Search Engine Optimization
Based in the Ottawa area, we help our clients with their computer and Internet needs. Our specialty is modifying our client's website content to ensure that search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing give it a high ranking. In addition, we offer assistance in the design of web stores to simplify the shopping experience and enhance revenue.
While search engine optimization (SEO) is our specialty our clients often have other computer related needs. Our expertise allows us to help our clients in a variety of ways. We also offer webmaster services, computer network services, data recovery and other computer services.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
PC vs. Mac
There are a lot of people out there with an opinion regarding the whole PC versus Mac competition. Which is better? Which will win? Does anyone really care? For most people its important that they are able to run a quality software suite and surf the web. (For all you power gamers out there, sorry dudes you're a niche. Most game development is for consoles and the continuing trend is to modify console games work on computers so... You might be better off just getting a console.)
Since just about every computer fits this description, the next task is to find a computer that will be reliable. This is the bridge that Microsoft is trying very hard to cross with Windows 7. I feel that for the most part they have done so successfully. Mac OS X is already there and so is Linux. That said, reliability is a funny thing because how reliable your computer is depends on who fixes it when you think there is a problem. As Windows is pretty ubiquitous there are a lot of people who are familiar with it. The Mac is fairly simple and reliable so this is less of an issue but most Mac users are either very tech savvy or know someone who is. This is problem for Linux. If something does not work on a Linux system what do you do? The people who know the answer represent such a small fraction of the population that Linux is likely to remain a fringe product for the next little while.
Right now if you own a Mac you may be considering the upgrade to the Snow Leopard OS. I would not blame you $30 for an operating system is a great deal. For the PC user Windows 7 Home Premium is roughly four times as expensive.
Mac is looking pretty good... It comes fully featured. It's trendy to own one. It's pretty stable. Most hackers don't bother writing viruses for it. There is just one little problem with the Mac... It's very expensive. Even at the low end, a Mac mini is hard to find for under $550 (monitor not included). Paying the equivalent for a PC (assuming you shop around) will give a lot more computing power. The PC architecture is far more open. That leads to problems in compatibility but it also leads to competition and low prices. Mac notebooks start at about $1300. PC notebooks start at about a third of that.
Apple is content to keep that Mac brand as is. "High Quality and Expensive" If you were Steve Jobs you would do the same.
Since just about every computer fits this description, the next task is to find a computer that will be reliable. This is the bridge that Microsoft is trying very hard to cross with Windows 7. I feel that for the most part they have done so successfully. Mac OS X is already there and so is Linux. That said, reliability is a funny thing because how reliable your computer is depends on who fixes it when you think there is a problem. As Windows is pretty ubiquitous there are a lot of people who are familiar with it. The Mac is fairly simple and reliable so this is less of an issue but most Mac users are either very tech savvy or know someone who is. This is problem for Linux. If something does not work on a Linux system what do you do? The people who know the answer represent such a small fraction of the population that Linux is likely to remain a fringe product for the next little while.
Right now if you own a Mac you may be considering the upgrade to the Snow Leopard OS. I would not blame you $30 for an operating system is a great deal. For the PC user Windows 7 Home Premium is roughly four times as expensive.
Mac is looking pretty good... It comes fully featured. It's trendy to own one. It's pretty stable. Most hackers don't bother writing viruses for it. There is just one little problem with the Mac... It's very expensive. Even at the low end, a Mac mini is hard to find for under $550 (monitor not included). Paying the equivalent for a PC (assuming you shop around) will give a lot more computing power. The PC architecture is far more open. That leads to problems in compatibility but it also leads to competition and low prices. Mac notebooks start at about $1300. PC notebooks start at about a third of that.
Apple is content to keep that Mac brand as is. "High Quality and Expensive" If you were Steve Jobs you would do the same.
Labels: Hardware
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Microsoft officially launches Windows 7
As you probably know Microsoft officially launches Windows 7 today. It has been available to beta testers for the last few months and generally the consensus is that is very good. Effectively it provides everything that Vista should have been but was not along with some other features such as touch support.
Next year Google plans to launch Chrome OS.
Google announces Chrome OS...
