February 04, 2012

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6 Great Gifts for Computer Consultants

December 15, 2011 By 2 Comments

It’s that time of year again, where we take the time to try to find the perfect gift for the one’s we love!  Well, if you have a computer tech on your list, or you’re a tech looking for things to put on your own list, here are some ideas for great geeky gifts.

First, be sure to check out my list from a couple of years ago, most of the items are still available and would still make great gifts: 10 Affordable Gifts for the Computer Tech on Your List (2008).

My list this year runs the gamete from practical to downright insane.  Therefore, you should be able to find the perfect gift for the needs and personality of the recipient.

ASUS Transformer

ASUS Transformer PrimeThe ultimate cool gadget for this season is the ASUS Transformer.  It’s the first tablet/laptop hybrid that got it right, in my opinion.  You can carry the tablet around by itself.  It runs the latest tablet-friendly version of Android and has specs that match or exceed the iPad on the hardware side.
Check out what’s under the hood:

  • Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor
  • Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich (ships with Honeycomb, first tablet to get upgraded)
  • Super IPS+ display (1280×800) with Corning Gorilla Glass
  • 8MP rear camera (F2.4 aperture), 1.2MP front camera
  • 1 GB memory; 32/64 GB storage; microSD slot; microHDMI port
  • 12 hour battery life
  • Dimensions: 263 x 180.8 x 8.3 mm; 586 g (10.35 x 7.11 x 0.32 inches; 1.29 lbs.)

But where this baby really shines is in it’s detachable keyboard.  Snap it on and you have a very functional android-based laptop.  The keyboard dock adds functionality like USB ports and a track pad.

This is a wonderfully versatile gadget that will come in handy for any computer consultant out in the field.
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Filed Under: Computer Tech Culture Tagged With: ,

What It Takes To Be A Computer Consultant

August 30, 2011 By 9 Comments

I was thinking the other day about how it takes an equal blend of different skills in order to be a good, effective computer consultant.  I drafted a simple Venn Diagram to really visualize for myself, and others, how those different skills work together to create the different facets of a computer consultant.

starting a computer repair business

 

If you are weak in any of these three skills, then being a computer consultant might not be the right job for you.  Lets take a deeper look at each of the facets mentioned in the picture.
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Filed Under: Computer Tech Culture, Growing a Computer Business, Starting a Computer Business Tagged With: , , , ,

Breaking into Tech: Experience

June 02, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In the Breaking into Tech series of posts I weigh the pros and cons of the three basic means of preparing yourself for a career in tech: certification, formal education, and experience. For each category I’ll give separate advice for those seeking a corporate career versus those seeking to start their own computer business.  Drawing from my own experiences, as well as my observations of other successful people, I hope to give a realistic look at what it takes to break into tech.

It may seem counter intuative to use experience as criteria for breaking into an industry.  Afterall, if you’re new to the profession, how can you have experience?  That’s been the ultimate catch 22 for many tech as they begin their career, including me.

But the fact reamins that experience is the ultimate qualification in the tech world, and it is the most important notch on your belt. Practical experience working with technology is worth its weight in gold.  You’ll learn more in 6 months of field work than you ever did  in 4 years of college.

So it’s important to start getting relevant experience as soon as you decide that technology is the field you want to go in to.  You may need to take a cut in pay or simply work for free in order to get your initial experience with computers.  Thats okay, because it will pay dividends in the future.  Lets explore how experience will help you in both a corporate IT career and with being a computer consultant. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Computer Tech Culture, Starting a Computer Business Tagged With: , , , ,

Attack of the iPad: The Future of Computer Consulting

May 02, 2011 By 9 Comments

how to start a computer business

A YFNCG reader submitted an interesting question the other day via the contact page:

How have you found the new “iPad/iPhone era” affecting your support business as more people use these mobile computing devices vs. PCs/laptops?

It’s a great question and one that I thought deserved a blog post, since I’m sure the issue has been on the minds of other consultants lately as well.  I’ve heard questions similar to this asked of me by friends and family. It also has a tenancy to pop up on discussion forums from time to time. It’s no wonder this is on our minds as the answer to this question has implications for the very future of our livelihoods.

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Filed Under: Computer Tech Culture, Growing a Computer Business, Stories from the Trenches Tagged With: , , ,

50 Tech Facebook Pages You Should be Liking

April 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

tech facebook pagesThe following is a list of Facebook Pages of prominent groups, companies, and people in the tech industry that have an active presence on Facebook.  As far as I can tell, these pages are owned by their respective namesake and they are updated regularly.  The descriptions I’ve provided for each entry are from the most relevant section of the Info area of the page listed and in cases where no information was relevant, I provided my own summary.

This list is by no means comprehensive, it’s simply a smattering of pages I find interesting and valuable.  ”Like” away!

