Off the Wire, 7-31-06

Many men who have left the workforce over the past few years -- whether by choice or circumstance -- are not rushing back, choosing to live off of savings and home equity rather than take a lower-wage and lower-status job. Approximately 13% of US men aged 30 to 55 are not working, nealy three times the number in the 1960s. Meanwhile, more women are entering the workforce. [New York Times]==========The FDA is considering a move to reverse its policies about the so-called "morning after" or "Plan B" birth control pill to allow its sale without a prescription, but only to women over 18. The pill's manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals, must re-file its application with the FDA for reconsideration. [CNN]==========Arimasa Naitoh, Lenovo's worldwide VP of Development and the "father of the ThinkPad,"...

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Addressing the Issues of Small Businesses and Networks

Many times when you sell computer networks or other IT products and services, your small business clients will have issues with the sales process. WHERE DOES THE PROBLEM START?Usually the problem with sales to small businesses begins when you tell them about network upgrades. Many will focus on cost and not think about the investment opportunities presented by small business networks. Clients, customers and prospects forget to think about potential downtime and loss of productivity that results from taking shortcuts. While dead-end solutions may carry a low price tag, they show no thought for the future and can actually lead to more costly problems than service contracts and on-going support for small business networks.Even if you provide incredibly detailed initial consultations, IT audits,...

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Networking or Direct Mail Postcards?

Direct mail postcards are used often to market a computer consulting business, but networking is one of the most effective ways. The following list provides a comparison of direct mail postcards and marketing and can help you decide what method works best for your specific business: 1. Leads obtained through direct mail postcards are less high quality than those obtained through networking. Postcards give no opportunity for a personal connection.2. Networking can be challenging time-wise because often you may have to make several calls and many contacts to build trust and credibility. Direct mail postcards take much less time.3. Direct mail postcards present the opportunity to make a focused offer with a deadline. Networking can be less focused because you have to just put yourself on...

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(Heat) Waves of the Future

Get used to brutal heat waves that cause power outages and take lives, say scientists and weather experts. Not just for this summer -- above normal temperatures are forecast for August across the US -- but for the long term.Global warming may be the culprit, scientists say, causing more frequent heat waves with higher temperatures. If current trends stay on track, temperatures may continue to rise over the next several years to rival the record-setting heat of the 1930s Dust Bowl era.Experts believe that residents of older Northern cities, where homes often lack air conditioning, may be at greater risk than their counterparts in the South and Southwest, where air conditioning has always been a necessity. Many cities have prevented heat deaths by establishing emergency cooling centers where...

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Instant Evolution: People Bigger, Healthier than their Ancestors

It's no secret that people live longer than did their ancestors. In 1850 the average life expectancy was about 60; today it's close to 80. But new research also finds that we are also taller and heavier than our great-great-grandparents, by about two inches and 30 pounds since 1900. We also have fewer chronic illnesses that take people out in the prime of life, according to research conducted by the National Institutes of Health that compared the heath of Americans in their 40s and 50 to heath surveys of Union Army veterans taken during the 1860s. Whereas it wasn't uncommon for those in the Civil War era to suffer from arthritis or to die from lung or heart failure in their 40s, their counterparts today have few health problems at that age. Even IQ has seemed to go up, and dementia appears...

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Networking Events - Use Your Time Wisely

There’s a big difference between networking and networking efficiently. When you attend an event, you want to quickly determine whether the person you’re speaking with falls into the “sweet spot” category. To make it easier, ask yourself these questions: 1. Is this person part of your small business target market? 2. Is he or she a decision maker or influencer? 3. Does this business have the potential to become a regular, long-term client? While at an event, don’t waste your time talking to big banks, Fortune 1000 companies, organizations with large in-house IT departments, and government or non-profits. None of these companies will provide real opportunities for you so bypass them.Instead, look for small business owners and managers - the decision makers. You should ask certain questions...

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A China Bubble Burst by 2009?

MSN Money financial editor Jim Jubak believes that China's economy is way overheated -- fueled by low interest rates, lots of high-risk borrowing and the government's inability to manage production -- and may crash as early as 2009. Naturally, because China has grown to become such a major player in the world economy, even a moderate recession would affect the global economy. Some of the effects of an economic crash in China might be:Massive unrest if widespread unemployment were the result, threatening the stability of the communist government, which is already struggling to maintain control. If China were no longer perceived as a safe place to do business, short-term higher prices for goods could result... and could open up opportunities for China's global competitors. Long term, prices...

