It is important to recognize the contributions that each and every tech professional has made – from technological advancement, education, and assistance – there is no doubt that tech professionals sure do make our lives much better and easier. But what makes someone a “techie”? Here are a few key characteristics of a tech professional and why they are so great!
To all the techies out there, we appreciate you! Thank you for your hard work and contributions.
Your computer and mobile run the gauntlet every day. When a machine works that hard for you, it’s important to take care of it. Not only are these items expensive to replace, but replacing your equipment and transferring information can be time-consuming. It can also lead to lost files and contacts.
So how do you keep your equipment running like new?
Delete. A maxed out hard drive can be slow and temperamental. Don’t burden your computer by overloading it with old files. When files become obsolete, delete them. Here’s our guide to get you started.
Clean. You’ve probably seen it: the laptop, owned by a colleague or family member, that’s a forest of dust, encrusted with last week’s lunch. Don’t let your electronics fall to the wayside; clean your gadgets regularly with screen cleaner and an air duster.
Back up. Hard drives do not have unlimited space, so your best bet is keeping a carbon copy of your most cherished files. That way, if an unfortunate glitch or loss occurs, you can restore your electronics to their former glory. Bonus, this is a great opportunity to see what’s sitting on your hard drive, and delete what’s no longer needed. Here’s how to properly backup your files.
Use a mouse pad. We live compact lives, but some ‘extras’ are important. If you want that mouse to live a long life, put a pad under it. Scratching the bottom of your equipment across the desk surface is a good way to shorten its life.
Use a phone case. This seems like a no-brainer, but some people don’t protect this expensive, essential item. Look for a case that can withstand a tall drop, with raised edges along the screen to prevent cracking.
When it doubt, get service. By sweating the seemingly small stuff, like antivirus updates and minor glitches, you’ll prevent major problems. If your laptop keeps shutting down or your cell phone isn’t functioning at full capacity, take it in for service.
How do we know which printer is right for our needs? Whether you’re working from home, have a small business or need a printer for personal reasons, the decision is not an easy one. That is why we’ve come up with a quick guide (influenced by Digital Trends original guide) on how to narrow down your selection.
Inkjet printers can generally print about anything: from graphical charts, glossy photos, brochures, etc. Printed text however does not look the greatest and inkjet printers tend to be slower than laser. These printers are great for personal use and low-volume, good quality image printing.
Laser printers are great for printing large volumes of text-based pages. If you have lots of text-oriented documents the laser printer is your answer. Some of the cartridge refills can be high in cost, depending on the purpose of your printing. These printers are great for high-volume, good quality text printing.
Majority of inkjet and laser printers come equipped with scanners, but all-in-one machines encompass fax communication, copying and scanning. If you’re working with fax or have lots of copies that need to be made, an all-in-one printer is your answer. Plus having a machine that does it all can save you plenty of work space compared to having multiple machines for each function.
This feature refers to printing or scanning double sided without having to manually flip the paper once the first side has been printed. Many of the all-in-one printers come equipped with this feature and this could be a huge time-saver if you have a lot of double sided requirements for your printing and/or scanning.
Having the ability to connect multiple devices (mobile, tablet, PCs, laptops, etc.) is important for organizations where multiple people regularly use a printer. Printers can most commonly be connected via USB cables, but the real game changers as far as networking goes are WiFi network connections and cloud connections.
Wireless networking allows you to setup your printer on various devices without it having to be connected by a cable, and is fairly simple to setup assuming all devices are connected to the same wireless networks. Cloud-based connectivity is still fairly new, but machines which support cloud connectivity allow you to send files to the printer directly from the Internet from services such as Dropbox.
Virtually all printers accept 8.5 x 11 copy papers, but if you have socialized printing needs make sure your printer can handle the paper size. Envelopes? Business card printing? Glossy photos? Whatever your need may be, check out the printing features and how the paper feed works before making a purchase.
Cartridges can be costly, depending on the type of printer and how it is used. Take into consideration cartridge replacements; how easy is it to replace, will majority of refills be colour or black, are they recyclable, etc.
There you have it! A quick overview of features to look out for. Hopefully this will help you make the right decision when the time to buy or replace your printer comes.
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