As of April 7^th, 2009, Microsoft has ended support of Windows XP, the longest running operating system in history.  The latest version, Windows 7 is now widely available, and has become the primary operating system available from all leading vendors.  Windows 7 is available in 3 distinct versions, Home Premium, Professional, and Ultimate.  Windows 7 has provided some major enhancements.  The look and feel is just different enough to throw off your average user, but many of these changes reflect on Microsoft’s commitment to improving the user’s experience.  It really depends on your level of experience as well as ability to adapt as to how successful you make this transition.

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“Cloud Computing”. You may have heard or seen this new catch word that many organizations have adopted in to there line up of services. What is “Cloud Computing”? This can be a hard question to answer as many people have their own definition on this type of computing.

The items that Cloud Computing Services provide that intrigue most organizations are the following: saving your company money, access to the latest technical advancements in software, and anywhere access via the internet to your hosted cloud services, that operate on a very reliable/redundant hardware platform.

The infrastructure that allows us to provide Cloud computing is still built on server hardware similar to what you may have in your office. The main differences are the hardware is more reliable, components are redundant, and for the most part, the software is the most feature rich release from the vendors. Small and Medium size business now have Enterprise software available to them that is normally out of reach, as normal IT budgets would not be large enough.

Now the best part of all this technology is you don’t have to purchase any of it. All of the services in the “Cloud” are provided for a monthly fee. These services can scale up and down as your business grows or shrinks. You can think of it as an elastic environment.

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What should be done with your old toner and inkjet cartridges, laptops, cell phones and digital cameras? The right thing to do is to recycle them and prevent the improper disposal of them by diverting them from entering landfills where they can take up to 1000 years to decompose.

You can also choose to go one step better and choose to help both the environment and the Canadian Diabetes Association by donating your recyclable items. The Canadian Diabetes Association has two programs in place that provide a convenient and environmentally friendly way to donate household items and electronics – Clothesline and Think Recycle.

The funds raised when these items are donated help to advocate for people with diabetes, further professional education, inform and educate Canadians about Diabetes, fund research programs and initiatives such as camps for kids.

Besides these recyclable items, the Canadian Diabetes Association also accepts these other items:

• Digital Cameras
• Cell Phones
• Inkjet Cartridges
• Toner Cartridges
• Clothing
• Cloth based items
• Footwear
• Books
• Toys
• Kitchenware
• Electronics

Items can be dropped off at their new location at 1054 Ellis Street (#102) or you can visit www.diabetes.ca/dropbox to find a local donation box. Alternatively, you can call 1-800-505-5525 to schedule a free pickup from the convenience of your home or business.  Ink and toner cartridges should be in sealed in a separate plastic bag.

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Northern Computer, established in 1981, is a 100% locally owned and operated full service technology solutions provider. We provide computer solutions ranging from basic home office systems to high-end IBM networked solutions. We are dedicated to providing fast and professional services to Businesses, Professionals, Non-Profits and Individuals. We build relationships and partnerships with our vendors such as IBM to make sure that your technology performs properly to increase your productivity, improve your business processes and help improve your profitability.

Business is changing. Technology is changing. Complexity is the only constant. Today, solutions are no longer a singular path, but a multi-faceted plan upon which future prosperity depends. Your most valuable resources during this time is a partner that has the experience, reputation, integrity and ability to guide you towards the best solution for you and your company. At Northern Computer, our business is making this connection a reality. We bring together manufacturers, the primary one being IBM, and our services to help you meet and exceed your business process needs. With Northern Computer you have a partner that not only knows where the future is headed, but that can proactively connect you to it.

Most of our clients are in the beautiful Okanagan area including Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton. We also service clients throughout various parts of BC and are able to provide remote support. We have a strong reputation for being customer oriented and professional and enjoy a very high level of repeat and referral business.

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For every dollar spent on hardware, another 50 cents is spent on energy. So it’s crucial for today’s companies to monitor and reduce energy consumption. IBM Systems Director Active Energy Manager measures, monitors and manages energy usage of your IT systems, giving you a more complete view of your server room.

Northern Computer is a leader in IT consulting, computer support and network services serving business in the beautiful Okanagan Valley including Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton for over 30 years.

We ensure nothing less than reliability and security for your computer networks and IT Support services. We view technology as an effective tool that can help gain competitive advantages.

Northern Computer Kelowna
www.norhterncomputer.ca

http://northerncomputer.blogspot.com

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An SLA is a negotiated agreement between two parties designed to create a common understanding about services, priorities and responsibilities. Here are some ways to use an SLA to benefit your business. Use the SLA as a communications tool. The value of an agreement may not be just in the final product. The very process of establishing an SLA helps to open up communications and identify areas that need improvement and clarification.

Use the SLA as a conflict-prevention tool. A good agreement helps to avoid or alleviate disputes by providing a shared understanding of needs and priorities. And if conflicts do occur, they tend to be resolved more quickly.

Use the SLA as a basis for gauging service effectiveness. An SLA ensures that both parties use the same criteria to evaluate service quality.

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An important consideration when buying a laptop or desktop computer for work purposes is whether you should purchase a consumer model or a model specifically designed for business. Many computer manufacturers offer what appear to be the same make and model in both their home and business divisions, but they are actually not the same computer. Business computers are built to last, with higher quality components that are tested more rigorously. Parts used for consumer computers may be more generic or even cheap, while computers designed for professional use more often include higher grade materials and name-brand parts. This emphasis on durability means that the business class laptop or desktop you buy now should last you many trouble free years.

These computers offer more features for professional work, such as fingerprint readers, remote desktop control software, data encryption tools plus high quality mice and keyboards. The professional operating system version that comes on business PCs is also more suited for workers than the home version; Windows 7 Professional, for example, has features — which Windows 7 Starter and Home editions do not have — for easily joining a corporate network and using Windows XP software.  They are also bundled with business tool software such as…

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In IT, we hear many different terms. One of the most confusing scenarios is when a computer becomes infected with malware since the infection can be referred to as viruses, malware, adware, spyware, rootkits, etc. Some of these terms have the same meaning, some are sub-categories, and some are even just simply network tools. Some of the different forms of malware can be trojans, worms, hacktools, password revealers, etc. depending on the purpose of the program. To clarify things a bit, here is a list of common “infection” terms and their definitions:

Malware: Short for malicious software, (sometimes referred to as pestware) designed to harm or secretly access a computer system without the owner’s consent. The expression is a general term used to define a  variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, dishonest adware, scareware, crimeware, most rootkits, and other malicious and unwanted software or program. Essentially, it is the broadest term to cover all forms of infections.

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I am often asked whether printers should be serviced or not. Customers are concerned, of course, about the cost of regular maintenance but often forget about the cost of a breakdown. If a machine is regularly maintained the cost to service the machine is minimal, often around a half hour per machine (under $50.00). When the machine goes down the lost time and priority service cost to the company is typically far more than the cost of maintenance. This does not suggest that maintenance will prevent all breakdowns, however properly performed maintenance by a qualified technician will prevent many failures. The frequency of maintenance is dependent on machine type, volume and environment. If the printer is in a high volume application or a dirty or dusty environment more frequent service is needed to keep it running at its best. Your printer technician can help you to determine the best schedule for your equipment.

Regular printer maintenance is not often thought of but it will give you increased reliability, consistent quality and it could even save you money. Our cleaning and service includes the following applicable items:

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Don’t you wish your home PC, your work PC and your smart phone could all sync together, or your email on your laptop could just work from anywhere without having to change any settings? These are a few of the many benefits that Microsoft Exchange Server has to offfer.

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