Archive: November 2005

November 30, 2005

FireFox 1.5 - Get It for a Better Browsing Experience

I've been using Mozilla's FireFox for several months now and continue to enjoy it. I have also tried out Operabut...

November 29, 2005

Book Review - Making it Big in Small Business 2006

SMB Nation interviews Ramon Ray, Editor, Smallbiztchnology.com for their latest book "Making it Big in Small Business 2006". Imagine...

November 29, 2005

Free Virus Protection Software. Yep. You Read Right

Symantec, McAfee, Trend Micro, Panda Software and others make anti-virus products, while they are not expensive - $20, $40 or...

November 29, 2005

Mobile Devices and Security Policies

As more and more users use mobile devices it is important for you to properly manage their security. When you...

November 29, 2005

Work With No Internet Connection - Get More Work Done

When you are online, email, instant messaging, blogs and all kinds of information "input" can invade your thinking space. However,...

November 29, 2005

Single Letter Domain Names Are On The Way: But Don't Use Them

Having a domain name, with your business name or something related to your business is what we are used to....

November 29, 2005

Blending Security Devices - The Trend Continues

Last week I wrote about Eli's security in a box with managed security solutions, this trend continues as Check Point...

November 28, 2005

Three Web Design Books: Two Are Real Good

Two book publishers O'Reilly and Peachpit Press sent me two of their latest books, "The Non-Designer's Web Book" by...

November 28, 2005

Two Factor Authentication: Soft Hard Token on a Cell Phone

Passwords are just fine for many uses but passwords (especially multiple passwords) can be difficult to memorize. Furthermore, one password...

November 28, 2005

Working with the Feds? Enhance Your Security

If you want (or are) to work with the government, ensuring you have solid security in place can be as...

November 28, 2005

Zappos - Customer Services for Soles

Zappos.com shows other retailers (online and offline) how to LOVE your customers online and offline. Customer service is more...

November 25, 2005

Eli - Broad Band Security In One Box

When you or your customers are in the office you have (ideally speaking) your network as secure as it can...

November 25, 2005

Beyond "Presentations as Usual"

If you are looking for a presentation solution that goes beyond presentations as usual, consider Ontra Presentations newest software release,...

November 25, 2005

Quickly Get Up To Speed About Technology

I know most of my audience or not tech newbies and can easily figure their way around a computer....

November 24, 2005

Technology Fears Mask Real Issues

USA Today has a VERY good story, how people are afraid of technology, often for the wrong reasons. For example...

November 24, 2005

Click to Call from Google

Google is offering advertisers and buyers a new way to connect - via telephone. You'll see a little phone icon...

November 23, 2005

Now's the time to upgrade with Microsoft Small Business Solutions

Microsoft has a new web site http://www.lessthancoffee.com/ which gives a very good overview of low cost solutions to upgrade your...

November 23, 2005

DVD burning 101: Nero, Roxio, Memorex, Staples, CDW and Dell...

In about 5, 4GB files I had a total of 20GB of video to burn to DVD's. I needed...

November 22, 2005

Intellisync Corporation to be Acquired by Nokia

Intellisync Corporation, the leader in platform-independent wireless messaging, announced today that Intellisync has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired...

November 22, 2005

BusinessEssentials version 2 from MYOB

BusinessEssentials version 2, is a basic small business management and accounting suite from MYOB that includes enhancements to its accounting...

November 22, 2005

Sonic Wall Gobbles Up Lasso Logic

Security vendor Sonic Wall has purchased continuous data protection vendor Lasso Logic and SSL-VPN provider enKeoo. Lasso is a startup...

November 22, 2005

VOIP on a chip to grow

"By the end of the forecast period, VoIP functionality will be integrated into a high percentage of new wireless handsets,"...

November 22, 2005

Maximizer Enterprise 9 is Out and Better

Highlights of Maximizer Enterprise 9 include two-way synchronization with Microsoft Outlook and Exchange, improved deployment options with a consistent interface...

