Paul Wallbank – Brilliant Communications

Category: consumer

  • Holiday computer checklist

    With the Christmas holidays almost here, a lot of business and home computers will spend a good part of the next month turned off. Even though they are shut down, bad things can still happen. There’s a number of things you should do before heading off for a break.

    Before you go

    Backup
    Before shutting down for the holidays backup all your important data. Your backup should include favourites, mail, address books and documents. Some programs, such as accounting systems, have their own backup routines.

    Store the backups away from the computer, preferably offsite. We recommend making two copies, leave one onsite for easy access and store one elsewhere. If something terrible happens to your home or office while you are away, your data is at least safe.

    For working and essential documents, setting up a free Dropbox service and copying them to it is a great idea. Dropbox is also good for saving documents you foolishly intend to work on while you’re away as well as essential documents.

    Turn everything off
    Printers, modems, routers, should all be turned off and disconnected from power and communications lines. Most modern computer equipment still has power running through it even though it is turned off. Power surges from storms are common, so don’t take chances.

    If your computer is connected to a network, telephone line or cable connection then these should all be disconnected as well. Power surges are common on communications cables. Everything that connects your computer to the outside world should be turned off and unplugged.

    Hide your equipment
    Give thieves as little temptation as possible. Don’t leave computers in full view. Lock away anything portable and draw the curtains or blinds in the room where your computer is kept.

    What to pack

    As technology becomes an essential part of our lives, we tend to take it with us. This is particularly true with devices like iPads and DVD equipped laptops which are as much entertainment devices as they are for work.

    To get the most from them, there’s a few things to consider when packing.

    Update your systems
    Run the update routines for your operating system, essential software and security programs before you leave so there will be no major updates clogging up your downloads while you try to work or play.

    Power
    The most irritating thing when on the road with a computer is running out of power. Do you have all your chargers packed away? If you have space it’s also a good idea to carry a powerboard so you can share scarce power outlets with other users.

    Connectors
    Don’t forget your USB cables to connect phones and cameras so you can download photos, update music and, for some devices, recharge them.

    Packing
    If you are flying anywhere, it’s best to take electronics with you as carry on baggage. Carry them in a bag where they are easily accessible so you can take them out without fuss at security checkpoints.

    When you return

    Your computer is the very last thing you should turn on. Make sure modems, printers, external drives and networks are all running before turning your computer on. If you have a cable Internet connection, give it a few minutes to connect before trying to log on.

    Update your system.
    Before checking emails or surfing the net, update your anti-virus and check for any system updates. Run Windows Update and your anti-virus program’s update program. New nasties will have come out while you are away and there’s a good chance some of them may be waiting in your inbox.

    Christmas and New Year are a time to relax, by taking a few easy steps with your technology you can ensure your phones and computers are part of an enjoyable break.

    Have a merry Christmas and a great New Year.

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  • Other peoples’ platforms

    Other peoples’ platforms

    “We have successfully established an online business, but we have run into problems with Ebay (indefinite suspension – unfairly I might add)” wrote Ralph*, an old client.

    “We are pretty desperate, as this is now our sole business and we are now without an income.”

    The Privately Owned Web

    Ralph’s problem is typical of thousands of businesses that rely on one Internet service. Some months back we looked at “Nipplegate”, the story of a Sydney jeweller who had her Facebook page closed down because of her anatomically correct dolls.

    All of these services are privately owned with their own terms and conditions along with their own corporate objectives. If you choose to use their product, you have to follow their rules – just like a shopping mall management can order you off their premises because they don’t like the colour of your socks.

    The most glaring example of this is Wikileaks where Amazon, Paypal, Mastercard and Visa all threw the whistleblower site off their services for allegedly breaching their terms of services in various obscure ways.

    The Terms of Service Trap

    A business’ Terms of Service usually feature clauses wide enough to catch even the most honest and diligent business, this is by design as it gives management the excuse to throw anyone who makes their lives difficult, which is exactly what has happened with Wikileaks.

    While Ralph’s problem is nothing like the scale of Julian Assange’s, all of these stories illustrate the dangers of relying on one service for your livelihood. Should that service change the way it operates, then any business that relies on that could be broke in hours, as many businesses that rely on Google search results have found.

    Most of the Internet is not a public space, almost all of it is privately run along similar lines to that shopping mall or a walled estate.

    Ralph and Julian Assange have shown us the limitations and risks of the privately operated web. As citizens and business owners we have to understand these corporations’ objectives are not always the same as ours and make judgements on how we live with the risk of finding ourselves in breach of a Term of Service in our business or personal lives.

    We’re still in relatively early days of the net and all of us are still learning. One lesson is clear though, we can’t allow our livelihoods to be held hostage by a small number of big technology companies. Make sure you have alternatives to your online channels.

    *Ralph is not his real name

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  • Shopping safely online

    The New York Times’ story on Tony Russo and his online sunglasses business is a reminder of how we should be careful when shopping online. Just because a website appears on the first page of Google or offers what appears to be great prices, we shouldn’t be suspending the same rules we’d use when shopping at the local mall.

    So here’s some thoughts on buying those big ticket items online;

    Know your prices
    Before venturing online, check what your local stores are offering so you know what the prices are locally. For some items, you may find the nearest department or speciality store offers the best deal.

    What is the list price
    If you’re buying a brand name product like shoes, books or sunglasses, visit the manufacturers and distributors’ websites. Know the range available and what the prices are from the source. You should also note what are the current models just in case you encounter any superseded stock online.

    Ask your friends
    You’ll find many of your friends and relatives have been happily shopping online for a while, ask them where they are buying. They’ll be able to tell you what works for them along with some traps to avoid.

    Do your search
    Search for the products you are looking for using two or three search engines; say Google, Bing and Yahoo!. Don’t just choose the first result that comes up, have a look at five or six of them across several pages.

