Welcome you to the blogging arm of One On One Computers, in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Our website is http://www.1on1-computers.com.  We are the premier, local, on-site computer service and repair company in Myrtle Beach and surrounding areas.

We want to give you up-to-date technology and business tips to help you stay abreast of the river of information that rushes by us every day.

We know your computers and networks aren’t just luxuries or toys — they’re the very heart of your business.

We’re here for you!

To Your Success,

Joe Thibodeau, the CPU Repair Dude

Elpida Memory Inc. and Sharp Corp. will jointly develop a next-generation, low-power memory chip to be commercialized around 2013, according to a media report Wednesday. The Nikkei business daily reported that the resistive random access memory chip to be developed by Elpida and Sharp could write data 10,000 times faster than NAND flash memory technology, while consuming less power. The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and the University of Tokyo will also be joining in the development of the chip, according to the report.

This is from an article by John Letzing from MarketWatch Pulse reported by FOX News.

Tools and toys alike in the digital world are changing faster than we can keep up with.
It’s always fun to try to stay ahead of the game and see what’s ahead.

Check out this cool video, showing a prototype of a new laptop.
Leave a comment and tell me what you think…would you buy it?
At what price?

Future Designer Laptops

In a word:  YES.

Usually it is possible to restore part or all of the data after a hard drive crash, depending on the cause of the problem.

If your data is important to you, it’s usually worth paying a computer repair man for a few hours of his time.

If you have a computer crash, call One On One One Computers and we’ll take a look and tell you what we can do.

If you are running any kind of business at all, it’s requiring you to access information on your computer.  Security is all the hot topic these days, and it’s getting more and more difficult to juggle usernames and passwords and to keep track of them, especially when some sites make you change them every 90 days or so (like some banks).

Then, there’s filling out forms, applications, surveys…lots of information that have to take time to repeat over and over again.  It’s very time-consuming.  Also, I can tell you right away that it’s NOT a good idea to keep the same password for all your sites.

I used to keep a list of all my passwords in the yellow sticky notes that are part of Outlook.  That wasn’t exactly bright, because a good hacker could gain access to my sticky notes file.  Then…I found Roboform!

You download and install this piece of software and it keeps all your passwords very safe and also stores other information that you need to fill out standard forms online.  A simple click of your mouse, and you can zip through online forms that require the same information – name, address, phone, email, etc.

Initially, you’ll need to login to all the sites where a password is required and Roboform will pop up and ask you to give this account a name, and it will ask you to save the login information.  From then on, all you have to do to login somewhere is click on Roboform (handy in your task bar) and click on the account you want to open.  Wah-La!  There it is.

There are also versions of Roboform for your iPhone, and your Android phone, as well as special adaptations for browsers Firefox and Chrome.  You can also sync up the data and put it on a jump drive to take your info with you.

I don’t know how I ever survived without Roboform.   It’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.
If you don’t have many passwords to store, it’s free, but for the unlimited version, it’s very cheap – under $30 for multiple sites.  Check it out.  Just  do a Google search and find it and download. There is a 30-day free trial to start with.

If you need help with any of  your computer service needs or have questions, please click here and give us a call:  One On One Computers.

I’ve used the Microsoft family of products for many years and have even trained others to use the Microsoft products effectively.  Power Point was one of the last of the “family” that I became an expert in using.  Power Point really is one of the most compelling and persuasive of all business presentation tools in the marketplace today.  However, if you don’t know how to use it correctly, it can have quite the opposite effect.  It can be your friend, but you must pay attention to a few guidelines.  Here are the top 7 mistakes to avoid at all costs.

1.  Don’t depend upon Power Point to cover up for your not having a compelling presentation.

In some ways, Power Point’s ease of use just might be its own worst enemy.  It’s so easy to build impressive slides that really pop with color and graphics, but the slides need to enhance what you have to say, not take your place as a speaker.  However impressive and compelling you make your Power Point presentation, make sure your spoken remarks are equally engaging.  Always remember you are creating slides to support you as a speaker.  To sum it up – Power Point makes slides, people give presentations.

