LifeLock - A very valuable ID service everyone should have

Tired of Dumping Money Into Your Computer Network?

Read On To Discover How You Can Make Those Darn Things Finally Pay Off!

If you ask most business owners why they invest in computers and technology, you will hear things like “to increase employee productivity”, or “to improve customer service” or even to lower operating costs, make information more accessible, and give them a competitive advantage.

But the question is, are the computers in your office actually contributing to your productivity, or do they act as a money-sucking stumbling block to your businesses success?

In this dog-eat-dog world, you cannot afford to have anything slowing you down or interfering with your day to day operations. Especially the tools you rely on in your computer network.

If you want to learn how we can help you experience fewer interruptions, problems, and downtime, AND lower the overall costs associated with your computer network, then you’ll want to know about our “Network Optimization Plan”.

This program was designed specifically for small business owners that do not have a full time IT staff taking care of their computer network.

For a small, fixed monthly fee, we will monitor and maintain your computer network 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to make sure all systems are running at peak performance. We’ll also make sure critical network maintenance such as security and virus updates, back ups, and system optimization happens when it should to avoid bigger, more expensive problems from happening.

My Free 60 Minute “Technology Tune Up” May (Finally) Make Those Computers Pay Off

To introduce this new program to all of our clients and prospects, we are offering a free, 60-minute “Technology Tune Up” to the first 5 businesses that contact us this month.

In less than 1 hour, I can come in and examine your computer network, talk to your employees, and provide a very revealing analysis of all the under utilized or overlooked capabilities being wasted in your current computer system.

We’ll also look for security loop holes, check your system back ups and virus protection, and look for other hidden problems lurking in the background, waiting to turn into bigger, more expensive disasters.

After doing this analysis, I can not only advise you on how to improve the speed. Reliability, and security of your computer network, but also on ways you can improve your overall office productivity.

Normally we charge $250 for this type of service but we are giving it away FREE as a special promotion this month to demonstrate our Network Optimization Plan.

To secure your spot, simply call our offices on 281-377-0981 or e-mail me at sales@snapstreak.com and we’ll schedule a convenient time for us to come out and conduct this tune up.

No Risk, No Obligation, No Hassles

I also want to point out that you will be under zero obligations to do or buy anything if you sign up for a FREE Technology Tune Up. This is just our way of introducing our new network maintenance program to you and we certainly don’t expect everyone to sign up.

So what are you waiting for? Call us right now while you’re thinking about it. Remember, we are only giving away 5 Tune Ups on a first come, first serve basis so call now while there are spots left!

And as always, remember to "Manage IT Better" with SnapStreak.
www.snapstreak.com

Off He Goes into the Murky Brown Yonder.

Here is the aforementioned Bad Boy before he was released back into the wild.

This has absolutely nothing to do with Managed IT Services,
But take a look at the size of this CrawDaddy!
Simply SnapStreak quality :) lol

About half the price of WebEx, AccuConference offers great plans for toll-free conferencing, conference bridges, and web sharing applications

Just some insight on Mexico IT and Nearshoring

http://mexicoit.plaxogroups.com/

Nearshoring in Mexico provides US companies with access to a large pool of highly skilled professionals with familiar culture and values trained in education programs similar to those in the United States. More importantly, this nearness allows for easy verification that the service provider's resources are in fact being effectively utilized to meet the client enterprise's needs. Trust is therefore established in a true nearshoring environment through the establishment of effective control, developed much more quickly than in partnerships with providers in remote offshoring locations. MexicoIT is an initiative executed by the National Chamber of Electronics, Telecommunications and Information Technologies (CANIETI), an industry association of leading IT companies in Mexico, and is supported by the Mexican Ministry of Economy through the Program for the Development of the Software Industry (PROSOFT).

Google at HIMSS 2008

Eric Schmidt gives the keynote speech at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society Annual Conference in Orlando, on February 28, 2008.

Hillary on Healthcare, Google, and EMR

SnapStreak creates Microsoft Small Business Specialist Healthcare Group

Sign up today on LinkedIN and join SnapStreak's Microsoft Small Business Specialist: Healthcare Group and discuss issues pertaining to today's healthcare technology. This group is FREE to join for those members that are interested in sharing best technology practices with other IT Directors and/or Systems Integrators.
http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/88559/72C33C6D4A99

Why you should consider Managed IT Services on Squidoo

A good resource for learning about the value that a Managed Services Provider (MSP) , such as SnapStreak Inc., brings to the table of a small to medium business enterprise.

read more | digg story

TECHNOLOGY ONLY ON THE DOCTORS CHANNEL

Rising health care costs, increased patient expectations, changing regulations and market consolidation are increasing the pressure on your physician practice to decrease costs while at the same time improving the quality of care you provide.

