Mac or PC, Apple or Microsoft, we swing both ways

Mac or PC, Apple or Microsoft, we swing both ways Whether your problem is with an Apple Mac or a PC or laptop running Microsoft Windows or even a Linux server, the IT Guys have the experience in configuring, troubleshooting and repairing individual devices or hybrid networks. The IT guys can advise, consult and even purchase Apple or Windows devices and computers and help you set them up for home or office use (or both) but if you would rather do this yourself, here is a guide on what you need to consider before making any further purchases. What is best? Apple or Microsoft? How do I choose? The million dollar question 🙂 When you buy Apple you are purchasing the hardware (Macbook, iMac, iPhone, iPad) plus the operating system (iOS) which are designed to work perfectly together. Up until the introduction of the Microsoft Surface, Microsoft was a software designer and Operating System provider (Windows XP, Vista, 7,8,10, Office, Server) designed to work on all major hardware (IBM, HP, Dell, Toshiba, Acer, Asus etc), they even design and sell software for Apple devices (Office for Mac) but with the supply of their own hardware, Microsoft are moving ever closer to the Apple concept. As to which product is better or represents the best value for money, the answer is complete conjecture. Apple products may appear to be more expensive on initial purchase but as Apple supply and update their operating systems for FREE over a 10 year period there would be little difference in price if you had to upgrade your Windows OS, once or twice. However, with the launch of the New Apple iPhone 6S at over a thousand dollars, commentators are speculating that Apple are deliberately putting prices up to make their products more “elitist” to cater for the burgeoning Chinese Middle Class market. Not only are Apple products well made but no they have also become a status-symbol. How do I choose between Apple and Microsoft The simplest advice is to stick with what you know. If you have always used Microsoft products on a PC, then stick with Windows and Android devices. Unless you are prepared for a certain amount of self-training and angst we would advise against Windows user moving to Apple or Apple users moving to Windows devices. Q1. What kind of Smartphone do you have? As we become more and more mobile-centric, the choice of our smartphones or hand-held devices becomes  a decisive factor when choosing a brand or operating system of our laptop or desktop devices. Having an Android smartphone restricts you to using other devices using either Android, Chrome or Windows. iPhones and iPads will happily work with Apple iOS devices or Windows computers.     Q2.  Do you have other devices and computers you wish to share data with or information between It’s rare these days that we only own one computing device. It is not uncommon that we have a laptop or PC plus a smartphone and/or tablet device such as an iPad. Once you start using more than one device and wish to share an address book, music or files between devices and possible in the cloud, life becomes more complicated and choices have to be made.   iTunes does not work natively with Android Devices Although Apple iTunes is available for iOS and Windows platforms, you cannot easily play your itunes music on an Android phone or device. Apple have said this will be available in the future but as of September 2015 it is only available via exporting/importing and/or a number of Android apps.     Sharepoint & Onedrive If you are a user of Microsoft’s cloud sharing products SharePoint and Onedrive be wary of using them on Apple devices as doing so is not straightforward and does not work in the same way as on Microsoft platform’s. Outlook for Mac 2011 supported Sharepoint as a drive such as in iCloud, Google Drive or Dropbox but this was removed in Office for Mac 2016 much to our dismay.   Microsoft Outlook & Apple Calendaring Although these work well together on a Windows PC, they don’t work so well together on an Apple especially if you use iOS/iCloud calender apps which are iCal compliant. Adding Calendar entries on Outlook for the Mac using an Apple device does not sync with iCloud!! However, if you use Outlook on a Windows PC, syncing to iCloud is seamless and works very well. Another example of Apple and Microsoft’s petty rivalries.   Printing from Tablet’s and Smartphones Printing from iPhone or iPad In the early days the only printers an iPad or iPhone could print to were those labeled as AirPrint, your old faithful printer may not be able to be printed directly to from one of these devices. AirPrint is an Apple technology that helps you create full-quality printed output without the need to download or install drivers. To use an AirPrint printer with your Wi-Fi network, make sure your printer is connected to the same network as your iOS device or Mac. Then select the AirPrint printer from your favorite app and you’re ready to print. Apple authorised AirPrint Printers Many printer manufacturers are also bring out their own Apps (these can be found on the Apple App store) Printing from Android smartphones. To print from an Android smartphone is slightly different by installing and launching  on your Android phone or tablet after downloading it from the Android App store. It uses Google Cloud Print which works with most printers. But, for the best experience, a Cloud Ready printer is recommended. These types of printers can directly connect to the Internet and don’t need a computer for it to work. Google keeps a growing list of Cloud Ready printers here.   Cost of Repair, Maintenance & Resale Value,  Apple v Windows Where Apple and Windows/Android Computers and devices really shows their differences is the cost of maintenance and repair of their respective products. Apple Computers, devices and phones tend to hold their resale value […]

CRYPTOLOCKER virus still going strong. 3 more clients infected today?

