Sunday, March 20, 2011

Custom Built Computer or Big Box Name?

Built vs. Boxed

Built by Ack                                                  Boxed

Quality brand name parts                                            Parts from lowest bidder
Hardware tested                                                         Hardware not tested
All hardware can be upgraded                                      Can only add memory (maybe)
Drivers & Bios updated                                                Customer expected to do
Software installed, updated                                          Pre-installation (trial & junk programs)
Office, Adobe, QT, I-tunes Included                              Customer expected to purchase/install
Available service 24/7                                                  ???
Personalized Support                                                  Support from a foreign country
Same day service (average)                                         1 – 2 week service (sometimes more)
1 year parts warranty – My Office                                1 year warranty – must send out
Virtual Memory set                                                     Customer expected to do
Registry, disc cleanup and pro defrag                           Customer expected to do
Managed anti-virus available                                         Trial software installed
Remote access available                                              ???      
Service contract available                                             ???
Network equipment and installation available
Printers, routers, monitors, servers, network drops, wiring, you name it, Ack probably does it!

Scott Ackerman has 18 years in the electronics industry, 8 years in computers

Home based business – low overhead means I save you money.  Wholesale prices on all electronics. I beat any retail price by 20% or more!

To have a custom computer or server built for you contact Scott Ackerman at Ack, Inc.
623-628-4412


                                               
                                                                       

Saturday, February 19, 2011

How to Backup Your Data Without Breaking the Bank

How important is it to backup my files? How may people really do it on a regular basis?

These are great questions you may want to ask yourself. Another great one is “Can I recover the data if my computer crashes”? If you aren’t sure what the answers are you may want to ask Ack, Inc. about their backup solution.

Ack, Inc. has a backup solution which executes from Windows Task manager every day, automatically, backing up only your tangible data files and only overwriting what has changed from the day before. It is recommended that these files be backed up to a second internal or external hard drive (or flash drive if large enough) so that the data can be easily recovered and won’t be lost due to a virus or worm. This solution is fully customizable, i.e. any data file such as a Quickbooks data file can be added to the list,  and can be deployed across a network to save information from multiple machines to a shared network drive. The usual files as a standard to backup are your desktop items, documents (including pictures, music and video files), favorites and Outlook data or contact list. These files can also be sent to multiple hard drives if desired.

There are two major downfalls to this method of backup:  1. fire and 2. theft.  If this happens you will, of course, lose everything.  Offsite backup systems are great but can be expensive.  Data Preserve is one choice Ack, Inc. has used and deployed for companies in the past.  It is very effective, but the price deters most individual users from getting their service.  Another choice is Carbonite.  There is an annual charge for this service, making it cost effective.  Consumer testimony and reviews are quite high for their product as well.  It is also Vista compatible.  Both of these services are available through Ack, Inc. at a discount price.