OS Push

With the soon to be released Windows 8 operating system, a whole flood of new problems will come with it.  But the largest of these issues all of will have to face is one we can't change.  This latest iteration of Microsoft's flagship product marks a drastic change in the way your computer will work.  And sadly, this change in operation is not for the better.  The Metro interface, as industry insiders have been calling it for months, will operate almost entirely like the Windows phone operating system.  This renders desktop work almost impossible, and shows that Microsoft has lost concern for the workplace and just wants their products to look pretty, even if they no longer do anything.

So, we here at Digital Fruit have  decided to try and do something about this.  Ubuntu Linux has grown tremendously over the last two years, and now stands as a viable alternative to both Windows and Mac OS.  We will be giving this system our full attention and support.  We'll also be aggressively pushing the sales of desktop computers and laptops with Ubuntu.  We can save. People almost $100 dollars per desktop.   So welcome Ubuntu in to the family, it not just the new kid in town anymore.

Internet Access

So, Digital Fruit is devoted to the cause of bringing everyone decent internet access.  In support of an ideal championed by groups like the European Pirate party, that the flow and access to information is a basic human right.

We are currently working on systems to provide free internet access to our customers of lower incomes, and we will always provide free wifi on any of our campuses.

Let us know if you have suggestions, desires, or concerns.

That Time of Year Again

So, with school back in full swing and computers getting more use than they have all summer, it is time again for the dreaded computer virus outbreaks that plague our favorite machines.

And that is why it saddens me to say we have already had an outbreak of the Alureon trojan and bootkit.  I'm just going to leave a link to the Wikipedia page here to describe it to you, but even if you don't click the link, know that this virus is bad, like Russian Mafia bad.  The kind of thing that kills your computer and takes hours to remove and restore your data.  This is ugly.

And the worst part is, its sneaky enough it slips past anti-virus software piggybacking on less than savory software packages you may be installing.  So, best advice to prevent an outbreak, don't install it if you can't trust it's source.

Other than that, go luck, and I hope you don't catch the bug, cause this doctor, at least, is booked.

Plethora of Used Parts

Now, when it comes to computers, I know as well as anybody that most of us love the shiny and new.  But with the ongoing problems with economic instability, I have to say that Digital Fruit has always been about reusing.  More than 66% of the computers we operate on are refurbished.

So the point of this article today is to promote the use of a refurbished computer.  Many of us have computers that have bit the dust, and are just sitting in a back closet, or have even had to give up on using a computer because we can't afford a new one.  But things don't have to be this way.  Digital Fruit, through our many business transactions have acquired parts that we have no computer to put them in.  Things as simple as DVD drives and as necessary as CPUs, and we have the ability to sell them at a fraction of the cost they originally sold for.  So please, before disposing of your old computer in the dumpster, please reconsider.  You may have a completely usable PC, just waiting for a few dollars in recycled parts.

Its ALIVE!!!

We have power!  So, after procuring an inverter we did a test run on the solar panel, we've found everything to be in working order.  Our next step will be to get a battery and a water-tight container to house it.  Then our first steps towards energy independence will be complete.

Digital Fruit Small Business Conference: Fall Edition

So, due to a lack of attendance, but a positive reaction from those who were there, we will be having a second go at the Digital Fruit Small Business Conference.  Some time in mid-September, we will be re-introducing the topics discussed at our last conference.  I would like to remind those attending that there is a $25 dollar entrance charge, and that lunch will be served after the first session block.  We look forward to having you there.

Inactivity

I feel I need to apologize.  Recently, with a plethora of business and personal problems, I have not been able to address customer's computers in a timely manner.  To any of you trapped in this seemingly endless cycle, I give my deepest apology.  I'm sorry.

Things have been improving, though, and the back log of computers in the shop is starting to clear out, so I should be able to finish things up soon.