Archive: May 2006

May 31, 2006

Lenovo 3000 V100 - New Notebook with Software Support Excellence

Every PC vendor is known for certain things. Some for simple but powerful design features; others high-priced but features (such...

May 31, 2006

Small Business Technology Boot Camp Debuts

The non-profit Small Business Technology Institute is debuting, on 9 June 2006 a Small Business Technology Bootcamp. The one-day...

May 31, 2006

Stop Personal Work at YOUR Office. Boost Productivity

When you hire employees you expect to pay them to work for YOU, not to surf the Internet and...

May 31, 2006

GotVoice? Voice Mail from your phone and cell phone to Email

Having voice mail on your home phone or cell phone is fine but when you are not there (or...

May 31, 2006

Microsoft Windows OneCare Debuts....should you use it?

At $50 a year, for 3 computers, Windows OneCare comes at a great price. It combines Anti-virus, anti-phishing and...

May 30, 2006

Get Your Customers to Pay Bills Online. YOU Should Pay Bills Online Too.

For the past several years (over 10), I've paid my bills online. My bank (where I bank now and before)...

May 30, 2006

Protecting Your Company and Personal Data: Low to Hi Tech Fraud

There's a lot of things you can do technologically to protect your corporate data from hackers. Get a firewall,...

May 30, 2006

Why LOVING Your Customers Helps Google Win. Search Engine Wars - Customer or Shareholders

Jason Calacanis, founder of blogging network, Web Logs Inc gives a screen-shot-by-screen shot comparison of Google, MSN, Yahoo and AOL...

May 30, 2006

Inside Gateway's Professional Services - Personal Help from a PC Vendor

If you need help installing technology in your business you have three options: 1. Use your local (or some other)...

May 29, 2006

Is Your Company Being Blogged? Do you want it to continue?

Blogging is getting more and more popular because it's much easier to do than setting up a web site, publishing...

May 25, 2006

PayPal - Definitely eCommerce for Small Businesses

Today on Fast Company Magazine's Company of Friend's business networking group, there was a discussion about credit card processing....

May 25, 2006

Intuit, NetSuite and Sage Peachtree Receive Top Honors in Accounting

There are MANY accounting programs on the market, only a few of them are even worthy considering I guess. The...

May 25, 2006

Lexmark's New Line of Printers

Lexmark recently launched a new line of printers taking away another excuse for not having affordable, fast printing. Black or...

May 25, 2006

MySpace for Small Businesses - What a Joke!!!!

Fortune Magazine writes that MySpace is a good tool for small businesses (entrepreneurs). Maybe the one case Fortune mentions...

May 25, 2006

Blogging? What Service do you use?

I've used Blogger.com (owned by Google) for several years now. It's simple, nothing fancy but gets the job done...

May 25, 2006

Foldable Keyboards - Nice but not durable

I've seen the rubber like keyboards being sold that you can fold up and they look interesting. However my...

May 25, 2006

Windows or Palm - The OS Choice Continues on Mobile Platforms

At the recent "Taste of Technology @ Lunchtime" event, Microsoft's Rob Jackson (mobile guru) showcased Microsoft's mobile technology. Verizon will...

May 25, 2006

Low Cost Telecommunications from Skype - It Does Work.

Guess what - you don't have to spend money to get quality and you don't have to go the "usual"...

May 25, 2006

Google Software on Your PC from Dell

Google software will come installed on Dell computers. Why is this important? Microsoft software, for a long time has been...

May 25, 2006

Verizon Wireless Reminder - YOU CAN Switch your phone company and keep your cell phone number

As the two-year anniversary of wireless local number portability (LNP) approaches, Verizon Wireless reminds all wireless customers that they continue...

May 25, 2006

Microsoft's Dances With Accountants and Courts Small Businesses with Small Business Accounting 2007

Accountants are one of the biggest influencers for small businesses, the person they interact with the most often in...

May 25, 2006

Web Host Verio Helps Its Customers Podcast - Easily

Podcasting is going to continue to be an emerging way for businesses to reach customers and give them MORE information,...

May 23, 2006

Digital Signatures via the Internet: Encrypted, Authenticated & Secure

I often receive documents that I must sign and wish there was an easier way to sign them than...