When most people look at Microsoft think of two products: MS Office and Windows operating systems. If you are feeling generous then you might add their game console (Xbox) division. Google has already produced an operating system called android which is designed to run on high-end phones. Chrome OS is a little different in that it is intended to run on netbooks.
Based on the article Chrome OS seems to be a lot like Linux. It will even be open sourced so anyone with the time and inclination to modify their operating system can.
Although Windows 7 and Chrome OS are aimed at different markets it is now very clear that Mircosoft and Google are in direct competition. The next few years will likely prove to be a difficult fight for both companies.
Next year Google plans to launch Chrome OS.
Google announces Chrome OS...
When most people look at Microsoft think of two products: MS Office and Windows operating systems. If you are feeling generous then you might add their game console (Xbox) division. Google has already produced an operating system called android which is designed to run on high-end phones. Chrome OS is a little different in that it is intended to run on netbooks.
Based on the article Chrome OS seems to be a lot like Linux. It will even be open sourced so anyone with the time and inclination to modify their operating system can.
Although Windows 7 and Chrome OS are aimed at different markets it is now very clear that Mircosoft and Google are in direct competition. The next few years will likely prove to be a difficult fight for both companies.
Labels: Google versus Microsoft
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Next Wave
What's next for a company that dominates Internet advertising revenues? While I am certain Google is pursuing a variety of new technology and services one that has many very technical people very excited is Google Wave. Never heard of it and want a 80 minute video introduction?
The Google Wave Video Introduction!
In short Google is in the process of "reinventing" email. The "send" is not needed as Google Wave sends data immediately, even when different people are editing at the same time. Additionally, photos and media are easily shared. Individual "conversations" can easily be modified to include new participants. The conversations can also be integrated into a blog where blog responders who also have Google Wave enter the "conversation". When the conversation is updated the blog entry is also updated automatically.
It is designed to support instant messaging and mobile devices.
The spell checker is rather nice too. It takes context into account to indicate when a spelling error occurs even if the word exists.
Labels: Google Services
Monday, October 5, 2009
Google versus the Yellow Pages
A good client is worth their weight in gold. I firmly believe that most businesses are run by people who remain ignorant of the importance of the web. For example, there are plenty of companies out there who spend a lot of money for yellow page ads but are reluctant to pay a fraction of that for a good website. What these companies often do not appreciate is that many people do not have a land line and therefore don't have that yellow book at home. Chances are people already have a cellphone so what do they need a land line for?
The other aspect to this is that the most valuable consumers are people with good disposable income who tend to be older. Thus, using the yellowpages is still very effective at this time because most people with high disposable incomes have land lines. That said, a smart business should focus on bringing in new clients and a young client who likes your service may eventually graduate to being an older wealthy client.
Based on this one would think that every business would want to ensure they have a good presence on the Internet. My experience is that many businesses think they do but they do not. For example, I've yet to meet someone in a business who did not claim that their page was optimized for Google. That's great. Unfortunately, the people who tell me this have rarely understand what it means.
Modern search engines rank your website according to on page factors and links to your site. Of these two, the links to your site are more important provided the links have some relevancy to the content of your site.
The truth is clients don't care about website optimization. They just want to be at the top of Google for keywords that potential clients will enter into a search engine to find them. If you are #1 on the results page would you care about website optimization?
You would if you were proactive...
The other aspect to this is that the most valuable consumers are people with good disposable income who tend to be older. Thus, using the yellowpages is still very effective at this time because most people with high disposable incomes have land lines. That said, a smart business should focus on bringing in new clients and a young client who likes your service may eventually graduate to being an older wealthy client.
Based on this one would think that every business would want to ensure they have a good presence on the Internet. My experience is that many businesses think they do but they do not. For example, I've yet to meet someone in a business who did not claim that their page was optimized for Google. That's great. Unfortunately, the people who tell me this have rarely understand what it means.
Modern search engines rank your website according to on page factors and links to your site. Of these two, the links to your site are more important provided the links have some relevancy to the content of your site.
The truth is clients don't care about website optimization. They just want to be at the top of Google for keywords that potential clients will enter into a search engine to find them. If you are #1 on the results page would you care about website optimization?
You would if you were proactive...
Labels: Blogging and Search Engine Optimization