The end of free Google Apps
Starting today, Google are no longer allowing sign-ups to the free Google Apps service. Any existing trials or business accounts can be downgraded to free in the next 30 days, but after that the door is closed.
Any existing free accounts will still be free. Just as when the number of users on the free service was reduced from 25 to 10 and any old accounts can still have 25, any current users on the free service will stay free.
This will affect our business model somewhat, as when building websites for our fairly marvellous clients
we set them up with a free Google Apps account as standard.
However, we are big believers in the value of Google Apps and the great features it can offer businesses of all sizes. We will continue to wear our Google Authorised badge with pride when offering HDG cloud services for business.
5 Reasons to call someone in to set up your Christmas PC
Setting up your new PC is so easy, isn’t it? It should be, but more often than not it is time consuming, complicated, boring and frustrating. So, here are 5 reasons to call HDG in to set up your new PC in Kent…
Bah Humbug
1. Christmas morning blues – is it done yet?
Oh, the excitement of opening that box and finding a brand new PC inside. The rush to set it up, plug everything in and turn it on. And we’re online!
If only. Something will be missing or we’ll have forgotten a printer lead or wireless adapter. Then we cannot get the wireless to work – I’m sure that password is the right one – and I’d really like to copy all my old documents over. We’d really like to get on with eating and drinking to excess, as is the Christmas tradition, but the kids just won’t leave us alone until the PC is ready.
Of course, what we should have done is get HDG to set the PC up for us before Christmas. All set up, tested and ready before it got wrapped.
2. Crapware vs. Necessaryware
Do we need all this software? Do we have to register everything and why does it keep asking me questions? New PCs are always full of junk, software you don’t need that will take up space, slow your PC down or worst of all, stop something you want to use from working. But how do we know what to remove and how to get rid of it.
Finally, we’re online. Off to the web we go. And “this site needs X to display properly.” Windows doesn’t know how to display this document. This website works better with that browser. Arggh!
HDG know how to clean your PC install without throwing the baby out with the bathwater. They will download and install the most up-to-date versions of all the most important bits of software you will need, so you will be ready to put your PC to good use.
3. Recovery discs
I'll create the recovery media tomorrow...
So we’ve got your PC all set up and everything is great, apart from that annoying little “you should create your recovery media” pop-up every time you turn it on. And we all know we should create that media, but we haven’t got 3 blank DVDs handy. And the shops are shut. Or we do have the discs, but we haven’t got the special pen to write on them. So we promise to do it tomorrow. But we don’t. So every day we turn on the PC, we dismiss the message and promise that we will create the media soon.
Right up until the day that the hard drive fails, and the manufacturer wants £90 for a set of recovery discs. And that’s when we wish we had created them.
Well, that’s one of the things HDG do, they create the discs, label them and give them to you to keep somewhere safe.
4. Updates, updates and more updates
It’s a brand new PC, we don’t have to worry about updates?
Sadly in the time it takes for your PC to reach you there will almost certainly be a whole heap of updates to apply. Time consuming and bandwidth heavy, just when you’re trying to enjoy your new PC is will be asking to restart, download another patch and do it all again.
When a new PC leaves the HDG workshop, we make sure there are no updates necessary.
5. Feeling insecure?
You don't want to feel like this, do you?
Our friends told us that we can use free antivirus, but then the box the PC comes in says we get 90 days of protection with product X. Then, in the shop, they tried to sell us product Y. But everyone says X and Y are really slow so we should use Z. Help!
HDG will recommend the best security software for your needs, whether that be a free option or something far better value than what the shop offers. Plus, they will throw in a years’ free online backup to protect all that lovely new stuff you’re going to create.
Just 5 reasons to call HDG in to set up your new PC this Christmas, or any other time of the year!
Next time a Glasgow number rings, I’ll think 3 times…
Whenever I see a withheld, 08something or distant number calling, I think twice about answering. Such calls usually start something like “I’d like to speak to the person responsible for advertising” and almost certainly end with me hanging up, wishing I’d never answered.
So a call the other day from Glasgow would normally have my spider senses tingling but, as I was waiting for a response from a service provider, I answered hoping it was them. It wasn’t but it was definitely someone from Glasgow. Could I fit a serial card into a new desktop PC for them?
