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Port Fairy 3284 office +61 3 5568 1709 fax +61 3 5568 1765 mobile 0417 566 134 |
Hi all,
How are
your computers going? If you’ve purchased a PF Systems computer and you’ve got
any suggestions, comments or complaints, then we invite you to fill out this online survey.
What’s in this issue?
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Free 3 year warranty offer! |
VoiP (Voice over
IP)
10c untimed
anywhere in |
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Internet & Mobile
data solutions
Internet
access on the go. |
Is it for you? |
What’s new at PF Systems?
New
models
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Here is
our new range of systems. We have selected this solid micro-ATX case, which
is full width and is a form factor used by HP, Dell and many international
corporations.
Click on
the pictures to check out the features of our new models and the latest
prices as they are updated on a regular basis. The value & performance
boxes come with more disk space for your data (200GB and 2 x 200GB), and with
a multi-format card reader. All systems now come with a one year warranty, 3 year parts and labor warranty can be purchased for $99 extra, and the first 5 buyers of any
model will receive this for $0 if you mention this
newsletter. |
Fans on
value and performance boxes
We are
aware that over the past 12 months that some peoples case fans have been
getting noisy. For our value models, this is not really a problem and they can
safely be disconnected. However, our performance models really do require case
fans and therefore disconnection is not recommended. For Value Box customers we
will offer to disconnect the fan onsite (as we like the computers we sell to be
quiet). If you are a Performance Box customer we will offer to install this fan
(worth $28) for free.
Antivirus
update
PF Systems
recommends Trend Micro PC Cillin to protect your
computer. This software is available for $55. For those who have purchased a
copy and need to renew it, an update is available from PF Systems for $45
(instead of $55).
All-in-one
PC
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Maximize
your workspace by minimizing the size of your computer. How many
of you have opted for a thin LCD display instead of a bulky CRT monitor to
save space? An all-in-one PC with a wireless keyboard and mouse is the
ultimate solution for people who require a desktop with small space
requirements. These
all-in-one PCs are now available in 17” models and are whisper quiet. Check
our models of all-in-one PCs (from
$1550). |
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New
website design
Visit our
new website. You will notice that our shop now includes all stocked items on
one single page, and that the number of items listed has decreased. This is
because PF Systems is introducing a new sale concept called PF direct to offer
a larger range of products and better prices.
PF direct
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What is it? PF
direct is a new concept in product distribution. For non-stocked items, PF
Systems will find the best deal for you and you will pay only 5% above
wholesale pricing + freight. How does this work? Whether
you are looking for plasma screens, projectors, laptops, laser printers, digital
cameras, mp3 players or anything high-tech, we can deliver. Just contact us and we will guide you through the purchase based on our
expert knowledge of products and current price and technology trends. Please
use our online form to help specify what you are looking for. At this
stage, you have 3 payment options:
Price
will never exceed RRP and will mostly be much less. You will be surprised by the
range and prices. Browse
our selection and deal with PF direct, it will save you money. |
Buy or
sell second hand items with PF Systems
PF
Systems is introducing a second
hand products section where we can list any second hand product you wish to
sell or where you can simply browse for good bargains.
What’s
hot?
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New! Sandisk USB keys Cheaper, smaller, stronger Only 7.9 x 18.95 x 52.2 mm (H x W x L) $30 for 128MB $45 for 256MB Up to 1GB |
New! Logitech USB headset 250 Chat comfortably on Skype,
Engin or MSN messenger $47 |
New! Pioneer Dreambook
Value 300N Intel Cel
M 1.8GHz, 40GB, 256MB RAM, 14.1” TFT (PF direct) $899 |
New! iriver H10 5GB of music storage Available in 4 different colours (PF direct) $360 |
VoiP
VoiP (Voice over IP) is set to further cement the Internet as the preferred
medium of communication. VoiP uses your broadband
connection to ring people over the internet either to fixed phone lines or
other computers. Skype has recently been adopted by
many of our customers for this purpose however Australian companies like Engin extend the functionality of this service by allowing
you to use your normal phones for this service and even have a whitepages listed number to receive calls on. With this
functionality you no longer need to spend money on phone line rentals and calls
are now 10c untimed anywhere in Australia
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A word of caution, however. Telstra has
spent many years developing a stable voice network across
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Internet
Click on
the logos to sign up online or see below for specials currently running and
plans available.
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Special until 18/08/05 Sign
up for ADSL & get 6 months at half price and your modem for free (24 month contract) Save between $218 and $548 depending on your plan.
Additional
usage is $0.15 per MB after allowance for non unlimited plans. For
unlimited plans, speeds may be slowed to 64 kbps after 10GB. * HiBIS plans (Port Fairy area
is eligible for HiBIS) |
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Mobile data solutions
NEW! PF Systems now offers
Telstra mobile data solutions for people on the move who need broadband
internet access out of the office. The two main types of offers are the
following:
1.