Unfortunately, running your business means spending less and less time with patients. Administrative overhead does not make you profitable.

I'll share with you over 15 years of comprehensive technology tips and trade “secret solutions” learned through my consulting experiences and project management. I will teach you “best practices” that will not only let you practice medicine, the way you want to, but make you more profitable!

I'll be your “back-pocket” vendor liaison and technology guide. I'll show you how to put together technology solutions that include one source of accountability, with simplified, predictable financial outcomes and ROIs. No finger pointing, No “compatibility issues”, No worries.

We live in a fast pace, ever changing laws and regulations regarding electronic personal health records (PHRs). Such lukewarm reception has left many physicians with the disconcerting vision of elderly patients handing over "Glad Bag" filled 3.5” floppy disks of archived DOS-based medical information.

Assuming, as far reaching as it can be, that the data provided was accurate to begin with (and hopefully readable), now the good Doctor must figure out how to integrate all of this new patient information into an EMR/PHR system that he, unfortunately, has not purchased yet, much less, has even begun to research.

Even more daunting, however, are the iconic hallways of manila folders that collectively total a hundred or more years of Patient Data. You ask yourself, “How in the world am I going to integrate all of this into an EMR/PHR system (that ideally would be easy to use and learn), train my staff, and audit the entire process so that I do not risk being sued for missing a small piece of vital information?”

So, welcome to our Technology Group. We will take a Q/A Journey and Review everything from desktops to laptops, printers, and scanners to diagnostic imaging, EMR to PHR, Business Process Automation, and even the next generation of Unified Communications and the future of Telemedicine in the office.

My goal is to help you learn to "Manage IT Better." Why? Because IT is beyond technology. IT is about simplifying your business workflow. IT is giving you the ability to see more clients. IT is about making you profitable. IT is about giving you more time with your family, and never missing that softball game again. IT’s about you as much as IT’s about caring for your Patient.

In our Technology Group, we will discuss the industry's best practices of leveraging technology to your favor. You will learn to focus on leading edge, and not "bleeding edge", technology. You will learn to become proactive, instead of reactive, when it comes to your business technology as to avoid expensive repairs and recovery costs. You will learn how to experience faster performance, fewer issues, and practically zero downtime in your office. IT's time for physicians to succeed in their practice and focus on what matters most – quality patient care.

Let's make IT happen. A place you can “technically” call home and get all of your IT related questions answered, by yours truly, Mr. SnapStreak.

I look forward to chatting you online.

Best personal regards,

Mr. SnapStreak

"SnapTips" Editor of iPortal.MD

http://www.thedoctorschannel.com/group/technology.html

When Things Go Technically Wrong

What To Do When Things Go Technically Wrong

It’s amazing how many things can go wrong with your computer; bad drivers, hardware malfunctions, viruses, software glitches, spyware…and this is only the beginning.

Computer problems always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times and can leave you stranded for hours, even days without a computer. However, vendor “help desk” support can be frustrating and in some cases, expensive. The next time you have a computer problem, here are 5 simple things you can do to try and resolve the problem yourself or to at least prepare and get the most out of your help desk support.

1. Check your connections. This may sound obvious, but check all the cables to make sure they are plugged in securely. Don't ignore this step because USB, printer, and serial cables have a way of working themselves loose and causing problems.

2. Reboot. Windows sometimes gets into a state of confusion or overload and locks up. You can clear the memory and set things straight by simply rebooting your system. Similarly, if you're having a problem connecting to the Internet, try rebooting your cable/DSL modem and router by unplugging them for 15 seconds and allowing them to reset themselves.

However, this isn't something you should have to do often. If you find yourself rebooting your router once a day, the problem is a bit deeper.

If you still can’t resolve the problem yourself, then here are a few more steps to take before calling support that will save a lot of time and get your problem resolved quicker…

3. Try to narrow down the problem as much as possible. Identifying what went wrong is 90% of the journey to the solution. Try to isolate when and where the problem happened and note the last thing you installed, changed, or plugged in to your computer. You’ll also want to narrow down the error message as much as possible.

