A Diverse Background
Making Understanding your business my business ( i need something better here)
When looking for a consultant, it’s best to have someone with a broad history in not just computers. A wide variety of experiences means a wider range of possible solutions. And not all solutions are the same. Sometimes the best way isn’t the newest, and sometimes the old way isn’t the best.
Combining skills in the old way — mainframe-based computing — and the new way — personal computing — and the return to the old way — cloud-based computing — means you can leverage the best of the technologies.
Michael Trout
If it has a keyboard, I can help
I started in computers with permission to play around with the Hewlett-Packard terminal in the Audio-Visual room before class in high school. The terminal was connected to the local Community College’s HP minicomputer (we’d call it a mainframe today). A few years later I was a clerk working for a division of Encyclopedia Britannica when they plopped an IBM PC/XT on my desk. ‘Here – use this,’ they said. So I learned. Daily management reports on a spreadsheet, spreadsheet programming, word processing, databases and database programming, then a time clock system.
Then a job with computer in the title – PC Specialist, then MIS Manager. Full circle – I ran the same kind of HP mainframe I used in high school. Networks, multiple locations networked via modem and dedicated lines. moves, mergers, buyouts. Novell Netware and Microsoft Windows Server, integrating Macintosh computers, remote desktops. Then came PDA’s that were eventually replaced by smartphones and tablets.
Programming databases, porting and rewriting business systems (accounting, job costing, payables, receivables, etc.)
“serious computing chops and a fabulous sense of humor”
The Laundry list
but only the key parts – it would bore you otherwise
Computer hardware – motherboards, video cards, RAM, hard drives, modems, Network – both wired and wireless.
Computer Software – Windows and Mac. MS Office and more (open office, Polaris and others). Utilities, graphics, web design, and more
Printers, scanners, copiers, I’ve even used a cnc milling machine (once).
Routers, firewalls, switches, access points, T-1 lines, cable & DSL.
Small business phone systems (i.e. Nortel Meridian), VOIP phones and systems.
Web site management, domains, various internet tools.
Security – best practices, anti-virus, virus removal, trojans, browser hijacks, spyware removal, to name a few.
