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Things Real Estate Agents Don\’t Want to Hear When They Call Tech Support

by Peter Y. Zanthian on Mar.02, 2010, under Hobbies

I\’ve been teaching real estate agents how to leverage technology in their businesses since the early days of DOS and when mobile phones were called Car Phones because they had to be bolted to your automobile because there were no batteries small enough to carry around or antennas that didn\’t require a windshield to be suction cupped to. One of my crowning achievements was to work for the company that literally introduced the laptop computer to the real estate industry. Back then it weighed about ten pounds, had a monochrome screen and a hard-drive smaller than what an iPod Nano can hold today. A lot of things have changed since then.

One thing that hasn\’t changed in all these years is the pain and hassle of calling for technical support when your little do-dad won\’t turn on or freezes like a deer in headlights. I have two PowerPoint slides I still use today in seminars that list the answers to this article\’s title. Two of my favorites are: \”Do you have a brick or a sledgehammer handy?\” and \”Please hold for Mr. Gate\’s attorney.\” I\’ll hang on to the rest in case I\’m ever in town for a live seminar ;) .

The truth about tech support, especially as it pertains to real estate software, is the fact that almost none of the people you call have actually used the software you are calling about. In fact, it would be safe to say that NONE of them have ever sold real estate. In other words, the people you are calling don\’t know how the software \”works,\” they just know how to handle error messages. It\’s this little subtlety that is at the core of so much dissatisfaction with technical support for programs like Top Producer and AgentOffice. Here\’s an example: you are trying to do a mail merge in the word processor for a group of contacts and every time you click the print button you get one letter and then the printer stops. After three or four tries you finally call tech support to find out what is wrong with the software. After a few minutes (or hours) on hold you finally get to speak with a technical support person who takes you through a series of questions like: \”Does this happen when you use other programs to perform a mail merge?\” to which you answer, \”I don\’t know, I don\’t have another program that performs mail merges.\” They then take you down a rabbit hole of different diagnostics with your printer only to discover that there\’s really nothing wrong with your printer. After another hour of running checks on the software you are informed that there doesn\’t appear to be anything wrong with the software either. I even remember one particular customer who was told by a tech support person that, \”Maybe you shouldn\’t try to use it to do mail merges!\”

The main problem all along is that there was an \”educational\” issue instead of a \”technical\” one. When you were printing out your Real Estate Contact Management list you tried preparing a form letter from a different part of the program. Then again it might have been one minuscule step that didn\’t take place. You know, like telling the software to print \”to the contact\” not \”to the group.\” The worst part is most of the tech support on staff has no idea this is an issue when preparing a mail merge. However, they are well versed to make you feel like an idiot when using your Real Estate CRM software.

Then of course you can\’t forget about the cost attached to inferior technical support. Top Producer says their tech support is free, but you actually pay $39 a month for the program. AgentOffice gives you a month free when you purchase their software, but if something goes wrong you have to pay $295 for a year long support contract. Heck, this is the same price as purchasing the program!

What it comes down to is if you get trained properly, none of these issues arise. The only problems you should come across will be software issues and not \”educational\” ones. I like to call it the equivalent to a good health strategy. How does that old saying go; \”An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?\” So get trained so you don\’t have technical support people saying you need duct tape, batteries, a safety pin and a black sharpie to fix your problems with your Real Estate Contact Management software.

If you are in need of Agent Office Software than look no further then AOExperts.com. AOExperts.com are expert in the field of Agent Office Support .

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Leave a Comment :agent, business, finance, Hobbies, home and family, homes, houses, information, people, property, real estate, real estate Agent software, software, technology more...

CompTIA A Plus Careers Training – Options

by Jason Kendall on Mar.01, 2010, under Hobbies

CompTIA A + has a total of four exams and sections to study, but you only have to pass two of them to be thought of as qualified. Because of this, many educational establishments stick to just two options. However, training you in all four will help you to build a far deeper level of understanding of your subject, which you\’ll come to realise is essential in the commercial world.

As well as being taught how to build and fix computers, students on an A+ training course will be taught how to operate in antistatic conditions, along with remote access, fault finding and diagnostics.

If you add Network+ training to your A+, you will additionally be able to assist with or manage networks of computers, meaning you\’re in a position to move further up the career path.

The classroom style of learning we remember from school, involving piles of reference textbooks, is an up-hill struggle for the majority of us. If this sounds like you, dig around for more practical courses which have a majority of interactive, multimedia parts.

Memory is vastly improved when we use multiple senses – this has been an accepted fact in expert circles for decades now.

Interactive full motion video involving demonstration and virtual lab\’s will beat books every time. And you\’ll actually enjoy doing them.

