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Go Ahead, Touch the Screen

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on July 27, 2008 · 4 Comments

It made me feel so naughty. It is so ingrained in me to not touch an LCD screen for fear of marring the surface that using the new HP Touchsmart PC made me feel like I was breaking the rules. That feeling subsided quickly.

The HP Touchsmart PC is the latest all-in-one computer system to hit the market. Much like the Apple iMac, Dell XPS One and Gateway One, the HP Touchsmart PC incorporates the entire computer into the monitor housing. No need for a separate CPU cluttering your desk or floor, this class of computer is a dream for those with limited space.

What separates the Touchsmart PC from the competition is the inclusion of a 22″ touchscreen monitor. As tablet laptops have done for years, the Touchsmart PC allows you to interact directly with objects on the screen. Better than a tablet laptop, though, since it was designed to be used with your fingers instead of a stylus.

The similarities between the Touchsmart PC and a laptop computer go well beyond just the touchscreen technology. Looking at the specifications [Read more...]

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Save Money on Your Electric Bill

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on July 3, 2008 · 3 Comments

My computer speakers are always on, whether being used or not. This is because the manufacturer failed to add a power button. Since climbing under my desk to plug or unplug them is unrealistic, the speakers remain on all the time.

This lack of ability to power down isn’t uncommon with technology. Many scanners, printers, external hard drives and speakers are very difficult to shut them off.

The push for being green and the need to save money in this real estate market calls for a [Read more...]

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Print Contracts And More from Your Car

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on June 26, 2008 · 9 Comments

For nearly 2 years now, I have been trying to write a post on mobile printers. The idea has always intrigued me. The ability to print contracts or a listing flier from your car or a coffee shop seems like the perfect fit for the mobile real estate agent.

The problem that I have had in writing the post has come that my experiences with mobile inkjet printers. Poor print quality and speed, and fragile [Read more...]

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Have You Outgrown Your Router?

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on May 25, 2008 · 10 Comments

Let me guess, the oldest piece of technology in your home office is the router. Am I right?

This holds true for most real estate agents. There just doesn’t appear to be a compelling reason to invest in newer technology. That is what I thought until I did a little research. Since then, I have retired my trusty 802.11g router for a new, cutting-edge model.

Originally, you probably bought your router so that multiple computers could share a broadband connection. Plus, the added benefit of a wireless signal gave you the freedom to use your laptop from the couch. For these simple needs, that old router is fine. I’m here to tell you that your needs have grown beyond those simple tasks.

Ask yourself these questions to identify how your home network needs have changed:

  1. Do you work primarily from home?
  2. Has your broadband connection speed increased (10 Mbps compared to 1.5 Mbps)?
  3. Do you have a network connected printer, external hard drive or maybe even a new Windows Home Server?
  4. Have you used VOIP (Skype) to make phone calls and video chat?
  5. Are you a YouTube junkie?
  6. Have you filled up your iPod by downloading music from iTunes?
  7. Have you conducted an online meeting (GoToMeeting)?
  8. Are you or your child known as a master of Worlds of Warcraft?
  9. Have you remotely accessed your home computer (GoToMyPC)?
  10. Are your recent vacation photos on Flickr?

I was going to come up with a scoring system to provide a numerical value, but that would be too much like Cosmopolitan magazine. Just know that if [Read more...]

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Windows XP Service Pack 3 May Cause More Issues Than It Fixes

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on May 13, 2008 · 30 Comments

I started writing this article from the standpoint that a third service pack to the already stable Windows XP operating system could only be a positive thing. Unfortunately, my opinion changed once I installed the update on my own computer.

SP3 is Microsoft’s final push to address issues with Windows XP before it is all but pulled from the market this summer. Once this happens, whether you are a Vista fan or not, that will be the only Windows choice available for purchase.

