On the Net

with Chris Goh

A helping hand to purchase computers

In the past few months I have had to return to grass roots and help small organisations procure computer systems and applications. It was a decade ago that I foraged in government auctions to get cheap computers that would allow me to run my own projects, but I have been lucky ever since to be employed in large organisations where budgets were a lot less tight.

This week we look at the requirements for a small business starting out, and of course different businesses will require different hardware. But one thing is for sure - many businesses encounter problems with computer dealers as well as technical support even in the big smoke, and what you do for a large organisation or a small business in the process of procurement should be identical (though some shortcuts are easier if you don't have the red tape that often occurs in larger organisations).

The first thing to do is identify your requirements - count your cash, count the people you need to accommodate, think about what you want your computer to do, and give some thought to how innovative you need your business to be in the future in its use of systems. Most small businesses will never need anything more than MYOB, Quicken and Office, and maybe a Point of Sale system. But writing all these things down from the start helps you resource your organisation in the future. The most important thing, if you don't have an IT guy in-house, is to find a vendor that you can work with for a long time, and even if it costs a bit more, try and stick with one computer shop that knows your history. That's why you need to do your homework on dealers. Check their hourly call-out rates and times of availability. The other thing is to measure their response throughout the year. Small computer retail shops have a high turnover of staff as they mainly employ young staff who, if they're worth their salt, move onto bigger and better things or have a go at running their own business. There is no doubt that you'll spot a gem when you see one, and I recommend fostering a relationship with them, because their history and knowledge of your computer systems is the most valuable and often critical requirement to support you. Something that might take a new computer vendor three hours to fix might take a person that has worked on your computer just five to 10 minutes to fix, and perhaps they can even do it over the phone.

Also be open to Open Source programs like Open Office, which is free software that cuts $500 per PC from your budget and runs all the general office programs you need. With PCs try to procure in one lot so all your systems are the same and you'll get them cheaper. The last thing is to invest in is a backup solution, which may be a DVD backup for small organisations. Data is the most non-replaceable asset you have so make sure it's safe.

Next week we'll look at an SME Network solution and give you hints and tips to setup your home office.

Hotnews

Telstra received a lot of attention from the ACCC when it dropped the price in 1994 of its ADSL services to $29.95. Since then subscription has grown by 234 per cent. Telstra is about to introduce new pricing strategies that tie in new value-added services like movie and music downloads as part of its entry level plan, with up to a 10 Gig download as well as free install and no charge for the first 2 months.

Using the anti-shake technology used in video cameras, the AMA (Assistive Mouse Adapter) allows people who suffer from tremors to use a mouse successfully. Jim Levine, the researcher from IBM that came up with the invention, was inspired by his uncle, who had Parkinson's disease and struggled to use a mouse.

Imax has recently seen an increase in audience attendance as their new Imax Hollywood has been able to convert Hollywood pictures into the bigger Imax format. Soon to be released is the first ever Imax 3D conversion of the Christmas movie Polar Express. It was Tom Hanks that made Apollo 13 the first Hollywood movie to make the transition to the bigger screen and that success has spurred him to allow Imax to convert Polar Express into 3D.

Samsung keeps on piling in the megapixels for digital cameras (Note that megapixels are not a definitive benchmark in defining photographic quality). The V770 is the first mobile phone with a 7 megapixel camera. 

Further news on the diabetic breakthrough from King's College in London. The patient that underwent the islet transplant who had previously had Type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) now has no need to take insulin injections.

Hotsites

travel.escapelab.com.au

Wow, I don't know what to say about this site except that it's a photographic visionary site and it's Australian. You're presented with a 3D wireframe that represents points on our globe where this gentleman has taken photos. The photos are truly exceptional and the presentation is fantastic.

www.virtualcanberra.gov.au

After a recent trip to Canberra, I wondered what was online for our nation's capital, and well, Virtual Canberra (only recommended for Broadband connection) answers that. The site obviously took the source code from the Sydney Opera House (has the same sounds and jumping tennis balls) but nonetheless it's an excellent showcase.

www.timart.be

Not a site for those that fear arachnids, this site has won many awards for its dedication to spiders from around the world. Excellent presentation and excellent content.