While it may sound contradictory to say that I am going big by staying small, the reality is that our society has become a little too caught up in the use of technology and the hustle and bustle of every day life. How often do you call a company for customer support, only to be routed through a complicated menu system that never seems to put you in touch with an actual person?

At Computer Clue, I think it is important to maintain the human element. While technology is a very useful tool that can certainly make our lives easier in a number of ways, it can never replace the human factor. So, rather than expanding my business to include dozens of tech representatives all over the state or even the country, I have made a conscious decision to stay small. This way, I can truly get to know and to understand the needs of my customers.

By staying small, I believe I offer a number of benefits to my clients. These include:

• A personal level of service that allows me to get to truly get to know my clients so I can more effectively meet their unique needs
• The ability to provide in-house computer services to each of my clients
• Scheduling flexibility – we only need to find a time that is good for me and for you rather than trying to work around the schedules of a team of employees
• Lower rates because I do not have all of the overhead that is involved with creating a corporate image and keeping a team of workers on the payroll

In short, I have made a conscious effort to remain a “small guy” because I truly believe it is the best way to provide you with the best New Jersey computer repair service possible. I sincerely hope that this commitment to customer service shines through when you choose me to provide you with computer repair services in New Jersey.

Operating Systems

There is no doubt that the Windows based PC received a great deal of negative attention after launching Windows Vista, which had a number of bugs and general usability issues. When comparing Macs to PCs, however, it is important to remember that the PC operating system Microsoft Windows has moved on to the Windows 7. This is a very good operating system, as is the Snow Leopard OS system used by Mac. Therefore, when comparing operating systems, you should think in terms of the Snow Leopard OS versus the Windows 7 operating system, both of which are very good.

Cost

There is no way around it: Macs are more expensive than PCs when it comes to purchasing comparable systems. Even so, those who are looking to purchase a higher-end computer tend to gravitate toward the Mac. In fact, Apply has 91 percent of the premium computer market share. In other words, 9 out of 10 computers purchased in 2009 with a price tag of more than $1,000 were Macs.

Software Options and Concerns

If you are looking for the system with the greatest availability of software, the PC is the right choice for you. The simple truth is that there is more software for PC than there is for Mac. If you only need specific software applications that are available for the Mac, however, this may not be a concern for you.

It is also important to keep in mind that Apple makes both the Mac hardware and the software that is used by the computer. Therefore, you generally will not experience software compatibility issues with Mac as you will with PCs. Although Microsoft does a great job with making its software compatible with the thousands of different computer manufacturers and parts manufacturers in the industry, compatibility issues still do arise.

Viruses

There is a myth that Macs do not get viruses, but this is not true. It is true, however, that Macs do not get as many viruses as PCs. This is not because PCs are more susceptible to viruses. Rather, there are more viruses made to affect PCs because PCs are used by 90% of users while only 10% of computer users are Mac users. In other words, if you were creating a virus and you wanted to affect as many people as possible, the obvious choice would be to create a virus affecting PCs because more people use PCs than Macs.

So, what’s my personal opinion? In short, I like both. In fact, I have a MacBook Pro laptop as well as a Windows 7 desktop. I have noticed, however, that I tend to use my Mac more than my PC. I think this is largely because I like the simple designs of Apple products.

The bottom line is that there are no simple answers to this question. So, if you are still not sure which system is right for you, send me a message and tell me a little about yourself, how you plan to use your computer and your budget and I will do my best to help you decide and to help you find the best deal possible.

For those of you who already have experience with Macs or PCs, what is your opinion on this issue? What types of experiences have you had with one or both systems?

Blocking Out Questionable Websites

One step you can take to prevent your child from visiting questionable websites is to install software that will simply block out certain websites. Depending upon the type of security program you install on your computer, it may have a parental setting option that will allow you to easily keep certain sites blocked out. These programs can also be set up to only allow the Internet to be accessed at certain times of the day. This way, you can be certain your child is only browsing the Internet at times when you can monitor it more closely.

Checking the Browsing History

While blocking questionable websites is an easy way to help prevent your child from visiting certain sites, it does not guarantee that your child will stay away for the sites you do not approve of. In addition, some parents and kids find this software to be frustrating because it tends to block out sites that are not actually “bad,” while other sites that are questionable might still make it through the filter. Therefore, whether you use this software or not, it is still a good idea to check your child’s browser history.

If you have Internet Explorer installed on your computer, you can check the browser history by taking the following steps:

• Click on the “View” on the tool bar at the top of the page
• Select “Explorer Bars”
• Choose “History”

You can now choose to look at the sites that have been visited today or on any specific date that you desire by browsing through the box that will appear on the left side of the screen. You can also bring up this box by simply pressing Ctrl + Shift + H.