May 23, 2006

The New Microsoft Office - Want to take it for a spin?

The newest version of Microsoft Office will come out early next year. For many of you, Word 97 is just...

May 23, 2006

Wireless USB - Good for you to know about

Wireless USB is a "geek" technology that you should know about! Cnet writes Making a big buzz at WinHEC this...

May 22, 2006

Email Management and Security: Let It Be Someone Else's Headache

Email is important. Right. It's so important that you would probably pay a pretty penny to have someone else manage...

May 22, 2006

America's Retailers - Pencil, Spreadsheets, Cash Registers, PC based Point of Sale Systems

Steven Aldrich, Product Manager of QuickBooks Point of Sale has a problem. There are 4 million small retailers with...

May 22, 2006

Simple Contact and Sales Management Beyond Outlook Microsoft

Many of us have some sort of contact management system we use to manage our contact information. I use Microsoft...

May 22, 2006

Motorola Q: Phone First. PC Second.

I have not tried out the Motorola Q, which Verizon will start selling next week. However, I expect to get...

May 21, 2006

Your Next Phone System - Over the Net? But Who Do You Buy From?

There are SO MANY companies offering phone systems that leverage the power of the Internet (VOIP) and that offer...

May 21, 2006

Online Collaboration Options - So many choices. A bit confusing. But POWERFUL features.

There are several online collaboration services that help businesses share documents, schedules, contacts and projects. Many of these services...

May 21, 2006

Pizza and Document Management: Have Sauce Not Paper

Now that I'm on a diet I'm cutting down on Wendy's and eating more soda, Doritoes and butter cookies....

May 21, 2006

Book Review: Steal This Computer Book 4.0: What They Won't Tell You About the Internet

No Starch Press releases an updated edition to Steal This Computer. Although this book is not for the non-technical...

May 21, 2006

IT Outsourcing: COUNT all the costs before moving

PA Consulting Group released a survey which shows that while businesses do consider the pros and cons of outsourcing,...

May 20, 2006

Do You Control Your Name? Make SURE you do.

I'm not referring of course to your "name" but to your domain name. Your domain name, like your business name...

May 20, 2006

Search from Google: Microsoft - Windows Live Search

Google has pioneered the evolution of better ways to search for information. Not just for the Internet but also for...

May 19, 2006

YOU and Best Buy, Microsoft and Local Solution Providers

Ever since the Best Buy and Geek Squad union in 2000, Best Buy has been pushing further into being...

May 19, 2006

Clare Barclay, Head of Small Business (UK) Microsoft on Open Source

Reaching small business is one of the HUGE keys to Microsoft's growth. If it can't continue to make inroads into...

May 19, 2006

Business Network Services - WSJ Shows They Work. I'm still doubtful.

I've always been VERY skeptical of sites like LinkedIn, Jigsaw and others, which build a community of thousands of contacts...

May 19, 2006

Choosing Your Next Notebook Computer - Strengths and Weaknesses

When you purchase your next notebook computer there are going to be PLENTY of choices to choose from HP, Lenovo,...

May 18, 2006

Contest Awards Real Estate Professionals with HP Mobility Products

HP announced the launch of its third annual contest to recognize real estate professionals using technology to provide clients with...

May 18, 2006

Rob Levin Wins "Journalist of the Year" Award from the SBA

Rob Levin, Editor-in-Chief, New York Enterprise Report has been awarded the Journalist of the Year award by the Small Business...

May 18, 2006

Xpaper: Digitizing Paper! Wow.

I wrote about Talario's Xpaper product on 26 April 2006 and this week had a chance to actually try...

May 18, 2006

Security From Within. Perimeter Security is Not Enough.

Just about every business owner knows how important it is to have firewalls and anti-virus products to secure the perimeter...

May 17, 2006

When Email EXPLODES - You do have options other than insanity

Often times you wonder if your day can ever get normal. This happens when you find that when you blink...

May 16, 2006

What Would You Do with $75,000? Here's The Story of Three Businesses...

We small business are experts in our businesses. If you are a veterinarian you know the business of caring for...

May 16, 2006

What Technology Does My New Business Need?