2.  Don’t forget to…Simplify, simplify.

See that your charts are simple and easy to understand.  Make certain that your graphics really reflect your point.  Don’t just throw in graphics to decorate the slides.  Use short sentences or headlines.  Don’t repeat every word of your presentation on your slides.  Remember – it’s there simply for support, not to give the whole presentation.

3.  Don’t read your slides to the audience.

I’ve seen so many people stand up and just point and click and read the material that is on the slides.  It makes it seem that the only reason you’re there is to use the clicker.  After all, anyone could point and click, but you’re there because you have expertise in something and people want to hear YOU.  It also creates a very boring presentation when the audience is simply reading along with you.  Always keep eye contact with your audience.  Have much more to say that what is on your Power Point slides.  And for goodness sakes, don’t stand with your back to the audience so that you can read the slides. No one wants to see the back of your head, no matter who your stylist is!

4.  Timing is everything – Don’t ignore it.

Make sure your comments aren’t timed precisely with the advance of a new slide.  That’s distracting to your audience.  If you have a well-orchestrated presentation, your slide will appear when the audience has time to read it, digest what it says and then look to you to follow up with comments that expand the subject matter they’ve just seen on the screen.  Cheri Kerr, a pubic relations consultant from Santa Ana, CA, says, “Never talk on top of your slides.

5.   Don’t forget to use colors and graphics effectively.

Don’t let your presentation be boring or hard to read.  Use vibrant colors and striking contrasts with backgrounds and words in your slides.  Power Point offers many graphics as part of a clip art package, but you should search out and use outside images – both pictures and graphics, and even video.

6.  Don’t pass out printed material before your presentation.

Some folks may not agree with this, but I have found it to be terribly distracting to be speaking to a room full of people who are studying the handouts.  I recommend waiting until the end of your presentation to distribute printed material.  I know there are exceptions when printed material will be imperative, but let it be the exception rather than the rule.

7.  Don’t forget to take a break from the slides now and then.

Experienced Power Point users know that the slides are just a visual enhancement to what is being spoken. Therefore, they are not at all shy about letting the screen go blank once in awhile.  It’s an opportunity to give your audience a visual break and to give yourself a chance to focus on the interaction with you and your audience.  This is especially effective during a Q&A session.

Bonus: I know I said 7 mistakes, but here’s a bonus for you…

Never use a presentation that has not been ruthlessly edited and proofed by more than one person.

I’m an excellent copywriter and have made a good living with my writing skills.  However, I always have another set of eyes to proof important pieces before putting them before the public.  It doesn’t matter how good you are, you’re not too good to get someone else’s opinion, especially with Power Point, because it’s much more than just correct spelling and grammar here – it’s the use of color and graphics and must be appealing to the eye.  Don’t skip this step.

If you need help with your computer or network and you live in the Myrtle Beach, SC, area, please contact One On One Computers for assistance.  They COME TO YOU!

Microsoft Word is a wonderfully powerful and efficient program, but sometimes accessing that power is not as simple or intuitive as you would hope.  It’s really frustrating when you just know you should be able to accomplish a certain task with the software, but you just can’t figure it out.  Sometimes, even using the Help feature from within the program isn’t much help.  I’ve been using Microsoft Word for many years, and I’ve trained others to use this beautiful piece of software.  I would like to share with you the 5 most useful tips for getting the most of your Microsoft Word experience.

Creating Lists with Bullets and Numbers

• Type your list and press [Enter] at the end of each item in your list.  If your information runs onto the next line, just let it run and don’t press [Enter] at the end of the first line
• Select the list. Using your mouse, highlight all the text in your lists.  Once it is highlighted, look up in the toolbar and click on either the bullet list or the number list icon.  These icons have 3 little short lines with either small dots or numbers on the right side.
• If you decide to switch from bullets to numbers, just highlight the area again, and click on the other icon.

Changing the bullets to another character – Sometimes you may not be satisfied with that plain little black dot and you want to make your bullet points more interesting.  No problem!

• Look on your menu options along the top of your page.  You’ll see one labeled “Format.”
• Click on “Format” and choose “Bullets and Numbering.”
• Make sure the Bullets tab is selected.
• Select one of the bullet styles that are available.
• If you’re not happy with any of the styles shown, just click on one of the styles shown, then click on “Customize.”  You will be shown some different options. Some fonts are little graphics that can be used, or you can choose a character, a symbol, or even an appropriately sized picture.
• When you’re finished selecting the bullet you like, just click on OK.