Windows XP SP3 is quite a letdown in comparison to the added functionality seen with Service Pack 2. Service Pack 2 gave new life to Windows XP, making you feel that the massive download and installation was worth the effort. The reality is that no real estate agent will directly benefit from SP3′s new feature set.

Issues with Service Pack 3 Installations

While you may not notice any benefit from installing SP3, you might be [Read more...]

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Save Money On Your Technology Purchases

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on April 13, 2008 · 12 Comments

I am what you might call a “bargain hopper”. It gives me great pleasure in knowing that I purchased something at the lowest possible price.

The slowing of the real estate market and the economy as a whole has made everyone a bit more frugal and willing to go to a bit more effort to find a great deal.

Allow me to show you a few tricks to saving money while still keeping on top of the latest real estate technology.

Discounts on Computers

First of all, never pay full price on a computer. In fact, don’t even settle for a sale price. A simple Google search and a bit of good timing can save you so much more money.

When making an online purchase, have you seen [Read more...]

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Service Pack 1 Released For Windows Vista

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on April 7, 2008 · 2 Comments

Where does the time go? It’s hard to believe that it has been over a year since the release of Windows Vista. As a sort of birthday present, Microsoft has completed Service Pack 1 for Vista. Unlike Service Pack 2 for Windows XP, you will not see much in the way of new functionality. The focus of SP1 is stability, compatibility and performance.

This means that your Vista computer may seem to have more pep after the upgrade. File transfers should complete faster, and problematic peripherals just may run smoother.

Reviews of SP1 are mixed. Some tests are showing speed improvements, while others don’t show much difference. One thing that reviewers [Read more...]

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When It Is Time to Call in a Professional

By: Chad A. Johnson · Posted on March 17, 2008 · 2 Comments

In my article, “Do You Treat Your Car Better Than Your Computer?”, I provided 8 ways that real estate agents can keep their computer performing at its best. There are times when simple maintenance isn’t enough. This is when you need to call in a professional.

Remember that you are a real estate agent and not a computer technician. Top agents know the value of an hour of their time and realize that spending 4 hours trying to fix their own computer costs more than having the system repaired by a technician.

From experience, trust me when I say that while your brother-in-law, cousin or neighbor may have good intensions, don’t turn to them unless repairing computers is what they do for a living. I have seen countless instances where matters were made worse by someone offering free assistance.

Where do you turn when you need a professional computer repair technician? Luckily, there are several options from local computer shops to big box store in-house repair to online support companies.

Here are just a few of the options available to real estate agents:

  • Local Computer Shops and Technicians – There is something satisfying about supporting a local business person (especially if they will be buying or selling a home in the future). Many times, you can find a technician with much more experience than those working for the big box stores. There is more risk, though, since you don’t have a large corporation backing the work. Check out Chris Pirillo’s article and video, “Find Local Computer Repair” tips on finding a reputable local technician. One example of local support would be Loren Nason of Future of Real Estate Technology.
  • Geek Squad – Probably the best know of the big box store services, the Geek Squad is Best Buy’s in-house computer repair team. You can have a “geek” fix your computer in 1 of 3 ways, you can bring your computer to a Best Buy, a “geek” can come to your house, or they can take over control of your computer remotely and repair many problems using your Internet connection.
  • Firedog – Not to be outdone by Best Buy, Circuit City has created it’s own version of the Geek Squad, called Firedog. Their services and pricing are very similar to what the Geek Squad offers.
  • Staples – Staples is now also offering its “EasyTech” computer support service. They can assist with repairs, maintenance and upgrades by phone, mail, in-store or at your home or office.
  • Plum Choice – The grandfather of online computer support services, Plum Choice repairs your computer by taking control of your system remotely. Plum Choice is such a dominant player in this field that they provide online services for other companies, such as Firedog.

Just as having an attorney and CPA that you can rely on and trust is essential to the success of your real estate business, so is having a computer repair technician. As the saying goes, “time is money”, and time without email or the MLS is costly.