Confused about Smartphones??  How they can save you time, what apps to download?  We’ve heard your cries and help is on the way!

Don’t miss this free webinar to see how smartphones can streamline your business!

If you’d like to learn how smartphone integration can increase your efficiency and productivity, join us for a FREE informational webinar:

Discover 11 Smartphone Power User Apps, Tips and Tricks that will Boost Your Productivity!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 11:00 EDT

In this FREE webinar you’ll learn:

• Our favorite tips, tricks and apps to improve your business’ communication and synchronization across multiple platforms
• Ways to get the most out of your Smartphone’s performance
• How to extend your battery life
• How to make your sure your smartphone is secure 

To thank you for your valuable time all webinar attendees will be entered into a drawing for an iPad giveaway! 

Now’s your chance to sort through all the smartphone confusion to find the right mobile technology solutions for your business.  You’ll learn about our favorite applications and how adopting smartphones for your business can improve productivity and efficiency.

Register now to reserve your spot at www.everonitsupport.com/smartphone

Thank you,

Michael Cooch

Everon Technology Services 

Share on Facebook

Microsoft Windows XP has had a long successful life in the business world, but its time has come to an end. Oct 1st 2010 was the last day most vendors like HP and Dell released hardware with XP downgrade rights. This means that it is time to prepare your organization for Windows 7.

Are You Ready?

Everon has created a program that will help you determine your organization’s readiness for Windows 7. Our Windows 7 compatibility evaluation is designed to verify if your network is ready for Windows 7 or if upgrades are needed, and will provide you with a complete plan for your transition to a Windows 7 environment.

For a limited time, we’re offering our Windows 7 Compatibility Assessment for 50% off

Our Windows 7 compatibility assessment is designed to verify if your network is ready for Windows 7 or if upgrades are needed, and will provide you with a complete plan for your transition to a Windows 7 environment.

We’ll check:

• Printer Compatibility
• Software Compatibility
• Line of Business Application Compatibility
• Hardware Compatibility (if upgrading newer machines)

Register today at: http://www.everonitsupport.com/windows7 for 50% off your Windows 7 Assessment

Offer expires August 31, 2011

Thank you.

Share on Facebook

Everyone loves getting a new laptop. It’s fun to have a bright, shiny new piece of technology, even if you don’t consider yourself a “nerd”. Whether you are in the store trying to pick one out yourself or trying to describe what features you want in your new laptop to a potential gift giver, there is a  lot to consider.  And with all of the options out there , it’s hard not to get lost in shopping shuffle.

To ensure you select a laptop or netbook that’s right for you and your needs, consider the two most important questions to ask (both to yourself and the salesperson) when laptop shopping are: “What am I going to use it for?” and “What do I need it to do for me?”

1. What am I going to use it for? - What will the primary use of this laptop be? Is it for work or for play? Will you be editing lots of Word documents on it or mostly surfing the web? Is it going to mainly stay stationed on your desk or will you be carrying it around all the time? Do you need a big screen, or do you want it to be ultra portable?

If you’re looking for a comfortable size to carry around with you regularly, stay 13 inches and under. 15 inches is also definitely do-able, just make sure you look into the model that you want and actually pick it up so that there will be no surprises after the purchase when you’re lugging it with you. Most people feel that 13 inch laptops are the happy medium - good for travel and big enough to use all day at work on your desk

2.  What do I need it to do for me? - Do you need a lot of hard drive space and memory? Is the speediest internet possible a must? Is gaming important to you?

As for specific specs, some general rule of thumbs to go by for pretty much any laptop or netbook purchase:

A few other pointers:

Make sure the laptop has:

- A Dual-core CPU
-2 Gigs of ram if running Windows 07, 1 GB on netbook
-A minimum of 160 GB hard drive
-Wireless 802.11 Wi-Fi

If you’re seriously considered making a purchase soon, your wallet is in luck. The ever-competitive laptop market has allowed prices to come down - or at least plateau pretty nicely. Many companies are now upgrading the features in their hottest models without budging the price at all. A prime example of this is the macbook, which has had tons of enhancements made to it over the years but still costs $999.  You can shop around and find a decent netbook for anywhere near $299 - $399.

The latest editions of laptops come with great battery life, LED screens and more and can be bought for $700-$900. Anything that costs $999 or above in considered super-premium and will be sure to make you smile with all its bells and whistles. If you don’t have that kind of money, don’t fret, the laptops in the normal price range still have plenty of tricks up their sleeves for you!

One more question… Should I buy the warranty? - I always say yes to this one. But, when it comes to warranties (whether it be Mac or PC) your best bet is usually to purchase the one that comes directly from the company who makes the computer, not the store.

Happy Shopping!

SS

Share on Facebook

1. Don’t open emails from unknown sources -  Email is the main source of worms, viruses, and Trojan horses. Be especially careful not to open any attachments from an unknown source.

2. Protect your PC with antivirus - If you don’t have an antivirus software on your PC, you’re dancing with disaster! Never click any of those “Free antivirus software, click here!” pop-up ads. They actually GIVE you viruses. Make sure you purchase antivirus from a trusted, well known company. And once you have it, make sure it remains up to date at all times. To ensure that you’re using the right antivirus software for your needs, please talk to your IT provider.

3. Scan everything - Scan all discs and downloads for viruses before running them.

4. Maintain all updates - This does not only go for the patches mentioned above. Make sure all system updates are installed. If you run Windows, visit the Windows Update website. It has the answers to your operating system needs.

5. Watch your downloading and clicking habits - Be careful what sites you download things from off of the internet.  Always try to download new programs directly from the source when possible. Always be suspicious of any downloads that a chat application may send you; ie. AIM or MSN messenger. Most people don’t think twice before they click a random link and end up sorry for it. Most likely, your old college roomate really isn’t going to be the one sending you a “How much do you know about me” quiz or a “Click here to claim your prize!”

Remember these few simple tips and your PC will thank you!

Share on Facebook

Does your laptop take about an hour to boot up?  Does it weigh a good 30 lbs.?

Maybe it’s time for an upgrade…

When shopping for a new laptop, there are millions of options out there for you to choose from. Luckily, one thing is for certain: You don’t have to spend a pretty penny to get good value from a laptop computer. Before you rush out and empty out your life savings for a new technical toy, make sure you weigh out your options, and really dig deep to figure out what it’s primary use will be. What do you really need in a new laptop?

Begin by asking yourself some simple questions:

Will I be using the laptop primarily for browsing the Internet? Will I be using this for gaming and other computer based entertainment? Will I be using this for business purposes?

Gaming laptops usually require a pretty hefty processor and require extravagant audio and video cards which will raise the price significantly. For business purposes, you won’t need the huge audio and video cards featured in the gaming rigs, but you will want to consider purchasing a laptop with a better processor and more memory. This will help the performance with multiple windows open at a given time that all of us are guilty of when we are working. If you are simply looking to keep up with the crowd on facebook or twitter, you don’t need anything special Keep an eye out for the best deals.

As with any big purchase, don’t be afraid to shop around and always read reviews on any product you are looking for. If you have a brand in mind, do a quick google search and you should find plenty of great reviews to aid in your computer buying experience. Do your homework before walking into Best Buy or any other store like that - if you don’t you will most likely be overwhelmed by the selection, and less able to hone in on the laptops that are right for your specific needs.

Brian Venerable, Network engineer

Share on Facebook