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IT Marketing: What's the Time Frame for Business Success?

Although success won’t happen overnight, there are some things you can do to help it along. You may have joined the Chamber and handed out hundreds of business cards, but you simply have to give it some time. Payoffs from these types of activities usually come after 3 to 6 months. Keep on doing what you’re doing, and be patientWhat’s the real key to success in IT consulting? Personal relationships. You’re not going to go into a couple of meetings and land a $25,000 account, because people need to know and trust you. That takes time. You want to create personal relationships in all your dealings so that when they do need help they’ll think first of you.Also remember that first impressions do count. Dress neatly. Remain positive and friendly when you meet people, and they’ll remember you. Also...

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New Verizon Discount Program Might Hurt Solution Providers

Verizon Business recently started offering a new discount program for network data and voice solutions. Sold directly to customers, this program may cut out some business for solution providers.This program, the Verizon Client Advantage Program (VCAP) presents customer with unbeatable prices on total network solutions, and solution providers and others have stated they have been unable to compete and have been losing bids to VCAP. The solutions offer the carrier’s services plus products from other major vendors, including Cisco Systems, Juniper Networks, Nortel Networks, 3Com and many others. Customers can also include outsourced IT solutions, managed network services and even call center and help desk services as part of the plan. While VCAP was not announced publicly by Verizon Business...

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Computer Business Microsoft Revamps PCs

Recently computer business Microsoft announced plans to focus more on the design aspects of its PCs. Spokespeople for the company, possibly in response to the stress on design of rival computer business Apple, Inc. state that they will be offering enhanced color options, a sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing look and other features in order to get people to change their perspective on the typically business-oriented PC. The computer business has hired a team of 20 designers to work on the new computers for the past 18 months to create a new image for the machines running Microsoft’s next operating system, Windows Vista. Microsoft hopes that the slick new design will help users overlook some of the problems Vista has experienced prior to its release. The operating system will finally...

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Networking Groups and Moonlighting

Many times networking groups meet during daytime hours, meaning that if you are a computer consultant with a regular job that is moonlighting as you try to start your business, you can run into problems with attendance of important networking events. Because going to networking groups is absolutely imperative in order to succeed, you need to figure out how to work attendance into your schedule.TIPS FOR ATTENTING NETWORKING GROUPS WHILE MOONLIGHTING1. Seek out networking groups with events in the early evenings. Many networking groups have this schedule and finding these groups can help you take less time off work.2. When you have to leave work before the end of the day in order to go to a networking group event, be as non-disruptive as possible. Give plenty of advance notice and work ahead...

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What Do I Need to Be a Computer Consultant?

Maybe you have always wanted to be a computer consultant, but you are not sure if you could do it. If you have a basic knowledge of computer systems, great problem-solving skills and a love of working with people, you already have the main traits you need to be a good computer consultant. HELP YOUR INCOMEIn a regular IT job, your earnings potential and career advancement opportunities are, in the end, beyond your control. You can’t control incompetence around you, bad management or a skewed seniority system. Becoming a computer consultant eliminates many of these issues. You get control over your future. You will never have to work with incompetent people if you don’t want to, and you can find new clients to replace ones that don’t work well with you. You can be guaranteed that the...

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Off the Wire, 7-27-06

Infamous computer hacker Kevin Mitnick has reportedly taken ill in the Colombian Andes, and was hospitalized for a severe flu that he attributed in part to the high altitude there. [CNN.com]==========The trend toward "consumer producers" continues with the offer of a customizable version of Jessica Simpson's new video "A Public Affair" through her website. Fans can customize the lyrics, inserting their own name in the video. [Trendcentral.com]==========GlaxoSmithKline has developed a vaccine for the H5N1 "bird flu" virus that could be ready for distribution as early as next year. Testing has proven successful so far, though infectious disease specialists warn that the virus could mutate before the vaccine reaches production. [AP]==========The latest drug for teens and young adults -- and...

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India Says No, Nigeria Says Yes to Negroponte's $100 Laptop

Good news and bad news for the One Laptop Per Child initiative spearheaded by MIT's Nicholas Negroponte, which seeks to build and distribute laptops costing a mere $100. First the good news: The government of Nigeria has placed an order for $1 million worth of the OLPC laptops. Said Ernest Ndukwe, Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), "This is in consonance with our vision which aims to create an information rich environment in the country. The Commission believes that preparing the future of Nigeria is to educate the young generation... [T]herein lies the richness of our country."Now the bad news: The Indian government gave OLPC a major smackdown, revealing an entirely different set of educational concerns. The Indian Ministry of Education called the...

