Tag Archives: computer
Is The Computer Repair Business Dead?
Is The Computer Repair Business Dead?
Computer repairs are being done by computer novices at a higher rate than ever before. More and more people do their own computer repairs. Whether it is installing a hard drive or installing an operating system. Is the computer repair business dead?
The computer industry is evolving. It is always changing. In fact, if there is one thing that is sure in the computer repair industry it’s that change is going to happen. Companies like Microsoft have gone out of their way to make their products as easy to use as possible. Where does that leave the computer repair business? What can you do to stay in business and be competitive?
Offer outstanding customer service. Look for different ways to package your services. Take the time to research your competition. What could you offer that no one else is offering? One area that matters to your customer is time. Are you in a position to guarantee fast computer repairs? Maybe a same day repair service? Think about how you can take care of your customer while they wait. You could create a comfortable waiting area for them with good reading material, free coffee, computers with internet access or something similar. Don’t be afraid to get creative. Think outside the box.
Keep your prices reasonable without under or overcharging. When pricing your services, it is generally a good idea to go with the industry average for your area. If you offer something unusual like same day repairs, you could charge more money. On the other hand, if you charge the same as everyone else but get the computer repair done quickly, this can easily result in an increase in business.
Don’t overcharge for computer parts. Most customers are price savvy. If you are charging a premium for the computer parts you install over what other places are charging, you will most likely find your customer base dwindling. Here again, the industry average is your friend. Find out what your competitors are charging for general computer parts and look to stick around that. Getting known as the most expensive place in town won’t exactly help business.
Whatever you do, treat your customer with respect and you’ll have more business than you can handle. Is the computer repair business dead? I don’t think so. It’s simply evolving.
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Have you ever bought a computer game, only to find out that it did not work on your computer
Have you ever bought a computer game, only to find out that it did not work on your computer
You see, unless you buy something that is specifically marketed as a PC gaming system, you have no idea whether or not it will play all of your games. Don’t get me wrong – a lot of PC gaming systems are actually just normal computers. The difference is that they have top-of-the-line graphics cards, sound cards, and hard drives. Although in theory you should be able to install one of these yourself in a computer, in practice it is better to get one that already has all of the necessary hardware installed. If you buy PC gaming systems in the first place, you will not have to mess with installing your own hardware.
A lot of computer experts say that installing your own hardware and customizing your computer is less expensive than buying PC gaming systems. In a sense they are right. Let’s face it – gamers often have a lot of disposable income, and the companies know this. If you know what you’re doing, you should install your own hardware yourself and design a custom built PC.
If you don’t know what you’re doing, however, building a gaming computer can be more trouble than it is worth. You might not have enough slots for the memory that a PC game system requires. You might run into trouble installing the new programs for the graphics card that you buy. You might get a defective piece of equipment and have to go right back to the store – assuming that they will take it back. The point is, if you have the money, it can make a lot more sense to buy pc gaming systems than to upgrade an old one. After all, pc gaming systems usually come fully ready to play, and tend to have great warranties. It can be worth a few hundred extra dollars.
Evaluating a Used Computer
Evaluating a Used Computer
Used computers are available plenty in number. But, the prime concern is that how it will satisfy the needs of the purchaser. The next one is about the functionality of the used computer and the longevity of the computer parts of the used computer. Many people decide to purchase used computers due to a tight budget, but they should not end up buying a showpiece rather than a working piece. This makes it very important to evaluate the used computer before buying it. Evaluation can be done by the purchaser himself provided he has some knowledge on computers and their parts. If not, he can get some help from their friends or relatives who are good in evaluating computers.
The used computer’s physical parts should be inspected thoroughly. First step is to look for any damages and then trying to turn on and off. It should be done by the buyer or by his friend rather than watching the computer sales person do it as it will alert for any glitches. Checking needs to be done to find out if the used computer has an original version of the operating software without which the computer is not worth buying. Manuals, licenses for software applications, discs and fonts should be got along with the computer. The operating system of the used computer should be compatible enough to run the required applications of the buyer. Some times the seller may sell a used computer along with used disk drives, scanners and printers and include the cost of them too. It is not wise to buy used scanner, printers or disk drives as they have peripherals with moving parts which wear and tear with the passage of time and also the cost of them can be deducted making the price of the used computer even lesser.
