Feb 09

11 Facts as to why The Computer Doc offers the Best IT Support

The Computer Doc began as a result of years of experience working for other IT support companies and not being impressed by the quality of service offered by those companies. This is how the idea of starting a new IT maintenance company emerged. The goal and vision of our new business was clear from day one: becoming the best IT support company in Johannesburg.

I suppose that every company claims to be tBest IT supporthe best in their own market. We are, however, confident to make this statement when talking about The Computer Doc. We work with a wide array of clients that will not hesitate to refer us to other companies searching for IT support. This is evident in the testimonials that we have received and the support we have had over the years. The fact that The Computer Doc has never lost a client is also testimony of this fact. We look after and care about our partners and this has developed strong partnerships over the years. Our clients know that we offer the best IT support for their businesses.

 

11 Facts as to why we offer the Best IT support:

  • We offer a comprehensive list of IT maintenance services: We ensure that we offer our partners a full cover IT support plan, so they can enjoy all the benefits of outsourcing an IT company. What are these? Saving huge costs on overheads but enjoying the advantages of having an in-house level of service for a start. Take a look at our Services page for more information about some of the services that we provide.
  • We are reliable and always available: We are there when we tell our partners that we will be there. We are always on call and we always try to assist no matter the hour or the issue.
  • We offer the fastest turnaround times: our maintenance clients are guaranteed extremely fast and efficient support. Thanks to current technology, we can also access our clients PC and servers remotely, ensuring that we sort certain issues out even faster.
  • We listen to our clients: we understand that every company has different requirements and that budget capabilities and general requirements are not the same for everyone. If a partner has a problem that needs to be solved, we listen to their needs and try to adjust our support to their requirements and possibilities. What can be done now and what is the most advisable step moving forward?
  • Our rates are very competitive: we offer very affordable IT support rates. From monthly maintenance agreements to per hour rates, we ensure that every partner finds a solution to suit their pockets. Our solutions are far more cost-effective than having an in-house IT person with the same level of service (if not better).
  • We are passionate about our work: this is the winning formula for any good business, being happy and passionate about what you do. The Computer Doc is a company with driven staff that care about what we do and always aim at offering the best IT support and keeping our clients happy, no matter the cost. We pride ourselves on having never lost a client and believe it is due to our passion for being the best at what we do and going the extra mile to keep clients happy and ensuring efficient and reliable systems.
  • We speak our customers’ language: We avoid using complicated and nerdy IT language with our clients. They need solutions and we make sure that we translate what has to be done in a way that it is all clear for both parties.
  • We offer customised IT maintenance packages to all our partners: different businesses have different requirements and needs. We advise on those services that are a minimum requirement to guarantee an optimal level of IT support;  However, we also offer an array of value added services for you to choose from should you wish extra functionality, additional features or even specialized services that can be opted on depending on your organization’s needs.
  • We don’t care about the size of our clients’ companies: all our partners are important to us. Every partner in our maintenance plan receives preferential service and we make sure that everyone receives the best IT support from our team.
  • We cover all the bases: We offer a comprehensive solution for any business so that organizations can focus on what is important to them. Why have 5 separate providers to call when things go wrong. The Computer Doc assumes the role of a full management solution to take the responsibility off your hands. We cover and manage all technological roles within your business with all IT infrastructure as well as telephony, web services, software development and even SEO (Search Engine Optimization). We source and supply hardware and software and even support 3rd party applications so that your costs as well as your responsibility is halved.
  • We offer freedom of choice: No long term contracts are required and clients can enjoy the freedom of knowing that they are able to change providers at any time, with no wasted money or time. Unlike most other IT providers, our month to month maintenance plan gives you the freedom of testing us out and being able to make an informed decision without the risk of being tied into an anything long-term.

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/best-it-support/

Jan 24

Important Questions to ask when choosing IT Maintenance Companies

So many new IT maintenance companies are emerging, and finding the right partner for your business can be a complex task.

We thought that having a list of the most important questions to ask each and every potential partner could prove very helpful. These questions will definitely assist in making a more informed decision.

Some of the differences between IT maintenance services and packages offered by some companies could have an important impact on your organization.

Let’s start with the interrogation guide:

1. What are the support packages that you offer?

The majority of IT maintenance companies offer different levels of support to suit every business’ requirements. The different support packages and rates can also assist in terms of budget.

The two most popular options will be the following:Questions to ask IT maintenance companies

      • Monthly maintenance agreements: this will contain a comprehensive list of the IT maintenance services included. It will generally always be cheaper than having an in-house IT person, and can also guarantee a professional and full level of support regardless.
      • Bill-per-hour: this is ideal for new start-up businesses that can’t afford fixed expenses yet or for those that want to test the quality of service of different IT maintenance companies.