If you have Firefox on your computer, on the other hand, you will need to take the following steps to view the browser history:

• Click on “History” on the tool bar at the top of the page
• Select “Show All History”

From here, you can choose to view the history for today, yesterday, the last 7 days, this month or last month. Just as with Internet Explorer, you can also click Ctrl + Shift + H in order to bring up the browsing history.
The downside to using this method to monitor your child’s computer usage is the fact that the browsing history can be easily deleted. Of course, if your child is clearing out the browsing history, it certainly gives you reason to be suspicious of what your child might be up to and what he or she is trying to hide.

Installing Monitoring Software

In order to make sure you are able to view all of the sites your child is visiting, you might want to consider installing monitoring software. With this software, you will still be able to view the sites your child has visited even if he or she deletes the browsing history. Many of these products can be installed and used without your child even knowing it has been installed. To select the program that is right for you and your situation, it is a good idea to talk to a computer expert who can recommend the right software to meet your needs.

Although there are many “techie” ways for you to monitor your child’s online activities, it is important to remember that there is no better prevention than to maintain an open line of communication with your child. Before he or she even gets on the computer, be sure to discuss how to stay safe online and what types of sites are and are not acceptable. By laying down clear ground rules and by continually discussing your expectations with your child, you will have the greatest chance of keeping him or her safe.

As a parent, you are probably experiencing an ongoing internal debate when it comes to keeping your child protected: to snoop or not to snoop. On one hand, you want to be able to trust your child and to respect his or her privacy. On the other hand, you want to keep your child protected and the best way to do that is to know more about his or her friends and what they are doing.

This age-old debate has been burning in the hearts and minds of parents for many generations, but the technology boom has moved this debate beyond deciding whether or not to read your child’s diary or to monitor his or her phone calls. Thanks to the technology age, there are far more reasons for you to be a bit more concerned about what your child might be doing in his or her spare time. Furthermore, technological advancements have provided parents with far more reason to do a little snooping. In fact, here are 5 reasons why monitoring your child’s computer activity is a good idea.

Reason #1:  Online Predators are a Frightening Reality

Perhaps the most important reason to monitor your child’s computer activities is to keep him or her safe from online predators. Back before the Internet was around, you didn’t have to worry about your child making contact with absolute strangers when he or she wrote in a diary. Thanks to social networking sites, however, it is quite simple for your child to make contact with people all over the world. While there are certainly positive aspects to being able to meet other people online, it also puts your child at risk of connecting with predators who are up to no good. By monitoring your child’s activities and by placing restrictions on certain websites, you can help prevent your child from becoming a victim.

Reason #2:  Online Content Can Questionable

Monitoring your child’s online computer habits is also important because there is a great deal of incorrect or possibly questionable content on the Internet.  While every parent wants his or her children to become educated individuals and to learn more about the world around them, some of the information contained on the Internet may be of a more adult nature or may simply go against the morals you are trying to instill in your child. By monitoring his or her activity, you can make sure your child is not receiving incorrect information or being guided down the wrong path.

Reason #3:  Online Photos Can be Quite Graphic

In addition to containing questionable written content, the Internet is also full of nude and pornographic photos and videos as well as videos and photos that depict graphic violence. Most parents prefer to keep these images away from their children, particularly while they are still young. Yet, these types of pictures and videos are quite commonly found on the Internet.

Reason #4:  Posting Online Photos is Easy

Not only is it easy to find offensive pictures on the Internet, it is also easy for your child to post pictures online. Unfortunately, some kids don’t realize just how serious posting a photo can be, particularly if it is a picture of questionable nature.  These pictures spread easily and quickly around the Internet and can lead to a great deal of embarrassment. Of course, posting pictures also puts your child at an even greater risk of being taken advantage of by a child predator.

Reason #5:  Purchasing Online Items is a Snap

Finally, monitoring your child’s online activity is important because it is quite easy to make purchases online. All your child needs is to get a hold of your credit card and you might suddenly find yourself receiving a number of expensive items you don’t really want to have.

Now that you know why you should monitor your child’s computer activity, visit my blog again as I will write and post new article called  How to Check Your Kids’ Surfing Habits soon.

#1:  Everything’s Moving So Slowly

Even a well-programmed virus that is supposed to sneak onto your computer without your knowledge may cause your system to slow down. Why? Because the software is using up so much of your memory that your computer can’t keep up with whatever it is you are doing on it. On the other hand, some viruses may cause a slow down because they are destroying files or otherwise wreaking havoc on your system. If the computer runs more quickly in safe mode than in normal mode, it is a good indication that you have become infected.

#2: You’re Knocking, but No One’s Home

Another sign that your computer has become infected is a general lack of response.  You might click and click on certain commands, but nothing seems to happen. Or, your entire system seems to freeze up and forces you to press Alt+Ctrl+Del to get out of there.

