Consult

Things change quickly in the computing world and it's easy to miss the opportunities that new technology can bring to your business. Without specialised knowledge of the current market place it can also be hard to decide which technology is best suited to your workflow and to your budget. With our in-depth knowledge of the latest Macs and the latest technology, we can give you professional and independant advice on the ideal system for your business. Contact us for a quote and to arrange a consultation.

Hardware

Hardware changes regularly and it's hard to keep track of what's new, what's old and what's best for you. Do you need the latest G5s, or would iMacs be sufficiently powerful? Which machine has the best price/performance ratio? Which machine will last you the longest? Can you use all of your current hardware and software with this machine? We can answer all of these questions and more to ensure that you don't pay for something you don't need and that you don't install a system that doesn't meet your requirements.

Software

New software can often be as expensive as new hardware, so it's equally important that you know which is the best for you. Is the latest Mac OS upgrade worth the price? Will the new Photoshop cause problems with your current workflow? Is it viable to switch from Quark XPress to InDesign? Whatever your software needs we can advise you on the most appropriate and cost-effective software solutions for your business.

Mac OS X Migration

Mac OS X has numerous benefits over earlier versions of the Mac OS. Improved stability, improved networking and many cutting-edge technologies and features that improve the reliability and productivity of your Macs. There are, however, numerous pitfalls related to moving from Mac OS 9 (or earlier) to Mac OS X. You may need newer versions of your applications, such as Quark 6 or Photoshop CS. You may need to replace one application with another, for instance ATM is not available for OS X, yet Suitcase X1 is an excellent replacement. Hardware may need upgrading, newer drivers might need installing and adaptors may be required for legacy serial or ADB peripherals. We can guide you through the pros and cons of the migration process so that you are aware of any possible problems and we can advise you how to avoid them. We can then, if required, perform the installation of Mac OS X and your new software.

Networking

Network technology is often seen as one of the more complicated and arcane disciplines in modern computing. Without specialist knowledge it is almost impossible to know what is the ideal solution and it's hard to know what is possible. We provide that specialist knowledge so that you can always be assured that you have the ideal networking solution for your business. Whether you want a wired (ethernet) network, a wireless (Airport) network or a hybrid solution, we can advise you on the necessary hardware, such as routers, switches, wireless equipment and servers. We can then design and install the system for you. Other connection technologies,including Broadband (ADSL and Cable), ISDN, VPNs and more can also be evaluated for you and an appropriate solution suggested. We are also able to advise on specialist solutions such as Fibre Channel networks for professionals dealing with real-time video editing and similar high-performance tasks.

Aside from networking hardware, we can also advise you of the possibilities available with the latest Mac OS and Mac OS X Server. With Mac OS X, networking on the Mac platform has taken a quantum leap in capability. Macs running Mac OS X integrate seamlessly with Windows, Linux and Unix servers and desktops, as well as with Macs running older versions of the OS. This opens up a whole new world of options and many performance improvements and cost savings can quickly be made by a minor restructuring of your existing network. The latest Mac OS X Server can give your Mac network new functions and capabilities and also act as the server for your Windows, Linux and Unix clients.