2. What are the guarantees in terms of response times?

It is important that you think of how your business and staff operate. For example, do your employees have access to work email and other files from their mobiles or laptops? If this is the case, you will definitely need to consider a 24/7 support service or support with faster turn-around times.

On the other hand, if work is limited to office hours, you might be able to get away with a support package limited to certain hours of the day.

3. Can you also supply our company with hardware and software?

This might be quite an interesting question, as you might be able to find better deals with regard to hardware or software purchases. IT maintenance companies tend to have more power with the negotiation and pricing, as they order bigger amounts, and often get discounted prices and are able to offer preferential rates.

4. Can remote support be provided?

With current technology, accessing and monitoring servers, computers and networks remotely is possible. Not having to be on-site can be extremely valuable, as issues can be fixed quickly and efficiently before they become a real problem.

5. What does the small print in your terms and conditions say?

This is especially important when referring to cancellation clauses. Try to sign up with companies that don’t require a notice period longer than a month or two. Otherwise, you might find yourself unhappy with your IT partner and stuck in an agreement for longer than necessary.

6. How and when will I be charged?

As with any contract with other suppliers that you work with, payment clauses are always important. Understand what the different support packages require in terms of payment and implement a clear structure and understanding beforehand, which suites both parties. Many companies out there are willing to negotiate terms and will be willing to accommodate you should you have special requirements.

7. I need help, how do I log a support call?

There are many possible ways to do so and it will depend entirely on the IT partner. It will normally be through a phone call to your designated IT technician or it can also be done through normal email or through a more advanced support system such as a Helpdesk or admin portal.

For small companies, a simple phone call can be good enough. However, for larger organizations, an advanced support system can be a better solution in which to register and track everyone’s issues without miscommunication or misunderstandings.

Contact The Computer Doc Team today and ask all these questions. Find out if we are the IT partner that you are looking for. There are many IT maintenance companies out there; can they offer what we can?

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/it-maintenance-companies/

Jan 17

Struggling with Your IT? The Computer Doc Offers Professional IT Support in Sandton

IT Support Sandton – How to find a good IT support partner?

The number of IT companies offering outsourced IT services has increased over the lasThe Computer Doc offers IT support in Sandtont few years. This has happened not only at a global level, but also locally in the South African market. We can even take this one step further and talk about IT companies focusing on specific areas; for example, companies that offer IT support in Sandton.

The big demand for companies that offer IT maintenance services is a direct correlation to the dependence of businesses on their IT resources.

To help you finding a good IT partner, we offer you here some good tips:

  • Look for a partner that offers IT support in your area: even through this is advisable, it is not an essential requirement anymore. There are great remote control tools that allow IT technicians to access companies’ servers and PCs without need of being on site.However, if you like that personal touch and you would like to have regular visits; hiring an IT company in your same area could help.For example, search for companies offering IT support in Sandton if this is where your offices are. You will find a long list of companies that can assist.
  • Ask for a customizable IT support package to suit your business better: surely you agree that every business is different and, this is why, you must be able to customize your IT maintenance package. Meet with your potential partner and see what services they can offer and at what rates. These must always suit your business needs.
  • Ask for feedback from other businesses currently working with the same partner: this is always very advisable. Find out what other clients have to say about them. You can either ask for referral letters or you can even contact the other organizations and get an idea of how they feel about their IT support.

Is outsourced IT support the right solution for my business?

We can comfortably state that over 90% of the existing businesses around the world depend heavily on technology. The operational of businesses rely so much on their IT software and hardware, that having troubles with these can bring serious headaches to business owners, staff and can, eventually, harm the business profits.

Are you one of those business owners struggling with your IT support? If the answer is “yes”, you might identify yourself with one of the following cases:

  • My business needs IT support but I don’t have enough budget to hire a dedicated a full time IT person.
  • My IT support is not good enough. I have outsourced my IT support but the company is not pulling its weight.

If reading the statements above make you feel like you need help with your IT, then you might need to consider outsourcing your IT support to a reliable partner.

The Computer Doc offers professional and efficient IT support in Sandton and businesses in other areas of Johannesburg. Our vast experience and customizable maintenance packages on offer are key factors in considering our IT solutions as the best available IT support in Sandton.

For other regions or instant remote support, take a look at our international website here.