For example, if you discover your printer isn't working from Word, try to print from another application. Also note the order of events leading up to the problem.

Maybe you can print when you first boot up, but everything seems to go haywire after you scan a document. Does the problem occur all the time or only after the machine has been running for a while? Does the problem repeat itself or is it only occasional? Observing what situations lead up to a problem can be a great help in determining what is causing it.

4. Access crash logs. If you are using a Microsoft operating system, you can access an application called Dr. Watson that will report information about your memory and configuration to a crash log file.

In Windows XP, the default location is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Dr Watson. The crash log is a text file called Drwtsn32.log, which can be read in Notepad or sent via e-mail to a tech-support person. Dr. Watson can also create a crash dump, which contains similar information but is readable only by a debugging utility.

5. Know your system. When you talk to a support technician on the phone, they are going to want to know what specific hardware, operating system, and software you're using.

To save time, know the make and model numbers for all your hardware. You can access CPU and memory info by selecting Control Panel | System. Drill down from here into Hardware | Device Manager for information about other devices such as your sound and graphics cards.

Write down new software, no matter how small or insignificant, that you've downloaded and installed lately, including upgrades, screen savers, emoticon software, and web browser updates. It can also help to jot down any services running in the background.

To access a list of what is running on your Windows XP system, press Ctrl-Alt-Del and select Task Manager. You can also get very detailed info from Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Information.

6. Back up your data. Before you start following directions over the phone from a support technician or tearing your system apart to fix it yourself, make sure you have a backup of all your important documents, e-mail, and other data.

Although many fixes will be as simple as downloading a new driver, you'll be glad you have a backup if you find yourself reinstalling the operating system. You should also have your original CDs around in case you need to reinstall applications.

Remember to “Manage IT Better” with SnapStreak. www.snapstreak.com

WiFi Networking: What It Is, How It Works, And What You Need To Know

WiFi, or wireless networking, is quickly becoming the preferred method for connecting to the Internet or other computers because of its simplicity. Using WiFi, you can connect anywhere in your home, office, or even your local cafe without the need for wires or Internet connections.

How It Works
A simple way to understand wireless networking is to think about how walkie-talkies work.

These small radios communicate by transmitting and receiving radio signals. When you talk into a Walkie-Talkie, your voice is picked up by a microphone, encoded onto a radio frequency and transmitted with the antenna to the other walkie-talkie which then converts that radio frequency back to your voice.

Where To Connect
Finding a wireless (Wi-Fi) hookup (also called a hotspot) for your laptop is getting easier.

Thousands of free Wi-Fi hotspots are springing up across the country including coffee shops, hotels, and public areas.

Most of these establishments charge a fee for the access but with a little research, you won't have to pay a cent. For example, Shlotzsky’s sandwich shops and Apple retail stores provide access for free to attract customers.

Hotel chains like Best Western, Clarion, Comfort Inn and Omni hotels are also offering free Wi-Fi service to their guests. To find free hotspots in your area or an area you will be traveling to, go to ConnectedHotel (http://www.connectedhotel.com) or Wi-Fi FreeSpot (http://www.wififreespot.com). Wififreespot.com also lists libraries and public parks that offer free access. They are little bit harder to find but you may be delightfully surprised to find one in your area.

If you can't find free service, you can pay for the access. T-Mobile (http://www.t-mobile.com/hotspot/) has nearly 4,600 locations throughout the United States and has hotspots located in Starbucks coffeehouses, Borders Books & Music stores, airports and other areas.

Security Problems With Wi-Fi Hotspots
Internet users beware! Wi-Fi access is not as secure as your Internet connection at home or at work. Most free public wireless networks turn off all security functions by default to make it easier to connect.

Never, ever send a credit card number or personal information of any sort over a wireless Internet connection. The guy in the next car could grab it as easy as your neighbor. And if you set up a wireless network, remember that you must go the extra mile to ensure your network is secure. Police report a big business among criminals who use insecure networks to steal data like credit card numbers.

To safeguard your computer, turn off all file sharing and avoid sending sensitive e-mail or making online purchases.

Want To Go Wireless? We Can Help!
If you want to join the thousands of other computer users who have gone wireless, give us a call. We can install and configure the necessary hardware and software to get you connected in no time flat!

SnapStreak Inc.
(281) 377-0981
www.snapstreak.com