Business experts say the key words for success in 1999 is connectivity and speed. Let me repeat that!
Key Words
For 1999
Connectivity
Speed
Connectivity has to do with the methods and techniques you use
to stay connected. It has to do with hardware, software, modems,
cell phones, computers, that sort of thing. It must be done with
speed. It is becoming increasingly more and more important that
you get and stay connected in the right manner in order to stay
in business. Personally, I have taken at look at our own situation
and found upgrade efforts and a little new hardware was needed.
Here are some tips to get you off to the right start for 1999.
STAYING
CONNECTED
WITH YOUR COMPUTER
BUYING/UPGRADING YOUR
COMPUTER
The holidays are over and computer prices always come down after
the Christmas reason. That's not to say that it hasn't become
a buyer's market--it really is compared to what it was only a
few years ago. Now is a good time to take a look at the computer
equipment you have to determine if you need to upgrade or purchase
new computer equipment.
If you want a very extensive online help guide on how to pick the right computer for you, you'll find it at the CMP.net site.
HOW
TO BUY THE BEST COMPUTER FOR YOU
MY PERSONAL COMPUTER RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 1999
Most people who know me, know that I prefer the Mac operating
system over Windows. However, I recently purchased a PC Notebook
that runs on Windows 98, have a nice office computer that runs
on Windows 98 and have a home computer with the Apple logo on
it that runs both systems. I have determined that I need to get
as good with the Microsoft Windows operating system as I am with
Mac. My personal recommendation for a new Windows based computer
is DELL. The reason I like
DELL computer for Microsoft
Windows is that you can have a computer with just what you need
on it and nothing more. However, the computer of the year and
the savor of Apple is the new iMac.
iMac has taken the market
place by storm and recaptured and exceeded the market share Apple
has lost in the last few years. If you want to purchase a new
computer, I recommend the iMac
simply because it's so easy to use as compared to Windows.
Aside from upgrading your computer, you also need to take a look and see if you need to upgrade your software. If you use PCs, you will want to upgrade to Windows 98 if you have not already done so. If you use a Mac, you will want to upgrade to Mac OS 8.5. Both of these new operating systems contain features you will be happy with.
If you use AOL, make sure you are using AOL 4.0--it has many new features you will find useful and timesaving. One of the best features I see with the new AOL 4.0 is it's ability to switch screen names while you are online. If you use a Mac, you are going to LOVE the new Sherlock Finder tools! It lets you search your hard disk for actual content of files and will let you search the web for content in the background.
Here are a couple more software tools that you will find quite
useful for 1999:
PHONEFERRET
The easiest way to find telephone numbers available through the
web for people in the USA. Using PhoneFerret, just enter the name
of the person you're trying to find -- it's that simple. PhoneFerret
then hunts through the various phone directories available on
the net today. To pinpoint your search, PhoneFerret lets you specify
the city and/or state where the user might be found. As an added
bonus, if you have Dialer software installed on your computer,
just click on the search results to automatically dial the number.
PI WIZARD
The PI WIZARD is a program disk developed by Ralph Thomas. This
disk is run in your web browser and is an "on-your-hard-disk"
collection of the best tools and free databases for private investigators.
THE PI WEB BROWSER 6.5
Developed by Joseph Seanor, this is a excellent tool for the private
investigator and is actually a web browser especially designed
for the professional investigator. it has buttons you click on
that take you to the important investigative look-ups you'll use
all the time. Although it is not designed to compete with Netscape
or Internet Explorer, it's a very good browser.
WINFILES
Winfiles is a package of shareware utilties that work with Windows
98, 98 and NT. It's highly recommened that you try these great
utilites add-ons.
Speaking of web browsers, make sure you have the latest versions. I prefer Netscape. Check their web site out.
AOL TO NETSCAPE CONNECTION
Did you know that you can use a Netscape web browser or Internet
explorer Web browser with your AOL connection? It's easy! Once
on AOL, just launch the other web browser of your choice and you
are in business.
GET A WEB SITE--IT'S CHEAP!
