“If you think patience is a virtue, try running a business without high-speed internet.” ~Unknown
Happy September. Seems I blinked and the summer months disappeared. Guess I will have to stop blinking!
The reviews for last months newsletter generated via AI were mixed. So this month I will go back to the doing the writing all by myself.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who has sent well wishes and prayers for Neal. We both appreciate it. He has healed almost completely, and even better, he has stopped climbing trees!
On to computer news: We are 6 weeks away from the demise of Windows 10. If you haven’t upgraded or replaced, now is the time to get hopping!
Computers that are roughly less than four years old can typically be upgraded. Computer manufacturers don’t want you to know this, but the possibility is there. Comp-U-Talk is upgrading computers for $149. If the computer has less than 16 GB of RAM, then that will need to be upgraded as well. Eight GB RAM is currently running ~$50. That means your computer stays compliant for $200. That’s roughly $800 dollars less than the price of a new one.
But there are good reasons to spend the extra money and a get a new computer:
All computers will break eventually and nothing throws a wrench into your day like a frozen screen, a lost connection or a slow computer. Someone with too much time on their hands has calculated that small businesses lose approximately 98 hours per year, the equivalent of 12 working days, due to technology concerns such as slow or failed PC’s and outdated computers.
If you have 12 paid days to give away, I would suggest giving it as a vacation. All employees love vacations. No employees love having their day fall into pieces because of misbehaving technology.
IRS says your computers should last 5 years. The IRS is confused, but we already knew that! In real life, we expect a desktop computer to function for 4-5 years, and a laptop should function for 2-3 years. If you regularly turn off the laptop, you will extend the life. That is because the number one enemy of a laptop is heat, and anytime a laptop is running it is generating heat. Actually, let me revise that. The number one enemy of a laptop is getting dropped, sat on, spilled on, run over, tortured and abused. Assuming you treat your laptop with respect, then the number one enemy is heat. The number two enemy is 1-D-10-T. For the less informed, remove the dashes, push it together like is it a word, because it is. Resist the urge to be a 1-d-10-t! Backup your data frequently. Keep your antivirus software current. Install Microsoft patches regularly, DO NOT OPEN unexpected email and DO NOT CLICK on every link that appears.
For my customers who have email hosting with Comp-U-Talk: Delete all emails coming from support AT coosnet.com or support AT yourdomainname.com. If I have a problem with your email account, I will CALL you! I will email you using my janet email address. Any other email address is an attempt to infect you with malware, viruses and keyloggers. If in doubt, call me!!
It doesn’t matter if you are running a business or only using the computer for personal productivity and enjoyment, set up a replacement plan. The computer will die eventually, just like your water heater, your tires, your shoes, your jeans. Be prepared. Put a replacement into your long term budget. If you are running a business with multiple computers, put the replacements on a cycle so you don’t have to replace all of them at once.
And if you run a business, now is a good time to think about tax savings strategies. If your business is making money, most accountants will let you fully expense the price of a new computer come tax time. That means less taxable income to report, and less taxes to pay. I like the sound of that!
We are here if you need us. No appointment needed. Until next month,
—Janet
Because It Made Me Laugh!
