|
Why Invest in a Custom
Computer Solution?
Did you know that 100 percent of all
computers when bought from computer retailers or mass-market
mail order are configured incorrectly. Why is this? When you
buy a computer bundled with pre-existing software you are buying
a computer that has "lite"
or "trial" versions of software already on it. Those
programs that are installed on that machine are just that. Programs
that are installed on your hard drive with limited features
or features that are designed to quit working after they have
been used for a short amount of time. Users sometimes will then
just delete the icon or even worse the folder containing the
program itself instead of properly uninstalling the software
in question through the add-remove programs section of the Control
Panel. Some programs run in memory (RAM) as a TSR (Terminate
and Stay Resident) program like virus checkers. What this means
is that even if you do uninstall the program under the control
panel, things can get left behind. Registry entries in particular
can get left behind which can then possibly cause something
to fail later.
All operating systems and virus checkers have "patch
updates" and "update definitions" that must be
applied to computer systems on a regular basis. The only way to
get them is to download and install these updates on a regular
basis. If this is not done then eventually you will contract a
virus or your system will fail or at the least continue to work
properly.
One of the things we do in any custom
system we build for a client is to first insure that the
system comes to us with the "operating system" (Windows)
installed only. After that we completely update Windows with
the latest patches and software drivers to ensure a "clean" system.
Then we install utilities software
that has programs on it that help keep your system healthy.
We also install antivirus and spyware protection and make
sure that it has the latest virus and spyware definitions.
This program resides in memory and watches any incoming
email. If an e-mail is infected with a virus then the software
catches it immediately and allows you to either delete, quarantine,
or fix that virus on the spot.
One of the things we do very well
is customize systems for the way
our clients use them. We don't want useless programs that the
client never uses anyway "riding" in or taking up memory
(RAM) that contributes to overall system performance. If a program
that is never used takes up memory then that is memory that cannot
be used by a program that may need it. One thing we know for sure
is that Voice Recognition software uses a lot of memory! Dragon
NaturallySpeaking uses 547 megabytes of RAM when it is initially
loaded. What happens when you use all the available memory that
you have? What happens is that a "swap" file is used
on the hard drive and then applications are swapped back and forth
using the hard drive space as needed. What does that swap file
do? It trades applications back and forth that you are using the
most into available memory. This is why you will sometimes see
your hard drive light blinking quickly when you are trying to
access a program. What you have to realize here is that it is
a whole lot faster to work with programs that are residing in
memory then to have to retrieve them from the hard drive when
you call those programs up. This is why we say the faster that
your computer is, the faster that you can dictate and the more
memory you have in that computer, the more accurate your dictation
will be.
One thing we know for sure is that
our corporate and physician
clients do not want to be bothered with things like this. We don't
spend our time running corporations or trying to practice medicine
but we do spend our time every day trying to ensure reliable and
fault tolerant systems. We have many years of experience in doing
this and we know how to configure systems that work correctly
for our clients when they take them out of the box. We configure
our systems according to the way our client wants them done not
the way the mass-market manufacturer decides it should be done.
If you are having a hard time believing all of this this call
Dell, H/P, Gateway or any major computer manufacturer and tell
them that you want a machine configured with the operating system
only with no other software installed except for the drivers and
see what they tell you. Our machines are sold as work machines
and we really don't see any reason to have software that is useless
or unwanted residing on that work machine.
Why are we so successful in doing
business this way? When we build/configure a system we build it
from the ground up. Our systems are custom built for us starting
with the processor, RAM, hard drive, type of display and other
critical system components. The operating system is installed
and then patched and tested. (Does it start clean, fast and properly)?
Then we install utilities and applications and then test them
thoroughly. We do this many times as the building process occurs
usually restarting a machine 35-50 times. When we have everything
installed and patched then we will try to do something to make
it fail. When that process is complete we then will burn it in
watching it for a day or two and see if anything fails. We will
then build a voice file on that machine and test the voice
recognition software to make sure it works properly. Only
then after passing our internal rigorous tests do we let that
machine
go out to a client. Because hardware can and sometimes will fail,
we also back that machine up with a 4 year warranty when it leaves
here. We also install software that allows us to connect to that
machine should we need to do any type of online support.
If you are going to configure a system
properly for voice
recognition you have to use building blocks meaning you
should build everything in stages starting with the operating
system then adding your applications
as need be. It is impossible for a manufacturer/retailer to do
this because everybody's needs are different. We are not saying
that if you don't purchase a bundled solution from us that your
system is not going to work. What we are saying however is the
system configured properly and able to provide a useful working
tool for you on a continuous basis? We don't use a "cookie
cutter"
approach but rather spend lots of time to make sure the configuration
is done properly the first time. This is why in all the years
we have been in business we have never had a machine come back
to us because of a software failure.
We look forward to working with you on your custom
solution. See our custom turnkey solutions.
 Contact
us for more information
|