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Teen Mags, Dow Jones Lead the Migration from Print to Digital

Teens and business executives: two groups that don't have much in common. Except that both are tech-savvy, and are driving the move of the publications they read from print to the Internet.Time Inc. announced yesterday that it will cease publication of its magazine Teen People... making it the second major teen magazine to shut down after ElleGirl folded earlier this year. However, in both cases the online versions remain, suggesting that the magazines' readership is still engaged, but just prefers to get content online rather than in print. Plus, the online versions are free... Also, last week, Dow Jones announced that it will "reassess...

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The First Things Sweet Spot Clients are Looking for in a Computer Consulting Business

When you are offering business-to-business or B2B service, your ideal computer consulting business clients, otherwise known as “sweet spot” clients are companies that have 10-50 PCs and $1-10 million annual revenue. Sweet spot clients look for the following four qualities in their computer consulting businesses: response time; business and technical knowledge; customer service and price and value. This entry focuses on the first two items -- response time and knowledge THE VALUE OF SPEEDWhen a small business really needs IT, response time will be a huge factor in its selection of the right computer consulting firm. Since any downtime means lost funds, how quickly a computer consulting business can handle an emergency IT need is critical.BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGEYour business and...

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Terms of Payment and Your Computer Consulting Business

Terms of payment will be abused by even your best clients if you allow them to take advantage. When setting payment terms, your first thought should be of yourself. Never become accustomed to extending credit or giving discounts when they are not deserved. The following tips can help you create the best terms of payment for your computer consulting business.TIPS FOR SETTING PAYMENT TERMS1. Don’t use net 30 to set your terms of payment, otherwise known as stolen discounts. Instead use net seven or net ten so you don’t appear to be giving discounts.2. Don’t use the term “payment on receipt,” since you don’t know when they will receive it.3. Set a specific payment due date on your invoice.DEALING WITH PAST DUE PAYMENTSWhen payments go past due, you have to find a way to collect your money:1....

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Microsoft Fighting Piracy

Sick and tired of piracy, Microsoft is now fighting back, particularly in the U.K. With Office 2007 being released early next year, Microsoft is getting its ducks in a row. They currently believe that as much as 63% of the software used in Britain is counterfeit.In order to put an end to all the piracy, Microsoft has begun doing research on the amount of piracy occurring. Thanks to all the piracy in the country, the starting numbers for the company’s loss runs around $250 million. The company is currently suing at least one reseller for piracy.According to Michala Alexander, head of anti-piracy for Microsoft UK: "The problem is phenomenal. In April, we set up a website, Office Genuine Advantage, to allow users to go online to validate their Office software. So far, 4,000 people have attempted...

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Fortinet Named One of the Ten Most Influential Security Companies

Fortinet has been the leader in creating and providing multi-threat security solutions, and they are now being recognized for their impact on the industry. The Computer Business Review, a popular publication in both the United States and the United Kingdom, has named Fortinet one of the “Ten Most Influential Security Companies.”The publication considers a company's market influence, revenue, and profitability as well as the likelihood that other companies will follow their lead. In 2002, Fortinet led the market by introducing the first multi-threat security systems.According to the Unified Threat Management (UTM) market: "Fortinet is a rare beast, a private security company barely into its sixth year that is already the category leader in a rapidly growing market, where it competes against...

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[NEW FEATURE] Off the Wire, 7-25-06

"Off the Wire" is a new FutureWire segment, a roundup of links to various stories that FutureWire readers may find interesting. I will post "Off the Wire" segments as frequently as possible. Naturally, suggestions for stories are always appreciated...At a recent Brainstorm Conference hosted by Fortune magazine, an age gap became apparent when discussing the benefits of the Internet. Hmmm... how do you suppose that played out? [CNN/Money]Though President Bush recently vetoed a bill that would have increased federal support for embryonic stem cell research, he is clearly going against the tide of public opinion. A survey by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press found that Americans strongly support using embryos for such research (57% to 30%) -- support that cuts across nearly...

