NetBooks and Solid State Data Drives

Huh? “Net book?” Just when we began to get comfortable with computer jargon, the industry throws us another curve ball. Netbook refers to the latest generation of lightweight, portable laptop computers, available from many manufacturers, including Dell.

According to Wikipedia.com, "a netbook is a light-weight, low-cost, energy-efficient and highly portable laptop that offers fewer features, less processing power and reduced ability to run resource-intensive programs." However, users who simply require a computer to browse the web, send and receive e-mail and run basic applications like Microsoft Word and Excel, will likely find netbooks to be more than adequate for their needs.

There are many “flavors” of netbooks on the market these days and the specifications vary. Typical models cost between $300 and $400, weigh in around 3 pounds and include 9- to 10-inch color displays, as well as wireless networking capability.

Why do netbooks weigh less and use less energy than normal laptop computers? One reason is that they utilize tiny solid state drives for data storage. These devices use the same technology as portable flash drives but they offer significantly higher capacity. In addition to saving energy and making computers easier to carry, solid state drives are more rugged than their conventional, magnetic, mechanical counterparts. There are no moving parts, which means less potential for failure. Unfortunately, the cost per gigabyte makes solid state drives too expensive for applications that require huge storage capacity. However, solid state drive technology is evolving rapidly – we expect to see the cost gap narrow.

Solid state drives are already widely used in many hi-tech appliances such as digital media players (like the iPod) and wireless phones. In the coming years, we will likely see the lines blur between netbooks and notebooks. Prices will come down and computers will become even more reliable – a win-win scenario for consumers.

One other important distinction between netbooks and notebooks: Most netbooks do not come with an integrated optical (CD or DVD) drive; but most manufacturers offer optional (external) optical drives which allow users to install software and burn discs.

As a Dell Registered Partner, Computer Homecare has access to several State-of-the-Art netbooks that are quite affordable. Please give us a call to see if a netbook is right for you!

From the Trenches – Tips for More Effective Computer Support Sessions

So, you think we’ve seen it all, eh? Think again. Every call is an adventure. Need an example? There was the case of Mouse Hacker – this rodent entered the computer through a ½ inch gap in the case, hauled in a pint of dog food for the Winter, and eventually shorted out the motherboard by urinating on a few key components. (The story is true. The owner shall remain nameless to protect his dignity.)

The point is, our computer technicians have no idea what they will encounter. While there are certain clues that point to common failures, there are an infinite number of variables that can cloud the troubleshooting process. Sometimes the only thing we can rely upon is the customer’s description of the problem and our own gut feeling. In an effort to “help you to help us,” we would like to share some of the most common frustrations we encounter when dealing with distressed customers:

1. What does “slow" mean? “My computer is slow.” This is, by far the most common complaint we hear. The problem here is that this statement doesn’t tell us much because it is vague and very subjective. “Slow” means something different to nearly everyone. Furthermore, there are many different operations that a computer can perform normally when others are slow. It’s very important for the technician to know exactly what you are doing when you encounter slow performance. For example, is the computer slow only when you are trying to view web pages or e-mail on the Internet? Is the computer slow when are trying to start Windows?
   
   These are important distinctions. Slow performance ONLY on the Internet may indicate a problem with your service provider, modem or connections outside the house while slowness starting Windows usually points to memory issues with the computer itself.
   
   
2. Just the Facts. Be as brief and concise as possible. We love to talk to customers about their computer problems. However, we also bill by the quarter hour. This means that unnecessary information and casual chit chat can extend our visit and potentially distract the technician from drilling down to the root cause of your issue.  Remember, time is money – you can lower your bill by being as prepared as possible and allowing the technician to remain focused.
   
   
3. Don’t Beat Yourself Up. When talking to customers who are frustrated about their computer problems we are often asked: “Why is this happening?” The answer is that, just like cars, dishwashers, refrigerators, TVs, light bulbs, clocks or any other electrical/mechanical “thing,” computers have internal parts that break for no apparent reason. Actually, when you stop to consider the amazing technology crammed into such as small package, it’s a wonder computer hardware is as reliable as it is. Consider the hard drive that stores all of your valuable files and programs – the entire assembly fits in a 3 x 5 metal case, contains a platter that rotates at 5400 to 7200 times per minute and utilizes a sliding head to read the rotating platter! Unfortunately, the manufacturing process for hard drives and related computer components inherently yields a small percentage of defects.
   
   
4. “What about my files?” Hands down, the biggest cause of heartburn related to computer trouble is the fear of losing precious data such as pictures, financial information, documents, etc. As noted above, like any electro-mechanical device, hard drives will eventually fail. While a crash does not always destroy your data files, there is no way of knowing for sure – and the recovery process can be time consuming and expensive. The fact is data loss is entirely preventable!
   
   Every computer owner should plan on the fact that, someday, the hard drive will crash. Employing a simple back up strategy is the best way to ensure you will be protected in the event of a crash – that is, copy your critical files to an external storage location such as a flash drive, CD, DVD or external hard drive. If you need help with this, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Spending a little money now will help you breathe easier when the dreaded blue screen of death appears on your screen!
   
   
5. Investigate and exhaust free support options first: Speaking of frustration, we often hear customer’s complaining about how frustrated they are with the free tech support offered by computer manufacturer’s warranty and/or the local Internet Service Providers. In most cases, technical support calls are transferred out of the country which can be plagued by connection problems, poor sound quality and communication trouble associated with language barriers. Unfortunately, this is the state of tech support today. Manufacturers are trying to lower the cost of their products and, time and time again, marketing research shows the most customers will not pay more in order to receive higher quality support.
   
   Of course, it is always in the best interest of your wallet to exhaust free support options before calling someone like Computer Homecare. However, in some cases, avoiding “pain and suffering” may be worth the cost of paid support. Each customer has to weigh the cost vs. frustration factor before contacting us.
   
   Also, if you purchase a Dell product through Computer Homecare, understand that your manufacturer’s warranty is administrated by Dell, not Computer Homecare. Dell pays a national firm to handle warranty work. We are certainly qualified to perform the same work but Dell will not pay us to do it. Therefore, if you expect the repairs to be covered under warranty, you must contact Dell directly.
   
   
6. Don’t shoot the messenger! Remember, your computer technician didn’t cause the problem. Computer glitches are stressful and are inevitably governed by the principles of Murphy’s Law. You will encounter the problem as the worst possible time, when you are least equipped to deal with it. At Computer Homecare, we do our best to minimize our customers’ level of frustration but we will never be able to eliminate it. So, please try to be patient and understanding as we step through the troubleshooting process.

Frequently Asked Question

Question: What is computer "memory?"

Answer: Contrary to popular belief, "memory" does NOT refer to the storage capacity of your computer hard drive. Memory, short for "Random Access Memory" (RAM), is used by the operating system to store temporary files and conduct background processing. In effect, memory is like a "scratch pad" that your computer uses to take notes. Most non-business computers sold today are equipped with 1 to 4 gigabytes (GB) of memory. However, high-performance computers used for specialty applications can be equipped with much more than that. Computer Homecare recommends at least 1GB of memory for computers equipped with Windows XP; Windows Vista and Apple computers should be equipped with at least 2GB of memory. Adding more memory to your computer will not increase permanent storage capacity, but it will allow the computer to process background tasks more quickly, thus improving overall performance.

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