IT Consulting Firm Declares Mobile Viruses More Widespread

A Helsinki, Finland-based IT consulting firm announced this week that mobile viruses have become a worldwide problem. According to IT consulting firm F-Secure, the number of existing viruses has doubled since November 2005, and continues to increase at a phenomenal rate.

F-Secure stated that there are approximately 200 mobile viruses in cyberspace currently, whereas in November, there were only about 100. Many of these viruses are hybrids of or variations on viruses that have already been found and dealt with. The latest viruses analyzed by the computer consulting firm, entitled StealWar.E is a variation on an older virus. StealWar.E is a SIS file, Trojan virus that drops viruses into mobile devices. The IT consulting company states it expects to see more viruses erupting in the coming months.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

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Computer Business News: Intel CEO Plans to Completely Restructure Company

On Thursday, Intel Corp. reported it was making definite plans to completely overhaul the computer business. Paul Otellini, chief executive of Intel in Santa Clara, CA said he had created a plan that would impact the way every single part of the company works. The primary areas of focus of course would be those products that had experienced very low sales in the past year, including hardware with brackets.

Intel’s core processor business continues to thrive, but its NOR flash unit is in distress. For many quarters, computer business Intel has been losing money on these products, and in the first quarter, lost nearly $108 million.

Otellini and other core executives at the computer business have been compiling a detailed review of its business units, and while it will continue to make a serious investment in technology, it will take measures to make Intel generally more efficient. While no details are yet available on this restructuring, the plan will be swiftly executed by the third quarter.

This new overhaul comes on the heels of steadily increasing problems with the computer business that can be attributed to low PC sales, inventory problems and servers. The future plan could be felt in part this past week when it started a move towards boosting PC desktop sales, security and management by announcing vPro, a new platform designed to help upgrade hardware and how the computers work for users.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

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Computer Consulting 101: Additional Hiring Tips

If your company needs a reliable computer consulting firm, you might not know how to gauge what “reliable” means. Once you determine why it’s so difficult to find the right computer consulting firms and ask basic and important questions of the potential vendor, you need to look at expenses and more carefully at the consultant’s credentials.

RESELLERS, PURE CONSULTING COMPANIES AND HYBRIDS

You need to ask your potential computer consulting firm what type of services it provides. Asking the following questions will help you decide how to approach the relationship or if you want to at all:

1. “Does your company resell tech products including hardware and software?”
2. “Is your company a profit center or can we buy products elsewhere?”
3. “If we buy products elsewhere can we still use you for needs analysis and procurement?”
4. “Are there any other ISPs or telephone companies that your company supports, and do you accept referral fees or commissions for steering clients towards certain vendors?”

COSTS, HIDDEN CHARGES AND BILLING

These questions will help you determine expenses more carefully of a viable computer consulting firm:

1. “What are your payment rates and hourly billing minimums, and what do you consider billable and not billable?”
2. “Do you charge for travel time, phone support, e-mail or online support? Do you have remote support?”
3. “Do you have hourly rate billing premiums for after hours or emergency work, and how do you define this type of work?
4. “Do you have IT support contracts, and if so, what are the costs and the benefits to me?”

SAMPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT REFERENCE ACCOUNTS, CASE STUDIES AND TESTIMONIALS

1. “Can you tell me more about one of your long-term small business clients?”
2. “Can you tell me more about recently signed clients, and about a small business client that didn’t work out?”
3. “Do you have references?”
QUESTIONS REGARDING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND HONING SKILLS

1. “How do you stay abreast of new developments in technology?
2. “How exactly do you bill your clients and absorb costs?”

TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE

1. “What are your thoughts on hand-holding and detailed user training?”
2. “What kind of tech training do you offer?”
3. “Can you train an internal computer administrator to be more self-sufficient at the expense of your job security and billable hours?”

It’s important to find an independent computer consultant or computer consulting firm that is the best fit for your business. Using these questions to guide you through the hiring process will help you find the best person for the job.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

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Computer Consulting Business Tools for Getting Good Customers

If you want to be financially stable and have a successful and legitimate computer consulting business you have to work on honing your intuition skills and focusing on a specialty. You also need to be good at uncovering the best small business clients.

SMALL BUSINESSES

There are almost countless small businesses in the United States and globally, and you can almost be guaranteed that just in your geographical area there are thousands or even tens of thousands of small businesses. Unfortunately, if you choose to work with the wrong small companies in the computer consulting business you could be headed for disaster.

OPTIMAL ACCOUNTS

The secret to a successful computer consulting business is finding the very best accounts and knowing how and when it is appropriate to simply say no to people.

To find optimal accounts you need to know where to look for them and how to be certain that the small businesses you find will be worth the time and effort for your computer consulting business. Career satisfaction is a key element in this industry and the hope of achieving it was probably why you chose to open your own computer consulting business instead of sticking to a corporate IT position.

THINKING ABOUT FINANCES

Your computer consulting business needs to be financially successful. Having a profitable business that is a steady source of revenue will make your life that much easier and help you prepare for the future. Because all small businesses are not the same, you have to be sure you are choosing to work with the ones that will help you meet your financial goals.

The computer consulting business is about people, and that being said, you have to be empathetic to clients and do the best job possible for them. Still, you have to keep your own best interests in mind and be sure you can cultivate long-term relationships.

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Smart Wristbands for Smart Gyms

Gym rats who appreciate a high-tech workout experience will be interested in Casio's development of an RFID wristband that can track members and enhance their workout experience. In addition to allowing seamless check-in and tracking for safety purposes, the wristbands can interact with workout equipment to display customized workout data and an overall fitness profile.

Because it is both waterproof and unobtrusive, the smart wristband can be used in any facility where physical activity takes place, such as swimming pools, schools, day care facilities, and spas.

Source: RFID in Japan

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A Database for Your Dog

Dogs don't use PDAs. But they can still benefit from having an "onboard computer" if they ever get lost, thanks to the Dog-e-Tag.

Like a traditional dog tag, the Dog-e-Tag lists a dog's name, and the owner's address and phone number. But the Dog-e-Tag can also hold e-mail addresses, alternate phone numbers, veterinarian contacts, vaccination records and even allergy and other health alerts (such as "I am an old dog and can't see very well."). Unlike RFID-based ID chips that are inserted between a dog's shoulder blades, the Dog-e-Tag doesn't require specialized equipment to read. In fact, it can display up to 40 lines of data in multiple languages.

The Dog-e-Tag is waterproof to 165 feet, scratch and shock resistant, operates in temperatures between 14°F and 160°F, and backlit. It's available in six colors and retails for $39.95.

Although the Dog-e-Tag has been around for several years, it remains an intriguing concept that could certainly be extended to use with other animals, children (especially those who are disabled or too young to know their address and phone number), and seniors with dementia.

Source: Untangled Life

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Computer Consultant Skills: Do You Need 20 Certifications?

Some people plan to hold off on becoming a computer consultant until they have their 20 certifications, but that's just crazy. Certifications may be important in some situations, but you don't need them to become a computer consultant.

You see, most small business owners don't know the difference between different certifications nor do they care. More often than not, they'll feel that they're being overcharged because you have all those certifications.

In reality, you simply need to be able to advise and help update outdated systems that most small businesses use. Most small businesses simply need help with basic things like choosing equipment or setting up a peer-to-peer network.

As you go, you can get more certifications when you start working with larger clients that do have an in-house IT person who understands the differences between the certifications. Don't wait to follow your dream because of a certification; if you know the basics and are ready to run a business, then you're ready to begin.

Learn more about what you do, and don't, need to become a computer consultant in the complete article (link above).

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Systems Integrator Tasks – Focusing on the Things that Aren’t Changing

When you're working as a systems integrator to bring together software to create an entire system, you are likely to receive some resentment from employees. To make the transition a little smoother, focus on the needs that won't change over time.

By saying a simple "please" or "thank you," you can dramatically increase the odds that employees will work with you to implement the new system. Remember respect employees by telling them when new programs will be installed, how they will effect them, and when you will train them. Also emphasize the benefits of the new system for the employees. If they feel that it's just benefitting you, they won't be impressed.

Trust and empower your employees for the greatest success during times of transition or normal working days. Everyone wants to feel important, and your employees will be more loyal and flexible if you show that you care about their needs.

Learn more tips about smoothing the process as a systems integrator in the full article (link above).

