Parenting Tip: 7 Ways to Complement Computer Games and Unleash Your Child's Creative Genius

Even though we may enjoy playing them ourselves, many parents worry about the impact of computer games on their child's development. We fear that letting our kids play computer games for more than an hour or so per day will turn them into anti-social, obese couch potatoes. It would be better to have our children read or to read child stories to them, we think. Yet, computer games are here to stay, so rather than fighting them, why not use them? This article shows you how you can let your child play computer games yet still foster the development of their creativity.

The issue that many parents have with computer games is that, compared with reading a child story, they don't require the use of a great deal of imagination. Here are seven ways in which you can complement computer games to foster the development of your child's creativity:

#1 Develop character profiles

Some computer games have characters. With the Harry Potter games these characters are already well-known and well-developed. With other games, however, the characters may be more "shallow". This is a perfect opportunity for your child to develop the characters further. They can invent a profile for the character, imagining who their family is, where they come from, where they go/went to school, what hobbies they like to do, how they feel, etc. Your child can then make sketches or drawings of the character and scenes from their life: past, present and future. Finally, your child can create profiles of the other people in the character's life: friends, family, pets, colleagues, droids, etc.

#2 Create Storyboards

If you think about it, a lot of computer games are nothing more than interactive stories. So, your child can create their own stories using the characters from their favorite computer games. Think of this as an extension of the computer game. You could even pretend that you work for the computer game company and are creating a new version of the computer game.

There are several ways you can approach this depending upon you and your child's preferences. You can write a script, create cartoon-like illustrations, create illustrated scenes (i.e. pictures) only, or create pictures with accompanying text.

#3 Write a Diary

It could be interesting for your child to get inside the head of some of the characters. Incidentally, this is also a good way to develop a child's empathy. Have your child write a diary as if they were one of the characters.

#4 Develop a Virtual World

One of my sons has developed his own virtual world. He's created detailed maps, descriptions of all the creatures, plants (more than 100 in all, fully illustrated) and lands in it, and a complete history of this imaginary world. Your child can create a virtual world that is either an extension from an existing computer game or something completely new.

#5 What's Cooking?

If your child likes to cook, why not develop some special recipes of what people eat in the computer game's virtual world? What's their favorite food? What is the national dish? These "recipes" could be from real, edible foods or other non-edible materials (make sure your kid doesn't eat the latter!).

#6 Get Hands On

Some children are kinesthetic learners; they learn by doing. If your child is one of these, they can create 3D models from clay or papier m?ch? of the characters from a computer game. You can even create life-sized models in your garden/backyard. For example, you can carve a character from an old tree stump or log.

#7 Create Your Own Computer Game

In the area of computer games, what could be more creative than creating your own game? When they create a game, computer game companies go through a process similar to some of the steps described here so you might be able to use the results of your fun work to create an actual computer game.

There are hundreds or thousands of software tools you can use to create your own games. However, unless you're a "techie", it's probably easiest to use one that doesn't require any programming or advanced computer skills.

Software tools such as "The 3D Gamemaker",* for example, allow you to create games simply by pointing and clicking. The 3D Gamemaker has a library of scenes, sounds and 3D objects that you can combine into your own games. Obviously, this is a bit less creative then making a game from scratch, but you can also scan in your own images, record your own personal sound effects and import your own 3D models to make your game more original.

The Multi-Choice Creation System (MuCeS) lets you create Multichoice adventures in which the game player chooses one option out of a number of given options depending on what she thinks will be best for a given situation.

The above are only two examples of the possibilities. The point is that you don't need to be a "rocket scientist" in order to create your own computer games. Imagine how thrilled your kids will be to create their own games. Playing computer games will never be the same again!

Conclusion

Some parents regard computer games as an "unhealthy" influence on their children, but when you combine computer games with some of the "offline" child story creation activities described here, you'll not only unleash your child's creative genius, you'll have a lot of fun doing it.

