March 2014

Wow! What a great deal! A PC that is only $499 and includes software and a flat panel! Now let’s look at the fine print of that situation...

The biggest problem is the processor in these units. You want a true Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 processor. These pro-cessores have several updates already - we are currently on the 4th generation. So what we are saying is that even if it has an i3 processor, you will want to know what generation it is. The GHz of the processor increases the performance of the computer. The higher the GHz, the better!

One of the things that I notice when looking at the sale ads of computers is that they give you tons of RAM and Hard Drive space, but sacrifice the processor. It’s like they want you to compare the numbers but not the components. So when someone notices that the staples computer has 10 GB RAM and a 2TB hard drive, they are like, “WOW! That must be fast!” But if they look closer, the pro-cessor is old with low GHz. And then, of course, there is the warranty...

Next, look at the video card. Graphics is used everywhere. Make sure you have dedicated memory of the graphics card. If you don’t, your graphic must load from your system memory. You will notice a difference on boot up, internet, games, and much more...

Memory. The more the better. Enough said?

So what’s the TTechT difference?

10/100/1000 NIC - internet is getting faster and faster at home and at the office. Don’t make the bottleneck at the cable that comes into your computer.

Longevity - our PC has been built for the future and will last. With most systems, an upgrade to a Windows 8 license is included that does not require additional hardware. Dell includes a 3 Year Next Business Day Onsite Warranty after initial troubleshooting.

Tech Support - when you purchase a system from us, we are your first line of support (phone or remotely). We are an authorized Dell warranty center so we cover all your warranty claims in our system. This means that you never have to talk to Dell; but if you would want to, these systems include business class service (not the home user division - there is a HUGE difference). An upgrade can be purchased for pro support, which includes North American support and a guaranteed response time.

If you want to know more about purchasing a computer through TTechT, give Bonnie a call at 419-678-4600 ext. 100 or drop her an email at bhoman@ttecht.com.

May 2014

TTechTexceeding customer expectations with our service

NewsletterIs there a Difference in the PC sitting in the Aisle at Wal-Mart vs. a PC you can Purchase from TTechT?

419.678.4600www.tomtechtoday.com

What you NEED to know when it comes to Buying a Laptop for College...

The time has come to start thinking about purchasing a new laptop for College. Whether you are buying it for yourself, or for a recent high school graduate, there are a couple of things you should know. This guide will help you separate your “Nice-to-have” wants from your “Essential” needs.

What you need:

1. Long Battery Life. No matter how carefully a class schedule is planned out, there will be days when the college student is on campus from morning til’ night - and using their laptop nonstop, which can be hazardous to its battery life.

2. Low weight, small profile. Lugging around books and supplies all day can be an endurance marathon that leaves a person feeling bruised, sore, and just flat out tired. A laptop that is slim (to fit in even the most crowded bag) and light will help ward off fatigue. And trust us, they are going to need all the help they can get.

3. A comfortable keyboard. Whether they are pounding out a term paper, writing instant messages, cruising social networks, or simply pro-crastinating by surfing the Web, their keyboard will be the key to their happiness. It should be big enough that it won’t give their hands cramps, backlit so that they can see it in a darkened lecture hall or dorm room, and rugged enough to survive until summer break.

4. A large screen for multi-tasking. Nothing is tougher than multi-tasking on a tiny display. Researching and writing a term paper while listening to music and chat-ting on Facebook can make for a pretty crowded screen. We recommend a 14-inch or larger screen to help keep an eye on everything going on.

5. A protection plan. Laptops don’t take a comfortable, luxurious ride to and from school in a padded briefcase. They get stuffed in backpacks, tossed from car to bench to floor, and handled constantly. Make sure you buy your new laptop from a company that is able to fix whatever is thrown your computers way.

6. Security software. One of the key things that will be needed on that new laptop. If a good one isn’t installed, a semester could come to a screeching halt in a matter of minutes.

Deal of the Month!Office Home & Student 2013

Only $100when you purchaseyour next computer

with us!