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Solution Providers Get New Monitoring Tool from AdventNet

AdventNet recently announced a new product for solution providers searching for the right MSP monitoring platform and are offering a free test of AdventNet’s OpManager MSP version 6002. This platform has new features and gives solution providers the option of using free 30-day trial versions of the full product with as many customers in as many locations as they want. OpManager MSP 6002 is downloadable and is a good foundation for MSP businesses, allowing solution providers to remotely control many aspects including monitoring, troubleshooting and the generation of very detailed reports regarding customer networks and machine performance. This version improves upon the report scheduling function along with CPU, memory and disc utilization reading. OpManager MSP 6002 also offers better...

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Computer Services Firm ACS Re-signs with Solano

Computer services firm Affiliated Computer Services (ACS) recently stated it would be re-signing a deal with Solano County in California. The computer services deal will be worth $15.2 million and last for three years. ACS is to provide computer services in the form of technology services that will help with the County’s infrastructure. The computer services firm will support desktop, applications and helpdesk settings. On top of this deal comes the option of two years worth of continued IT services for approximately $35 million.ACS announced that this renewed contract also includes many projects that will improve infrastructure in the County. Similarly, helpdesk services will move to the computer services firm’s large service center in Portland, OR, as will the new IT project management...

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Jeff Bezos Bankrolling Private Spaceport

Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly funding a spaceport to be developed in west Texas, servicing spacecraft that both take off and land vertically.Bezos has bought a 165,000-acre ranch in sparsely populated Culberson County, and has filed an environmental review with the Federal Aviation Administration. The spacecraft company, Blue Origin, could begin suborbital space tourism flights as early as 2010 if everything goes as planned.Source: CNN....

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Why You Need Paying Customers During the Start-Up Phase of Computer Consulting

No matter what the level of your computer consulting services during start-up, your firm should get paying clients that are in line with your technical skills. Start with home offices or small businesses and companies with simple P2P networks just to get some paying clients and some decent references. USE ONE-SHOTS AS A LAUNCHING PADYou need to move beyond simple clients and one-shot deals eventually because you want your small business computer consulting company to be dependent upon recurring revenue retainer agreements and more complicated solutions. Still, during the start-up phase of a computer consulting business smaller accounts can be helpful. Still, you should move steadily towards the more sophisticated long-term accounts. NEVER STOP LEARNINGIf you suspect that your low level...

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Ten Tools for Time Management

Your ability for successful time management will put you above the crowd and help you be more efficient, effective and make a larger profit. If you are not good with time management, you will lose a lot of hours, and time is much more important than money. The following ten tools can help you with your time management skills.1. Set a clear billing time minimum. You need to plan out this very carefully, as it’s the most important technique for time management. Consider travel time and the average number of clients you see daily.2. Set up client appointments religiously four to eight weeks ahead of time. If you also schedule thinking about geographical location and avoid areas with traffic jams you can improve time management.3. Add networking events to your schedule a month ahead of time...

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Computer Business News: Music Makes Up 50% of Apple’s Business

Computer business Apple enjoyed the second most profitable quarter in its 30 years of business when its music business expanded to comprise almost 50% of the company’s total revenues. iPod, iPod accessories and downloaded tracks sales from iTunes now make up 45% of the computer business’ sales, and have helped Apple increase its profits 46% to $470 million. From April to July of this year, Apple sold 8.1 million iPods globally, which is a 32% year growth in digital music and video player sales. These figures are an astounding year’s increase, but the overall numbers were actually down from 8.5 million the quarter before. This is only the second time that the computer business has not increased its sales in the past four years. Because music products are so much of Apple’s business, the...

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IT Consulting News: Wi-Fi Market on the Rise

Experts from Infonetics Research state that the Wi-Fi phone industry is set to double annually until 2009, reaching $3.7 billion. This prediction gives IT consulting professionals something to think about. The report gauged that the Wi-Fi phone market increased 116% in 2004-2005, topping off at $125.5 million. This growth was spurred by enterprises and consumers that switched over to wireless networks. Analysts also noted that voice over wireless networks are being used mostly by enterprises instead of consumers, but eventually these networks will be in demand among consumers as IT consulting specialists start to offer service bundled with broadband connections.The following findings were also published in this report:1. SpectraLink is the leader in WiFi phones, followed by Cisco and Motorola.2....

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Computer Consulting and Time Management

As a busy computer consulting expert, sometimes you might wonder how you are going to complete all necessary tasks. You need to find long-term business-to-business computer consulting clients, but you are most likely already working upwards of 60 hours per week. There are strategies you can use to best manage your time in the computer consulting field.THE TIME STUDYLook at what tasks and obligations take up most of your time and figure out if you can delegate, automate or eliminate entirely some aspects. If you are building PCs and putting in motherboards and power supplies for ten hours or more per week, you can probably afford to have someone else do it. Similarly, tasks like minding a computer store can be given to another able-bodied person. DELEGATION IS A LIFE SAVERYou should be...

