New Address and Phone Number We have added a brand new phone system. Our toll free number is still 1-800-PC-AMERICA or 1-800-722-6374. All extensions have remained the same. Our new local phone number is 845-920-0800. Our new fax number is 845-920-0880. Our new tech support fax number is 845-920-0888. Our new mailing address is pcAmerica, One Blue Hill Plaza, Second Floor, Box 1546, Pearl River, NY 10965. Our shipping address (UPS, FedEx, etc., is the same as above without the “Box Number.”

30% Growth Rate. Our most valuable asset is our customers. We have grown by more than 30% in the past year. With over 25,000 customers and 100,000 contacts, our goal is and has always been to personally know each of our customers and give them the best service possible. We actually send our employees behind the counter at retail stores and restaurants to get a feel for the businesses that we computerize. We believe that it is that closeness to customers that has helped up improve our services, retain our customers, and grow at a 30% plus growth rate.

Become a pcAmerica Reference

If you would like your business highlighted in our newsletter, please email to We just need a couple of photos and some information about your business. Your business will also be listed on our web site.

Comments, or Ideas

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pcAmerica Tidbit

Affordable Ink Jet Cartridges.

If you own an HP Ink Jet Printer (or other brands), you know that replacing ink cartridges will set you back by about $50 and high quality paper costs about $19. Staples sells remanufactured cartridges for $31 and Premium Paper for $10. According to an article in PC Magazine, cheaper paper and remanufactured cartridges reduce output quality. It may not matter if you are printing reports, directions, or spreadsheets. However, if you are printing a family photograph, you may care.

Read the entire article at:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1832537,00.asp

Every Retailer and Restaurant Needs A Web Site

We recently met with the owner of a local deli. He has a great deli, but absolutely has no knowledge of computers. What was interesting is that he actually has a Web Site. The Web Site was created by his 15 year old son. The Web Site isn’t particularly good or memorable. However, it is a Web Site. The owner, who “knows nothing about web sites” told me that he gets several calls each week from people who have visited the web site and at least one new customer a week calling from out of town who are looking for a place to eat.

It’s kind of amazing how many customers go to even an amateur web site to get information. More than 50% of everyone in the United States is doing something on the internet. A large portion of internet users search for all types of things daily. In an informal survey, we found that less than 10% of retailers have a web site.

OK. So you know nothing and want a web site. Actually, you must know something since you are reading this newsletter. Here’s how to get started.

Go to register.com. Pick a domain name (like www.timberlandbootsofnowhere.com). Register.com will let you know if the name is available. Follow the steps online and you can have a web site up and running in less than an hour. The cost for a 5 page web site is less than $10 per month.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just put your store name. Add the main items that you sell (shoes, boots, clothing, cigars, whatever). You now have a Web Site.

So, someone searching for timberland boots in Anywhere, Iowa will quickly see that you have a local store selling Timberland Boots.

Register.com is only one of many organizations that can help you build a real quick and simple web site for less than $10 per month. If you don’t have the time or desire, hire your son, daughter, wife, or employee to do it for you.

No matter how small you are, you will profit from having a web site. Don’t worry about the quality. Just get yourself on the internet. Later, you can add some photos, information and even an email address.

Every retailer gets bombarded with local newspapers and organizations trying to get you to advertise in their publication. A less than $10 per month investment will get you far more responses.

So...go to register.com and let us know how you do. Once you have your web site, we can add you to our reference list and add a link from our web site to your web site.

#4 of 10 Essential Things You Must Know About Your Computer

Virus Protection

Every computer needs modern up to date virus protection especially if you are receiving emails or accessing the internet. Probably everyone knows this by now.

However, more than 75% of all computer users have out of date virus protection. Most people who get a virus are using a computer with older virus programs or protection that has not been updated. It is very rare that a virus protected computer with updated virus definitions will be infected by a virus.

No matter what anti virus software you are using, you must update your virus definitions about once per week. The virus definitions contain a list of all known viruses. Updating once per week will insure that you are fully protected all of the time.

We recommend Norton Antivirus 2005. It is easy to install. It is easy to use. It is relatively unintrusive, virus definitions are performed automatically in the background without user intervention, and it will not slow down your computer.

If you are a Norton fan, the 2005 version is superior to any of the older versions. If you are using Norton Antivirus 2004 or versions prior to that, you are not getting the full protection that you need.

Norton Antivirus 2005 is a PC Magazine’s Editor’s Choice (they think it is the best). You can read the article by going to http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1646457,00.asp.

You may already be using Antivirus Software such as Panda or McAfee. Although Norton AntiVirus is our personal favorite, we can offer you no compelling reasons to switch. The important thing is that #1...you do have working Antivirus software on your computer, #2...you should have the latest version of your Antivirus software, and #3...your Virus definitions should be updated at least once per week.

You should not install more than one antivirus program on your computer. Having two will slow down your computer and will likely cause some conflicts.

Is there any one out there without Virus Protection? Probably about 25% of all machines on the internet have no virus protection. That’s pretty unbelievable. Go to your computer, make sure you have your definitions up to date, and make sure you have the latest version of your AntiVirus software. The $29.95 or $49.95 investment in AntiVirus Software is 100% essential. You can’t do without it.

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