Macro Systems Blog

Keeping your small business’ technology up to date is a lot like maintaining a car: you need to make updates to keep it running smoothly and avoid costly breakdowns. The problem is, with IT, where do you start? 

An operating system is the main program on any device, like a computer, phone, or tablet, that helps it work. It's what lets you open apps, go online, and get stuff done! For businesses, keeping their OS updated is imperative. Here’s why:

Managing servers can be a challenging task for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Despite being essential to your operations, servers are complex technologies that, if not managed properly, can lead to wasted time, energy, and resources. Listed below are the vital functions of server management and how to maximize your current resources.

Software fuels most modern businesses, even the small shops down the street. Depending on the size and scope of the business, however, managing software can be complex and downright unfun. Listed below is a type of tool that your business can find great value in: a software management solution.

Transferring data between different computers and devices has become a routine task. Listed below are the steps you need to take before ejecting memory from a computer to ensure your data's integrity and the memory card's longevity.

Part of doing business is understanding certain types of trade-offs related to the decisions you make. Specifically, we want to highlight opportunity cost as it relates to technology. What is the opportunity cost of technology, and why is it a critical concept for a business owner to grasp?

You often hear about “drives” when working with technology, but there are many different types that a computer might use in your business's day-to-day operations. Listed below is an explanation about some of these drives do and why you should know where they are and what they stand for.

The laptop is an excellent piece of office equipment because of its portability and its power to meet the needs of most of today’s workforce. However, when in the office, many prefer the much larger screens that are more typical of the traditional desktop. Let’s talk about how you can get the best of both worlds by plugging your laptop into a set of peripherals and using it while it's closed—effectively turning it into a PC’s tower.

If you are old enough to remember when, like most computer software, antivirus came in a large textbook-sized box at the store, then you probably remember a time when that was the only protection you really needed.

These days there are countless free versions of antivirus out there. How much protection do these actually provide, and when and where might they be a good fit?

Think about all the experiences you've had thanks to the rapid innovation of technology. We can all agree that technology is cool. These we have $10 drones, mugs that keep your coffee warm, and LEDs everywhere. 

So what’s next? 

We spend a lot of time working with the technology that businesses depend on, including the laptop workstations utilized by just about everyone in many modern organizations. As such, listed below are some of our insights so that you know what qualities you should look for when you’re ready to acquire some additional devices for your organization.

If you frequently utilize your desktop to store icons and files, and if you’re like most people who do this, you probably have a cluttered desktop that is difficult to manage. While you can and should take time to clean it up from time to time, one faster way you can do so is by adjusting the size of the icons found on your desktop.

The keyboard that you're using to access this blog is, in a word, gross. While we aren’t going to go into too much detail about what makes keyboards so grimy, we did want to outline how you can easily clean up your keyboard every so often, just to make sure that it’s A: more hygienic, and B: less likely to malfunction at some point.

Over the last few months, we’ve seen a significant rise in AI-generated content. From AI-generated artwork to convincing but fake videos of famous people, AI has quickly become an interesting enigma with a lot of apparent applications.

While using your computer, you have probably seen a black box pop up with a blinking cursor in it. This is what is commonly known as the command prompt, which is a helpful tool for IT administrators to perform certain tasks, but you probably won’t use it much yourself. Having said that, it’s fun to know what it does and what it’s used for!

Sticky Keys, the Windows accessibility feature that keeps modifier keys like Shift and Ctrl active after you’ve pressed them, have a legitimate and necessary purpose for some. On the other hand, those who don’t need Sticky Keys can find them immensely annoying. How to deactivate sticky keys if you don’t need them is listed below.

Maintaining your organization's technology can be a lot to handle, especially if you don’t have any IT staff members on hand to dedicate to its management. Managed services make this process a lot simpler, ensuring that, amongst other key benefits, your desktop solutions remain up-to-date and prepared for anything. Listed below are three basic tips to follow to ensure your desktops remain maintained.

You’re busy working, when suddenly your computer crashes…what do you do? Of course, your first response should be to reach out for support. Listed below is an explanation about how your acquisition of support may go, even if your problem cannot be resolved remotely.

With the holidays approaching, people are ready to go out and find the best gifts for their loved ones. That being said, people don’t want to spend their money frivolously; they want to find the best deals while they are available. Listed below is a list of some of the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals that have been announced so far.

We know that you might not feel comfortable traveling yet, but when you do, it is extremely imperative that you take steps to protect the technology you take with you on the road. Here are some of the best ways that you can keep your mobile devices safe while traveling.