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/it-support-in-sandton/

Dec 23

Increase your sales with a professional Business Website

Find new customers through your very own Business Website

You might find very interesting the fact that, everyday, there are more than 300 million of Google users searching online. Not only that, but also more than 250 million people have access to internet and they are frequent users. This is basically over 80% of the total population of our planet. These figures are overwhelming, but it is the real world we are living in.

Newspaper ads, bill boards and flyers, among others, have been during many years the only forms of advertising available to companies. Nevertheless, during the last decade, marketing has evolved changing the entire world of advertising. The main reason for that have been the big amount of new technologies emerging and the increase of the number of internet users. Customers are hungry for knowledge and they look for up to information in real time.

We can really say that, nowadays, no business will succeed without having a business website.

Understand what Business Website your company needs

Running your own business, you know that you need to allocate some budget toward marketing campaigns every year. This is the only way to be able to increase the number of new clients acquired yearly. It is time for you to consider investing some money in having your business website designed.

Make your business visible to everyone online and fight against your competition to get a prime spot in theBusiness website Google ranking. The higher is the position that your business website takes over for your company’s more relevant terms or keywords, the better. How to do this? It is not easy but it is not impossible. Find a professional and experienced partner that works in the online industry and get the ball rolling.

The design of websites is an art, but it doesn’t have to be too complicated or expensive to prove successful. For example, if you are looking for a simple informative type of website, including the core information of your company, services or products that you offer, how to contact you and the location of your business should be sufficient. This will be a good way to get your potential customers to learn a little bit more about your company and this will be a good beginning for a relationship with your customers based on trust.

For those companies selling products, the possibility of selling them online could be very interesting. Think of selling via online channels like having another shop, with the advantage that you don’t need to hire store space. This type of business site requires a bigger investment and more work. In order for your company to offer a good service through the business website, all the prices have to be up to date and the stock levels have to be controlled continuously.

Contact The Computer Doc Team and ask for our help to create your business website according to your company’s requirements. We have great experience in the online industry and together we can guarantee positive results for your business online.

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/business-website/

Jul 31

Choose to outsource IT Services for your business

Outsource your IT services and reduce some of your business costs

If you are one of the many South Africans telling yourself that “times are tough” and you find yourself worried about the profitability of your business, we recommend that you keep reading this blog because we are going to give you some tips to save you some money. How? Outsource IT services!

As prices go up, the profitability of companies goes down and it becomes imperative for businesses to relook at their fix and variable expenses. Trying to cut Outsource IT Supportdown in unnecessary or non-essential costs develops into a priority for any organization. Are you interested in knowing what other businesses are doing about this? According to some recent studies, there is a new trend in the Information Technology industry where small and medium sized companies are opting for outsourcing their IT services to save in fixed and variable costs.

 

Good News!  You can outsource IT services with The Computer Doc

You might not require a full time in-house IT employee, especially if the size of your company is from medium to small. You can however outsource a reliable and fast servicing company with a professional IT maintenance services plan to ensure that your company’s IT is well looked after. We can assure you that this will be much cheaper that hiring someone full time.

You must also take into consideration the fact that the majority of IT companies have special deals with hardware and software suppliers, which means that they can get better deals when purchasing IT products for your company. They have more negotiation power as they buy big amount of computer hardware and software for several companies like yours. Take advantage of better deals and save some extra bucks!

There are many other advantages that you need to take into consideration to make a decision to outsource IT services today:

  • Skills and knowledge: your company will benefit from the knowledge and experience of a whole company. Don’t rely on only one employee and don’t worry about organising training for your in house staff. Let your IT partner worry about this.
  • Flexibility: outsource IT services for specific projects. Moving offices? Changing the office plan? Contract an IT company that can help you with no strings attached.
  • Remote support: any good IT companies will offer you remote support among their full list of services. This is a great add-on to your IT partnership, as it guarantees full support 24/7 and to every corner of the planet.

You might be quite sceptical about getting an external company involved in your business and having access to confidential information. This thinking is quite normal and it is definitely something important to take into consideration. Our best advice here is you doing your homework and asking your potential IT Company for letters of reference from some of their clients. Make sure that you get involved with a professional and trustworthy partner.

You now understand the benefits that you gain when you outsource IT services for your business. Stop incurring in extra costs and contact The Computer Doc team right away to get a proper quote.

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/outsource-it-services/

Jun 01

Cheap Laptops

Cheap Laptops

Looking for good value for money? Want a laptop with decent speed but don’t want to spend your lifes savings? Then Gigabyte may be the brand you are looking for when it comes to Cheap Laptops.