* Note: I have not (yet) used any of the software described here. The products mentioned are provided purely as examples.

About the Author

Paul Arinaga is founder of The Child Stories Bank, http://www.child-stories-bank.com
The Child Stories Bank provides FREE original children's stories, writer's resources and a directory of child story illustrators.

Tips for buying a new computer

A computer is perhaps the most important part of our daily lives. We see it everywhere from our homes to the places we work. Since it is used so much in our lives, we want to make sure that a PC we purchase is a good computer that will be able to do everything we want it to, and last a long time.

But purchasing a new computer is not as easy as you might think it is. Sure you could shell out lots of money and buy a brand PC, but sometimes you are spending money on speed and features you don't even need. They also come with offers and built in software that they dangle in front of you to stay ahead in the business. You can also custom build your own computer, but is it really going to be cheaper then if you bought a brand PC with the same features? Since I have been using, and buying computers, for the past 12 years I know exactly what you need to look for when buying a fully assembled desktop computer. Use my tips below and you will save time and money.

- You need to know what hardware you will need. If you don't know, talk to someone who has knowledge of computers, and tell them what you will be using the PC for. They should know what you will need. Once you know what you should get, then look for a computer that meets those needs.

- Make sure the store you buy your new computer from has great service and are willing to stick by their computer.

- If you will be using the computer for video games or other graphic related applications, you need to have a good graphics card. Most motherboards come with a built in graphics card, but usually that is not suitable for high end graphic demands. Purchasing a nice ATI or NVIDIA graphics card would be a good idea if you plan on using the PC for graphic related applications. There is a slot available to slide your new graphics card in if you choose to buy a separate one.

- The computer and hardware parts should have a warranty. Most hardware comes with long and good warranties, but just to make sure you might want to purchase a warranty from the store that you are buying the PC from. This way if something goes wrong a few years down the road, they still have to fix it or replace it!

- The next thing you need to consider is the computers case. A good computer case should have USB slots available on the front of it, for easy access, and in the back. It should also have a powerful power supply (for additional parts) and at least 1 fan in front of the motherboard to keep the computer cool. Flash drives can also be found sometimes built into the front of the PC, for instant access to your flash media. These are very handy and should be considered especially if you have a digital camera.

- Another very important aspect of your PC is CD/DVD drives and burners. A DVD burner is what I recommend for everyone, since the price is basically the same as a CD burner, but it will also play DVD's and regular CD's, plus be able to burn DVD's and regular CD's! Two types of burners for the price of one!

- Your computer's mouse is how you interact with your PC. The latest mouse technology available is the optical mouse, which uses a laser light instead of a mouse "ball". Old fashioned mouse balls got stuck and were hard to use sometimes, with an optical mouse that problem is no more.

- Perhaps the most important aspect of a computer is the monitor. No longer are we in the realm of old fashioned CRT monitors. The LCD monitor is now readily available when you purchase your new computer, and in my opinion should be required. LCD monitors are so vivid and crystal clear that you will never want to go back to an old CRT monitor. LCD monitor's also consume less power and take up less space, plus they come on much faster.

- Almost as important as the monitor, is the sound system and speakers. Good sound on your computer can really make a difference, especially if you play a lot of games and listen to a lot of music and watch movies. Desktop speakers have gone down significantly in price and in combination with a good sound card your experience will be complete. I recommend a sound card from "Creative" called Sound blaster Audigy.

- Your operating system is a very important factor of how well you will love or hate your new PC. I have always used Windows, so I recommend Windows XP, or in the future, Windows Long Horn. There are of course other choices like Linux, and you could go for a Mac too. Just make sure you have experience with the operating system that you choose.

- Last but not least is your printer. If you are a photo hound, and use a digital camera a lot, then you definitely want a high quality printer that can print out all of your photos. Another good idea to consider is an all in one printer that can scan, copy, and print with just one machine.

