Computer Port hosts on June 10th the E-peaks After Hours for technology workers, staff, and enthusiasts. Come by to see our demo systems, chat with a technician, and learn about the various offerings Computer Port has for local technology workers and businesses. Starting at 5:30PM the doors will open and catering will be provided by Chef’s Market from North Conway.

Join us for E-peaks After Hours at Sound Resort in North Conway across from Shaw’s and Burger King on Rt. 302. Mingle and enjoy the company of fellow technology workers and staff from across the valley and tour Sound Resort’s demo rooms while you’re at it, and don’t forget to say hi to the Computer Port Staff!

Remember to join us June 10th for Computer Port’s After Hours where you can experience the vast offering of technology here at the store and meet the staff and other technology workers.

Click here to view the flier!

Safer Kid Computing

“We don’t need a scare campaign, but we do need to educate kids about the basic rules of Internet safety.” – Michael J. Miller, PC Magazine

We need to teach our children that the Internet is like a very large city. There are lots of good things, some bad things, and a few very bad people.

Teens may be posting too much personal information online. They should never give out their home address and phone number online, should be particularly careful in chat rooms, and never meet with anyone who approaches them in a chat room, especially without parents around.

Consider Using These Guidelines in Your Home

Purchase a Comprehensive Anti-virus / Anti-Spyware Software Product - Free downloadable anti-virus software and spyware sweeping programs often provide the most basic protection, unlike of the paid-for editions which will provide the fullest protection with automatic updates and scheduled hard disk sweeps.

Enforce a Common Area - Always make sure children use the computer in an area where you can easily keep an eye on them.

Use a Timer – Use a time-based method to prevent Internet use (or computer use) during off hours.  It’s built into Windows Vista’s User Accounts (even generates user-activity reports for you), and also in most parental-control software. You may even find a setting in your network router.

Limit Gaming - You limit their time on the PC, so limit their time on game consoles also.  Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii can limit kids’ play based on ESRB ratings for games. Xbox also sets limits based on MPAA ratings for DVDs. PlayStation 3 has different restriction levels. (Reset that default password of 0000, or Junior will reset it for you.) Xbox Live now includes a family timer, to prevent too much gaming per day or per week.

Your Teens Are Smarter than You - Teens find out fast if a parental control is limited to a certain kind of browser or software and will just download something new to avoid the restrictions their parents have imposed on their Internet browsing and instant messaging activities.

Beware of any new Internet software - especially if it has been installed without your permission. Most “freeware” and “file sharing” Internet software must be actively installed by the user. By doing so, you can give that same software permission to be ignored from being monitored by your computer’s anti-virus software.

For more information, check out these websites and others like them or give us a call.

Internet Safety:  Monitor internet, email & chats. Top-rated software, easy to install:  www.AwarenessTech.com/Protect_Children

Internet Security Software:  www.pctools.com

Internet Safety Software:  Reviewed By Experts – See their top choices for 2008.  www.Top-Parental-Control-Software.com

Source: PC Magazine; www.pcmag.com

Computer Port would like to announce it’s attendance of the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Business to Business Expo at the Mount Washington Hotel on Monday, May 5th.

We will be closing for the day in order to give the valleys businesses our full attention and to introduce new businesses to the concept of Computer Port’s Service Blocks our IT Solution and Preventative Maintenance Plans.  Please come by and visit us at our display booth, which will be filled with the latest equipment for Peak Performance.  Talk to our technicians, who are friendly and knowledgable and will introduce you to cost saving business solutions for your technology and hardware needs.

We hope that we can provide you with a deeper level of understanding about our operations and how they can save you as a business money and lessen stress.  Our Service Block Plans involve solving problems before they happen by routine checks for stability, performance, and consistency, rather than after they’ve caused damage.  By having a service block, you actually save money, both by purchasing labor at a discounted rate, and by ensuring that problems are detected before they cause more problems.  

Tom Albert, the president of the company and manager of service block accounts, will be happy to talk to you about your specific setup and how we can help.  Our full staff of technicans, Chris, Brandon, Larry and Karen, make up the Computer Port team that supports you when you need it most. 

Computer Port has donated an external hard drive in the MWVCC silent auction, so make sure to put in a bid to increase your computing storage!