Issue 5, September 16, 2003

Note - if you want to download this email in a PDF, click here.

Dear Newsletter Subscribers and Requestors of Assistance via Email:

This edition of the newsletter is to let you know of the move of the site and why it moved.  I will also let you know of several very timely deals on hardware, software, including an exclusive offer for owners of the 2300/2350/2400. 

First, why are you getting this?  Because you’ve contacted me in the past for support, either via email or directly as a local client.  Although my last newsletter was about 6 months ago, I intend to send a newsletter out at least 6 times per year, but no more than 12.  Questions re: use of your name?  See Privacy below. 

On September 2^nd I moved the site from Comcast to my new domain, www.RickMktg.com.  We had to move in a hurry, since Comcast complained that site traffic was in the top 1% of all their users and they shut us down for 24 hours as we were “negatively impacting other users”.  This was partly due to my providing a page for SpongeBob SquarePants (a young DellTalker) to allow Dimension 8200 users to get a BIOS update that Dell doesn’t have on their site.  Due to this crisis with Comcast, I moved the site as is, and will be adding new content every day.  One of my main goals is to put up a lot of the content that I’ve conveyed to you in answers to emails, or the 12,600+ DellTalk posts that I’ve answered.  Now that I’m at a provider that supports Microsoft FrontPage, updating a page is much easier, so keeping pages on the site current is easier. 

My overall mission is to provide FREE tech support for computers, mostly Dell (but other brands too).  In return, I ask you to consider making a donation towards the site’s upkeep and maintenance, either via PayPal, or use one of the many links on my site (Amazon, Dell, Crucial, CompUSA, Circuit City,…) for which I receive a very small commission – at no cost to you.  Or do both J.  And please pass my link on to your friends!

Why have over 12,000 people come to my site?  Because they value the information I provide, and the deals I make them aware of.  Unbiased, impartial information that solves your problems.  Have a question?  Then click here to send me an email.

Here’s an example of my recent support that helped readers of my newsletter.  In my January 8, 2003 newsletter, I urged readers to stay current with their antivirus software, Windows Critical Updates, and to install a firewall.  If you got any of the recent worms or viruses, then you didn’t follow my instructions – which would have prevented any problems.  And I sent this out over 8 months ago.  Good, TIMELY, advice.  You can review my old newsletters on my site here.

That’s enough info for now, enjoy the new site and the info below.

Current Opportunities

DELL

New this week from Dell are $50 and $100 coupons for use on Dell Home when you spend $999 or $1,499.  In addition you save up to $250 instantly, as well free LCD upgrades, free memory upgrades, and more.  Dell has been frequently running Software & Peripheral discount coupons lately, so you need to check constantly.  There was one on Monday, check back later this week for a new one J.  For the current week's DELL Home deals, click here!  Deals normally change on Thursdays, but Dell sometimes has specials during the week and on weekends.  To go right to my Dell page, click here!  Don't forget to order the minimum memory and then get more from my Memory page!

From Dell Small Business there is a pre-configured 4600 for $799, and a $200 rebate on a Dimension 8300 or a $250 rebate on an Inspiron laptop.  I bought myself a Dimension 8300 month ago, used two coupons, the $200 rebate, ended up around $450 at the end of the day for a 2.6ghz 800mhz fsb system.  Nice.   For the current week's DELL Small Business deals, click here!   Deals normally change on Thursdays, but Dell sometimes has specials during the week and on weekends.  To go right to my Dell page, click here!  Don't forget to order the minimum memory and then get more from my Memory page!

2300/2350/2400 Bracket for Second Hard Drive

Here’s a great deal for owners of Dimension 2300/2350/2400s.  If you want to add a hard drive to your computer, you’ll discover that there is no bracket for it.  A Dell customer has designed a bracket and mounting hardware, IDE cable and illustrated instructions, which he sells for $29.99.  Info is on my site here.  However, as a special offer to recipients of my newsletter, he’s knocking $5 off the price through October 15^th.  To get the discount, go to his site via my page, and read all the Terms and Conditions.  Then, reopen this email and click on the link below which goes to an exclusive page that gives you this exclusive $24.99 offer.  The $24.99 offer is ONLY AVAILABLE VIA THIS EMAIL, AND ONLY FOR A LIMITED TIME.  Click here for the special discount page, please make sure you read the info on his site BEFORE ordering.