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The Best Business Contacts are Those That are Both influencers and Users

Anyone in your network qualifies as a business contacts. Business contacts are incredibly important to the growth of your business, so developing relationships with them is critical. Business contacts come in two separate categories: influencers/users and users. You need to be able to tell the difference between these categories of business contacts and foster the correct relationships. The people that are both influencers and users make the best business contacts because they can use the services themselves and also encourage others to use these services. Every client you have can be a good referral, but influencers and users are most deeply entrenched in the referral market.TRUSTED BUSINESS ADVISORS FOR SMALL BUSINESSESThis sub-category of influencers/users includes accountants, bookkeepers,...

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That New-Time Religion

How could the national discussion about religion evolve in the coming years? The future of faith could hold some surprises.A survey conducted by the City University of New York in 2001 found that the third most popular "religion" in the US was, in fact, no religion at all. After Catholic (24.5%) and Baptist (16%), the third largest religious category was "no religion" (atheist, agnostic or secular). Even in "Bible Belt" states and Mormon-dominated Utah, "non-theists" represent a significant portion of the population. Currently, many of these people don't think of themselves as part of a religious group. But what if they were to discover their commonality, or identify with a leader who could offer them a political alternative? Would any of today's leaders consider taking up the challenge?On...

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"E-Mail Has Become the New Snail Mail"

If you're e-mailing instead of IM'ing or text messaging... well, sorry, you're behind the times.  Increasingly, tech savvy people are relying on texting and instant messages rather than e-mail to communicate, citing immediacy and convenience, as well as relief from spam overload.  "In this world of instant gratification, e-mail has become the new snail mail," says 25-year-old Rachel Quizon from Norwalk, Calif.Even though texting and IM'ing are making their way into the workplace, the obvious generational divide persists.  While young people embrace the new communications media wholeheartedly (they prefer IM over e-mail by a 5-to-1...

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Finding the Right Computer Service Provider

You can save money by choosing the right computer support firm. Many small businesses make the mistake of hiring a computer consulting service firm that is unreliable and stops showing up all of a sudden when times get tough. Because technology is so important to so many different types of businesses in today’s world, having a dependable computer support service is essential. One computer crash or technology meltdown can cause operations to slow or stop completely. The following tips will help you hire the right computer support firm to suit your specific needs: 1. Make sure the company is legitimate. You should look at the company’s website and see how professional it is and how deeply it goes. If it is just a calling card without references, you should be wary. Check existing references...

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When You Follow Up, Perseverance is Important

Follow up can help you increase the number of leads you get and should be common practice whenever you meet anyone. Send a follow up letter, postcard, phone call or use any other technique that will keep your name in their thoughts.Meetings and business networking events are made for meeting contacts. While the contacts you find at these events might not initially be interested in your services and expertise, if you follow up with them effectively they will be more liable to call you when they are ready for your services. Efficient follow up activities include the following actions: postcards; emails; phone calls; letters; flyers and invitations to seminars.While follow up should be diligent, you don’t want it to be overly-aggressive. Sending contacts something every few months is a perfect...

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China Tech Trends

Silicon.com interviews Sage Brennan of Pacific Epoch about emerging business and technology trends in China. Brennan, a China expert based in Shanghai, says that despite bureaucracy and the trappings of communism, the Chinese economy is surprisingly similar to those of the West in terms of being consumer-driven. The Chinese, he says, are also heavy Internet users, blogging, chatting and posting to online forums, even in the face of government attempts at censorship. The Chinese workforce is also very mobile; in a seller's market, a skilled worker who speaks English has his or her pick of jobs.Brennan believes the biggest weakness in the Chinese economy is a general lack of innovation, stemming from a centuries-old culture that values tradition instead of change. But Brennan believes that...

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Tech Data Gives Solution Providers a New Apple Support Program

Tech Data, a leading distributor recently introduced a new program for Apple solution providers to help them more efficiently develop, sell and support Apple-based business products. The AppleAdvantage SBU (Specilized Business Unit) began in June and is meant to be a resource for Apple VARs with technical assistance needs, sales support and product management resources. Tech Data insists that solution providers specializing in Apple products need to have easy access to experts that know what technologies will work well with different types of businesses. Customers and solution providers contacting AppleAdvantage SBU know they are getting professionals that really know about solutions that are specific to Apple technologies. Many solution providers and consultants have already been using...

