I was recently asked to come up list of requirements for a home computer support service and what to look for when hiring in a Geek to help you with your computer at home.
As with any person or company you hire to come into your home you have to be a bit careful, so I’ve made a list of requirements:

Trustworthyness would be my main priority, when you have a computer repaired you need to know that person is honest because all your documents, pictures and website logins details are stored on your computer.

Reliable – They show up at the time you’ve agreed.

Encouraging – Good to have a person that will encourage you to learn new things and introduce you to new software, whether it is for managing your pictures, or backing up your computer. There are many ways your computing experience can be improved by making small changes.

Knowledgable – A good knowledge of computer security and best practise, so they can offer advice on the best way to setup your network and stay safe online. A good working knowledge of what setups and systems work well together saves a lot of time.

Impartial Advice – Looking what’s best for you and not how the most profit can be made, sometimes replacement is more economically viable than repair, recommending the best antivirus product instead of the most profitable.

I would also look at their website and see if there are recent testimonials from people in your area.

I can empathise for  a completely non technical person looking to get help with their home computer, it is really difficult to assess the skill level of the technician, but you can asses the company by making a few basic checks.

Here are two really useful utilities for dealing with Adobe PDF files.

Convert PDF To Word

The first piece of software will convert an existing pdf (.pdf) document into a fully editable microsoft word document (.doc)

This is called PDF to Word Converter (strangely enough) and it’s made by a company called AnyBizSoft

This software  is free you just have to register (they don’t spam you, I use this software) register here:

PDF To Word Converter

The software once installed and you get the free registration code

Looks like this:

Just drag and drop your pdf file onto the window or click add and browse.

It will output the word docs in a folder specified at the bottom.

Once ready hit the large ‘Convert’ button, the word docs will be in the folder ready to go.

Create a PDF from a Word Doc

The second piece of software is called Bullzip PDF Printer (terrible name, but works well)

Here’s the download link, there’s no registration it’s Donationware (if you like it donate)

Bullzip PDF Printer

This software comes as a .zip file so you’ll have to open it (windows will open .zip files, winzip not required)

Then run the installer.

What is does is add a printer to your PC, called Bullzip PDF Printer.

So all you do now is open a word doc and press print, select the Bullzip PDF Printer and press OK

Next you’ll get a box giving you save options , here you can choose where to save it and other options.

Hope these pieces of software help.

The information above is provided free of charge and free of warranty as I don’t provide the software.

DialaGeek Computer Support Bristol

Here’s what it looked like,

It’s much like the windows Scareware, it’ll ask you for money to remove non existent viruses

What to look out for is a popup much like this one, you’ll be surfing the web and this will popup full screen

and look like a normal finder window with links on the left hand side

If you do get such a message pop up on your Mac , don’t panic, don’t press OK.

Take your cursor straight up to the Apple icon on the top left and select Force Quit – Your browser, Safari Chrome Firefox whatever your using.

In doing this you’ll have not inadvertently installed anything by clicking a close box that a link or something along those lines.

Another good precaution to take if you’re a Safari user is to go into the preferences and disable ‘Open Safe files after downloading’

A good idea also is to get some Mac Antivirus (pains me to say it)

Sophos do a free one for Apple Mac which seems quite light on resources, it also detects windows viruses (windows viruses do not effect macs) which is handy.

Sophos Mac Antivirus

Unfortunately viruses on Mac are set to increase so we need to be bit more careful as Mac users these days.

DialaGeek Apple Mac Support Bristol

We discussed various topics, including the subjects covered on the blog here, this is a slightly cut down version (due to You Tube and it’s 15 Minute Limit).

Many thanks to Steve for inviting me in and making the the interview go well, I never realised what a skillful job interviewing is.

The topics covered are:

Password security

How to securely store your passwords

Dangers of open WiFi

What is backup?

How to setup a free safe surfing system

There is a great piece of software you can use that will securely remember all you passwords for your, allowing you to use longer passwords and different passwords on different sites.

The software is the aptly named LastPass

This small piece of software works in Windows and Apple Mac it also works on your iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android or Windows smartphone and keep them all synced up with each other.

