Easy support

If you look at the Help Menu, click on it, and select Tech Connect, it will establish a chat connection directly to our computer(s). You can ask your questions and get an immediate conversation started. If it is beneficial for us to connect with your computer to show, or fix, something, we’ll send you a quick connect request … click it and both machines will “get together”. This is so much easier than email, or phone calls, for immediate support issues. Of course, we love emails because we keep track of them until the issue is totally resolved.

Your software is Touch Enabled !

Surprise ! If you have a computer with a touch screen capability, you can now use touch screen activity with Auto Shop Writer. We tested it on our new Samsung All In One with a 22 inch touch screen monitor. It works nicely, allows you to move around using the control buttons, select fields, and even input data using the included on screen keyboard. Of course, you won’t carry that machine around with you, but devices like the Samsung Series 7 Slate give you portability, and using the on screen keyboard, you can do basic work wherever it takes you. A slate can be used on your shop network right now. Its especially great for starting a workorder while interviewing a client at their vehicle, checking stock, or looking at a workorder in the bays when talking to a mechanic. Of course, new laptops and slates are coming October 26th with the release of Windows 8. You can get one now, and update it to Windows 8 for just $ 15 in October if you want to climb aboard the portability group. Check out the Frequently Asked Questions ( www. AutoShopWriter.com or from your Help menu ) for more details on implementing touch.

Merchant ( Credit card ) Processing

For several years, we have offered credit card processing services through Acquirint and now we are adding a second company, Charge It Pro. Both companies offer a service that is integrated into Auto Shop Writer. You can process up to 4 cards per invoice. You can also issue credits, and see full reporting in ASW. The charge detail is provided on the invoice, with a space for a cardholder signature. Both systems use the internet to process the authorizations, which is much faster than your devices using a dialup connection. Its all seamless, the rates should be at, or below, your current provider, and you have a much cleaner procedure. Both companies will have full contact info on our website shortly.

Are you getting your updates ?

We have been posting updates every couple of days, activating the new features in the major update ( 9.23.xx ) and also fixing any problems that people may encounter. Of course, if you did not install the new updater, you are NOT getting these updates. For those who were confused by the instructions, and called in, we did the changes for them online immediately ( takes about 5 minutes ). Others ( hopefully ) followed the step by step instructions and did it themselves. If you did not “update the auto updater”, and need help, you need to call by Friday, the 20th, or wait until Monday the 30th. We’ll be working from a remote location next week, and the connections are too slow to do this operation remotely from there.

Support Services 7/23/2012 to 7/27/2012

Next week we will be based remotely. Please send emails to timstone@mlsdg.onmicrosoft.com if you need any assistance. You will get an immediate response. Online support will be available for emergencies on a limited basis. Phone calls will go to voicemail and be forwarded, but the email address above is the fastest communication you can use ! Responses will usually be sent within minutes, and they will be specific to your problem.

Windows 8 Releases October 26th.

We’ve made it clear Auto Shop Writer works on Windows 8, and with the Windows 2012 server. This is important because you will benefit by using it. We will continue to test through the new release. We are also testing with Office 2013 which has some great improvements. Put together, the new Windows capabilities, coupled with Auto Shop Writer, will make your daily management tasks so much simpler.

More to come …

Soon we will be making another major announcement that will benefit you. Please keep reading these bulletins … they are to keep you on top of your ASW system.

For a long time, we have received requests for “larger fonts”, and a bigger screen size. However, many people just don’t have the monitors to support them. However, the picture you see here is taken of Auto Shop Writer, running in Windows 8 ( yes,the upcoming release ), and a 26” flat screen monitor, and it has automatically sized to the full monitor … and is incredibly readable even for our tired, older, eyes.

You may think this is a pretty expensive upgrade, but actually it is not. Microsoft has announced an upgrade from any version of Windows ( XP, Vista, 7 ) to Windows 8 for under $ 40 ( per computer ). If you are running Windows 7 or Vista, all of your current programs and settings will likely be retained during the update. Having performed several Windows 8 preview updates, the installation has been consistently flawless and easy. If you have XP on your computer, you will need to reinstall programs, but your data will all remain in place.

Of course, if you don’t have a flat screen display, its time to upgrade. Do your eyes a favor ! You can purchase 23 inch flat screen monitors for under $ 200. That is certainly a reasonable business investment.

Of course there are other benefits. Windows 8 is faster, does well with dual monitor support ( run ASW on one monitor, other things on another … no problem ). Also, it has a unique, and very interesting, Metro interface that provides you live updating of information .

You may read a lot of reviews on Windows 8, and some get really negative. However, some people love to talk down anything and anyone. What most overlook is that you will soon have a totally seamless integration available between a Windows phone ( 8 ), tablet ( slate computer ), and your windows operating system. This will include transparent data sharing, and a whole lot more !

Windows 8 starts coming online soon, and Auto Shop Writer does very well with it. We think you will enjoy its implementation.

We thought you should know …