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If you're going to make a major investment in computer equipment
for your home office, you should spend a little bit of extra
money to protect that investment. You've already learned about
virus protection software, but there's more you can do to
protect your computer and the valuable data on it. Consider
these items when making your purchase:
-
Backup Device: Backing up important data is essential
in any office. Back up to your CD-RW drive if you have
one, or consider other options, such as an Iomega 250
Zip Drive (http://www.iomega.com/). If you'll be backing
up a lot of data on a regular basis, you should look at
tape drives. Whatever you choose, make sure you set up
a schedule for regular backups. This protects you in the
event of any system malfunction or hard drive failure
(and it does happen).
-
Surge Protector: Electrical surges, whether from
a problem in the electrical system or a lightning strike,
do happen and they can wreak havoc with your computer,
even destroying your computer's internal electronics.
A good surge protector costs around £40 but could
save you hundreds of pounds in repairs. Don't be tempted
by cheaper units -- this is a major investment you are
protecting. Make sure it's designed to protect a computer
and includes a hook-up for your modem. Surges can come
through phone lines, too!
-
UPS: A power outage while you're working could
cause you to lose a lot of valuable data. A UPS (Uninterruptible
Power Supply) system provides emergency power to your
system so you can save your work and shut your computer
down properly. A good UPS device costs around £150.
Onsite Service
You've been good. You've listened to the advice in this course
and taken all the necessary precautions. You back up your
data regularly, you protect your system with antivirus software,
and you have surge protection and a UPS. But something may
still go wrong with your computer. The important thing is
to give yourself one more level of protection, an insurance
policy, if you will, against the worst-case scenario. Get
an on-site service contract.
If something goes wrong with your system, someone comes to
your house and replaces the part for free. You can even get
plans that guarantee response within 24 hours so that you
can get back to business again as quickly as possible. These
plans usually cost around £100 and they are worth every
penny. As a small business owner, your computer is your livelihood.
Don't skimp; buy the service contract. If anything goes wrong,
you'll be so glad you did.
Final Word
So there you have it, all you need to know to make an intelligent
decision regarding a computer purchase for your home office.
Armed with this information, you can figure out what you really
need (as opposed to what you want) and get the most appropriate
set of components for your special requirements, the needs
of a person who works at home in the cozy confines of his
or her very own home office.
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