Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Just put it to sleep

Back in the “olden” days of computers, say around the turn of the century, the most likely time for your computer system to fail was around the moment you hit the power button to turn it on. The very act of turning on your computer put a strain on the memory, the processor, the hard drives and most of the other components in your system. In those days, the best was to avoid the possible repercussions of power surges during power on were to just let the system run. You’d turn off your monitor and peripherals and only turn off the system itself when necessary.

Might be time for an upgrade

The short answer is three years and applies to any computer you own or use.

The longer answer is…well…longer. These days computers are becoming more like automobiles and television sets. They tend to last longer. A decent PC can last for years. Mostly gone are the days of bad memory, fried hard drives, on/off switches that break and other ailments that were common in the dawn of the PC age. Computer technology is still advancing at a rate that is so fast that your new PC is essentially obsolete by the time you purchase it.

The Internet: It can save you money and make you money

I quit using the yellow pages quite awhile ago. I have several and while there are times it can be convenient — if you know exactly what you are looking for — it is usually much faster to use an internet search when you’re looking for products and services. Most people with a computer and and internet connection work this way these day.

So, I ask you, why would you spend more than a token amount of money on yellow page advertising when that money can be better spent on internet advertising and your very own website?

Case in point. A longtime friend and sometimes client who has an AC and Heating Equipment & Repair company decided to stop spending $500.00 a month on yellow page ads and put up a web page with the standard information (who, what, when, where and how). He not only saved a bunch of advertising dollars, his business actually increased. When he added some Google Adwords advertising his business grew even more. Now, he doesn’t even bother with a display ad in the yellow pages.