Telstra Mobile Broadband is a full mobility solution that roams Telstra’s
Mobile Highspeed (CDMA1X) network, covering 1.5
million square km and more than 98% of the population. To get EVDO, you will
need to purchase an EVDO compatible device. The two devices shown below are
recommended by Telstra.
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Sierra
Wireless AirCard® 580 Fits into PCMCIA slot on notebook PC CDMA 1X and 1xEV-DO data services RRP $549 |
Maxon
MiniMax MM-5500U Fits into USB slot CDMA 1X and 1xEV-DO data services, voice, SMS
& fax RRP $499 |
These are available free of charge on 24 month packs $99 or greater (see
below). There are two types of packs: time based data plans called PC Packs
(charge in 15 min blocks), and data volume based data plans (charge in 1KB
blocks). They are available as month by month plans.
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PC Packs
– Time Based Charging Plans |
Data
Packs – Data Volume Based Plans |
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2.
Telstra Business Mobility Pack is the solution for people on the move who require
a handheld device and who need high speed connectivity. Check the plans below
(minimum contract length is 24 months). Eligible voice plans are CNR, CRP, M4G & TBMP.
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Monthly Access Fee |
Included Data |
Additional Usage Charge over Included Data per MB |
GSM/GPRS Devices at $0 upfront |
CDMA1X/EVDO Devices at $0 upfront |
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$69 |
50MB |
$4 |
i-mate
Smartphone2 i-mate
SP3i |
N/A |
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$99 |
100MB |
$0.5 |
i-mate
Pocket PC |
i-mate
PDA2K EVDO |
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$149 |
250MB |
$0.5 |
i-mate
Pocket PC |
i-mate
PDA2K EVDO |
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i-mate
Smartphone2 |
i-mate
SP3i |
i-mate
Pocket PC |
i-mate
PDA2k EVDO |
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For any enquiry or if you want to sign up for a plan,
please contact us on 0417 566 134 or 03 5568 1709 or send us an email info@pfsystems.com.au.
WiFi
From TV
remotes to mobile phones and satellite TV to AM radio, wireless technology has
been a part of our lives for a long while now. So it was to be expected that
wireless technology would eventually make its way into our computers and indeed
become a standard feature in many of our digital devices.
Wireless
technology has become the poster child for the concept that technology will
simplify our lives. The two important types of digital wireless technology are
WiFi and Bluetooth.
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WiFi
(Wireless Fidelity) is the current standard in unlicensed wireless
networking. Wireless networking takes away your standard network cable and
replaces it with antennae. The advantages of WiFi are most evident in
laptops, where the user can sit anywhere in their house and use the Internet
without being tethered with cables. It’s also an advantage in the office
where the floor space may be changing regularly and you don’t want to
re-cable constantly. |
The
disadvantages of WiFi are related to security, speed and reliability. When
first released WiFi (IEEE 802.11b) was secured with WEP (Wired Equivalence
Privacy) but obvious flaws in this security were soon exploited and hacked.
This led to the popular opinion that WiFi was not secure. The second version of
wireless security (WPA – WiFi Protected Access) has proved to be far more
robust and WiFi may now, in most ways, be considered as secure as wired
networking.
The second
disadvantage is the speed of a wireless network. It certainly should not be
used where high data throughputs are required as wireless networking speeds
have always been disappointing, considering the hype associated with each new
incarnation of WiFi. Although speeds in excess of standard wired networks are
advertised, in reality data throughputs much higher than 10% of this are rarely
achieved. This is due to interference and protocol overheads which eat up bandwidth.
And that
leads to the third disadvantage of wireless networks – reliability. Dropouts
and dead spots around the office and home have plagued WiFi and make it
impractical in certain situations. Although repeaters, reflectors and bigger
antennas can often improve the situation, sometimes the resulting network can
be more effectively and economically constructed with wires.
Most WiFi
devices can transmit for up to 100m in unobstructed space. However, obstacles
(like walls) can dramatically reduce this distance. Also, given that WiFi uses
the unlicensed 2.4GHz frequency then anyone who uses WiFi (or other digital
wireless devices) in your area is eating into your network speed and will
sometimes affect your network reliability. Using different transmission
channels or the new 802.11g standard will increase your success as our airwaves
fill up with WiFi.
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Where
WiFi is most useful is in the home. Most homes can be covered with one access
point and it is a great way of sharing a broadband Internet connection, files
and resources without retrofitting your house with cables. Combine this with
Windows XP’s Remote Desktop application and you can control any fixed desktop
computer from anywhere in the house. When
selecting whether wireless networking is suitable for your application the
following should be considered: • is network speed less important? • are the distances and obstacles
moderate? • is mobility of “connected” digital
devices important? If you
answer Yes! Yes! Yes! then WiFi is an excellent option
for you. |
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Recent
developments in WiFi technology mean that range is now longer and data
throughput is now higher.
Please email us any
feedback or suggestion in regards to our newsletter.
Best regards,
PS: If you want to unsubscribe from our mailing list,
fill in the form in the Mailing List section on our homepage www.pfsystems.com.au
and we will remove you from our list or
send an email to unsubscribe@pfsystems.com.au.