Congratulations, you've opened your new business! As your hands run over the new furniture and you wrap up a few...

May 16, 2006

We'll Be Spending $18 Billion this year on wireless services

Research firm AMI Partners predicts that US Small Business will be spending more than $18 billion on wireless servcies this...

May 16, 2006

Symantec's Vision of the Future - What Does it Mean To You?

Symantec is one of those companies, like Microsoft, that many of us have grown up with. I bet your first...

May 16, 2006

Is the PC the HUB? For now it is.

While I agree that right now the PC is a HUB for business (and many consumer) activities. I'm not convinced...

May 16, 2006

Websense Web@Work Survey: Nearly One in Five Organizations Hit by Keyloggers in 2006

Websense, Inc. a web security and web filtering productivity software company, announced the IT Decision-Maker results of the company's seventh...

May 15, 2006

Inside Total Back Office - Setting Up Their Portal

Earlier this month I wrote about Process Data, a company that makes software to create "portals" of information. I mentioned,...

May 15, 2006

Cabinet NG links to 3rd Party Applications

Cabinet NG is a powerful and feature rich scanning solution that works perfectly with Intuit's QuickBooks. Now, Cabinet NG has...

May 15, 2006

Should You Blog? The Pros and Cons for Small Businesses

Blogging is a POWERFUL force that MANY businesses, even small businesses, are doing. HOWEVER, is it for everyone? For every...

May 15, 2006

The World of PodCasting...WOW...What Have I Been Missing

Well everyone, I recently starting using an Ipod Nano (1GB) and although the music is nice I am SO MUCH...

May 12, 2006

BlackBerry - Now That They've Got the Big Guys they Want Small Businesses (Why Wait So Long?)

Canadian based Research in Motion (RIM), makers of the very popular BlackBerry email (and so much more) devices have publicly...

May 12, 2006

Just a Reminder - Online Advertising WORKS and Works WELL

If you are wondering how you can get new customers, just a gentle reminder that online advertising works and works...

May 12, 2006

HP Continues to Evolve It's Notebooks - Focused on YOUR Smaller Business

Notebook computers don't have the SPUNK that an Ipod has (trust me - I just got an Ipod Nano) nor...

May 11, 2006

Web Analysis with a HUGE PLUS. Look Over the Shoulder of Your Sales Prospects

Most all web analysis tools help you get a general picture of your audience. You know how many visitors,...

May 11, 2006

Selling Online is Easy - You Just Have to Have the Right Tools

The only online selling I've done so far has been with PayPal and CCNow. With both services you don't have...

May 11, 2006

If You Want Open Source - Consider Buying it From Novell

There are many companies selling open source solutions. Many of the solutions are server based and geared towards larger businesses....

May 10, 2006

FREE File Sharing: No Server. Just You, Your Computer and Your "Sharing Partner"

There's MANY options for sharing files via the Internet so the hard part is picking which solution you WANT. One...

May 10, 2006

New York City Consultants Win BIG in Nashville: Infinity Info Sys and Net@Work

At Sage's award banquet for its top performing partners, two New York City based partners received top awards and...

May 10, 2006

Who needs a word processor?

Rafe Needleman, Cnet, has a substantive overview of one of the new online word processors. He writes So I'm trying...

May 9, 2006

Remind Your Web Site Visitors to Come Back for $15 Per Month or Less

Can you remember those times when you visit a web site. Maybe you don't want to buy just then but...

May 9, 2006

Scan Devices BEFORE they hit your network with Network VirusWall Enforcer

When notebooks, desktops, PDAs, smartphones or other gadgets connect to your network is it important to ensure they are secure...

May 9, 2006

Print Labels @ One Label Per Second and MORE!

Isn't it a pain to need ONE label and use an entire sheet of labels? Or needing 27 labels...

May 9, 2006

Robust "Portal" Development Software - Give Customized Information to Your Customers & Partners

It's been some time now since I've heard about a "portal" creation tool that has a soup-to-nuts turn-key kit...

May 9, 2006

Lower DSL Costs make having dial-up inexcusable

As each day goes by, those small businesses that STILL have dial-up have less and less of an excuse to...