CRYPTOLOCKER Virus still a threat and very active. Please beware It is no laughing matter but it appears that CRYPTOLOCKER Virus’s are like buses, you don’t hear of any for a while and then 3 come along at the same time. This is the story on Friday August 27th 2015. After a rash of complaints from customers on July 23rd 2015, we didn’t receive another CRYPTOLOCKER compliant until today, with three more all in the Perth area. This behaviour arises suspicion that these crooks are coordinated and targeting small vunerable businesses and in one of todays case an Anglican Church. The Earliest cases in Australia were reported last October when the ABC was targeted see Crypto-ransomware attack targets Australians via fake Australia Post emails Earlier this month, the Australian Governments’s SMART-ONLINE site warned about a Cryptolocker attack Alert Priority High | Fake Windows 10 update leading to ransomware attack and we also reported BEWARE OF SCAM EMAILS ABOUT DOWNLOADING WINDOWS 10 In order to protect yourself and your business from this attack, be cautious when clicking any link containing free software or other offers. What should I do if I am the victim of one of these SCAM’s? 1. Seek Expert help If your computer is compromised, seek immediate technical advice to remove the ransomware from all infected computers and recover the files from backup (if possible) 2. Report the SCAM to the authorities If your computer has been compromised, you can report the incident to the Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN). ACORN provides information on how to recognise and avoid common forms of cybercrime, such as hacking, online scams, online fraud, identity theft, attacks on computer systems and illegal or prohibited content, as well as offering advice to those who have fallen victim. ACORN makes it easier and more convenient to report cybercrime to a law enforcement agency.   From July 23rd 2015 ……… * WARNING * CRYPTOLOCKER Virus in Australia Post Emails In the last three days we have had three clients in Perth, Western Australia that have had all the data on their computers rendered unreadable and encrypted as they have become infected by the CRYPTOLOCKER Computer Virus, which is impossible to break or decode.. This type of virus is known as RansomwareThey all became infected after opening an EMAIL from AUSTRALIA POST (or AUSPOST)In one case the Anti-virus software detected the virus but they decided not to delete it immediately.More info here: http://auspost.com.au/about-us/scam-email-warning.htmlCryptoLocker is a ransomware trojan which targets computers running Microsoft Windows. There is a demand for money which if not paid escalates each day.DO NOT PAY any demanded RANSOM as it is not guaranteed to unlock your data and gives your financial information to the scammers.The only surefire way of removing the virus is to reinstall windows back to factory settings and then restore your data from your last backup, so please make sure your data is backed up TODAY.If you believe you have seen such an email or encountered this virus recently, please give us a call on 08 6365 5603 and we can help you remove this or any other computer virus or malware.Please be vigilant.   Related Posts and Articles Beware of scam emails about downloading Windows 10 TOP 6 CHECKS TO MAKE SURE YOUR COMPUTER IS PROTECTED FROM VIRUSES AND MALWARE HOW TO USE MICROSOFT’S DEFAULT BACKUP TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE HOW TO USE APPLE’s TIME MACHINE TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE Beware of scam emails about downloading Windows 10 OPENING AN EMAIL FROM AUSTRALIA POST HAS HAD 3 CLIENTS IN 3 DAYS LOSE ALL THEIR DATA TO THE CRYPTOLOCKER VIRUS How to avoid Computer Viruses – Stop using Bing Your Apple Mac has a Virus (this is NOT a Joke) PREVENT VIRUSES BY NOT ALLOWING OTHERS TO USE YOUR COMPUTER ACCOUNT HOW TO AVOID COMPUTER VIRUSES – STOP USING BING WINDOWS 8.1 USERS MOST LIKELY TO SUFFER ADOBE READER VIRUSES HOW CAN I TELL IF MY COMPUTER HAS A VIRUS? HOW TO REMOVE THE “DOSEARCHES” SEARCH VIRUS HOW TO REMOVE THE “SNAP-DO” SEARCH VIRUS AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE VIRUS SCAM ANTIVIRUS SECURITY PRO IS A SCAM – HERE IS HOW TO REMOVE IT HOW TO REMOVE 99% OF COMPUTER VIRUSES, MALWARE AND ADWARE FOR FREE :jk:

How to get rid of “Ask.com” toolbar and search

Is the “Ask” toolbar or “search” engine a virus and should I remove it? Being in the business of repairing Computers every day, it is astonishing how many PC’s we come across that either have the “Ask.Com” searchbar or “Ask.Com” as the default search engine Ask.com is a legitimate website, which declares that its mission is to answer users’ questions with the best information from the web and from the real people, and increase personal knowledge by empowering people with answers. However there are lots of complaints about having been redirected to ask.com website without willing to do that. According to users, no matter which browser you decide to use, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox or other one, you may find yourself redirected to Ask.com. This unfair activity is used for one main aim – to make people visit predetermined websites. Ask.com is not a virus. However, it is promoted using quite dubious methods. One of the mostly used of them is called bundling and you can install ASK by mistake when downloading Java or other freeware ASK.com Removal Guides Remove Ask Toolbar and Ask.com Search (Uninstall Guide) Related Posts and Articles TOP 6 CHECKS TO MAKE SURE YOUR COMPUTER IS PROTECTED FROM VIRUSES AND MALWARE HOW TO USE MICROSOFT’S DEFAULT BACKUP TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE HOW TO USE APPLE’s TIME MACHINE TO BACKUP TO AN EXTERNAL DEVICE Beware of scam emails about downloading Windows 10 OPENING AN EMAIL FROM AUSTRALIA POST HAS HAD 3 CLIENTS IN 3 DAYS LOSE ALL THEIR DATA TO THE CRYPTOLOCKER VIRUS How to avoid Computer Viruses – Stop using Bing Your Apple Mac has a Virus (this is NOT a Joke) PREVENT VIRUSES BY NOT ALLOWING OTHERS TO USE YOUR COMPUTER ACCOUNT HOW TO AVOID COMPUTER VIRUSES – STOP USING BING WINDOWS 8.1 USERS MOST LIKELY TO SUFFER ADOBE READER VIRUSES HOW CAN I TELL IF MY COMPUTER HAS A VIRUS? HOW TO REMOVE THE “DOSEARCHES” SEARCH VIRUS HOW TO REMOVE THE “SNAP-DO” SEARCH VIRUS AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE VIRUS SCAM ANTIVIRUS SECURITY PRO IS A SCAM – HERE IS HOW TO REMOVE IT HOW TO REMOVE 99% OF COMPUTER VIRUSES, MALWARE AND ADWARE FOR FREE :jk:

Network Support Services

Network Support Services Networks come in all shape’s, sizes and complexity. From simple Local Networks in the home or home office (known as LAN’s – Local Area Networks), to medium sized networks in a typical business situation to large scale networks covering multiple offices, buildings, cities and even countries (known as WAN’s – Wide Area Networks) No matter how large or small your business or home network setup is, we can assist you in any way you wish, to make sure you get the connectivity you require within your budget and in a timely manner. The IT Guys can assist in Network Design, Network Construction and Network Maintenance and Network Support of LAN’s and WAN’s plus advise and setup of Cloud Network storage and solutions. Network Construction (Wired Networks, Wireless Networks, Ethernet over Power Networks, Smart Wiring, Cloud and Virtual Networks) Network Feasibility Network Design Network and Construction Pricing Network Construction Project Management, Network Roll out and Commissioning Network Maintenance Testing, Upgrading and Replacement of Network Equipment including Routers, Switches,  Hubs, Modems, Wireless Access Points, Wi-fi Boosters, Wi-fi Repeaters Network Systems Audit Check The IT Guys offer a FREE 1 hour comprehensive Computer Systems Audit check on site at your office or business premises including a detailed Network Systems Audit. In this time we will examine your systems and provide a free report on their status, health and provide recommendations on how they can be improved or made more efficient (if necessary). If your company would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact us here. See also, by clicking on the links below. Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small unit or apartment Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for small homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for medium sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for large sized homes Wireless Smart-Wired-Home solutions for extra large sized homes with multiple floors Network and Internet Connection between Buildings Wi-Fi Troubleshooting Having Problems getting Internet and Wi-Fi throughout your home or office? Home Networking Network Support Services Network Design & Consulting services Telephone and Internet Connections offered by NBN Telephone and Internet Connections offered via the Mobile Phone NetworksTelephone and Internet Connections offered via Independent Telecomm Companies If you would like The IT Guys(WA) to analyse, test and advise you on how to fix any of the above issues, click on Internet and Wi-Fi Testing and Consultancy Services where we offer paid remote on on-site services. :jk:

Quickest ways to speed up your Computer PC or Laptop

How to quickly speed up your Computer PC or Laptop and Internet browsing experience. In July 2014 we issued our post entitled TOP 12 WAYS TO SPEED UP YOUR COMPUTER PC OR LAPTOP this article updates that post and takes into consideration the Windows 10 release and our many other recent articles such as HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR INTERNET SPEED Why do you think your Computer is running slow? Speed is a relative thing. Those of you using a computer 20 years ago think anything today is lightening fast but if you are a teenage or 20-something gamer playing the latest release online games you probably have quite different perceptions as to what is slow and what is fast in a computing sense. What is your perception of slow-speed based on? Maybe one or more of the following: a) Is it the time it takes your PC or Laptop to start and fire up the Operating System? b) Is it due to a “lag” in the opening or processing of documents or spreadsheets? c) Is it due to the slow processing of data records in a database d) is it the speed of downloading files, browsing web pages or streaming videos and movies?   How to reduce the time it takes your PC or Laptop to start and fire up the Operating System? Reduce the number of programs that “run-on-startup”   When installing new programs there is often a little tick box that is selected by default which says “Run on startup“. Before you know it, you have 10 programs trying to start when you switch your computer on or reboot and all greedily trying to load first by using the computers memory or CPU. This can slow your computer down considerably. Some of the worst offenders of this are Skype and Chat clients such as Yahoo Messanger, Sharepoint, Google Drive, Lync, AOL chat etc etc By stopping these programs from loading on startup (In Skype goto Tools – Options – General Settings and “un-tick”, “Start Skype when I start Windows”) your computer will start much quicker. Assuming you have done this for Skype and your various chat clients but your computer is still taking an age to start, then you need to look a little deeper into what is happening. When your computer is starting up hit “Ctrl-Alt-Delete” buttons all at the same time and then select “Start Task Manager” The Task Manager shows you all the applications and processes being run by your computer at that very moment. You will see the amount of CPU Usage going up and down …on startup this can be very high but once settled down should be running at less than 50%. This will vary depending on how much memory or RAM your computer has. Computers with 1GB of RAM will have a higher work rate than those with 4 or 8GB of RAM. Make sure you have the tick box selected show processes from all users then click on the CPU and Memory column descriptors to reorder the list in terms of CPU usage and Memory Usage. If you notice a program running that you do not recognise, does not appear to be associated with Microsoft, your computer’s manufacturer, anti-virus products etc… then take a note of the item and google-it as I did with the image name igfxsrvc.exe which I was not familiar with so I google it. From the results I am confident it is harmless. If you find a process you suspect of beig a virus or malware…simply highlight that process and click on “End Process” if this appears to fix your problems you now need to figure out what is causing that process to run as the next time you restart your computer the process will again be activated automatically. Check and Cleanup your Startup processes A simple tool for removing unwanted start-up processes can be found in the FREE CCleaner utility. Use this utility to identify start up processes, disable them and then uninstall them using the tools-> uninstall feature. Add more Memory (RAM) The quickest and easiest way to increase the speed of your computers start-up and performance generally is to increase the amount of RAM memory it has. There are still many PC’s and Laptops out there with only 1GB of RAM. This was fine for Windows XP but if you are Running Windows Vista, 7 or 8 then you need a minimum 2GB memory and ideally 4GB or 8GB (but you may not have enough memory slots or your computer to accommodate this extra RAM) … check the specification of your computer online before buying or installing the extra memory.   Add a bigger and faster disk drive When your existing Hard Disk storage is 90% or more full, your computer slows down because it often uses a portion of your disk drive to increase its RAM. The increase in manufacturing and Hard Drive technology also means that conventional drives are becoming faster each year. As each year goes by the chances of your disk drive failing increase, especially after 6 years (see “how often should I replace my Hard Disk Drive”) and as they are relatively inexpensive, upgrading your HDD annually is a good way to clean up your data and speed up your PC. To super-charge the speed of your PC or Laptop consider buying a solid-state hard drive (SDD). These have no moving parts and are completely electronic. Although smaller in capacity they are extremely fast, especially if a program does a lot of disk access (such as a database) Clean your Computer A PC, Computer or Laptop uses power and as a result generates heat. Every PC has 1,2 or 3 fans in the case designed to keep the components cool and working optimally. Like a car….. if the radiator blows…. so does the engine, but before it blows it can simply slow down the computer. Checking the outlets or opening up the box could reveal a dust-infected-horror-story. See our article about giving your […]

Do not rely on Microsoft’s Windows Defender to protect your computer.

