Backing Up Your Data Can Be A Stress Saver

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Whenever you purchase a new computer, or if you’re still using your current one, there’s one thing that can not only save you a lot of money but save you from a lot of stress as well. It’s called data backup. Nothing is worse for computer users than losing an important document or file, but it can be avoided if you have a data backup plan in place.

Purchasing an external hard drive for example is one of the simplest ways of backing up your data and easily plugs into your computer’s USB port for easy access and to transfer your data. While manually copying your data is still a preferred method to make sure the documents you want get copied, there are software programs that will back up your data to an external hard drive automatically. If you have a PC, Windows 7 does have a built in data backup plan in the control panel called Backup & Restore. Though it’s pretty basic you can set it up to automatically backup your data at a certain time. There are other software programs you can purchase for computer to data backup like SycnToy, Comodo Backup, FBackup, and others.

If you have a Macintosh it also has a backup utility called Time Machine built into the operating system and if that doesn’t work you can try other backup software like ChronoSync, Data Backup, SuperDuper!, amongst others.

Another route to save your data that is getting a lot of attention these days is online backup. Places such as Carbonite and Mozy offer affordable means to backup your data online. Generally for online backups you load their software and then configure it for the times you want to have the data saved. It then uploads the data to their server for storage. Just remember that someone could have access to your information but this could be a lifesaver should your external hard drive fail or your computer dies.

The bottom line is, your data can only be saved if you want it to be. But if you find it valuable the expense of putting in a plan to keep it backed up and safe is well worth the price you’d pay if it gets accidentally deleted or lost.

If you need help solving your computer issues, give Panther TEK a call at 480-980-8541. We offer computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services to residential and small business customers throughout the Phoenix metro area.

Networking Is A Great Way To Get Your Business In Front Of New Customers

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Getting the word out about your business is important in helping its growth but what are you doing to truly get it recognized in front of people? If you are advertising mainly through online channels, you might want to consider another route, face to face networking. While a good connection can be made when someone contacts your business after seeing a listing online, meeting potential customers in person gives them a chance to really get to know you.

While some have found out about Panther TEK’s computer repair services online, we still attend networking functions not just because we have to get the name out there but also to allow potential customers to get to know us on a more personal level. Panther TEK’s owner for example loves to talk about cats and the company’s brand has gotten a bit more known because of that. Panther TEK, also supports a local cat rescue group Safe Haven For Animals which is a big topic of conversation when we attend networking events.

Customers like to be connected with companies they do business with. It’s been said that people will do business with others they’ve gotten to know and trust. When you attend networking functions for your business, you give people a chance to connect with you and vise-versa. Yes, even for businesses it’s OK to see if a customer will indeed be a good fit for your services.

Next time you’re invited to a networking event, accept the opportunity  graciously and with positive mindset. Who knows, you might just meet a your next long term client at an event.

Panther TEK specializes in computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services for residential and small customers throughout the Phoenix metro area. If you need help with your computer give us a call at 480-980-8541. You can also find out more information about our company by visiting our web site at www.panthertekit.com.

Could Best Buy Store Closings Signal The End Of Geek Squad?

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Could the announcement of Best Buy closing 50 stores across the United States (including a few in the Phoenix metro area) be the beginning of the end for the Geek Squad and convince consumers to finally buy local for their computer repair needs? It certainly looks that way, and probably at a very good time. Smaller businesses like Panther TEK which specializes in computer repair and troubleshooting for residential and small business customers in the Phoenix area is preparing for a new flow of customers, which might finally see that going to small local companies for their computer service needs will not only save them money but also help the local economy as well.

For years, smaller computer repair businesses like Panther TEK have had to battle Geek Squad for business as more consumers thought that going to the local Best Buy and using the Geek Squad to solve their computer problems was the answer. While they (Geek Squad) have gained a significant amount of customers in the marketplace, they also have lost them as well. Panther TEK is starting to see an increase in service calls for its computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services in the last year or two. Some of the customers that are now using Panther TEK’s services were once patrons of Geek Squad.