Posted by Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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[TIPS] - Worldmapper: The world as you've never seen it before

http://www.sasi.group.shef.ac.uk/worldmapper/index.html 
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Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest.

Maps will be added, and information modified during 2006. Click on a thumbnail image to view a map.
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And, thanks to Ken H for sharing this one. http://www.zillow.com . What is it? Type in your address and find out. Not school related, perhaps, but interesting, nonetheless.

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In Sympathy

Terry Heaton, whose Pomo blog has been a rich source of information and inspiration for this and many other online resources, lost his wife very suddenly the other day. According to the blog, her funeral will be held tomorrow (Friday). Over the coming days, please keep Terry in your prayers and thoughts.

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RFID Finds Space on the Shelf in Libraries, Bookstores

Books, that quaintest of media, are proving themselves to be a good fit for RFID tagging, a technology still on the cutting edge.

A bookstore in the Netherlands, Boekhandels Groep Nederland (BGN), is tagging every book on the shelves of its "SmartStore" with RFID tags. Aside from expediting distribution and inventory tracking, the tags will help customers search for titles and their availability in real time using in-store kiosks or BGN's website.

Similarly, a new central library in Minneapolis is embracing RFID tagging of its items for real-time inventory and self-service checkout. Other innovations featured in this library include a "learning commons" with Internet access, educational and collaboration resources; a teen lounge featuring downloadable music; electronic "art walls" through which paintings can be displayed digitally; and reading areas with comfortable chairs and gas fireplaces.

What's striking about all this is the continued relevance of books in the face of the Internet and digital media. Bookstores and libraries were predicted to be among the first casualties of the Information Revolution, when in fact just the opposite has been true. No matter how far we advance technically, there will always be the appeal of curling up with a good, old-fashioned book... paper, binding and all.

Sources: RFID Update, Christian Science Montior

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The Opt-Out Generation

More evidence that the best and brightest of the young generation are rejecting corporate America and redefining employment:

Five years after collecting an Ivy League undergraduate degree, I look around at my crew of brilliant and promising young friends and see only a few of us who are willing to slave away 12 hours a day for the security of a 401(k). It isn't that we're impractical - I'd give my pinkie finger for the comfort of health insurance - or adverse to hard work. It comes down to this: We have watched our parents waste away in drab cubicles and count the days to retirement. We have heard them whine about the work/life balance. And we're not having it.

Call me idealistic, but isn't work supposed to be part of life? In other words, a vital, joyful activity? Do I have to accept the idea that "real life" begins when I punch out at 8 p.m. each day? Am I supposed to settle for being alive only on the weekends?

I don't mean to say that my peers and I are spoiled brats who don't want to pay their dues. We do want to contribute to society, but we want to do it in a way that doesn't drain the life out of us. That is why the majority of my friends have gravitated toward self-employment, freelancing, consulting, and part-time work. According to Working Today, a national nonprofit that advocates for these outside-the-box thinkers, 30 percent of the current workforce is independently employed. I predict that this number is heading nowhere but up. [Emphasis added]

Source: Christian Science Monitor (via Yahoo)

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AT&T and Yahoo! Jointly Offer VoIP

Yesterday, AT&T and Yahoo! officially announced their new joint VoIP service. AT&T has local high-speed Internet service in 13 states and will make the new service available to subscribers for $2.99 per month or $29.90 per year.

Either PCs or traditional phones may be used to place and receive calls. Even cell phones are allowed for this service. Over 30 countries can be called for less than 2 cents a minute. Under the new agreement, "AT&T becomes Yahoo's global preferred network termination provider for PC-based calling services in Yahoo Messenger with Voice service." The companies have been working together since 2001, and this may be one of their best moves yet.

Learn more about VoIP services through AT&T and Yahoo! by reading the full article (link above).

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Ipanema Makes Their Move

Ipanema, a French application traffic management company, announced Wednesday that they were officially launching their North American campaign. The company plans to run their business entirely through channels.

All products and services are based on its popular application acceleration and WAN optimization platform for large enterprises, Ipanema System. The system is comprised of two parts: entral management software and distributed hardware devices; these work together ensure the availability of important applications such as ERP and VoIP. According to the company the average reseller has equipment sales of $200,000 per deal.

Vargha Moayed, executive vice president of Ipanema, said, "Our system at the end of the day guarantees the performance of critical applications, regardless of what’s going on in the network." They compete primarily with Packeteer.

To learn more about this new opportunity, read the entire article (link above).

Added by Joshua Feinberg

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[TIPS] - Engrade Online Gradebook

http://www.engrade.com/home-teachers.cgi?s=1

 

Looking for a way to put your grades online so parents can see them? Check out this service. It's free.

 

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And since I was at the Middle School State Computer Fair yesterday and didn't get to send a tip, here's a bonus for today to make up for it.

 

http://www.quasimondo.com/clockr.php

 

Nothing new about a clock, right? What's cool about this one is that the digits are made from pictures at flickr.com. Very clever little idea.

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Oh, and Congratulations to the Harrisburg Academy whose student (Priyanka) took home a First Prize Award for Desktop Publishing at yesterday's State Computer Fair. That talented young lady is also lucky, as she was also the randomly selected winner of an iPod Mini! What a day she had, eh?

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Small Business Computer Consultants – Getting Out the Word About Your Business

A positive reputation in your community is invaluable to your business. Getting out the word about you and your business can be most effective when using public measures to provide prospective clients with information about who you are and what you do.

Newspaper and Magazine Articles

As a computer consultant, you will be considered by most to be an expert. Writing newspaper and magazine articles for local publications will set you up as an expert in your area and will help prospective clients remember to call you when they need help.

Professional Journals

Submitting articles about current trends or new technology can spread your name outside of your local area. You should also make these articles available to your prospects so that they know your reputation.

Community Good Will

Donating time, goods, or services will immediately gain you respect from the community. People will think highly of you and your company when you give back. The donations do not have to be related to computers, but as long as your name is out there, people will know who you are.

Learn more about gaining respect in your community by reading the entire article (link above).

Submitted by Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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Computer Consulting: Balancing Your Portfolio

Balancing your portfolio will allow you to work with many different types of companies. You should have 70% of your portfolio focused on small businesses, 5-15% on large businesses, and a small percentage on home networks and consumer issues.

No single client should make up more than 10% of your overall revenue. Since that company would have a lot of control over the amount of money you make per year, this could be detrimental to your long-term success.

Firing Clients

I realize that it may sound crazy if you're just starting out, but sometimes you simply have to fire clients. They'll drive you insane if you let them, and working for them simply isn't worth the money. Clients in this category include those who pay late or don't meet their contract commitments. Many management consultants say that you should fire the bottom 20% of your client list every year.

Clients with unrealistic demands simply have to go before your sanity goes. Learn more about balancing your portfolio and dealing with difficult clients in the full article (link above).

Posted by Joshua Feinberg

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"Classic" Diseases Resurface

Everything old may be new again... but unlike bell-bottom jeans and ballroom dancing, not all of it is welcomed back with open arms. Among the blasts from the past we'd rather forget are re-emergent diseases once thought conquered: mumps, whooping cough, rickets, tuberculosis, and even scarlet fever -- the illness that left Helen Keller blind and deaf.

Several factors are causing these scourges to make comebacks in the 21st Century:

• Changes to less potent measles/mumps/rubella vaccines in the '80s have left many of today's college students more vulnerable than their elders to mumps and other contagious diseases, which can spread quickly in crowded dorms and cafeterias.
• "Vaccine fatigue" has made inoculations less effective against newer virus strains.
• The trends toward breastfeeding and organic foods may leave some children with vitamin deficiencies, particularly a lack of Vitamin D that leaves them vulnerable to rickets.
• Ease and frequency of travel, which accelerates epidemics.

Drug manufacturers continue to develop new antibiotics and vaccines to fight the new forms of these vintage bugs, yet they can only move so quickly. In the meantime, individuals and physicians need to be aware of the symptoms, and parents need to be alert when children feel ill.

Source: Newsweek

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Who Will Be the Next MySpace?

If imitation is the highest form of flattery, MySpace is being positively fawned over. And there's little wonder why. After all, MySpace is the classic web startup success story, going from the brainchild of two friends in 2003 to 70 million users and its sale to News Corp. for $580 million in the space of two years.

