Whilst your system may be operating efficiently and all your staff working hard, have you considered what would happen if you had a critical IT failure now?

• How much data would you lose?

• How long would your staff be idle?

• How many customers would you lose?

• Would your backup restore, or would you lose everything?

• Could you get the parts for that old server?

At Smart Computers we have over fourteen years experience of helping businesses get the most from their IT. We believe that proactive support and building redundancy into your systems prevents these crises happening and ensures that your business continues to operate efficiently.

For more information please contact us at Smart Computers on 01242 580654 or email us on info@smart-computers.co.uk

Is your laptop data safe when using Wifi Hotposts??  
The BBC says NO!

BBC 1’s consumer Watchdog program this week broadcasted a show about the dangers of using free wifi access points, offered by many high street venues like McDonalds & Starbucks. Armed with their own hacker, the watchdog team set about accessing innocent users laptops who were connected to the hotspots. The hacker managed to obtain access to various systems and certain types of data. To watch the BBC program in full click on the this  link

Scary it may sound, but there are some easy ways to protect yourself when using public hotspots.  Smart Computers also offers a range of business solutions  to protect your mobile workers, please see below.

Here are some steps to protect yourself when using public wifi hotspots:

• When entering personal data see if there is SSL encryted versions of website. The site should begin with https://
• Check your folder sharing permissons and use a password protected user account
• Make sure software has all the latest updates e.g. Windows Updates
• Use updated Anti Virus software (For a FREE trial click here)
• Use  a VPN (Virtual Private Network) (Contact Us)
• Use encryted email certificates (Contact Us)

For more advice and information please contact Smart Computers on 01242 580 654

A: Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) batteries typically last three to five years. Life expectancy is based on several factors, including usage (the number of times the unit must go to battery power) and other environmental conditions. Below are some guidelines to ensure the optimum life expectancy of a battery.
 

1. Make sure that the APC UPS is kept in a cool, dry location with plenty of ventilation. Ideally, the temperature where the UPS is kept should not exceed 75° F (24° C). Also, for ventilation purposes, leave roughly 1 to 2 inches on each side for proper airflow.

2. Perform runtime calibrations on the UPS only one or two times a year, if necessary. Some people perform runtime calibrations to verify that their runtime is sufficient. However, performing frequent runtime calibrations can decrease the life expectancy of an APC battery. 

3. Do not store APC batteries for extended periods of time. New batteries can be stored 6 to 12 months. After this period, the battery should be used, or it will lose a great deal of its charge. It is not advisable to store batteries that have already been in use.

4. Do not exceed 80% of a UPS unit’s rated capacity, on account of the reduction in runtime. Increasing the load decreases runtime. In the event of a power failure, a UPS loaded to full capacity will drain and discharge its battery quickly and will lessen the life expectancy.

Note: In order to ensure longer runtime on a battery, laser printers should never be plugged into battery backup outlets of a UPS. Be sure to use the “surge-only” outlets (on appropriate models) for laser printers. For those UPSs without “surge-only” outlets, it is recommended that the laser printer be plugged into a separate APC SurgeArrest surge suppressor.

Why ESET?

It’s effective
ESET solutions are the most effective proactive protection you can buy to combat today’s huge volumes of web and email-borne threats. ESET’s award-winning ThreatSense® technology has multiple layers of threat detection to deliver the most effective protection possible against new attacks with the fewest false positives (false alarms).

■ ESET has the most VB100 awards (54) for its ability to detect “In-the-Wild” viruses. In fact ESET has not missed an In-the-Wild virus in over 10 years
■ ESET is a consistent top-performer in AV-Comparatives Proactive Detection tests
■ ESET was named “Best Antivirus Product” for 2006 and 2007 and won “Best Overall Performance” by AV-Comparatives, an independent testing organization.

It’s fast
ESET antivirus software is so fast you won’t even know it’s there. It uses only 44-48MBs of memory, so if you’re replacing existing antivirus protection, you may find some applications run faster.

It’s easy to use
From its compact and intuitive user interface to its minimal use of alerts, you’ll be up and running in minutes.

It has free and comprehensive customer support
ESET provides an online user manual and FAQs along with a lively user forum, as well as email and telephone customer support.

Free 30-day trial
A free 30-day trial download is available by contacting us, so you can try it yourself with no obligation.

Asus Vintage PC System Specification

• Intel Core2Duo 2.2GHz
• 2Gb DDR2 RAM
• 160GB Hard Drive
• DVDRW
• Windows Vista Business
  

To check availability please contact us at Smart Computers or call on  01242 580654

Combining trustworthy performance, essential features and affordability, the Asus Vintage is a simple and high-performance PC built with recognized quality and the latest technology that is ideal for budget conscious users and everyday applications. The Asus Vintage is a space saving PC with exceptional value and performance delivered through proven technology. If you are looking for a solid and stylish PC to balance the tempo of your life, the Asus Vintage is definitely your best choice!

As the worlds best selling laptop manufacturer, Acer need no introduction. Their excellent value, impeccable quality and design savvy are ever present in all their notebooks and the latest addition to the hugely successful Travelmate series is no exception.

To check availability please contact us at Smart Computers or call on  01242 580654

Welcome to style, power and 15.4″s of crystal bright illumination.

Sporting a nippy 2.1Ghz Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB RAM, the 5730 empowers exceptional multitasking productivity to keep professionals on the cutting edge.

An impressive 160GB hard drive can cater for even the most storage hungry applications, while the full integrated wireless means internet on the move is already taken care of, so put your feet up and enjoy the surf.

Also included is the enhanced Acer Disk Anti-Shock Protection (DASP) technology and the new Acer ProFile design, (which combines a Magnesium Alloy Case with a state of the art, two spindle design) meaning the 5730 can withstand even the most ‘efficient’ of baggage handlers working at the airport.

Specification

• Processor – Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 / 2.1 GHz ( Dual-Core )
• RAM – 2 GB (installed) / 4 GB (max) – DDR2 SDRAM ( 1 x 2 GB )
• Hard Drive – 160GB – Serial ATA-150
• Operating System – Microsoft Windows Vista Business/ XP Professional downgrade
• Screen – 15.4′ TFT 1280 x 800 ( WXGA ) – 24-bit (16.7 million colours)
• Optical Drive – DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM – integrated
• Graphics – Intel GMA 4500MHD
• Bluetooth – No
• Finger print reader
• Built-in webcam
• Warranty – 1 year warranty

Remote access is the ability to get access to a computer or a network from a remote location  e.g. at home, hotel or anywhere else with a internet connection.

There are many ways to achieve remote access depending on your requirements & budget.

• Remote Desktop: Work on your actual physical PC
• Remote Network: Using Virtual Private Network (VPN) to connect to your network resources e.g. Shared drives & files
• Terminal Server: Virtual desktop hosted on company Terminal Server

For more information please contact us at Smart Computers on 01242 580654

For Specification:

With Office Outlook Web Access, you can use a Web browser to access your Microsoft Exchange Server mailbox from any computer with an Internet connection.

You can use Outlook Web Access with Microsoft Internet Explorer or many other browsers like Firefox. Outlook Web Access is an effective solution for staff who require roaming, remote access, or cross-platform functionality like Apple Mac  or Linux users.

For a demo of Outlook Web Access Using Exchange 2007 please follow this link.

If you want more information on Outlook Web Access please contact us at Smart Computers on 01242 580654 or email us by clicking here