| Anywhere you have unattended computers like | | | | you are like me and you never do any backups, |
| Internet café, public kiosk workstation or | | | | you will be very, very, VERY sorry one day. I |
| computer class, many times you need to use a | | | | have been there, I know. |
| café timer. | | | | Do check and clean your registry from time to |
| Now, if you are asking: "Cafe what? huh?", café | | | | time. |
| timer is simply a program, installed on all your | | | | Running timer software and other programs will |
| computers. | | | | clutter your registry. I show you a good, free |
| This piece of software locks and unlocks your | | | | registry cleaner in my email series, so go sign up, |
| workstation according to how much time people | | | | download it and use it. There is no excuse not to. |
| can to use your computer. For example in any | | | | Do use screen lock feature of your café |
| Internet café, you would usually approach a | | | | management program. |
| cashier and ask to use a computer for a certain | | | | This feature provides a more secure option for |
| time. Most of the time, cashier will give you a | | | | controlling your systems and does not allow users |
| code, that works like one of those telephone | | | | to use the computers at all without the |
| calling cards. You punch in the code and it will let | | | | screen-lock being deactivated. This golden feature |
| you work for say 10 minutes and then lock you | | | | will allow you to sit planted on your chair instead |
| out. | | | | of running around. |
| I would say this software is a must, because you | | | | Do lock your computer box in a table. |
| don't want to run around counting how much each | | | | There are "shut down" and "restart" buttons |
| person has to pay you, by hand. It's horrible. | | | | there usually. Although café software will |
| What's even more horrible is have to pay | | | | recover from lost power, why risk it? I found my |
| somebody to do it for you manually. | | | | clients had less hardware problems and service |
| Guess what you will be doing all day, if you do not | | | | interruptions when you lock your computers up. |
| have this software? | | | | Make sure you have adequate ventilation in the |
| One of these two things: | | | | box, otherwise, you will fry your computers very |
| | | | quickly. So give then a breather. |
| 1. Running around after people and | | | | Do consider installing a close circuit camera in the |
| 2. Arguing about the charges you need to apply | | | | room where computers are... |
| to their credit cards. | | | | At least keep this in mind for the future. I do |
| Perhaps it is fun up to some point, if you have | | | | know a few people, where it came in very handy |
| two computers and you like talking to your | | | | (they asked me not to go into details about their |
| customers all the time. | | | | stories, but lets just say it saved them many |
| If you have twenty... Forget it. | | | | fees in lawyer's fee). You do not have to watch |
| Now, that we got this out-of-the-way, let's look | | | | and record every computer, but at least the |
| at what you should and should not do with café | | | | room is nice. No need for minute details. |
| timer. | | | | Do integrate your timer software with your cash |
| Definitely use a professional software specifically | | | | register. |
| designed for this purpose. | | | | Use it, you will not regret it. When the client pays |
| It is very convenient and saves you a lot of | | | | for everything, it will just generate a key for him |
| problems. | | | | to unlock a workstation. |
| I mean, I don't even know how to do it any | | | | Do use up-sells and cross sells. |
| other way to be honest. How can you efficiently | | | | This is a sneaky trick all marketers use. You can |
| lock people out of your computer after some | | | | literally double or triple the value of each of your |
| time without a special software. So you do need | | | | customer by using that single trick. They bought a |
| that... Check! | | | | cup of coffee? Excellent! How about a doughnut |
| Do configure your workstation with a strong | | | | to go with it? And since you will be drinking |
| security in mind | | | | coffee and eating your doughnut, would you like |
| Always make sure your Windows user that | | | | to check your email or access the Internet while |
| executes everything does not have any admin or | | | | you are at it? |
| power user privileges. You do NOT want that. | | | | See where I am getting at? Offer a price |
| There is never any justification for that, any | | | | cheaper, than he would otherwise get buying |
| software should run under a regular user. In fact, | | | | those items separately. |
| create the most limited user you can make and | | | | Do buy a rugged keyboard and mouse. |
| do not let any access to your disk except read | | | | Even if your sign says: "No food and drinks |
| only access to Windows system directories. I | | | | beyond this point", be ready, that a lot of people |
| show you how to do it in my café software | | | | will ignore it. If you invest in rugged keyboard and |
| secrets email series. | | | | mouse, you will not even have to put up a sign. If |
| Do NOT rely entirely only on your café timer. | | | | they spill coffee or juice on your keyboard - no |
| I mean it's good piece of software, but it doesn't | | | | problem. You can just wash it with soap and in 5 |
| replace an anti-virus. Nor does it replace a backup. | | | | minutes it's gone. |
| Trust me, nothing replaces backup, because If | | | | |