Microsoft’s Windows Defender Anti Virus program built into Windows 7, 8 and Vista does NOT provide adequate Anti Virus and Anti spyware protection and Microsoft admit it. All windows PC’s are shipped with Microsoft Windows Defender Anti virus system. It is a very, very basic software that does not fully protect you or your computer. Microsoft itself claims that Windows Defender is just a basic anti-malware program that protects your computer from the virus attacks in case your system has no other third-party antivirus program installed in it. This further means that even Microsoft suggests that users should go for any other, comparatively more effective and efficient antivirus programs in order to enjoy the complete protection from the external threats and intrusions.   Windows 8.1 PC’s and Laptops usually come with Norton’s Anti Virus pre-installed such is their faith in Windows Defender.   Norton’s Basic Anti Virus protection is $59.99 for 1 year.       The IT Guys recommend AVG Cloudcare and can supply and install it for $52.80 per year per device. One major advantage of AVG Cloudcare supplied by the IT Guys, is that we monitor your anti virus software and are automatically alerted when a problem occurs on your computer or laptop , such as a virus is detected or the product is prevented from updating on a regular basis or even if your computer runs out of disk space or crashes. The IT Guys also offer the following additional AVG services that we can also manage on your behalf   AVG Online Backup – Backup personal and company data, over the Internet AVG Content Filtering – Limit user access to websites :jk:

How to avoid Computer Viruses – Stop using Bing

If you use Microsoft Bing as your Search Engine you are more likely to become infected with Adobe Reader Computer Viruses The IT Guys (WA) remove a lot of computer viruses on behalf of our clients who are mostly new or recent Windows 8 purchasers used to using Windows 7!! The reasons ….. Internet Explorer, Bing and Adobe Reader!!!! Let me explain…… in addition to removing computer viruses, we are also interested in how they are contracted. After speaking to hundreds of clients we started seeing a few common patterns and one pattern in particular. These clients will have recently purchased a laptop of desktop computer with Windows 8.1 operating system usually pre-installed, after setting up their mail and trying to open a PDF attachment with the Windows 8.1 built in PDF viewer, they decide they would prefer to have their old familiar Adobe Reader instead and they go off looking for it. Windows 8.1 comes with Internet Explorer browser by default, which is also setup to use Microsoft’s Bing search engine by default. When you make a search using bing for the term “adobe reader” you are presented with results similar to the following.   The above results highlighted in yellow are all Bing advertisements and just about every one one of those links will result in contracting adware, spyware and worse. The official Adobe Acrobat reader site (adobe.com) is the first organic result but many, many people will click on results 1 to 3 which are all paid advertising. Why Microsoft allows such blatantly fraud companies to advertise on Bing is beyond comprehension. Now try the same search on Google Chrome …… (see results below) No scam advertising and the first result is clearly the genuine site. Google are obviously more vigilant and security conscious than Microsoft. Their strict adwords adverting policy does not allow such scam companies to advertise. Chrome is trying very hard to protect consumers from such scam companies and is making it more difficult to accidentally download harmful software. Google Chrome recently added a new warning to Chrome that pops up before users visit a site that will encourage downloads of unwanted software. A red warning lets readers know that the site they’re about to visit “might attempt to trick you into installing programs that harm your browsing experience” by, for example, switching your homepage or injecting extra ads on your screen. Chrome already has a warning that pops up once a software download is initiated. Related Posts and Articles Top 6 checks to make sure your computer is protected from Viruses and Malware How to use Microsoft’s default program to backup to an external device or hard drive Beware of scam emails about downloading Windows 10 Opening an email from Australia Post has had 3 clients in 3 days lose ALL their data to the CRYPTOLOCKER virus Prevent viruses by not allowing others to use your computer account   How can I tell if my computer has a virus?   How to remove the “Snap-Do” search virus Antivirus Security Pro is a SCAM – Here is how to remove it. How to remove 99% of computer viruses, malware and adware for FREE :jk:

Renting a home: Did you check this?

One very important factor to check before renting a home – yet none of the real estate guides mention it. A renters guide: what to look for in a rental property talks about storage area, hot and cold water, cleanliness, will your furniture fit, how many car parks are there etc. But nobody suggests you check the following:   Is high-speed internet and Foxtel available at this location? Moving to a house or apartment where there is no high speed internet or Foxtel connection can be a deal breaker these days, especially for the tech-savvy Gen X and Gen Y’s.     If you are a property owner and your house or apartment has high-speed Internet and Foxtel. Make sure you brag about it in the real-estate advertising. If you are a property owner and your house or apartment DOES NOT have high-speed Internet and Foxtel it could well increase your properties attractiveness by having them installed, or if they cannot be installed, keeping very quiet about the matter. The majority of houses and business premises in are currently connected to the Internet via an ADSL modem which uses the copper telephone wire, now known as the “land-line”, connecting your premises to the local telephone exchange. Although speeds of 20 MBPS can be achieved using ADSL (if you live close to the telephone exchange), some connections only receiving 1 or 2 MBPS. In comparison, high speed internet can be achieved using HFC which currently offers speeds of 30 to 100 MBPS and NBN fibre connections offer speeds of 100 MBPS or more. Test your current Internet Speed here. Business fibre connections are available but very expensive at over $1,000 per month. NBN fibre (if available) offers the same speeds at a much lower price.   What is a HFC Connection? “HFC” stands for “Hybrid Fibre Coax” and is the coaxial cable that provides Foxtel to homes and businesses. In the 1990’s Telstra laid the cable to many houses across many Suburbs to offer pay TV services. Only Telstra offer this service. You don’t currently need a Foxtel service but you do need the cable running down your street. Not all streets and suburbs were connected in the 90’s. Telstra’s HFC service is also known as “Telstra Cable Broadband”.  See below for connection details and pricing:   What is a NBN Connection? NBN (National Broadband Network) is the name of the scheme and company charged with providing High Speed Internet services throughout Australia by the previous Labour Government. The NBN Company was formed to deliver these services initially by providing Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) or Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB) Internet Services by a new fibre-optic cable network, giving peak speed of between 100 mbps to 1000 mbps. However, due to cost blow outs the technology mix has now changed dramatically with the current Government adding  Wireless and HFC to it’s offered services.   How can I tell if I am eligible for a HFC or NBN high speed internet Connection? What Alternative internet services are available at my address?         What happens if you are in a HFC area but dont have the cable running to your premises? On March 4th it was announced that if Optus’s or Telstra’s pay TV cable runs down your street but you currently don’t use it for broadband access, someone will come to hook up your home in the next few years – even if in the past you’ve been told it is unavailable.(Read more here “More pieces start to fit in NBN puzzle“) Will I ever get an NBN Connection if I am eligible for a HFC connection? A few months ago the Communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, made it known that in order to save costs NBN quality broadband will only be delivered through the HFC network for those premises that are currently eligible. Only those premises not having an HFC connection will eventually get an NBN connection which could be FTTN or FTTP Telstra Cable Broadband Pricing Telstra Cable broadband (HFC) can deliver Internet speeds of 30 to 100 mbps compared to a maximum of 20 Mbps for ADSL 2+. For plans and availability click here.   Plans start at only $73 per month. (plus modem and installation charges) If your one of the many Perth ADSL customers getting download speeds of 10 Mpb’s or less (click here to test your speed) then Cable Broadband from Telstra is probably your only solution to faster Internet speeds unless you live in a new suburb or building that maybe eligible for FTTP or FTTN services. Be aware that your existing modem will probably not be cable compatible so you will need to buy a new one from Telstra. A self-install Cable Home Network Gateway is $144 for new Telstra home broadband customers. If you’re an existing Telstra home broadband customer and would like a new modem you can take up a T-Gateway Package for $216. If you already have Foxtel Cable installed, Telstra will simple mail you a self-install modem kit. You can install it yourself or call us out to do it for you. If you don’t have Foxtel cable already coming into your house, Telstra will also charge you an installation fee to have one of their technicians install the cabling (up to $299), Make sure you direct them to terminate it a place that suits you such as next to your TV or in the smart-wiring junction box. Again, if you have any doubts, call us out to assist you. Telstra cable broadband can provide download speeds up to a maximum of 30Mbps when downloading from capable sites or across multiple sites but average speeds will be lower. If you take up Telstra’s optional $20 per month Super Fast Speed Boost option then it can provide download speeds up to a maximum of 100Mbps into the home for sharing across multiple users in a household.  The above is designed as a self-help guide to finding a faster Internet Services to residents of Perth, Western Australia. If you would like the IT Guys to be assistance or to deal with Telstra call us on 08 6365 5603 and we will be happy to […]