The speed of the central processing unit needs to be checked. If it is not up to the expectation of the buyer, it needs to be found out if the used computer system can be upgraded for improving the speed and functionality. The entire hardware components should be checked including the keyboard, speakers, monitor, mouse and microphones. It should be if all the hardware components inside the computer like the CD-ROM drive, sound card, number of RAM sockets etc are if present or not and if present what are the components in use. Also it needs to be checked whether it has a provision for adding different type of cards etc.
If the purchaser has already got some computer components like the monitor, printer and so on, the used computer which is bought should be compatible with them. Nowadays used Pentium machines and power PCs are available at very low price. It is not advised to buy a used computer which is very old. Also it is good to find out if the used computer comes with a transferable warranty or service, if so it is worth buying.
The buyer should not end up overpaying as used computers depreciate at a lightning speed. There are many online auctions, which can give the idea of how much people are ready to pay for a used computer. Unfortunately, there is no reputed or unbiased source for knowing the prices for used computers.
Console Gaming vs. Computer Gaming
Console Gaming vs. Computer Gaming
It’s an age-old question that will only get more and more intense in the coming year as the Xbox 360 is in full swing and the PS3 and Revolution release. Which is better? What system is right for me? Well, I would suggest both, but if you have to choose one or the other then you have to consider a few things.
Price is definitely a big issue. I mean, when’s the last time you didn’t even bat an eye when are buying something 500 bucks or more? The bottom line: Computer gaming is more expensive. Why? Because computers aren’t made just for games. They are calculators, word processors, Internet navigators, music players, movie watchers, and photo editors. They are much more than a gaming machine. Consoles, on the other hand, generally aren’t. It’s only recently that consoles have gone online starting with the Dreamcast and I haven’t seen anyone printing off spreadsheets or book reports from one yet. Consoles are purely for gaming and run between 100-500 bucks. PCs on the other hand are much more than a gaming machine and run between 1,500-3,000 dollars and need to be upgraded every now and again to play the newest and greatest games.
Genre is an issue. If you are a Real Time Strategy fan and only have a console, I mourn for you. And if you are a platformer fan, then computer gaming will be a sad mistake. Genre makes a big deal because of the controller vs. keyboard/mouse issue. Different games play much better on the different configurations. Computer gaming is best for Real Time Strategy (RTS) games, First Person Shooters (FPS), Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORG), Flight Simulation games, and Point and Click Adventure games. The consoles on the other hand are better for Fighting games, Action/Adventure games, Platformers, Role Playing Games (RPG), and Sports games.
Tech savvy can possibly be an issue. Computers are a little more unstable than consoles. I mean, when’s the last time you saw a Playstation lock up or get a blue screen of death? Never, right? The same thing comes in here. Some computer games might be a little stubborn to set up the way your computer likes it or your computer might not meet the system requirements. Consoles, on the other hand, don’t have that problem. The people designing the games have to fit the requirements of the console so that you don’t have a problem. If you have a basic knowledge of computers, you’ll be fine. If you don’t, then a console might be better for you.
So as I’ve explained, if you want more than a gaming system for school and work or you just like gaming genres like RTS and MMORG games, I would go with a PC. If you love platformers, Action/Adventure, or Sports games or your wallet is a tad on the empty side, I’d go with a console. It won’t be able to surf the Internet or help you with anything else, but it’ll play some great games.
If you want a console by the end of this article, then you have 3 options at the moment. You could buy a Gamecube if you like innovation, buy a Xbox if you like the best graphics and FPS games, or buy a PS2 if you want a huge library of games or love fighting games, Action/Adventure games, platformers, and RPG games. You also have another option. You could wait until the Xbox 360 comes out this month and get that or wait until the Nintendo Revolution and PS3 come out next year.
If you want advise on gaming computers and computer gaming, then www.gaming-computers-authority.com is a great resource for all your questions and even has a tutorial on building your own computer.
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