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Charleston, SC computer repair, service, and support serving the greater Charleston area. We service a wide range of technology, including Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh hardware and software.

• Is your business suffering from a computer solution that is not working the way you need it to?

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Having a “Computer Guy” these days is just as important as having a plumber, electrician, lawyer, or accountant on call. You want someone you can count on to be there when you need them, as well as know your computing needs.

We offer you a personal, yet professional relationship at an affordable rate.

Check out our services and rates, then contact us to make an appointment. We pledge to provide the highest quality of service for you and your business. Don’t forget to check out the Frequently Asked Questions.

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Backup Your Computer!

Last modified on 2008-08-18 02:01:45 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

This morning I had the unpleasant surprise of firing up my media center computer (a Mac Mini I have hooked up to the family TV that stores videos, music, and pictures) only to have it freeze and then not successfully power back up. After some quick diagnostics, I realized the internal hard drive (where the operating system, programs, and data are stored) had read its last bit. In other words, it died. When I woke up, I thought I would have a computer-problem-free Sunday to sit around and watch movies and the Olympics with the kids all day. Luckily, I was able to quickly return to the day of rest because I regularly back up my computer. Being a computer technician also helps as I had all the tools and a spare hard drive to quickly fix the computer, but for the average non-technical person, the most important thing in this situation is the data backup. Here are some easy ways to backup your computer to be prepared for the inevitable bout of data loss that every computer user will have to deal with at some time or another.

First of all, you need something to backup to. In the old days, people used floppy disks and magnetic tape to back up. These were slow and unstable, hence a lot of bad back-up habits were born. With the introduction of writable CD’s and eventually DVD’s, the act of backing up remained unchanged, as the process was slow and for a lot of people, too complicated. The biggest issue with these older back-up methods is that they require you to remember to do it! That is why I prefer an automated system. There are two main types of media that an automated method works well with.

The first type of media I want to discuss is an external hard drive. These are relatively inexpensive - for about $100.00 you can get 500GB of disk space to back-up to. These are really easy to install - they do not require any special software to work - you just plug in the USB cable to your PC or Mac and the computer should recognize it automatically. The only difficult part is picking a backup method to move your data to the hard drive.

If you’re running a Mac that has OS X version 10.5, you will have the easiest possible back-up software ever written built right in. It is called Time Machine, and it is so easy to set up that when you plug in a new external hard drive, the computer asks you if you want to use it for backing up. If you say yes, then you are done. As long as you have the disk plugged in, the computer will automatically periodically back up your Mac without any further interaction. For older Macs, there is a great free program called SilverKeeper, which will let you set up scheduled back-ups, but it takes a little setup and testing to make sure it is working.

For Windows-based PC’s, you have a plethora of options. In Windows XP, you can use the built-in back-up program. Microsoft has a great article on their website on how to make use of their back-up solution. Windows Vista has an even more user-friendly back-up program - you can read about the features here, and you can take it a step further by checking out this in-depth guide to using the Backup and Restore Center in Windows Vista. On my Windows based systems, I prefer to make image based backups of the whole computer hard drive. What this does is create a complete copy of the whole hard drive, so that if a hard drive fails, I can replace the physical hard drive and restore the image to the new drive. This saves me hours of time because I don’t have to install Windows or any programs first, once I restore the image to the drive, I’m back in business. I used to use a program from Norton called Ghost, but like most of their software, I believe it is now a waste of space on my computer. I have found a much cheaper and quicker program that I love from Paragon called Drive Backup. For $40.00, this program is well worth the price and is quite reliable. It comes with a program that creates a bootable CD, so that in the event of a failed hard drive, you can boot off of the CD and run the program to restore you backed up hard drive image to a new drive. Like the built-in backup programs in Windows, it lets you set a schedule to automatically backup your computer.