You must ensure that you see the type of training provided by the company you\’re considering. Be sure that they contain video, demonstrations and various interactive elements.

It doesn\’t make sense to choose training that is only available online. Because of the variable quality and reliability of your average broadband company, it makes sense to have actual CD or DVD ROM\’s.

Quite often, students have issues with one area of their training which is often not even considered: The breakdown of the course materials before being sent out to you.

Typically, you will purchase a course staged over 2 or 3 years and get posted one section at a time – from one exam to the next. This may seem sensible until you think about these factors:

Many students find that the trainer\’s usual training route doesn\’t suit. Sometimes, a different order of study is more expedient. And what happens if they don\’t finish in the allotted time?

In all honesty, the best option is to have a copy of their prescribed order of study, but to receive all the materials up-front. It\’s then all yours in the event you don\’t complete everything within their ideal time-table.

It only makes sense to consider study programs which will move onto industry acknowledged certifications. There\’s an endless list of minor schools suggesting \’in-house\’ certificates which are worthless in today\’s commercial market.

If the accreditation doesn\’t feature a conglomerate such as Microsoft, CompTIA, Adobe or Cisco, then it\’s likely it could have been a waste of time and effort – because it won\’t give an employer any directly-useable skills.

Searching for your first position in IT can feel more straightforward with the help of a Job Placement Assistance service. In reality it isn\’t a complex operation to land your first job – as long as you\’re correctly trained and certified; because there\’s still a great need for IT skills in the UK today.

One important thing though, don\’t wait till you have completed your exams before getting your CV updated. As soon as you start studying, enter details of your study programme and tell people about it!

Having the possibility of an interview is more than not being known. Often junior jobs are got by trainees (who\’ve only just left first base.)

Generally, you\’ll receive better performance from a specialised and independent local recruitment service than any training provider\’s employment division, because they\’ll know the area better.

To bottom line it, as long as you put the same commitment into finding a position as into studying, you\’re not going to hit many challenges. Some students bizarrely put hundreds of hours into their training course and then just stop once they\’ve got certified and seem to expect employers to find them.

(C) S. Edwards 2009. Visit Comptia Courses or acertification.co.uk.

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Live Online Video Game Play

by Philip Woods on Feb.15, 2010, under Arts & Entertainment

There are many different phases to playing the different video game systems existing on the market. Then, there are those people that simple enjoy relaxing in the privacy of their own home so as to meditate on the game systems they choose to play. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this process since many people find it to be quite enjoyable. However, there are also those that might have a means of expanding their success and fun with gaming.

A common means in which many people will employ to enhance the quality of the video game playing and that deals with the ability to play live online video game sessions. Investing a little bit of time playing video games with various like minded individuals all over the world can be a lot of fun.

Is it difficult to take part in an online variant of gaming? No, it is not only not tough it is a pretty easy process and the only thing you need to do is sign on to the live version of the gaming console. Xbox has an excellent online version known as Xbox Live and it attracts millions of people to sign up to the system and take part in online gaming. There are many online games to take part in and such variety will be enjoyed by many people.

And yes, there is a unique and amazing world that exists in the arena of online live video game play. When you are taking part in these gaming adventures, you will discover that the essence of the live session revolves around interacting with others that can make the session much more exciting.

What is it about such adventures that can be so exciting? There are a few things that can make it so very exciting. One of the most common reasons the excitement levels are so high is that the ability to predict what will happen in the game is next to impossible. You will be playing with and against various other gamers and their actions cannot be predicted in the same degree an automated system will be. This inclusion of a human element allows the entire gaming experience to be one that is certainly not predictable.

And, of course, working with other players allows you to develop skills related to teamwork. While some may overshadow these skills in their discussions of gaming, one should never look past their clear and obvious value. And, once again, such teamwork can really only be procured by working with online gaming ventures.

Game play also becomes more of a social interaction when you are taking part in live play with other members. Some may enjoy the solace gaming provides but then there are others that would rather prefer the process of interacting with others in the online world. Some will find this type of gaming to be the most fun and rewarding of all. Consider that another endorsement for live gaming online.

Since live online game play involves being connected to gamers all over the world, it is possible to take part in game play 24/7. This means no matter how brutal your current schedule might be, you will always retain the option to be able to take part in online adventures. That basically means there will never be any dull moments in your life because the online realm awaits!

Learn how to download Wii Games and visit Philip Wood\’s web site and learn how to download Wii Games by following this link.