    Check their stock levels
    You don’t want to deal with sites that don’t have any stock as this can indicate a shoestring operation. Also keep in mind if different online retailers are reporting the same stock levels, then they are probably “drop shippers” who don’t hold the stock themselves but deliver straight from the distributor’s warehouse. Drop shippers usually don’t offer much beyond cut throat prices so be aware that after sales service is usually not their strong point.

    Do some research
    Once you’ve found what appear to be legitimate retailers, check out their reputation by doing a search on the business. For US based retailers you can also check out the Better Business Bureau or Consumerist.com. Make sure you go beyond the first couple of pages.

    Watch out for shipping costs
    One of the biggest traps for online shoppers is high shipping and insurance costs. Check these before submitting your order as sometimes you’ll find a cheap headline price is padded by extortionate courier charges, this is a common problem on eBay and other online auction sites.

    Use a credit card
    With a credit card you have some protection in the event of a dispute. Other forms of payment, particularly cheque and money order, give you little if any recourse should there be a problem. Paypal isn’t recommended as the service is know to tie all parties up with paperwork and inconsistent policies when there’s an argument.

    Check your statements
    After an online shopping binge, watch your credit card statements closely for any irregularities. Keep in mind if you are buying from overseas sites that you may get stung by unfriendly exchange rates so factor those into your costs.

    Take care
    The old saw, “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is” holds true on the Internet. If someone’s offering an unbeatable bargain at an amazing price, be skeptical and take care.

    Online shopping opens a world of deals to the canny customer and offers real value for money for the right products, so taking a little care to avoid the crooks is well worth the effort.

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  • the price on our heads

    the price on our heads

    Over 500 million people have signed up on Facebook, trading their privacy for the ability to connect with friends and online communities. In turn, Facebook has built that massive group of people into an asset worth an estimated $41 billion dollars. But does it rely on us selling our privacy too cheaply?

    A common factor in many of our communication channels in the last fifty years has been how we, as a group, have been prepared to trade something personal in return for a cheap service.

    Broadcast media’s model offers us free or – in the case of newspapers, magazines and Pay TV – subsidised news, sport and entertainment in return for shrill or intrusive commercials that usually wastes our time.

    Similarly with social media tools, in return for a free and easy way to find friends and relatives, we trade our privacy for targeted online advertising which can be so precise a commercial can be designed just for one individual.

    The social media advertising model is on many levels a great idea, it cuts out irrelevant messages to the consumer and for the advertiser it’s more effective than the “throw it against the wall and see what sticks” methods of the broadcast advertising world.

    A weakness in social media advertising in that it relies on users being prepared to trade away their privacy. Until now, all of us have been fairly relaxed about this despite the evidence mounting that giving away all our privacy and access to our networks often has costs to our reputations and friendships.

    That cost can be great,  with the worst case seeing people lose jobs, friendships or even their liberty for something that they, or one of their friends, thought was quite innocent.

    Under the old trade off, we could turn off the TV or not buy a magazine if we found the advertising too distracting or offensive. With new media we can’t recover our privacy once it’s been given away.

    As we begin to understand the nature of our connected society and the values of our online reputations, we’ll expect a better price for our privacy. The challenge for platforms like Facebook and other social media tools over the next few years will be to convince us that these trade offs and potential risks are worthwhile for the benefits they offer.

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  • Choosing a mobile phone plan

    What’s your budget?

    This is the most important point. What can you afford?

    Be careful though as plans can be deceptive with a number of traps.

    Understand your usage

    Have a read of your bill and understand how you use your phone. Total up the number of calls you make and who make them to. Many providers allow you to download an electronic copy of your bill which you can then analyse your bill with.

    If you do that, look at the total number of calls you make each month and the average time of those calls. You’ll find this is important as various plans have different billing periods and flagfall requirements.

    Call rates

    This is one of the trickiest areas to deal with on phone plans. Keep in mind each plan has unique tricks like minimum charges and flagfalls. So one provider offering 50c per 30 seconds call with a 35c connection fee may be cheaper for many of your calls than a provider offering 90c per 60 seconds with a 40c connection fee. This is why it’s important to check the average call costs.

    Friends deals

    Many providers have plans where calls between people on the same network are free, or you can nominate friends for a discount rate. If there’s a small group of friends you call a lot, it’s worthwhile looking to see if you can save money that way.

    Don’t ignore data

    In the age of the smartphone, data is now a major revenue generator for mobile phone companies. Have a close look at your data usage and keep in mind everytime you check your email, look up a bus timetable or find a restaurant you’ll be downloading data. This can add up and if you are going to be a regular user of online services you shouldn’t choose a plan with less than 1Gb download.

    Coverage

    It’s important to remember that the phone and the plan are pointless if you can’t get a signal. Check with the store before buying that your home and work can get a reliable connection. Also, if you’re going to be on the road a lot you’ll need to choose the provider who covers those areas well.

    The best way of finding out is to ask your friends and colleagues how they find their connections. They’ll have the best feedback on which providers have the most reliable service.

    Roaming

    If you travel overseas you’ll find international charges can be a killer, so check carefully what you’re up for when you’re travelling.

    Locked phones

    When entering a plan, you may find the “free” handset included is locked to the network you’ve signed up to. If you want to “unlock” it, there’s usually a fee of several hundred dollars to release your phone from captivity.

    Watch your bills

    The danger period when entering a new plan is the first few bills. This is when any hidden traps can bite you. Check those first couple of bills carefully to make sure there are no surprises.

    If you find any bill shocks, take a deep breath and call your provider. Should it turn out the plan doesn’t cover something, the phone companies will usually move you to the next plan up that will keep you within your budget.

    Mobile phone plans

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