Cheap Laptops

Gigabyte is a much newer brand than the usual suspects, Acer, Dell & HP. Launched in 1986, for years Gigabyte have focused on spare components such as motherboards and add-on cards etc. A few years ago Gigabyte launched its range of notebook computers which has taken the market by storm with far superior pricing than competitors. This doesn’t necessarily mean that when you buy this brand you are buying a product of inferior quality or specification.

As always there are things to look out for when buying cheap laptops however with Gigabyte these are normally on the surface and internally you are still getting a quality product.

Gigabyte utilize intel processors and motherboards, pretty much the same internal product as most other manufacturers however at better pricing and normally with a longer warranty. Where most manufacturers offer a standard 1 year warranty with an option to pay and upgrade, gigabyte offers a 2 year warranty as standard.

So where do they save money you may ask? With most of their products there are very few tell-tale signs as to the price difference however it is worth reading reviews on the particular model that you are looking at for user experience and after-sales satisfaction. For example, this article has been written on the Q1585N model which sports an i5 Processor and 2gb of memory. Performance-wise the machine is fantastic and for a little over R5000 is surprisingly powerful and quick. It even runs some of the newest games such as “Call of Duty, Black Ops2” albeit at a slightly lower spec than one would like but it runs it nonetheless. (Take into account this machine was launched nearly 3 years ago and still holds its own).

The screen is a high-gloss 15’6” LED with brilliant clarity and a decent refresh rate. General operations are smooth and quick and the machine exceeds expectations in almost every department. The only criticism that can be noted about this machine is a touchpad that does feel a bit cheap however other than that the rest of the machine looks, feels and behaves like a quality product.

Many other manufacturers will try to justify their pumped-up pricing with fancy stickers and claims of high quality audio and the like but in truth most use similar internal components and are identical other than the badge on the front. At the end of the day it really boils down to the following; Processor speed and graphics capability. Ram/Memory can normally be upgraded for as little as R200 and most machines today come out with a minimum of 500gb hard drive space which is sufficient for the majority of users.

An entry level Gigabyte notebook will cost you a little over R3500 and comes with all the same features as similarly spec’d competitors. If you are looking for value for money, start here.  Get in touch for a quote today, even if you do like the fancy brands such as HP and Dell, we will deliver and assist with all setup requirements to get you started.

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/cheap-laptops/

May 15

Blackberry Z10 vs Q10

Blackberry Z10 vs Q10

Blackberry Z10 vs Q10

The new blackberry Q10 has just been launched and blackberry fans wait with baited breath to see this device in action.

Didn’t blackberry just release the Z10?

They sure did, however the Q10 has arrived as its similarly spec’d baby brother.

What’s the difference?

All though the Q10 has similar specifications it is smaller, lighter, and for those users that still aren’t true touch screen fans, the standard and familiar blackberry qwerty keyboard, albeit an edited, streamlined version. Another improvement is the Q10s 2100mAH battery, compared to the 1800mAH of the Z10. With a smaller display, this means the new device is better suited to intense users than its touch screen predecessor.

Boasting an 8mb camera with a resolution of up to 3264 x 2448 pixels this device will not leave users wanting for photographic quality. Other features include 1080p video capabilities as well as the all new Blackberry 10 OS. Blackberry also seem to have been generous with memory specifications, giving the Q10 16GB of storage and 2gb of RAM. With a Dual Core 1.5Ghz Processor the Q10 packs more punch than many Netbooks on the market today. This is a noticeable change from blackberry devices of old and give the Q10 an impressive smoothness and fluidity when roaming through menu’s and switching between applications. Additional party tricks include an Accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor and compass as well as many other gimmicks for the techno fiends among you.

Any Downsides?

Unfortunately, the short answer is yes. All though an impressive device, with a hefty price tag of R8999, many users would rather opt for the cheaper Samsung or iPhone alternatives. In addition, software for the new devices (Z10 & Q10) is limited so far as not all developers have joined the party where blackberry’s new OS is concerned. Some of the apps that won’t run on BB’s 10.1 OS are whatsapp, fnb’s banking app and dropbox to name a few.

Hopefully device support will improve in time however for those users crippled by the loss of these applications, blackberry will have to do better to compete with the likes of Apple and Samsung.

For more on Blackberry Z10 vs Q10 click here to read Blackberry’s official review

 

 

 

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/blackberry-z10-vs-q10/

May 06

Web Development

Web development and SEO (search engine optimization) have become a hot topic on everyone’s lips in today’s world of technology and fast paced business mentality.

The reasons for this are endless however here are some advantages for you to think about moving forward in order to give your business the edge that it needs to succeed in today’s cutthroat working world.