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Where Might We Be Living in 2025?

Columbia University's Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR) has created a map of projected population shifts between now and 2025. The map takes into account population migration trends, growth of certain populations, and possible evacuation of coastal areas threatened by rising sea levels.Predictably, much of the world's future population growth will come from areas that are already densely populated, such as India and China. But some highly populated regions -- Eastern Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Japan, and Central and South America -- are projected to experience population declines within the next two decades."By bridging these two areas of demography — mapping and long-range, aggregate projections — we're getting a better idea of where people are likely to live in the future and...

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IT Consulting News: CRN Backs OrgPlus Enterprise Solution

Leading solution provider and global producer of workforce modeling and IT consulting tools HumanConcepts stated yesterday that its OrgPlus Enterprise solution garnered the “Recommended” rating from CRN. CRN is the foremost provider of information to VARs and resellers. OrgPlus gained recognition by earning a perfect five, out of a possible five in the IT consulting publication’s Channel Rating. The CRN review of OrgPlus focused on its benefits for companies and organizations going through mergers and acquisitions and needing a better look at different workforces. The publication stated that OrgPlus simply bridges two organizational charts allowing companies to speed up the process of figuring out the functions of various systems and employees. Administrators can create scenarios and...

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The Downside of the Long Tail

The "long tail" phenomenon has received renewed interest in part because Chris Anderson, who coined the term, has recently published a book on the topic, arguing that the long tail helps niche markets. However, Jonathan Rowe offers a contrarian view, suggesting that the long tail is not the free-market panacea that Anderson claims:Anderson contends that this means the gradual demise of the blockbuster. There will be more niches, and less mass on top. But as John Cassady points out in the current New Yorker, it more likely means the demise of the middle -- that is, the items that sold pretty well but not extraordinarily so. “A long-tail world doesn’t threaten the whales o\r the minnows,” he writes. “It threatens those who cater to the neglected middle.”I wonder if it’s a total coincidence...

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Shopping by Text Messaging

Spawned by the ability to link a PayPal or credit card account to an SMS-capable cell phone, several US startups are helping to promote text-to-buy shopping.New Yorkers can use Mobo to order food from take-out chains across the city simply by sending a text message containing a "fave" (saved order from a favorite restaurant via your phone or the Mobo website); Mobo texts you back when your order is ready, and automatically bills your credit card.LiveBuyIt is a similar concept, though many other types of products are available. Produced in partnership with Lucky magazine, LiveBuyIt makes available everything from clothes to jewelry to cars (!), though as of this writing only a few items are available.Both systems require a fair amount of technical savvy, so they're not for everyone. Both...

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Tokyo Becomes a "Heat Island"

While much of the US broils with abnormally high temperatures this week (99°F in my little corner of New Jersey yesterday), other parts of the world are coping with uncomfortable summer heat as well. Tokyo, for instance, experienced very high temperatures last week (96.8°F on Saturday), due in part to the "summertime heat island" phenomenon.A local condition, the "heat island" effect occurs in cities lacking trees and grass cover that promote natural cooling. Buildings, meanwhile, retain and reflect heat, keeping cities uncomfortably warm even at night. The Japanese government is studying ways to relieve heat islands such as Tokyo, which experienced...

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Life as a Clone

What would life as a clone be like? How deeply would they empathize with their other clones? Would they be true individuals?Scientists are beginning to ask such questions, despite the fact that no true human clones exist, and despite strong scientific and ethical opposition to human cloning. To better understand the mindsets of genetically identical individuals, UK and Austrian researchers have been studying identical twins.The studies show that, while identical twins value their relationship with one another, they do see themselves as individuals. Factors such as environment and proximity have formed their personalities much more so than genetics, the studies have found.Even though, like clones, identical twins share identical sets of genes, identical twins are the exact same age and...

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Movie Rentals via iTunes?

The blog Think Secret has scoop about a possible pending announcement from Apple CEO Steve Jobs that the iTunes Music Store will soon feature downloadable movie rentals -- presumably for playback on computers and video iPods, a la Vongo. The deal, between Apple and several major movie studios, represents a departure from Apple's previous strategy of endorsing movie sales. The service will supposedly place date-stamp coding in movie files that prohibits play after either a certain date or a set number of viewings. No word yet on the price per movie, or when the service will be fully available.The reported announcement is scheduled for August 7.RELATED: Ars Technica reports that movie download service Movielink is partnering with Sonic Solutions (makers of the Roxio CD/DVD recording software)...