November 22, 2005

Email Marketing Works: But Takes Work

Email is a POWERFUL marketing tool. Low cost and effective, especially for smaller businesses. Despite concerns that email list growth...

November 22, 2005

Use Newsletters To Keep In Touch With Customers

Staying in touch with customers in slower months and promoting new business year-round is essential for the travel and tourism...

November 22, 2005

Skype: It's Peer Networking Could Slow Your Network

The Butler Group, Europe's leading IT research and advisory organisation advises that businesses using Skype should be careful in using...

November 22, 2005

Book Review: Phishing Exposed

Having your money or identify stolen by a phishing scam is no joke, "Phishing Exposed" should be on the book...

November 22, 2005

To Programmers: Code Safely.

When building custom applications, whether you are the progammer building it, or if you hire someone to build an application...

November 22, 2005

Book Review: Creating Web Sites: The Missing Manual

O'Reilly's press release reads - "With the real-world tips and tricks throughout this book, any reader can build a...

November 22, 2005

Cabinet NG - Paper is Wet & Ruined - Data is Safe and Dry

I love real life success stories of technology in action - Joseph Maiorana Insurance Agency Inc., a New Orleans, Louisiana-based...

November 21, 2005

Linux or Windows - Read the fine print in dueling comparison studies

When choosing between Linux or Windows or ANY technology for that matter, it is helpful to read studies which compare...

November 21, 2005

Building a Better Database

Joann's Brooklyn-based bakery (not a real business) was growing at a good pace. The business she had started with her...

November 21, 2005

Small notebooks are often too small

While it's nice and cute to look at the VERY small notebooks on the market, you'll find that for those...

November 21, 2005

Skype - on a store shelf near you

Skype, the company from which millions of people are making free phone calls, and others are making VERY LOW cost...

November 21, 2005

Syncronize Outlook from your Desk to your "Virtual Office"

Microsoft Outlook is a very popular tool, but it does not always come with the perfect set of tools to...

November 21, 2005

Cell Phone SMS as a Customer Service Tool

A tire service center in Europe uses SMS to communicate with their customers and schedule tire changes. What did I...

November 21, 2005

Business Plans are Important: Technology can Help

Tim Berry, founder of business plan software company, Palo Alto Software; a business plan expert and speaker at the February...

November 21, 2005

Know Your Customers - Free One Question Survey for Your Web Site

Knowing what your online audience thinks is KEY to communicating with them online. Remember, you can't ask them live questions...

November 18, 2005

Cougar Mountain: Managing $ and Not Just Tracking it

Yesterday I had a delightful conversation with Jim Stone, Chief Operating Officer of accounting software vendor Cougar Mountain Software based...

November 18, 2005

Changes in the Software Industry

ZD Net has a good overview of the shift in software - from PC/server based to service based. This shift...

November 17, 2005

Blogger.com makes a subtle but important improvement

Have you ever clicked the "publish post" button in Blogger or some other blogging tool only to have your Internet...

November 17, 2005

eBay Franchises Use Technology Too

Technology is not just for "regular" companies. But companies that are VERY tech heavy can make use of technology also....

November 17, 2005

The Yankee Group has been acquired

The Yankee Group, a major IT analyst firm has been acquired. Cnet writes The Yankee Group, one of the technology...

November 16, 2005

Google's Database Come Alive

If you've ever wanted to make any easy list of something and make it searchable online, well Google's giving...

November 16, 2005

QUALCOMM's Eudora 7 Email Launches - faster search + "boss watch"

I've used Eudora for MANY years and only recently switched to Mozilla's Thunderbird. Eudora is a great tool, however, which...

November 16, 2005

Book Review: Integrating Excel and Access

O'Reilly's press release reads - Despite Microsoft's insistence that Office has evolved from a suite of personal productivity products...

November 16, 2005

Closing a retail business to grow a business online

The NY Times writes a great story of a business owner who closed down his retail business to expand online...

November 15, 2005

Microsoft's New Search Tool

Associated Press writes - Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday released a business version of software that aims to help people more...

