Holiday 2006 Newsletter

Be a better prepared "home technology consumer" this holiday season

C/NET and other media (including your local newspaper) will be offering their holiday gift guides, presenting and evaluating a somewhat dazzling array of home technologies: desktops, laptops, digital cameras, TVs, peripherals, home audio and video, software, games, MP3 players and other gadgets.

Be better prepared when you go out with your plastic to create anything from a modest to the most outrageous digital environment for your home. Give yourself a promotion! Supported by EasyTechCare you can be a Home Chief Technology Officer (H-CTO). This means you will be able to command your electronic domain like never before. Make strategic decisions about your computer or digital TV.  Delegate the lowly technical issues of struggling to connect everything together or trouble shooting to you EasyTechCare team. In turn they will deliver the service, support and repair solutions for all of your digital needs. They work for you inspecting and optimizing your systems, installing wireless networks, repairing and upgrading equipment, providing training and enhancing security!

And, you get to be the H-CTO! ETC will even give you a spiffy H-CTO Certificate of Accomplishment, appropriate for framing.

Imagine your new role. Lord it over your family with your new found wisdom, expertise, technical support and Peace of Mind. Be at the head of your family’s technological hierarchy! Tell your teenagers to back off on the complaints over viruses and networks by picking up the phone and summoning your helpful team at EasyTechCare.  After the moans, boldly prove yourself to be the technological visionary you have become. State that you are going to set your families short term technology direction – what gets purchased this holiday, deciding what gadgets and software is really needed.  Imagine the power, the admiration and co-operation from those in your tribe. And remember if you are uncertain about some of your opinions, just give EasyTechCare a call and they can help.

If at this stage you are somewhat enticed by the idea of being an H-CTO but feel you require some training or at least some choice buzz words to throw around, here are a few ideas to get started. 

The EasyTechCare H-CTO Tool Kit

1) Five Basic Steps

There is a five step cycle involved with building your home’s technology infrastructure:

As the H-CTO, you plan and purchase. Easy Tech Care can then help you painlessly deploy, maintain and refresh your technology giving you maximum pleasure and minimum hassle.

2) Think Total Cost of Ownership – TCO for your Hardware

When you purchase an automobile, you must consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). How much will it cost to gas up the car, as it may need higher-octane fuel? Does it require expensive tires? Does it require more maintenance with obscure parts? The same should be considered when purchasing technology for your home. 

It is one of the great truths of computer ownership that base cost is just part of the total cost of ownership (TCO). Issues like long-term maintenance costs, security and reliability also come into play. Further complicating the issue is the "Economy vs. Performance car analogy. An Economy car is less expensive, but cannot go from 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds. A similar computer platform may be cheaper, but does it really offer the same performance as its higher-priced competitor?

How do you determine the total cost of ownership (TCO) of your computer for example? To answer this question you must look beyond the cost of the end-user hardware (which typically represents as little as 25% of the TCO), and considering other associated costs:

• Additional Capital Costs - software, IT support software and network infrastructure
• Technical Support Costs - hardware and software deployment, help desk access, system maintenance (for which many manufacturers now charge)
• Administration Costs - financing, procurement, training, and insurance
• Operating Costs - the costs incurred from downtime, lost data, viruses and running around getting things repaired or replaced

 
To be specific, consider the Total Cost of Ownership for a digital camera. You don’t just purchase a digital camera - you may need to buy accessories:

• Digital media to store photos
• Media card reader to transfer files to your computer
• Photo printer, ink and paper
• Extra rechargeable batteries to prolong photo shoots
• UV Filter to remove UV light and protect your lens
• Protective camera bag
• Accessory lens, and for a digital SLR, you have to buy one lens to begin with
• Tripod to stabilize your photos
• Backup device if you don't have a CD burner

Applying the TCO concept - if you purchase the most expensive digital camera you can afford, make sure you don't break the budget when purchasing accessories. You may need to step down a notch in your digital camera's quality in order to pay for needed supplies.

3) Strategic Planning for your Home Technology

Putting technology throughout your home requires integration that can be complicated and costly. You have to have a plan and a mission.