The other type of “media” I want to talk about is online backup solutions. There are a bunch of companies out there that do the same thing, but you really need to ask yourself who you would trust with your most sensitive data. I personally trust EMC, who have been in the computer information management business since 1979. Their product, called Mozy, is affordable and painless to set up. It also works on Windows PC’s as well as Apple computers. The way it works is that you you set up what data you want to back up, and it works in the background encrypting and then uploading your data over the internet to their remote backup servers. It does require you to have a high-speed internet connection to work, and in the event of data restoration, you will have to add the amount of time it takes to download all of your data to the time it will take to get you back up and running. Still, in the event of a disaster such as a fire or a tornado, nothing beats having an off-site data backup solution in place to ensure that your data is safe.

The best practice is to use both the external hard drive backup and the online backup solutions to cover any disaster that comes your way. In the event of a hardware failure, a hard drive backup will get you back in business very quickly. In the event of a disaster, an off-site online backup will ensure that you won’t lose your important data.

2008 Back-To-School Suggestions

Last modified on 2008-07-31 00:43:47 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

As we cross the hump of summer and head back into the school season, a lot of college goers and even high school and grade school students will have to “gear up” for the academic year. I frequently get asked to help out individuals and businesses alike to choose the right machine for the job at hand. So this year, I’m going to compile a list of suggestions that I think will be suitable for educational purposes.

There are a couple of trends that parents will have to cope with and accept. Modern youngsters depend on their computers for everything. Therefore, their needs are a bit higher than the average business computer. The current generation of techno-enabled scholars don’t watch TV (with the exception of live sporting events). They use video sites like Hulu.com, Youtube.com, and even the network TV channel’s respective websites to stream TV shows. They also download them either legally though iTunes and Amazon.com, or not-so-legally through sites like thepiratebay.org. They take thousands of pictures and store them on their computer and/or cell phone. They have digital music libraries that make your CD or Vinyl collection look quite minuscule. They also read digital books on their computers and iPods. So when it is time to buy that new computer for junior, you’ll want one that will be future proof without breaking the bank (and by future proof, I mean 3-4 years).

The first machine I want to talk about is the Apple MacBook. As of this writing, the Apple rumor sites are flooded with rumors of new versions of Apple’s laptop offerings within the next month or so. If you have time to wait around for that to happen, then you might want to skip this. Otherwise, the current lineup of MacBooks have been around for a while and the design is tried and true.

There are multiple price points for the MacBook. For the average student, the mid-grade priced MacBook, priced at $1,199.00 for students is the way to go. I would upgrade the hard drive to the 250GB option for an extra $90.00 and add the AppleCare extended warranty to the package for another $183.00. AppleCare will ensure that your child’s laptop will be free from defects for 3 years, which is a must, as well as access to Apple’s phone support techs. Unfortunately, Apple does not offer any accidental damage plan, but you may want to look into insurance to cover drops and theft. Apple is also currently running a promotion for students to receive a free 8GB iPod Touch or Nano with the purchase of a laptop. That is a $300.00 value!

Total price before tax for this configuration: $1,472.00

There are a couple of Dell laptops I currently favor. The first one is the new kid in the Dell line-up called the Studio 15. The base model is very attractive and almost fully-loaded. The only customizations I would make are to bump the processor up to the Intel Core 2 Duo T5850 2.16 GHz model for $50.00 and add a spare AC adapter for $26.00. This machine includes a 1 year warranty, but with students, it is wise to invest in a good warranty. The 3 year warranty is an added $190.00, and includes 24×7 phone support. Dell fortunately offers accidental damage and theft protection for another $119.00 on top of the extended warranty.

Total price before tax for this configuration: $1,184.00

The next Dell I like is aimed at the budget-conscious student. I’ll skip the extended warranties on this one to keep the price as low as possible. This laptop is actually only available through the business store, so you will have to state the name of your business when checking out. They don’t require any type of proof that you are a business and will deliver to a residential address, so don’t worry if you don’t think you qualify to order from this section of their website.