A multitude of startups is now hoping that lightning will strike twice. Sites like TagWorld and VarsityWorld are building on MySpace's social networking model, but are hoping to offer a difference. TagWorld's edge is technology, including shopping and the ability to store documents; similarly, a site called Imeem integrates chat tools. VarsityWorld promises to supervise user activity, seeking to make its bones by exploiting the perception that MySpace can be inappropriate and even dangerous for its teen audience. (To that end, there may be an evem more lucrative market in the field of MySpace add-ons, such as tools that could help parents monitor their kids' activities or aid marketers in data mining by searching for and analyzing discussion topics.)

All of these MySpace wannabes currently have only a fraction of the original's user base. By chasing after a fickle and ever-changing audience of young people, they hope to capture some of that golden attention. However, they need to have the right feature set at the right time to generate the right buzz. And the gold rush could go bust quickly if that audience decides to abandon social networking sites altogether.

Source: Wall Street Journal

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Computer Consulting 101: Resources for Hiring

If your company is in need of a computer consulting firm, you need to be very careful about the company or consultant you choose. Identify your problem and then consider the following Computer Consulting 101 hiring criteria when screening and interviewing local computer consulting vendors.

PREVENTING FUTURE ISSUES BY COMPUTER CONSULTING 101

Small business owners often find it hard to handle difficult computer consultants. If you can identify potential problems at the beginning of any potential relationship you can completely prevent issues from developing.

WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?

Small business managers and entrepreneurs typically know what to ask when hiring internal staff, but don’t know the first thing about hiring computer consulting firms. In addition to managing the legal issues involved with contractors versus payroll employees, you need to know how to ask the questions that will tell you the most about your potential contractor. You can ask potential computer consultants the following questions, and they can act as a checklist to help you do homework before anyone signs a contract:

1. Are you a part-time or full-time consultant?
2. Do you have a day job or is computer consulting it?
3. Are you a solo practitioner or a real computer consulting company?
4. Do you work alone or are there others at your company?
5. Are the other staff members employees or contractors? What are their names, specialties and some details about their background? How long has everyone been with the company and will they be involved in this project?
6. Are you a small business or large company?
7. What size is the typical consulting client served by your firm?
8. Are you a generalist or specialist company?
9. What is your industry and software background?
10. What kinds of products, services and platforms are you not excited about working with, and do you work with any specialty hardware, software or services companies?

The above tips are just the first part of a series on Computer Consulting 101 hiring tips. The next article on this topic deals with how to evaluate how a computer consulting firm can best handle your needs as well as the true cost of using the firm.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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IT Consultant: Hardware Selection for Customers

As an IT consultant that has been around for a while, you have most likely dealt with thousands of different PC hardware systems, and you have probably formed many strong recommendations for clients regarding the very best PC hardware specs. But in order to truly sell clients on the importance of your opinion as an IT consultant regarding hardware, you have to be able to communicate the benefits well.

THE RIGHT CHOICE THE FIRST TIME

Choosing the best PC specs right off the bat can save your clients huge amounts of money on extra installation and support. Although most vendors claim they are compatible with other systems, many are not completely and prove to be challenging for users. Your job as an IT consultant is to help your clients make the appropriate choice the first time.

SAVING CUSTOMERS PATIENCE AND TIME

As an IT consultant you can save your clients huge amounts of time and possible frustration, as well as accrue service revenue by being proactive about helping clients choose hardware and software that are preinstalled with new PC’s.

SAVING MONEY

The best IT consultants will help customers find greater value by recommending all-inclusive computer purchases. The best business practice is to encourage the purchase of hardware components and upgrades with the purchase of new PC’s instead of waiting to buy these items later by themselves.

HELPING CLIENTS GAUGE THE VALUE

One of your most important IT consultant tasks is to help your clients figure out how much their hardware is worth, and not just monetarily. You need to know which components and upgrades are truly worth the price and which are unnecessary and money-wasting. If you are assertive about your opinions regarding hardware, you can save the day for your clients and foster trusting relationships.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

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Healthy Boomers

Much has been written on the aging of the Baby Boom generation and their expected impact on healthcare. But a new report from the Census Bureau suggests that Boomers will remain healthy as they age... mitigating the demand placed on hospitals, physicians and nurses.

The product of affluence and education, Boomers in general have had the benefit of good nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices throughout their lives. Instead of treating chronic illnesses, healthcare professionals might find themselves serving seniors through wellness and fitness centers, working to prevent the onset of chronic conditions.

Source: Hospital Impact

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Maine Medical Center Uses Active Voice's Kinesis Unified Communications System

With thousands of employees, the Maine Medical Center needed a way to streamline communications among all their employees. In order to solve this problem, the Medical Center had implemented Active Voice's Kinesis Unified Communications System.

In a medical center, effective communication can mean the difference between life and death. By using the voice mail system, doctors and nurses can effectively communicate with each other, patients, and other officials to make sure that patients receive the best possible care.

According to Timothy Clement, telecommunications analyst for Maine Medical Center: "The challenge was finding a cost-effective messaging solution that could integrate seamlessly with both of our switch platforms and provide flexibility as we migrate users from one PBX to the other. We also wanted a system that was reliable, scalable and easy to use."

To find out more about Active Voice's Kinesis Unified Communications System, read the entire article (link above).

Posted by Joshua Feinberg

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New On Demand Solution Helps Solution Providers Ease Into Managed Services

SecureMyCompany, Inc. announced this week that they were releasing their On Demand Computer Management software. Their software is subscription-based and does not require any setup fees, contracts, or cancellation fees.

This comprehensive IT management service can help consultants, resellers, and solution providers offer clients the best services in the industry at reasonable prices. Not only can in-house networks be monitored but so can wireless and remote networks.

SecureMyCompany will begin providing their state of the art system services in May 2006. To learn more about the new service, read the full article (link above).

Blogged by Computer Consulting Kit

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Therapy by Chat

Therapists are finding instant messaging to be an effective medium for offering mental health counseling and for supporting their patients. While some office-based therapists use common IM programs to chat with their patients between sessions, other services such as MyTherapyNet.com and eGetGoing.com offer "e-therapy" that's entirely electronic.

Some mental health professionals say that the anonymity and physical distance provided by IM actually helps patients, especially those dealing with difficult issues such as sexual abuse. Encrypted chats are also more confidential and private than phone consultations (one could even engage in a session from his or her cubicle at work). Supporters of e-therapy claim that it reaches a population that would not seek help otherwise. "No one can see you, and because they can't see you, people don't have the impression that they're being judged," says Barry Karlin, CEO of CRC Health Group, which runs eGetGoing.

Others, though, argue that IM is no substitute for face-to-face therapy, where mental health professionals can "read" patients' facial cues and body language. Nearly all mental health experts agree, though, that IM should not be used to treat severely disturbed or suicidal patients.

Many of the e-therapy services accept health insurance, and offer services ranging from life coaching to marriage counseling to smoking cessation. Fees can range anywhere from $60 to $120 per hour, and though largely unregulated, e-therapy sites claim to have a high success rate (or, at least, a high completion rate of their programs).

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press, Smart Mobs

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Smart Glasses Automatically Focus, Enhance Hearing

The legions of aging Boomers who suddenly realize that they need bifocals and hearing aids may soon welcome battery-powered "smart glasses" that automatically compensate for distance and amplify sound.

While hardly a fashion statement, a prototype developed at the University of Arizona in Tuscon demonstrates the feasability of glasses with lenses that shift focus between long-range and short-range objects. The lenses contain a liquid crystal solution with molecules that, when given a mild electric charge, rotate to change focus.
Unlike bifocals, smart glasses provide a full view for the wearer, not just the top or bottom half.

A Roanoke, VA-based optical company called PixelOptics, is developing a commercial version of the glasses, featuring what it calls "supervision" technology. No word on when the glasses will be available from your local optician.

Auto focus is not the only way that glasses are getting smarter. A Dutch consortium is planning to market a line of eyeglasses called Varibel, which amplify sound while filtering out background noise. The Varibels are reportedly more sensitive and provide better sound quality than conventional hearing aids.

Sources: Science News, Roland Piquepaille's Tech Trends, Eurekalert

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Shopping in the "Never Normal" Retail Environment

The American shopper shops more frequently but buys less, going out of her way to seek low prices while still valuing service. So says the study "How America Shops 2006" by WSL Strategic Retail.

