Apple Consultants Network: At-a-Glance
Consultant Helps Home User
Reach Out to the World

Wooded Isle Computer Consultants enabled Cynthia Neely to get beyond her fears and become an effective, comfortable Mac user. From using iPhoto to manage her digital photos to connecting wirelessly on her iBook when she's traveling on business, Cynthia is now able to accomplish her goals with ease and confidence.

The Client
Cynthia Neely was frustrated with her home computer. Though she had once been comfortable using her aging iMac, over the years she had outgrown its speed and capabilities. When she started having trouble getting the computer to function properly, she worried that years of data would be lost forever. In addition, her slow internet connection and lack of technical confidence made her feel that technology had passed her by—she knew there was more she could be doing, but she just wasn't sure how.

Cynthia became increasingly discouraged. Personal projects, like managing her digital photos, were being impeded and her home-based profession as a religious consultant was also affected. With students around the globe and a busy travel schedule, Cynthia wanted a home computer that could double as an anywhere-office tool. She needed help solving her computing frustrations and assistance gaining a new level of technical confidence.

The Assignment
Cynthia Neely offers religious teaching and consultation to students worldwide, both over the phone as well as in person. She has a busy schedule, divided between at-home work and frequent travel. Until recently, her productivity both personally and professionally was hindered by a feeling that she had lost control over her technical environment. Her needs for a reliable, fast computer were no longer being fulfilled by her outdated iMac, but she didn't have the time or confidence to solve the problem on her own. Did she need a new computer, or could her current one be improved? What kind of software would she need to install? Was there some easier way for her to invoice her students around the world and receive payments, even while she was traveling? Cynthia knew that she should be able to accomplish more—like connecting to the Internet from abroad and accessing the two years of photographs she had accumulated on her digital camera—but her inexperience solving these challenges made her feel that her situation was too overwhelming. Luckily, Cynthia found the personalized expert assistance she needed from Wooded Isle Computer Consultants.

The Solution
Charlie Havens, owner of Wooded Isle Computer Consultants, specializes in helping his clients become more comfortable working with their home computers and alleviating the stress and complication of purchasing new technology. And, he also makes house calls. From helping clients select new hardware by shopping with them online to training them on how to meet their goals more effectively, Charlie provides personalized solutions that fit his clients' needs. He worked with Cynthia to determine her most pressing challenges and provided helpful services that included:

• Assistance in selecting a new computer, software, and accessories by shopping with her on the Apple Authorized Business Agents online store.
• Setting up a new 12"”iBook for fast, reliable computing at home and easy, light-weight mobile computing.
• Seamless transition to the new iBook, including the transfer of critical data.
• Advising on the selection of an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to optimize connection speed.
• Teaching her how to connect to the Internet when she's traveling, from dialing-up over a hotel phone line to using an AirPort Card to connect wirelessly at a WiFi cafe.
• Installing Skype Internet softphone software, so that she can talk for free to remote students over her DSL connection—an inexpensive alternative to long distance phone calls.
• Training her to use Request Payment from PayPal, for anywhere-invoicing and payment receipt over the Internet.
• •Importing two years of photos from Cynthia's digital camera to her new iBook and teaching her how to import, edit, and print her own photographs with iPhoto.