The Dell Vostro 1000 is a no-frills workhorse that has a base price of $399.00. I wouldn’t recommend it at that configuration though, so here is what you need to add to it when you choose the customize button on their website: First, change the processor to the AMD AthlonTM 64 X2 Dual Core processor TK-57 for $25.00. Second, change the operating system to Vista Home premium for 29.00. Next, change the memory to 2GB of RAM for $25.00. Then, you’ll want to select the 120GB hard drive option for $15.00. You will also have to choose the 8X DVD+/-RW w/Double-layer DVD+R Write Capability optical drive for $15.00. Finally, select the 6-cell battery for $50, because a 4 cell battery will barely make it through a lecture. It sounds like we added a lot, but the price is still half of the other laptops I’ve suggested.

Total price before tax for this configuration: $558.00

You will notice that there are no desktops in the above computer recommendations. The reason is that you can’t fit your desktop rig into your backpack to take notes during class. I understand the reasoning of why a lot of parents don’t want their kids to use laptops at college, but it is pretty much a necessity to have a laptop at college these days, so if you are buying a new computer for your child, don’t make him or her suffer!

The next item I would suggest is a good old laptop sleeve. These are usually made out of a good protective fabric such as neoprene and truly assist in transport of laptops from class to class in addition to a good laptop-ready backpack. You can find these at anyplace that sells laptops cases. My absolute favorite is from Waterfield Designs. They run about $40.00 and last forever.

As for laptop bags, I like the swiss army bags you see at Best Buy for about $50. For the more fashion conscious, Crumpler is the way to go, but it will cost a bit more.

Another necessity is printing. There are plenty of options available, and you will have to talk to your student about their needs. If they will only need to print out black and white text documents like reports and such, a good laser printer will save a lot of money over the course of the school year as the toner yield a lot more printed pages for your dollar. You can get an HP LaserJet P1005 CB410A from Newegg.com for $49.99 plus $9.99 in shipping. The toner is also $49.99, but it is rated at 1,500 pages. That should last them through the school year and then some.

If they need color, and the ability to scan or copy, there are plenty of multifunction options out there. The HP Photosmart C5280 Q8330A is a popular item that offers color printing, scanning, and copying. The ink will cost about $60.00 for both the black and color high-yield cartridges and will get you about 750 pages.

A great item to consider is the iPod Touch, which makes a great PDA, and comes with the MacBook if you are a student. This is a great alternative to use as a to-do pad as well as listen to audio-books and run a scientific calculator. An iPhone is an even better investment if it is within the budget, as you child will have access to email and the internet even when not within range of a wi-fi network. There are cheaper smart phones such as the Palm Centro, which will do most of the same things as an iPhone, and the Blackberry Pearl or Curve is also very useful for today’s student.

The final thing to consider is a laptop lock. It is basically like a bicycle chain for you laptop, and will help deter a casual thief from taking advantage of an unwatched laptop.

Hopefully these suggestions will help get your back-to-school computer shopping done quickly and with a piece of mind that you made a good choice. Now go to the beach and enjoy the rest of the summer!

***Please keep in mind that prices and availability of all of these items are subject to change at any moment***

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Quick F.A.Q.

• Does Charleston Tech Support service my area?

We service the greater Charleston, SC area. This includes the barrier islands such as Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, & Wadmalaw Island. It also includes Wando, Daniel Island, North Charleston, Summerville, Ladson, Hanahan, Goose Creek, Moncks Corner, James Island, West Ashley, Hollywood, and Ravenel. If you are not sure, just give us a call and we’ll let you know.

• Are there any hidden fees?

No. We charge an hourly rate and if parts are needed you pay for the cost of the part as we are not a reseller. We are not currently affiliated with any software vendors either, so we will not push any unwanted software on you.

• Do you support my systems?

We support a large variety of the latest (and oldest) information technology. This includes servers, laptops, and desktops running Apple and Microsoft operating systems. We support and install networks, both wired and wireless, including installation, addition, and repair of your medium’s infrastructure and routers. We support mobile devices such as Blackberry devices, iPhones, Windows Mobile, and PC air cards. We also repair and maintain laser printers, scanners, and just about anything that plugs into your network and/or computer (yes, we support iPods too).

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