November 15, 2005

Happy Birthday to the Small Business Advocate Radio Show

A huge 8 year birth day wish to Jim Blasingame's Small Business Advocate Radio Show. I was just on there...

November 15, 2005

Consolidation in the US Telecom Industry - What Will it Mean for

AMI-Partners writes: In late October, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) gave approvals, with minor conditions, to Verizon Communications...

November 15, 2005

Trend Toward Software As Services For Small Business

Anita Campbell writes - Software-as-services is the rapidly growing model for how software will be sold in the future. The...

November 15, 2005

Which Virus Scanner is for you?

Cnet writes - We review virus scanner features frequently, but actually comparing their performance is a tough job. Fortunately, our...

November 15, 2005

Cnet's Personal Product Tracker

Cnet does it agagin with a personal tech product tracker. Rafe Needleman writes - My wife pointed to a dusty...

November 14, 2005

Dell Accepts Pay Pal

Cnet writes Dell is now accepting PayPal payments from U.S. consumer and small business customers, the company said on Monday....

November 14, 2005

Linksys: Bundle Offers via an IP Heartbeat

InfoWorld writes Cisco's Linksys division announced Monday a hosted IP communications platform for small businesses that offers voice, video, data...

November 14, 2005

10 Ways to use LinkedIn

If you use the online networking and business connection web site service LinkedIn you'll be interested in the 10 ways...

November 14, 2005

Dell Can't Reach US$80 Billion

In April Dell predicted it would reach US$80 billion in sales within three to four years. However, very recently, this...

November 14, 2005

Securing the Eddge of Your Network

Microsoft Press Pass reads Not too long ago, it was a relatively simple task for organizations to secure their networks...

November 14, 2005

Is Your Printer A Security Risk

Small Business Computing writes There's an old adage that goes: On the Internet, no one knows you're a dog. This...

November 14, 2005

Winners of Those Passionate About Using Microsoft Technology

How do you use Microsoft technology? A tool for tracking drag car racing performance. A nonprofit to tackle the problem...

November 14, 2005

Business Week's Web Magazine

All I can say, check out Business Week's series of stories about how businesses are using the web. [end post]...

November 11, 2005

OpenDocument Standard On the Rise

Microsoft Office's file format is THE defacto standard for business applications, however, the OpenDocument standard is becoming more popular as...

November 10, 2005

Your Telephone System + Your Database = Great Customer Service

Business Week writes Car rental service Zipcar has been seeing the sort of growth most CEOs only dream of: Now...

November 10, 2005

Web Conferencing: Get "Face Time" With More Customers

Web Conferencing is not for everyone, but EVERY business should give it a try and consider if it can boos...

November 10, 2005

Email: It Used to Be So Good

Remember when email used to be great. When it was a powerful communications tool? Now, it seems to be a...

November 10, 2005

Before You Spam Your Customers: Think & Stop

Cnet writes about what one social networking web site did to increase users, only to find that it angered many....

November 10, 2005

Blackberry's Latest Wonder: 8700c

A good PDA is a MUST for any serious business person. A PDA with on demand email/web is a...

November 9, 2005

Should You Blog? But Of Course

Business Weeks gives a good overview of how one small business owner started blogging and writes Before starting a blog,...

November 9, 2005

Zone Alarm, McAfee, Norton - Who Wins?

Cnet writes It's getting harder to keep a home computer safe. You need antivirus software, an antispyware tool, a firewall,...

November 8, 2005

Meta Data: Digital Fingerprints That You Might Want to Hide

When typing documents, they often go through changes and editing. Different authors work on differnt parts of it; things are...

November 8, 2005

Trend Micro: Worry Free Security. It's Rock Solid (I was wrong)

Richard Sheng, Trend Micro's Global SMB Product Marketing Manager set the record straight for me today, regarding Trend Micro's...

November 8, 2005

Steve Balmer Speaks Out

Cnet has an interview with Microsoft's President, Steve Ballmer, about future editions of Windows and what we can expect...