“We talk to our customers and discovered that one of the biggest reasons they started using our services was because they wanted real value for their money. They also were looking for solid service as well. People will do business with companies they’ve gotten to know and trust. That takes time,” said Panther TEK’s owner, Nohl Rosen.

With Best Buy closing more of its stores, there’s going to be a void to fill when it comes to computer repair services. Consumers will wonder where they can take their computers to be fixed, which means more local companies are going to have the opportunity to service their needs. Hopefully, Panther TEK will be one of the companies they remember when they need service. It’s sure starting to look that way.

If you need computer help, give Panther TEK a call at 480-980-8541. Panther TEK offers computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services to small business and residential  customers throughout the Phoenix metro area.

Not Sure What To Do With Your Tax Refund? Getting Your Computer Maintenance Done Is Never A Bad Idea

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Have you received your tax refund and not sure what to spend it on? While some might choose to get a new computer with their refund, others might that don’t want to give up their current system might want to think about maintenance. In fact, making sure your computer is working properly can be not only a life saver but also a money saver as well.

In fact, spending part of your refund on maintenance for your computer whether it’s an older model or newer one purchased within the last year or two can save you lots of headaches later on. Often times, we’re telling customers that by having their computers checked out every so often to make sure they’re free from viruses, malware, spyware, and other infections is always a good idea. Also, making sure their computers are free from dust and other issues which can affect your computer’s hardware is also a good idea.

Another good plan is making sure you have a data backup plan in place. If you don’t, purchasing an external hard drive is never a bad idea. In fact, it’s recommended should your computer suddenly die due to problems with the motherboard, suffer hard drive failure, or any other catastrophe that might affect your system. Having your data backed up in more than one place can certainly be helpful in reducing the stress of the situation because one of the biggest frustrations for users hen computer problems arise is loss of data.

Overall, refund or not, giving your computer a regular checkup isn’t a money waster. Should you need help give us a call. Panther TEK is always ready to serve our customers when their computers have problems.

Do have computer issues and need help solving them. Then give Panther TEK a call at 480-980-8541. We specialize in computer repair, troubleshooting and installations for residential and small business customers throughout the Phoenix metro area.

New Computer Troubleshooting Scam Attempts To Trick Consumers Into Giving Up Personal Information

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A new computer repair scam has surfaced which could put consumers at risk for identity theft. It starts off with a phone call to random consumers telling them that their computer is infected with a virus, malware or spyware and that it needs to be cleaned up. The caller will tell them that they are from Microsoft or a computer repair company and they’ll then request to access the consumer’s computer remotely in order to solve the issue. If they’re unable to do so, they then try to sell the consumer they’re calling a fake virus protection package to solve the issue. Of course, what they’re attempting to do is steal both your data and your identity.

Panther TEK is warning customers that if you receive these types of calls to not only document them, but also don’t give those calling your personal information. Also, simply hang up.  If your computer is truly infected with a virus, malware, spyware, or other problem there will be obvious warning signs (computer running slower than normal, suspicious pop-ups, etc) and calling a local professional to deal with the issue is usually the best course of action.

“Normally, a reputable computer repair company like ours won’t call you to tell you that your computer is having problems. Usually, the customer will call if they are having issues which is normal procedure. You also should never have to give your personal information in order to solve a computer issue,” said Nohl Rosen of Panther TEK.

Rosen also suggests that to prevent viruses and other infections from harming your computer is to keep your virus, malware, and spyware protection up to date and scan for them once a week.

If you need help with your computer give Panther TEK a call at 480-980-8541. We offer computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services to residential and small business customers throughout the Phoenix metro area. You can also find out more information about Panther TEK by visiting the company’s web site at www.panthertekit.com.

 

 

Safe Haven For Animals Needs More Food To Feed The Cats In Their Care

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In 2010 Panther TEK started a cat and kitten food drive to help out Safe Haven For Animals, a local no-kill animal rescue organization that specializes in helping cats in the Phoenix metro area. The ultimate goal is to collect 2 tons of cat food and so far we’ve collected 1300lbs but with kitten season now here, they are in desperate need of food as their supply is low.

