Crossbow Computers
100% Australian Owned and Operated since 1988Newsletter Number 82 - May 2006
If you are thinking that it has been some time since our last newsletter, you are not mistaken. As many of our readers would be aware, for the past 6 months I have been very busy planning a cycling adventure challenge in the Chinese Himalayas. I can now announce that this trip has now proved an overwhelming success, with 13 riders completing the amazing ride. All of our participants have agreed that it exceeded their wildest expectations. For our riders, aged from 39 to 67 years old, it was not only a physical challenge, but the greater challenge was facing the unknown.
Since none of us had travelled in China before, we had no clear idea of exactly what to expect. We had numerous (generally uninformed) opinions about all the dangers of cycling in such a country, but I am pleased to say that not one of these warnings was proved correct. On the contrary, we found that the Chinese drivers showed more courtesy than we find on our rides in Australia. At least there were no carloads of "hoons" trying to run us off the edge. The scenery was breathtaking and the overall experience was one that we will all treasure for a long time. If any of our readers are interested, they can read the full account on our cycling website www.warbyghostriders.com. I have also been working on the DVD of the trip which is now available for $20 a copy, including postage and packing.
Following the success of this trip we are now in the early stages of planning our next China Ride, to be held in April 2007. If you are interested in being a part of it, give me a call or drop an e-mail to dennis@crossbow.com.au
So much for cycling , now for the serious stuff. In this newsletter I have included details of our latest professional computer workstations, especially designed for home and small business networks. We are also offering a special discount off the marked price of all our range of USB2.0 pen drives for newsletter readers. Also look for the special offers now available on multi function units.
Victim of a a Shark Attack !
A week ago I received a phone call from a woman who told me that she was concerned about error messages that were coming from her computer evry time she turned it on. When I visited her office I quickly determined the cause of the problem. The computer had been supplied from a so called "dealer" with counterfeit copies of both Windows XP and Microsoft Office installed. When the owner had tried to perform an update from the Microsoft web site, she had received the first message indicating that her software was not legal. These messages now popped up every time the system was used.
Although the system was only a few months old, it was obvious that the dealer had illegally increased his profit margin by installing counterfeit copies of the software, rather than using genuine versions. Not only is this illegal for the dealer but it also placed the unsuspecting owner of the system in a situation where their software would no longer work correctly and could not access any of the required update patches. All purchasers of computers should always insist that they are supplied with all the original copies of the CD media and license certificates for all software installed on the system. For Windows XP there is also a special sticker which should be firmly attached the side of the computer case.
If you suspect that you have been ripped off by a computer cowboy I would strongly recommend that you contact the offending dealer and demand that they supply the full legal copies. If they refuse to comply with your request there are now substantial rewards available for anyone helping to identify dealers involved in such fraud. If you would like more information on this, please feel free to contact me on 03 5968 2000.
New Computer Workstations - Now Available
We have continued to steadily improve the specifications of our new systems. Out latest range of business and home computer workstations all include the following features:
Compact Black Case
In built " 22 in 1" card reader
Floppy Drive
CD or DVD burner
Minimum of 512 MB of memory
Range of hard drive sizes from 80 GB to over 400 GB
Front and rear USB and audio ports
On board networking
Ultra quiet operation
Genuine Microsoft Internet keyboard and Microsoft optical mouse
Viewsonic multimedia LCD flat panel screen with inbuilt speakers and 3 year warranty
Either Windows XP Home or Windows XP Pro operating software
Complete system prices start at only $1165 inc GST. This price includes free delivery anywhere in Melbourne and free data transfer from your existing system.
VOIP Telephone Solutions
There is continuing interest in the use of so called "VOIP" (voice over IP) technology to achieve large savings in telephone costs. By utilising an axisting broadband Internet connection it is possible to drastically reduce the cost of all your phone calls, especially to interstate and overseas locations. The savings can be even more dramatic if you want to set up a VOIP connection between two locations , eg between two offices. If both offices have a VOIP connection the cost for phone calls between the two locations can be reduced to almost zero. This can also be a fantastic alternative for families that have members living interstate or overseas.
In order to get started with a simple VOIP setup, all you need is an existing broadband connection and suitable VOIP hardware. If you already have a router with at least one spare port, we can supply a small box to enable you to connect your existing phone to the router and start making cheap calls right away. We can also supply more sophisticated VOIP equipment that include high quality phones and can be incorporated into existing PABX networks.
For any business considering upgrading or replacing their phone system, you really can't afford to overlook this amazing alternative technology.
