Tag: technology

We all know how easy it is to set up a Gmail account and email address, and Gmail is absolutely fine to use for your personal affairs. 

Picture this: You contact an IT company to help you, and they reply with a Gmail email…

Are you going to trust this company? Is this even the right company, or is someone trying to scam you? 

Using Gmail for your business email does not foster trust and confidence with your clients. Truthfully, it will make people suspicious and they will not want to do business with you. 

1 – Credibility, branding & professionalism

 People will doubt your professionalism and credibility when you use a Gmail email address. Getting an email from Steve11@gmail.com with information about your inquiry will not make you want to trust Steve or his company. If you got an email from info@theoasis.co.za instead, you wouldn’t need to be wary or doubtful.

A domain name email address looks professional, whereas a Gmail email address does not. You want to create a good standing with your clients, and looking accomplished is the first step. 

Creating a good reputation for your business is crucial! Having a domain name as your email address will consistently remind people of your business, and they will associate your email with your company. A domain name email will clearly show your company name, making it easier for people to find your website if they need more information.

2 – Decrease the possibility of being flagged as spam

The worst thing that could happen to your business is to spend your time crafting emails geared towards marketing and creating leads and then for that email to land up in the junk or spam folder. Personal emails and Gmail accounts can be mistaken for spam emails because most spammers use free emails. Your company email would stand out, not be mistaken for junk and catch the eye of your clients and customers. 

3 – Email Spoofing

Email spoofing is a malicious attempt by scammers to trick users into thinking the email they received is from legitimate companies. If you have a Gmail email address and you are using that for your company, your customers or clients may fall prey to these scammers or think you are a scammer. If this happens, your clients will not want to do business with you because of the damage done to them through the name of your company.

To keep the scammers at bay, use your domain name as your business email because it cannot be replicated. 

4 – Organisation

Being organised is easier when you use a hosted email address instead of a free email address. You can connect to calendars and colleagues in a structured manner. Keep track of your communications, and keep business and personal matters separate.  

5 – Control over information and security

When you use a hosted email address, you will be guaranteed confidentiality and security. You want your email address for your business to be as secure as possible. By paying a reputable company to host your email, they are ensuring your data will be secure on their servers. 

Another reason to use a private hosting provider is the fact that you can change providers and keep your original email address. This allows you to stay consistent regardless of your hosting provider. 

Gmail isn’t the way to go for your business’s email

So, in conclusion, using your company’s domain name as your professional email address will greatly benefit your business.

Gmail is easy to set up and can be used for personal emails, but it is not the right choice for any business trying to establish itself as a reliable and dependable entity. 

If you need to create a professional email, or you just need help with your emails in general… Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions has you covered! We do email support and can link your business up!

Contact us today to assist your business in thriving.

To avoid this, check out our comprehensive list of 5 reasons why you should use a professional domain email instead!

Contact Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions:

Telephone: 011 784 9167

E-Mail: info@theoasis.co.za

While shopping for a laptop can and may be overwhelming at times, don’t let it ruin the fun in the fact that you’re out shopping (or shopping online) for a new laptop! Although you will be faced with numerous choices, many brands and prices that will vary, this laptop buying guide will help you navigate between all the models, styles, and functioning systems.

Buying a laptop is not a simple decision, but we will show you the basic steps you need to have in mind to ensure that you’re buying the best laptop for you!

The deciding factors for a laptop begin with the pre-planning. It essentially comes down to three simple things that you need to keep in mind. 

• Determine your price range. This is important, as this will allow you to know what to look for and stay within your budget.

• What are you going to use your laptop for? Will it be used for work, school, gaming, or university etc? The laptop that will be the best for you, will be the one that does exactly what you need it to do.

• Where will you use it? Are you using your laptop at your desk for majority of the day, or are you a busy professional moving from meeting to meeting? Establishing the use of the laptop will determine the portability of your laptop.

Once these steps have been decided, you can start looking at the next set of functions that will make your laptop custom to you!

First, you need to pick and figure out which operating system you would like, and which would work best for you. A laptop’s operating system determines the way that the interface will look, how it operates and the types of software that you can use. Taking the time to think what type of software you want to run on your laptop and on which system will help in your decision on choosing the hardware that you need.

Most laptops come with one of three operating systems: MacOS, Chrome OS or Windows. Deciding on which is the right one is a personal preference. Each system has their own strengths and weakness, make sure you are well researched on each system beforehand so that you choose a laptop that runs well with the system.

