Headline News

• A new 'low-cost' Web Page hosting service for Holiday Accommodation is now included with our GlobalMart classified service.

For just £40, including VAT, we will produce a single Web page from a copy of your brochure and host it for a full 12 months.

• Priory Computers is a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider
  
  This is certainly proof that we know what we're doing!

• Priory Computers are pleased to announce the creation of a new Web based classified advertising service developed for GlobalMart.

This service uses dynamically generated Web pages to allow the viewing of classified advertisments. The service is currently hosted on an Internet Service Provider which does not support the various technological capabilities of ASP or SSL but these facilities are currently under development for installation on Servers located at and managed by Priory Computers.

Advertisement data is recorded in a Microsoft SQL Server database and is regularly uploaded to the ISP's Server. Future use of our own Server and the support of ASP and SSL will allow the provision of real-time access to advertisements and the electronic acceptance of payment details.

Press the link to visit GlobalMart and see what they (and Priory Computers) can do for your business and pleasure.

• Priory Computers has just been appointed as an Authorised Education Reseller

This allows us to provide the full value of Microsoft Operating Systems and Applications to Schools, Colleges and Students at remarkable savings over retail software. The prices are even better than the OEM licenses that we can provide on the same software on new systems.

• Priory Computers and Badger Software have combined forces

This means that we can now provide the development services required for business applications written in 'C/C++' and 'Access Basic' for databases using Microsoft Access or, for the more demanding installations, Microsoft SQL Server..

Database applications are a particular speciality. A number of reference sites are available to vouch for the quality of work which has ranged from Constituent Menu Management for a Food Producer through Account and Portfolio Management for financial advisers.

• Installation of Microsoft Small Business Server can be a nightmare but the productivity gains for the business can be immense

We have successfully carried out a number of installations of this sophisticated product and would be happy to discuss your business requirements

• Web Presence made easy

We can build your Web pages for you and advise on all aspects of the Internet and how it can affect your business

Apart from GlobalMart which is a very complex system we are just as happy to do fairly simple but very effective offerings such as the Livermead Cliff Hotel

.. and now for some sales blurb that we prepared earlier

"Use Priory Computers and Avoid Minefields"

We are not infallible but, with our knowledge and expertise, we can help you to avoid the problems and difficulties associated with Computer Systems, Networks and Data-communications.

Introduction to The Computer Minefield

It is unlikely that a prospective computer user has sufficient knowledge to understand what is available in the market place. What starts off as a search for a tool to perform a task aften ends up as an attack on the aspirin bottle as the plethora of options, combinations and prices is studied for hours on end. This often leads to the situation where the poor prospective user takes the path of least resistance and buys a 'Ready Built' system in a box and may may even be swayed in his choice by the marketing ploys employed by the salesperson or the advertisement.

"Free Software worth Thousands of Pounds"

For a start no-one is going to give anything away for nothing and software that you are not going to use is not actually worth anything either. Many of the software packs advertised are available at the fraction of the mentioned £1000 value. So much for a bargain. In many cases the software is sold in this way because it's the only way this software would see the light of day, it may be old versions with restricted features or it may be versions packed for the US market - there's not much worse than having a word-processor with an American spelling checker! If you really want the software then we would be happy to provide it, however we do not use it as an aid to selling systems.

If the systems do not come complete with the master disks for the software how are you going to reload your system when the disk drive gets corrupted? You could always spend another £75 or so and a weekend copying the software onto diskette's rather than cutting the grass.

"Colour SVGA Monitor Sir, Of course it is!"

Yes, well - unfortunately there are SVGA monitors and SVGA monitors. The first thing to check on is the 'Dot pitch' which is the dstance between each group of three primary colour dots (look closely at your TV screen and you will be able to distinguish the dots). The problem here is that you will be sitting pretty close to your monitor all the time and the last thing you want is to see dots before your eyes! A good choice for general purpose use is a .28mm dot pitch and for top quality clarity go for a pitch of .26mm. Masochists may go for .39mm pitch but they would need a pair of milk bottle bottoms in their glasses - it works out cheaper as one high street retailer proved before they went bust!

Now, is SVGA really enough anyway? Well, firstly SVGA refers generally to a display consisting of 800 pixels (individually addressed dots) across the screen and 600 pixels down - this is the 'Real Estate' on which your picture will be displayed. If you are doing word processing or spread sheets and only working on one or the other at any one time then 800x600 is a reasonable choice. However if you want to be able to see some of both windows at the same time then you will benefit from a display of 1024x758 and if you opt for 1152x864 you can get most of your work on a single screen.

Unfortunately the refresh rate is influenced directly by the number of lines to be displayed down the screen and a monitor that will give 72Hz at 800x600 may only provide 60Hz (and an unwatchable display) at 1024x768.

The majority of 14" monitors are desinged for use of up to 800x600 pixels at the minimum refresh rate and for a higher resolution display you should go for a 15" monitor or bigger. To get 1152x864 you really need a minimum of a 17" display.

"The Computer is Fully Upgradable"

With the way technology is rushing forward you don't want to be lumbered with a machine that has to be replaced every year or so. Unfortunately the definition of 'upgradable' is rather limited in many cases - and cases are one area of concern. Many PC's provided by the large retail chains are designed around the cases that fit their own main system boards and only provide enough space for the items that their marketing departments decide they will sell to you. When you want to expand or upgrade your system you wil find that you cannot fit the new processor because there is not enough space for the cooling fan which is now required and there is no voltage requlator on the main board to provide the lower voltage required by the new range of processors and you can't replace the main system board because that is the only one that will fit in the case and the case does not have space for a CD-ROM and a Tape Drive and...the story goes on and you end up trying to find a poor relation who will take your now historical machine and a bill for a whole new machine or forgetting the upgrade and taking the family on holiday.