Here we are again. It’s January already, and we are all preparing for the year ahead. It’s time to prepare your computer systems for this year, give them a good clean up, and prepare maintenance plans for the coming year. You may also be preparing your budgets and wondering where the costs for new technology will fall and what those benefits may be, but you don’t know what you don’t know! In this world of forever-growing technology you must ask yourself; how do I know what’s out there? It is quite possible that a new piece of equipment or software will become available that could greatly improve your business or home office. The PC world is about to see many new changes. This year will see the release of the next version of Windows (Vista) and new high-definition DVDs holding up to 50GB of data, both of which could either be problematic or perfect for your systems. However, without the right information, how do you know?

The first bit of advice for the new year is to make sure your systems are running smoothly. Upgrades and keeping software up to date are very important. You may think that your systems are secure just because you have a virus scanner and a firewall, but many new threats appear everyday, and your software could be at risk if it isn’t updated. Check all of your software regularly. Even schedule it to do the checks itself so you don’t have to worry about those types of things. You may find that the small updates stop coming, so check the websites to see whether a new major build (e.g. version 5 – version 6) has been released.

Hardware upgrades are also important. With new technology, hardware is constantly being updated, and it is often important to get this new hardware to keep your business running efficiently (time is money!). It could be as simple as getting yourself a faster printer with cheaper consumables in order to get those flyers out to your potential customers with more speed and efficiency. When the new high-definition DVD technology is released for regular PCs, it would also be a good idea to revisit your backup processes. It is possible that with this new technology your backups could take less time and take up less space – something needed in every business!

Buying the latest magazines and brochures might also give you an insight into some aspects of the newest cutting-edge technology, but as a layman it is hard to keep a track of what’s out there that’s beneficial to you. This is where your Computer Troubleshooter can help you. Ask your local Computer Troubleshooter to provide a standard clean-up of your computers to prepare them for the year ahead, and at the same time ask your CT how we can improve your systems for greater efficiency. Ask us if purchasing the next version of your software or a hardware upgrade would be a good idea. Sometimes you may find that new technology won’t help you, but you could find that this year’s technology could greatly improve your business and be a good investment for the future. Be aware that combining old hardware with new software or vice-versa can cause many problems. Remember your Computer Troubleshooter does know what you don’t know (well, about computer systems at least)!