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intro to computers Continued ! already posted ? this is the assignment hope Franco&Hello-thar see this !?
04-28-2014, 02:30 AM
Post: #1
intro to computers Continued ! already posted ? this is the assignment hope Franco&Hello-thar see this !?
C10; Introduction to Computers
Assignment 4; Business Start Up Proposal
Bill, a close friend of your parents wants to start a business. Your parents refer him to you since you are presently working on a technology related degree. In your first discussion, you discover the following facts:
•Bill has been a sales representative for a major restaurant supply company for many years.
•His prior skills are very low tech. He drives from city to city, visiting restaurants and either provides his customers with supplies, or visits new restaurants to try and convince them to purchase supplies from him exclusively. He phones his orders in to the manufacturer, and other than accounting for his expenses while on the road, he does no record keeping.
•Other than basic email skills and a vague familiarization with Microsoft Word Bill has little or no experience with existing communications technologies or software applications.
•Bill’s business plan is to start a new restaurant supply business in his home. He wishes to spend more time at home and travel much less than he did in the past. He knows he will sometimes be required to travel to negotiate deals or meet with clients, but he would prefer to be able to do all this at home whenever possible.
Bill has already implemented the following actions:
He has found an accountant who has agreed to help him set up his accounting system. (Do not consider any accounting software for this assignment. The accountant will provide that.)
He has contacted six different restaurant supply companies and negotiated a fee and commission arrangement that will allow him to represent them and sell their products.
He has found local training and certification company that has classes in all the major software packages (Apple OS, Windows 7/8, Word, Excel, etc.), which will allow Bill to start classes immediately.
Although Bill has minimal technical skills, he does know what he wants. As the discussion proceeds, the following items are added to the plan:
oBudget: Bill has funds for the start up, but the budget has some limits. He doesn’t want the fastest, biggest or best, but he will spend what it takes to have equipment that will suit his needs.
oSecurity: Bill has heard horror stories about computer information being hacked, and he wants your assurance that his business information will be secure, if he follows your suggestions.
oHardware: Bill knows of no special requirements for hardware, but he does know he will need to store somewhere between two and three terabytes of catalog information from the companies with whom he will be working. He needs to be able to access this info at all times from any location. He has no knowledge or preferences about hardware and says he will go with what you recommend.
oOperating System and Software: Bill feels comfortable with the Windows environment, and prefers not to learn another operating system.
oThe Cloud, Wi-Fi, Mobile Computing: Bill has no idea how these technologies tie in to his business, but he does know he needs to be able to do the following from his home office, from his car, or from any remote location: Check his email and compose/send emails at any time, place a supplies order via the Internet to any of his suppliers, be able to answer phone calls, and be able to set up video conferencing phone calls.


The Proposal:
Prepare and submit a proposal to Bill that gives your suggested solution to his business plan. Provide Bill with the details of what he needs to purchase in order to have what he needs to conduct his business using today’s technology. Make sure you include the following items in your report:
1.Hardware: What items of hardware (computer, laptop, tablet device, telephone, etc.) should Bill purchase. For items like a computer, include minimum specifications for all major internal components. Justify the need for any major hardware items recommended.
2.Operating System: With the recommended hardware, what operating system choices are available and which would be best? Why?
3.Other Technologies: Include the details on any peripheral devices and technologies that you propose (“The Cloud”, mobile computing devices, Bluetooth, wireless networking, etc.) and explain how they fit into the business plan.
4.Software & Training: List the software applications that should be purchased. Include the training courses that Bill should attend to gain basic skills in the software packages you recommend.
5.Cost: Provide Bill with an estimated cost for him to implement all of your suggestions.

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04-28-2014, 02:34 AM
Post: #2
 
1. If he plans on staying home most of the time, he should get a computer, tablet, and a smartphone. The tablet and smartphone can virtually do the same things, but the tablet is a bit faster and has a larger screen. However, his smartphone can be for his on-the-go tablet. Either allow for video conferences, given his tablet has internet connection. His computer can be used for documenting/internet/etc. All it needs is basic requirements, as he won't be doing anything extensive on it. Perhaps 2-4 GB of RAM, 3TB hard drive, and a monitor of at least 1280x1024 resolution. A laptop is optional, as he can do most record keeping on his tablet or phone, and send it to his cloud or computer by email. The 3TB hard drive is required for all of the data he will need to keep.

2. The two main choices in operating systems would be Windows and Linux. Linux is best for programming and cloud-computing as well as servers. Windows generally does best with business because of it's ease of use. In context of Bill, Windows probably does best.

3. "The Cloud" allows very easy access to data, wherever you are. Like I said earlier, a smartphone would be helpful as a tablet in regards to easy access to data or similar functions to smaller computer technology, such as word documenting, internet browsing, etc. Bluetooth would help with communication, but is not absolutely needed. If he absolutely needed Internet anywhere he went and having the smartphone won't cut it, he should get a wireless-hotspot device. That allows him to carry Internet access wherever he is for any wireless device he may have on him.

4. The only software I could think of that he may need is a powerpoint creator, a word document creator, spreadsheet creator, antivirus/antimalware, video conferencing capable software, and perhaps a Cloud monitor (whether that'd be his Internet browser or dedicated softwrare). I'm not familiar with classes on these, so you may have to just look into that.

5. My guess estimate would be around $4000, maybe $5000, not including monthly fees from things like phones or hosted cloud computing or potential class prices. He is starting a business, after all.

I answered these to the best of my ability. I read the assignment and put it together as I could. I am a computer enthusiast, not a business man or paralegal personnel. Take my answers with a grain of salt.

If you use what I typed up here, *make sure it's what your professor is expecting*.

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