Buying a home: Did you check this?

One very important factor to check before buying a home – yet none of the real estate guides mention it. Buying a home 10 things to check before you buy lists important things such as checking for water leaks, sagging ceilings, and drain holes in the walls. Before you buy a house by The Sydney Morning Herald also includes checking the title, pest inspection, plumbing, is there is a vacant block of land next to or near the property. But nobody suggests you check the following: Is high-speed internet and Foxtel available at this location? Moving to a house or apartment where there is no high speed internet or Foxtel connection can be a deal breaker these days, especially for the tech-savvy Gen X and Gen Y’s. If you are a seller and your house or apartment has high-speed Internet and Foxtel. Make sure you brag about it in the real-estate advertising. If you are a seller and your house or apartment DOES NOT have high-speed Internet and Foxtel it could well increase your properties attractiveness by having them installed, or if they cannot be installed, keeping very quiet about the matter. The majority of houses and business premises in are currently connected to the Internet via an ADSL modem which uses the copper telephone wire, now known as the “land-line”, connecting your premises to the local telephone exchange. Although speeds of 20 MBPS can be achieved using ADSL (if you live close to the telephone exchange), some connections only receiving 1 or 2 MBPS. In comparison, high speed internet can be achieved using HFC which currently offers speeds of 30 to 100 MBPS and NBN fibre connections offer speeds of 100 MBPS or more. Test your current Internet Speed here. Business fibre connections are available but very expensive at over $1,000 per month. NBN fibre (if available) offers the same speeds at a much lower price.   What is a HFC Connection? “HFC” stands for “Hybrid Fibre Coax” and is the coaxial cable that provides Foxtel to homes and businesses. In the 1990’s Telstra laid the cable to many houses across many Suburbs to offer pay TV services. Only Telstra offer this service. You don’t currently need a Foxtel service but you do need the cable running down your street. Not all streets and suburbs were connected in the 90’s. Telstra’s HFC service is also known as “Telstra Cable Broadband”.  See below for connection details and pricing:   What is a NBN Connection? NBN (National Broadband Network) is the name of the scheme and company charged with providing High Speed Internet services throughout Australia by the previous Labour Government. The NBN Company was formed to deliver these services initially by providing Fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP), Fibre-to-the-Node (FTTN) or Fibre-to-the-Building (FTTB) Internet Services by a new fibre-optic cable network, giving peak speed of between 100 mbps to 1000 mbps. However, due to cost blow outs the technology mix has now changed dramatically with the current Government adding  Wireless and HFC to it’s offered services. What Alternative internet services are available at my address? What happens if you are in a HFC area but dont have the cable running to your premises? On March 4th it was announced that if Optus’s or Telstra’s pay TV cable runs down your street but you currently don’t use it for broadband access, someone will come to hook up your home in the next few years – even if in the past you’ve been told it is unavailable.(Read more here “More pieces start to fit in NBN puzzle“) Will I ever get an NBN Connection if I am eligible for a HFC connection? A few months ago the Communications minister, Malcolm Turnbull, made it known that in order to save costs NBN quality broadband will only be delivered through the HFC network for those premises that are currently eligible. Only those premises not having an HFC connection will eventually get an NBN connection which could be FTTN or FTTP Telstra Cable Broadband Pricing Telstra Cable broadband (HFC) can deliver Internet speeds of 30 to 100 mbps compared to a maximum of 20 Mbps for ADSL 2+. For plans and availability click here.   Plans start at only $73 per month. (plus modem and installation charges) If your one of the many Perth ADSL customers getting download speeds of 10 Mpb’s or less (click here to test your speed) then Cable Broadband from Telstra is probably your only solution to faster Internet speeds unless you live in a new suburb or building that maybe eligible for FTTP or FTTN services. Be aware that your existing modem will probably not be cable compatible so you will need to buy a new one from Telstra. A self-install Cable Home Network Gateway is $144 for new Telstra home broadband customers. If you’re an existing Telstra home broadband customer and would like a new modem you can take up a T-Gateway Package for $216. If you already have Foxtel Cable installed, Telstra will simple mail you a self-install modem kit. You can install it yourself or call us out to do it for you. If you don’t have Foxtel cable already coming into your house, Telstra will also charge you an installation fee to have one of their technicians install the cabling (up to $299), Make sure you direct them to terminate it a place that suits you such as next to your TV or in the smart-wiring junction box. Again, if you have any doubts, call us out to assist you. Telstra cable broadband can provide download speeds up to a maximum of 30Mbps when downloading from capable sites or across multiple sites but average speeds will be lower. If you take up Telstra’s optional $20 per month Super Fast Speed Boost option then it can provide download speeds up to a maximum of 100Mbps into the home for sharing across multiple users in a household.  The above is designed as a self-help guide to finding a faster Internet Services to residents of Perth, Western Australia. If you would like the IT Guys to be assistance or to deal with Telstra call us on 08 6365 5603 and we will be […]