#3: The Bi-Polar Computer

An infected computer may also start exhibiting bi-polar behavior – one minute it’s on and the next minute it is off for no good reason. A system that crashes and restarts for no good reason is likely to be infected with a virus. In addition to crashing and restarting on its own, an infected computer may go through this same process and then run erratically after it restarts.

#4: Where Did My Security Go?

Once your computer is infected by a virus, that virus may also go into your system and make unusual changes to your security settings, including dropping your Firewall. Of course, this leaves you vulnerable to a whole host of other viral threats as well, which will only compound your problem. In addition, because your security has been compromised, you may even find signs of activity on your computer that you didn’t initiate, such as a constantly flashing disc drive light.

#5:  What Happened to My Big Report?

If your software applications suddenly don’t want to work correctly anymore, you most likely have a virus on your computer. Perhaps you can open your word processing application, but the fonts are all incorrect, documents appear to be missing or you experience other problems with using the software application. A common application-related sign of a virus infection is receiving a message telling you that your file cannot load because it “is not in the correct format.” In some cases, you may be able to open your files, but the content will be unexpectedly changed or some of it will be missing.

#6: Where are My Disks?

One sign of a virus infection is one that will surely illicit panic in just about any computer owner – suddenly not being able to access disks or disk drives. When you think of all of documents, photos, music files and other information stored on these disks or within these disk drives, the thought of it all suddenly disappearing is truly devastating.

#7: What’s Wrong with This Printer?

If you are suddenly unable to print from your computer or if the items you print do not turn out correctly, a virus infection may be the problem.

#8: I Can’t Do Anything Right

When a virus attacks your system you might also receive a number of unusual error messages. Some of these error messages may be legitimate ones from your computer as it tries to warn you about the problem. But, in many cases, these supposed error messages are actually part of the virus program and are designed to encourage you to take certain actions that will only make your infection worse. For example, you might receive messages from your Internet connection firewall telling you that a program needs to access the Internet. While the message may be sent from your actual firewall, it is the virus program that is trying to access the Internet.

#9:  Everything Looks So Strange

A virus infection may also cause the menus and dialog boxes on your computer to be distorted. Or, it may make changes to your cursor, to your desktop wallpaper or even add icons to you desktop. Again, this could be your computer’s reaction to the virus attack, or it may actually be the virus running a program that is designed to trick you into thinking everything is still normal on your computer.

#10: Everything’s Poppin’!

Pop ads that keep showing up at unexpected times or that won’t go away are another sign of a virus infection. Ironically, these pop up ads are often advertising antivirus programs. Theses ads even tell you that your computer is infected with dozens of viruses and may prompt you to purchase the anti-virus software in order to protect your computer.

It is important to note that some of these signs of a virus infection can be caused by other problems with your system. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of these problems or otherwise believe your computer may have become infected by a virus, it is a good idea to contact a professional computer repair specialist to help resolve the problem.

The reality is that times are changing and, while it may still be possible to “get by” without a computer, the simple truth is that having a computer can make your life for more convenient and fulfilling.  Here’s a look at just a few of the reasons why seniors should own or consider purchasing a computer.

Reason #1:  Conquer a New Frontier

Baby Boomers have long been known for their desire to take on new challenges and their respect for education, so why change now?  If you feel as if the “technology age” has left you behind, there is no better time than now for you to grab hold of it and master it!

Reason #2:  Stay in Touch with Friends and Family

The Internet has made it a cinch to stay in regular contact with friends and family.  You no longer have to wait several days for those pictures of your grandchild to arrive – and, you don’t have to worry about those precious photos getting bent or otherwise damaged along the way!  With the magic of email, chat rooms and various photo-sharing websites, you can see those lovely pictures within minutes after they are taken.

Of course, the Internet allows you to stay in touch with friends and family in other ways.  From social networking sites where you can provide updates on a regular basis to the personal websites of your friends and family that you can easily visit, keeping in touch with your loved ones has never been easier.

Reason #3:  Keep Your Mind Sharp

Everyone knows the importance of staying physically fit while growing older, but what about keeping your mind sharp as well?  With the many different computer programs and games available, you will find plenty of opportunities for keeping your mind active with the help of your computer.  Furthermore, the millions of websites on the Internet allow you to easily stay on top of the latest news and other information that can help you stay sharp and in-tune with the world around you.

Reason #4:  Delve Deeper Into a Hobby

Regardless of your hobby, you are likely to find at least one website dedicated to your passion.  With the help of these websites, you can learn even more about your hobby while possibly getting in touch with others who share your passion as well.  Just imagine finding someone else to talk to about your love for basket weaving, bird whistling, or collecting salt and pepper shakers!

Reason #5:  Hone Your Job Skills

If you are still in the workforce or are simply looking for a way to bring in a little extra income, your new-found computer skills can be the answer.  After you purchase a computer and become comfortable with using it, you will become a more desirable candidate when seeking out new employment opportunities.  Or, you may even be able to use your computer skills to launch a freelance computer-related career from home.

