Technology

There�s a new phrase slowly rumbling through the computer support industry in Australia � managed services.� It�s being helped along by companies like Kaseya, who are trying to convince every one-man-band computer guy that they can earn truckloads by using the Kaseya product.� Problem is, your technology tool of choice is only one small piece of the puzzle to make you a successful managed service provider (MSP).� So, we now have another �book & webinar� spawning industry, trying to each people the secrets of being an MSP, structuring contracts, pitching to customers etc etc.

Learnt something new this week � Outlook Express does not have an inbuilt spell checker and relies on a word processing program to be installed to use this feature.� And Open Office won�t cut it.

If you do have a word processor installed but spell check isn�t working in OE, check out Kelly�s Korner for tips to replace a dll file or fix registry entries:��http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_oe.htm#xp_spell_checker

-SCuff

Thanks Glen for the ‘dig in the ribs’ about this blog, which has been a little quite over the last few weeks.  So, what’s my excuse?  Taking over the Regional Director role for Computer Troubleshooters in the state of Queensland, Australia!  What have I let myself in for?

So far it’s been a fast learning curve, with some excellent training from VIC RD extraordinaire, Quentin Ogle, and sitting in on a new franchisee training, meeting with prospects and organising our first workshop.  Oh, and we even managed some self-promotion (in more ways than one) in the local paper .. ignore the hideous photo in which we look like we are on drugs.

Today�s lesson is a short one, about the magic of disappearing sound devices.

In Vista, under Control Panel, then Sounds, the first tab is Playback.� Mine shows two devices: Speakers and Realtek�Digital Output.� Whilst�playing around with some settings the other day, I right-clicked on Speakers and selected Disable � and disable they did!� Having been used to network icons that remain with a red X on them when disable, I was most surprised to see my Speakers device completely gone.��A-hunting I went,�not able to find the�darn things anywhere for me to re-enable them�🙁

Asking any IT person to recommend a printer (or a laptop or PC for that matter), is like saying �which car should I buy?� or �which house should I build?�.� It strongly depends on what your needs are, as a printer on a network for 10 people in an office printing mainly documents is far different�from a home printer that you want to handle photos.

Here are my top�five�printing tips :

Once upon a time, internet chat rooms were pages of text that you had to �refresh� to see a new message, and anyone could intrude on.� Fast forward to today, and instant messaging gives us our own private chat rooms (or are they private?) with only the people we want to communicate with (if we select the right settings).� There are many pros and cons of instant messaging, and I for one am a believer that it can benefit businesses, if done properly (i.e. securely).

Did I mention how well my laptop has been running since the Vista reinstallation?� Oh yeah, except I still haven�t tackled iTunes again�🙂

Here�s one that�s caught me out before .. and, as I didn�t reinstall the applications (hubby did) .. it snuck back in again.� Small business owners in Australia & New Zealand may be familiar with the MYOB suite of accounting/bookkeeping software.� It literally stands for Mind Your Own Business.� Well, Accounting Plus v17.0.0 (and some earlier versions) don�t play well with Microsoft Office 2007.� In particular, when you try to display a payroll advice, MYOB crashes with a �stopped working� error.� Very frustrating when you are trying to process the salary payments.� Even more frustrating when it�s your own salary you are trying to pay.

How long do you put up with a problem before you fix it? Especially if it�s one of those �slightly annoying but I can work around it� type computer problems?� Do you wait for a quiet moment at work (yeah, right), or for a time when you are feeling particularly unproductive or are avoiding another task that would be more unpleasant?� Or do you wait until another one .. or two .. or many other little problems join in the party and gang up on you?