Jonathan's, not Jacob's
Of course, that’s exactly the kind of thing we can do – we repair, support and upgrade PCs. But, and this is a significant but, we do that PC repair, support and upgrades in Whitstable (and the surrounding area).
Apologies for the blatant SEO, but sometimes an opportunity comes along that you just have to seize.
Turned out that was exactly what he was after, as he was calling from a company, in Glasgow, that had a ship docked in Whitstable harbour.
Which is why, this afternoon, I found myself stretching precariously from a rather narrow, barnacle encrusted ladder, across far too much open water, to climb aboard a dredging support vessel. With a rather large bag of computer kit dangling behind me.
Officially my strangest callout from now on, but their PC now has two new serial ports and I was neither wet nor seasick.
But next time a long distance number rings, I may think 3 times…
…or book the appointment for high tide.
No such thing as a small twitter campaign – big numbers from small intentions
We had a very simple idea to make a little splash for World Backup Day – offer a year’s backup for a very low price. Almost a loss leader, this would benefit us long term if people renewed at the full price plus boost our profile.
A couple of little tweets and a facebook post made sure that lots of people around Whitstable would know more about the service we offer plus hopefully they would benefit from a bargain offer. A nice little twitter campaign.
Incredible offer for @WorldBackupDay
You don't want to feel like this, do you?
Last week we told you about World Backup Day – the idea being, on March 31st you make sure that you are making backups and that you can restore from them. That way, if there is a disaster the next day, you won’t be an April Fool.
We also promised a special offer, so here it is…
For one day only, we are offering our unlimited online Livedrive backup solution at a ridiculous price – £1 for the first year (£24 per year after that).
This offer is only available on World Backup Day, so sign up for our online backup special quick!
World Backup Day – seriously?
Yes, seriously.
Those clever people over at Reddit have come up with World Backup Day for March 31st.
The idea being, on March 31st you make sure that you are making backups and that you can restore from them. That way, if there is a disaster the next day, you won’t be an April Fool.
Clever idea, anything to raise awareness of making backups is a good idea. Seeing people in tears when they’re worried they have lost all their family photos is not fun.
Which is why we’ve tried and tested many backup products before selecting our favourite, and worked hard to price it so that it really is a “no-brainer”.
Pop over and read more about HDG Livedrive Backup, see how you can make money by recommending it to others and take up a free trial.
If you sign up for a trial before the 31st, you will be eligible for a very special offer on World Backup Day…
Taking a pay cut
The clock ticks ever closer to 4th January and the impending VAT increase.
According to some, this little 2.5% increase will cost families an extra £389 per year – VAT Rise ‘Will Cost Families £389 A Year’ – Sky News
Of course, there’s every chance you won’t see much of a difference, just like when we went back up to 17.5% last year. You certainly won’t notice a difference when you call your friendly local geek out for your computer repair – we will be absorbing the increase for you.
In other words, we’ll be taking a 2.5% pay cut, so need all the work we can get. So, if you know anyone with computer problems, please remind them – don’t just press any key, press the HDG key.
Customer Feedback
One of the best things about running a small business is the chance to meet your customers and really make a difference to them. Sometimes just the word “thanks” – which is so often forgotten in a big corporate environment – makes all the difference.
Which is why receiving an email like this really brightens your day…
Fill Your Face
While Kelly at Fill Your Face Cosmetics liked the look of her website, she found it impossible to update. It was also entirely Flash based, making it far from accessible or search-engine friendly.
We carried out a full conversion to our preferred CMS and migrated to our own hosting. We also made a number of improvements, so Kelly is a lot happier…
Having tried several companies for web design, I was beginning to become very distrustful of all IT based companies. But then I met Dear Geek, who I have now renamed Geekie!!
From the instant I met Jonathan (Geeekie) I knew this was a good guy, he has listened to my brief and delivered exactly what I wanted in relation to my website. He keeps my website up to date and stays in regular contact, which I find very reassuring due to my previous IT experiences.
If Carlsbergs made Geeks……
Kelly Costello – Fill Your Face Cosmetics
Lorenden Preparatory School
Lorenden already had a website when they called us in. They liked the design but found it very difficult to update – their hosting was also working out very expensive.
We took over their hosting, carried out a conversion to our preferred CMS, made several improvements to the site and carried out a training session for the staff.
Even after the cost of us carrying out that work, they will save over £800 in the first year and over £1,200 per year after that.