The survey found that many retail categories saw declines in purchases since 2004, with only pharmaceuticals, food and pet supplies (necessities, in other words) seeing an increase in sales. Net spending declined in almost every population category studied, including those with incomes over $100,000. It also found a saturation in the retail space, with little growth in any retail channel over 2004. Regardless of income level, shoppers appear to be seeking out the most for their money, whether by shopping at "big box" retailers or smaller stores that enhance their value by providing unique services. "A growing gulf has emerged between where affluent and lower-income consumers shop," the report says. "For the first time in years, how much money a shopper has defines where she or he shops."

WSL attributes these patterns to what it calls a "never normal" business climate. As WSL founder and principal Wendy Liebman puts it, "Post 911, consumers found themselves in a 'New Normal' retail landscape... but today they reel in a 'Never Normal' world rife with unrelenting shocks that range from corporate scandals, war and tsunamis, to Katrina, see-sawing oil prices, and who knows what comes next. They anxiously wait for whatever may come next and shop accordingly." In such an environment, comfort and security become key factors.

The survey was compiled before the most recent run-up in oil prices, so it would stand to reason that the report's findings will only be exacerbated in the coming months.

Source: Visibility PR

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Computer Business Apple Releases New Laptop

On Monday, computer business giant Apple released its new MacBook Pro notebook featuring a 17-inch screen. The computer company says this new MacBook is only one-inch in thickness with a weight of 6.8 pounds. The new MacBook is a 2/16 GHz Intel Core Duop processor. It also offers 1 Gbyte of DDR2 SDRAM memory, an iSight Webcam built in and a 68-watt hour lithium battery with 5.5 hours of power.

Computer business Apple runs the Mac OS X 10.4.6 “Tiger” and will ship next week, with a retail cost of $2,799. The new notebooks was released a week after Apple stated that its computer sales had been slowed by the transition to Intel processors. This brief pause in the sales of Intel-based computer was due to important third-party software, including Adope Photoshop and its unavailability to those with Intel Macs. Reports also stated that Intel Macs were much slower than other computers.

Apple faces a challenge in the computer business market because of it is priced at more than twice the cost of comparable systems made by Dell, Lenovo and Hewlett-Packard. All these companies have started selling dual-core notebooks with Intel technology for under $1,000.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

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Small Business Server News: Microsoft Fixes Problems with Explorer

Microsoft Announced Monday that it had finally released critical updates that proved to be good news for small business servers everywhere. Five new security updates addressed a previously unpatched bug in the Internet Explorer browser that hackers had been taking advantage of for the past three weeks.

The software affected by this Explorer update for small business servers and others is virtually all inclusive and affects the following items:

Windows 2000 Advanced Server; Windows 2000 Datacenter Server; Windows 2000 Professional; Windows 2000 Server; Windows XP Home; Windows XP Professional Edition; Windows XP Professional 64-Bit; Windows Server 2003 for Small Business Server; the 2003 Windows Server; Datacenter; Windows Server 2003; Enterprise Edition; Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition; Windows Server 2003 for the Web; Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition for Itanium-based Systems; Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems; Windows Server 2003 Datacenter x64 Edition; Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition; Windows 98; Windows 98 SE; Windows Me, Internet Explorer 5.01; Internet Explorer 6.0; Internet Explorer 6.0 for Windows XP Service Pack 2; Internet Explorer 6.0 for Windows Server 2003; Internet Explorer 6 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 for Itanium Systems; Internet Explorer 6 for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition; Internet Explorer 6 for Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64.

Because so many systems and programs are affected, individuals in every realm of business and also those using Explorer for personal use are being encouraged to immediately download updates.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

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[TIPS] - lesson plans that use Google Earth

http://teacher.scholastic.com/lessonplans/exploreyourearth/

From scholastic.com, lesson plans that use Google Earth.

- - -

And on another note, someone recently discovered a picture of a helicopter just moments before it crashed (no serious injuries). What amazing things people are finding on here, yes?

 

http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2006/04/google_earth_sl_1.html

 

 

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Computer Consulting 101: Bloggernity Blog

Computer Consulting 101 offers a comprehensive blog for computer consulting professionals at www.bloggernity.com. The blog is one of many resources provided by Computer Consulting 101 to help computer consulting business owners grow and develop their businesses. This professional blog provides information that can help professionals get the best small business computer consulting clients within their community.

This blog offers a wealth of tools for computer consultants including articles about relevant skills and training programs along with news stories related to the field to keep them abreast of the latest news, technologies and programs available to them.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

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IT Spending: Teaching Customers About Making the Best Purchases

Many times clients need advice from you as a consultant on their IT spending behavior. There are several ways you can guide your clients towards making wise IT spending decisions.

SUGGESTING UPGRADES

Upgrades are a good way for clients to use budget surpluses, and they should count on upgrading and replacing PC’s as often as possible. Entry-level PC’s are typically one-half to two-thirds less expensive than the latest and greatest models and can keep them ahead of the curve while controlling their IT spending. Make sure you add in several hours of time for configuring each PC from an older to newer machine.

GET THEM THINKING ABOUT INVESTMENTS

You want your clients to think about discussions you have about future IT projects as investment opportunities rather than a chance to purchase something or spend money. Planned PC hardware purchases can positively affect investment (ROI), and you should help clients realize this. Your clients should not be viewing PC’s as office equipment, rather as assets that directly impact the success or failure of their company moreso than any fax machine, photocopier or water cooler.

TEACHING CLIENTS ABOUT ROI

You need to stress how important technology investments are in the world of IT spending, and how they can truly make the business what it is financially. Before clients decide on any major investments, you should inform them of expected cost and benefits as well as ways to measure the strength of these benefits.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

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[TIPS] - Welcome to TV Turnoff Network

http://www.tvturnoff.org/

 

It'll be 13 yrs since I turned mine off, and I've not regretted it since. Yes, I did watch the Steelers in the Superbowl, and I did see two playoff games over the years. But, aside from those couple times when I strayed :-) I've not watched TV in 13 years.

 

The average American watches over 4 hours of TV every day. Just IMAGINE what could be accomplished if that time was spent on something OTHER than watching TV

 

Try it for a week. Just one week. With any luck you, too, can one day say, "I've not watched TV in 13 years!" And I PROMISE you that your life will be just as rich WITHOUT those "reality" shows.

 

Good luck. Oh, and encourage your students to turn it off this week, too.

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Computer Consultant Startup: Identify Your Business Skills

You may have the best technical skills in the business, but if you don't have other important traits, then you are not likely to succeed in this competitive industry. You need to be able to plan ahead, market, network, and bill properly.

One other essential, though, is having a good resume. You may not have a recent resume, but take out the one you have now, go through your projects, and write down the skills used for each project.

After you know what's on your resume, then you can categorize it. Decide which skills were business related and which were IT related. Show off these skills in your resume so that you can impress prospective clients.

To learn more about running your own business, read the complete article (link above).

Submitted by Computer Consulting 101

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Small Business Networking – How To Get Started

Networking is an important part of running a business. Getting started the right way will be key to your future success. By takng just a few steps, you can guarantee your networking success in your community.

Join at Least Two Professional Organizations

From the Chamber of Commerce to the Rotary Club, make sure you join at least two professional organizations. However, you should also look for organizations focusing solely on your industry. You can visit most once or twice for free to see if they will help you.

Determine Your Goals

Decide what you want from your networking experience since some groups may focus on connections while others may focus on learning or volunteering. Choose a group who shares your objectives.

Understand Your Business

Relationships in any business network should be beneficial to everyone involved, but for others to recommend you they must understand what you do – and only you can explain it to them clearly, emphasizing your specialities and how you're different from the competition.

Volunteer

By volunteering for a leadership position in your organization, you will become well–known to everyone involved. Although it may take up some of your spare time, the connections will pay off in the end.

Learn more about how networking can help your business and how you can successfully network in the full article (link above).

Posted by Joshua Feinberg

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Solution Provider and Service Provider OmniTI Joins Coalition

Email solution provider and host OmniTI Computer Consulting declared on Wednesday that it had joined the Email Sender and Provider Coalition (ESPC). The Coalition is a group of industry professionals that help fight spam and problems associated with aspects of email delivery.

OmniTI’s association with ESPC is consistent with the solution provider’s history of providing to clients. Its Ecelerity email solutions pioneered the process of adding Internet Service Provider best practices that helped ensure email delivery.