If you don’t already own a computer or you are feeling nervous about learning how to use one, there is no reason to fear.  There are services available that provide computer help to elderly individuals who are interested in becoming more familiar with technology and all that it has to offer.  With this type of computer service, you can get step-by-step assistance with everything from getting your computer started to creating your own personal website. For New Jersey residents interested in obtaining computer help, I specialize specifically in helping seniors become familiar with their computers.  For do-it-yourselfers, the site features an extensive FAQs section that can provide them with assistance.  Or, site visitors can easily contact a professional computer technician through the Contact Me form and even schedule a personal visit to get one-on-one assistance with learning how to use the computer to its fullest potential.

So, what are you waiting for? You can purchase a basic yet high-quality computer for only a few hundred dollars – and you will certainly find the investment to be well-worth it once you start enjoying all of the benefits your computer has to offer! Feel free to contact me for computer purchase recommendation.

Your Desktop Computer or Laptop is Running Slowly

One of the most common complaints of PC owners is that their desktop computer or laptop simply runs too slowly.  Unfortunately, many people make the matter worse when they attempt to increase the speed of a slow-running PC by downloading, installing and executing untrustworthy programs.  When you hire a computer technician to take care of your sluggish computer, you can be certain the root cause of the problem will be resolved.  Furthermore, you won’t waste time and money on products that are supposed to “speed up” your computer, but really do nothing to address the real issue and actually make the problem worse.

You Have Lost Data or Files

No one wants to think about losing important data or files, but trying to recover them on your own can be a major mistake.  Most experts agree that approximately 85% of lost files can be recovered, but you can permanently lose or otherwise destroy your files if you attempt to recover them yourself.  When you hire a computer technician, you can take comfort in knowing that your files are in good hands and that there is a good chance they will be recovered.

Your Computer Has Been Attacked by Malware

There are a variety of different harmful software applications that can cause extensive damage to your desktop computer or laptop.  If you have installed a good virus protection program on your PC, you have taken the first step toward keeping it safe.  Unfortunately, it is still possible for viruses, Trojans, worms and other forms of malware to attack your computer even if you have installed a virus protection program.  Failure to properly remove malware from your computer can lead to significant damage and data loss.  When you hire a computer repair service specialist, you can be certain the malware will be entirely removed from your computer and that your system and the data it contains will be safe.

Your Computer has “Crashed”

When a computer “crashes,” it becomes unresponsive.  There are a number of potential reasons for a computer crash and, unfortunately, these crashes often occur without warning.  Failure to act quickly and properly can lead to significant data loss, so it is important to hire a computer technician as soon as possible to troubleshoot your system and to determine the cause of the crash.

While no one wants to spend their hard-earned cash by hiring a computer repair technician, there are certain situations that warrant taking this step.  By spending a little money now, you can prevent permanent and significant damage that can become far more costly in the long run.

Reason #1:  Destroyed Files Aren’t Always Recoverable

While a skilled computer repair specialist can recover the majority of lost files, there are times when destroyed files or deleted files simply cannot be recovered.  When you take the time to periodically backup data, you can easily bring back the files that have been lost.

Reason #2:  Your Laptop or PC Might Get Lost or Stolen

No one wants to believe they will ever be the victim of theft, but the reality is that there is always the possibility of your PC or laptop getting stolen.  In addition, if you are someone who takes your laptop everywhere you go, you might accidentally leave it behind.  What would you do if your PC or laptop was gone completely? If you backed up your files, you can take comfort in knowing that all of the information you had on your PC or laptop can be easily recovered.

Reason #3:  Temporary Storage Isn’t Meant for the Long Term

You might think it is unnecessary to backup data if you are using temporary storage devices to store your information.  While this is certainly a good short-term solution for meeting your backup needs, this type of storage media is not meant to be used for permanent data storage.  Countless people lose valuable files every year because they trusted a temporary storage device to keep their information safe.  You can prevent this from happening to you when you backup files through a professional data backup service.

Reason #4:  Power Failures and Spikes are Unpredictable

Power failures and spikes can also result in destroyed files that can be difficult to recover.  This is because power failure and spikes can completely fry your motherboard or hard drive, making it difficult and often impossible to recover destroyed files.

Reason #5:  Humans are Known to Make Mistakes

Whether you accidentally spilled coffee on your laptop’s keyboard, you failed to update your virus protection or you simply pressed the “delete” key at the wrong time, you are human and you will make mistakes on occasion.  While a computer repair specialist might be able to undelete files and recover destroyed files, you will rest a whole lot easier if you backup data before these problems ever occur.  This way, you will save yourself money and heartache when all of your files are right where you left them on your backup device or server.