MacOS
PROS	CONS
MacOS comes with free productivity apps that are preinstalled in the Mac devices, or which can be downloaded from the App store.	MacOS is exclusive to MacBook laptops and iMac desktops, which are very expensive compared to other operating systems and hardware.
Clean and user-friendly interface. Those who are familiar with the IOS in Apple products will notice the similarity of MacOS to that found within the iPads and iPhones.	The operating system is not compatible for those who are interested in and currently in the gaming market. MacOs has limited game titles and there are restrictions on the options for hardware upgrades and customisation.

Chrome OS
PROS	CONS
Due to the compact design of Chrome OS, the operating system is the most affordable out of all the other operating systems. Chrome OS is most compatible with a Chromebook.	Chrome OS constantly needs internet access to edit and have full access to documents. This means that if a Chromebook is offline, then you can’t access to documents or your Google drive.
Chrome OS has an expected battery life of between 9-11 hours. This means that a Chromebook is good for if you are on the go or travelling due to the expected long battery life.	The storage on Chrome OS is only 32GB which means that your storage is limited. However, you can save to your Google Drive and Google Docs, but only if you have an internet connection.

 

Windows
PROS	CONS
Windows has great software support. The system is best suited for any game and software developers and since Windows has a large audience, developers prefer to make utilities, games, and software for Windows operating system.	There is a high amount of hacker attacks on Windows operating systems. The security of Windows is vulnerable to hacking and so Windows users must constantly update their anti-virus software, and, in some cases, they may have to pay monthly charges for improved protection.
Windows is made for both touch screen devices and desktop computers and the interface is user-friendly.	On Windows you may have to constantly reboot your system. If your system is running slow or you have too many programs open at the same time, this can create a delay and hangs up. The solution is too reboot.

These are just some of the features, functions, and systems that you need to keep in mind for when you are choosing your new laptop. Deciding on the brand of your laptop may be overwhelming we encourage doing some extensive research, read reviews and even browse through brand’s social media pages to get an accurate overview on what products they have to offer.

Memory (Ram)

This is random-access memory (RAM) which is an important specification in your decision for a well performing laptop. RAM stores the processor computing tasks where the processor picks up these tasks and makes them happen. When a laptop or computer has more RAM, then the overall general performance of your laptop will be improved. If you have demanding software, then RAM will allow the processor to take on more tasks at once.

Using the Internet Updating social media Watching and streaming video clips	4 GB and over
Studying (researching and writing essays) Creating spreadsheets and documents Creating and working on presentations and office admin	6 GB and over
Streaming HD films and tv series Gaming Editing programmes for amateur photos and videos	8 GB and over
Graphic design Editing programmes for professional photography, videography, and music production. CAD Design	16 GB and over

Storage

When it comes to the storage of your laptop, there are four types that refer to the amount of space available on your laptop. The space will be able to store anything from documents, images, software, and everything else. When choosing the right storage, you will have to make a choice between eMMC, SSHD, HDD and SSD drives. Each will be specific to your type of storing option tailored to you and/ or your profession such as if you are a professional photographer or videographer, you would want to look at getting a laptop with a large enough storage to safely keep your images and videos.

Battery Life

If you are planning to use your laptop at home or the office, you will want to make sure that your laptop has a battery that will be able to last for at least 7/8 hours. If you are a young university student, moving from lectures to lectures, you would need to have a laptop with a battery life that would sufficiently last you for majority of your schedule. Make sure your laptop comes with an easily accessible charger, so that should you need too, you can have a quick access to keep your laptop’s battery alive.  

Connectivity

 Connectivity is an essential need for any laptop, this refers to how well your laptop connects to the devices around it. This includes the internet, external storage, and screens. When looking at the connectivity of your laptop, there are several factors to keep in mind.

            WiFi: This is the fastest way to connect to the internet. A laptop that has WiFi can connect with any fibre optic broadband which can give you the fastest internet connection possible. This is perfect for those who need the internet for school or work, streaming videos and even gaming online.

            USB Port: Laptops with an USB ports allows for your laptop to connect to multiple devices and laptop accessories. This includes if you need an external mouse, a printer, your mobile phone and even your camera.

            HDMI: An HDMI connection is an easy addition to any laptop that allows you to connect your laptop to any modern TV or a monitor. This means that the HDMI cable allows to transmit full HD video signals, so you can enjoy what’s on your laptop, including video and audio, on any TV or HD monitor.

