A Degree in Science Launches One Into Tech World

Like the entire economy, the computer manufacturing industry was hit hard by the recent economic recession. While in the short term this will be distressing for computer hardware engineers, many economic reports are also saying this should be the one field that will turn around faster than any other. Then again, of all the STEM degree (science, technology, engineering, math) professions, becoming a computer hardware engineer has the potential for a truly rewarding future.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer hardware engineers do the research, design and oversee the manufacture and installation of computer hardware. This includes computer chips, boards, systems and related equipment such as keyboards, routers, and printers.

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NRAM – The New Hard Drive Technology That Will Revolutionize the Computer World

Have you guys been noticing how computer hard drive prices have been going down very much lately. Though there are quite a few factors that are the causes for this such as the current recession that we are and the technology keeps improving but there are also other technologies on the horizon that could revolutionize our drive technology to the point that current hard drives available today could become obsolete.

Here I will talk about one major technology that could revolutionize the computer industry just as much or even more than the Internet revolution did during the late 1990s.

The new hard drive technology that I am talking about is called NRAM. NRAM or nonvolatile random access memory is a hard drive technology that is based on mechanical position of carbon nano tubes that are deposited on small substrates, and because the NRAM technology is based on small size nanotubes this will allow you to carry a huge amount of memory in a very small space. The current company that is developing the NRAM technology is called Nantero.

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Printer Service Contracts – Tips For IT Service Providers

Do you offer printer service contracts as part of your computer repair, IT service or computer consulting business?

If so, you need to know how to structure these arrangements so you get paid appropriately for your time.  When it comes to service contracts and particularly bundling in any type of hardware or peripheral repair, many new IT service providers lose their shirts when it comes to phone support.  They want to offer high-quality service, so they make remote support via phone part of their printer service contracts… but often end up not charging enough and essentially giving away this valuable benefit free of charge to their clients.

The following 4 tips can help you structure printer service contracts so you’re not giving away too much free phone support.

  1. Charge the Same for Phone Support as for On-Site Time. When you are billing at an hourly rate, make sure the hours you spend providing phone support are also billed at the same hourly rate.  And when you are figuring phone support into your printer service contracts, do the math properly so your total cost per month is representative of the potential hours you will be spending with your clients both on-site and remotely.  You can expect with remote support that your clients will be contacting you by phone, on your cell phone, and through e-mail.  You can expect to be doing a lot of it, so you need to be compensated appropriately.  If you aren’t correctly factoring in phone support, clients will take advantage of the convenience of instant advice and use phone support when it is not needed or in lieu of on-site time.

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