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The History Of Xbox360 Revealed

by Todd Schuyler on Jan.30, 2010, under Hobbies

Welcome to my Xbox360 report. This report will detail the origination of Xbox360. The Xbox360 was coined after a marketing firm that it hired conducted a survey which asked people whether they thought the Xbox evoked a more \”next generation\” or \”next-gen\” sound. It was apparent that Microsoft was having worries at that time that sticking to Xbox2 as the name of its new video game console would make it appear or sound older or less \”cutting-edge\” than its main rival, the PlayStation 3 or PS3.

Keeping such a concept in mind, Microsoft announced in the beginning that it has successfully produced a set of fresh 360 backwards compatibility update of the Xbox which the firm is scheduled to release anytime within the week. This is in keeping with the company\’s commitment to concentrate on the continuous improvement of the console\’s features. Peter Moore, the game\’s top honcho, said the updates are presently having their final testing at Microsoft. Once completed, these will be released to the market sometime this week. This generated a huge buzz.

Aside from the compatibility updates, the Xbox360 game is also was reported to have a special feature that has the capability to perform maintenance functions in the console\’s storage devices. A video game player, who recently purchased a copy of the video game, said the console\’s cache can be cleared simply by going to the system blade, then to its memory. From there, the player said, one can press Y on either the HDD or the MU. The said player consequently posted his observations on one of the console\’s numerous websites.

A Microsoft representative did confirm the existence of the said feature. However, he tried to make it clear to those who purchased the Xbox game console that while the HDD clearing feature is a part of the game\’s entire electronic processing system, it is also a part of the technical support process. Ideally, it should only be utilized in instances when technical operations are involved. Moore said that while the said Xbox360 feature, when utilized, will not really harm or cause severe damage to the console, still it is recommended that it be used only a few times and only upon proper instructions from a qualified Microsoft customer service staff member.

The latest model of the Xbox is considerably much smaller in size than its predecessor. It also has the obvious looks of a 21st century set top box. In addition, the game also contains a removable hard drive that is located on the left side of the console.

In general, the Xbox360 is, for all intents and purposes, is a very powerful console, a stylish next generation video game that has amazing top-of-the-line and cutting-edge features. It promises to provide an amazing digital visual enjoyment. This Xbox has a variety of hot as well as new game titles ranging from science-fiction, to adventure, to action, to sports, and to practically anything that the human mind can imagine.

If you are interested in downloading Xbox360 games go to Download Xbox360 Games. This is the only exclusive Xbox 360 games download service you will ever need!

Download Xbox360 Games is a UnbelievableXbox360 Website! Thousands are already downloading Xbox360 games right now! Dont miss out, be the envy of all your friends! Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.

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How To Play The Violin Like A Master Pro- A Brief History Of The Violin

by Todd Harmons on Jan.30, 2010, under Music

Welcome to my history of the violin lesson. The violin history runs for centuries as an instrument that is used in various musical genres like classical, pop, jazz and country. It is a small, hollow stringed instrument with a long neck and four strings tuned from low to high; with each note having a perfect fifth to the one below it. This article covers a brief history of the violin. If you want to learn how to play the violin like a master go to this Violin Master Pro Site

The violin is made of different types of wood where the top is usually made of spruce while the sides and back are usually of maple. The fingerboard of the violin is usually made of ebony; however, sometimes ivory is used. Violin strings were originally made of gut but today they are made of different materials. The different kinds of violin strings give different tones and sound quality. Some violin strings also stay in tune, and last longer than the others. Violin strings today are usually metal, synthetic core or gut strings.

Metal violin strings produce pure, clear and loud tones and are easy to play. Beginners and intermediate players prefer using steel core strings. The synthetic core violin strings are made of the nylon perlon and produce subtler sounds than metal strings and dont have to be tuned often.

Today, there are also electric violins that send signals via an electrical pickup device. There are also electric violins that work only when plugged in. Electric violins have a solid body design with wiring and batteries found in its body. Electric violin makers today can use their imagination to decide on the shape of the electric violin since it is fairly new invention

Violins are best bought in violin stores for a better range of violins. There are some violin stores that sell violins from different manufacturers, and some that manufacture their own violins. Some violin stores also rent out violins and sell used violins. As new violins cost between two hundred to twenty thousand dollars, beginners usually rent violins or buy used ones. Whatever the case, make sure that the violin comes with a violin case to provide it protection from any damage.

I hope you enjoyed this violin history article. If you are looking for a more complete solution to learning the violin, from start to finish, this is your answer. Violin Master Pro Site is here.

ViolinMasterPro is your complete, online video package to learning how to play anything on violin. It is an inspiring complete solution to mastering the violin and is easy to apply. All you have to do is download the videos and mp3s in a step by step instructional sequence.

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