Memory

Computer memory has recently dropped more in price, the lowest it's been in a long time!  Now's a great time to add Crucial memory to your computer.  Guaranteed to fit, lifetime warranty, FREE 2^nd day priority shipping for most orders!  If you live outside the US, Crucial ships to you too!  The U.S. Site (click here) ships to North and South America, Asia and Australia, and the UK site ships to everywhere else.   Click here for Crucial.com, UK and Europe.  For those of you with RDRAM (Dell Dimension 8100, 8200, 8250 and Bxxxr models), visit my RDRAM page.

Hardware and Software

CompUSA isn't a new name.  It's a great source for competitive prices to upgrade your system.  CompUSA has unbelievable prices on hard drives, networking equipment and more – click here to see! 

Academic Superstore is a site where you can get big discounts on software if you're a student or have a student in your house.  My 10th grader's student ID qualified us, I bought Adobe Acrobat for $57.95 a few months ago!  It sells for $216.99 at Amazon!  Click here to checkout great software deals!

For those without students in the house, Amazon has great software deals.  Current deals include - $49.99 for Easy CD Creator Platinum 6.0, Microsoft Office for Students and Teachers for $74.99 (includes upgrade to Office 2003 for Students and Teachers for just a $12.95 shipping fee - WOW, CAN’T BEAT THAT DEAL), and more.  Here’s my Amazon page.

Circuit City also has some good deals.  Their weekly ad is accessible via my site, and there is a regular list of specials also.  Click here for Circuit City.

DVDs

Netflix is a great deal for people that like to watch DVDs.  It's designed for the couch potatoes of the world, and it's an ecologically sensitive way to help the world :).  For $19.95 per month you can rent UNLIMITED DVDs (three at a time) and keep them for as long as you want!  No shipping charges!  Watch the DVD, drop it in the mail.  When they get it (1-3 days) they immediately mail you back the next DVD on your list.  If you watch two movies per weekend per month, it works out to $2.30 per movie.  Watch 3 and it drops to $1.53.  And the best thing is that you don't need to go drive anywhere...  Visit my CDs, DVDs, and Movies page. 

Other Sites

Here’s a list of some of the other sites I feature are, in no particular order: OfficeMax and Office Depot, Apple (for the IPod), Sharper Image, Ebay and Half.com, Drugstore.com, BackcountryStore.com (great backpacking and outdoor site), eBags, Globat.com for $7.50 per month webhosting, Verizon Wireless, and more!  More coming each and every day, and if you don’t see the site you want, then click here to send me an email and request it.

Site Support 

I've been asked by some of you how I can provide the site and the personal responses to hundreds of people each month.  One of the ways that I cover my costs is by your usage of my website.  There are lots of sites you can visit from my site, and if you make a purchase the small (sometimes very small) commission that I receive goes towards the upkeep of the site.  This costs you nothing extra versus you going directly to the site, and still qualifies you for any promotions, discounts, or coupons that the site may be offering.  New links are being added everyday - and if you don't see a site that you want - let me know and I'll see if I can add it.  For other ideas to support the site, click on support the site.  They are all painless!  I've also add a testimonials page with feedback that comes from people like you, all over the world. 

Thank you for using my site.  I appreciate it.

Rick

PRIVACY - People who just use my site are NOT tracked by me in any way, even if they make a purchase through one of the links I provide.  I do not rent out my list to anyone, it’s exclusively used to communicate through this newsletter on a semi-irregular basis J.  If you would like to unsubscribe for any reason, all you have to do is click here to be removed.

P.S.  If any link in this newsletter doesn’t work, please send me an email.