Web Development

A website needs to be functional as well as look good. In fact, often, the functionality is more relevant than a decent looking site. “Functional” in this context refers to the correct setup and optimization for ranking in website searches (from google, yahoo, Bing etc), assisting people in actually finding your site. It is almost pointless having a great looking site that nobody can find or that is not optimized correctly. Therefore the correct balance is important.

Seo –  Search Engine Optimization

If you are unaware, this is the structuring/optimization of a website in order to gain ranking and become “more available” when online searches occur. This has become an imperative role where the internet is concerned and is a service that can prove invaluable in gaining new business and marketing your company.

According to google, 97% of searches for local businesses are done online. This is a huge market that should be tapped and utilized by everybody. “So lets build a website” you say. All though that is a great start it now becomes a matter of being seen by as many of this 97% as possible. This is where SEO comes in and why it has become such an important and sought after practise. The beauty of SEO is that unlike the “real world”, it doesn’t have to cost you a fortune and can be even more powerful than large scale conventional advertising.

If you have let yourself or business get a little behind the times then it may be time to start thinking about creating a website and advertising online. The Computer Doc will assist you in the process from start to finish and offers some of the best bang for your buck. We can assist from Web Development and implementation right through to SEO and site maintenance. Contact us to find out more or click here to read more about our Web Development Services.

web development

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/web-development/

Apr 29

PC Backup

Your PC Backup

One of the most neglected issues in today’s technologically driven world is the pc backup.

Users far and wide are losing work daily as hard drives crash and drives fail causing complete devastation in its wake. Not only can one lose work and mail, but users lose irreplaceable data such as family photos or videos daily.

There is no worse feeling than the loss of this data, especially when years of valuable memories or thousands of hours worth of work are at stake.

Before this happens to you, or even if it has before, you may be interested in some tips in keeping you covered for future.  There is a very simple and obvious resolution and although this may not always be practical, there are many ways in which to implement it and make it easier.

The rule of thumb is this; Always keep one or more copies of your data. Whether on another hard drive, another computer or even online (provided this is a secure and reliable source).

Allthough there may be an initial outlay for hardware, it will be worth your while when disaster does strike, and there are some fantastic free applications that will assist you in automating your pc backup and taking the responsibility off your hands.

Cobian backup is one of these applications and is a great, simple way in which to automate this system for you and can backup to any destination for you whether over a network to an alternate machine or to an external hard drive. It will also give you options on what type of backup you require, from full, incremental, differential etc and allows you to select the exact source and exact destination making it simple and automatic taking human error out of the equation. Once setup you can leave this to run and just check on things every now and then to ensure drive space is still okay etc.

The ideal situation is to have 2 external drives, which you can swap out on a weekly basis, and keep one of these at a separate location at all times. This way in the event of fire or theft, you always have a copy of your data elsewhere and do not have “all your eggs in one basket”. This is also where an online pc backup service could come in handy. The limitations with this option come into play when file sizes are large and in this case physical media is more appropriate.

For more information or for advice in setting up a pc backup solution click here to give us a call and we will assist.

PC Backup

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/pc-backup/

Apr 22

Lightening Fast Internet

So-net Entertainment, a Sony- Backed Internet Service Provider have just launched a Lightning fast internet technology based on Fibre Optic technology. The Nuro as the new service is called is said to boast speeds of up to 2Gbps…That’s 200 hundred times faster than South Africa’s fastest ADSL connection, currently sitting at 10Mbps. At this speed, one would theoretically be able to download a 1 Gigabyte file in less than 20 seconds. This would even surpass most hard disk speeds and is a new level of speed as we know it.

This new service is said to be launched to home and business users at a cost of roughly R500 per month for a 2 year contract with a R5000 installation fee. This is equivalent to what the majority of South Africans pay for a 4mb service today (excluding the hefty installation) however is relatively reasonable considering the advancement and sheer speed of the service.

To compare, the Google Fibre broadband Internet service offers 1 Gbps download speed — and that’s still 100 times faster than today’s average home ADSL connection.

With todays Seacom outages and service issues throughout southern africa we often wonder how long services like these will reach our shores and whether or not these will be solely for the super rich or giant corporations.

At present the service is available in Tokyo and six surrounding areas however the technology is said to be spreading fast.

We can only hope that this reaches us soon and that we too can enjoy the benefits of “first world” technology!

In the interim, for good old fashioned home-grown click here to contact us..

fast internet

Permanent link to this article: https://computerdoc.co.za/lightening-fast-internet/