Changing the formatting of a word every time it appears – If you’ve used a particular word more than once in a document, and you have a reason to change the formatting, it’s easy to do when you use the “Find and Replace” tool.  Let’s say you want to change the color of a word each time it appears, or you want to make the font bold, or make it ALL CAPS, then is the tip for you.

• Make sure you are at the very beginning of your document.
• Press [Ctrl+H] and this will bring up the Replace tab in your “Find and Replace” tool.
• The Find What and the Replace With boxes should be empty.
• Enter the word you want to find in the “Find What” box.
• Press the Tab key to move to the “Replace With” box. If you are simply changing the formatting and not changing the words(s), then put the same word in the “Replace With” box.
• Click on “Format” at the bottom of the box.  If you don’t see it, click on “More” and your options will be expanded.  Make the changes from the formatting menu.  You can change the font, the font color, size, and many other options that you will see listed.
• When you’re finished with your changes, click OK.
• To complete things, click “Replace All.”

If you are in the Myrtle Beach, SC, area and have need of a computer repair, software update or any other computer networking or service work, please click here:  One On One Computers.

Posted by Guest Blogger Jeanne Kolenda

If you have a lot of glare on your cpu monitor, it can be more than just annoying, it can be a health hazard, giving you eyestrain and headaches as well. So getting rid of that extra shine is important, especially if you spend hours and hours staring at the screen.

Here are some tips that can help with this situation:

• Evaluate the position of your computer in terms of proximity to windows and bright sunlight. Every room has a few walls that are not facing direct sunlight. Sometimes just moving the furniture so that you’re facing another direction will fix the problem.
• Make full use of blinds, shades and draperies in a room. You may not need to close them all day long, but at least have the option during the brightest part of the day.
• Don’t use a bright overhead light in your office or in the room where you are working on your computer. Instead, opt for a small desk lamp with a soft light. Make sure you choose the energy-saving bulbs that are now available, which are still available with soft light rather than harsh light.
• If you simply can’t avoid a harsh glare with any of the aforementioned ways, you may have to resort to emergency tactics such as building your own anti-glare reflector to attach to your monitor. Now, this may look funny, but it works. To do this, just tape several sheets of dark carboard together and form a “hood” around your monitor. Use the kind of tape that will not ruin the finish on your monitor.
• If you think this homemade hood looks just too goofy, you can always go online or to a good computer accessory store and purchase an anti-glare film to put on your computer monitor. They’re usually polarized and have a purplish tint to them.

Whatever you do, don’t ignore bright or harsh light which makes it difficult to work on your computer.

If you have need of computer repair, service or support, please click here:  One On One Computers.

Before you take your computer to a local computer shop or even call for on-site service, there are some questions you should ask to avoid any misunderstanding.  If you don’t get answers you are comfortable with, look for another company to service your computers.

Question #1 – How much do you charge per hour?  This is not something you want to find out after the fact.

Question #2 – Can you tell me how many hours this might take to repair?  This is always going to be an estimate because every problem is different, but you should be able to get a reasonable estimate.

Question #3 – Do you have a minimum charge?  Usually the answer is one billable hour, even if it only takes 30 minutes. This is completely customary.

Question #4 – Should I expect any other charges other than the hourly rate?  Other than hardware, the answer should be no.  Surcharges and other hidden fees should not be part of your invoice.

If you live in the Myrtle Beach area, One On One Computers has gained a reputation for fast, fair and thorough service.  You can visit our website here:  http://www.1on1-computers.com

Cloud computing is an increasingly broad topic that encompasses everything from Google Apps to data center services to virtualization to software-, infrastructure- and platform-as-a service. Technology executives are increasingly interested in cloud computing as a way to save money. Nevertheless, cloud adoption remains in the single digits amid security concerns. Rest assured that cloud computing is a game changer. Key players include: IBM, HP, Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Salesforce.com, NetSuite, VMware as well as dozens of others.

If you want to discuss cloud computing options, click here and call One On One Computers for a consultation.