Edjukayshun

For many people, computers are a total mystery. We go out, purchase a computer, then expect the industry to inform us how to use it and what to do with it.

Unfortunately, this is where the computer industry takes us to the cleaners.

When you buy most appliances, you get a manual telling you how to use them. For computers, this doesn’t happen. Worse, you do not get to decide how your computer is to be used. Instead, you are told what it has and what you can change (if anything) , and then you have to figure out how YOU can use that in your life.

For something that is equivalent to an electronic roll-away tool chest, this is pitiful.

Being a computer tech, most people look at me like Houdini. I can do anything. The reality: I just have more experience.

The computer industry from component manufacturers down to software vendors are equivalent to snake oil salesmen as far as a consumer is concerned.

If you realize that your computer mystifies you and you have trouble with it, realize I have the same issue. Manufacturers do not tell me how to fix their products. In truth, even they rarely know. It generally takes hundreds of people and 1-2 years to write a software package. Then, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand did. Hardware is worse.

NEVER FEEL DUMB with your computer.

You are sold a computer with no guide book, the technology is always buggy for at least a year (and then they replace it with worse stuff), and you are told which pre-determined option you will pick from and have to decide how you can be efficient with it. The only thing you can do is stock up on 3^rd party books or continue to pick the brain of others who know what you need to know.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is called a set up. As long as you feel dumb, you will accept the industry shenanigans. You will also continue to believe the lie that a computer should wear out in a year and need replacement. You are set up with poor quality components and no information which result in more computer sales.

This set up happens in other things, so lets put it all in perspective:

1. You do not pick the president, the electoral college does but uses popular vote for consideration.

2. Your dollar is worth only what govt. says it is at any time. A $1 and $100 bill both cost $.024 to make.

The above items, if understood fully by the 1% of the people would cause a revolt. This is why we are set up by industries the way we are. Computers are no different. Fight back, feel good about learning and understand that what you do not know is not your fault. What you learn can change the entire industry.

service@bigvalleycomputers.com

For further information please call (530) 299-0911

**Disclaimer: What follows is only my opinion.

For quite a long time, computers have come out brand new with a shelf price that may seem appealing only to reduce that price the following month. Computers seem to drop in value and price over time. Based on wear and tear factors, this is logical. Computers just do not last as long as they used to.

Metals vs. The Dollar:

What this means to you:

BUDGET. PLAN. Treat your computer and related uses of it planned with maintenance factored in. Expect that when you need a part or machine, prices will be HIGHER a month later than when you bought them. To make a long story short, there is not enough silver on the planet, and gold has to hit MORE THAN $2500 per ounce to eliminate the inflation from the dollar. This means metals ought to AT LEAST DOUBLE in price from today. My bet is that we will see a quadrupling. The expectation is that the worst will be 4-10 years from now.

What we are seeing economically is also called a transfer of wealth. Take precautions to be sure it doesn’t transfer OUT of your pocket unnecessarily. 

service@bigvalleycomputers.com

For further information please call (530) 299-0911

Viruses vs. Security Packages

Many times people with a computer security package installed by the factory or themselves run into issues. They get viruses or other such malicious threats sabotaging their computers. How does this happen? What do you do?

As far as security goes, remember that you have your choice of security tools. Some are better than others. Exactly which tool is best tends to change frequently. However, one thing remains constant. 80% of your computer’s security is due to CONFIGURATION of the tool, not the MANUFACTURER of the tool. Therefore, you need to be sure the tool is configured correctly upon first install.

Most of the time, security comes at a price. Security and convenience are at different ends of the spectrum. Like using your keys every time you get in, and then start your car, you have to either be convenient (leaving it unlocked) or secure. There is no middle ground.

Computer security is no different, except that you are generally told how you will use your computer no matter what YOU want, and then you are told how you will like it. In order to properly keep a consumer happy, manufacturers allow the security tool to be installed at a trusting level. In other words, they do almost nothing. If they were NOT trusting, they may block things you want to do. They may also pop up warning windows which cause confusion and prompt tech support calls. These calls require the manufacturer to pay for technicians in order to answer the issues and redo configurations. That would mean the price of the product would be higher and you wouldn’t want it.

The two most common security packages are trouble right out of the box. One defaults to allowing all connections to your computer from the internet no matter if they are safe or not, and the other ignores “low level threats”.  As far as what “ low level threats” are, well…..your guess is as good as mine. The point is that these two give you no protection until properly configured. -And this is where your local computer technician comes in.

A computer tech can see what the tool is, how it works, and get you secured rather quickly. For most situations, this takes a half-hour of labor. If your compromised security has already led to an infestation of ugliness, expect a virus cleaning to have to be done first. The reason for this is simple: A security package, once the system is infected, gets compromised and sabotaged by the malicious software. The system must be cleaned to function properly. This same issue exists if you get viruses AND THEN put a security package on the machine. -It is too late. You need the machine cleaned first as the viruses sabotage the new security package.

Having said all of this, what is the best tool? The best tool is the most PROACTIVE one. A proactive tool is one that keeps the threats from getting in from the get-go. You don’t care about cleaning up after the fact, you don’t want an issue in the first place. A proactive tool has a good integrated firewall which does this task. A true computer professional should have a grasp on this sort of thing and should be able to guide you down the right path. However, that configuration which results in 80% of the tool’s effectiveness is necessary by either a pro or yourself.

Just keep in mind that having your security taken care of correctly the first time can seem costly. However, NOT having it correct the first time results in having the pro fix it. -And THAT ends up always costing more than the preventative measures you would have taken from the beginning.