by Teresa Bryant | Mar 13, 2019 | Laptops & Personal Computers
I have some customers that simply enjoy the peace of mind knowing that I can log into their computer and perform weekly scans, maintenance, and updates. Even though there are many programs that claim to do this for the customer, the truth is, many of these types of software can cause problems with the registry and drivers on a computer, as well as place ad-ware or tracking on the computer that the client is completely unaware of. It takes experience to know which software is legitimate and if that software is designed to NOT create bigger problems on their personal computer. Also, the companies will try to sell their biggest and most expensive software that has extra options that an individual will never use, so it only serves to overburden their computer and slow them down to a crawl with NO added benefit while, of course, digging into the unwitting customer. For my customers that need remote service from a neighbor they can trust, I have the ability to log into their computer and perform maintenance, or answer their questions. Some of my clients prefer the remote style of working with me and they know that they aren’t trusting a stranger halfway around the world to login and potentially take over their...
by Teresa Bryant | Mar 13, 2019 | Mobile Devices Phones & Tablets
More and more seniors are using and enjoying smart phones and tablets. They love being able to travel with their tablets, take pictures, organize their photos, and show them off to their family and friends, as well as check email and browse the internet. The tablet is also convenient in size for travel and versatile with it’s ability to replace a camera, a photo album, and a laptop, while fitting nicely in their purse or travel bag. In my experience, most seniors do well with the iPad and iPhone due to their easy to see icons and use interface. Even so, there are still quite a few icons located on the iPhone, iPad, and Android that can be confusing to a first time user. I will remove the icons that my clients don’t use, making it simpler to see exactly what the client uses as well as teach them how to use their smart phone or mobile device. I hate to see where a company was happy to sell a senior a new expensive smart phone or tablet but then let them leave the store without impressing how important it was not to NOT lose the initial passwords or login information used to set their mobile device up. Also, the companies refuse to give their customer any real help on how to use the device. Sometimes the companies actually do more harm than good. I enjoy working with mobile devices and am happy to personalize your smart phone or tablet to your individual...
by Teresa Bryant | Mar 13, 2019 | Laptops & Personal Computers
Today’s world is changing and so are the companies that use to make good quality printers. Many times store associates will sell you the most sold printer instead of the best quality printer. Many of these employees have no idea how many of their top selling printers are actually being returned to the store, the manufacturer, or just being thrown away because they don’t last very long or they stop printing just out of warranty. I am seeing certain brands of printers arrive bad right out of the box. I love recommending good quality printers so my clients don’t have the hassle of store returns or long phone calls to manufacturers of bad printers. Also, many employees never bother to ask how the customer will be using the printer, what the connections are, what they will be printing, or how long they would like to keep and use the printer. Do they want a scanner, fax, or copier. Will they be printing photographs. What type of computer, tablet or phone will you be connecting it to. Do you have wireless. These are all important questions because there is nothing worse than lugging that heavy printer home, getting it all set up, only to find that it won’t work on your current old desktop machine but will only work with your wireless tablet. I have even sent customers to the store to get their printer and the salesperson tried to talk them into the cheaper printer which would have saved them only $20 to get home and find that it would NOT work on their personal computer. I’ve had customers...
by Teresa Bryant | Mar 13, 2019 | Software & Internet
Facebook has become immensely popular for every age group. It is a great way to connect with old friends and family, even family that are miles away and haven’t been seen in years. Yet you feel that you are right there sharing the highlights of their life as they post and comment on their daily activities and special events. Facebook is a social network platform that can be used safely but users must learn how to use Facebook in a safe manner. There are advertisements and links that are designed to advertise, mislead, and even potentially infect your computer. It’s imperative for users to learn how to tell the difference and how to avoid these pitfalls. I care about each and every person that comes to me for help and I can not stand to see them get scammed, tricked, or taken advantage of. I’m not a call-center from halfway across the globe, and because I’m your neighbor, you can trust me to have your best interest at heart. I will teach you how to enjoy Facebook while staying safe and if you are ever in doubt, call me, and I will attempt to answer you questions by phone in a warm and friendly...
by Teresa Bryant | Mar 13, 2019 | Software & Internet
There are many ways to stay in touch with family, friends, and loved ones so Skype is just one application that seniors love to use once they find out how easy it is. Skype is fairly straight forward and I can help install, set up, and add contacts to your Skype program. Once everything ready, it is surprising how easy it is to see and speak with people face to face making interactions much more valuable and enjoyable. Watch your Grandchildren as they show you their favorite gift that you sent in the mail. Know they will recognize your face as their Grandparent when you do get the opportunity to visit. If you have a family member in the military and stationed far from home, Skype helps bridge that gap while they are away from home. Skype can be a great program for a more enriching life with your family and friends. It’s the next best thing to being...
