Computers - love them or hate them - it's likely they are here to stay in the business environment for a long time to come. Most SME's (small to medium businesses) have problems with computers in one way or another - whether it's software or hardware or both. This column offers some good tips on various common issues and problems that you will probably experience once in a while in YOUR business. This column is updated monthly.

• When Buying. Try to think ahead as far as possible. This can be a difficult task because computers become out of date very rapidly indeed. It's important to buy products that have good support because unsupported product and SME's = a problem. Careful thought to the supplier of equipment for your company is essential - are you going to buy from that large national chain of shops, or maybe checkout the specialist supplier that offers potentially better support. Usually the specialist costs a little more but the support is better overall. National chain stores have their place, but if support is the main criteria (in business it usually is) sometimes the specialist will hold your account in higher regard and therefore give better support.
   
• When Selling. If the equipment that you want to sell is over a year old - the second hand value may well shock you. Computer equipment is notorious for devaluation as soon as you get it back to work - at a year old, you can bet there's the latest gizmo from Intel and others to make your computer look useless. In reality, the equipment is as good as the day you bought it - the only thing that changed was your expectations of what it can do.
   
• Written Down Value. Never ever write down computer equipment over more than three years - by this time it's probably worthless no matter how clean you've kept it. It is a basic mistake not to change equipment at three years because the new computers will effectively run rings around the three year old systems. Make your business efficient - old computers appear to be so slow to the users. The same job done in half the time makes your company more efficient - it's that simple.
   
• Basic Advice. No matter what your views - if you are unsure what you are doing - seek proper professional advice from a reputable company that has a number of years in the computing industry - always ask and check out their reference sites, otherwise you may well buy equipment that is not suitable or can indeed be a hindrance to your business instead of the efficiency making machine that it should be.

This column is bought to you by Network Systems (EC) Ltd.

Network Systems and the Network Systems Group is in it's 18th year in business and has sold and supported most brands of computer and networking solution.

For further information email them at sales@networksystems.co.uk or they can be contacted on 01782 544700.