The Ekaru Technology Advisor  Vol 5-4  June 2005

Welcome to this month's issue! Ekaru's mission is to provide technology advice and on-site technical support to help you manage and grow your business!

Choosing the Right Laptop Computer:
We get a lot of questions about this. With all the choices available, how can you choose the right laptop?

All of the major brands are producing high-quality hardware. You'll be happy with several options, but everyone seems to have a favorite, so it's fine to stick with your favorite brand. We've summarized some of the general specifications you'll want to consider below:

• Business Class vs. Consumer Class: We recommend "business class" systems for businesses as compared to "consumer class" systems. As an example, Dell offers the Inspiron line and the Latitude line of products - we recommend the Latitude line because the models are optimized for longer life-cycles (easier to standardize on a model for your company) and they are optimized for networking and business applications.
• Weight: This is probably the feature you'll notice the most. The range goes from approximately 2.5 pounds to 6.5 pounds. In general, you'll pay a premium for a lighter laptop, but if you need to carry it around a lot, you'll appreciate it! Keep in mind that the lightest laptops typically have external CD/DVD drives and the keyboards and screens tend to be smaller.
• Processor: You'll pay a premium for the absolute fastest processor available. We typically recommend against the "latest and greatest" for a better value.
• Operating System: We recommend Microsoft XP Professional (not the Home version) for all business applications.
• Memory: Get a lot of memory. Often the basic configuration is 128MB, which isn't enough. Go for 512MB. If you have a reason to go higher (1-2GB) you'll pay a hefty premium.
• CD/DVD: The biggest consideration is whether the drive is internal or external (typical of the lightest laptops). Get a write-able drive. If you want to watch movies be sure to get a DVD drive.
• Hard Drive: Get enough for your growing needs. Keep in mind that over time you'll be adding a lot of data to your drive and you may add applications. If you store photos on your laptop, get a big hard drive. The good news is that the price differential is relatively small. Prices vary, but you'll pay about $50 more to go from a 30GB hard drive to a 60GB hard drive. Also, take a look at the speed of the hard drive. 5400RPM is preferred over 4200RPM - You'll notice the difference!
• Microsoft Office: Always get the software bundled with your new hardware (OEM version). It costs a LOT less than buying it retail. Check the different offerings for Office Basic, Small Business, and Pro on the Microsoft web site to make sure you get the right bundle.
• Wireless: It's pretty much the standard now, but make sure you get built in wireless card.
• Modem: You may need dial-up access in a pinch, especially if you travel a lot, so make sure it's included.

With laptops on the go all the time, many people forget to keep virus protection up to date and they forget to follow a consistent back-up protocol. Keep your laptop (and all your other systems!) safe by always keeping virus protection up to date, keeping your operating system up to date, scanning for spyware/adware, and most importantly, maintaining a secure backup.

Ekaru Ribbon Cutting:
The Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce (www.mwcoc.com) is recognizing Ekaru with a Ribbon Cutting on Wednesday June 15 for our new office at 234 Littleton Road in Westford. We'll be having an open house from 5pm to 7pm with food, refreshments, and networking. Demos are planned for Microsoft Sharepoint, Constant Contact, and Polycom Internet Videoconferencing. Bring your technology questions to ask an engineer. If you'd like to attend, please RSVP at 978-692-4200 by June 13.

Ekaru in the News!
Choices abound for data backup
The Boston Globe - May, 8, 2005

Technology Tip: New from Google - Check it out!
Google keeps getting more interesting. If you find yourself at your computer with a few moments to spare, check this out! Type an address into Google (www.google.com) - for example your home or business address. On the results page, in the upper left hand corner, select the "Map of ". When you get the map, toggle to "satellite" by clicking the link on the upper right hand side of the page. You'll get to view a satellite image of the area - zoom in and navigate around. Very cool. Also in beta from Google is the personalized home page. Still very clean and crisp, it allows you to personalize content such as news, weather, stocks, word of the day. Go to www.google.com/ig.

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   Summer is finally here! Enjoy!

Sincerely,
Team Ekaru

Introductory Technology Assessment Over 170 local small businesses have chosen Ekaru to manage their computers and networks. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation to get started. We'll visit your office, review your network, and make recommendations. Call us toll-free at 866-463-5278 x1 or email us to schedule a no-obligation assessment.

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