Considerations Before You Buy Your Next Laptop

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For Home Use, Spend Around $500 on a New Laptop

With so many different laptops currently being sold, it can be difficult to decide which specific brand and model to go with. For some, deciding how much to spend on a laptop can seem like a complicated concept. A decent laptop should not cost a fortune. It’s possible to purchase a laptop around $500 that is more than capable for use at home for things like email, HD YouTube, Word/Excel, photo and video management, Zoom calls, and casual web browsing. If taken care of, a new $500 laptop should last at least 5 years, if not more.

In our opinion… some of the best laptops around $500 available today include:

*Based on reviews gathered from Staples, Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Canada Computers, and other websites linked below.

This price range still ensures key features such as high screen resolution, long battery life, decent storage capacity (256 GB), and dependable performance (8 GB of RAM).  

Nothing triggers buyer's remorse more than seeing a product go on sale just shortly after you purchased it at a higher price. Similarly, it's displeasing to purchase a new laptop and then watch as a more advanced model releases soon after. Nonetheless, the price on most laptops fluctuates, and newer models are constantly being released which raises the question: When is the best time to buy a laptop? 

The best time of the year to purchase a new laptop at its lowest price is during back-to-school season (August to September) and the holiday season (November to December). Typically, companies release newer laptop models during the spring season (March to May), so you might find a deal on older models during that time. 

Lastly, it’s important to test out the laptop you’re considering before buying it. You want it to “feel right”. Many laptops are available for testing in-person at stores allowing you to play around with the screen, touchpad, keyboard, and other components that substantially differ from model to model. With stores like BestBuy offering several models on display, it provides consumers the opportunity to compare their top choices with a real, hands-on experience of what each model offers. If going into a store to test out the laptop in-person is not a feasible option, purchase from an online source with a clear, trustworthy return policy.

In case you’d like to read up on the laptops mentioned in this post, check out our sources:

 

- Kelly Tong (Technology Reporter/Researcher @ Tech Coaches)

North American Seniors Are Using The Internet To Survive Isolation

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We at Tech Coaches have always believed that digital literacy is not only an essential skill to live a functional lifestyle, but that it is increasingly becoming impossible to live without.

According to a new article by CityLab, the new normal for older adults exists in the digital space, and that these skills will likely stick with them long after this crisis is over:

https://www.citylab.com/life/2020/05/seniors-tech-online-resources-computer-video-coronavirus/610405/?cmpid=BBD050720_CORONAVIRUS%3Futm_source%3Dfbb

It turns out that through the use of various software tools, such as video conferencing technology, you can help alleviate the symptoms of loneliness, and separation anxiety. 

One San Francisco elder was quoted as saying “It’s nice to hear a caring voice who has some concern.” We at Tech Coaches deeply understand this feeling of being alone during these troubling times, we know tech can't replace touch. We are here to help train you on these tools and technologies.

According to a study published by Pew Research Centre, 42% of seniors have access to a smartphone device, and 67% have an internet connection. There has never been a better time to learn how to use these resources so you can reach out to your loved ones.

Older adults that we help come from a diverse background of technological understanding. Through our step by step instructions, all of them have improved their confidence level with digital software, internet connectivity, and the social tools we use in our everyday lives.

The department of health and human services estimates that as many as 28% of senior citizens may be living alone during this crisis and that as many as 43% feel lonely at times.

Please if you or an older adult you know ever feels like this please reach out to us on our contact page, we are here to help you with all of your technological needs.

Top 7 Considerations When Video Conferencing

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We have all heard the embarrassing stories about awkward video conference meetings, with the inappropriate sights and sounds. Unfortunately, these stories have become more commonplace as more people are working from home and relying on digital connectivity tools like Zoom, while they make the mistake of “over-sharing” with their co-workers. But fear not, as we at Tech Coaches have you covered with these top seven tips:

  1. Mute Functions Are Not In Your Control - We’ve all made the common mistake of thinking that just because our mic is muted during a video call that we can go about our daily business as usual. But keep in mind that the person who is hosting the video conference has the power to mute and unmute their workers’ mics at will.

  2. Your Webcam Is Always On - Similar to the last tip, the moment we open up our video conferencing software (whether that be Zoom, Skype, or Google Hangouts), our webcam light is on and our friends or coworkers can see us. However, we do have the option of turning it off once the video call has officially started.

  3. Your Workplace Defines You - You can take the professional out of the office, but you can’t take the professionalism out of the person. Keep in mind that your coworkers are expecting you to be video conferencing from a pseudo office space, not your bedroom, not your laundry room, not your kitchen,  and certainly not your bathroom.

  4. Manners Maketh Man - We’ve all been trapped inside for over two months now, no vacations, no dinners out, no entertainment, and no visits from the people we care about, but this can’t be seen as an excuse to portray ourselves as anything less than who we truly are, always ensure you’re putting your best foot forward.