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Breaking Into Tech: Formal Education

February 15, 2011 By 5 Comments

How to start a computer repair business

In the Breaking into Tech series of posts I will weigh the pros and cons of the three basic means of preparing yourself for a career in tech: certification, formal education, and experience. For each category I’ll give separate advice for those seeking a corporate career versus those seeking to start their own computer business.  Drawing from my own experiences, as well as my observations of other successful people, I hope to give a realistic look at what it takes to break into tech.

You’ve just graduated high school and the whole world is at your doorstep.  You have unlimited options open to you, yet you will most likely end up going into huge debt to earn a degree you’re not sure you’re even interested in that will probably never match the career you end up pursuing afterward.  Welcome to the formal education system.

Earning a degree is the least focused, most expensive, and most time consuming of the three categories I’ll be covering in this series. That may sound a little harsh, but hear me out.  I’m going to explain why college degrees can be a dangerous trap for those in IT, especially those looking to start their own business.

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Filed Under: Computer Tech Culture Tagged With: , , ,

5 Myths of Computer Consulting

January 25, 2011 By 6 Comments

So you want to be a computer consultant?  You have dreams of starting your own business so you can work on your own, make lots of money, and be your own boss?

That’s excellent!

Computer consulting is a great field to be in, and will be in demand for the foreseeable future.  But setting realistic expectations is a key component to getting your business started on the right foot.

I spend a decent amount of time browsing forums related to the computer consulting business and I find that many people who are just starting out can have similar misconceptions about exactly what it takes to be in this line of work.

Here are some of the myths I see most often, in no particular order:

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Filed Under: Computer Tech Culture, Starting a Computer Business Tagged With: , , ,

Breaking into Tech: Certification

March 17, 2010 By 8 Comments

In the Breaking into Tech series of posts I will weigh the pros and cons of the three basic means of preparing yourself for a career in tech: certification, formal education, and experience.  For each category I’ll give separate advice for those seeking a corporate career versus those seeking to start their own computer business.  Drawing from my own experiences, as well as my observations of other successful people, I hope to give a realistic look at what it takes to break into tech.

Often those who are planning on beginning a career in IT, either finishing school or changing careers, will wonder if paying money to get certified is worth it.  The reason this question is asked over and over again is that there is no one right answer.  One person can point at their own experience as an independent technician and say that all it took for them to be successful was proper experience, while another might say the only way they were able to compete in the job market was with a certification or two under their belt.  There are a myriad of experiences and no two are alike.

Earning an IT certification is the most focused and least time consuming of the three categories I’ll be covering. There are numerous industry standard certification’s out there ranging from the basic PC comprehension shown by passing CompTIA’s A+ to elite advanced certifications like Cisco’s new Certified Architect program.  Whatever your specialty, there’s a certification you can earn to prove your understanding of it.  Lets take a look at how certification can help you in a corporate career versus a consulting career.

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Filed Under: Computer Tech Culture Tagged With: , , , , , ,

100 Tech Twitter Accounts You Should Be Following

May 11, 2009 By 40 Comments

After writing a recent post on the reasons why computer techs should be using twitter, I received quite a few requests asking for me to provide a list of tech accounts to follow for folks to get started.  I thought it would be cool to try to build this list, and in the process I’ve discovered some excellent resources.

This is by no means an exhaustive list.  I’d call this more of a “beginners list”;  a run-down of some useful twitter accounts that focus on tech and computers. It’s purpose is to get you started if you’re new to twitter or to round out your list if you’re already on twitter.  The list is appropriate for anyone who is interested in keeping up with technology trends.

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Top 10 Podcasts for Computer Techs

April 14, 2009 By 20 Comments

A podcast, for those of you not in the “know”, is basically a digital radio show that can be streamed to your computer or downloaded onto any number of digital listening devices, including the ever popular iPod.  Podcasting is now more popular than ever thanks, in part, to two factors: 1) the popularity of the iPod and other portable digital listening devices and 2) the reduction in price of quality audio broadcasting equipment.

This increased popularity means that there are a lot of podcasts sprouting up around the net. These podcasts range in quality and produciton value from a kid with a cheap microphone in his parent’s basement to a nationally syndicated radio show.

I’ve fallen in love with podcasts recently after buying a car with an auxiliary input that allows me to listen to my iPod on the road.  This enables me to hear pertinent, relevant, interesting stuff on my 45 minute drive to and from work.  Better than radio, podcasts allow me to choose WHAT I listen to and WHEN I listen to it. Kinda like Tivo for audio broadcasting.

As a computer guy or gal, listening to tech-related podcasts regularly will help you keep up with the latest trends in computer consulting and the IT business in general.  You can listen at home or in your shop while working on a computer or in the car on your way to your service calls. There are quite a few tech-centric podcasts out there.  This list provides you with the podcasts that I personally enjoy and in which I find the most value as a computer guy.

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