November 8, 2005

Online Travel Sites are Maturing

While travel agents are great, and one of my good friends is a travel agent, I can't help but remind...

November 8, 2005

Business Week: Using the Web to Grow Your Business

Business Week writes Some 58% of companies with fewer than 100 employees have a Web site, according to IDC, the...

November 8, 2005

Papa John's: Tasty Pizza. Greasy Security

Security - it is VERY important. Is your network secure? Cnet writes "It looks like there is no password protection...

November 7, 2005

Trend Micro: Worry Free Security. But Is It Just Hype?

Security vendor Trend Micro has started advertising it's "Worry Free Security" initiative - geared to small businesses with little...

November 7, 2005

Telephone Headsets: Sounds Boring But It's Important

Plantronics, Inc. announced two new headsets designed for the growing number of home office workers. Optimized to provide hands-free...

November 7, 2005

Microsoft Office Alternatives

eWeek reviews Microsoft Office alternatives and writes One of the primary benefits that Office alternatives offer is support for a...

November 7, 2005

Why Technology Ruins Customer Service

Inc Magazine writes Nothing makes me despair for the state of technology as much as the silicon-slick voice on the...

November 7, 2005

Sage: Offering More Than Software. Discounts on Business Services

Sage Software announced that it will be launching ëSaving with Sage,' a business service and supplies purchasing program for Sage...

November 7, 2005

QuikDrop: Sell on eBay without being on eBay

If you have something to sell, want to sell on eBay, but don't want to bother with actually selling it...

November 7, 2005

Cabinet Ng: More than Document Imaging COMPLIANCE

Cabinet NG, Inc., announced that its document management solution includes an extended set of integrated features providing key information lifecycle...

November 4, 2005

Web Analytics: Know Your Web Visitors and Boost $$$

Business Know How has an insightful article on how a business owner used web analytics to find that his...

November 4, 2005

How to Find Improved Answers Online

When searching for answers on a search engine, you can improve the answers you get if you enter the search...

November 4, 2005

Lenovo Notebooks in Office Depot

For the first time since 1999 you can now buy Lenovo ThinkPad in a retail store - Office Depot. I...

November 4, 2005

Data Protection Laws and Your Data

Politics is not something you'll see talked about on this web site very much, however. Congress is quickly moving to...

November 3, 2005

Microsoft Buys FolderShare.com

Moving large files beteween non-networked computers can be a pain. You can email them (Google Gmail's large storage can...

November 3, 2005

Be Careful: Online Banking Is Not Safe

Many of us bank online, transferring money from one account to another. Is it safe? Newsfactor writes When he...

November 3, 2005

When Deleting Files: Remember, They Are NOT Really Gone

When you delete files on your computer, remember that they are not really gone. Pressing the "delete" button on...

November 2, 2005

StarOffice - Is it for businesses?

StarOffice, by Sun, is a low cost office suite competing directly with Microsoft Office. While I don't want to "sell"...

November 2, 2005

Instant Message Threats on the Rise

Use Instant Messaging, but use it carefully. Information Week writes A significant rise in instant messaging threats will eventually lead...

November 2, 2005

Microsoft's Push Into Online Services

Online, you can already get email (via the consumer oriented Hotmail) from Microsoft, however the bulk of Microsoft's sales are...

November 2, 2005

More (you can never get enough) on Disaster Recovery

One topic I will continue to pound and pound away about is disaster recovery. You MUST be prepared. NFIB gives...

November 1, 2005

Ford Truck Goes Wireless: Mobile Office With Wheels

The next time you consider which vehicle you should buy for your "always on the road" lifestyle consider an...

November 1, 2005

With Remote Computer and Virtual Offices Transit Strikes Don't Matter

For the Philadelphia businesses that have their businesses strategically setup for remote computing / virtual officing the transit strike...

November 1, 2005

Don't Touch That $400 Computer.

I'm sure many of you would NEVER go to Wal-Mart to shop for a computer, HOWEVER, I can think...