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Eggs as Billboards

With the effectiveness of TV advertising and overall viewership on the decline, how else can a TV network promote its fall lineup? The solution is obvious -- put advertisements on eggs!Egg-centric? Egg-xotic? Perhaps. But how better to catch the eye of fickle viewers than when they're preparing their sunny-side-up? The marketing eggheads at CBS plan to brand 35 million eggs this September with tag lines promoting the network's new and returning shows. Phrases include "CSI: Crack the Case on CBS" and "The Class, New Grade-A CBS Comedy." (rimshots, please!)To produce the eggs, CBS is partnering with EggFusion, which has developed laser technology...

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Social Networking Sites Serve Niche Audiences

Now that MySpace has become the dominant general-purpose social networking website -- as well as the most popular destination on the web -- new entrants are focusing on specialized audiences. Witness Dogster and Catster, sites where dog lovers and cat lovers can create their own web pages, post pictures of their furry friends, join forums, look at dogs and cats up for adoption, and even chat.For people looking for a clever way to share their life story with others, dandelife is a beta "social biography network" that allows members to create biographies along a timeline, integrating links, YouTube videos and Flickr photos to document people, places and activities. Not everyone wants to document their life this way, but for those who do, dandelife offers an innovative and intuitive means of...

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The Next Step With IT Audits

Once you’ve completed IT audits, it’s time to plan. You should make a spreadsheet that lists next steps and due-dates to help push business along. Once you’ve started a strong relationship with clients and have finished IT audits, you should be able to move into the mode of planning and setting up a spreadsheet, organizing it by the month. You may find some things that have to be completed this month, some that will be able to wait a month and others that will get put on a wish list for farther into the future. WHAT IS A WISH LIST?A wish list contains items that will have to be done because of vendor or regulatory agency rules or because a product the clients are using is being phased out and won’t be able to be used anymore. Regardless of the reason, wish list projects will have very...

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Using Service Contracts as a Business Model

Service contracts are a critical part of any busy computer consulting practice. They can help consultants with time management when there are what seems to be too many clients, and setting them up efficiently will help you maximize time while also having some leftover for unexpected client emergencies. Sometimes you may have many clients with simultaneous emergencies. Obviously during these times you can’t be there for all of them at the same time. Making a short list of clients you are obligated to in an emergency can be accomplished by setting up computer service contracts. Using a service contract business model is crucial because it makes clients make decisions about how they want to use your services. It filters out those that aren’t committed to a long-term plan and helps you be...

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First Half of 2006 Was Warmest Period Ever in US

Hot enough for ya? As much of the nation literally sweats it out with triple-digit temperatures, we learn that the first half of this year was the warmest period on record. The average temperature for the continental US, measured by the National Climatic Data Center, was 51.8°F, or 3.4°F above average for the 20th century. Five midwestern states experienced record warmth -- warmth that likely contributed to drought and subsequent wildfires.Globally, early 2006 was the sixth warmest period since records were first kept in 1880.Source: AP (via Brietbart.c...

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[BREAKING NEWS] Space Shuttle Discovery Lands Safely in Florida

After the madness in the Mideast, wildfires, and record heat, a bit of good news: The space shuttle Discovery made a perfect landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida just moments ago after its 13-day missi...

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Avnet Announces New HP OpenView Support for Solution Providers

Avnet Partner Solutions recently started a mentoring program for solution providers that sell Hewlett-Packard OpenView solutions. Avnet’s solution providers program will be called the Partner Assist program and is made specifically to help increase partner OpenView technical and sales efficiency. The program offers personal training, presales and help with implementation, along with custom-made lead generation and opportunities to prequalify for sales. Avnet developed the program to help continue its remarkable growth in OpenView in the past year and also to assist solution providers as they work through HP’s recent acquisitions in the OpenView suite area, which have proved to be incredibly complicated. Many solution providers have been complaining about the amount of work that has been...

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IT Consulting News: IT Employment Continues to Rise

The National Association of Computer Consultant Businesses (NACCB) conducted a study that showed that the employment of IT consulting professionals continued an upward trend in June in spite of the considerably low overall unemployment rate. For the past 12 months, IT workers have enjoyed an increase of 152,000 and last month, the number of workers grew 2,400 more than in May, which brings the annual increase to 4.4%.CEO of NACCB, Mark Roberts states that this increase reflects a high demand for IT consulting professionals, including those that work within the IT services field. Professionals in every field are seeking IT workers in order to help them stay competitive in their fields. Many are turning to IT services firms and IT consulting firms to find support for their own staff or to...

