june 2010

Message from our CEO - Carmine De Santo

A lot of people ask me, What is Loop ? Are you a Reseller ? A Service Provider ? An Event Planner ? I tell everyone we are an IT consultant firm that specializes in your business growth. We are a one stop shop for all of you business IT needs, we understand hardware, software, people, workflow and business continuity. It's simple, we know IT and we have been around for over 20 years in the industry providing the best customer service experience you will find in IT services. The reason why we do these Apple Business Expo's, is it part of our mission statement to give back to community our value added services and bring in the partners that understand your workflow no matter what industry you are in. We've had a lot of success of providing FREE seminars and conferences to the industry over the last 20 years.

Next Month will mark our first year of operations in the state of Florida. We have been very happy with the outcome and what we have provided to the communities of Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Naples and Miami with our services and events. We luanched our first ever Apple Business Expo back in December 3, 2009 at the beautiful Crowne Plaza Hotel in fort Myers, we had over 125 people come to our event and we were very happy with the event and with our vendors and participants that came out for the day to learn about Apple business solutions. We are getting ready now for the Apple Business Expo in Naples (June 9th) 2 weeks away at the Hilton Hotel. We have 40 different vendors from all over North America coming to showcase their latest business tools for the Mac. This week we announced our new date for Apple Business Expo in Miami on Wednesday September 29 at the Hilton Downtown Miami. If you are looking for a new IT partner for your business, please email us and we will come in and perform an onsite assessment to understand your technology, People and Workflow and we will build you the road map to success Looking forward in meeting you all at one of our events and please feel free to email me if you have any questions at desanto@loopusainc.com

When it All Goes Dark

By Simon Strantzas, Product Specialist

I spent more years than I care to admit driving from client to client as an Apple Technician — hooking up computers, crawling under desks, running network and power cables — and if there's one thing I saw time and time again it was an under-powered UPS.

The idea of putting a Uninterrupted Power Supply on a computer, whether it's at work or at home, is a great one. A UPS is like a surge protector on steroids. It contains a battery which, once charged, allows the device to regulate the power sent to your computer. Even though you might not know it, the power that flows from your wall is often "dirty" — the power fluctuates, sometimes wildly, as it is fed out. This can cause strange problems to occur in your computer equipment, possibly even causing hidden damage. A UPS cleans the power, ensuring it is consistent. And, of course, that installed battery serves another purpose — if there is a power outage, your computer is not only protected from the surge, but can run off the battery long enough for you to save your work and shut down normally. It's a safety net, so the work you spent the last five hours on doesn't disappear due to your failure to save regularly, or, even if you had, a corruption caused by the sudden outage.

But people get confused when it comes to actually buying their UPS. They know it's needed, but instead of researching the choice, they make a trip out to the local business supply store and buy one for $50. They might just as well throw their money away. Those are useless, regardless of the brand. They won't provide nearly enough power for a serious design station. Another issue I see, and it breaks my heart, is the client who used to own a Powermac G4 and has upgraded to a G5, yet didn't bother to upgrade his or her UPS. The power requirement of the old systems were far lower than those G5 monsters, yet no one discovers this until the first power outage, when the machine shuts off immediately.

Picking the right UPS depends upon a few factors. The first, and the most important, is the wattage of your computer. Usually, this will be listed in the technical specifications. The latest Apple Mac Pro, for instance, uses 263W when the CPU is running at its maximum. The Powermac G5, by comparison, had a maximum ranging from 450W to 550W (depending on model). So, you're going to need a UPS rated for at least that. But remember, your computer running on a backup battery is useless if you can see what's on it. You'll need to plug in your display as well. The current Apple models range from 65W to 150W, depending on size. This needs to be factored in as well.

Many UPS models ship with two types of outlets: those for "battery backup" and those for "surge protection". The former will keep your equipment up after a power failure, the second will only protect it against spikes. You should limit what is connected to the battery backup to your CPU and display in order to maximize your time after a failure. At the very least, do not plug your laser printer into one of these ports. Laser printers consume a lot of power, and will drain your battery far too quickly. Besides, when the power fails, your priority should be saving your work and shutting down, not continuing to work and print. Remember, the UPS is a safety net, not a replacement for the city's electrical grid!

Still, you'll want to have a UPS that's slightly bigger than your needs, just to accommodate all your devices, and to give you a little leeway with your power needs. Aim for a UPS that provides about 700W or more of power (depending on your needs). Usually, these devices are sold based on their VA, so don't get the two terms confused, which is easy to do.

Or, for your best option, contact your Loop USA Inc. Account Manager for the best recommendation for your setup. Remember: the power could fail at any moment, and if you aren't protected adequately, you could potentially lose not only your current work, but everything on your computer. It might sound alarmist, but being prepared for the worst means you'll be ready when the inevitable occurs.

Leasing vs. Buying offered by Loop USA Inc.

Once you understand the basics of leasing you may see that it's just as simple as traditional financing.

Financing the retail purchase of a computer or Service package means you agree to pay for the equipment or service over the life of the finance contract plus any interest on the loan. You can make a down payment to reduce the monthly payment. There are several advantages to financing your equipment or service package. You can buy a new piece of hardware before you have cash for the entire purchase price. Your cash can remain invested or available for other purchases. With the average life span of a new computer being 3-5 years, this gives the Lessee, an option to always have new and current equipment while in most cases at the same financing terms or lower.

Benefits to Leasing:

  • Conserve Cash - Leasing allows you to conserve cash and leverage up the buying power of your operating or capital budgets, thereby overcoming budget limitations.
  • 100% Financing - Unlike most traditional financing, in most cases you do not make any down payment on the structure.
  • No Pre-Payment of Taxes - You pay GST and PST on rentals. You DO NOT prepay the total taxes on the equipment in full up front.
  • Preserve Lines of Credit - Valuable cash and lines of credit are preserved to grow your business. No one in business experiences financial difficulty because they have too much cash.
  • Potential Income Tax Benefits - In many instances, leasing provides income tax benefits and the assets do not appear on the balance sheet. Debt to Equity ratios are unaffected.
  • Pay as You Profit - You establish equipment costs in today's dollars, and pay these costs incrementally in inflated future dollars, as the equipment is used. You can add extra equipment and accessories for very small monthly costs.
  • Match Revenue with Expenditures - You can match revenues with expenditures by paying for the equipment while it is used to generate revenue, or protect profits.
  • Simple, Convenient Process - The process is simple and convenient. You achieve 'one-stop' shopping for the equipment and financing. Credit approval and lease documentation is uncomplicated and can be completed very quickly.
  • Tailored Payments - Repayment can be tailored to your cash flow.

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