Start by getting input from your family stakeholders (a great big word to further boost your image as the family’s technology Tsar). What are their needs and wants? Ask – where do the printers have to be, what is the new game system of choice, what type of software is required for home work and the home office? Spend time discussing all options and opinions.

Make a simple chart to assess the value that technology can have for your family. Post it on the fridge and discuss concerns and wants over the dinner table. Now that could make for some lively dinner conversation.

Then as H-CTO assess your current technology status and then strategize on what new gizmos are required in time for the holidays. Again, the best way to avoid mistakes in technology implementation is to consider the total cost of ownership and plan accordingly. Use the EasyTechCare H-CTO Planning tool that came with your certificate. Then write out an official action plan. 

4) Hardware

Replacements--Computers don't last forever. Count on replacing them every three or four years. Prices these days range from Economy machines for as little as $500 to that high performance multi-media rocket for as much as $2000 or more. Getting on a hardware cycling schedule will help reduce hardware technical support costs since your PCs will never be more than four years old.

5) Software

If you have lots of different software running on different computers, incompatibility will cost you time and money in constant upgrades. If you have standardized software running your upgrades will be easier to facilitate and save you time.

This holiday season one thing to look out for is the fact that Microsoft is about to launch its new operating system called "Vista".  The computer you purchase now will not have it preinstalled.  So, you will want to make sure what you buy is Vista compatible. Vista-preparedness complicates matters a little. Microsoft recommends at least 512MB of system memory and a DirectX 9-capable graphics card, and it ups the specs to 1GB of RAM and at least 128MB of independent video memory for Vista Premium with Aero. Vista has many more versions than previous operating systems. Make sure you are buying the functionality you need.

6) Training

Give your tribe the best training. Budget time for it and for the best results make sure the training is task-specific.  As always, EasyTechCare is here to help you with training from basic to advanced, on the sly, (to preserve your power and respect) or, as a group, should you wish to "share" the power.

7) Hardware technical support

Get the best hardware support. Assume that machines you buy will work, but budget for network and PC support in case they don't. Without a prearranged service, don't be surprised if you end up spending close to $300-$500 per or more for the other electronic equipment in the rest of your house. The best-in-class (use this buzz word around the house) solution for this problem is to secure a membership for preventative maintenance from EasyTechCare. EasyTechCare is giving a discount for all H-CTOs through this holiday season. By the hour or as a member they can help you manage your digital home installations and provide support services – troubleshooting, system repairs and optimization.

8) Connectivity: networks -wired and wireless network setups and broadband connections

You can realize power and economy when your PCs are networked. The number of connections and speed are two key things to consider here. When you do any wiring or purchase any network hardware, think ahead and assume that you'll have more of your family members on the network in the future. They will also want more capacity. The storage and transfer of huge “rich media” files have to be considered. The up-front expense of using high-speed networking (100 million bits per second-- mbps) and Internet ( DSL or cable) connections will always save you money, time and frustration in the end. 

9) Security

Here is what to think about and plan for. Make sure all your machines have AntiVirus software installed. Setup the software to protect your computer from malicious viruses and program it to automatically download updates on a scheduled basis. Install Anti-spyware software to protect your computer from intrusive programs that, unbeknownst to you, track and report what you do on your computer. Install and configure your SpyWare to update and scan regularly. Finally, install ands setup up firewall software that protects you while online from "uninvited" visitors. This is IMPORTANT STUFF and your EasyTechCare team would be pleased to supply, install and configure these critical elements for you.

10) Purchasing

Don’t be afraid to shop around in stores and on line. Haggle and ask for packaged deals whenever possible. With all your research and planning you will get at the better deals and save money. That is, after all, why big companies have a CTO – to plan AND save a buck.

So call EasyTechCare:  Get your official Home Chief Technology Officer certificate and planning guide for an amazing home technology experience.   

Have a Happy Holidays from everyone at EasyTechCare

Be sure to check out our Planning Guide here, and be prepared for all your tech needs.

For more Tips and Help, call EasyTechCare at 416-987-EASY (3279)