That is all of my advice for you when buying a new desktop computer. Follow those steps and maintain your computer properly, and it will last longer and function better.

About the Author

For more information on customizing your computer to fit your needs, with step by step help from an expert, go to: http://www.computer-customizing-guide.com/

5 Tips For Buying The Right Laptop Computer

5 Tips For Buying The Right Laptop Computer by: John San Filippo

It's easy to be intimidated by all the laptop models on the market today. There are literally dozens and dozens in every price range.

The key to finding the right one for you is to step back and consider exactly how you plan to use your laptop. When you define what you need before you go shopping, buying the right machine becomes much easier.

Here are 5 basic factors to consider:

1. SIZE

In the world of mobile computing, size definitely matters. The size of a laptop affects two key areas: portability and display size.

If you're always on the go and will be using your computer only in short bursts, a so-called ultralight will save you some shoulder strain.

On the other hand, if you're going to spend hours in front of your laptop, a larger display may be in order.

Today, some laptop displays exceed 17 inches, rivaling the display size of many desktop systems. The down side is that these monsters can easily weigh three times as much as an ultralight.

2. HARD DRIVE

Speaking of size, what about the size of the hard drive? One way to approach this issue is to ask yourself the following question:

Will this be my primary computer, or will it supplement my desktop system?

If the former, you should look for a bigger hard drive - 60 GB or more.

If the latter, you may be able to make it with a 20-30 GB hard drive.

But even this isn't absolute.

If, for example, you plan to copy a huge MP3 library from your desktop system to your laptop to make your music library portable, you'd be well advised to err on the side of too big.

3. MEMORY

In determining the right amount of system memory, or RAM, take a look at the ways in which you intend to use your laptop:

If your needs are somewhat mundane - email, spreadsheets, word processing, etc. - 256 MB of RAM should be plenty. This is a common configuration for many laptops, so it means you probably won't need to spend extra for more RAM.

On the flip side, if you're an aspiring mobile digital photographer or videographer, you should stuff your laptop with as much RAM as it can hold.

In fact, exactly how much RAM your laptop can hold may in part drive your purchase decision. Applications for editing and manipulating multimedia content are notorious resource hogs.

4. NETWORK CONNECTIONS

Thanks in no small part to the Internet, computing in the 21st century relies heavily on being connected:

Connected to the Internet, connected to a corporate network, connected to a wireless network, connected to a home network, connected to an online service.

Your life will be easier if you buy a laptop that includes built-in means to connect to them all.

5. PRICE

If you're considering a laptop, you're probably wondering how much money you'll need to spend.

A few years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find one for under $2,000. Today, there are plenty of laptops to be had for under $1,000.

What's more, most of the major manufacturers offer a variety of financing options.

Laptop prices have come down, to be sure. However, a laptop still represents a fairly major purchase for most people.

If you take the time to search for a laptop that meets your specific needs, you should get many years of use and enjoyment from this important investment.

You may republish this article, but must keep the resource box and copyright at the end.

About The Author
The author, computer journalist John San Filippo, has created the definitive guide for buying a laptop computer. It's an easy read and explains everything you need to know. Check out ==> http://howtobuyalaptop.com/

10 Power Tips for Presentations with Computer Projection

When was the last time you sat through a terrible presentation using computer projection? When was the last time you gave one? If you want to avoid disaster and give your career a boost then apply these ten tips the next time you present with the computer projector. And if you want to do a friend a favour then slide them a copy of these tips before their next presentation.

The biggest mistake is to believe that cool graphics will make up for your lack of presentation skills. If you can not cook - it does not matter how good the stove is. Use these tips to develop your presentation skills and work with the tools. The computer is only a tool. You are the presenter. When you present with multi-media you are more than a performer. You are a producer. Be aware and stay in control of what you and your technology are doing to the audience.