Because of this new membership to the ESPC, the solution provider now has even more of a reason to commit to providing clients with services that are of the highest industry caliber. The fact that the company has already proven its ability to stick to email best practices ensured its membership, and the ESPC has expressed that it looks forward to the role this solution provider will play in helping deepen the organization.

Solution provider OmniTI has already begun to actively engage in training to help employees better understand the latest best practices and proactive ways to fight spam and improve the quality of services.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

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Computer Business Lenovo Plans Growth to U.S. Market

Chinese computer business Lenovo Group, Ltd. Bought IBM’s PC business last year, but is planning not to sell PC’s to U.S. users until it grows more in the U.S. business market. The computer maker is the third largest in the world and by far China’s biggest. According to spokespeople, Lenovo will focus on selling its ThinkPad models to large U.S. commercial customers and trying to expand its sales to small and medium-sized companies.

According to the computer company, its first and best area of focus is small and medium-sized companies with slow expansion into single consumers through tele-Web sales or via telephone and the Internet. This expansion to U.S. consumers is set for, at the earliest next year as soon as Lenovo has a chance to gauge its place among U.S. giants Dell and Hewlett-Packard. However, the computer company has already made incredible headway, growing faster than any other computer company in the first quarter of 2005 after it bought IBM’s PC business in May. The company is in possession of approximately 6.4 percent of the global PC market.

However, typical U.S. consumers do not have brand awareness yet of Lenovo. In order to surmount this obstacle, the computer business will keep the ThinkPad name created by IBM for the time being until expanding to small businesses and individuals when it hopes to sell its computers under its own Lenovo name.

Unfortunately, many critics in the U.S. have insinuated that Lenovo is a threat to national security. In order to attempt to disprove these security concerns, the computer business welcomed U.S. investigation after a U.S. State Department bought over 15,000 of its computers. Security concerns have been based on the fact that Lenovo’s largest shareholder is a company affiliated with the Chinese government, a fact that has prompted some to believe Lenovo computers have been used to gather State Department intelligence for China.

Spokespeople for the computer business have confidently asserted that the company is a purely capitalist enterprise, run by its own management and founders, and that the government has never been involved in important decisions or the daily operations.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

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Computer Consulting 101: Ideas for Hiring

As a business in search of a computer consulting firm, you should not rush when choosing the right one to fulfill your complex needs. Computer Consulting 101 offers hiring tips that will help you interview and screen local firms. The first step is identifying the problem of hiring, the second is recognizing the basic criteria needed to help you find the right computer consulting vendors.

THE KEY IS PREVENTION

Many small business owners don’t know how to handle a computer consultant that is difficult to work with, but uncovering these types of computer consultants at the start of the relationship or before you hire them at all can help avoid problems.

The biggest problem in hiring a computer consulting firm is that it requires very different interviewing techniques than hiring internal employees requires. Besides the obvious issue of figuring out legal issues that surround retaining the services of contractors, the questions you ask potential computer consultants will help put you on the right track. The following Computer Consulting 101 Hiring Questions will help you make the right choice:

1. Do you have a day job, or are you a full time consultant?
2. Are you working alone, or are you a business with multiple employees? What are their names and qualifications?
3. What size is your typical client in terms of PC’s, employees and revenue annually?
4. Are you a generalist or a specialist consulting company? What industries have you worked with, and with what software applications and aspects?

These guideline Computer Consulting 101 hiring questions will help small business owners and managers better deal with the process of finding the right computer consultants. For more tips, you can look at the second part of this Computer Consulting 101 series.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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Becoming a Full Time IT Consultant

If you are spending days at a full-time job and nights working as an IT consultant, there are a couple important rules to keep in mind before you decide on a full-time IT consulting career. These rules will help you avoid common mistakes made by any IT consultant that tries to transition to full-time without establishing a plan.

RULE ONE: AVOID ASSUMPTIONS

Many part-time IT consultants are at first so excited about the idea of being self-employed that they never stop to think about the full picture and the future of their income. You need to start out planning for how you will sustain yourself and take care of expenses, taxes and other issues in the future.

RULE TWO: PLAN FOR THE TRANSITION

Although as a part-time IT consultant, you might dream of becoming full-time, you will not get there without planning ahead for when and how the transition will happen. Planning is everything, and you need to make sure you outline the transition instead of jumping into it without thinking.

As a moonlighting IT consultant, plan ahead for the transition and carefully determine options for income and other factors that will come into play. Don’t shy away from the experience or take huge risks without thinking, and you will experience the best possible transition into the world of IT consulting.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

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Web 2.0 = Corporate Intranet 2.0?

How quickly will Web 2.0 technologies (blogs, wikis, social networking tools) penetrate the workplace to consitiute a next-generation intranet? And when they do, what will their impact be?

Harvard professor Andrew McAbee thinks that the effect of Web 2.0 in the enteprise could be transformative, and that a lot of non-technical business trends are converging that will accelerate its adoption. His article in MIT's Sloan Management Review offers a blueprint for implementing what he calls SLATES (search, links, authoring, tags, extensions, signals) as a knowledge management system.

Not so fast, cautions IT gadfly Nicholas Carr. In a critique of McAfee's suggestion, Carr argues that Web 2.0 technologies remain immature, and that a key variable in such technologies' success is a time investment on the part of knowledge workers. "Managers, professionals and other employees don't have much spare time, and the ones who have the most valuable business knowledge have the least spare time of all," Carr writes. "Will they turn into avid bloggers and taggers and wiki-writers? It's not impossible, but it's a long way from a sure bet."

Source: Many2Many

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More US Youth Downloaders Going Legit

The percent of US kids and teens who download music, games and other content illegally has fallen sharply in the past two years, according to a recent survey by Harris Interactive.

In the survey, only 32% of young people aged 8-18 surveyed in 2006 say they download music without paying for it, versus 53% in 2004. Similarly, the number of those who download movies, games and software illegally have also declined significantly.

Although some of this decline could be attributed to the greater availability of legal downloading sites such as iTunes, the survey found that the largest disincentive for illegal downloading was the risk of viruses and spyware. However, the threat of legal jeopardy, combined with awareness campaigns casting illegal downloading as unethical, appear to be having an effect. The survey found sharp increases in young people who say they don't download illegally because "it's just not right to do" (up 9% from 2004) and fear of "getting in trouble with my parents" (up 14%). In many households, Mom and Dad must have made it clear that they don't want to be on the receiving end of an RIAA lawsuit...

None of this, though, should be taken to mean that the recording and movie industries have succeeded in turning back the clock on downloading. Instead, all signs point to the Internet as becoming the primary vehicle for distributing entertainment media... and the entertainment industry seems to be accepting it. A sign of the times appeared last week when Apple Corps, which manages the Beatles' music catalog, announced that it is preparing to sell the Beatles' songs online. Besides being one of the major holdouts in the online music business, Apple Corps has, in the Beatles catalog, a virtual license to print money into perpetuity. Nearly four decades after the band played its last note -- and with only two surviving members -- the Beatles' music generated $1.1 billion in sales in 2005. That will only increase once that music is available for online purchase -- and may settle once and for all the debate of whether downloadable media is bad for business.

Source: eMarketer

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A Future Internet Where YOU are the Device

Internet pioneer Vint Cerf and futurists Ray Kurzweil and Esther Dyson envision a future Internet in which we are the devices and nodes, thanks to wireless implants. Never mind that such pervasive environments have been prediced for over a decade, but these thinkers profiled in Red Herring believe that such embedded controls will become the norm by 2016, with connection speeds of 100 megabits per second, a loss of distinction between types of media (everything is a mashup), and a blurring of the line between the real world and virtual reality.

Of course, with such power comes great responsibility, and future thinkers worry about the ability of government and business monopolies to control an Internet that's infinitely more powerful and influential than the one we have today -- and, by extension, control us. The technical structure of the Internet is also a worry, as it was never designed for this level of interactivity (though previous reports of the Internet's death have been greatly exaggerated).

Much of the success of such a future will be determined by how transparent the underlying technology becomes. As Om Malik points out, today's consumers suffer from "feature fatigue" when it comes to technology. After an initial attraction to feature-rich and complex devices, consumers often become overwhelmed, and either become dissatisfied with the device or simply make use of one or two key features.