Make sure to get in contact with us, Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions, if you need more assistance in choosing the right laptop for you. Once you have chosen your laptop, we can assist you with all your infrastructure needs under one roof, as Oasis offers hardware, software, consumables, stationery, and support.

Contact us for IT Services today!

Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions.

Telephone: 011 784 9167

E-Mail: info@theoasis.co.za

The amazing growth and development of technology, worldwide, can be recognised in the opportunities that many businesses have had in making changes to their daily systems in trying to become more digital. Having said, companies and organisations around the world have been faced with the reality of a worldwide pandemic and how working from home has played a crucial role in helping reduce the spread of Covid-19. The year, 2020, has resulted in businesses, schools, universities and similar people-orientated organisations to reshape how people could still collaborate and communicate. Throughout the pandemic, the use of video conferencing has grown, so that companies and organisations can remain functioning and profitable.

As of last year, some people may have not been aware of what Zoom or Microsoft Teams were, however, as of now, both are staples in many households, schools, and businesses. But is one better than the other and if so, what are the differences between the two platforms that provide efficient productivity and communication?

To begin, let’s have a look at what Teams and Zoom are.

The Microsoft Teams app can be thought of as the physical office space of which your employees and colleagues would be working in, the ability to have instant chats (send messages), have meetings and break off into departments, gives the app a likeness to that of an office space. The app allows for many different communication channels across connected e-mail addresses, that allows for a main chat, private chats, and the chance to create groups specific to a department or project. Effectively, on Teams, people can use the message platform to chat to colleagues and employees rather than e-mail. Communication can happen through set up video-calls and Wi-Fi calls, almost instantly from chat, groups, and an invitation via e-mail. Microsoft is great for small to medium businesses as you can chat, ‘meet’, call and collaborate from anywhere.

As of last year, many people were unaware of what Zoom was until it became a popular platform to get connected with friends, family, and businesses, during a time when we were not allowed to see each other. Zoom is primarily a video app that allows you to connect and talk to multiple people from within and outside your business. In difference, Zoom is more focused on being a video and online chat communication platform. With the ability to download Zoom on your phone as an app, the convenience is found in that you can connect with people on Zoom no matter what device.

So, what exactly is the difference between the two platforms?

Zoom	Microsoft Teams
You can easily video chat with people from outside your organisation, they don’t need to be a part of your company account.	Much like an office space, Teams allows employees and colleagues to remain connected in a shared space and platform.
The video layout allows that everyone in the meeting can be seen at once.	Use instant messaging to chat rather than exchanged emails.
No matter, your location or device, you can join a Zoom meeting from anywhere.	Works well with Office 365 and you can securely edit and share files at the same time between chats.
The video quality is great with HD video and audio. Including customised settings with the options to enable and disable video and audio during a meeting.	It is mobile friendly and can allow for connectivity with people outside your organisation through an easy setup.
Zoom has 3 paid options as well as a basic free option	Teams can be installed for free if you don’t have Office 365.

Zooms vs Teams: The Verdict

Zoom is a good platform for a business to use when searching for HD quality videos, and for the purpose of connecting and setting up meetings, rather than collaborating. Zoom is a functional platform for businesses who are looking to get in touch with external users rather than communicate between colleagues and employees.

Having said, Microsoft Teams is a popular choice for a business as it provides an overall office function and productivity as it is a collaborative platform that provides more than just video and call functions, but merely the option to chat, share files and it syncs up well with other Office 365 and Microsoft technology. Teams is a workplace productivity hub that can assist you in achieving your everyday tasks.

Ensure that your business remains connected during these unprecedented times with Covid-19 and the third lockdown in South Africa. Make use of communicative platforms that will benefit your business’s communication and overall productivity, so that you can remain relevant, up to date and profitable.

At Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions, we can assist you in ensuring your business stays connected, by connecting you to the Internet through, and are able to troubleshoot any issues with: ADSL, WI-FI, 3G, Fibre and VPN (Virtual Personal Network). Our remote management services include managed services from Oasis in both a reactive (responding as and when necessary) and pro-active response.

For the smooth running of any business, the services of an IT services company can assist in continually improving workplace efficiency and productivity. Contact Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions for professional, personalised, and affordable IT solutions

Contact Oasis Intelligent IT Solutions:

Telephone: 011 784 9167

E-Mail: info@theoasis.co.za