Frequently Asked Questions of IT/IS Personnel

What are the recommended hardware specs for a workstation?

1.2Ghz PC or faster
512Mb RAM
1Gb Hard Drive
1024x768 Monitor
CD-ROM, Keyboard, mouse

What Operating Systems do you support?

Windows 2000, NT, XP/Pro. Windows 98 is not recommended.

What printers do you support?

HP LaserJet class laser printers. An injet would work, but a laser is recommended for speed and supply cost considerations. DietMaster adds useful color printing in several places, but the printing cost may outweigh the usefulness.

Does DietMaster 2000 run on a network?

Yes! We recommend installing DietMaster 2000 on a (Windows/NT) network server as a shared application, with workstations having only a shortcut to the application on the server (DietMaster 2000 is not client-server software). Network capability is built in to DietMaster 2000 at no additional cost. Multiuser capability is also built in to DietMaster 2000, with HIPAA security controls.

What are the network performance implications?

There may be a small network load when doing a tally, but that is a once-a-day operation and typically takes less than 10 minutes - network load at other times (assuming a good high-speed network) is not significant for either the DietMaster 2000 user or other workstations on the network.

Are there optional hardware or software requirements?

A high-speed internet connection is recommended for retrieving product updates.

A UPS is recommended to avoid data corruption in the event of a power loss or surge.

A PDA (Palm O/S v3 or greater, color display, 8Mb) is optional (may require USB port on PC), but useful for several data collection functions.

What about backups?

We recommend regular (daily and weekly) backups of your data. A manual backup utility is provided in DietMaster 2000; depending on the size of your facility, backups could range from 1-100Mb in size.

How will we receive and install product updates?

All product updates are available on our website. We will also mail out updates on a CD by request. Once downloaded (or the CD loaded), the System | Setup | Update functions make the update as simple as clicking a button and restarting the program. Major version updates are generally provided every 12-18 months, with occasional minor updates in between.

How is support handled?

Support is free for the first year and 10% of the purchase price annually aferwards. We strongly recommend that some sort of remote access be available for helping troubleshoot problems and for on-line training. VNC, Remote Desktop, pcAnywhere and others have been used.