Episodes

The Force Field Podcast Episodes.

Episode 11 – We Fix You

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This week we talk with Shane Bell and learn how he created a new services directory called wefixyou.com overnight, how he plans to profit from it and how you can profit from it too by using it to market your business by using the new dot com called We Fix You.

Techpodcast Promo Tag :10
Intro 2:03

News and Comment segment 3:58
Geek News Central hosted the first 24 hour podcast marathon in December to raise money for the One Laptop Per Child program. The Force Field was invited to participate and I signed on as a guest for half an hour from 10:30 PM to 11 PM Eastern. You can download the segments at www.24hrpodcast.com. The Force Field is discussed in segment 16.

Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts.

Microsoft issued a warning last week advising users of a bug in Microsoft Windows Home Server that corrupts files used by certain applications. For more information reference Microsoft KB article 946676.

Commercial Break 1:01
Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.

Intro to Interview 2:05

This week we are going to talk to Shane Bell and learn how he created a new services directory called wefixyou.com overnight, how he plans to profit from it and how you can profit from it too by using it to market your business by using the new dot com called We Fix You.

Shane Bell Interview 21:13

Wrap up and Close :46

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 10 – What’s Your Favorite Tool? Redux

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This week we talk with four techs and ask what tool they use the most and why they depend on that tool to get the job done.

Techpodcast Promo Tag :10
Intro 3:51

News and Comment segment 3:53
The Force Field will be part of the first 24 hour podcast hosted by Geek News Central this week to raise money for charity. On December 21st at 6 AM Hawaiian Standard Time, Todd Cochrane, the host of the Geek News Central podcast, will start a live and interactive event that will last 24 hours. The event will raise money for the One Laptop Per Child program. Beginning December 21, 2007 Todd Cochrane will stream live from his Hawaii based Studio on www.Ustream.TV and will have interactive talk on www.TalkShoe.com. Rick Savoia, host of The Force Field podcast, is scheduled on as a guest from 10:30 to 11:00 PM Eastern.

One of my favorite tools to communicate with the administrators of TheForceField.Net is GoToMeeting. Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts.

Microsoft announced it would release a Release Candidate for Windows XP Service Pack 3 for download to the public on its web site December 18. Microsoft indicated that Service Pack 3 will be the last for Windows XP.

Commercial Break 1:01
Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.

Intro to Calls 1:27
This week we are going to poll the Providers and find out what tools they use and rely on the most to get the job done. We’ll discuss their preferences and why they depend on that tool to complete the job to their customer’s and their own satisfaction.

Renee Call 3:11
Chris Call 2:28
Kapi Call 1:33
Todd Call 8:53

Wrap up and Close :46

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 9 – You Know Jack

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This week we talk with Jack Barcroft, learn about his early days with OnForce, talk about his radio show and hear his views of where the IT service industry is heading in the next few years.

Techpodcast Promo Tag :10
Intro 3:51

News and Comment segment 3:53
Geek News Central plans to host the first 24 hour podcast marathon to raise money for the One Laptop Per Child program. Beginning December 21, 2007 Todd Cochrane will stream live from his Hawaii based Studio on www.Ustream.TV and will have interactive talk on www.TalkShoe.com.

Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts.

Microsoft pulled its Free Vista and Office offer in its Windows Feedback Program December 11. The company said the reason for the early cancellation of the free offer was because “it had exhausted the supply of software”.

Commercial Break 1:01
Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.

Intro to Interview 1:27
From field service technician to Territory Sales Manager for OnForce, one would think Jack Barcroft has done it all. Now he is co-host of an new internet radio talk show called The Will and Jack Show. This week we are going to meet Jack Barcroft, learn about his early days with OnForce, talk about his radio show and hear his views of where the IT service industry is heading in the next few years.

Jack Barcroft Interview 20:56

Wrap up and Close :46

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 8 – The Computer Repair Business By Dan Hand

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This week we talk with Dan Hand, a computer professional who wrote a new book about starting a computer repair business and discuss how the lessons he learned can benefit our businesses if we only apply them.

Techpodcast Promo Tag :10
Intro 3:51

News and Comment segment 2:39
Hitachi has announced a breakthrough in read-head technology for hard drives. Skype released version 3.6 of its popular internet software November 15, allowing users to send and receive High Quality video calls. Users can download the latest version of Skype at www.theforcefield.net. Microsoft confirmed a bug in their random number generator used in Windows XP.

Commercial Break 1:01
Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.

Intro to Interview 1:20
Whether you are currently in the computer business or just thinking about starting one, you want to make the most of every resource available to increase the chances of its profit and success. One resource which could be prove to be a great asset to computer repair businesses is a new book called Computer Repair Business: Lessons Learned by Daniel Hand. How to start and run your own business. A comprehensive strategy by an experienced pro. It is currently available on his website at www.computerrepairbusiness.net and on our web site at www.theforcefield.net.

This week we are going to talk to Dan, find out how he became successful in the computer business and how the lessons he learned can benefit our businesses – if we only apply them.

Dan Hand Interview 20:05

Wrap up and Close :47

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 7 – The Women of IT

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This week we talk with two female techs and ask them what it is like to work in a field dominated by males.