Email: bhoman@ttecht.comPhone: 419.678.4600 ext. 100

Our Team:Josie Wendel

Project Managerjwendel@ttecht.com

x 101

Bonnie HomanBusiness Manager/Controller

bhoman@ttecht.comx 100

George StaverSr. Systems & Network Engineer

gstaver@ttecht.comx 103

Tony WestgerdesService Manager/Systems Engineer

awestgerdes@ttecht.comx 102

Lisa Niekamp-UrwinPresident

lurwin@ttecht.comx 105

Reg. $139.99

5 Secrets to Finding RelevantInformation Online

3241 State Route 118St. Henry, OH 45883

Should you Leave yourComputer on at Night

or Turn it Off?We’ve been asked by customers whether or not they should leave their computer on all the time or turn it off when they are not using it.

Several years ago we would have told my clients to turn their machines off to save power. But with the proliferation of viruses and threats over the last few years, we have changed my mind.

Today, anti-virus programs and anti-spy-ware applications need regular updating. These updates are often scheduled to run in the wee hours of the morning when you are not using your computer.

Windows also needs to be updated when-ever a new security patch is released. This is usually not daily, but it may happen several times a month. It's important to update your operating system as soon as a patch becomes available because hack-ers move very quickly to reverse engineer Windows updates. As soon as an update is released, they create a virus specific to that vulnerability and start looking for unprotected machines to infect and invade.

In addition to the above, you should be backing up your data every day, and the best time to do this is at night when you are not using it. So bottom line, leave your computer on all night and restart it two or three times a week to clear the memory.

1. Set the print quality to its lowest setting for day-to-day printing.

2. Print more on every page.

3. Don’t let your printer go for more than 5 to 7 days without use.

4. Clean your printer’s nozzles frequently.

5. Turn Off Your Printer When Not In Use.

Have you ever run into a virtual wall when searching for information on the Internet? With billions of websites online, finding good, relevant information online can some-times be akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

But take heart! Here are 5 little-known secrets that will help you find what you are looking for in no time at all.

1. Use the “Advanced Search” tool. Almost all search engines have an "advanced search" tool that will provide you with more options for filtering information and websites. This will help you narrow down your search and eliminate irrelevant, off-topic websites.

2. Search with a phrase in quotations. Putting quotations around a phrase will tell the search engine to look for that exact phrase or name instead of each individual word. Leaving the quotations off, gives you info pertaining to your search in general because the search engine will look up the words separately.

3. Use synonyms. If your search does not produce the results you want, try synonyms. For example, a dog is also a pet, canine, mutt, pooch, and man’s best friend. Use your Microsoft Word thesaurus tool or Merriam-Webster Online to find synonyms for your search term.

4. Use your search engine’s categories. Many search engines offer specialized areas such as news, video, audio, pictures, local, and shopping related categories. If you know you are looking for a picture, choose the appropriate category and your chances of finding what you want increase significantly.

5. Use a plus sign. This trick will allow you to narrow down a larger category. If you were looking for a roadside café in Atlanta, you would type in “roadside café + Atlanta”. This will allow you to search on a specific set of keywords that might not be strung together in one phrase as mentioned in tip #2. This also works in reverse with a minus (-) sign.

5 Ways to Save Money and Improve the Performance of your PrinterFor most print jobs, the lowest-quality setting will work just fine. When you need a sharper print job, you simply change the setting for that one document.

This will not only save you on ink, but also on paper. All you have to do is reduce the font size in a document by a point or two and you could save reams of paper over the year.

Let sitting for long periods of time, the tiny jets in a printer cartridge can dry up causing print jobs to have white streaks or to not print at all.

Faint output, unprinted lines running across the page, or simply no visible printing at all indicates clogged nozzles.

Turning your printer off when you are not using it will also help prevent the ink from drying up in the print nozzles. Most printers have a 'capping' mechanism that seals the print head from outside air when it's turned off.

Know your Stuffwhen it comes to

getting a newComputer...

Top 10 Colleges in Ohiobased on reputation, graduation rate, selectivity, and student engagement1. Case Western Reserve University2. Kenyon College3. Oberlin College4. The College of Wooster5. Miami University6. Denison University7. Ohio Northern University8. John Carroll University9. Ohio State University10. XavierMcConnell, A. (2013, July 20). The Top 10 Colleges and Universities in Ohio. Scene. Retrieved April 28, 2014, from http://www.-clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/ar-chives/2013/07/20/the-top-10-colleges-and-universities-in-ohio

Phone: 419.678.4600Web: www.tomtechtoday.com