Exciting? Unsettling? Both? How (and whether) we arrive at this future will be determined by whether it's a direction in which people really want to go. Recent history suggests that we embrace technology more or less unquestioningly (some of us more rapidly than others), but as it becomes more pervasive (invasive?), more of us will be asking critical questions, much like futurists are doing today.

Source: Emergic.org

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Small Business Network – Form Through Networking

A small business network is essential to your success. If you can't join one already in existence, you can create your own through successful networking. Here are five tips to help you succeed.

Clearly Understand Your Business

You must know exactly what you do, who you serve, and how you're better than the competition so that you can clearly communicate this to other members of your network.

Use Business Cards Wisely

Business cards give prospective customers an impression of you and your product. You want clean, professional business cards that you or others in your network can hand out often.

Use Follow-up on a Routine Basis

Make sure you always quickly follow-up with contacts after meeting them. They will be impressed that your remembered them and called or wrote. Don't wait too long to send the note, though; you want them to remember you.

Become a Volunteer for Your Network

Volunteer to help with your small business network. It offers you visibility to the rest of the group and even more contacts.

Be a Resource for Other Members

Help other members when you can. Be sure to answer their questions wisely and honestly. They will look to you as an expert and remember you when someone asks for a referral.

Learn more about creating or joining a small business network in the article, Small Business Network – Form One By Successful Networking (link above).

Posted by Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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Starting a Computer Business – How To Be Properly Insured

Insurance is a big deal when starting your business, and you should be familiar with all the types that may affect you. Before choosing, though, make sure you talk to an insurance expert so that they can evaluate your needs.

1. Renter's/Owner's Insurance

Consider getting basic insurance on your office based on whether you own or rent the space. If you start out on your own property, you can simply tack many business policies onto your homeowner's policy.

2. Liability Insurance

Liability insurance takes care of any accidents that happen to visitors on your property. Premiums are based on the square footage of the office. Customer visits are also taken into account.

3. Automobile Insurance

Since employees will be driving as part of the business, you need auto insurance that will cover them, their cars, company cars, and the contents of the car.

4. Fire Insurance

For fire insurance choose the replacement value coverage, so that any fire damage to the equipment, inventory and the building will also be covered.


5. Worker's Compensation Insurance

State requirements generally stipulate that businesses provide workers’ compensation to employees, which offers death or disability benefits to employees or their survivors. Less expensive state plans are often offered.

Learn more about choosing insurance in the complete article (link above).

Submitted by Joshua Feinberg

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[TIPS] - fun math site - and more

http://www.mathmovesu.com

Thanks to Susan S for sharing this fun math site.

- - - -

And, do you think there's nothing to this blog thing? Think again. Check out these charts and the discussion about blogs: http://www.sifry.com/alerts/archives/000432.html

Of course, along with the rise in blogs there is a rise in the danger. Read THIS: http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,70679-0.html?tw=wn_index_6

 

 

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SyncWeb Data Backup Launches Unmanaged White Label Backup Service

SyncWeb's unmanaged white label backup service is likely to attract numerous VARs and service providers who are seeking to provide data backup service to customers and business clients. With this new system, resellers can use their own e-commerce sites and billing systems to provide backup services to clients.

Keith Christoffers, Ph.D., SyncWeb product manager, said this about the program: "Although the fully hosted reseller model meets the needs of a large segment, giving the reseller a dedicated server and control with basic scripting commands creates a lot of opportunities for ISPs and web hosting companies."

Functional and flexible, SyncWeb's data backup system meets an important need for VARs and service providers. To learn more about the new program, read the entire article (link above).

Posted by Joshua Feinberg

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Microsoft's Fastest Growing Product? The Small Business Server

Windows XP and Microsoft Office aren't Microsoft's best growing product; instead, it is their small business server. For small businesses up to 75 people, this product is one of the best in the industry.

Even with lots of options, the server system is still a great price. A server for five users begin at around $500 for all the software needed to make a small business tick. It's not such a bad deal especially when you consider that many businesses have fewer than ten users.

Think about your customers or your own company – who could use this type of service? Help your small business clients create a network and system that works perfectly for their needs. Learn more about Microsoft's small business server in the full article (link above).

Blogged by Computer Consulting 101

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Movin' On Out to the Exurbs

Following a consistent pattern of moving from large cities to more rural areas, the American population continues to migrate away from city centers and toward "exurbs" -- rural areas that are within commuting distance of cities.

The general migration pattern is from the urbanized areas on the coasts to the largely rural Midwest region, as well as to the South and West. According to the Census Bureau, 18 of the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the US lost population between 2000 and 2004.


The driving force behind most of this exodus is the price of real estate; families are moving away from cities not because they don't like them, but because they can't afford to live in or around them. Small, affluent families with the means to afford urban real estate are displacing larger families on tighter budgets, thereby driving large numbers toward the exurbs while driving up the price of urban real estate. Meanwhile, Americans appreciate the quality of life that many small towns and rural areas have to offer.

Source: AP (via MSNBC)

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Cell Phones for Seniors

Niche operators have attracted much attention in the cell phone space, but most of these have focused on families, children, teens, and adults with special interests. Now comes GreatCall, a cell phone service designed especially for senior citizens who may have been intimidated by such devices in the past.

GreatCall offers two phone designs, the Jitterbug Dial (featuring large buttons and a simple, no-nonsense interface) and the OneTouch (with single-button dialing for emergency use, much like the children's Firefly phone). Both presume that the user is interested only in making calls, and not in texting, web access, cameras or other features.


The service, which debuted at the CTIA 2006 show in Las Vegas recently, will announce pricing plans when it goes live this summer.

Source: CNET

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[TIPS] - find cheap(er) gas

 Just enter your zip code in the site below, and it tells you which gas stations have the cheapest prices (and the  highest) on gas in your zip code area.  It's updated every evening.

 http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

Thanks to Deb T for sharing this one.

 

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Through Life's Ups and Downs, the Internet is There

Increasingly, the Internet is playing a large role in major life events, according to a survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. The survey found that people rely on the Net to help them make decisions and gather moral support for coping with or helping others cope with a serious illness, training for a new career, making major financial moves, finding a new place to live, choosing a school or college, and buying a car. The number of people who claim the Net has been a major factor in such key decisions has increased markedly since Pew conducted a similar survey in 2002.

Longtime observers of the Internet are surely not surprised at these findings, which underscore how the Net is replacing older, smaller networks such as family, neighbors and close friends. To than end, an interesting study might be to what degree the information/support found online is better or worse than that gathered through more traditional means. On the one hand, access to online communities is available regardless of one's family status or physical location. But on the other, community members rarely have a stake in each other's success; it's no skin off someone's nose if they provide biased, misinformed or misleading advice.

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More Web Users Browsing via Mobile Device

More than ever, those who access the Web are doing so through their mobile devices, according to a study by Ipsos Insight.

Although PCs and laptops remain the dominant media for Web browsing in North America, web-enabled phones and handheld devices are becoming more commonplace elsewhere. In Japan, 40% of adults surf the Web via phone; worldwide, 28% of Web users accessed it through a handheld device. Interestingly, the Ipsos survey found that it was users over 35, rather than teens and young adults, who were driving this growth... perhaps because the older demographic is finding mobile Web access to be useful for business. They also likely appreciate the way that the mobile Web can provide quick access to brief yet important snippets of information (news briefs, traffic conditions, weather maps, etc.).

Ultimately, mobile access will reshape the way we interact with the Web. "Accessing the Internet on a wireless handheld device is no longer a novelty for consumers in the major global economies," said Ipsos' Brian Cruikshank. "It's becoming a common, everyday occurrence for many people. In the long term, many of today's PC-centric online activities could be complemented through the mobile phone or migrate to the mobile phone altogether, due to greater convenience and faster connection speeds."

Source: InformationWeek

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[TIPS] - Google search tip sheet

http://www.google.com/librariancenter/librarian_download.html

 

Did you know that if you add the tilde (~) character in front of a search term in Google that you'll also search for synonyms of that word? I didn't either. This handy, printable sheet is a great reference sheet for Google searches.

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Computer Consulting 101: PC Trouble-Shooting

Most businesses need to find a local computer consulting business to help them with computer issues, but there are some problems that even the person least knowledgeable about technology can solve. The best advice for most non-technical users is simple: reboot first.

