shanenin Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 I just got a everex laptop in my shop with Vista loaded on it. The crazy thing is the OS only has 384MBs of memory for the system to use. I assume it has a 512MB stick with 128MBs dedicated to the video card. My client asked me if their is anything that could be done to speed it up. This is a no brainer. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hitest Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 Yeah, I think it is wrong when PC retailers sell Vista units with 1 GB of RAM or less. People think they're getting a deal with these low cost units. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted January 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 I agree. You can have the best processor in the world, but without enough memory your computer just sucks. I cringe when I see people running XP with 128MBs.As to Vista, I ran my laptop with 1Gb actually 896Mbs(128Mbs is decidated to the video card), for about 6 months. It seemed a little slow, but not bad. I just recently upgraded it to 2 gbs. I am not sure if I see a big difference. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hitest Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 As to Vista, I ran my laptop with 1Gb actually 896Mbs(128Mbs is decidated to the video card), for about 6 months. It seemed a little slow, but not bad. I just recently upgraded it to 2 gbs. I am not sure if I see a big difference.Yeah, you probably might only notice a difference if you were doing video editing or some other processor intensive tasks. Do you ever get to work on people's Linux work stations at your shop? I'm certain *nix users will benefit from your experience. I'm happy to hear you're busy at your work site:-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted January 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 No I have not been able to work on any linux boxes, I have done a few OSX upgrades. As of today, I do not even own a linux system. I was short on money and computers, so I brought my linux workstation from my home to my office. I use Acronis, a windows program, to backup up client computers, so I had to install XP on it(my linux system). I really miss linux, someday I will run it again.As to business, it has been great. I am paying my monthly bills of about $2500, and have been averaging about $1500/month left over as profit. This is the busy season for computers. Come April through August my sales will probably drop in half. Then I may start running in the RED. As fast as business is growing, that may not be the case. Lets hope. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hitest Posted January 3, 2008 Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 No I have not been able to work on any linux boxes, I have done a few OSX upgrades. As of today, I do not even own a linux system. I was short on money and computers, so I brought my linux workstation from my home to my office. I use Acronis, a windows program, to backup up client computers, so I had to install XP on it(my linux system). I really miss linux, someday I will run it again.As to business, it has been great. I am paying my monthly bills of about $2500, and have been averaging about $1500/month left over as profit. This is the busy season for computers. Come April through August my sales will probably drop in half. Then I may start running in the RED. As fast as business is growing, that may not be the case. Lets hope.I like that idea of backing up client work stations, that would make for easy data recovery and re-installs, that is a solid use for your Linux box. Bummer that you can't run Linux for the time being; I hope in the future you can pick up a box for Gentoo again. I've got three Linux boxes at home, but, they're ancient units (Pllls), they work okay. I bought all of my linux boxes second hand.I haven't bought a brand new computer in over 11 years. I've been saving my pennies so that I can get a macbook for my daughter ( hopefully she'll let me use it too, lol). I'd love to get new, killer PC hardware for Linux, but, like you I've got lots of commitments and bills to pay.I hope you continue to have a great business year, shanenin, and that you continue to turn a solid profit. Your attitude and work ethic will bring back your customers, I'm sure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trip1red Posted January 4, 2008 Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 u could put xp on there Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted January 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2008 you could but most people don't want to pay the extra cost to upgrade to XP :-) It is about $100 for the license. With that said I have had three cleints that paid me to install XP on their Vista computers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikex Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 Shane,Put together a maintenance agreement. Use a vnc type of software to remote in to the pc's, this way you can have a few jobs running. You can have multiple billable hours for one man hour.Email me or PM me and I can go over some of the things we do. I would not want to cross the line for the board usage.Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted January 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 Shane,Put together a maintenance agreement. Use a vnc type of software to remote in to the pc's, this way you can have a few jobs running. You can have multiple billable hours for one man hour.Email me or PM me and I can go over some of the things we do. I would not want to cross the line for the board usage.MikeI have considered doing something like that. I am kind if curious to how you do things. i may email you. Thanks.Congrats on your certification :-) By the way, what did it take to become a Quote Link to post Share on other sites
intocomputing2 Posted January 6, 2008 Report Share Posted January 6, 2008 As to business, it has been great. I am paying my monthly bills of about $2500, and have been averaging about $1500/month left over as profit. This is the busy season for computers. Come April through August my sales will probably drop in half.not bad at all shane! if you don't mind, what exactly do you do? are you a freelance repair technician or something? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shanenin Posted January 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 I started my computer service(repair) business about 2 years ago with a 1/6 page ad in "Yellow Book". This ad cost me $140/month. The first year I did it part time. The second year I expanded to two 1/2 page ads in both "Yellow Book" and "Dex" yellow pages. These two ads cost me about $1100/month. The ads paid for themselves with a little extra as profit. Towards the end of my second year(last august) in business I leased a location for in a business district. This was a big move. Prior to this, I ran the business from my home. I still hardly feel like a professional, but by definition I am. After two years of doing this, I have got lots of experience. I am probably better at what I do then i give my self credit for. The first year and a half in business I was afraid to split a laptop. Now I am pretty confident in disassembly. But some laptops, like Sony Vaios still scare me. Lucky for my, most people can't afford them. I know less then lots of people on the board, but I know more then most people(in the real world). So that is all I need to make it in this business :-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mikex Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 A couple hours a night a few times a week and the company paid like $150 for me to site for the test.I am workinng on MCDST, it is a 2 test cert. once you pass one test you are a MCP. To have the cert MCDST I need to pass the 2nd test. I used Specialized Solutions for training along with on hand experience.As far as the maintenance agreement it will work out for those who you see more than once. I look forward to working with you on this. It can help when business gets slow.M Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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