1. Stand on the left side as the audience sees you. Because we read from left to right your audience can look at you then follow your gesture to the screen. Their eyes are comfortably moving left to right, they read the text then they return to you. If you stood on the right side their eyes have to make too many movements to read the slides and watch you. If you present using Hebrew, (read right to left), stand on the right side of the screen. If you present using old Chinese, (top to bottom), climb on top of the screen, (just kidding).

2. You are the show. Be heard and be seen. Stand away from the computer and in the light. Use a remote mouse to get away from the computer. Too many people hide in the dark behind the laptop. Arrange the lighting in the room so that you are in the light while the screen is dark. You might need to unscrew some of the ceiling lights to get it right.

3. Turn off the screen savers on your computer - any that are part of the Windows software - plus the one that comes with the laptop. It is embarrassing for you to be talking about important points you thought were on the screen while they are looking at flying toasters or Bart Simpson. It is even worse when your energy saver kicks in and shuts it all down. Remember to adjust this as well.

4. Learn how to use the switch that toggles both screens on. Often this is a function key. This toggle controls whether your laptop or projector - or both are on. You want both on so you can look at the laptop while the audience watches the same image behind you on the screen. Occasionally glance quickly at the screen just to check. But put your laptop between you and the audience so you can be looking at your audience while speaking.

5. Colours appear differently on the projector, the laptop, and the desktop where you designed it. If the exact colour is important, (perhaps for a company logo), test and adjust the colour ahead of time.

6. Keep it simple with the colours and special effects. Use no more than six colours on a slide. Use slide transitions and builds to entertain without detracting from your message. Effects like partial build reveals one point at a time allowing your audience to stay right with you.

7. Motion attracts their eyes. Gesture to the screen when you want them to look there. Use moving text to grab attention. Stand still when you want them to look at the screen. Move when you want to capture their attention again.

8. Test your slides for size and readability by standing six feet away from the monitor. If you can read the monitor then your audience will likely be able to read the screen. If they can not comfortably see and read your screen all you did was to annoy them.

9. Arrive early and test everything. Re-read this line - again!

10. Murphy loves technology. Be prepared with backup files, an extra power source for the laptop and projector and spare batteries for your remote mouse. It only takes one little thing to spoil it. Be prepared to give your presentation without the hardware.

Bonus TIP: People buy you - not your technology. You are always selling yourself - don't get lost in the technology.

The biggest mistake is to believe that cool graphics will make up for your lack of presentation skills. If you can not cook - it does not matter how good the stove is. Use these tips to develop your presentation skills and work with the tools. The computer is only a tool. You are the presenter. When you present with multi-media you are more than a performer. You are a producer. Be aware and stay in control of what you and your technology are doing to the audience.

1. Stand on the left side as the audience sees you. Because we read from left to right your audience can look at you then follow your gesture to the screen. Their eyes are comfortably moving left to right, they read the text then they return to you. If you stood on the right side their eyes have to make too many movements to read the slides and watch you. If you present using Hebrew, (read right to left), stand on the right side of the screen. If you present using old Chinese, (top to bottom), climb on top of the screen, (just kidding).

2. You are the show. Be heard and be seen. Stand away from the computer and in the light. Use a remote mouse to get away from the computer. Too many people hide in the dark behind the laptop. Arrange the lighting in the room so that you are in the light while the screen is dark. You might need to unscrew some of the ceiling lights to get it right.

3. Turn off the screen savers on your computer - any that are part of the Windows software - plus the one that comes with the laptop. It is embarrassing for you to be talking about important points you thought were on the screen while they are looking at flying toasters or Bart Simpson. It is even worse when your energy saver kicks in and shuts it all down. Remember to adjust this as well.

4. Learn how to use the switch that toggles both screens on. Often this is a function key. This toggle controls whether your laptop or projector - or both are on. You want both on so you can look at the laptop while the audience watches the same image behind you on the screen. Occasionally glance quickly at the screen just to check. But put your laptop between you and the audience so you can be looking at your audience while speaking.

