Archive: July 2004

July 29, 2004

Hundreds of Companies Capitalize on Intranets.com -- Netspoke Real-Time Collaboration Products Since Launch of Partnership

Web conferencing is exploding and I'll be doing an article on this soon. Web conferencing lets you reach more people...

July 29, 2004

Putting the sparkle back into Gateway

Gateway has always had a sparkle for me and maybe for other end users. The "sparkle" however was lost in...

July 29, 2004

Internet Snagged In the Hooks Of 'Phishers'

Phishing is snarling more and more users. Often times the problem is not the lack of a security solution but...

July 29, 2004

iPaqs new PDA - everything including the kitchen sink

I go to the side of "simple" when I shop for electronic gadgets and I prefer to not have...

July 28, 2004

Why Your Wireless LAN Doesn't Work

Having a wireless network is great and gives you a lot flexibility. However, wireless is also a huge opening...

July 28, 2004

Internet Telephony - a fight between giants

(Michael K. Powell of the Federal Communications Commission has pushed for reduced state controls of telephone calls over the...

July 28, 2004

For small businesses, hiring the right geek is a special challenge

Technolgoy Consultants are one of the BEST partners your business can have. Business Week writes Mary Clark knew that she...

July 28, 2004

The Web Marketing Checklist: 29 Ways to Promote Your Website

Dr. Ralph F. Wilson, E-Commerce Consultant, gives 29 substantive ways to increase traffic to your web site. How can...

July 28, 2004

Microsoft finds out what business owners really want

Warrillow Weekly writes Every business owner is short on resources. They won't buy something they don't need or can't use...

July 27, 2004

FREE GUIDE: Technology Resources for Growing Businesses

31 pages of practical guidance to help you use technology as a tool to grow your business. BONUS: Dozens of...

July 27, 2004

WebEx support - 3 LONG days

In my quest to try out various ceb conferencing solutions, I signed up for a trial WebEx account late Saturday...

July 27, 2004

Storing your data - how long will it last

There's several issues to consider with data storage: 1. The media the data is on. How long will it...

July 27, 2004

Microsoft to challenge Google in News

I really like Google's news service and it looks like Microsoft likes it so much that it's going to build...

July 27, 2004

What worries you more - you or your PC's death?

The NY Post writes A whopping 73 percent of people fear "my computer becoming corrupted and losing everything on...

July 27, 2004

WiFi networks start to share

For most WiFi networks you can't share them. If you subscribe to Sprint's network but find yourself in a place...

July 27, 2004

New Backup Solution

There are so many backup solutions, the question is which one do you choose. Web based back up solutions are...

July 26, 2004

Verizon offers it customers $$$ savings

Gotomypc.com normally costs $20 per month to use. Well, Verizon Online customers can get it for $9 per month. This,...

July 26, 2004

IP Telephony - it's bigger than you think

I've posted in this space, quite a bit about the benefits of using "voice over the Internet Protocol" to...

July 26, 2004

How to keep your laptop from being stolen

ZD Net's Robert Vamosi writes This week I'll be in Las Vegas, attending Black Hat Briefings USA 2004, the...

July 26, 2004

DROOL: HP's PDA, Cell phone, WiFi device

HP's latest iPaq 6315 PDA combines a cellular phone, BlueTooth and WiFi connectivity so you can ensure you are...

July 26, 2004

Blogging - the name overshadows the tool

I'm not too sure why the media are so excited about the word "blogging" and think it unusual that...

July 24, 2004

$1,495 - the cost of not backing up data

As I reported to you earlier, a hard disk of a colleague crashed. The data was not backed up...

July 24, 2004

WebEx - it's popular but not as good as ImConferencing

Well, I've just finished trying out WebEx (see my earlier post about ImConferencing) and although it is FEATURE RICH, it's...

July 23, 2004

Mozilla FireFox - it's good but

Well, I've been using Mozilla's FireFox for several weeks now and it's good. HOWEVER, it's got several problems that...

July 23, 2004

Web Conferencing it's easy and amazing.

Sometimes you think EVERYONE'S DOING IT and you are missing out. Just today, I produced my own web conference (to...

July 23, 2004

Apple's Pocket-Size Base Station

The NY Times raves about Apple's latest wirless access point Last week, Apple introduced yet another way to eliminate...

July 23, 2004

Gartner: Desktop Linux Shows Small Gains

Now you see why Microsoft is slamming Linux so hard? At the end of the day it's about two...