I’ve been using this for around a year now and it it is very good, it means you can have long secure passwords, without having to remember them.

From a security standpoint is is secure, as long as you use a long master password, see here for a guide to making long secure passwords it is secure.

Another tip if you using it on a laptop, make sure you close Internet Explorer/Firefox/Chrome when you’ve finished using it and tick this checkbox below in the Lastpass preferences

If you interested (which you should be really) here’s what Lastpass has to say on security, this has also been verified by a well know security researcher.

1. All encryption and decryption happens on your computer.

If you’re job has anything remotely to do with computers, chances are you’re asked to look at peoples computer problems.

Having IT knowledge people assume you can (and want to) fix their computer/wireless network/printer, even though you may be a Specialist Web Developer, Database Analyst, Software Engineer, Systems Analyst and this level of support you rarely come across.

The usual scenario:

You’re round at a friends/relatives house for dinner then the subject of email or Facebook comes up, which triggers the request..

Oh you’re in computers, while you’re here, as a favour, could you just have a very quick look at…..

You oblige, not wanting to seem mean and it’s always nice to feel needed.

What starts off as a 10 minute job, ends up being a nightmare of , out of date antivirus non backed up pictures, really slow computer………. then once you fix it once, you own it, and the next time there is a question who are they going to call…

I used to have this all the time, and you do feel responsible for it afterwards.

Now you wouldn’t ask a plumber friend to service the boiler while he was there visiting or a Dentist for a quick scale and polish.

You don’t have really have the time to fix it anyway and the last thing you want to spend your free time doing is this.

This is where DialaGeek comes in, you can divert all your requests from friends and relatives to us knowing we will deal with any issues as they arise.

Now the way to deal with this politely is to say:

“I could take a look, but my husband/partner/own sanity forbids me from doing this, I do know a reliable and reasonably priced company who can look at this though.. DialaGeek here’s their number 0117 369 4335″

Then relax safe in the knowledge you won’t have that call/email about the printer doing strange things, or the new antivirus that has just appeared in the system tray.

Just filled up with Biodiesel for the first time today from www.mckeownbiofuels.com in Bedminster (behind the Hen & Chicken on North St).

Here’s how it works.

Used cooking oil is collected across Bristol and processed onsite.

The processing involves filtering to remove all the food particles, then any water is removed. The next stages are a little involved here’s a link to the Wiki page if interested

It is dispensed from a normal petrol pump, and they fill it up for you, a bit like some old time garage.

The current rate is £1.29 a litre inc VAT, so a bit more than the current pump prices, but you do have the comfort of knowing you’re not burning a fossil fuel.

They currently are not processing card payments, so cash is required, they do provide a full VAT receipt though.

This recycled cooking oil method of fuel production seems sustainable on a small scale, just until all the used oil in the region has a home.

After the first tank of fuel has done through you are advised to change your fuel filter, and then include this on any future service.

The requirements are a Diesel car and that’s about it, the car I use is a VW Polo 1.4 TDI.

16-06-11 Just a quick update on this, there’s been no problems with the change of fuel in the last year, runs well on it.

Gildas Jones

Computer support for Mac or PC, Business or Home in the Bristol area 0800 955 78 78

www.dialageek.co.uk

.

These are online tools I’ve been using for a while now and have found I can’t do without them.

They all integrate with each other and as a system I’ve found it works really well.

.

.

For Online Accounts: FreeAgent

.

I started off with Quickbooks and while that is very good at some things, I found I got lost in accounting detail and more importantly I was not doing the most important thing of keeping a close eye on my overall figures and chasing invoices quickly enough  i.e. getting paid, the most important thing after good customer service.

FreeAgent will make sure you know who has paid you and will chase those who haven’t. It will also do a rough calculation on how much self assessment tax is due at one time, good for putting enough by, and this info is right in the home page of the program.