So, once again Panther TEK is reaching out to the public to join us in our quest to get Safe Haven the food they need. While we may solve computer problems for our customers, we feel it’s always a good thing to help the cats as well. Safe Haven is a special place which is giving cats a great chance at a good and loving forever home.

We hope that this year we will collect the 2 tons needed to feed all the cats in their care. Even in an economy such as ours, Panther TEK remains committed to completing this task while at the same time helping to keep our customer’s computers running smoothly.  Will you help us in our quest to keep the cats of Safe Haven fed? Hopefully the answer is yes.

For more information about cat and kitten food drive to help out Safe Haven or if you need your computer problems solved, visit Panther TEK’s web site at www.panthertekit.com or give us a call at 480-980-8541.

 

Panther TEK Not Yet Ready To Raise Prices

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Like many small businesses Panther TEK is facing the decision on whether to raise rates in the face of rising gas prices. So far, Panther TEK isn’t ready to pull the trigger which is good news for all of our customers.

The gas prices which are hovering around $3.80 a gallon here in Phoenix are definitely putting small businesses under the gun to come up with ways to survive, especially when some analysts are predicting that gas could reach $5 a gallon by Memorial Day. Service based business which travel to the customer’s location will certainly be in demand as more consumers stay closer to home in order to save gas.

Panther TEK is well prepared to service those customers needing a computer tech to come to their location to do the work. By keeping our current prices at the present time will make us one of the most affordable computer repair companies in the Phoenix metro area. The high gas prices also won’t affect our response times and certainly will stay consistent with providing high quality service.

We hope you’ll consider Panther TEK the next time you need your computer problems solved. We enjoy not only connecting with our customers but also building long term relationships with them. Give us a call today.

If you need computer help give us a call at 480-980-8541. We offer computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services to residential and small business customers throughout the Phoenix metro area.

 

 

 

 

Keeping Your Business Presence Up To Date Online Can Help Customers Find You

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At Panther TEK we’ve always recommended that customers get their computer maintenance performed in order to make sure things are running efficiently and of course to save money. However, when it comes to your business, are you giving it the attention it needs in order for customers to find you? If not, you may want to spend some time getting your company’s name out there, especially online.

More and more consumers are looking to places like Google+, Facebook and even Twitter to find the goods and services they need. By keeping these three outlets for your business up to date, your business can certainly attract customers or at least make it easier for them to find your brand.

Another way for customers for customers to find your business online is by blogging and also keeping your web site up to date. Adding video is also a great touch and if you have a YouTube channel, make sure you upload videos about your business. Panther TEK often uses video to reach an audience that might need our computer repair or troubleshooting services. In some of the videos, we’ve offered free tips to help keep your computer running smoothly.

By utilizing video, social media and blogging, it can also help in your search engine optimization (SEO) and definately make it easier for customers to find you. Another final tip is to make sure you claim your business listing on places like Google. Like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube, it’s all free.

Hopefully, these tips will help your business soar and allow customers to find you.

Are you having computer problems? Then give Panther TEK a call at 480-980-8541. We have computer troubleshooting, repair and installation services to help residential and small business customers achieve their IT goals. We offer service throughout the Phoenix metro area.

Do You Want To Save Money On Your Computer Repair Bill? Get Your Maintenance Done!

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With gas prices climbing higher, people are wondering what they can do to save money so they have more of it to put in their vehicle’s tanks. If you haven’t done it yet, now is a good time have your computer maintenance done. Checking to make sure your computer is free of viruses, malware, spyware and other problems which can impact your business is a good place to start. Having the right protection for these issues and making sure the software is up to date and working properly can indeed be a money saver.

Also, in the case of desktop computers making sure your computer is free of dust is also good as well. Over time, dust can build up inside your computer which can cause your components to overheat. When that happens you might end up having to replace parts, which can add up to a much costlier repair bill.

If you’re starting to see problems with your computer, it’s almost never good to wait to see if they resolve themselves. You can indeed save money when you deal with a computer issue early. If you wait on them in an attempt to save money or to see if the issue resolves itself, it could lead to a larger computer repair bill. If you’re running a business it can impact your company greatly and possibly result in the loss of revenue.