5. Colours appear differently on the projector, the laptop, and the desktop where you designed it. If the exact colour is important, (perhaps for a company logo), test and adjust the colour ahead of time.

6. Keep it simple with the colours and special effects. Use no more than six colours on a slide. Use slide transitions and builds to entertain without detracting from your message. Effects like partial build reveals one point at a time allowing your audience to stay right with you.

7. Motion attracts their eyes. Gesture to the screen when you want them to look there. Use moving text to grab attention. Stand still when you want them to look at the screen. Move when you want to capture their attention again.

8. Test your slides for size and readability by standing six feet away from the monitor. If you can read the monitor then your audience will likely be able to read the screen. If they can not comfortably see and read your screen all you did was to annoy them.

9. Arrive early and test everything. Re-read this line - again!

10. Murphy loves technology. Be prepared with backup files, an extra power source for the laptop and projector and spare batteries for your remote mouse. It only takes one little thing to spoil it. Be prepared to give your presentation without the hardware.

Bonus TIP: People buy you - not your technology. You are always selling yourself - don't get lost in the technology.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR : George Torok is licensed to present Power Presentations by Peter Urs Bender, author of the best seller 'Secrets of Power Presentations'. Torok is co-author of 'Secrets of Power Marketing' and host of the radio show Business in Motion. He delivers seminars across North America on thinking and communication skills. He can be reached at (905) 335-1997 or George@Torok.com For more tips visit www.Torok.com and http://www.speechcoachforexecutives.com

10 CD Burning Tips For the Computer-Savvy

There is more to burning CDs than just burning them. The following article shows you how to ensure

your CD burning success.
1) The #1 thing you never want to do is put a CD-R or CD-RW in direct

sunlight. Unlike CD-ROMs, CD-Rs and CD-RWs are light sensitive. In some tests, CD-Rs left out in the

sun for as little as 2 hours, were completely erased of the music, data and photo files on the CD-Rs. This

is especially important if you listen to CDs in your car. Putting a CD-R on the dashboard in the

summertime, or in the direct sunlight can quickly destroy a CD.

2) If you are going to burn a CD

that you want to last for years, you need to use an archival quality CD. If you only have a short-term use

in mind for the CDs you are burning, almost any CD you buy that works with your computer will be fine.

3) In labeling a CD for a short-term use, almost anything will suffice. Paper labels are fine; but at

times, a bit tricky to apply. If the paper labels are not applied perfectly, they can unbalance the CD,

delaminate the CD, or even damage the CD Reader. However, if you want a CD to endure for years,

your choices are more limited. The most cost-effective option is to use a CD Marker. There are several

of these out on the market, and their inks have been specifically formulated for CD use. Markers with

alcohol in their formula are not recommended, such as a permanent marker or even a ballpoint pen.

4) When you burn a CD-R or CD-RW, always do a quality check to make sure it contains all the

information you wanted burned onto the CD. Never assume that your CD Burner will always burn

properly.

5) Short-term storage of CD-Rs and CD-RWs is very forgiving; vinyl and paper

sleeves are fine to use. For the long-term use, the only storage options I recommend are the Tyvek

sleeves and Jewel Cases. Only these two media will be benign and chemically inert over time. Jewel

cases are especially recommended because they protect against accidentally dropping as CD or

something being dropped on a CD, which lets face it, happened to us all.

6) When mailing CDs,

you need to be aware that the U.S. Post Office can easily damage CDs. With the new regulations as of

July 2002, the U.S. Post Office now imposes a surcharge on all CDs. One possible way around this is to

mail one or two CDs at time. Hand addressing mailers containing CDs is also likely to get them

processed so that they are not sent through the OCR sorting machines where most of the damage

happens. But, if you are sending a large number of CDs or you simply want to be sure that nothing

happens to your CDs, you have to use a stiff cardboard mailer. These cost more than ordinary

envelopes, but they do get the job done. I have a customer who mails religious CDs to 143 countries

using one of my very rigid mailers, and as a result they all get through to his customers intact.