May 9, 2006

Yahoo Calendar vs Google Calendar

Cnet reviews Google's newest offering, the Google Calendar vs Yahoo's Calendar and writes Which online calendar is easier to use?...

May 9, 2006

Moving from Software to Hosted Applications - Everest Software

Everest Software provides small businesses with an end-to-end, e-business solution. Before this week, Everest was a software only installation done...

May 9, 2006

When Investing in Marketing Don't Use Your Gut Instinct - Have a Marketing Plan

Palo Alto Software released Marketing Plan Pro v.9, which according to the software vendor is a combination of the...

May 9, 2006

Microsoft Office Live is Updated - What a Difference From Traditional Software

Microsoft Office Live, the web site hosting and collaboration service for small businesses from Microsoft has had its first upgrade....

May 9, 2006

Putting Chat in Businesses with Jabber

Instant Messaging is one of those "old" technologies, however, it's still not as prevalent as email (or probably fax in...

May 9, 2006

Sage VARs - Passionate About Small Businesses - From Atlanta to Barbados

At lunch on Tuesday I spoke to 4 employees of Sage partner Friendly Systems (in Atlanta). Our conversation was not...

May 9, 2006

Franklin Covey Helps Partners SUCCEED

I've heard quite a bit about Franklin Covey, author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. On Tuesday he shared...

May 8, 2006

Sage Software: Tuesday Partner Conference with Ron Verni

On Tuesday, 8 May 2006, Ron Verni, CEO of Sage Software laid out the "state" of Sage software. He...

May 8, 2006

In Nashville Monday - Wed at Sage Insights 2006

I'm now in Nashville, Tennessee until Wednesday attending the Sage Group plc's (maker of PeachTree, ACT!, MAS 90, etc)...

May 7, 2006

The Dark Side of RFID

RFID is very good for businesses that MUST keep track of physical items - boxes, pens, computers, and other things....

May 4, 2006

Taste of Technology at Lunchtime with Microsoft, Bestbuy and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

Step out of the office at lunchtime to learn about mobile technology solutions that can help grow your business. Please...

May 4, 2006

Why You Need to Know about Really Simple Syndication (RSS)

Really Simple Syndication (RSS) dodges spam filters and sends out updates from your website with little effort on your part....

May 4, 2006

The REVERSE Effects of Spam...Continued

Earlier this morning I checked my email and noticed I had ZERO email. I get dozens of email messages a...

May 4, 2006

Double Your Screen Size with LapLink Double View

I've personally never had a need to have two computer screens on my desk, for one computer, however, I'm sure...

May 3, 2006

Losing Business to Blocked "Spam"

What is worse than getting 100 spam message a day? NOT getting the message from a prospective client who never...

May 3, 2006

Microsoft's Continued Push for Software as a Service and What It Means to You

Many companies offer software as a service - finance, marketing, payroll and many other business processes are offered via the...

May 3, 2006

What To Do If You Need a New Cell Phone And Don't Want to Pay Full Price

A few weeks ago my cell phone was lost (not by me) and I had only one option. To buy...

May 3, 2006

When to Buy a Computer? Now! Prices are falling!

Dell continues to lead with price after price reduction - driving down the costs of notebook and desktop computers. Computers...

May 2, 2006

Samsung's Ultra Mobile PC - Tablet PC. Looks Great - But not for Small Businesses

Technology vendors are trying very hard to create devices beyond (or in addition to) the basic PC we have...

May 2, 2006

2GB+ Wireless? You Bet. But Think About the Future

There are several vendors who producing 802.11n WiFi hardware products (adapters and access points,etc) which can go 4 times the...

May 2, 2006

Cnet or Yahoo Tech - Which One Will It Be?

As you may have heard Yahoo has recently launched Yahoo Tech, a portal of technology content aimed at consumers (not...

May 1, 2006

Do you Collaborate On Documents: Wiki's Might be Good for You

A Wiki is an online collaboration system allowing authorized users to edit online documents. One of the most famous examples...

May 1, 2006

Earthlink - HUNGRY for more small businesses via online services

Earthlink has been one of (if not THE) top ISPs for small businesses, especially with its merger ISP Mindspring in...