Here at Panther TEK, we’re constantly reminding customers that by doing the basics, it can help prevent some big problems from happening later. Another time saver and a potential money saver is to back up your data. Having an external hard drive for example to copy your data to is a smart investment. There are some decent hard drives that you can buy (depending on whether or not they’re on sale) for $100 or less.One rule is to make sure your data is backed up in more than one place. By doing so, if your computer hard drive suddenly dies (or suffers a major crash) the data can then be retrieved from another source.

While you may end up replacing the hard drive or getting a new computer (depending on the situation) it’s a much better option to retrieve data from a backup source instead of sending a broken hard drive to a clean room to have your important data retrieved. To have your data retrieved after a hard drive fails can cost $700 – $1,000 if you have to send it to a clean room.

Hopefully, these tips will help. Though the cost of gas and food may be going up, the cost to fix your computer doesn’t have to if you’re willing to invest a little time and money.

If you need help solving your computer issues, give Panther TEK a call at 480-980-8541. We have computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services available to help you achieve your IT goals or solve any issue you may be having. Panther TEK also offers service throughout the Phoenix metro area for both residential and small business customers.

Local Computer Repair Company Likely To See An Increase In Service As Gas Prices Climb

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With gas prices on the rise, more people are changing their driving habits in order to save money. While small businesses are bracing for less traffic to their establishments, Panther TEK could see more customers needing their services when they need computer help.

As you know, we provide computer repair, troubleshooting and installation services for residential and small business customers throughout the Phoenix metro area. However, the key to Panther TEK’s success has not only been that we provide excellent service, but also because we come on-site to the customer’s location to do the work. In fact, more customers are asking and even requesting that the computer technician come to their location to do the work when they are having a computer issue. For us, it’s a good fit because that is one of the areas we specialize in. Why go out to a store to have your computer problem solved when the technician can make the housecall?

Those businesses that specialize in bringing the service to the customer could benefit greatly. In the computer repair game, service is a big factor and now because of the fuel prices convenience may also be added as a big advantage to consumers. While some computer repair companies charge a trip fee to cover the cost of fuel if a technician has to go on-site, Panther TEK has included it in the hourly rate. This has saved the customer money and makes us pretty affordable.

However, the decision to raise rates for any company like ours is always tough and adding a fuel charge is a possibility. Though many options are being considered, we’re also doing what we can so the customer doesn’t feel the pinch. When gas prices hovered close to $4 per gallon, many small businesses like ours made the painful choice to raise rates. Luckily, most of our customers were prepared and still today we’re pretty reasonable in our pricing.

Currently, compared to much bigger companies we’re about $50 – $75 per hour less than the closest larger competitor. As gas prices are expected to rise above $4 per gallon, this means smaller locally owned businesses like ours are still going to be a bargain. Some customers before choosing Panther TEK for their computer needs reported they were paying $125 or more per hour at places like Data Doctors and Geek Squad. Depending on the issue, that can really add up to a large some of money as more consumers are now deciding to refocus their spending in order to not only save money but also have it available should certain problems arise.

For example if a larger company charged $150 per hour (as customers have reported they got charged through Geek Squad), and it takes the technician 4 hours to complete the work, that is $600. For us at present time that would be $300 for the same 4 hour job. As a smaller company we don’t have a large overhead and thus can keep prices pretty consistent with what the industry standard is. At present time it’s about $75 per hour which is what we charge for a service call. Another advantage to being a smaller company is that we’re locally owned and operated. This means more personal service for the consumer. Adding value you for your money is important. When you choose quality over quantity that is a huge money saver long term.

Overall, we will continue to serve our customers despite the increased price of fuel. Yes, we’re having to consider a price change or temporary trip charge to cover costs, but at present time remain steadfast that our prices will remain the same. Of course, we also value feedback from our customers as well. It’s all a part of providing the best service possible.

If you need help solving your computer problems, give Panther TEK a call at 480-980-8541. We offer computer troubleshooting, repair and installation to customers throughout the Phoenix metro area. For more information about our company you can also visit our web site at www.panthertekit.com. We’re also on Facebook and Twitter as well.