7)

Catalog your CDs as you burn them. By cataloging your CDs, you will know: when you burned your CDs,

what was on your CDs, what program you used to burn your CDs, and anything else that will make your

CDs easy to retrieve. It doesnt take long to have so many CDs burned that you lose track of whats what-

trust me. Thats why we offer a number of CD Freeware and Shareware cataloging programs as part of a

book weve put together, that is available for download on our website.

8) Always update any

CD youve burned when you install a new version of any program you used to first create the CD. It

doesnt take long for a program migrate to the point where you cannot open a CD you burned with an

earlier version.

9) Be sensitive to the environment in which you store CDs. I had a customer from

Boston write me when I was creating my book on CD handling and storage. He said hed burned some

music onto CDs and brought them onto his boat. Within something like 6 weeks the sea air had

delaminated the CD. This could have been the fault of the CD brand he was using, however it points out

the general principle that in order to keep data, music and photos files on CDs that you burn, you have to

be aware that they should be stored in a reasonably stable environment, which includes a stable

temperature and stable humidity levels. Extreme vibration is also recommended against.

10)

Finally, be aware of the human error factor. Human error can constitute for a high percentage of mistakes

made when burning CDs. Be sure to always have a backup CD if the data on the CD is important. Also

be sure to keep a copy of the original program used to create the CD.

About the

Author

Mark Goggin is the owner of CDSleeves.com. Mark has been in business for over 28

years, 5 of which have been with CDSleeves.com. Mark is an expert in the area of storage, archival and

burning of CDs. Because of his expertise, Mark has written articles for publications such as Target

Magazine, Studio Photography & Design, Rangefinder, REPRO Report, amongst others. Mark loves to

speak to those wanting more information on his articles at the following number: (818) 865-

7942.

Tips For the Late Blooming Computer User

For years Ive been a stay-at-home mom, and I have only recently
gone back into the work force.

Ive done pretty well for myself, but
I could have really saved some time and frustration in

the
beginning if Id just known a few things about how to use a
computer.

I come from the era of

the typewriter and adding machine, and the
computer was really intimidating to me at first. When I

first
entered the business world, I lived in constant fear of losing my
document or crashing my

machine. The word processor was my
enemy, as was business email. The only thing I could figure

out
was how to open incoming messages. This was fine for trading
those cute stories about

angels with my friends, but it had my
boss in a rage. Now, those of you who know the

difference
between an attachment and a hyperlink can stop reading, but if
youre as confused as

I once was, read on. Ive got some useful
tips.

First, face your fear. The computer is just a

machine. Its not
going to yell at you or blow up. Dont be afraid to press a key
or click on an icon

(those little picture boxes that link you to
programs and things.) Quite often I would end up staring at

my
screen afraid to move, because I didnt know what to do next and
I was afraid of the

consequences of making the wrong decision. I
wasted so much time. Just dive in. If you end up

doing
something that looks funny or wrong, you can almost always find a
solution.

Second,

save your work. This is so important in word processing
programs. Have you ever been typing

along, only to hit a wrong
key and have your entire document disappear? Boy, I sure have.
This

doesnt have to happen. If you just remember to hit "save"
(under the file menu on most all word

processors) every few
sentences, the most youll ever lose is a phrase or two.

Third, get to know

your undo and help keys. "Undo" simply
reverses the last action completed on the computer. If you

hit
something that makes your document go all kerflooey, chances are
you can just click "undo"

(under the edit menu usually) a time or
two and youll be fine. The "help" menu is another great

asset
in both word processors and email programs. Rather than sitting
there wondering how

many times youve already asked your boss to
explain something, just go to "help" and then type in

a question
like "how do I set up columns, or "how do I attach a file," and
the help feature will walk

you right through the steps. It can
take you a little time, but its better than constantly running
to

your boss and looking helpless.

