Advice, tuition and technical support

Advice can be given on so many areas that it is difficult to define them all, but amongst the areas that could be covered are:

• upgrade your computer or buy a new one
• printers - laser v ink jet; black and white or colour
• laptop v desktop computer
• digital music - buying and using an mp3 player/iPod at home and in your car
• broadband or dial up
• the best software for a specific job

Tuition is in your own home using your own computer. Up to two people can be taught at the same time, thus making this service even better value.

A first visit would include:

• general overview of your computer
• check that the computer is up to date with anti-virus and firewall in place
• explanation of security issues
• as assessment of the tuition required
• some practical hands-on work on your computer

Tuition could cover any (or none!) of the following. No matter which areas are covered, the main aim is to improve the confidence and competence of the person receiving the tuition.

• using the internet
• using the e-mail
• Ebay and on-line shopping
• Apple Mac - iLife
• simple word processing - creating simple letters etc
• more complex word processing tasks such as posters and mail merging typically to create address labels
• producing leaflets and posters
• producing and printing address labels
• using your digital camera
• manipulating digital photos - remove red eye; brightness/contrast; rotation etc
• using spreadsheets for monitoring expenditure
• using a scanner
• website creation
• file management - sounds boring until you 'lose' a file in your computer!
• "How Do I.....?" - question and answer session on the issues of your choice!

Technical support can cover many issues amongst which could be:

• unbiased advice on upgrades or new purchases
• installation of new printers, scanners etc
• slow or 'dead' computers
• creating a backup system for your computers
• setting up e-mail and internet access
• setting up broadband
• creation of a home network to share computers, printers and internet
• setting up of wireless to use your laptop on your broadband
• installation of new hard drives, DVD drives etc
• installation of extra RAM (memory)
• installation of new computers
• transfer data from old computers to new computers
• reinstallation of Windows

Beginners are especially welcome - believe me when I say that there is no such thing as a stupid question that I haven't asked myself in the past!