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Have you seen Slide yet?

This is too much fun. Make a slideshow with your photos from flickr or a number of places, or upload them directly. Then, choose your slideshow style, and get the code to add wherever you like. Ya gotta luv ...

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IT Sales: What Do Your Clients Need?

In order to be successful at IT sales, you need to ask specific questions of your customers to determine their needs. You need to know pretty quickly whether the customer wants a tech assessment, IT audit or site survey and then get them to sign.Your first meeting with IT sales prospective customers should involve a discussion of their three main issues. You might discover these prospects have problems that do not fall within your area of expertise, in which case you can move on. If not, getting prospects to discuss IT sales is incredibly important. WHAT DO THEY PREFER?You want prospects to talk about what they have liked and not liked about previous IT support methods. Their comments can help you better know what they will need from you.This first meeting is also when you will determine...

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Using Media Publicity

As a computer consultant you can help enhance your professional standing and credibility by using media publicity. You should encourage interviews, features, quotes or any other involvement with your local newspaper or business publication. You can use media publicity at many different times and will be able to benefit more if you bring it to others’ attention than if you just count on other people seeing it for themselves.GETTING MEDIA PUBLICITY1. Talk to hosts or producers of local TV or radio shows and give them the run-down of your expert opinion.2. Create media publicity by getting testimonials that focus on benefits from local celebrities, important community business leaders and politicians. You can use photos with these people to help generate marketing materials.3. Host seminars...

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Maryland Gov. Proposes Renewable Energy Mandate

When it comes to government promotion of alternative energy sources -- action rather than just rhetoric -- individual states may lead the way. Earlier this week, Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich proposed that the state government buy at least 10% of its energy from renewable resources to power its buildings and other properties. Ehrlich has specifically cited wind and solar energy, as well as "forest residue" left behind from logging, as potential fuels."We need to get with it," the Republican governor said. "We want to be No. 1 when it comes to alternative energy in the United States of America." If Ehrlich's proposal is enacted, it would put Maryland on the forefront of alternative energy use. Environmentalists and other observers are cautiously optimistic, noting similar pledges dating...

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Fabled Bell Labs Facility Sold, Faces Wrecking Ball

The Holmdel, New Jersey headquarters of Bell Labs, the legendary R&D organization that gave the world the laser, the transistor, LED lights, the Unix operating system, fiber optics, microwave communication and cell phone technology, has been sold. The real estate investor who bought the site wants to use it as an office park and plans to retain its pastoral charm, but says that the unique building is outdated and cannot be renovated, and therefore needs to be demolished.The massive facility has been a part of the Holmdel community (approximately 30 miles south of New York City) for 44 years, and at its peak held 5,600 employees. In the '90s, Bell Labs was folded into Lucent Technologies, which was hit hard by the 2000 tech bust. Lucent continues to maintain two smaller labs in northern...

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Africa May Be Climate Change's Biggest Victim

Poverty-stricken countries in Africa will likely bear the brunt of the effects of global warming -- drought, temperature fluctuations, and flooding from heavier rainfalls. The result will be more crop failures, famine, diseases and military conflicts in already fragile regions, despite increased aid from developed countries.Hilary Benn, the UK's Secretary of State for International Development, has suggested that developed countries reconsider the Kyoto protocol (which the US has never ratified) in light of the threat to African countries, which produce relatively little greenhouse gases. Benn also says that the impact will hit sooner than we think. "Climate change is happening faster than any of us anticipated even five years ago. It is the most pressing global challenge of all, yet does...

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Computer Consulting: Should You Moonlight While Starting Up?

Moonlighting for a while is a great idea. Not only can you earn a large supplemental income, but also you can decide whether you really want to run an IT consulting firm full time. If you decide it's not for you, then you haven't lost anything.Remember that not everything you do for your computer consulting company will be considered billable hours. You might work 10 hours a week, but you may only end up with 5 billable hours. Non-billable hours include marketing, business development, paperwork, organization, billing and collections, and accounting.The best part about moonlighting is simply that you're not risking your family's financial future by quitting your full time job, and you have the time to make a well-educated decision on whether you really want to be a full-time computer consultant.To...

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