  5. Dress To Impress - Pajamas, housecoats and underwear might be okay when nobody else is watching, but always remember to treat your video calls like it’s Sunday morning at church. So take a shower, fix your hair, and button-up that dress shirt because your coworkers will likely be doing the same.

  6. Download Your Software Beforehand - Depending on the speed of your internet connection it could take 10 - 15 minutes to get your video conferencing software installed on your laptop, and you don’t want the people who matter most to you thinking that you’ve skipped out on your meeting with them because you weren’t prepared.

  7. All The World’s A Stage - Unlike interacting with coworkers in person, we don’t have the benefit of body language to help us get our point across, which is why it is essential to properly enunciate our words clearly into our microphones and to leave little room for misinterpretation. Pretend you’re an actor on Broadway and be heard by everyone.

That’s it for our top considerations. If you have any questions be sure to visit our contact page for more information and visit our LinkedIn profile for more great content like this.


Virtual Visits Toolkit

Helping people use technology to see and connect with their families during the COVID-19 pandemic is absolutely critical. Never before have residents in long-term care and retirement communities felt more isolated and removed from normal life. The mental and emotional wellbeing of many are at stake.

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learn more…

This toolkit has been developed to help any long-term care or retirement residence team to take on the task of setting up scheduled video calls between residents and their loved ones. The content was prepared by Family Councils Ontario, the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils, and Tech Coaches Inc. as part of a collaborative partnership rooted in crisis resolution. They were actively informed by frontline examples of video calling initiatives that have launched with success since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Here are some printable guides
to help you through the process

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Technology "Rules of Thumb" for 2020

It’s 2020, a new year, meaning fresh new opportunities. Here at Tech Coaches we will be taking this opportunity to start up this new corporate blog. A blog is a great way for us here to connect with you on a frequent basis, give you a peek at what we are all about, and hopefully teach each other something new.

Today’s post will be focused on what we here at Tech Coaches believe to be the “Rules of Thumb” that we think you should take into 2020 when approaching technology.

Today’s technology landscape is in a constant state of motion. The reality is that our devices will never stay the same. They will constantly be upgraded and remodeled to enhance the users overall experience, whether we prefer the changes or not. This fast progress into our digital future requires average people to constantly have their finger on the pulse of technology, to ensure they continue to feel comfortable and confident when using it. From smartphones and apps like UBER and AMAZON, to ordering coffee from a touchscreen at a restaurant and paying with tap using a credit card, our community will continue to adopt more technology, not less. 

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Everyone seems to have a different opinion about technology and how to use it safely and effectively. Sometimes it’s difficult to determine what information is most useful for you. As technology educators, Tech Coaches has a few basic “rules of thumb” about technology we believe are important for everyone to consider.

  1. Technology will “mess up”. At some point, even a brand-new device will do something unexpected or an error might occur. It’s important for you to know that it wasn’t necessarily anything you did. Think of it like a hic-up. Don’t worry about it. Restart your device, whether it’s a laptop, cell phone, or TV, and your problem could likely be fixed. If it is, move on with your day. Don’t focus on why the hick-up happened.

  2. You are faster than your technology. Take your time when using devices lke tablets and computers. No need to rush. If you try to do things too quickly, you can sometimes complicate things by making the device try too hard. For instance, clicking on an icon over and over because you want Microsoft Edge to open faster will require more “work” from your computer, which will make the process take even longer. People feel this way even about brand new technologies, so be sure to have patience with whatever gadget you’re using.

  3. Technology slows down over time. No matter how well you take care of it, your laptop, iPad, or Samsung Galaxy Tab will eventually start to get slower. Things will start taking longer to do. Even within the first year of owning it. So, if you have an old computer, you can expect that the age of it directly influence the speed it can work at. You should know that modern technologies are manufactured with an anticipated life span, which seems to be getting shorter as we continue to invent new devices. They don’t make them like they used to ☺

  4. Companies will NOT call you legitimately to help solve technology problems. If someone calls you claiming to be from a company who is monitoring the health of your devices, it is ALWAYS a scam. Outside companies do not have insight about your home-based devices and if there are any problems with them. In fact, these individuals are trying to gain access to your devices, in attempts to steal any information they deem valuable. They would like you to tell them your credit card number too, to make payment for fixing your computer problems... This is nothing but trouble. If you receive calls like this, hang up!

If you keep these basics in mind, you will certainly have a better experience using technology. As citizens in a quickly changing technological world, we should not let small hic-ups keep us away from trying new things. Always remember that technology tries to make our lives better, so overcoming a few technical issues along the way is no big deal. Keep learning and keep practicing!

Christopher Bint
Chief Learning Officer

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