So You Want to Be a Virtual Assistant,
Do You?
by Katherine McCrimmon, Virtual Assistant and Free Agent
Continued
Choosing
a Computer
The
rule of thumb has been that a computer is replaced every three years.
But it is true now that more and more systems are being built for
expansion and upgrading. So as important as your computer is to
you and the success of your business, it is also a good idea to
find a good reliable guru or two for the inevitable upgrade(s).
My
first computer was built to my specifications. Unfortunately, I
didn't know enough about what my needs would be and about information
technology in general to make many wise decisions. In addition,
the local company that I chose was a 'fly-by-night' organization
and went out of business before my guarantee was finished! Fortunately
for me, one of the technicians felt responsible to his customers
and continued to honor his commitment and also remained my 'guru'
for some time after.
A
few years later, I went to the local company I didn't choose
for an upgrade - from a 2.5 gig hard drive to 8 gigabytes. That
computer is still being used! It's old, but functional, I understand
it is still upgradeable -- and proof there are computers almost
10 years old that aren't dead yet! And by the way, that local company
is still in business in Southport, England.
I
tell you this story because it shows the value and the caveats of
having a computer built for you by a local company. A few years
ago many towns had computer wizards and entrepreneurs hoping to
make a go of it. Now large multinationals have more or less squeezed
these small businesses out, with the result that the big stores
now dominate the industry. As a VA you will have to decide what
your computer will have to do for you.
Not
long ago I needed to invest in a new model to keep up with new circumstances
in my life. For the next few years I will be traveling between three
countries and decided that a laptop would be my best option. It
is important to have functionality wherever I am, which meant that
I had to keep in mind technical limitations in other countries.
For that reason, I opted not to go for the new wireless models.
I started with Amazon and browsed through their selection and read
reviews of various products there. Then I visited the websites of
several different manufacturers: Toshiba, Sony, Compaq, Dell, and
Gateway. In addition, there was a great thread on the IVAA listserve,
which was invaluable in helping me to make my decision. Whether
you buy online or in a store, be sure you know what your basic requirements
are, make a list and keep it handy -- it's easy to forget something
when there's a lot to consider.
The
following were my criteria for selecting a laptop:
- 512
Mg of RAM. I do a lot of work with photos, databases, brochures,
and want to be able to have multiple programs running.
-
40 gigabyte or larger hard drive. I need lots of space for large
programs and also for lots of photographs.
-
A CD R/W and DVD drive
-
Three 2.0 USB ports. The 2.0 USB ports ensure that you will be
able to properly run peripherals such as camcorders and CD writers/re-writers.
-
Expandable memory. When I bought my first computer I was assured
that I would never need more than 32 Mgs of RAM nor would I ever
fill up a 2.5 Gig hard drive!
-
Wireless capability at a later date. I don't need it now, but
it does look the way of the very near future. Be prepared!
-
A good-sized screen. I just recently saw a wide-screen notebook
- I really liked it - next time maybe. I'll bet it's too wide,
though, to get into my roll on computer bag - and that just
gets up the aisle of the plane!
After
much deliberation and "to-ing" and "fro-ing" I chose one of the
notebooks in the Toshiba Satellite series and have been very happy
with it. In fact, I'm so impressed with the capabilities and flexibility
of the notebook that I have not gone back to having a desktop model at all.