USB Pen Drives
There is no doubt that one of the most successful pieces of technology developed over the past few years has been the USB pen drive. Also known by a range of other names (including handy drives, pocket drives, etc), these small devices plug directly into any available USB port on your computer and then can be used to store or transfer large amounts of data.
The most popular capacities of pen drives are now the 256 MB, 512 MB and 1 GB. When you consider that even the smallest of these drives can store the equivalent of a couple of hundred floppy disks, it is not hard to see why the floppy disk has almost disappeared from the current scene. The other amazing feature of these drives is their diminutive size. A typical drive is smaller than your little finger and can be easily attached to your key ring, or even worn on a chain around your neck.
In order to use a pen drive your computer must have at least one available USB port. If you are lucky enough to have the later standard USB2.0 ports on your computer, you will be able to enjoy significantly faster data transfer between the drive and the computer. For any copmputer running WIndows 2000 or Windows XP, you simply plug the drive into the USB port and, after a few moments, it will be ready for use. There is NO software to install. (The situation is not so simple for Windows 98 users, where a special device driver is required and the installation can sometimes be quite tedious).
Pen drives can be a fantastic way to back up your data files or transfer large data files between two locations.
Crossbow can supply a range of quality USB 2.0 pen drives at very competitive pricing. As an example we have the latest USB2.0 drives with 512 MB capacity, complete with USB extension cable for only $49 each.
As a special for all our newsletter recipients, the price is even better - only $45 inc GST ! These are in stock and available NOW.
Multi-Function Units
The past twelve months has seen a spectacular increase in the range of multi-function units. These units combine the functions of printing, copying and scanning. More powerful units can also include a host of additional functions, such as the ability to print double sided copies, full colour faxing, direct photo printing from memory card, etc.
Just as amazing as the range of features that can be included in a single unit, is the incredibly low prices, starting at just $109.00 inc GST.
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Canon MP150This compact multi-function unit prints full colour A4 documents at up to 4800x1200 dpi, prints up to 22 pages per minute, supports direct photo printing from your digital camera, can scan photos and documents at up tp 1200x2400 dpi and also acts as a full copier as well. Ideal for the home office or student at only $109.00. In stock now for immediate delivery. |
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Canon MP830On the other hand, if your requirement is something with even more smarts under the bonnet, then this is the one for you. This unit adds the additional features of full featured fax and double sided printer, as well as a host of others. Can automatically scan and copy up to 35 double sided documents with its own automatic document feeder. This is a serious unit which is designed for the busy professional or office user. Fantastic price - normally $549, now only $499 inc GST |
Want some other options?
The two models listed above are just two of the wide range that we currently supply. In fact we can supply all of the models from Hewlett Packard, Brother, Lexmark and Epson. If you are interested in acquiring one of these units, but don't know where to start, why not call us to discuss your needs with one of our experienced staff? We always endeavour to match every customer with the product that will best meet their needs. No high pressure tactics, just good old fashioned service.
Home Entertainment Products
Crossbow continues to develop our expertise in this exciting area of development, installing plasma screens, speakers and full home cinema configurations. If you are looking to update your existing home entertainment setup, but need some expert advice, then why not drop by for a chat?
We supply a wide range of plasma panels and projector systems at very competitive prices and, more importantly, we can help to make sure that you choose the most appropriate hardware for your needs. Our experience with computers enables us to design and build custom designed Microsoft Media Centre systems and fully install them in your home or office. We don't sell vacuum cleaners or washing machines, but are experts in helping you get to get a system you will be proud of.
Handy Hint
Have you ever tried to perform a full hard drive check or a disk derfragment but found that the process kept restarting over and over again? This is usually because there are too many background operations taking place. One way of getting around this problem is to restart the computer in SAFE mode. This is a special "no frills" mode of Windows which bypasses loading of most memory resident drivers and programs. It can also be very useful when resolving problems with Windows configuration.
In order to start your Windows in SAFE mode, first shut the system down and then power it up again. During the start up process keep tapping the F8 function repeatedly at about 1 second intervals. If you do this you should find youreslf presented with a menu offering various startup options. One of these options will be to start Windows in SAFE mode. If you select this option you should find that Windows will continue to load, but it will have a different appearance to the one you are used to. This is because it has not loaded the drivers for the graphics display.
Once it is fully booted into SAFE mode, then try to perform your disk check for errors or your disk defragment. You should find that the process will continue all the way to completion. Safe mode can also be a good time to perform a full virus scan and also to run your spyware removal software.
Why not give it a try ?
Happy Computing
Dennis Dawson
Crossbow Computers
Phone 5968 2000
www.crossbow.com.au