July 23, 2004

Danger Signs Up Sharp to Make New Mobile Devices

Danger makes one of the coolest looking and most functional PDA/cellphone gadgets around. Reuters writes The closely held company...

July 23, 2004

Multi-Channel CRM: Putting It All Together

If you want to increase sales and profits, it's vital to look at your customers through multiple dimensions and not...

July 22, 2004

Recycling your computers is smart and now easier

If you have a computer or computers that you don't want - what do you do with them? One...

July 22, 2004

Verizon Seen Introducing Phone Service via Internet

The NY Times is reporting that Verizon Communications, the nation's biggest telephone company, will announce today that it is introducing...

July 22, 2004

Tablet PCs on the rise in college compuses

Although this might not have a directl implication for your business you can take some lessons learned and benefits...

July 22, 2004

The weakest security link? It's you

You can have the strongest security in the world, but if your own employees are not doing what they...

July 22, 2004

Thin is in, but is it sensible in a laptop?

USA Today writes about whether to use a thin and light laptop or to go with one a bit larger....

July 21, 2004

Pitfalls of Deploying VoIP

In the third part in a series News Factor writes on the issue of SMBs and VOIP. Many of the...

July 21, 2004

Dell creates new security Web site for consumers

Spyware and Adware are a growing nuisance - as is phishing. Having a fake web site to get information from...

July 21, 2004

First Windows CE Virus Emerges

We've known for some time that viruses are NOT only on PCs but COULD be on PDAs. Now there's more...

July 21, 2004

Allbusiness.com answers questions

In light of Allbusiness.com receiving additional funding, I had some questions and an Allbusiness.com spokesperson gives the answers. What is...

July 20, 2004

AllBusiness.com Announces $10 Million Venture Financing

Venture funding for content based web sites has not dried up as Allbusiness.com has evidenced. AllBusiness.com, Inc. announced today...

July 20, 2004

BACKING UP YOUR DATA COULD SAVE YOU HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS

The hard disk of a Dell Optiplex crashed yesterday. At same time "Murphy's Law" kicked in and when I called...

July 20, 2004

Your PDA. It's more than just telephone numbers

I've been using PDAs for many years and have found it that it is a powerful tool for quickly...

July 20, 2004

The Treo 600 comes to life

Verizon Wireless, palmOne, Inc. (NASDAQ:PLMO) and Intellisync Corporation (NASDAQ:SYNC) announced that the award-winning Treo(TM) 600 smartphone is now available...

July 20, 2004

Technology Magazines are coming back

Cnet/NY Times writes The entire category [of technology magazines] is much smaller now. ECompany Now, owned by Time, was combined...

July 20, 2004

Verizon - it DOES have great cellular service

I wondered what would make me pass a Verizon Wireless sales booth in a mall - then go back...

July 20, 2004

Computer processors really don't matter that much

I know there's a constsant "battle" between AMD and INTEL for who has the best or fastest chip. Many...

July 19, 2004

Advertising online? Don't get scammed

Advertising online is great - especially a "cost per click" text based ad served by Google, Overture or others. However,...

July 19, 2004

VOIP - be careful what you ask for

Althought companies CAN save money and get advanced features by switching to VOIP from traditional phone service, there are downsides...

July 19, 2004

Updating Windows XP might be painful

Next month Microsoft will reelase Service Pack 2 (SP2), an update to Windows XP. When you install the update do...

July 19, 2004

ZD Net's Rafe Needleman writes Do you have a staff of people dedicated to taking care of your computing...

July 17, 2004

Hear Ramon Ray on the Radio....

This Monday, 19 July 2004, Ramon Ray will be a guest on Jim Blasingame's (that's him in the picture...

July 16, 2004

Google's Gmail service - one of the best

Google has upstaged the competition , and it seems the whole email world has just collapsed. MSN and Yahoo!,...

July 16, 2004

BONUS: Get insight on online customer service from...

Zoomio, Inc., Parature, Vocal Labs, TMI US, CableOrganizer.com, 1-800-Radiator, MrExcel.com, Edocs.com, iFulFill, iPhrase, Netspoke, Autobytel, ThinkGeek, Precision Response Corporation,...

July 16, 2004

Marrying Your Customers Using the Internet

How can you fulfill and exceed customer expectations online? While it's not that hard to send a box of cookies...

July 16, 2004

Warranties - they are worth the investment

If you're like me - you like saving money. Maybe you need to buy a new computer or several and...

July 15, 2004

Microsoft loves the channel and the channel loves MS too!