Intro 1:19
Billboard 2:27

News and Comment segment 2:37
Apple recently pushed a firmware update for the iPhone to disable hacks which allowed
users to choose other service carriers. The position of Apple to lock users into proprietary service is somewhat ironic given Steve Jobs’ recent stand against DRM.

Commercial Break 1:00
Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until November 15.

Intro to calls 1:54

This week we are going to talk with two female techs, each with their own view of and experience in the IT field.

Renee Interview 7:15
Kapi Interview 12:35

Wrap up and Close :46

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 6 – What’s In Your Toolkit?

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This week we talk with four techs and ask them about their favorite tool.

Intro 1:21
Billboard 1:15

News and Comment segment 7:15
A shortage of AMD processors has system builders across the country in distress. A growing number of companies who build white box systems report that AMD processors are scarce or completely unavailable as many SKUs are on backorder from distributors until further notice. A few attribute this shortage to typical end of year depletion in inventory but many blame it for one specific reason on one specific company : Dell.

Commercial Break 1:00
Get Great Web Hosting at GoDaddy.com and save 10%! Listen for the discount code in the show. GoDaddy.com 1:00

Intro to calls 1:08
Every Service Provider performs their job based on what skills they have, what procedures best work for them and what methods they are most confident using. We are going to poll the Providers and ask the question “What’s your favorite tool?”

Steve Call 2:12
Woody Call 5:26
Paul Call 2:09
Dave Call 1:21

Giveaway Drawing and The Force Field Logo Contest Winners 2:24

Wrap up and Close :51

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 5 – Marketing Your Business

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This week we talk with a Service Provider and discuss various ideas for marketing a computer business.

Intro 1:21
Billboard 1:28

News and Comment segment 3:54
Starbucks reported several laptops missing from their corporate office November 3. Two of the four laptops contained social security numbers of 60,000 employees of the company.

Google inadvertently sent posts to 50,000 members of its Video Blog Group that contained the Kama Sutra virus. Google apologized and called it an incovenience.

Sony is offering movie fans a chance to own gear based on the next James Bond film including a VAIO laptop. Could be a hot item. Literally.

Commercial Break 1:00
Get Great Web Hosting at GoDaddy.com and save 10%! Listen for the discount code in the show. GoDaddy.com 1:00

Intro to Topic 1:22
The greatest challenge in any business is how to effectively market it. It is one thing to offer a great product or service, but to get the word out, to tell everyone about it, is another matter entirely. Paul Walters of LTA Computers will discuss what it takes to get the word out and effectively market his business.

Paul Call 15:48

Wrap up and Close :51

©2006 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 4 – Man in the Middle

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Today we will talk with two IT service professionals and learn how the over abundance of middlemen in the business have affected profitability for the field service tech who actually do the job.

Intro 1:21
Billboard 2:23

News and Comment segment 6:08
A new web browser has just been launched that promises to allow users to surf the web with complete privacy.

Microsoft has named Toshiba as the manufacturer of its new iPod-like line of products known as Zune.

Stopbadware.org has issued a preliminary report that includes AOL 9.0 on its list as badware.

Commercial Break 1:00
Get Great Web Hosting at GoDaddy.com and save 10%! Listen for the discount code in the show. GoDaddy.com 1:00.

Intro to calls 1:16
There is a trend in the marketplace to outsource IT services to third party vendors. Some of these subcontractors have subcontracted to other companies themselves, who in turn sub it out to someone else. This multi-level format has now evolved to a point that makes it difficult for the technician on the end to actually perform the work and still remain profitable. At what point does the service channel become too multi-tiered to even work? Steve and Dave will weigh in and tell us what they think.

Steve Call 5:42
Dave Call 9:50

Wrap up and Close :51

©2006 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 3 – The Last Frontier

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This week we talk with Dave Hendrickson and learn what it is like to be an IT tech in Alaska.

Intro 1:20

News and Comment segment 4:21
Apple plans to integrate it popular iPod in cars within the next year.

SCO stock hit a low this week, so low that some market watchers find the future of the software company in doubt.

Commercial Break 1:00
Get Great Web Hosting at GoDaddy.com and save 10%! Listen for the discount code in the show. GoDaddy.com 1:00

Arctictech Interview 19:51
Intro to Interview. Dave Hendrickson talks about his experiences as an IT tech and OnForce Provider living and working in the great state of Alaska.

Wrap up and Close :51

©2006 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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Episode 2 – The VoIP Connection

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This week we talk with Jamie Begin and learn about the opportunities available to Providers who are interested in selling VoIP.

Intro 1:20
Billboard :56

News and Comment segment 6:56
Intel and AMD are getting ready to duke it out again and this time it looks like Intel is going to throw the first punch.

Microsoft announces software giveaway to partners. The catch? Install it, evaluate it and fill out a survey.

Hear the sad story of a man in Malaysia who didn’t have VoIP.

Commercial Break 1:00
Get Great Web Hosting at GoDaddy.com and save 10%! Listen for the discount code in the show. GoDaddy.com 1:00

Provider Interview 15:10
Interview with an OnForce Provider, Jamie Begin from Bright Idea VoIP, who entered the VoIP market, how it works for him and what opportunities are available for other Providers who are thinking about getting into an area of technology that could be the next big thing.

Wrap up and Close :52

©2006 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

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