Often users are so panicked that they don’t think about simply restarting their systems, and often they will call computer consulting specialists before doing anything instead of stopping to take stock of the situation. Rebooting first will avoid unnecessary charges and time spent making phone calls. Rebooting is easy. First, users should exit out of the files and programs that are active. Then they can simply follow the typical shutdown and restart procedures to reboot.

Those that think their computer problem is associated with their hardware, such as a network card, modem, mouse, keyboard or sound card still have recourse before calling the computer consulting expert. If suspicious of hardware, users can go to the start menu and shut down the PC, allowing the power to remain off on the machine for approximately a minute. Then they simply turn the PC on again and see if the problem fixed itself during the rest.

Even though this advice sounds obvious, the experts at Computer Consulting 101 have found that as many as 10-20% of phoned-in computer issues for IT support were solved by a basic reboot. Rebooting can’t hurt a machine, and it can save valuable IT budget dollars that can be better used for complex issues that can only be addressed by a highly skilled computer consultant.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

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Establishing Criteria for Clients in the Computer Consulting Business

In the computer consulting business there are several ways you can best qualify clients to ensure you get the best accounts to help grow your business.

PROXIMITY

The first thing to make sure of when looking for clients for your computer consulting business is that they are close to you, at least within a 30 to 60 minute drive from your location. Having a pool of potential clients nearby will help you make the most impact at networking events or any other marketing-related functions.

CLIENT SIZE

Your best client targets in the computer consulting business will be those with 10 to 50 PC’s. The customers need to be large enough to require a real server, which means you want to look for companies with 10 to 100 employees. The best company prospects will have $1 million to $10 million in sales per year. Knowing this information about prospects will help you with marketing in the future, especially if you choose to do direct mailings.

WHAT SHOULD CLIENTS HAVE AVAILABLE?

Most of the time, your computer consulting business’ clients will have email domains of their own. You will want to spend time talking about how clients will receive and send emails when you meet with them. They will probably have a dedicated server of Internet access, so this will help you better figure out options and indicate that they have serious IT needs.

ARE THEY SERIOUS?

If you determine that potential clients for your computer consulting business have no dedicated server, Internet access or are using peer-to-peer or dial-up lines, they probably are not going to be able to use your services.

Any prospect you target should be making IT a business priority, and how entrenched he is in the IT world will determine whether or not he will make a good future client.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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Small Business Computer Consultants – Why Do People Hire You?

To market to your clients effectively, you need to understand why you're being hired, then you can create a marketing campaign around it. Always make sure that after you're hired you follow through with a great service so that you receive referrals and kudos.

Objectivity

Unlike a company owner, computer consultants are able to remain objective when evaluating a company's IT needs. Since you're not involved in the political aspects of the workplace, you can provide an unbiased opinion.

Fresh Ideas

Many businesses do the same thing year after year because that is what they've always done. Eventually they realize that there must be a better way, so they call a consultant like you for fresh ideas and a new viewpoint.

Knowledge

Most companies and individuals don't have the knowledge they need to make educated decisions about IT needs. Instead of taking time to learn a new skill, they can simply hire your to do the work for them. You are considered an expert, and you should always be honest, even if the company isn't going to like what you say.

Cost-Effective

Consultants are a cost-effective solution for many companies. You can provide an added value to their business and advise them on solutions to problems and plans for the future without all the expenses that come along with an employee.

Learn more about why businesses hire you in the complete article (link above) so that you can market to them effectively.

Posted by Computer Consulting 101

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PC Repair Business Marketing – Where To Begin

The PC repair business is incredibly competitive with all the hobbyists and professionals out there who claim to be able to solve customers' problems. A marketing and advertising plan can effectively carry you to the top of the group when customers remember you as the expert in computer repairs.

Press Releases

Sending out press releases can be a great way to get your name out there and let people know what you do. You can write and distribute your release to major media outlets in the area and hopefully one will pick up the story.

Print Advertising

Print advertising includes an entire world of cool ways to advertise. From ads in newspapers, magazines, and the phone book to direct mail postcards and brochures, there are a variety of ways that you can effectively advertise your company in print.

Radio and TV

Radio and television ads generally reach the largest number of people; however, they can be extremely expensive. If you choose this outlet, make sure you talk to the station about the best time to run your ad and make sure you keep it short and to the point. You don't want to annoy your prospective customers.

To learn more about where to begin with your marketing plan for your PC repair business, read the entire article (link above).

Blogged by Joshua Feinberg

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[TIPS] - lotta links to educational games

Thanks to Laurie Z for sharing this one. Here's what she said:
- - -
Here is a link to many educational websites and games that can also be
accessed from Newport's home page, www.newportsd.org. It was a project
of mine and it is up and running. Many different subjects, sorted by
grade level.

http://host52.newportsd.org/webpages/eduweb/
- - -
Now we just have to hope that not all games sites are blocked, eh? :-)

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SOS OnLine Backup Looks For Small Biz VARs

During the next 12 months, SOS OnLine Backup hopes to recruit 1,000 VARs to their program for bringing online backup services to small businesses. The company is looking to serve an underserved market of companies with fewer than 100 employees.

The encryption service is especially impressive as all data transferred within the United States is encrypted at the 256-bit level; for data transferred outside the United States, the data is encrypted at 1,024 bits.

According to Ken Shaw, head of U.S. operations, "With Ultra Safe Mode, we don't store the encryption password. Not even our engineers can access the data. If you lose the password, you lose the data."

This safe secure service is an ideal new service for VARs to align themselves with in the coming months. Learn more about their program in the complete article (link above).

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IT Consulting International Acquired by Luxoft

Global provider of IT services Luxoft announced on Monday it would be acquiring New York City-based IT consulting firm IT Consulting International (ITCI). The IT consulting firm has provided outsourcing, on-site staffing and project management for Fortune 500 and mid-sized businesses for the past 13 years. Luxoft and IT Consulting International together will have 1,500 worldwide employees and revenue totaling over $45 million.

Luxoft’s acquisition, which will occur on May 1 of this IT consulting firm will increase the company’s U.S. presence and allow it to offer greater services and expertise to worldwide clients. Clients of the company include IBM, Boeing, Dell and Deutsche Bank.

ITCI’s service offerings will be grouped with Luxoft’s branded outsourcing structure, which includes LUXline™, LUXwork™ and LUXguide™. Luxoft will also combine its project management system that focuses on collaboration with ITCI’s Sentinal™, a web-based portal that helps manage outsourcing products. As a part of the merger, ITCI president and 20-year IT consulting figure Lev Saks will become CEO of Luxoft, USA, a position created just for him.

Luxoft has been named by BusinessWeek the top outsourcing provider in Russian and Eastern Europe and was ranked as the number one IT services company on the Rising Star list in the IAOP’s Global Outsourcing 100. The company is a software developer and IT services exporter in Eastern Europe that was founded in 2000.

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Solution Provider Arrow Electronics Pairs with McAfee, Inc.

Solution provider Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions, the business aspect of Arrow Electronics, Inc. stated yesterday that it is set to pair with McAfee, Inc. to offer two new courses to system engineers in order to provide general enterprise security product training. The two sessions of these new courses will take place in Virginia this week.

These courses are designed to help the solution provider augment its security trainings and course offerings to system engineers in response to the many new vulnerabilities and attacks taking place in the business world each year. These courses that were ccrafted by Arrow will be free of charge for all McAfee SecurityAlliance™ solution providers.

Both courses will provide both a lecture and lab designed to teach engineers how to be proactive about network vulnerabilities and security threats by utilizing McAfee’s specially-designed approach to management. Attendees will learn how new appliances can help different organizations and how to get the most out of Foundation Enterprise solutions; Foundation Enterprise is an automated security solution that can help simplify existing vulnerability management systems by protecting the network infrastructure through asset examination, inventory and prioritization. The solution also addresses threat intelligence, regulatory compliance measurement, tracking and reporting.

According to McAfee Foundation Vulnerability spokesperson Rich Severa, the courses are created especially to educate partners of Arrow and McAfee about the evolution of security solutions. They will hopefully increase awareness and knowledge in a way that will allow solution providers and others to better support and supply clients with the appropriate security technologies.

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VARs Laud New SQL Anywhere As Good For Big-Time Database Jobs

SQL Anywhere now has expanded database features that VARs say will make it a great tool for large database projects. Although only the beta version is currently available, VARs are already thrilled with the new system.

