The Ekaru Technology Advisor Vol 5-2 March 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!
Office computer and network planning -
Are there any great deals out there?
We get questions like this all the time: "I just got a flyer advertising a server for $499 - sounds like a great deal - I thought servers cost a lot more - should I buy it?" Well, let's take a look at what you're getting for your money.
Assuming it's from a reputable source (don't waste your time if it's not!) there's still a lot of homework to do to match what's included with what you actually need. The problem is that the prominently displayed price is usually just the starting point. Here are some things to consider.
- The "great deal" for the server typically doesn't include an operating system, and you won't get very far without one! Adding Microsoft Windows 2003 Standard Edition (OEM version) will add around $800 - More than the cost of the "box"!
- You will need "Client Access Licenses" (CALs) to connect workstations to the server. As a simple example, Microsoft retail price for Windows 2003 bundled with 5 CALs is $999. 5-Pack CALs run about $200. Your server won't be of much use if you can't connect your workstations to it!
- Do you need a monitor? A nice flat panel monitor will cost several hundred dollars, depending on quality and size. A high-quality 19" flat panel display will set you back about $500.
- The basic price probably also includes a relatively slow processor, probably less memory than you need, and often less hard disk space than you would want. All of these "upgrades" add cost. But don't upgrade too far! You will pay a premium for the "latest and greatest", which ends up being more than you need. Look closely at cost versus performance.
- With a server, you will also need an uninterruptible power supply to protect your system against power outages and surges
- You will also need an efficient back-up solution, which adds significant cost to the system.
If you're shopping for just a workstation, we recommend the following:
- Beware of purchasing low-end consumer-grade computers for business. By the time you clean off all the ads, you'll wish you had invested in something else.
- For an operating system, you should get Microsoft XP Professional, not the Home version.
- When purchasing Microsoft Office products, make sure to get what's known as the "OEM" version, which is what you purchase bundled with a computer. As an example, purchasing Microsoft Office Professional bundled with Adobe Acrobat with a new computer will run about $325 (Dell). You'll save big by planning ahead as compared to purchasing the retail version of the products which run about $499 for Microsoft Office Professional and $299 for Adobe Acrobat 7.0 (recent quotes from their web sites). Two things to remember: Software bundled with a new system can save a lot of money, and the cost of software can quickly add up to more than the cost of hardware!
Another very important thing to remember is that you'll need to connect your new system to the network, and transfer data files from old systems, and this results in expenses beyond the physical hardware.
So, bottom line, plan ahead and get educated on what you REALLY need. You've heard this a thousand times, but remember if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Computers are basically commodity products, so when you compare equal specifications, the price won't be that different.
More on Voice Over IP - Time to check it out?
After last month's technology tip, many people have asked us about Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). We recently tested a new service called Skype, from Skype Technologies S.A. in Luxembourg www.skype.com. Working on a project for one of our Massachusetts-based clients, we needed to conduct several long conference calls with the parent-company's IT department overseas. Using VoIP with Skype was a win for everyone! The technical work was completed efficiently for the client, calls could be completed from the comfort of the engineer's home so the time difference wasn't as big a disruption, and all the calls were free!
Skype to Skype calls are free, and you can use SkypeOut to call ANY phone, but since those calls end up going through the regular switched network, there is a fee that still ends up being much less than a call with a long-distance carrier.
VoIP is really getting ready for prime time this year. On their web site, Skype reports over 83 million downloads, and over 5.9 billion minutes served! Have had any interesting experiences with VoIP? Tell us about it. We'd like to know what you think!
Technology Workshop
The 2005 Ekaru Technology Workshop series kicked off last week with an engaging and informative presentation on March 4 by Michael Katz of Blue Penguin Development: e-Newsletters that Work! In case you missed the workshop and want to learn more about this topic, Michael has graciously allowed us to post his slides on the Ekaru web site: Follow this link to view the slides. Thanks to Michael, sponsorship from Comcast, and support from the Middlesex West Chamber of Commerce. As a follow-on, we are planning to conduct a demo of Constant Contact, which what we use to distribute our own Technology Advisor e-Newsletter, and the product we recommend to clients. Send us an email if you're interested in the demo. Also, more workshops will be announced soon, so stay tuned!
Technology Tip: Microsoft Windows AntiSpyware (Beta) - Check it Out!
Microsoft has recently released a Beta version of their new product to identify and remove Spyware: Windows AntiSpyware - and its worth a look! It's available as a free download on the Microsoft web page: www.microsoft.com (look for "popular downloads" on the home page). A few of us here at Ekaru have tried the product, and found that it works quite well, particularly for some nagging pop-ups that weren't removed by other products (this gets into controversial territory, but it makes sense that Microsoft would understand their browser loopholes the best!). Always remember that regular scanning and removal of Spyware should be a part of your routine system maintenance. Although a lot of Spyware generates obvious symptoms such as a slow computer and unwanted pop-up ads (even when you're not surfing the web!), some Spyware may quietly exist on your system unnoticed, and could be used to violate your privacy. Check it out!
Ekaru in the News!
Ekaru in the News! Was this newsletter helpful to you? If so, forward it to a friend or colleague!
Do you have suggestions for future newsletter topics? Send us an email!. We want to write about what's important to you! Click here to read past issues.
Sincerely, 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.
Tech Must Serve Core
Functions
Boston Business Journal - February
11, 2005
Creating A Business Process -
Simple
Process Elements Can Bring Success
Processor
- January 21, 2005
8 business benefits of using only genuine
software
Microsoft.com Small Business
Center - 2005
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
Team Ekaru
©2004 Ekaru, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
