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Archive for March, 2011

Yesterday, we spent about three hours trying to convince a client of ours that brand new computers just don’t come equipped with the all things that most computers need in a PC. We tried to convince him that a fully functional computer is one that is personalized with specially selected hardware and software accessories – and that the computer purchased at the store doesn’t come with these things. Unfortunately, all of our convincing was to our avail. Our client insisted that he should never need more than what came with his boxed product and that we were just trying “bilk” more money out of him.

As computer consultants, it’s our job and mission to make sure our clients are 100% satisfied when they walk out our offices. But our job is unnecessarily made harder when people don’t take the time to learn about computer accessories and familiarize themselves with the limitations of store-bought computers. Hopefully by the time you finish reading this article, you’ll understand the lesson that we were trying to teach our client: “What comes out of the box is really just a starter kit.”

The typical computer package comes with a CPU unit, keyboard, mouse, and speaker set. That may be just fine for some, but most people require more than that especially in today’s “connected” society. Today’s users require full multimedia capabilities, a wide range of graphics tools, and accommodations for the various portables we now enjoy. These extras aren’t included with “what comes out of the box,” and the only way to get them is to accessorize.

To illustrate the importance of accessorizing, we like to use the “plain dough” analogy. Let’s say that a brand new computer is a batch of plain dough – waiting to be flavored and baked into something useful. If we want to use this dough to make a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies, we would need to “accessorize” this dough with chocolate chips and a little brown sugar. If we want to use this dough into in a warm loaf of sesame seed bread on the other hand, we’d need to “accessorize” the dough with yeast and sesame seeds.

Like “plain dough,” the brand new computer isn’t very useful by itself. It needs accessorizing.

Depending on what’s needed, accessorizing doesn’t need to be expensive.  In fact, you can get away with paying a minimal amount for extra software and hardware if these accessories are for children. It’s when these accessories are work requirements or when they’re needed to produce works of quality for any other reason that they can become rather expensive. And this expense applies to microphones, digital cameras, PDAs, scanners, video cams, and more.

Regardless of cost, it’s important to understand that accessories can become “necessities,” and that the best time to get them is the moment you buy a new computer. Waiting too long to accessorize can cause more problems than necessary because while you wait, manufacturers continuously develop new technologies – technologies that your computer won’t be able to accommodate in the future. Once you’re ready to accessorize, the new products on the market are too advanced for your computer and they just won’t work. This is a typical problem experienced by those who want to use hardware designed for Windows Vista on a Windows XP or Windows 2000 machine.

One of the best career opportunities in the IT industry is the computer training job.  Computer training jobs can take place in a variety of environments.  However, these type of jobs are very stable, the hours are scheduled in advance, and the reward of helping someone succeed in advancing their career are among the top reasons for working in the field.  In fact, it is even possible to work a computer training job from home, as a personal tutor to those seeking training in a variety of arenas in modern computing.

In other areas of the computer technology industry, work can be unsteady, depending on the incoming work orders to stay busy.  In addition, in many capacities, IT professionals find themselves on call during all hours of the night, the weekends, and even major holidays.  With a computer training job, you’re set!  There are no weekends, no night classes, and no holidays (unless you sign up for them in advance – there’s no last minute calling you in).

So what type of computer training jobs are available, and where do you find them?  Some local mom and pop repair shops would be glad to host a weekly class aimed at the community to bring in business.  They might not pay you directly, but you could charge an admission fee for your class and any reference material you might provide.  While this type of computer training job seems more on the entrepreneurial side, it is all up to you.

Another opportunity for someone wanting to work in a computer training job could be working as a consultant for the small businesses in your area.  Most small businesses use computers in their day to day operation, but many cannot afford a full-time IT person on staff.  This presents an opportunity for the right person to come in and present weekly or monthly employee training classes.  There is a wide variety of topics that could be coverd in such a computer training job, such as basic network troubleshooting, file maintenance, Internet security, and the like.  If you want to be your own boss and have a computer training job, you will have to think outside the box.

Of course, there is the formal type of computer training job.  These positions usually present themselves at the local college or university level, as well as at the corporate office of bigger companies.  However, the one downside to this type of computer training job is that it will most certainly require a degree, not just a certification in your field.  Any of the aforementioned computer training job ideas would present well just having a major certification under your belt in the area you are looking to conduct classes in.  The halls of higher learning, however, require a much stricter criteria for hiring the teachers for their classes.

The bottom line is that if you want to experience a fulfilling area within the IT industry, finding a career in a computer training job is one way to certainly do it.  From the standpoint of the entrepreneurial computer expert, there is no better way to take back control of your time and your life than developing your own career path.  Put your best foot forward and come up with a great idea.  Remember, think outside of the box, and you can find yourself working in a computer training job in no time at all!

Many consumers have figured out that the internet is a great place to get merchandise at great prices, and ATV’s are no exception. There are many different places online where you can find a great deal on an ATV from Retailers websites to manufacturers and even auction sites such as eBay. The internet gives consumers the ability to browse hundreds of different models and makes price comparisons easy.

Shopping online for an ATV does have its own set of challenges, the biggest one being that you cannot test drive the ATV you will be purchasing. There are ways around this, however, and other things you should keep in mind when you are shopping for your next ATV online.

One of the best things about shopping online is how easy it is to compare prices. With just a few clicks you can see what each competitor charges. You should always research prices yourself; do not assume that a website has the correct prices for their competitors even if they claim to. It does not take much effort to price shop online so take advantage of it. You can also check the websites of local dealerships to see if they will be running sales that you can take advantage of.

If you are new to ATV’s or don’t know which type you want, the internet may not be the best place to start your search. Begin by checking out ATV’s at your local retailer or dealership to get an idea of what you like. You can use the internet to get suggestions by visiting ATV forums and enthusiast websites. You can get plenty of advice online about what type of ATV will be right for you and get answers to all of your questions without pressure from a sales person.

When you shop online you cannot always be guaranteed that the ATV you are purchasing will be high quality. Shopping from an online retailer with a good reputation or from an individual with good feedback is one way to ensure the ATV you purchase will be of good quality, or at least as advertised. Do not hesitate to ask questions via email or phone about the ATV you are considering purchasing. If you cannot get an answer or the company tries to give you the run around, I is best that you go else ware.

Since you are purchasing an ATV online, it is impossible to test drive the ATV you like and get a feel for it. This is the down side to buying online, even though you can usually fin deep discounts over local dealerships.

The way to get around this problem is to decide on which model you want and then go inspect and test drive it at your local dealership. Granted this only works if you are buying a newer ATV that can be found at a dealership, as you will have a hard time finding the exact used model you may be considering. If you are buying a newer ATV model, go check it out locally before you buy it to make sure you will be happy once it arrives.