Fourth, make a computer savvy friend. This is so important.

If
theres someone in the office who seems to be really good at the
computer, bring them some

cookies or take them to lunch and ask
them if you can have a little of their time. Have them sit

with
you for a few minutes while you work on a document or email. Do
this on a few different

occasions. Chances are theyll not only
be able to answer your questions, but theyll be able to

point
out some great shortcuts for you, too.

Computers dont have to be the unconquerable

beasts they
sometimes appear to be. Just face your fear and approach the
machine calmly and

logically, and chances are youll be doing
fine. The better you are at using your computer, the

better
youll be at your job, and the happier people will be with you!

Lisa Lake has created a list of

top promotional methods on her
http://MyAdBlaster.com Lisa also writes ad copy that sells for
DrNunley's http://InternetWriters.com Reach her

at
mailto:lisa@myadblaster.com or 801-328-9006.

6 Tips That Could Save You a Bundle on Computer Support

Business owners learn how to save on computer support
With computer users totalling in the millions worldwide, the computer support industry has clearly become a cash cow for many support companies. Yet, were it not for the unreliability of many computer technologies and configurations, many support people would be out of business including myself.

Many so-called support specialists will sell you the philosophy that it is best to let the experts take care of the technical stuff while you take care of running your business. While this may seem reasonable on the surface, I can assure you that it is the best way of losing control over your technology while sending your overall repair bills through the roof.

Having spent the past 10 years advising small businesses on computer management strategies, I believe that the key to saving money lies in your instinctive desire to be independent and responsiblethe true spirit of entrepreneurship.

Being independent and responsible does not mean that every business owner should suddenly hop on the computer certification bandwagon in an effort to never allow a computer support professional on your premises again. The very essence of business independence and responsibility, which I am referring to, lies in your ability to understand and control as much of the basic business resources as possible. These resources are commonly referred to as:

Physical Resources
- Physical assets such as car, buildings,
- Furniture, office equipment including computing.

Financial Resources
- Accounting & cash flow management as well as marketing and sales.

Human Resources
- Personnel, people and skills management.

By understanding how these basic resources actually influence your bottom line, you can begin to take increased control over all your computing technologies.

The process of streamlining your support expenditures will always be a question of knowledge about your resources. Here, then, are 6 tips that could save you plenty of money in support costs.

Tip No.1: Know Thy Office

The process of curbing your support costs will always start by knowing what technology you need and dont need. Of course, there is no point filling your office with technology that you dont really need. Doing so will only create an environment where more equipment needs to be supported. Hence, an increase in support expenditures.

Therefore, your first task in streamlining your costs is to really get acquainted with your office and its computing needs. Know the computing needs of all your departments and individuals. Get nosey! Snoop around! Ask questions! Know the job descriptions of your people. Know the skill level of all your personnel. All purchasing decisions should be based, in part, on the needs of your departments. By going through this investigative process you should end up with only a list of equipment that you really need. From that point on, your task will be to acquire equipment from your list that is less proned to requiring support.

For instance, if your office requires only a basic inkjet printer, then there is no need to acquire a laser printer that will need to be maintained and cleaned on a regular basis. Similarily, if you only require a simple word processor, then dont purchase a complete office suite. Doing so guarantees that your users will begin to use the whole suite and eventually require support. The true essence of this first tip is to create winning computing conditions. Conditions that you can easily understand and manage. Dont put yourself in any position where more equipment is acquired than is actually necessary. The more equipment you purchase, the more it may need to be maintained. Learn to manage the physical resource aspect of the business.

Tip No.2: Know Thy Computer Dealers

Once youre ready to make a purchase, make sure you know who youre dealing with. If you buy a clone computer, the warranty often stands as long as the store you purchased it from is in business. If you purchase a brand name, your warranty is usually covered worldwide by service centers. This does not mean that clones are risky. It does mean, however, that you must deal with a store with a proven record. A really good computer- deal from a store with little history is generally not a safe bet. Dealing with a brand new store could be risky. The computer industry is ferociously competitive. Since new players come and go daily, you should avoid the pitfall of ending up on your own and with an office full of equipment and no warranty. Do the research! Deal with people you trust. Learn to manage the human resource aspect of the business.

