There’s a problem with IT.

Or more specifically, there’s a problem with the way many people perceive IT.

Using computers in small business is standard now. There’s very few businesses who can operate without the benefit of email, accounting systems and other line-of-business applications.

Yet I continue to come across businesses who have tried to manage the technology themselves – or they’ve tried to make use of a non-qualified relative to set things up and provide support.

Instead of using a reliable, qualified organisation to keep things operating well, many businesses suffer with a set-up that never quite works properly.

It’s a false economy. Having your systems designed, built, installed and supported professionally does cost a little more in the short run – but it’s a heck of a lot cheaper in the long run.

The right advice with the right support means your staff can function at their best. If you have 20 people and they’re all wasting 30 minutes a day being frustrated by your IT, that’s 10 hours. Or the equivalent of one full-time resource. Even if that resource were entry level, that’s $40,000 a year wasted.

We can provide support a lot cheaper than that.

Proactive support is very different to reactive support. Rather than us waiting for you to call with a fault, we monitor your systems 24×7 and resolve issues before they become showstoppers.

Running a business is hard. Don’t put up with unrealiable IT or IT Support Teams. Give us a call to discuss how we can make your life easier.

I’m a bit concerned that some “Technicians” from other IT Support Companies are under the dangerous misapprehension that ALL Microsoft patches should be installed on ALL Windows machines – both desktop and server.

This is an incredibly wrong-headed approach that is normally found in Technicians who have started their careers in Desktop Support.

Even Microsoft themselves state very clearly that when it comes to patching:

“The risk of implementing the service pack, hotfix and security patch should be LESS than the risk of not implementing it.”

If you’re not using PCGURU for proactive management of your IT Infrastructure, please make sure you have your team read this:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc750077.aspx

It´s not unusual – in fact, it´s common – for patches, hotfixes and service packs to cause a server to fail on reboot. Especially Small Business Servers.

Patch Management isn’t simply the act of installing everything available. Consideration should be made to the role of the machine and its attack profile.

Proactive support of IT infrastructure is not for learners. Uptime is important. But so is security. The balance is the trick.

Been playing with the new iPad. It’s nice. But as yet, I see no compelling reason to upgrade if you have the iPad2. That said, it’s probably worth considering if you’re still on an iPad1.

The slightly different thickness and weight are of no consequence and of course, the much vaunted 4G is of no utility in Australia as our carriers do not operate on the frequencies that the iPad3 requires. that likely won’t happen for at least 18 months.

So why buy? Well the new Retina Screen is lovely. Deep colours and no obvious pixelation. The new camera is much better resolution too and makes for gorgeous photos at least equivalent to the ordinary point and shoot you may carry.

Finally, the new A5X processor may only have 2 processing cores but it has 4 GPU cores so I’d you’re into gaming, this thing will blow your pants off. It’s more powerful than an Xbox360 or PS3 when it comes to graphics performance.

Oh, and one more thing (hoho), make sure you get a good solid case for it. I dropped my iPad2 on the Tarmac in a car park. It bounced. Twice. but also shattered the screen.

This is a brilliant replacement for a laptop and should be considered. PCGURU can help you hook them up to your current email, calendar and contacts and we can show you how to get the best out of them.

They’re cheap compared to laptops. The battery lasts much longer -usually over 10 hours and they’re small & light.

Highly recommended!

I’m very fortunate that my job means I usually get all the nice new tech gadgets as soon as they are released.

I’ve been a big fan of the iPad since I got the original device about 2 years ago (although I was critical of them before I ever touched one).

Rather than line-up to get the iPad3 (it’s actually called “The New iPad”) or wait for a pre-order to arrive, I simply popped into Dick Smith in Carousel and picked mine up there. No queues. Plenty in stock. They did the normal upsell on accessories and extended warranties, but I didn’t want them.

I’ve just finished setting it up and yes, the new Retina Screen is quite beautiful. The high-density of pixels means it’s crystal clear and has about a 1/3 more “dots” that your 50″ High-Definition Plasma Screen! In the hand, it doesn’t feel much different. I can’t sense the slightly extra-thicker case and I sure as heck can’t feel it being any heavier.

The 4G component does not work in Australia due to our carriers not using the frequencies this device can do. :(  We’re not likely to see 4G working for at least 12-24 months.

Still – hopefully that’ll make the battery last longer!

Finally, is it worth it? Probably not. Unless you’ve got money burning a hole in your pocket, stick with your iPad2. If you’ve only got an iPad1, consider upgrading to the iPad2 as all of those have come down by $100.

Evolutionary? Yes. Revolutionary? No.

Resolutionary? Oh, Apple.

New updated site goes live. Lots of issues with Cloudflare, the Content Distribution Network that reverse proxies this site to provide caching, compression and security. Seems a bit flaky, but we’ll keep an eye on it.

Also a happy day today as the Police arrested the two goons who stole a laptop from PCGURU 3 days ago. There doesn’t appear to be any chance of getting the laptop back, back at least the bozos who took it will see some justice.