On Spot Techs

By Eric Geier (Our Founder & Owner)

Originally published by Cox Media Group on 6/3/19

​

Here I share some things you should and shouldn’t do when it comes to your computer and other tech gadgets: Don’t believe unsolicited phone calls about your computer: No legit company, even Microsoft, will ever call you to say you have computer issues; those are scams. Sometimes your computer may prompt you about issues with pop-up alerts, but it’s likely a scam if it tells you to call a phone number, wants remote control of your computer, or wants money to fix it.

If you’re ever in doubt or have let a scammer remotely control your computer, I highly suggest contacting a professional like myself.

Do use a trusted and proven local tech support company: I’m sure you know that not all computer companies and technicians are equal.

Try to check reviews and other information about a company before using them. This should especially be the case before using remote support services from a non-local company. Before using the big-names like Best Buy’s Geek Squad, consider the smaller businesses where you may get better service at a lower cost.

Don’t automatically buy a new computer when yours has problems: Some computer issues are easily fixable; some require more time or money. I suggest contacting a computer pro before deciding whether you should fix your computer or buy a new one.

Even if the computer seems dead to you, it may be fixable and the data may be recoverable.

Do get yearly checkups and cleanups from a pro: Even if you aren’t having issues with your computer, I suggest you get it looked at by a professional at least yearly.

There are many proactive things a tech can check or perform to help find or fix issues before they’re a real problem.

Don’t buy really cheap computers or gadgets: You can find new tablets as cheap as $50 and full computers or laptops as cheap as $200, but you get what you pay for. These cheaper tablets and computers usually have very low disk space, processors, and other components, so they’ll be much slower and won’t last as long. They can actually be quite aggravating instead of fun or useful.

Do invest in technology: When you spend a little more on computers and gadgets, you’ll likely have a better experience and the machine will likely last longer. I recommend spending at least $500 on a new computer.

If that won’t work for your budget, consider a good refurbished PC, which you should be able to find in the $300 range, which will likely perform much better than a cheap new computer.

Don’t ignore backups: Backing up files and documents is one of the biggest things computer users ignore. And they tend to regret that when their computer crashes, and they lose all their data.

Do local and/or online backups: If you have important data you can’t imagine losing, I strongly suggest using a cloud or online backup, so your files are safe from theft, fire, and other disasters in your home or office. If you aren’t comfortable with online backup, at least setup a backup to an external hard drive. Contact a computer pro to help if needed.

​

See our Full List of Articles Here

​