• Networking at the office
• How clean is your PC?
• Mobile devices

and also:

• some more people I'm enjoying working with
• Flying Doctor franchises

We're all connected these days and we all want our computer systems networked. So what are the best ways? Well, nearly everything comes with wireless WiFi built in and your internet provider has probably sent you a wireless router. So at base, it all looks great until you find problems.

You see wireless isn't so much magic as a black art. You might find the signals are blocked by wall. There might be so many WiFi networks around that you can't get much space to transmit.

So you need an alternative and there are two options: Ethernet and homeplug. Many people are familiar with ethernet. All you have to do is run a cable between the router and the computer. Simple, but what if I have to drill through two floors, or I'm renting and can't make holes?

Enter Homeplug or powerline. This uses your electricity system to connect devices. Now it's not going to be as fast as Ethernet but will be up there with WiFi – and anyway if your internet is 4Mbit/sec, does it matter whether your network is 85 or 1000mbit/sec? Not really.

You plug two or more boxes into mains sockets and wire your devices to those. Now you have a network using existing cabling.

Right, you are thinking, anyone else with a homeplug can connect to my network. Well, up to a point. You have to authorise the new connection and more importantly, the signals don't get beyond your fuse box. But you do have a network.
 

Your PC is also helping to clean your house! Yep, the many fans are sucking air through the case and it's acting just like a dustbag.

So does this matter? It does, as a hotter computer becomes less reliable - and slower as it tries to protect itself.

Right, let's clean it. Now, there's not a lot you can do with a laptop beyond put a (real) vacuum cleaner nozzle against all the slots and grilles that you can see.

But if you have a desktop, grab a 1-inch paintbrush and follow me if you are confident

First, unplug the main case from everything – you might want to take a photo if you are unsure about where things go - and take it outside.

Now we open up the case. These vary, but in most instances the side of the case opposite to all the sockets and connections will unscrew and slide off. Sometimes the top and sides come off as one unit and some Dells hinge open.

So how bad is it in there? Leave all the parts ion place. Use a vacuum cleaner and crevice nozzle to remove what dust you can – but avoid crashing into stuff. Then use the paintbrush to gently loosen any more dust that you can see, especially around and in the CPU heatsink. That's the big aluminium finned plate near the centre under a fan.

Now a final vacuum and put everything back. Well done

We're seeing lots of new gadgets – smartphones, tablets, netbooks – almost arriving by the day.

So which is best? Well, it depends on what you do when you are out and what you have back at the office.

Well, The Flying Doctor has come up with a decision grid to help.

However, if you are only going to have one computer, then make it a laptop with a big-enough screen and keyboard.

If you are looking for an additional computer, then we need to consider two main aspects:

Now the first question is what will you be doing away from the office?

• If you want to create original work, then note down 'A'

• if you want to access, take with you and refer to stuff you've done, then 'B' is the one for you

• if you want to use the web, then you're a 'C'

and where will you be doing it?

• At a desk, then remember '1'

• on your lap or on coaches, trains, cars, '2' is the number

• On the hoof – walking, lounges, etc you are a '3'

So now the decision grid. Find ther cell that matches your letter and number:

And the answers:

* is a laptop (powerful)

# is a netbook (smaller and lighter)

& is a tablet (a touch-driven screen)

@ is a smart phone (easy to carry)

(and if you are an A3, you're plumb out of luck.)
Once we have the category, now we can compare machines in terms of battery life, wifi/3G and stuff.

People that I'm working with

BBK media is a full-service media shop, helping you with these challenges and opportunities:

• Sales of advertising within a publication
• Profit share of advertising sales
• Copy writing Support
• Sourcing writers for articles and reports
• Sourcing researchers for statistics
• Layout design for third parties contributing to your publication
• Interviewing, either virtually, or face to face
• Pictures and photography
• Project managing the whole process of production or just attending production meetings
• Co-ordinating with your existing design team to ensure consistency

Access to our own Network of contacts and specialists to support your business and promotional material
Promotion of your organisation, as a client, to our Network where a synergy exists.
Some of these are done by the in-house team, others from a wider network of trusted and high quality specialists in their fields.
Core products are

• Single, or multiple page promotional literature
• Newsletters
• Magazines
• Annual reports
• Reviews
• Theatre Programmes
• Guides and Maps
• Stationery and Business Cards
   

• Website text (copy), both static and frequently updated for SEO
• Magazine and newspaper articles
• Email newsletter articles
• Press releases
• Case studies
• Text for brochures, leaflets and other printed material

Franchising opportunities
The flying doctor is expanding the fleet and there are franchise opportunities across the country.

Thank you  for your support that has taken my business to a high altitude. The next stage has taken off - putting flying doctors into every town in the UK. There are still fantastic opportunities for people to join the team.

The flying doctor is  looking for enthusiastic individuals, with a  passion for computers, who  really enjoy working with people. You can help them run their own business!

If you know people who would like this opportunity then ask them to call the flying doctor on 01865 748197 or email
franchise@theflyingdoctor.biz to start on their success.