November 2002 EduNotes

If you haven’t updated your records yet, please note that our new phone number is (303) 268-2245.
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EduCyber is pleased to present the November 2002 Edition of EduNotes. In this issue you’ll learn how you can save money with a maintenance plan, the latest in low prices for computers, what this thing called a Tablet PC is, and how you can save money on your printing. Enjoy and as always, send feedback to edunotes@educyber.com.
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Maintaining Your Computer Systems
When was the last time you performed any maintenance on your computer or network? Have your systems been defragmented lately? Has your network been optimized to ensure you’re getting the best performance? Has your anti-virus subscription expired, leaving your system open to attack by new viruses?
Invest in a maintenance plan with us (available in blocks of 10, 25, and 50 hours) and ensure that your systems will continue to operate at peak efficiency. We’ll help you spot problems before they cause you headaches and be there quickly when you have an emergency.
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Computer Crazy
No company wants to be left behind; especially as our ever earlier holiday shopping season is upon us. Last month we wrote about Wal-Mart’s ultra-cheap computer offering and now all the major makers are joining the fray to put that second or third computer on your home network.
Gateway now has a low end computer for $399 (after rebate) that is far superior to the Wal-Mart deal. It comes with Windows XP home edition, 128 MB of RAM and 3 PCI expansion slots. The Wal-Mart computers covered last month do not have any expansion slots so what you buy is what you have. Interestingly, neither of these computers have floppy drives – showing that the floppy is indeed going the way of the dinosaurs. Check them out at www.gateway.com.
A low end Dell also starts at $399 after rebate. Even the low end comes with a CD burner and is very comparable to the features on the Gateway. Check them out at www.dell.com.
And Apple is joining the fray as well though their prices have not joined the super cheap low end PC’s. Of course there isn’t really a low end Mac. Since there’s just one maker, Apple’s computers range from mid to high end. They have dropped the prices of the laptop computers to the point where an iBook starts out at $999 but an iMac starts out at $1199. Check them out at www.apple.com.
So no matter your preference for computers, this fall you can get them cheaper than ever before with more features than ever before.
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Tablet Buzz
Microsoft, fresh off of a favorable court decision in their anti-trust case, is attempting to lead the pack and re-energize sales with the Tablet PC. Several years ago attempts at creating a tablet-like device failed miserably. What’s different this time around?
Technology.
Now you can really have a tablet that you can take notes on with a pen. And, by most reports, it works. You write on the screen and your text can be converted to editable text or captured as is.
A fault of previous attempts at this technology has been an operating system that is not up to par with desktop operating systems. The Tablet PC can run any program that Windows XP can (the OS is in fact Windows XP Service Pack 1 with a few modifications for the stylus technology) so that fault has been overcome.
The technology with the stylus is the most intriguing. Users of hand held devices like Palm Pilots are familiar with the stylus or pen. With advances in screen and pen technology, when you write on the screen, it appears as quickly as you write, just like with a real pen. You can also use the pen to click, double click or drag. Built into the OS are some tablet-friendly applications like Windows Journal and Sticky Notes that work very well with the stylus. But you can also get your favorite Office applications like Microsoft Word and Excel.
There are a variety of designs and systems available. Some models have screens as large as 12.1 inches and also come with a keyboard (essentially a laptop computer that can be converted to a tablet PC when necessary). Other models are designed for the on-the-go person who will just use it as a Tablet with no need for a keyboard. These computers also come with built in wireless technology so you can connect to the office or home network with relative ease, making it more convenient than ever to carry your computer with you and then to hook up to the network when you’re at your office.
So are you ready for a tablet? Typically we only recommend the latest technology for those who just have to have the latest and greatest but the Tablet PC is worth taking a close look at. If you’re on the go a lot, it might be just the thing for you. With prices starting just under $2000 it is remarkably affordable for a new technology. Since this is a workable technology already, should you decide to wait, you’ll be getting an even better product in the near future.
It looks like Microsoft has produced a winner this time.
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Print Cheaper
Chances are, if you have a printer on your desk, it is an inkjet printer. We’ve all been gleefully watching as printer prices descend while print quality continues to improve. You can now print pretty high quality pictures from printers starting at around $150. And the higher end printers have all kinds of neat features like the ability to print straight from the camera or memory chip, bypassing the computer altogether.
But that’s not what this article is about. Stop and think for a moment. How often do you print color? If, like most of us, around 90% of your print jobs are just using your black ink, you need to think seriously about getting a laser printer. A very adequate desktop laser printer can be purchased for around $250, the cost we were all paying for inkjet printers just a few years ago.
Why pay more for a printer that doesn’t even print in color? Cost, speed and clarity. While the initial cost is more, a laser printer uses a toner (which is also more expensive than ink cartridges) but the life of a toner is far greater than that of the cartridge. Therefore, the cost per page of for a laser printer is less than the cost per page of an inkjet printer. And there are few things more annoying than finding out your inkjet is using the expensive color ink to create a shade near to black to print what should be black text.
Speed. Your low end laser printer can still print about 10 pages per minute and most have instant-on fusers so there’s no waiting for the printer to warm up. HP has a LaserJet 1000 that would work for a one user printer. If you will be sharing a printer with others in a workgroup, check out the Lexmark E322 (or the E322N) or the HP LaserJet 1200.
Clarity. Most laser printers can handle 600 dots per inch (dpi) or better while inkjets start at 300 dpi. If you use your printer to create presentations or mailings to be sent to clients, a laser printer will give you a much sharper (and more professional) image.
If you’d like assistance in choosing the best printer for your needs, give us a call today.
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© 2002 EduCyber, Inc. This newsletter is brought to you by EduCyber, Inc. Visit us on the web at http://www.educyber.com or call us at (303) 268-2245. Permission is hereby granted to redistribute all or part of this newsletter as long as this entire copyright message is included.
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For questions, or to be removed from this monthly newsletter distribution, email us at edunotes@educyber.com.