IT Support Guys

We’re constantly asked for recommendations and so below you’ll find some of our top suggestions for technology products to help you with your day to day computing needs.

Network Attached Storage (NAS) – The preferred choice for local backups of important data and system images. This is basically an external hard drive that plugs into your network rather than just one computer. Some of the better ones will have nice features like multiple drives setup in raid and free backup software. For a NAS backup solution we highly recommend the Seagate Black Armor which has most of anything you could ever need for a small business or a home network. This is a storage device that comes with a web interface and a ton of cool features. The link above will take you to the 4TB model, if you need more or less space try the 2TB or the 8TB models.

Forget the term “firewall” for a second. What you need is a Security Appliance to protect your network from intruders. Having a good security appliance connected directly to the internet (doubles as a router sometimes) you’ll ensure that your systems are protected at the network layer. Added benefits here is the support for VPN’s, URL filtering, Gateway Antivirus, Active X / Java / Flash blocking and much much more. Other models are available, so if you’re confused as to which firewall is right for your network contact us for a free evaluation.

For a personal printer we recommend the HP Laserjet P1006 because of it’s low-maintenance low-cost operation. What a great little printer that won’t choke and hold you up at the worst time.

For small offices needing a network printer with All-In-One functionality (AIO), you should look at the Brother MFC 7840w. We like them because they’re affordable in comparison to the alternative while giving you lots of features. If you have 5-15 workstations printing, or need a highly functional low cost alternative to a more expensive printer this is the right choice. We can help you set it up the right way so all you have to do is swap cartridges.

For larger offices or soho’s with high demand printing we like the xerox phasers. They’re real workhorses and have a reliable track record.

If you still haven’t found the right printer don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll help place the right equipment into your environment.

We don’t want to reinvent the wheel here, so if you’re in the market for a laptop you should checkout the buyers guide over at CNET.
If you just need a standard sized laptop with the latest specs but not TOO fancy, check out this Toshiba laptop over at Amazon. It’s more than most people will ever need.
If you want a *monster* laptop with all the latest and greates we highly suggest the XPS series from Dell.

Just remember if you buy a laptop with Windows on it that you *might* need a Pro version (as opposed to home). If you don’t know whether you need a home or pro license feel free to call us and we’ll help you figure it out. Actually, if you’re in the market for a laptop at all a 5 minute call is all we need to get you pointed in the right direction.

We’ve been on the Blackberry bandwagon, then we joined the iPhone Bandwagon, and now we’re *really* loving the Android operating system and what it has to offer. If you’re looking for a smartphone then this is a great time to purchase one as most models are running hardware thats faster than a well equiped computer 10 years ago. Check out the Motorola Droid from Verizon Wireless