Microsoft just kicked off three days of its annual partner world conference in Toronto. The attendees attended many sessions...

July 15, 2004

Mozilla's FireFox - it's great (but for one thing)

The more I use Mozilla.org's FireFox web browser - the more I'm beginning to like it. I can open...

July 15, 2004

Forbes writes To succeed, any business, whether it's Apple Computer (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ), Lucent (nyse:...

July 15, 2004

Stopping PC Spies at the Gate

Spyware is a VERY bad plague that is increasingly infecting user's computers. Not only does it make pop-up after...

July 15, 2004

Microsoft now chats with Yahoo and AOL (but only for businesses)

The big guys like to keep their chat clients only for themselves. From a business stand point I can sort...

July 15, 2004

Maximizer continues to sell

Although contact management company, Maximizer, is not as popular as Act!, GoldMine or other tools, its products have a...

July 15, 2004

PDF file creation - (Free and Fee versions)

If you are looking for an alternative solution to Adobe Acrobat for creating PDF files, then Broadgun's PDF Mahcine...

July 14, 2004

VOIP in real life

This case study about Avaya's VOIP solution is a good example of VOIP in action. Sure it's a press release,...

July 14, 2004

Laplink Sets a New Benchmark for Remote Access to Your PC

From Laplink - Laplink Everywhere 3.0 allows users to have complete remote access to their PCs from any web enabled...

July 14, 2004

The Challenges of Online Customer Service

Check out Ramon's article on Inc.com A few days before Valentine's Day, I was shopping in Lord & Taylor for...

July 13, 2004

Vonage - does it again - 200,000 VOIP lines

Vonage, seller of voice over the internet protocol service once again shows that VOIP is not a fad - but...

July 13, 2004

If Verizon can get hacked - what about you?

The NY Times is reporting tha Verizon will spend $120,00 just to upgrade security in its computers. Someone was able...

July 13, 2004

Microsoft to launch online store

USA Today is reporting that Microsoft is planning an online store to sell Windows-compatible products ó and promoting it in...

July 13, 2004

Microsoft offers useful business content

Although Microsoft's Business Insight Newsletter will be biased towards Microsoft it is indeed full of useful titles. I have only...

July 13, 2004

ConEdison's online service takes - 10 days

I emailed ConEdison on 3 June 2004 to inquire about stopping electric service to my current residence. Only today,...

July 13, 2004

MCI - poor online customer support

I emailed MCI last week sometime about changes in my phone service. Their online form said I'd get a...

July 13, 2004

Product Review: HP d325 Business Desktop

Computers have not changed that much over the years. You've got the basic keyboard, mouse, monitor and software crashes....

July 13, 2004

Gotomypc.com - for $8.25 per month

If you have signed up for Gotomypc.com and left - you just might get a reduced rate! I recently...

July 13, 2004

Fast Company and Inc get more SMB tools...

Fastcompany.com and Inc.com choose SmartOnline to provide a suite of tools and services to their respective audiences. I recently wrote...

July 13, 2004

A new PC makes no sense--but who cares?

ZD Net's Rafe Needleman writes Every few years or so for the past 15, I've bought a new desktop...

July 12, 2004

Trend Micro to Provide Virus and Spam Protection for HP ProLiant Servers for Small Businesses

Trend Micro, Inc. (TSE: 4704, NASDAQ: TMIC), a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services, today...

July 12, 2004

Starting A Small Business from Business Week

From getting financing to hiring employees, here's everything you need to be your own boss. ">http://www.forbes.com/2004/07/12/cx_sr_0712smallbizintro.html...

July 12, 2004

Washington Post's notebook computer buying guide.

Check out the Washington Post's annual notebook computer buying guide here...

July 12, 2004

Microsoft reaches out more to partners and customers

Internetnews.com reports that Microsoft (Quote, Chart) business executives told partners that a new customer-centric approach on Redmond's part will help...

July 12, 2004

Hacker convention in NY City

USA Today reports that The third and final day of The Fifth HOPE found a number of attendees howling about...

July 12, 2004

Spam Inc - the new buying frenzy

Two months ago Symantec bought anti-spam vendor Brightmail for $370 million. Today Cnet is reporting that it bought anti-spam vendor...

July 12, 2004

Report: Toshiba to Offer New Laptops to Help PC Unit

Notebook computer vendors have to fight to make differentiation in their notebooks. Some do it with price, such as Dell...

July 12, 2004

Time Magazine's 50 coolest web sites

Is on display here...