Instead of trying to create a smaller database from larger programs like their competitors, iAnywhere started small and is working its way up to the top of the ladder. This latest release, made available Monday, may just change the way VARs and the rest of the world view SQL Anywhere.

Find out more about the changes to the system in the full article (link above).

Submitted by Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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[TIPS] - Your Disease Risk

http://www.yourdiseaserisk.harvard.edu/

While not the most pleasant topic on this beautiful day, it's something that every health teacher may want to see. Very well done.

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And for the rest of us, try this sudoku site: http://www.fiendishsudoku.com/sudoku.html Get RSS feeds from it, too.

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Systems Integrator – How to Use Hourly Billing for Projects

Understanding fee structures is essential to running a successful business as a systems integrator. Your options include pricing for the full project or hourly billing. Since hourly pricing can be a little more difficult, let's talk about that.

Billable Hours

With billable hours, you are choosing an hourly rate for your work. You may set up payments at certain milestones in the project or at the end of the project. All these details should be worked out in the contract before you begin the project. Also give a fair estimate of the hours you will need for the project.

Additional Hours and Tracking

You should also let the company know how many extra hours can be handled and realize that clients will generally want to approve any overtime hours. Clients should also be informed about what is classified as a "billable hour." Are phone calls, drive time, and other miscellaneous time included? Let the client know up front or risk losing a client.

To find out more about hourly billing and tracking, read the full article (link above).

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Technology Consultant – Project Management Essentials for Success

By following a few simple tips, you can start a successful career as a technology consultant. By having clear goals, a plan, effective communication, and flexibility. Here's a little on each of these topics.

Having a goal as you begin the project can save you a lot of trouble as you progress. Part of making your goals is having an effective planning process. You want to make sure you have a timeline, goals, and milestones. Clearly communicate with clients so that you are all on the same page.

Flexibility is key in this business. Anticipate changes in the timeline and look forward to other problems and issues that may occur. Also be sure are prepared for change by keep clear documentation on the project. You never know when your employees or your client's employees may change.

Learn more about the essential project management skills you need for success in the complete article (link above).

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IT Consultants: Implications of Government Contracts

Many IT consulting firms go after government contracts because they are attached to misperceptions about this type of work being easy money. Most IT consulting terms will end up being frustrated by the amount of work associated with government contracts, and therefore have to consider the various pros and cons before getting involved.

PROS OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOR IT CONSULTING FIRMS

The biggest advantage to working with a government agency for IT consulting firms is the potential money that can be made. While there are both small and large contracts available in the market, the larger contracts can pay enough to sustain IT consulting firms far into the future with guaranteed paychecks. The government, unlike small businesses or individuals, will not run out of money all of a sudden.

Working with government contracts also means you will be able to get in contact with people easily because public directories exist both online and on paper with names and job titles of decision makers.

IT consulting firms with a good relationship with government agencies will find themselves with many advantages, including future referrals that could lead to more contracts in the future.

CONS OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOR IT CONSULTING FIRMS

While payment is guaranteed in government contracts, the paychecks could come very slowly. There will also probably be time delays for approvals of aspects of jobs because there may be multiple decision makers involved. Sometimes similarly, one decision maker might turn a job down and cause you to lose a contract.

Often with government contracts there is also a great deal of paperwork, so you will probably spend a lot of time filling out documentation and forms.

As an IT consulting firm, you should look into all the advantages and disadvantages of government contracts in order to insure less frustration and greater benefits.

Created By: Computer Consulting Kit

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IT Service Agreements Involve Keeping Promises

If you are just starting to offer significant IT service agreements, you might be afraid you won’t be able to deliver the promises involved to your clients. The scariest thing for consultants offering IT service agreements is the thought of not being able to give short-term support to paying clients.

PLAN AHEAD

The best way to deal with the fear of IT service agreements is to figure out what you can do today by making an inventory skills list, examining what competitors are doing and figure out where you are lacking. You need to figure out which of your services will be most useful to small business clients, what services and solutions competing firms are offering and how you can work on your weaker areas. Then you can determine how to use what you learn in your IT service agreements.

CERTIFICATIONS

When you are working with small businesses, you can expect them to be a couple years behind. Therefore, if your technicians aren’t well-versed on the newest versions of certain software packages, you will still be able to offer stellar service because the businesses won’t have them either.

The basic certification that you can expect to need when offering IT service agreements to small businesses is the basic MCP, the Microsoft Certified Professional. This will be valuable whether they are certified on desktops or servers. Most small businesses cannot tell the difference between advanced and basic certifications.

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Solution Provider PQI Introduces New "Intelligent Stick"

Taiwan-based solution provider PQI recently introduced its new “Intelligent Stick Combo SD” that complies with both SD and USB 2.0/1/1 specifications. With many capabilities, those in the industry are remarking that this new Intelligent Stick can be called both a USB drive flash card and a flash USB drive/card.

The combination interface of the Intelligent Stick is convenient for users because they can use it directly on SD devices as well as PC/notebook computers without having to use a card reader. PQI chose this interface because of the popularity of the SD card in many of today’s handheld devices. The SD card has been revised many times, and has become the most popular flash card for MP3’s, mobile phones, digital cameras, PDA’s and many other new devices.

The combination of SD interface with solution provider PQI’s own Intelligent Stick interface makes it the only product of its kind on the market. The stick interface works with USB 2.0/1/1 qualifications meaning it can be taken out of an SD compatible device such as a phone or an MP3 and plugged directly into a PC or notebook.

Solution provider PQI continues to be a leading provider of complete packages for today’s many versatile hand-held devices.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

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Network Consulting Service Onsite Chicago Adds Goodman Packing to Client List

Chicago-based network consulting services firm Onsite Chicago added Goodman Packaging to its list of IT clients. The packaging company will not rely on Onsite Chicago for all its network and computer repair services.

Onsite Chicago will help Goodman Packaging by giving advice to the medium-sized business on how to leverage its network infrastructure in a cost-effective way. The network consulting services firm will use expert consultants with expertise in many different computer issues to provide on-going support for the company’s complicated infrastructure.

A spokesperson for Onsite Chicago states that they have divided Goodman’s project into three parts: securing the network infrastructure; providing an on-going solution; and implementing a response system that will work onw and in the future. The company states this was a challenging project to assess, and the network consulting firm had to provide an audit analysis, evaluate options that would fit a strict budget and implement very strict parameters for the project. The project will be completed within the year.

Goodman Packaging is one of only several companies in the Chicago area that will provide high-speed wireless options for its employees and clients. Onsite Chicago is planning to add an enterprise-wide security package that will help with security and filtering along with anti-virus initiatives. The backup strategy will include a live packet filtering system.

Goodman Packaging Equipment (GPE) has offered case packaging solutions to clients for 35 years. Onsite Chicago offers business technology and network consulting services for many companies throughout the Chicago, IL area. The company has over 1700 Gold Subscribed clients and provides service to many different types of companies, from large construction to small architectural start-ups.

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Partnering and the Prospecting List

Creating a partner prospecting list will help you with your partnering goal. A prospecting list can be created quite easily. Simply write down the next 12 months on a piece of paper, starting with the current month. For each month, write down the following:

1. The name of a person
2. The name of a company
3. The type of role the company or person plays.

Obviously you probably don’t know 12 people or companies that you’d like to engage in partnering with or you would be already engaged, but you probably know some people to fill in at least a couple slots. If you know three non-competing technology providers, for example, in your area and have spoken with those people at events, trainings or meetings you probably should take the opportunity to talk with them about partnering in the near future.

FILLING IN PARTNERING SLOTS

In order to work on filling in the remaining partnering slots, you will need to figure out what you want to do and what you can do in your business. What gaps are there? What have small business clients asked you to do in the past or what will they ask you to do in the future that you have been or will be unable to do with your current business? The people that might be able to help you with these questions should go in the remaining slots on your prospecting list.

PARTNERING WITH SOMEONE THAT CAN DO WHAT YOU CANNOT

You can figure out what type of partner you need by thinking about your weaknesses and the gaps in your experience. Finding someone in partnering that can fill in the gaps can help save you time and energy and can improve your business. Once you find prospects, put them on the list and plan when you will call them to discuss opportunities.

Once you make a list of twelve people, plot out a priority schedule to meet with all of them within the next twelve months. A well-planned prospecting list can lead to fruitful partnerships.

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