your office or building, connecting two or more computers together. It allows the users to share a printer connected to one computer, and allows corroboration on a project between operators on different computers. The Internet is the worldwide network of computers and routers. It is possible to be on a LAN and not on the Internet, on the Internet and not on a LAN, on both or on neither.

First, consider your current software, especially mission critical software. Most new software is completely safe for use on a LAN, and will take advantage of it, while some older software will completely ignore that it is being used on a LAN. There is also some software that will not work in a LAN environment without special upgrading. This information is usually contained in the documentation of your software or can be found by calling the software producer’s technical support line. Being absolutely sure of this information before you begin installing a LAN is critical to your success and will save you many hours of delay and frustration.

To help decide if installing a LAN is worth the cost, consider the two main benefits of installing a LAN, sharing of expensive peripherals and the sharing of files. For example, if you only have one expensive laser printer and two computers in the same office, it is usually less expensive to install a LAN to share the printer than it is to buy a second printer for the second computer. However, if sharing the printer is the only requirement, it might be less expensive still to install a switch between the two computers and the printer. Keep in mind, it is also possible to share other peripherals, such as high speed modems, by installing special software on a LAN.

The most compelling reason to install a LAN is that it will allow you to form a workgroup. Allowing operators to easily share files can greatly increase productivity. Operators will not have to interrupt each other for copies of files or stand around waiting to get on a certain computer because that computer houses the hard drive where most files are stored. With a LAN you can form a workgroup to allow access to those files from the other computers in the office.

Once you have decided that a LAN is worth looking into there are other considerations concerning how you use your computers and the security you will require that will influence what type of LAN to install. If you have questions, call me at 1 (254) 291-6871. I use a service to take messages for the benefit of all of my clients. I know you wouldn’t want to be interrupted by a call during our consultation time. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

Certifications

Operating systems and today’s software packages represent years of work by highly specialized engineers. Look for certifications that directly relate to your situation. For example, if you are using Novell networking software, look for a Novell Certified Engineer or administrator. If your operating system is Windows 95 then look for the Microsoft Certified Logo and a Certified Product Specialist. If you need an enterprise environment, look for a Microsoft Certified System Engineer. In addition, there is an A+ certification for hardware technicians.

These certifications don’t guarantee the abilities of your consultant but they do indicate that he or she has demonstrated a high level of expertise, believes in standards and has the drive to be the best. Results of research by independent agencies has shown that certified employees are more likely to be rated as competent in all aspects of their job, especially those areas tested, than more "experienced" non certified employees. I guess you could say that you don’t have to be certified to know a lot about computers, but you have to know a lot about computers to be certified.

Protect your investment

Back up your data. Know your applications and back up your data regularly. There isn’t any reason to backup your whole system everyday, just your data. Trying to back up a large harddrive to tape is too time consuming and usually gets neglected. Back up once a week if you can, but at least once a month.

Get an anti virus program, or two. There are different types of viruses and virus scanners. Know what kind of virus you are susceptible to and have the appropriate virus scanner.

Use a surge protector. Buy a good one and protect the modem if you have one. Stay off of the phone during lightning storms. Surge suppressors aren’t designed to protect against lightning,

Buy good equipment from reputable dealers. Some people won’t put their name on their products for obvious reasons.

Defrag and scandisk your drives on a regular basis. If you have errors, get ready to put in a new drive. Your drive will fail, it is just a question of when. Be prepared for it.

Don’t believe everything you read in magazines about new products, make sure that you are familiar with what the product will do on your system.

If you have a problem with crashes, keep track of the steps that led to it. It is a good idea to write down the error message exactly, so support people can help you.

Back up your data! Oh, did I say that already. It is the single most important thing you can do to prepare for a failure!