Tip No.3: Read The Specs

Read the specs and understand them! Dont end up with a product that is likely to be difficult to upgrade. Do research on the internet to make sure the product youre interested in does not have known issues. What is the warranty? Is it on-site or carry-in? Do the research. Know ahead of time, not after the fact. Furthermore, dont be afraid of looking into the process of doing memory upgrades yourself. Im always amazed at the number of clients that call me up to go do a ram upgrade. Nowadays, installing ram in a computer is no more difficult than opening up a case of sardines.

Products that are difficult to upgrade will most likely increase your support costs. Products that require heavy-duty technical specs just to open the case will also increase your support costs. Hence, get to know the products you wish to purchase. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Manage the physical resource aspect of the business.

Tip No.4: Create Your Own Level-1 Support

What is level-1 support? Any support that can be resolved over the phone is known as level 1. Thats how easy it generally is. Not all level-1 support calls get resolved easily, but for the most part, they do. About 25% of support calls can usually be resolved by any experienced user.

A moderately trained human resource should be capable of providing level 1 support in your office. This reduces the quantity of minor incident calls made to your computer support company and therefore a substantial savings at the end of your fiscal year. However, the real benefit is measured in time. The amount of time a computer is disabled is what actually costs a bundle. This is especially true if the employee cant do anything else. If you have an internal support person, chances are, many minor problems can be resolved immediately. Your internal support person should also be capable of assisting in doing research and other preliminary work prior to making purchases as well. Furthermore, this internal support person should always be present whenever a level-2 support person arrives on-site. This gives your internal resource person a chance to learn. Manage the human resource aspect of the business. It pays well.

Tip No.5: Get Organized

Heres how to start saving immediately on some support calls. Get organized! Some computer technicians just love visiting certain companies. Why? Because some companies are so disorganized with their computing resources, that the technician shows up on-site and ends up waiting for specific information required to do the job. Naturally, the technician gets paid by the hour! Therefore, organize yourself and do it well. Here are some things you or your internal level-1 support person should have quick access to: Usernames and passwords Software and peripheral serial numbers Operating System Licenses / serial numbers (ie. Win 95/98, etc.) Install CDs and diskettes for all software Contract number (if youre on a yearly support contract)

So whats the rule of thumb? Dont make the technician wait.

Tip No.6: Educate Your Employees

Theres little doubt that a well-trained work force will cut your support expenditures. The common scenario, of course, that many managers fear is that they will spend money sending employees on training and then those employees will go work elsewhere with the freshly acquired training. This happens and will likely continue to happen. However, it can also be minimized with a little judicial human resource management. Train those employees with the most seniority first, then provide the necessary resources for those same employees to train other employees in the office.

In todays workplace, employees are often bullied into producing more and better. This type of work environment is the ideal situation to lose employees to another company. In other words, one of the best ways for a small firm to protect their investments is to make their employees want to stay and contribute to the firms objectives and to speak well of their employer.

A Final Thought

Some managers are easily afflicted by the psychology of more. The most common piece of advice I offer my clients when visiting them on-site is, "Stop upgrading!" Its amazing how long a computer system can last when properly managed. In other words, stop looking at all the goodies out there and focus, instead, on what can be done with your current resources. Chances are, you can do a whole lot with a bit of imagination thereby saving you money in purchases, training and maintenance. Learn to manage the financial resource aspect of the business. It pays extremely well.

About the Author

Alain G. Monney is a freelance writer, photographer and social activist with 12 years experience. He consults in the areas of human resource management in the Montreal region. He can be reached at the following email: a.monney@valangin.com