If you don't have a web site, it's the best marketing for your
business money can buy. Web sites these days are dirt cheap. It's
now estimated that almost 50% of the U.S. population has some
sort of Internet access. There are tons of places to put your
web site.Whatever service you use to access the internet, check
out the options for putting up a web page. Many are now offering
free web space. One of the best places to put your web site is
inside the PI MALL. For those
you do there on web sites, I have some development recommendations
at the end of this article.
YOUR MODEM SPEED
Still surfing at 28,00 bps? It's time to look at your modem speed.
Things are getting faster and you need to keep up. The new technology
for massive use is 56K modem speeds. Here's an important web site
guide on the complete subject:
INTERNET
SPEED CENTER FROM EARTHLINK
Understanding Modem Speed Technology
http://www.earthlink.com/internet/speed/
Everything you wanted to know about faster speed on the Internet
is found here. You will find information about the newer 56K speed
technology, ISDN and ION as well as high speed cable access.
STAYING
CONNECTIONED
WITH YOUR PHONE
We live in a time when there are hundreds of more telephone options
now than ever before. Here are some phone tips for 1999.
Get Your Email Through Your Cell Phone
Check with your cell phone service. Many are offering email hookups.
Undercover Phone
For years, many investigative agencies have maintained a cover
phone in their office. This is used to get subjects of their investigation
to call the number under pretexts. Put a caller ID box on it and
make sure you block outgoing caller ID. You might consider placing
a Voice Changing Security Phone on
this line.
Phone Forward
Business and professional people need to be available by phone.
It's just not a smart idea to use an answering machine if you
can avoid it. That can easily be accomplished when you are away
from your phone by diverting the call to your cell phone, home
phone or any other phone you are going to be it. It's like having
a virtual presence. To find out more, check the new product called
The Telephone
Call Diverter.
Recording Connection
If you operate in a one party consent state, you will want to
have telephone tape recorders hooked into your telephone line
ready to record any interview you need to make. For an extensive
selection of specialized long play tape recorders, go to:
Automatic
Long Play Telephone Tape Recorder Products
http://www.pimall.com/nais/e.record.html
Managing Your Outgoing Calls
It's becoming increasingly more important to manage your outgoing
calls. You want to keep a record of them for your own investigative
purposes and billing purposes and have a way to restrict long
distance calls when you are not around. The prefect devise for
this is The Telephone
Information Manager.
PSE Lie Detection Technology Extremely Cheap!
Using PSE technology as an indicator of deception used to be extremely
expensive. Equipment and training used to cost upwards of ten
thousand dollars. Now you can utilized this technology for under
$200.00 on your computer. What a way to get an indication of deception
concerning those in person and telephone interviews. To review
this inexpensive software go to the Truster
page.
DOING
YOUR OWN WEB PAGES
If you do your own web pages to stay connected in the connected
economy, here are some great tools I have discovered.
Three New Software Programs (All Adobe):
Pagemill 3.0
ImageStyler
ImageReady
These are all Adobe products.
Pagemill 3.0 is a very simple and easy to use web authoring tool
and the upgrade is worth getting. ImageReady lets you fine-tune
your graphics so the files are smaller and load quicker on your
web site. ImageStyler is a new Adobe program that is designed
to make web graphics for your web site and it's very powerful.
Aside from the snappy web graphics you can easily create using
this program, the software will automatically make rollover graphics
for you. For more resources such as free animated graphics, how-to
articles and free online books and very nice javascripts you can
use, go to The Private Investigator's Computer
Resource Center.
LEARNING
FOR BETTER CONNECTIONS
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POWERFUL SOFTWARE TRAINING CD ROMS |
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Y2K Computer Crash Scenario |
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Disk Detective- How To Recover Information From A Computer |
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| How To Investigate By Computer 98 | Free Searches On The Internet 98 |
| The Internet Blackbook | Naked In Cyberspace |
| The PI And The Internet | Public Records Online |
| Computer Investigator's Seminar | Computer Crimefighter's Handbook |
| Computer Privacy Handbook | Computer Crime Law For The PI |
| Secrets Of The Super Searchers | The Online Expert |
| NetSpy | The Online 100 |
| Secrets Of A Super Hacker | The Information Broker's Handbook |
| Sourcebook Of Online Experts | Government Info On The Internet |
| Ultimate Internet Terrorist | Cyber Crime |
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