Computer Repairs Mount Claremont WA 6010

The IT Guys specialise in Computer Repairs and Fixes to Mount Claremont , PC Repairs to Mount Claremont , Apple Repairs to Mount Claremont and IT Services to Mount Claremont  Home/Business call outs from $45 The IT Guys operate out of Subiaco to residents and businesses throughout Perth’s Western Suburbs. We specialise in providing Computer Repairs, PC Repairs, Apple Repairs and IT Services. The IT Guys are your “one-stop” IT and Computer Specialists. Our services range from simple Computer Repairs for individuals through to complex business solutions over multiple offices and include: 24/7 Helpdesk & Onsite Support, IT Consulting & Solutions, Cloud Solutions, Fully Managed IT Services, Hardware and Software Procurement, Networking, Wi-Fi and Internet ,Project Management, Web Development & Internet Marketing, Computer and Laptop Repairs, Data Recovery Perth – PC/Mac, HDD, USB, Email, Email Solutions, Networking and Internet Solutions for Homes and Offices, Virus and Spyware and Ransomware Removal Mac or PC, Apple or Microsoft, we swing both ways Whether your problem is with an Apple Mac or a PC or Laptop running Microsoft Windows or even a Linux server, the IT Guys have the experience in configuring, troubleshooting and repairing individual devices or hybrid networks. The IT Guys assess, evaluate and provide a fixed-price estimate to fix your Computer, PC, Apple, Printer, Internet, Network or E-Mail issue for only :assess-fee: (providing you can bring the device to our workshop or give us remote access). We can come out to your premises, but we prefer to save you money by having you bring the problem to us. WARNING: Don’t waste your time and money by calling out PC Geek and Computer Nerd mobile technician services to your home or business. It is expensive and can compromises your security and privacy. Calls are answered by eastern states or overseas call-centers and the “technicians” despatched are often unqualified “contractors” that have neither insurance nor police clearance. MOST COMPUTER PROBLEMS CANNOT BE FIXED BY MOBILE TECHNICIANS at your home or business. Calling out a mobile “Geek” or “Nerd” Technician services is a waste of time and money. If a computer, PC or Mac cannot start or is behaving slowly or erratically, the repair can only be carried out economically and efficiently by a qualified computer professional at a computer workshop. If you work or reside in Perth’s Western Suburbs, bring your Computer, PC, Apple or device to our workshop and we will provide a written, fixed price quote to solve your problem. Our opening hours are :opening-hours: no appointments are necessary. SIMPLE COMPUTER PROBLEMS Simple computer problems do not require replacing parts (Operating System Updates, viruses, data recovery, E-Mail issues etc.) will typically fall in the $66 to $200 price range and can be turned around within 24 to 72 hours. MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEMS Major Computer Problems usually require the supply or new parts, components or software. Depending on availability they can take from 24 hours to several weeks to source. Repairs involving the replacement of parts such as Disk Drives (HDD) or RAM start from only $120. If the cost of repairs outweighs the cost to replace, we may advise clients to do just that. You can either supply your own replacement or we can source something cheaper or better suited. Furthermore, we can then help in the transfer of data and programs from the old to the new device or computer. HOME/BUSINESS CALL-OUT, COLLECTION AND DELIVERY If circumstances require on-site analysis (Network, Internet, WI-FI, Printer issues etc.) or the client is unable or unwilling to bring the device/equipment to us, we can make a call-out (site visit) for call-out prices click here. This fee is in addition to any time taken to quote, analyse, fix or repair the problem. Please call for more details, a fixed price quote and to book an appointment. :jk:

Computer Repairs Wembley WA 6014

The IT Guys specialise in Computer Repairs and Fixes to Wembley, PC Repairs to Wembley, Apple Repairs to Wembley and IT Services to Wembley. Home/Business call outs from $45 The IT Guys operate out of Subiaco to residents and businesses throughout Perth’s Western Suburbs. We specialise in providing Computer Repairs, PC Repairs, Apple Repairs and IT Services. The IT Guys are your “one-stop” IT and Computer Specialists. Our services range from simple Computer Repairs for individuals through to complex business solutions over multiple offices and include: 24/7 Helpdesk & Onsite Support, IT Consulting & Solutions, Cloud Solutions, Fully Managed IT Services, Hardware and Software Procurement, Networking, Wi-Fi and Internet ,Project Management, Web Development & Internet Marketing, Computer and Laptop Repairs, Data Recovery Perth – PC/Mac, HDD, USB, Email, Email Solutions, Networking and Internet Solutions for Homes and Offices, Virus and Spyware and Ransomware Removal Mac or PC, Apple or Microsoft, we swing both ways Whether your problem is with an Apple Mac or a PC or Laptop running Microsoft Windows or even a Linux server, the IT Guys have the experience in configuring, troubleshooting and repairing individual devices or hybrid networks. The IT Guys assess, evaluate and provide a fixed-price estimate to fix your Computer, PC, Apple, Printer, Internet, Network or E-Mail issue for only :assess-fee: (providing you can bring the device to our workshop or give us remote access). We can come out to your premises, but we prefer to save you money by having you bring the problem to us. WARNING: Don’t waste your time and money by calling out PC Geek and Computer Nerd mobile technician services to your home or business. It is expensive and can compromises your security and privacy. Calls are answered by eastern states or overseas call-centers and the “technicians” despatched are often unqualified “contractors” that have neither insurance nor police clearance. MOST COMPUTER PROBLEMS CANNOT BE FIXED BY MOBILE TECHNICIANS at your home or business. Calling out a mobile “Geek” or “Nerd” Technician services is a waste of time and money. If a computer, PC or Mac cannot start or is behaving slowly or erratically, the repair can only be carried out economically and efficiently by a qualified computer professional at a computer workshop. If you work or reside in Perth’s Western Suburbs, bring your Computer, PC, Apple or device to our workshop and we will provide a written, fixed price quote to solve your problem. Our opening hours are :opening-hours: no appointments are necessary. SIMPLE COMPUTER PROBLEMS Simple computer problems do not require replacing parts (Operating System Updates, viruses, data recovery, E-Mail issues etc.) will typically fall in the $66 to $200 price range and can be turned around within 24 to 72 hours. MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEMS Major Computer Problems usually require the supply or new parts, components or software. Depending on availability they can take from 24 hours to several weeks to source. Repairs involving the replacement of parts such as Disk Drives (HDD) or RAM start from only $120. If the cost of repairs outweighs the cost to replace, we may advise clients to do just that. You can either supply your own replacement or we can source something cheaper or better suited. Furthermore, we can then help in the transfer of data and programs from the old to the new device or computer. HOME/BUSINESS CALL-OUT, COLLECTION AND DELIVERY If circumstances require on-site analysis (Network, Internet, WI-FI, Printer issues etc.) or the client is unable or unwilling to bring the device/equipment to us, we can make a call-out (site visit) for call-out prices click here. This fee is in addition to any time taken to quote, analyse, fix or repair the problem. Please call for more details, a fixed price quote and to book an appointment. :jk:

Computer Repairs Swanbourne WA 6010

The IT Guys specialise in Computer Repairs and Fixes to Swanbourne, PC Repairs to Swanbourne, Apple Repairs to Swanbourne and IT Services to Swanbourne. Home/Business call outs from $45 The IT Guys operate out of Subiaco to residents and businesses throughout Perth’s Western Suburbs. We specialise in providing Computer Repairs, PC Repairs, Apple Repairs and IT Services. The IT Guys are your “one-stop” IT and Computer Specialists. Our services range from simple Computer Repairs for individuals through to complex business solutions over multiple offices and include: 24/7 Helpdesk & Onsite Support, IT Consulting & Solutions, Cloud Solutions, Fully Managed IT Services, Hardware and Software Procurement, Networking, Wi-Fi and Internet ,Project Management, Web Development & Internet Marketing, Computer and Laptop Repairs, Data Recovery Perth – PC/Mac, HDD, USB, Email, Email Solutions, Networking and Internet Solutions for Homes and Offices, Virus and Spyware and Ransomware Removal Mac or PC, Apple or Microsoft, we swing both ways Whether your problem is with an Apple Mac or a PC or Laptop running Microsoft Windows or even a Linux server, the IT Guys have the experience in configuring, troubleshooting and repairing individual devices or hybrid networks. The IT Guys assess, evaluate and provide a fixed-price estimate to fix your Computer, PC, Apple, Printer, Internet, Network or E-Mail issue for only :assess-fee: (providing you can bring the device to our workshop or give us remote access). We can come out to your premises, but we prefer to save you money by having you bring the problem to us. WARNING: Don’t waste your time and money by calling out PC Geek and Computer Nerd mobile technician services to your home or business. It is expensive and can compromises your security and privacy. Calls are answered by eastern states or overseas call-centers and the “technicians” despatched are often unqualified “contractors” that have neither insurance nor police clearance. MOST COMPUTER PROBLEMS CANNOT BE FIXED BY MOBILE TECHNICIANS at your home or business. Calling out a mobile “Geek” or “Nerd” Technician services is a waste of time and money. If a computer, PC or Mac cannot start or is behaving slowly or erratically, the repair can only be carried out economically and efficiently by a qualified computer professional at a computer workshop. If you work or reside in Perth’s Western Suburbs, bring your Computer, PC, Apple or device to our workshop and we will provide a written, fixed price quote to solve your problem. Our opening hours are :opening-hours: no appointments are necessary. SIMPLE COMPUTER PROBLEMS Simple computer problems do not require replacing parts (Operating System Updates, viruses, data recovery, E-Mail issues etc.) will typically fall in the $66 to $200 price range and can be turned around within 24 to 72 hours. MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEMS Major Computer Problems usually require the supply or new parts, components or software. Depending on availability they can take from 24 hours to several weeks to source. Repairs involving the replacement of parts such as Disk Drives (HDD) or RAM start from only $120. If the cost of repairs outweighs the cost to replace, we may advise clients to do just that. You can either supply your own replacement or we can source something cheaper or better suited. Furthermore, we can then help in the transfer of data and programs from the old to the new device or computer. HOME/BUSINESS CALL-OUT, COLLECTION AND DELIVERY If circumstances require on-site analysis (Network, Internet, WI-FI, Printer issues etc.) or the client is unable or unwilling to bring the device/equipment to us, we can make a call-out (site visit) for call-out prices click here. This fee is in addition to any time taken to quote, analyse, fix or repair the problem. Please call for more details, a fixed price quote and to book an appointment. :jk:

Computer Repairs Claremont WA 6010

Computer Repairs Claremont, PC Repairs Claremont, Apple Repairs Claremont. Also IT Services Claremont and Home/Business call outs from $90 The IT Guys WA operate out of Subiaco to residents and businesses throughout Perth including Claremont and Mt Claremont and Claremont Quarter and Showgrounds, Western Australia Our Services: Computer Repairs & Upgrades We repair and upgrade all computer and IT equipment from Windows Desktops, Laptops, and Apple iMac, Macbook, Printers, Scanners, Screens, Keyboards etc. We also remove computer viruses and fix or replace Hard Disk Drives (HDD) and Solid State Drives (SSD) including data recovery Computer Help & Support We offer in-home computer and network troubleshooting, repairs and callouts for residential customers, remote-support and in-house training and advise from our workshop. We welcome walk-in customers with no appointment necessary during normal business hours Home Networking We offer Home Network, Home Internet/NBN troubleshooting, Home Music Systems repairs/installs, Wi-Fi troubleshooting, Smart Home Wiring and Wireless (Wi-Fi) solutions plus Family Zone family-friendly internet filtering systems Business Support Looking for Business IT Support and Solutions? We service our business clients through our sister company “Hybrid ICT“. Please contact Hybrid ICT by clicking on this link. Microsoft We are Microsoft Silver Partners and offer Microsoft product advise, repairs and troubleshooting on: Microsoft Office (365, 2021/19/16/13), Email/Outlook Setup, Purchase, Repairs, Microsoft Windows (Win11, Win10): Upgrades, Setup, Purchase, Repairs and Microsoft Surface, Purchase, Setup. Apple We are an Apple Authorised Reseller and Apple Consultants Network member offering Apple product advise, training, support, setup and solutions on: Apple Mac/iMac, Mac OS, iOS, iPhone, iPad and all Apple iOS/Mac OS software including: Office for Mac, Entourage, Apple Mail, iCloud, iTunes, Photos, Bootcamp, Parallels etc.   The IT Guys assess, evaluate and provide a fixed-price estimate to fix your Computer, PC, Apple, Printer, Internet, Network or E-Mail issue for only :assess-fee: (providing you can bring the device to our workshop or give us remote access). Before presenting at our office, please complete this registration form here to save time when dropping off your device. We can also come out to your premises, but we prefer to save you money by having you bring the problem to us. If we can identify and make an immediate fix of the issue in less than 5 minutes in our reception, we will strive to do so and there will be NO CHARGE. This is subject to how busy we are and the availability of a technician. We may ask you to return at an off-peak period. If a computer, PC or Mac cannot start or is behaving slowly or erratically, the repair can only be carried out economically and efficiently by a qualified computer professional at a computer workshop. SIMPLE COMPUTER PROBLEMS Simple computer problems do not require replacing parts (Operating System Updates, viruses, data recovery, E-Mail issues etc.) will typically fall in the $78 to $156 price range and can be turned around within 24 to 72 hours. Before presenting at our office, please complete this registration form here to save time when dropping off your device. MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEMS Major Computer Problems usually require the supply or new parts, components or software. Depending on availability they can take from 48 hours to several weeks to source. Repairs involving the replacement of parts such as Disk Drives (HDD) or RAM start from $156 If the cost of repairs outweighs the cost to replace, we may advise clients to do just that. You can either supply your own replacement or we can source something more suitable. Furthermore, we can then help in the transfer of data and programs from the old to the new device or computer. Before presenting at our office, please complete this registration form here to save time when dropping off your device. HOME/BUSINESS CALL-OUT, COLLECTION AND DELIVERY If circumstances require on-site analysis (Network, Internet, WI-FI, Printer issues etc.) or the client is unable or unwilling to bring the device/equipment to us, we can make a call-out (site visit) for call-out prices click here. To book an onsite support appointment, click here  for Claremont, Western Australia :jk:

Computer Repairs Peppermint Grove WA 6011

The IT Guys specialise in Computer Repairs and Fixes to Peppermint Grove, PC Repairs to Peppermint Grove, Apple Repairs to Peppermint Grove and IT Services to Peppermint Grove  Home/Business call outs from $45   The IT Guys operate out of Subiaco to residents and businesses throughout Perth’s Western Suburbs. We specialise in providing Computer Repairs, PC Repairs, Apple Repairs and IT Services. The IT Guys are your “one-stop” IT and Computer Specialists. Our services range from simple Computer Repairs for individuals through to complex business solutions over multiple offices and include: 24/7 Helpdesk & Onsite Support, IT Consulting & Solutions, Cloud Solutions, Fully Managed IT Services, Hardware and Software Procurement, Networking, Wi-Fi and Internet ,Project Management, Web Development & Internet Marketing, Computer and Laptop Repairs, Data Recovery Perth – PC/Mac, HDD, USB, Email, Email Solutions, Networking and Internet Solutions for Homes and Offices, Virus and Spyware and Ransomware Removal Mac or PC, Apple or Microsoft, we swing both ways Whether your problem is with an Apple Mac or a PC or Laptop running Microsoft Windows or even a Linux server, the IT Guys have the experience in configuring, troubleshooting and repairing individual devices or hybrid networks. The IT Guys assess, evaluate and provide a fixed-price estimate to fix your Computer, PC, Apple, Printer, Internet, Network or E-Mail issue for only :assess-fee: (providing you can bring the device to our workshop or give us remote access). We can come out to your premises, but we prefer to save you money by having you bring the problem to us. WARNING: Don’t waste your time and money by calling out PC Geek and Computer Nerd mobile technician services to your home or business. It is expensive and can compromises your security and privacy. Calls are answered by eastern states or overseas call-centers and the “technicians” despatched are often unqualified “contractors” that have neither insurance nor police clearance. MOST COMPUTER PROBLEMS CANNOT BE FIXED BY MOBILE TECHNICIANS at your home or business. Calling out a mobile “Geek” or “Nerd” Technician services is a waste of time and money. If a computer, PC or Mac cannot start or is behaving slowly or erratically, the repair can only be carried out economically and efficiently by a qualified computer professional at a computer workshop. If you work or reside in Perth’s Western Suburbs, bring your Computer, PC, Apple or device to our workshop and we will provide a written, fixed price quote to solve your problem. Our opening hours are :opening-hours: no appointments are necessary. SIMPLE COMPUTER PROBLEMS Simple computer problems do not require replacing parts (Operating System Updates, viruses, data recovery, E-Mail issues etc.) will typically fall in the $66 to $200 price range and can be turned around within 24 to 72 hours. MAJOR COMPUTER PROBLEMS Major Computer Problems usually require the supply or new parts, components or software. Depending on availability they can take from 24 hours to several weeks to source. Repairs involving the replacement of parts such as Disk Drives (HDD) or RAM start from only $120. If the cost of repairs outweighs the cost to replace, we may advise clients to do just that. You can either supply your own replacement or we can source something cheaper or better suited. Furthermore, we can then help in the transfer of data and programs from the old to the new device or computer. HOME/BUSINESS CALL-OUT, COLLECTION AND DELIVERY If circumstances require on-site analysis (Network, Internet, WI-FI, Printer issues etc.) or the client is unable or unwilling to bring the device/equipment to us, we can make a call-out (site visit) for call-out prices click here. This fee is in addition to any time taken to quote, analyse, fix or repair the problem. Please call for more details, a fixed price quote and to book an appointment. :jk: