Choosing a platform for your website

Now that you have decided to get your own website, there are some things you need to work out. If you haven’t already purchased a domain name, that should be your first step. A domain name is the name of your company or business location on the Internet. It is the address for your website. If you have not read our previous post on webjargon and terminology, I recommend that you read it and that you are familiar with the terms
• Domain Name
• Web Host

When it comes to actually designing your website, it is a good idea to shop around for a designer and some ideas on what you want your site to look like. Do you have some favourite colours, or do you need to include a business logo? When choosing a designer, ask if you can see a portfolio of some of their work.

Web Platform types

There are many types of websites a designer may come up with. These could include

HTML

A HTML website is the simplest and easiest form of website. This is usually just a combination of text and images such as

HTML with Flash

This type of website uses Flash animation only in small amounts, such as an introductory header or as part of the navigation system.

All Flash

This type of website is based entirely on Flash animation such as a photo gallery. The navigational buttons and text are all flash scripts.

Content Management Systems

Alternatively, you may wish to use a CMS for your website. A Content Management System is simple to use once it is in place. This may include using Joomla, Word Press, Moodle, among others.

With a content management system, any user given the correct priviledges can create articles just by using a form that looks very similar to a word processor. This makes it easy for those who don’t know anything about websites and how to update them able to add content and update their site on their own without having to pay someone to do it for them.
You can use templates to quickly and easily update the look of your site and use extensions to add shopping carts, discussion forums, quick chat software and many more.

What you choose will be dependant on your requirements, and what you can afford. Have a talk with your designer, and take advantage of their experience and guidance.

So, you want a website?

These days, it seems nearly everyone and his dog has a website. If you are in business, it is becoming more and more important that you enter the digital age and get your name on the Internet. But if it all sounds too confusing for you, or you don’t know where to begin, read on to learn more about some of the jargon and hype to do with websites. What IS a website anyway?

Websites

A WEBSITE is a collection of information that is stored together on a server. This includes the web pages themselves, any images and other documents that you might have available such as tools and forms that you might have available as downloads.

Web pages

A WEB PAGE is a single page of information that is written in a language that the browser can understand. The most simplest of web pages is written in HTML which stands for Hyper Text Markup Language. There are other languages available, but these can be more complex.

Domain Name

The DOMAIN NAME is the name of your place on the Internet. Say you had a website on the Internet at http://www.mywebsite.com. The mywebsite part of it would be your domain name. You have to pay a registration fee to the International Registrar for your domain name to actually appear on the Internet. The .com part at the end tells your visitors what type of business it is and where it is located. Each country in the world has its own extension. A website with a .com at the end is typically a commercial business in the United States. A website with .co.uk is typically a company in the United Kingdom. What you choose as your extension such as .biz or .com or even .net will depend on the type of company you run. The extension .org is usually used for non-profit organisations, while .edu is reserved for registered educational institutions like a school or university.

Web Hosting

A WEB HOST is the company you pay to keep your website on a server. Web servers are special computers that are always on the Internet and have special programs that allow a browser to search the files and find the website or the information required.
There are many types of web hosting – you can even get your site hosted for free. Usually this would mean though that you would not have your own domain name, you may be restricted to the types of files and the size of files you can have on your site, and you may be forced to have advertisements on your website.

Important stuff to know

Before you get on-line consider especially your domain name and the hosting package. If you are in business, you should always own your own domain name and pay for web hosting. Web hosting packages can be cheap, sometimes as low as under $5 per month. Domain registrations can vary, depending on the extension you choose – the .biz, .org, .com. Some registrations are cheaper if you pay for more than one year at a time. Be prepared to pay around $15-20 per year for the registration. Remember, both registration and hosting are tax deductable. Some companies will allow you to pay for your hosting each month, or will provide a discount if you pay for the entire year at once.

Before you sign any contracts, you should always look around and see what you can get for the money. Does the hosting company provide any special benefits such as FTP access, or Control Panel, what kind of support do they offer?

Ask friends or family if they have websites as to what company they use and would recommend. Do they have any horror stories or advice of companies to stay away from?

Do your research thoroughly and know what you are getting.

Work more efficiently with Windows 7

Work more efficiently with Windows 7. Start multiple copies of programs, pin favourites to your task bar and more.

Quick Zoom & other keyboard shortcuts

With Windows 7, you can still use the old keyboard commands CTRL + C to copy, CTRL + V to paste, CTRL + P to print. But now you can zoom in by using the command CTRL + + (plus key) or zoom out by using CTRL + - (minus key). NOTE: for using the zoom command you must use the + and – keys on the keyboard, not on the numeric keypad.
WIN + ↑ Maximise current window
WIN + ↓ Minimise current window

Pin Programs to the Task Bar

The old quick launch toolbar that has been a feature since Windows 95 has been replaced. Instead, the tool bar at the bottom of the screen enables you to pin your favourite programs to enable you to start them quickly and easily.
Click on the WINDOWS icon (the old START button) to launch the menu and select the program you wish, simply right-click on it and choose PIN TO TASK BAR.

Gadgets

Gadgets are small programs or applications that were introduced in Vista, with Windows 7 they have become even more useful. You can use and install gadgets to display the current time and date, receive the latest updates from your subscribed feeds, get information about how your computer is working (if the CPU is working efficiently or having problems.) To install a gadget use the + sign on the gadget tool bar to bring up the list of installed gadgets. Simply select one, right click on it and choose ADD.
To hide or show your Gadgets use the keyboard shortcuts WIN + G.

Switching Displays

Windows 7 will allow you to switch displays if more than one monitor is available by using the keyboard command WIN + P (note: CTRL + P is the command to print, make sure you use the Windows key).
Switching displays will make it easier to switch from single display to multiple, or even to a projector. If you only have the one monitor installed, then the key command will appear to do nothing.

Multiple program copies

You can also start multiple copies of your programs with a single click. Open a program normally from either the programs list or the taskbar. To open another copy, simply click the icon with your centre mouse button.

Sticky it!

Use the built –in sticky notes to easily create notes, to-do lists and more. Type StikyNot.exe into the search box and a yellow coloured sticky note will appear on the screen. Simply type your note, click the + sign to add another note.

Windows 7 tips and tricks

Easy to use keyboard shortcuts and tips for getting the most out of Windows 7

Personalize your workspace

You can change your monitor display to take advantage of the inbuilt themes for backgrounds as well as the size of the text and icons on the screen.

Built in Themes

Windows 7 has built in themes for your desktop background, icons and mouse pointer styles. With the new Aero interface, these new backgrounds are photorealistic. To change your set Theme, right-click on a blank area of the screen and choose PERSONALISE from the popup menu. Select THEMES from the list and a display will appear with thumbnails of the different images contained in each theme. To use that theme, simply click on APPLY button. To close the Window, click on OK.

Adjust the icon & text size

Windows 7 will also allow you to make adjustments to the size of your icons and standard text size. If you are finding it hard to read the information, you can adjust the DPI (dots per inch) to make them appear larger. While in the PERSONALIZATION panel, select ADJUST FONT SIZE (DPI) from the panel on the left hand side of the screen. You can now select between standard (96DPI) or larger (120 DPI), or you can choose a custom setting.

Change the screen resolution

Changing your screen resolution will allow you to either increase the amount of “space on your desktop” to allow for more icons, or it will increase the font size, making things easier to read. To change your screen resolution, select DISPLAY SETTINGS while in the PERSONALISATION panel and use the slider bar to adjust as required. Remember the HIGHER the resolution, the smaller the font will be.

Need a new PC?

These days hunting around for a new computer can be even more scary and can make you feel like you need to be a rocket scientist. With all the advances in new technologies, computers have become smaller, faster and the choice is wider than ever.

Desktop, Netbook, Notebook, All-in-one

Desktops
The traditional tower desktop is just as popular as ever. Desktops can come in many different shapes and sizes and can be purchased as an entire system (with tower, monitor, mouse, keyboard, etc), or the tower can be purchased alone. Most desktop systems include a tower case with DVD drive, hard drive, USB ports & memory card slots. A 19-22” monitor is standard, with most monitors have speakers built in.

Netbooks
A netbook is a smaller “cousin” to a Notebook. It is designed for the ultimate in portability. Netbooks range in size from 7” screens to 12” screens with 10” to 11” being the most popular. Most netbooks do not have a CD/DVD drive which makes them smaller, lighter and more compact. They also have USB ports and memory card slots, and some even have webcams.

Notebook
A notebook or laptop is ideal for those on the go. Combining portability with great power, a notebook is ideal for students and travelers. A notebook has a larger screen than a netbook, on average around 15-16” with DVD drive, USB ports, memory card slots and a webcam.

All-in-One
An All-in-One system combines the monitor and tower base all in one unit, with the keyboard and mouse as wireless devices. Most All-in-One systems can also connect to a TV antenna, allowing it to double as a TV or home theatre system.

What to look for
Before you start looking around for a new PC, make a note of what you will be using it for. If you are just going to be using it for the Internet, for emails and browsing then a Netbook or Notebook might be for you. If you prefer a larger screen or don’t need the portability, then look at a desktop system. Or if you prefer to combine everything: TV, PC, DVD player then you might want to check out an All-in-One.

Specifications
Check out the specifications of the system – ask the salesperson to write them down for you, or if they have a print out for you to keep as a record. You need to know:
• The amount of RAM
• The speed of the processor
• The size of the hard drive

Warranty
You might also want to know about the system warranty, how long is the system guaranteed for, what is covered, and what happens if something goes wrong and it needs to be repaired. Can they repair it locally, or does it need to be sent away?

What does it come with?
Most systems these days come with pre-packaged software. This will include a copy of the Operating System including a product key, and some trial software such as Office.

More Questions
If you have any questions, call us, we’re only too happy to help.

Computer Package Solutions

At Networx Computer Solutions, we can tailor make a computer system to suit your needs, budget and lifestyle. All systems come with 12 months warranty, and can be custom built to your specifications. Add more RAM, upgrade processor or add a graphics card are all options that are available on any of our range of computer systems.

Business Basic $799

• Intel Dual Core 2.7GHz CPU
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 500GB SATA HDD
• 18.5” BenQ Monitor
• DVD Burner
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• MS Office 2010 starter
• Internal Card Reader
• Integrated Graphics
• Keyboard & mouse
• Speakers

Midrange Marvel $1199

• Intel Dual Core 3.3GHz CPU
• 4GB DDR3 RAM
• 1TB SATA HDD
• NVIDIA GT430 1GB graphics
• 20” Monitor
• Blue-Ray Combo (Reads Blue-Ray, DVD & CD/Write to CD & DVD)
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• MS Office 2010 Starter
• Keyboard & mouse
• Speakers

Gamers Package $1499

• Intel Quad Core i5 3.1 GHZ CPU
• 4 GB RAM
• 2 TB SATA HDD
• NVIDIA GT450 1GB graphics
• 21.5” Monitor
• Blue-Ray Burner
• Windows 7 Home Premium
• MS Office Starter
• Keyboard & Mouse
• Speakers