July 12, 2004

WiFi is growing and Earthlink helps

News.com is reporting that EarthLink on Monday announced a deal with Boingo Wireless designed to help the ISP expand its...

July 12, 2004

The Republicans are doing it why not you?

Many web site owners sell products of other companies on their web sites and get a cut of the sale...

July 12, 2004

Watch out for VOIP potholes

Hmmm, so VOIP is not as much of a bed of roses as VOIP vendors would have us think....

July 10, 2004

Thanks spammers - no outgoing email for me

Well, I'm in a Virginia University, attending my annual church convention (hence the brevity of my news section). I'm...

July 10, 2004

I.B.M. Plans E-Mail Server

NY Times reports I.B.M. plans to introduce an e-mail server next week that is designed for medium-size businesses. Called I.B.M....

July 10, 2004

Microsoft Working to Improve Office Search

Reuters reports that Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday that it was working to include newer search technology in its Office...

July 10, 2004

A virtual war is being waged in cyberspace that will benefit millions of internet users.

BBC reports that The battleground is e-mail, a service which, for many, virtually defines their online existence. Some of the...

July 10, 2004

How to really network your home

ZD Net writes I'm not really sure who coined the phrase "the digital home," but it's been around a while....

July 10, 2004

Multi-Function Printers - MFPs ó An Overlooked Security Risk

Smallbusinesscomputing reports that Worms, Trojan horses, viruses and malware ó different types of security threats you've heard about and (we...

July 10, 2004

Study shows Microsoft has lost a percentage of market share to open source browser.

PC World writes A series of highly publicized security vulnerabilities found in Microsoft's Internet Explorer Web browser may be having...

July 8, 2004

SONY: It's serious about reaching businesses with VAIO

Mike Abary, General Manager for SONY's VAIO product marketing is SERIOUS about reaching small-medium sized businesses with Sony VAIO...

July 7, 2004

Your technology partner - you'll sink or swim with them

The importance of a good technology partner or consultant can not be over stated. As you consider who to...

July 7, 2004

Cutting down expenses using technology

As a growing business, it is important to be on the constant lookout for ways to improve. As technology...

July 7, 2004

Dump Microsoft Internet Explorer - no way say many businesses

Even though Microsoft Internet Explorer, your default web browser is full of security holes and there are several other...

July 6, 2004

Your technology consultant - is he helping you or stealing from you?

I got in the mail today a letter, addressed to value added resellers (VARs) or consultants (I used to be...

July 6, 2004

Sony targets small biz with notebook offerings

Cnet is reporting that Sony on Tuesday announced a new program to sell its Vaio brand of notebooks and...

July 6, 2004

Secure your identify online.

ZD Net's Rafe Needleman writes on a very important topic, online identify. Offline, we can show a drivers license,...

July 6, 2004

I use my cell phone, for one thing and one thing alone - talking. I use my notebook computer...

July 6, 2004

Linux, Still an Awkward Alternative

Although at times I get so frustrated with using Windows I wish there was an alternative, viable choice for desktop...

July 6, 2004

Windows XP update - should you use it?

Information Week is reporting that sometime in September, Microsoft will be releasing an updated to Windows XP. Although for...

July 6, 2004

Should you switch web browsers?

Microsoft's Internet Explorer is the default web browser for all Windows based computers sold. However, in view of the...

July 2, 2004

New web browswer - Mozilla FireFox

I've just started using a new web browser Mozilla Firefox, instead of Microsoft Internet Explorer. It's pretty nice - fast...

July 2, 2004

CISCO - can't techies get it right?

I got an email from a particular division of CISCO, a typical PR pitch. But the interesting thing was...

July 2, 2004

Everybody should have a Dell computer

About two weeks ago a colleague's computer was slammed with a pretty bad case of "spyware" and "adware". We...

July 2, 2004

Wireless technology abounds all over America

If you thought wireless technology (WiFi) was only for Starbucks drinking technoids you're wrong. It's being used on farms and...

July 2, 2004

Linux - it's amazing what it can for your $$$

I've been thinking for some time now that Linux is really not that big a threat to Microsoft. I...

July 2, 2004

Technology is a TOOL - use it and grow your business

It's amazing what a smart technology consultant can do for a business - especially small businesses. CNN is reporting that...

July 1, 2004

Gotomypc - wants YOU back

I left computer remote control service Gotomypc as I found I wasn't using the service that much. I then recently...

July 1, 2004

It's all about the SOFTWARE

There's thousands and thousands of people, developers, who make computer programs. The largest share make programs for Microsoft Windows. There's...