Fixing Computers from the Remotest Places in Ireland
Howdo,
It’s been a busy summer and I’ve an amazing story to tell. Following on from launching our Remote Repair service earlier in the year, whereby we connect to clients computers online and fix them, we decided to put it to a proper test. Away from comfortable offices, desktop computers and fibre broadband in Athenry, the bicycle, laptop, and camping gear were loaded up for a 5 week bicycle trip of over a thousand miles along the Wild Atlantic Way between Galway and Donegal. Nothing like a family wedding at the end of the summer to encourage one to loose a few pounds.
It involved working during the day and cycling in the early morning/evening times. Aran Islands, Clare Island and the Mullet Peninsula were all visited and worked from without a hitch. Broadband was provided by way of a hotspot on the mobile phone. My provider, Three, have very good coverage for 3G and 4G along the coast (in fact many parts better than Athenry) due to the Rural Broadband Scheme that was rolled out over the past few years so broadband wasn’t a problem. A computer was even remote accessed and repaired while on the boat back from Inis Mor. Bicycle punctures were more problematic early on but the hospitality and kindness of people along the way made any difficulties easy ones. The only technical challenge was battery power for both phone and laptop but this meant that I had to work from national parks, cafes, hotel foyers, camping park and hostel common rooms and of course the very very occasional pub. In many places I ended up sharing my broadband connection with locals and visitors alike as my connection trumped the local landline one. It was a great conversation starter along with the “three wheeled bicycle” where all the gear was loaded onto. Business was even picked up along the way and we’re happy to have a few more clients on board from along the wild west coast.
So any of you reading that had their computer fixed over the summer, it was likely done from Inis Mór, Roundstone, Clifden, Clare Island, Westport, Achill Island, Bellmullet, Black Sod, Strandhill or Rosnowleigh in Co. Donegal. Of course with a family wedding at the end of it, it was very successful in loosing a few pounds and the wet weather meant I had plenty of opportunity to work on the computer rather than cycle in the rain! Came back a lot fitter, busier and beardier. Somesnaps are on the website for your amusement.
Windows 10
Windows 10 is Microsofts latest and greatest operating system and many of you will of seen the “windows 10 update available” button on your computers. An operating system is like the dashboard, gear stick and pedals for your car, its whats between you and the computer hardware (engine) and brings the directs the computer where you want it to go and what you want it to do like installing apps and whatnot. Windows 8, (Tens predecessor, there was no 9) was widely acknowledged as a complete failure and it was difficult to use, akin to suddenly sitting into a left hand drive. 10 is very much like 7 which we loved.
Should I Upgrade?
By and large businesses never went with windows 8 and stuck with 7 for reasons outlined above. Official policy right now is for businesses to wait until after Christmas to upgrade when any bugs that might be cropping up (there’s been a few) resolve themselves. For anybody running Windows 7 or 8 there is a free upgrade. For Windows XP and Vista there is not a free upgrade and the licence is prohibitive at over 100 euros so putting money towards a new computer would be better value. If you are running windows 8 or are not overly dependent on one PC we do suggest you update immediately. Windows 7 users will not see much difference and can comfortably wait until after Christmas like business users unless your uber curious.
How to Get it
If an icon hasnt appeared yet near the clock (bottom right hand side) then run the Windows Updates from the Control Panel and keep updating until the Windows 10 notification appears. Then subscribe to the update. Once its available for download on your PC the computer will let you know. Microsoft is staggering the downloads to everybody so as it wont break the internet. Really!
Issues
The number one issue for many people has been the size of the download. At approx 5GB (5000mb) anybody on broadband plans with a monthly allowance (eg. Mobile Broadband) might find themselves going over their quota.
Length of time. The download can take up to two weeks “to be available” from the time you subscribe to the update. The download on typical connections can take 4 – 8 hours and the install another 4 hours so once you start downloading and installing you can count on your PC being out of action for a day or so.
Bugs: We’ve found only one bug in a business users PC so far and that was to do with email and Microsoft Outlook 2013. If you use Gmail of Hotmail this doesn’t concern you and there is a fix available for it. Another PC we considered updating said that the Bluetooth in that laptop wasn’t yet compatible even though it was a fairly new windows 7 laptop. These are the types of bugs that should all be ironed out by Christmas. Also before you install the Windows 10 installer will tell you if there’s going to be any known problems.
Other News:
We launched a few new websites including Kerrill Rohan Carpentry & Construction -> Check it out at http://www.krcarpentry.ie. Also Frank Sweeney Auctioneers got an update at www.franksweeney.ie Check them out if your thinking of buying/selling property or giving the home a renovation.
Google have re branded as part of their corporate restructuring so their logo looks a little different now.
Our new laptop bargain of the month is from Argos here: http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/4182797.htm