You upload statements from your bank, (a small file with all the transaction details, most online banking does it) and tally every purchase and payment in from your business account, including attaching receipts to the payments,

Then you know where you are at any point, which saves a lot of the underlying stress caused by using spreadsheets or account software you don’t fully understand (not without being an accountant, or doing a lot of reading)

There are three packages  Sole Trader, Partnership and a LTD Company and a free 30 day trial

For an Online CRM: Capsule

If you need a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager), to track all your contact with different clients, I’ve found Capsule to be excellent,

It’s not complicated, you can export the contact details directly into FreeAgent and it means you can keep track of any work that that has been done and what has been said, they have just done a Google Apps integration also,

It is also free for up to 250 contacts,

Capsule CRM

For Email, Calendar, Docs and More: Google Apps

This is Gmail with your own domain name, so you’re sending and receiving mail as your company address i.e.  me@companyname.co.uk

You get a full email setup with IMAP so you can use Outlook, you get the amazing Gmail interface for webmail.

You can have many different address’s for different people within the company.

You also get a Calendar and Google Docs (online word processor and simple spreadsheets)

There is a paid for edition for $50 a year and a free Standard Edition

Google Apps

Tips on Cloud Computing Usage

For all online activities I recommend using very strong passwords, here’s previous post on how to create long memorable passwords

Also I think it is a good idea to backup your Data even though it is hosted and backed up by the company.

Gildas Jones – DialaGeek IT Support Bristol

If you need a hand setting any of this up or have any other computer support requirements contact us

The problem with letting the kids use the computer, apart from the sticky fingers is making sure they don’t see anything that is not age appropriate.

You’re sat with them looking at bmx videos or cartoons on YouTube, then the phone rings/door goes/sibling falls over,  you come back and he’s clicked on the handy next video suggestion….

Here’s where this great little piece of software comes in, it is called Kido’z, not a great name but a really good program,

It is a free program you install on your computer (works on Mac and PC) and creates a method for viewing only pre screened child friendly websites and YouTube videos.

To start off with you visit the Kido’z website (see the Kidoz link at the bottom of this page) and click the download link

Next you will be prompted to install Adobe Air and the program, Adobe Air is safe it’s a bit like flash player.

There wil be a pop up box asking if you want to open or install Kidoz, just click Install or open (install on PC, Open on a Mac)

Once running you will get a screen like this

Click continue and you’ll have to fill in some details, this will create your parental control account, I personally use the free account. there is a premium paid for version, which has some extra games etc.

Once the account has been created, you can login and you child can start using the program, it has a large number of websites already on there, all of which have been carefully checked so you can relax.

They also have YouTube videos these are arranged in channels, there is a classic cartoons channel also a Sesame St channel

One of the best points for me is the ability to add websites or YouTube content that know or have pre checked, this is good for 6 year olds to keep them interested and also add sites like CBBC game. To do this you’ll need to click on the login at the top left hand corner with the program

The next screen you’ll need to select ‘add a new website’

You’ll need to give it a title, and then copy and paste the web address into the next box, choose if you want to share it, then press save.

When you return to the childs screen there will be a button for my websites

There are loads of other features in the parental control such as password protecting the exit button, blocking any approved sites ect

It works on a Mac or PC,

I would say this is aimed at the under 10′s market, though a version for teenagers would be useful.

With all internet usage by children my general advice is to have the computer situated downstairs in a communal space, so you can keep an eye on it.

www.kidoz.net

November 2011: An Update on this post, recently Kidoz have changed their policy with the free edition after the trial, the cost is now £25 a year or £37.50 for a lifetime licence 

Gildas Jones

Computer support for Mac or PC, Business or Home in the Bristol area 0800 955 78 78

www.dialageek.co.uk

Not any more…

Now here’s the simple workaround, this works for Mac or PC

First you need to be running Firefox

Then install this simple add on for Firefox called Wisestamp

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8206

Click on the link and select Add To Firefox

You’ll need to restart firefox once installed,

Once firefox is restarted, look for the small stamp icon in the bottom right Firefox

Click on there to configure

Configure Wisestamp

Once configured, this will put the HTML Signature into every email automaticaly, this also works for Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL

There are also example signatures you can add, just click on the Signature Example link to the right of the edit box.

Many thanks to the people who created this Add On  http://www.wisestamp.com/

Hope this helps

Gildas Jones