I would like to take the time to send a shout to all of our advertisers. These guys help pay the bills around here (we are on a dedicated server, rather than cheap shared hosting) so I’d like to give them an extra plug.
Read the rest of this entry »

The year 2009 has almost come to an end and it is also Technibble’s 4th year of operation. The site has grown to the point where it had 62% more unique visitors than last year.

I’d like to thank you, the readers, for helping us create a great community for computer technicians. Without your comments, opinions and experience Technibble wouldnt be the place it is now.

Over the last year there have been about 120 non-blog articles and I have compiled a list of some of the most discussed and “must read” articles in case you missed a few:
Read the rest of this entry »

Our software competition this week was a success with 721 people entering it, but there can only be 3 winners. So, for the 718 of you who didn’t win, I got you the next best thing – Discounts!

• Instant Housecall is offering 10% off any package.
• CommitCRM is offering $50 off (works out to 20% off single employee version or 10% off three employee version)
• Podnutz is offering 10% off their Laptop Repair Video package.
• SUPERAntiSpyware are offering 50% off SUPERAntiSpyware Professional
• And I am offering 20% off the Technibble Computer Business Kit

Read the rest of this entry »

The Technibble Software Giveaway was one of the biggest giveaways that we have had to date. The combined value of the 3 packs we were giving away was $2979 ($993 each). The competition is now over and I would like to announce the winners.
Read the rest of this entry »

Technibble is holding a competition and we have heaps of software for Computer Technicians to give away. I have 3 software packages to give away and each package includes:

• Instant Housecall – Commercial Remote Support Software – One Year License of Instant Housecall Express Edition Unlimited Use – Worth $588
• CommitCRM – Client Management/Relationship Software – Lifetime License of CommitCRM 5.2 Software Including 1 Active Employee License – Worth $249
• Podnutz Laptop Repair Video Collection – Training Videos to Repair Laptops – Worth $67
• Technibble’s Computer Business Kit – Forms Used in the Computer Business Worth $49
• SUPERAntiSpyware Professional – Anti-malware Software – Lifetime License of SUPERAntiSpyware Professional – Worth $40

This makes the total value of each package $993.00 USD!

So, what do you have to do to enter? Simply fill out a very short 8 question survey that we are conducting to help improve Technibble and you are in it to win one of the 3 packages!

Winners will be chosen randomly and the competition closes on the 30th of November, so better get in quick.

COMPETITION CLOSED – Winners to Be Drawn This week.

Laptop repair can be tricky. There are hidden screws all over the place, a certain order you have to pull it apart and sometimes the spare parts are hard to find. Laptops are also prone to damage that a desktop wouldnt normally have such as being dropped or having a damaged DC jack.

Steve Cherubino, who was computer technician until he went full time podcasting has worked on thousands of laptop computers in his shop and would now like to share his laptop repair knowledge with you in the form of high definition, narrated, downloadable videos.
Read the rest of this entry »

The SUPERAntiSpyware Professional Lifetime License Competition has come to an end and I would like to announce the winners.
Read the rest of this entry »

Someone should check the thermostat in Hades, because I never thought I’d see this day. Google announced this morning that Google Apps, the corporate and public versions of its popular mail, calendar, chat and document software, no longer wear the beta tag.

Since its launch on April 1st, 2004, Gmail has worn the ‘beta’ tag, even after adoption by millions of home and business users and over 5 years of development.

Speculation has been rampant as to when it would finally leave beta status. A five-year development cycle isn’t the norm for almost any software, unless you’re developing ground-breaking, world-changing games, and many mocked Google for using ‘beta’ as a crutch for so long.

It’s about time. Welcome to Release Candidate land, Google. Now, can we talk about integrating custom signatures and mail templates? Love, Ryan.

The makers of SUPERAntiSpyware (which is a great malware removal product that many technicians use) have provided me with 10 SUPERAntiSpyware Professional LIFETIME licenses to give away.
Read the rest of this entry »

Technibble is on Twitter. Actually, we have been on Twitter for some time except we just havent announced it. If you dont know, Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service and allows you to send short text messages called “tweets” to your friends and followers. Some people use it to announce what they are doing right now to their friends and businesses often use it to send out small updates. I use it to send out things that I believe a technician would find interesting, but isnt worthy of a full blown Technibble post. I also use it to keep in contact with other technicians that read Technibble.

The last few things I posted to Technibbles Twitter was:

• Creepiest casemod ever? http://is.gd/nd8x
• A technician just posted a clients attempt at replacing a laptop power jack. Wont charge afterwards for some reason: http://sn.vc/89Hu
• In response to my Mac post. After some of the Techs got into a PC vs Mac fight, one tech finished it off nicely. “I, for one, am in this business to make a living… not to pick sides.”
• Following my Mac post. I’m surprised that some techies refuse to work on them. It’s not a lack of technical knowlege, they just refuse. I think that’s crazy. What better client to have than a cashed up Mac user thats a computer novice? Most of the work is really easy.
• Someone taking 24 x 256gb SSD drives and RAIDing them (2gb a second transfers): http://tinyurl.com/9lnrld
• Silly Microsoft: http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/7922/funny.jpg
• China’s Electronic Waste Village slideshow. Lots of computer parts in there: http://tinyurl.com/7g6uab

Unless you already have a Twitter account you may not care that I am on Twitter, this post is more for the people who are so they can follow and chat with me @technibble. However, in the few months I have been using Twitter I have found it an invaluable resource to talk to big guys in the industry, fellow technicians and get new information about the tech world very quickly, long before it ends up on any websites.

You can use the Twitter on its main website, you can use a Firefox plugin like Twitterfox or you can use your mobile device as most of them have an application for it.

So, if you are a Tweeter already, follow me as 555 other Tweeters have at @technibble

If not, you can check out this site for more information about what it is, why you would want to use it and how to get started.