Tag: Windows 8 Help
Is Technology Moving Too Fast For You To Keep Up?
I think so! As a technical consultant, most of my clients call in for help with issues such as buying a new computer, new software, what should I use for email, how can I manage my work with my team, efficiency needs and of course…tech support. Many of my clients find us via LinkedIn and the majority of them complain that technology is moving too fast. I have to agree! I have found that even working in technology, it’s all too fast for me, too. I think what’s moving too fast right now is all the smartphone and Windows 8 changes. Even though I work in the field, I too have a lot to read up on. I can’t spend my days surfing Tech Crunch or those hyped up techie sites to keep up (Just like you all, I run a business!). Some days I find myself drowning in technology.
Even as a social media enthusiast, I can’t keep up with the ever changing social media apps and fun stuff. I noticed this years ago after I wrote my eBook about social media; everyday there was something new to learn and figure out. I get a lot of information from of course LinkedIn and Facebook, but feeds are hard for me to keep up with there, too. I catch probably 5% of what is being pushed out. When my friends ask, “Didn’t you see my update”….I usually say, “No, when was it,” because I only see what comes up when I log in (usually a couple of times a day).
The iPhone is a lot to keep up with for me, too. Everyone talks about this app and that app, and to be fair, I use my phone for 5 things – phone, text, check my email and my calendar on the road, and do Facebook messenger because my best friend is completely addicted to it. Yesterday I unplugged my phone during an update… not the brightest idea I found out. But luckily my computer did a backup before it had to restore to factory (UGH). So I ended up losing all my apps, but my data was safe. I didn’t even care. I never used the apps.
What are your thoughts on technology moving too fast? Or are you keeping up? And if so, how much time do you spend on the upkeep?
Are you ready for Windows 8? I’m not and here’s why…
For those of you that are just now finally getting out of Windows Vista and moving to Windows 7, you are probably very happy consumers. Windows Vista (the operating system that was a problem for many folks) is done with, finished..over! We are all happy! Right? Well, you could see Vista’s annoying little brother coming up soon, aka…Windows 8. The technical people in my circles have all been doing previews and giving Windows 8 only bad reviews. What they are saying is that the “next” version after Windows 8 will be the best, like Windows 7 (ok, what year? 2013? haha!)
From what I have read, seen online and heard so far, this new operating system is unlike any other operating system and
it will be hard to learn for the average person. That’s the review in a nutshell. No joke. Oct 26 is the release date. I will tell you that I have yet to download and test it, but am doing so here shortly so I can be prepared for launch date. My techs have downloaded and tested it though and have told me that there will be a huge learning curve and for everyone to prepare. Looks like I have some homework to do before you all start calling in with problems!
Even without testing Windows 8 myself….when you buy a new computer with a new operating system, be prepared for stuff to not work, quite yet. Here is a list of things I came up with based on my past experience with upgrading operating systems.
If you are a home user with just basic needs, internet surfing, pictures, music, etc. You will have a learning curve no question.
If you are a business owner, then I would stay with Windows 7 for now because none of the bugs that need to be ironed out for the new operating system with all the software we use are even starting to be tested yet. Microsoft just now is getting the OS finished, that means we are a year or two away from everything working right. Just think of all of the software we use: printers, smartphones, Quickbooks, ACT, outlook, all of the proprietary software you need for your industry, yep…not much of any of this is quite yet compatible probably.
List of software problems you may encounter:
- Printers won’t print
- Scanners won’t scan
- Quickbooks/ACT and all of their plug-ins and add-ons
- Industry software may not work until they have upgraded the software for you
- Smartphone/computer applications
- Cloud applications may need to be upgraded
- Antivirus programs may need patches or full upgrades
- Online backup programs
So, if you buy Windows 8 you may get lucky and everything will work fine, or it may not. I’m not ready yet because my current computers are all fine with Windows 7 and I need everything I have installed on my computer to work NOW and it cannot wait for the company to figure out an update for Windows 8.
I will be posting a review next week about my experience with Windows 8 from a consumer point of view. And of course, installing Outlook and testing email is my first priority!