Computer Business Apple Teams Up with Nike to Offer New Sports Kit

Computer business Apple recently announced a partnership with Nike and its popular iPod. The computer business will offer a new Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a wireless system that enables Nike footwear to talk to the Nano model of the iPod.

The new kit requires a Nike brand shoe and an iPod nano with Mac and a USB 2/0 and Mac OS X version 10.3.9 or later along with iTunes 6.0.5. The product can also be used with a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows 2000, XP Home or Professional and iTunes 6.0.5.

The first model of Nike shoes that will work with the computer business’ iPod is the Air Zoom Moire. The new system provides information for runners on time, distance, calories burned and pace that is stored on the iPod once the shoes and the device are connected and displayed on the screen. The device also provides real-time audio feedback through headphones. The kit comes complete with an in-shoe sensor and receiver that attaches to the iPod. Computer business Apple is set to add a new Nike Sport Music section to the iTunes music store and a new nikeplus.com personal service site for customer support. Nike will also release a series of apparel designed to accompany this new offering.

The Sport Kit will be on the market within two months and available for the price of $29 through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores, certain resellers and Nike stores.

Those interested in learning more about this new partnership can visit the link attached to this story.

Created By: Computer Consulting 101

Solution Providers Offered New Program by Brocade Communications

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. revealed the release of selected Brocade Storage Area Network (SAN) connectivity products for solutions providers and customers through a new program. The EMC Select Program offers access to products from top industry vendors qualified to be used in EMC-based solutions. This program for solution providers and customers offered by Brocade further solidifies the bond between Brocade and EMC and represents a new option for those looking for simple solutions.

Brocade Communications brings industry-leading platforms, solutions an services to help optimize, manage and connect IT resources in shared storage. The EMC Select program gives solution providers easy access to third-party products they need to handle important information using a single source from start to finish. EMC Select provides cost-effective products including the 8-port SilkWorm® 207E and 205E SAN switches for solution providers that are available either as individual products or bundled together with the Emulex LightPulse group of Host Bus Adapters (HBAs).

Spokespeople from Emulex say they are excited to be partnering with EMC and Brocade Communications in this exciting offering that will help solution providers and other users achieve quick start-up of new technologies.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

Computer Skills Your Staff Needs

If you don’t have advanced tech or computer skills, you can still work efficiently with sweet spot small business clients just by putting in some extra time each week studying.

BREAK SOMETHING THAT WORKS

One way to hone your computer skills is to get a not-for-resale (NFR) copy of a product you intend to sell, install or support and work with it in your computer lab. If you have a spare half-hour or an hour, you or members of your staff can go through all the basic installations on the product and then break the installations on purpose to practice reinstalling the software as many times as it takes to be comfortable with the process. Most of the products installed for small businesses are well-developed technologies that are wizard-driven and won’t demand great computer skills from you.

EASIER INSTALLATIONS

Installations of major software packages are much easier than they were several years ago. Microsoft in particular has spent a great deal of time and money making their business products simpler to install and use for those without advanced IT or networking computer skills.

In order to service sweet spot clients on a technical computer skills level, your staff needs the following expertise:

1. Strong PC hardware skills
2. The ability to handle a P2P set-up
3. An understanding of TCP/IP
4. A knowledge of POP3 and SMTP
5. The ability to work with SOHO routers.

If your staff already has these skills, your company will be at a good point to start with smaller sweet spot small businesses.

Be a proactive manager and share training tips and your experiences with staff members so you can all help each other grow and learn. If everyone shares knowledge, there’s not chance of any staff members progressing far beyond the rest, blackmailing you, trying to get huge raises or bonuses or worse, leaving and taking your client base.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

Spotting IT Consulting Sweet Spot Clients

Having a sustainable IT consulting business is intricately linked to the sweet spot of small businesses. But where do you look for these small business clients, and how do you know they will actually be a source of lucrative recurring revenue?

IDENTIFYING A SWEET SPOT CLIENT

A sweet spot IT consulting client should not be located more than 30-50 minutes driving distance from your firm’s main office. This distance makes it possible for you to see them face-to-face regularly and to get there quickly in the case of an emergency. Even if travel time or related transportation expenses are additional billing items, your best and most profitable IT consulting time will be spent with your clients.

FINDING LOCAL SWEET SPOT CLIENTS

There are two major ways to find your local IT consulting sweet spot prospects, identified as those within 0-50 miles or 0-80 kilometers: rent direct mail lists; join local organizations within half an hour to an hour of your IT consulting location.

HOW LARGE ARE SWEET SPOT CONSULTING BUSINESSES?

A sweet spot IT consulting business can be defined as one that has 10-50 computers, 10-100 employees and one million to ten million annual sales. Rented direct mail lists will give you at least part of this information about prospects in the area.

You can also find a sweet spot IT consulting business because they will have connections with a local accounting firm or other types of important businesses. You want to add your IT consulting firm to their list of trusted business advisors.

SWEET SPOT MEANS CONNECTED

Sweet spot IT consulting customers will typically outsource important business items to other trusted advisors. They will have relationships with attorneys, accounting firms, consulting firms, ad agencies and graphic designers and understand how important these connections are.

If you want to be involved with other companies that are connected to sweet spot businesses you should network with local accounting firms and others that can lead you to good IT consulting customers.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

Hitachi's IT Consulting Arm Names New Global Services Leader

The business and IT consulting arm of Hitachi, Hitachi Consulting named Joel Hill as new managing vice president of Global Services. The Global Services branch of the IT consulting company will focus on two areas using two teams of consultants, the Japan Team and the Global Solutions Center Team. This IT consulting branch will focus on identifying global pursuit opportunities and coordinating hiring of new staff to work on the opportunities that arise. The goal of this IT consulting company is to create a more unified approach for Hitachi Consulting.

Hitachi Consulting Co., Ltd. was created in April from the Hitachi Group company EXSURGE under the leadership of Paul Yonamine. This IT consulting company will further strengthen the Asian presence and make it easier for Hitachi companies worldwide to work together to best serve the needs of clients.

Newly-appointed vice president Hill stated confidently that the IT consulting company has already successfully established its operations in both Japan and North America. Because of its past track record, Hitachi will be able to expand the client focus and integrate the IT consulting practices in North America and Japan.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

Wireless Solution Provider Nokia Learns Second Hand of Qualcomm Lawsuit

Wireless solution provider Nokia learned late Wednesday that it was to be tagged with a patent infringement in the United Kingdom by Finnish wireless provider Qualcomm after reading a press release. Nokia saw the press release before it knew about or had read a copy of the complaint.

The Finnish cell phone and infrastructure vendor Qualcomm’s release came as no real surprise to Nokia, since the company has many other times complained and filed litigation about similar issues regarding the wireless solution provider Typically patent litigation defendants violently deny charges, but that is because they have already seen complaint details. Nokia spokespeople state they are unable to publicly make any statements about the suit until they receive the formal complaint. However, the solution provider states the suit probably has very little merit.

Early last Wednesday Qualcomm issued a release saying it was reopening a lawsuit previously filed against Nokia in the United States to the UK and is asking for damages and an injunction. The Finninsh company says that solution provider Nokia has committed infringement on two patents in its cell phones that have GPRS and EDGE built-in technology.

Nokia’s response was that it has 223 patents that relate specifically to that technology and that Qualcomm is not as well-established and innovative in the GSM market as Nokia.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

Even More Computer Consulting 101 Tips

Your company probably needs the help of a reputable computer consulting firm, but you might not have any clue as to how to choose the right firm to suit your needs. Computer Consulting 101 offers a series of in-depth questions you can ask when interviewing potential computer consulting firms based on a study of why it is so hard to find good consulting vendors.

Evaluating a computer consulting firm and the expenses surrounding it can be a difficult process. The following categories represent the areas you should think about when formulating questions for your prospective consulting vendor:

1. Is the computer consulting firm a reseller, “pure” computer consulting company or a hybrid technology provider?
2. What are the costs, hidden charges and billing procedures of the specific computer consulting firm?
3. Does the computer consulting company offer client reference accounts, case studies and testimonials?
4. How does the firm handle its own research and development and keep technical skills sharp to keep abreast of technology developments and changing client needs?
5. What is the firm’s training approach and willingness to transfer knowledge to its clients?

Knowing these basic question categories can help companies avoid hiring the wrong computer consulting firms to handle their needs. For more detailed questions, visit the link provided above.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

Using Handheld Devices to Address Customer Needs

It can be very hard to make a profit margin when selling desktop or notebook PCs, but nearly impossible is the process of selling handheld devices or PDAs to small business clients. Handheld devices are generally marketed towards those that would buy consumer electronics products and not thought of as actual computers.

HANDHELD DEVICES ARE POPULAR

PDAs centered on the Palm and Microsoft Windows CE OS systems are very powerful and flexible. These handheld devices have become useful for all sizes of businesses, but have their own IT support problems that will require your help as an IT professional.

PDA AND HANDHELD DEVICE SUPPORT WILL EVENTUALLY BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

Most of the time your consulting firm or your clients’ internal IT departments will get the initial handheld device and PDA support request. Even if the employee bought the handheld device on his/her own or got it as a gift, you will most likely someday get a call if something goes wrong.

FUNDING HANDHELD DEVICE SUPPORT

Make sure you discuss PDAs with your main client contact person to determine who will be handling support requests regarding handheld devices. Think about all the variables surrounding product and operating systems when you discuss how to fund PDAs. Also think about data security and desktop connectivity.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

Questions for Consulting Firm Prospects from Computer Consulting 101

To avoid hiring a computer consulting firm that is not right for your business, ask these important questions provided by Computer Consulting 101 when interviewing prospects.

1. Does your company resell hardware, software and other tech products?
2. Is your company a profit center, or can we shop for products elsewhere and still use your needs analysis and other services?
3. Do you work with specific ISPs or telephone companies and accept commissions or referral fees for bringing business towards those vendors?
4. What are your payment terms, rates and hourly minimums, and what do you consider billable and not billable?
5. Do you charge for extra items such as travel time, telephone support, e-mail/online support or others?
6. Do you have hourly rate billing for after-hours or emergency services? What do you consider to fall into these service categories?
7. Tell me about one of your long-term small business clients.
8. Tell me about a more recently signed-on client.
9. Do you have a small business client that didn’t work out, and why did it not work?
10. How do you keep abreast of technological developments?
11. What do you absorb internally in terms of billing and for what do you bill clients initially?
12. What are your thoughts about hand-holding and user training?
13. What kind of technical training do you offer?
14. Are you willing to train internal computer administrators to help them become more self-sufficient, even if it takes away from normal job security and additional billing opportunities?

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Searching for IT Consulting Sweet Spot Clients

The following clues will help identify what prospects will make good sweet spot clients for your IT consulting business:

1. The company has a website. A prospect with a website will be searchable in Google. To find prospective clients, you can conduct a simple Google search and search the name of the town you are in, your zip code, postal area codes, prefixes, etc. Search for businesses in your area that might be good potential clients for IT consulting.
2. It is possible for you to meet the leaders of the company. When you look on the prospect’s company information or about page on their website and decide they may be good sweet spot material for your IT consulting firm, find out if the company belongs to a local Chamber of Commerce organization. You can join the organization to meet the members of companies you choose or go as a guest to some of them. Make sure you know how to get the most out of your time and expenses for networking. Track and measure every minute and every dollar you spend so you can best grow your IT consulting business.
3. You can find the company in other places. Find out if the company attends local B to B expos and attend them to mingle with the sweet spot IT consulting clients. If the company gets covered in the local newspapers, business journals, regional business journals or magazines you can subscribe to them and read back issues at the library or online.

Studying a company before you make contact and finding out their experience, number of employees and annual revenue or if they are expanding to another office soon will help you identify the best sweet spot IT consulting clients.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

Solution Providers and System Builders Annoyed by Microsoft Pricing

Systems builders and solutions providers recently expressed frustration with the high operating system and software costs associated with Microsoft. During a session with system builders, the scene got heated when they brought up the issue of the price difference between tier one vendors and the system builders channel. The session was hosted by CRN Editor in Chief Heather Clancy and Digital Connect Editor Jefff O’Heir.

Many solution providers are beginning to recommend Linux products over Microsoft because of the steadily increasing prices. They noted that on a $500 to $700 desktop PC, the Microsoft license can be the greatest cost. Solution providers are recommending Linux desktops because they are more stable than those provided by Microsoft inn embedded settings, and they also provide both Intel and AMD processors, giving professionals more than one option.

The complaint over Microsoft pricing is not new in the world of system builders and solution providers. Many have noted that Microsoft gives better prices and treatment to major computer businesses such as Dell at the expense of smaller companies. Recently complaints have grown because of increased pressure to bring in more revenue and competition from emerging computer businesses.

The pricing issue at this particular session arose after Novell displayed the features of a Linux desktop alternative called Suse Linux Enterprise 10. Some panelists and experts at the conference agreed that system builders and solution providers should start trying to make themselves better rather than accuse specific vendors of poor pricing methods.

All agreed that education on different vendors and products was the key to providing the best services to clients and companies, and that solution providers should take a proactive stance to make sure they are selecting the appropriate systems and products for their clients depending on their business and needs.

Created By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

IT Consulting Survey Shows Popularity of In-Sourcing

A recent IT consulting 2006 Skills Survey survey conducted by silicom.com polled 1,198 individuals and asked what they would do when outsourced IT projects do not meet their expectations. Many responded that in-sourcing helps to resolve relationships centered on outsourcing. Over two-thirds of those polled stated that in-sourcing was the best way to get IT consulting projects done and improve experiences with important projects.

Headlines have recently cropped up about the number of companies that are in-sourcing and bringing outsourced projects given to IT consulting firms back in-house. Company Boots stated last week that it would be taking 100 IT jobs in-house as part of their amended contract with IBM.

Of the job titles surveyed in the Skills Survey, the ones most in favor of in-sourcing were IT professionals. In fact, 77 percent stated that in-sourcing is the best way to quickly and efficiently deal with failed outsourcing projects. Of course, it is the IT professionals whose jobs would be most affected by in-sourcing and outsourcing, so this response is not surprising.

CIOs and IT directors were next on the list in their support for in-sourcing projects, and 74 percent were in favor of this shift. IT consultants were next on the list with 63 percent support.

Board directors and other C-level executives including CEOs were not as excited about in-sourcing. Only half of the respondents stated they thought it was the best way to resolve issues with outsourcing. This response could be due to the fact that they are typically responsible for answering to stockholders when the deal goes bad.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

PC Help from Computer Consulting 101

It is always advisable for companies to seek out a local computer consulting firm to handle major tech issues and provide on-going guidance for PC users. But many computer problems are simple enough to be dealt with by even the most technologically challenged individual. Before you call your computer consulting help, reboot.

To reboot, simply exit out of all files and programs, then go through a typical shutdown/reboot sequence. If the computer issue seems to be hardware related – if it involves a sound card, mouse or any other item – you can go one step further to try to rectify the problem. Shut down your PC, then turn the power off for a minute or more. Then restart and see if the problem has fixed itself.

The experts at Computer Consulting 101 have found that sometimes in about ten to twenty percent of the cases, a reboot is all it takes to solve computer problems. Rebooting is easy, and it can’t hurt. Plus it can save a potentially expensive call to a computer consulting firm.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

IT Consulting: How to Track Time and Invoices

If you are new to the IT consulting business you need to learn about common mistakes made that involve tracking and invoicing. Staying away from these mistakes will give your company a better financial outlook and will help reduce stress by giving you more control over your business.

TIME TRACKING, BILLING, ETC.

Time tracking, billing, creating invoices and collecting through credit cards are all major parts of IT consulting. Many people ask which software they need to use for time tracking and billing, but paying the most attention to this keeps your eye off more important issues.

The truth is, tracking time and invoicing is not only about your software. You should use software that makes the process simpler, but the software will not fix the problems attached to IT consulting and this procedure.

IT CONSULTING CLIENTS NEED SERVICE

Your long-term clients will see your IT consulting company as insurance, and will be motivated to pay the bills on time. The clients you should be looking for are those that will fear not paying invoices on time because they would be afraid it would make you forget about them.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Computer Business Dell Announces Use of AMD Chips

Computer business Dell stated on Thursday that it was going to start using chips from Advanced Micro Devices. Both AMD and Dell stock shares rose over 13 percent, while Dell’s only chip supplier before Thursday, Intel fell more than five percent.

Computer business Dell has been struggling lately and experienced an 18 percent decline in profit in the last quarter. The computer company was the last to use only Intel processors. The decision to finally use chips from AMD finally confirms that Dell has been courting AMD for quite a while.

According to the computer business, Dell will introduce multiprocessor server computers using Opteron by the end of 2006.

Analysts have been going back and forth with estimates for Dell’s earnings in the future. Experts are not certain why aggressive pricing from Dell will improve profits, particularly since this technique did not work when it was implemented at the end of the last quarter. Other companies, including HP, have achieved success only when they lowered prices because of using cheaper components and more efficient manufacturing systems.

Dell stated it would end a long-running practice of giving earnings per share and revenue predictions regularly. The computer business only revealed that it was expecting financial results for the second quarter of 2007 to be near to those in the first quarter. Experts say this vague reporting is only further proof that Dell is very uncertain of its future business.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

Solution Providers Work to Patch Skype Bug

Skype introduced an update Friday that will hopefully help solution providers and users address a bug that allows those that take advantage to send files to recipients without asking and get access to data on the computer. The bug was marked by bug tracking firm Secunia and has been rated “moderately critical.” While the transfer of the file would begin without recipient consent, a message is sent to alert of the file transfer, and the sender could cancel it.

The versions of Skype affected by this bug are all those for Windows before and including 2.0.*.104 and the beta 2.5.*0 along with 2.5.*.78. Skype is encouraging solution providers and individual users to update to patched versions from the website immediately to avoid problems. Users that have set up Skype in a specific way will find that the program automatically checks for the update to ease the downloading process.

This is not the first time Skype has encountered problems with flaws in its program. Some were announced and fixed in October 2005 and November 2004. In better news for Skype, the company released a special promotion that will allow U.S. and Canadian users to make calls to both landline and mobile numbers for free until the end of 2006.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

Give Your Network More Power

Computer consultants offer the following ten tips to help boost network performance and give companies and individuals the edge they need to get their jobs done in the best way possible:

1. Buy new equipment. Prices have fallen as more hardware has emerged in recent years, and many businesses have not upgraded since prior to Y2K. While an investment, buying new equipment is more affordable than you think and will have a profound effect on network speed. New equipment can boost business that will directly influence revenue.
2. Rethink bandwidth availability and costs. More bandwidth should be available than before, even though many providers may not have cut prices or increased. Many T-1 and T-3 lines are now priced affordably for even medium-sized and small businesses.
3. Don’t skimp on storage. A large number of companies have not increased their storage capabilities since Y2K, and like hardware and equipment, there are many affordably-priced options out there now. Increasing storage capacity can free up the network to do what it needs to do.
4. Improve network security. Spyware, Trojans and worms are a real problem for everyone and can infect network performance while putting companies at risk for losing important data or leaking sensitive information. Most updates for security programs can be done automatically, which helps eliminate human error and can ensure better network performance.
5. Use automated resource monitoring systems. These systems can identify bottlenecks and help speed network performance.
6. Get user and manager feedback. Ask users and managers about their experiences with the network; they may be having issues you haven’t thought of before, and their insights can shed light on ways you can improve performance.
7. Use applications that reduce data entry. Sometimes information can be added multiple times. Certain types of software or middleware can prevent this from happening and make sure the system isn’t bogged down by too much information.
8. Use e-mail consolidation and acceleration techniques. E-mail, especially that with attachments, is the biggest hindrance for networks. According to experts, 70 percent of e-mail now contains attachments of 5MB or more, which can inundate the system with unnecessary data. E-mail consolidation and acceleration technologies can save e-mails without the unnecessary attachments and free up space.
9. Wide area file services are important. They provide better WAN communication and improve the interface between users and senders, thereby making the network run more smoothly.
10. Use data reduction and pattern matching. This will allow appliances at different points of the WAN to only exchange file changes and not the entire file, thus freeing up the network and allowing it to be faster and more powerful.

Created By: Computer Consulting 101

Handheld Devices: Buy Smart

The following are some easy-to-follow tips that can help set you and your clients on the right path when it comes to handheld devices.

BUYING SMART

You should be extremely careful when you are thinking about buying totally new, untested handheld devices. Many of these models can have major design or software flaws. The bugs are typically not fixed until about three to six months after the first release. You don’t need to take on the unnecessary risks associated with trying to get the first release of all new handheld devices or other technology items.

When buying handheld devices, make sure to get peripherals and accessories bundled with the purchase. This will save you money and time on installation and help eliminate incompatibility issues.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING?

When purchasing handheld devices, look closely at the vendor support offerings. Tech support and warranties are not all the same, and the company you buy from is sometimes more important than the product itself.

The handheld devices you buy should be compatible with the operating system you intend to use. If clients’ offices are tied to a very specific version of Microsoft Windows or any other operating system, make sure your PDA can sync data with all computers, notebooks and desktops, in the office.

IT’S ABOUT CONNECTING

The handheld devices purchased should be well connected. USB interfaces can be the easiest of the interfaces to configure and troubleshoot and also perform best in the most circumstances. You should avoid buying older, legacy serial interfaces whenever you can.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

A Quick Fix for Any PC

Small businesses definitely need to find a reliable local computer consulting business to deal with serious computer problems and on-going support. But often, in fact nearly 10 to 20 percent of the time, when computer problems arise, they can be fixed by a simple reboot. According to Computer Consulting 101 experts, many computer problems are simple enough for anyone to handle.

Rebooting first before calling a computer consulting expert can save companies valuable time and prevent easy problems from eating away at an IT budget.

REBOOTING

Rebooting is simple. Exit out of any files and programs that are open, then go through a shutdown and restart sequence. Your computer will guide you through it!

Even if your problem is hardware-related and involves either a network card, modem, mouse, keyboard or sound card, you still have an easy option that does not involve calling your computer consulting support. Go to the start menu and shutdown your PC. Then turn the power off for a minute or more. Turn the power back on and see if the problem resolved itself.

When in doubt, reboot! It could save you a lot of money in the long run, and save your budget for real emergencies.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Extended Warranties and Notebook PCs

Unlike with regular desktop PCs, you should think about recommending that your clients buy the maximum extended warranty coverage on any notebook PCs they purchase. The cost of replacing any item on notebook PCs can be extremely expensive, and the financial threat of having to deal with a hard drive failure or replacement of the LCD screen is enough to make warranties worth the cost.

REPLACEMENT COSTS

Notebook PCs have LCD screens that are created especially for each individual notebook. To replace a regular 17” or 19” monitor out of warranty a client would typically be able to find a suitable item at a local retail store for about $200-$300. However, the LCD screens of notebook PCs are usually never stocked in stores. Replacing it, with labor, assembly and cost of the part could be easily $1,000 or more.

QUESTIONS

Before you direct clients towards notebook PCs and warranties, ask them and the provider of the warranties the following questions:

1. Are the notebook PCs your clients own used more in the office or in the field? Can you get a copy of the notebook PC warranty?
2. What are the differences between the notebook PC warranty and the desktop PC warranty?
3. Does the warranty include or exclude any hardware parts?
4. Are there restrictions on the warranty for LCD panel or hard drive replacement?
5. What is the length of the included warranty coverage? Is the PC vendor the one that deals with the extended warranty?
6. If the extended warranty is given to a third party and the third party goes out of business, will the warranty be taken over by the PC vendor?

Because replacement of the hard drive and LCD screen on notebook PCs can be expensive, the extended service plan is the best option for your clients. Keep in mind that the expensive nature of repairs is the reason that extended warranties on notebook PCs are typically a lot more expensive than those for desktop PCs.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

PC Repair Business Helped by Multi-PC Homes

The PC repair business and PC services business is getting a lot of work thanks to the trend in the U.S. towards households with multiple computers. Service firms that want to help with PC maintenance, PC repair and home network management along with hardware selection will continue to become busier as the number of households with multiple computers and a variety of needs increases.

As early as September 2007, most homes in the United States could have two or more PCs according to experts that have analyzed data from the last 13 months. More conservative predictions based on three years of data state the switch will occur within the next three years. Much of what happens will depend on the economics and techniques of the PC market.

As it stands now, almost 80% of U.S. households have one PC or more. The average as of April was 1.9 computers per household. Forty-one percent of households polled in April owned two or more PCs, with 19% having three or more. Despite this obvious growth, the number of U.S. households without PCs of any kind has remained at about 20% for the past three years.

The multi-PC trend is pushing many family members to act as their own tech managers, even though they don’t have the skills. This has caused many PC repair companies and IT consulting firms to emerge with specialties in the home, personal computer market. The businesses geared towards families and PCs include Best Buy’s “Geek Squad,” CompUSA’s “Techknowledgists” and “Geeks on Call.” The growing home computer opportunities could end up being a very large business.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

IT Consultants More Stressed Out Than Other Professionals

According to many experts, IT consultants are more stressed-out and have greater health risks than other professionals. Specifically, many IT consultants are at risk for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) because they sit down all day.

Freelance computer programmer Chris Simmons stated that he collapsed from DVT after an eight-hour home shift. The key to staying healthy is to get up and move around often. Experts suggest that IT consultants and other professionals working long hours drink lots of water, stand up and stretch and clench calf muscles while sitting occasionally. DVT is marked by excruciating pain and is caused by restricted blood flow to the veins of the legs.

Other research has proven that IT consultants also suffer from more stress than other professionals. A survey conducted by the online learning company SkillSoft discovered that 97 percent of people in the IT industry think of their daily life as stressful. Four out of five IT consultants feel stress even before they get to work, just from thinking about anticipated problems and issues. One in four IT consultants has stated that he/she had to take time off due to extreme stress.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Computer Consulting 101: Even More Hiring Tools

If you are a business looking to hire a computer consulting firm, there are many preliminary questions to ask candidates to make sure the fit is good. The following questions, provided by Computer Consulting 101 are even more in-depth and will give you a good idea of the very specific practices of any firm you’d like to hire.

1. Does your company resell tech products, including hardware and software? Are you a profit center, or can we shop for products outside of your firm? Can we still use your analysis and procurement services even if we buy outside hardware and software?
2. Do you work closely with any ISPs or phone companies, and do you accept commissions or referral fees for directing computer consulting clients towards specific vendors?
3. Describe your payment terms. What are your hourly rates and billing minimums, and what is billable and not billable?
4. Is travel time, telephone support, e-mail/online support and remote support included in your fees?
5. Do you have stipulations for after-hours or emergency services? What do you consider after-hours and emergency?
6. Do you offer support contracts? Describe the costs and benefits, if yes.
7. Tell me about one of your long-term small business clients.
8. Tell me about one of your more recent clients, and also about a small business client that did not work out.
9. Do you have references?
10. How do you stay on top of new technologies?
11. What are the clients of your computer consulting firm billed for and what do you absorb initially? Are any of your terms not black and white?
12. Do you feel comfortable handling in-depth user training?
13. What kind of user and tech training do you offer?
14. Will you train our computer administrator to work more independently even if it takes away from job security of an opportunity for more billable hours?

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

IT Consulting: How Do I Get Paid?

Any major IT consulting project should require a deposit check. Never start a 40, 60 or 80 hour project unless you get something up-front.

DON’T LET PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE

There are many small business owners that will not have a problem treating you badly as their IT consulting support system. These people are not worth your time, and you need to protect yourself and your fragile IT consulting business from them by being very careful with initial calls and ask the questions up-front.

PAYMENT SCHEDULES

To protect your IT consulting business it is a good idea to set up fair payment schedules. Don’t accept a major IT consulting project without getting at least 25% before you do anything for the client. Any prospects that have a really hard time with accepting that or will not accept that are probably not really serious.

In the IT consulting business, you need to bill weekly and not just at your convenience. If invoices go out weekly, your clients know what to expect and when to expect it.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

Solution Providers Note Fall of Spyware Company

Solution providers were glad to find that a spyware distributor that had been flagged of its use of rootkits to make the software hard to delete has been shut down. The reason was said to be due to dissatisfaction with its distribution partners, but was not entirely specific.

The company, ContextPlus had long plagued solution providers by spreading spyware and adware, such as software that took over many searches and programs and had inundated systems with pop-up ads. The message that the company had shut down was posted on its website.

Finnish security vendor F-Secure stated that ContextPlus has been a parrt of many rootkit infections affecting Windows users. In December 2005, the vendor stated that the spyware had been the most predominantly found type since October of last year.

Unlike many other malware and spyware programs, ContextPlus was using rootkits to make it nearly impossible for anti-spyware software to stop installation of software on a PC and also to delete it once installed. Normally rootkits that solution providers find simply hide spyware and adware programs.

Rootkits have become a real issue for anti-spyware programs and will become an even larger one in the future according to experts. In April McAfee stated that rootkit use had gone up 600 percent in the past three years, and that by 2008 most spyware will be using rootkits to hide from security software and solution providers.

ContextPlus is one of hopefully many spyware purveyors that will soon come under the gun. Many court cases recently have started to uncover these companies and attempt to prosecute them for their frustrating and destructive tactics.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

Computer Business Symantec Offers Help for Confused Clients

Symantec Corp is making plans to deal with customer complaints about its confusing licensing plans. The computer business has created what they are calling a “database security appliance” set to ship later in 2006. This announcement was made at the computer business’ annual “Vision” conference.

CEO John Thompson confirmed rumors that Symantec has no short-term plans to create either authentication or ID management systems. While more details to confirmed improvements to licensing are going to be released soon, the company added it is also going to create a free license management tool. Later in the summer it will release a processor-based licensing program for the Storage Foundation and Veritas Cluster Server software.

Thompson stated that he knows despite improvements, there will still be complaints from clients.

The computer business is set to finish a merger with Veritas Software Corp.’s back-end financial systems in December. This will help improve the licensing management for customers, but Thompson is unwilling to make any lofty promises.

The annual Vision conference was supposed to address Veritas user issues, but like last year’s conference became a discussion of licensing schemes. Spokespeople from the computer business assured customers the new products had either already shipped or would be shipping very soon. Improvement of security in all Symantec’s programs and services is in the works as well.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

Preparing to Hire a Computer Consulting Firm

If as a professional you determine that your business could use the support of a good computer consulting firm, there are some basic questions to think about when interviewing and choosing prospects. The most important thing is to get the basics out of the way first, which probably includes consulting your lawyer about the legal issues surrounding hiring contractors as opposed to internal employees. But once you get past that phase, the following question guidelines, offered by Computer Consulting 101 will help you screen potential computer consulting companies in your area:

1. “Are you part-time or full-time?”
2. “Do you have a day job? Are you moonlighting?”
3. “Do you work alone, or are you a true computer consulting company?”
4. “Who does the ‘we’ refer to?”
5. “Are your other consultants employees or contractors? Tell me something about their background and the role they will play in this account.”
6. “Will I be getting a small business or large company computer consulting experience?”
7. “What size is your typical client? How many PCs and employees does it have and what is the annual revenue?”
8. “Are you a generalist or a specialist?”
9. “What industries or markets have you worked in, and in what specific software applications?”
10. “What kinds of products, services, platforms, etc. are you not comfortable working with, and are you closely tied to any specialty hardware, software or services companies?”


Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

IT Consultants Should Lead Customers to Small Business PC Hardware

Most IT consultants know that in the early and mid-1990s, many leading vendors started to divide their product lines into two or three different levels in order to handle different types of consumers.

Both the domestic and global market demand for desktop PCs notebooks and servers started soaring in this decade, and vendors including Compaq (now HP), Dell, Gateway, HP and IBM wanted their PC products to be relevant to many different needs and budgets.

OPTIONS

Large enterprise customers, including Fortune 1000 network managers were willing to pay high prices, but needed a lot of scalability, reliability and availability along with very stable and advanced hardware configurations.

On the flip side, home users needed incredibly low prices because many were first-time buyers uncertain of this type of investment. This type of user also needed hardware components for gaming, digital photography, video capture and other Internet hobbies they would do in the privacy of their own homes.

In yet another area, small business users needed something that was very much in the middle – not too basic, not too complex and in a mid-range price.

IT CONSULTANTS AND SPECS COMPARISON

Thankfully PC vendors have made the process of finding the right products easy for both IT consultants and their clients. When researching PCs online, PC vendors websites typically are divided into sections according to the three categories: enterprise customers; home users and small businesses. This can help IT consultants recommend a PC that has the appropriate features.

IT CONSULTANTS AND WHITE BOX COMPUTER SALES

Many small businesses buy white box or clone PCs from local resellers, integrators and IT consultants. IT consultants can visit major PC vendor websites from time-to-time to see how the firm’s recommended small business PC configurations and their prices match up with the packages offered by major PC companies.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

Computer Consulting Advice for Hiring

If you find your business in need of a computer consulting firm, you need to proceed with caution through the hiring process. Don’t simply hire the first salesperson or tech geek that shows up. Consider the following Computer Consulting 101 hiring advice that will help you screen and interview local competing computer consulting firms.

PREVENT PROBLEMS

Small business owners might find it difficult to figure out how to work with equally difficult computer consultants. But you can determine potential issues before the relationship even starts or at least at the very beginning to help avoid issues that can typically spell doom for your company.

WHERE DOES THE PROBLEM BEGIN?

Most small business managers know what to ask when hiring internally, but hiring a computer consulting firm is an entirely different animal. On top of the legal issues surrounding retaining contractors (the best bet is to talk to your attorney before proceeding), you will need to come armed with the questions that will get you the answers you need to know to hire the best computer consulting firm. These questions can act as a checklist for the interview process:

1. Is the computer consulting firm offering full-time or just part-time consulting services?
2. Do employees also have a day job or are they moonlighting?
3. Is the representative from the computer consulting firm the only practitioner or is it a true business?
4. What does the representative mean by the “we”? What other people work at the company?
5. Are the employees of the company contractors? Also ask their names, specialties and backgrounds, how long they’ve been with the company and if they will be involved with your business account.
6. Is the consulting company a small business or a large company and how will that affect the experience?
7. What is the size of the typical client’s company in terms of number of PCs, employees and the annual revenue?
8. Is the company a generalist or a specialist company?
9. What industries or other markets has the computer consulting firm worked with, and with what software applications?
10. What kinds of things does the computer consulting company not feel comfortable working with, and does the company work with any specific hardware, software or services companies?
These questions can provide a launching point for finding the right computer consulting firm.

Created By: Joshua Feinberg

The IT Consultant Keeps Spare Parts Handy

An IT consultant needs to be aware that PC vendors are typically very willing to cover inexpensive products like a mouse under standard warranties. But because as an IT consultant your client can probably buy a replacement part of that type for as little as $10, it’s probably not worth waiting for a few days to get a replacement part under the standard PC warranty agreement.

THE CONVENIENCE OF AVAILABLE SPARE PARTS

If your clients already have spare mice available, warranty claims can be delayed by a few days or a few weeks until there is time to deal with the issue. As their IT consultant, you will have helped your clients deal with potential downtime for a nominal advanced planning expense that will be far worth the time saved in the long run.

Going a step further, as an IT consultant you should encourage customers to keep extra keyboards and monitors around also. The cost of these pieces of equipment is very inexpensive as compared to the productivity loss that can result from waiting for parts to arrive. And all three of these items can typically be installed quickly in-house.

EXTRA DESKTOP PCs

The cost of entry-level desktop PCs is going down rapidly and most companies need to have virtually zero downtime to compete. Many small businesses have decided to invest in extra PCs in case of emergency to prevent any delays in business. A standard, fully-configured desktop PC only costs $600, so even an office with as few as six PCs can afford to have one on-hand. As an IT consultant you should encourage your clients to self-insure the warranty coverage for years two and three.

GIVING WISE ADVICE TO CLIENTS

As an IT consultant, you need to recommend smart investments to your clients. They should spend some of their technology budget on choice spare parts and a full desktop PC. By investing well, clients will be able to deal with warranty claims on an as-needed basis instead of in a panic. Outsourcing this project management work and planning to you as their IT consultant can make their lives easier and prevent exorbitant emergency costs.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Computer Business News: Microsoft Plans Transformation to Better Compete With Google

CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer recently supported spending plans for the top computer business that have resulted in declining stock prices in an internal memo. In the week-long period from April 27 – May 3, the stock price of Microsoft fell by 12 percent.

Ballmer stated that Microsoft has remained a computer business leader because it has taken risks and made bold plans. The memo intended to reassure employees was sent via e-mail, and excerpts from it were posted on several newspaper websites.

Ballmer went on to state that Microsoft needed to seize opportunities and continue to match competitors and customer demands forcefully. When Microsoft released its spending and investments for the third quarter, there was a discrepancy between actual and estimated for 2007 that totaled $2.4 billion. Microsoft stood behind its results, stating it was going to increase spending to help it compete with Google and other emerging and large computer business companies.

The memo released via email was more specific about the plan, stating increased investments in its Xbox game console, the new Windows Vista package and Office 2007 line along with increased online items.

Ballmer also said that Google specifically motivated a lot of Microsoft’s spending. He claimed that it was a goal of his to create the Web’s largest ad network and creating a search engine, “adCenter” that will help its services in the computer business and to compete directly with the large company. Expected to launch this summer, adCenter is Microsoft’s version of Google’s AdWords, the multi-billion dollar online ad platform.

The leaked memo hasn’t had much effect on Microsoft’s stocks, which have continued to fall since the announcement.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

IT Consulting Expert Vedior International Obtains CNC Global Ltd.

On May 2, major IT consulting firm Vedior North America announced that it obtained 93% of CNC Global Ltd., Canada’s top IT recruitment and resource management firm. CNC Global helps companies throughout Canada to fulfill their contract and full-time IT consultant staffing needs. The IT consulting firm also offers Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) solutions including help with contractors, payroll, vendors and contact center staffing among others. CNC Global has 2,400 IT consultants working on sites across Canada and has been steadily growing for the past few years.

This acquisition will help Vedior’s IT consulting and staffing presence, which is currently only achieved through its Sapphire Technologies brand. The combined efforts of Sapphire Technologies and CNC Global have made Vedior now one of the largest IT consulting and staffing services in North America. The company was before mostly prevalent in the United States.

CNC Global intends to continue to use its current management team and its existing name.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

Computer Consulting 101: Simple PC Help

It’s always a good idea for businesses to find a good computer consulting business to help them with on-going technical support. But sometimes the problem is simple enough that it doesn’t require an expensive call to a trained professional. Computer Consulting 101 gives the following piece of advice: REBOOT.

Many times people overlook this simple fix when in the midst of a panic, but it can save a lot of money in the long run. Just exit out of all files and programs, then go through the typical shutdown and restart sequence (your computer will typically even prompt you how to complete this process, so no need to worry!).

If your computer problem is due to a hardware problem, such as an issue with your network card, modem, mouse, keyboard or sound card, you can go just one step beyond rebooting:

1. Go to the start menu.
2. Shut down your PC.
3. Turn the power off for a minute or more, given your computer did not shut down on its own.
4. Power Up your PC and see if the problem is fixed.

The experts at Computer Consulting 101 have established that often as many as ten to twenty percent of problems are solved by a simple reboot, so it would benefit you to try this before making that expensive call to your support team. Save the budget for times when you really need technical help.

Created By: Joshua Feinberg

Computer Service Business: Resources for Recruiting Personnel

You will need to recruit computer service business personnel not only at the start of a business but continuously after that. There are many resources available to those in the computer service business looking to hire employees, and a computer service business manager able to think creatively will attract better candidates. Advertising, referrals, promotions and the Internet are excellent sources for computer service business managers looking for new personnel.

ADS

Advertising, while the first thought for most computer business managers is by no means the only hiring tool. Classified ads can attract a lot of resumes, but will not weed out unqualified candidates. Ads can also be very expensive, so those in the computer service business taking out ad space should focus on writing adds that target those with as many of the desirable qualities as possible. Those looking to use advertising should think about using agencies or the marketing department to write the most efficient ads.

PROMOTING FROM WITHIN

Computer service business managers might be able to use a current employee to fill an opening. Promotions can help build morale within a company, but the individuals promoted must have the right qualifications. When looking for candidates, you may want to look outside the computer service business as well.

HIRING WITH REFERRALS

Many times you can find the best candidate within your circle of friends and acquaintances. As a computer service business manager you can also ask current employees to recommend someone within their network. Be careful with this process, and make sure to screen potential employees the same way you would when using any other computer service business hiring tools.

THE INTERNET

As a computer service business manager you should scan the Internet and visit competing websites on a regular basis for candidates. Many business recruiters save significant money by using Internet referral services.

In the computer service business recruiting can be very labor-intensive and costly. Make sure to use resources beyond advertising to ensure you get the best qualified person.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

IT Consulting Resources: New Website Building Tool Offered

P3 Sales Consultants, a provider of IT consulting and leadership consulting to small businesses is working with Droste Consultants, Inc. to help small businesses build and support unique websites. This new effort contained at 1daysite.com provides guaranteed one-day website building and support that will help both individuals and small businesses looking to quickly and efficiently create their own websites. Those using the service are taken through a clear process by the experienced IT consulting professionals at the two companies in a non-threatening, non-technical workshop arena.

This idea was developed when Carl Chiasson, a partner with P3 Sales Consultants was working in the Boston area and figured out that many of his customers were not using the Internet for sales initiatives. While he was working on a project with Tom Droste, President of the Northeast IT consulting firm Droste Consultants, both realized they both wanted to help their clients grow their businesses through the Web using a more complete solution that was affordably priced.

The two companies soon began to provide website-building services for clients starting at only $995. So far their clients have been amazed at the results, and many have touted the simplicity of the system provided at 1daysite.com. The two consulting firms are set to provide additional classes on this program in the Boston area in mid-May.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting 101

Computer Business Microsoft Replaces Fake Software

On Wednesday computer business Microsoft announced it would offer free copies of its Office suite software to those that downloaded counterfeit versions as long as the users can prove they intended to buy the real version of the software. This announcement comes after the computer business began an Office anti-piracy pilot program called Office Genuine Advantage (OGA). The program is directed towards users running versions of the Office software in Brazilian Portuguese, Czech, Greek, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

The OGA program will initially be optional for users, but Microsoft states they will be allowed to later make it a requirement as they have done with the Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) drive.

The Office counterfeit counter uses ActiveX control, a system that checks the program for the known methods of falsifying the software. These methods, according to the computer business include stolen volume licensing keys, which is a common way that many will pirate the Office software.

Even though the OGA website does not provide details about the way Microsoft will penalize users that are caught with pirated versions of office, a company spokesperson stated last week that the information is clearly presented to users once the ActiveX control notices the copy of the software being used is fake. The spokesperson added that there is a specific process for obtaining a complimentary replacement of the software that requires the OGA user to submit a proof of purchase, the CD with the counterfeit Office programs and a report, which details the circumstances of the purchase. The free Windows program is similarly only offered to those that did not knowingly download the counterfeit copies.

Computer business Microsoft has already put notices on many of its Office downloads, including a new add-on toolbar that allows users to put international characters from 26 languages into Office 2003’s software.

Added By: Computer Consulting Kit

Marketing Tools for Your New Consulting Business

The biggest marketing mistake a new consultant can make is not focusing on a specific niche. Often those just starting out in the consulting business are more concerned with getting the word out about their skills and services to a specific region instead of to specific industry niches. Too many conduct direct mailing campaigns to cold contacts not realizing that this truly offers a miniscule guarantee of success.

PICK YOUR NICHE

As an IT consultant, you don’t necessarily have to focus on associations within the high-tech industry. Experts say that if you pick a niche that is struggling with IT issues, you can help create a place for your business in a very positive way.

Other IT consultants are finding their niches at small businesses with more than five but less than 50 users. They are big enough to have problems, but still small enough to not have their own IT staff.

Regardless of the niche you choose, it should fall within a comfortable place for your specific skill set. You should specialize in what you are good at instead of trying to do everything in the world of IT consulting.

WHERE TO FIND CLIENTS

Once you’ve targeted your niche and specialty, you can start your marketing campaign. Many experts suggest starting with referral marketing. Let your colleagues know about your business and rely on them to give recommendations to those they know looking for IT consulting people like yourself.

Networking through family and friends is also a viable option. Many times you will find friends of family members or even the family members themselves looking for IT consulting solutions for their businesses.

CLIENT WORK

The marketing stage of the consulting business is a great opportunity to develop the materials you will need to hold the attention of the clients you attract. You will need far more than a business card to give to your prospect. Some suggestions for materials might include a one-page informational sheet about your company or a client questionnaire that will help guide you and your client through the initial meeting.

The important thing to remember is that the first few clients might not be paying clients. But even these will help cultivate long-term relationships and get the word out about your computer consulting business.

Added By: Joshua Feinberg

Complimenting Notebook PC Warranties

If your intention is to encourage clients to buy extended service plans for their new notebook PCs, you need to get a written statement that explains what is covered. PC vendors are not always specific about what is covered by warranties, and sometimes you will only be able to guess what might be missing by looking at the written warranties from different PC sellers.

HAZARDS

Most notebook PC vendors make it a point to not cover claims that arise from obvious neglect, such as spilling liquid on a notebook or dropping it. Other notebook PC sellers might cover these hazards under limited warranties that cost significantly more than the standard.

You should think about whether your clients and their end users will be traveling often with their notebook PCs. Unlike non-portable desktops, notebooks will often be toted around, many times throughout the world.

INTERNATIONAL WARRANTIES

Some notebook PC sellers have international warranty coverage built into the base price of the extended warranty. In many cases, however, this coverage is an extra charge. Even if your clients’ end users do not travel internationally, you will want to ask about this type of international coverage and the specifics.

Regardless of the type of PC, whether desktop or notebook, you will need to determine whether the extended warranty of the PC is on-site or the technicians come to clients. In some cases, clients will have to ship the notebooks back to a service location for all warranty work. You will also need to ask about the length of response time for fixing computer issues.

You need to be sure you have looked through a price list of warranty upgrades for your notebook PC as well as what is covered under various plans.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit

IT Specialist: Keeping Your Options Open

As an IT specialist, your main marketing concern should be finding an area of focus that gives you a good and high quality pool of prospects. If you have identified your best clients as small accounting offices, for example, you can do a quick search online to find out how many small accounting offices are located within a one hour radius of your location. You can also contact a trade group from the industry of focus or talk with a mailing list broker to get the same information.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A NICHE

Marketing to a small segment of the market, or a niche is easier than trying to appeal to the masses. You will be able to easily identify specific trade publications in which to advertise and will not waste time and money with generic ads in newspapers, on the radio or in the phone book.

Once you have expertise as an IT specialist, you will be worth more to potential clients than your competition. Your marketing message will feel specific to your prospects, and every written item you put out will have a consistent mission.

DON’T ADDRESS THE MASSES

Your message should not ring true with everyone. If it is too universal, you will get into price wars with other IT specialists and consultants. You want to be more than a commodity.

A VISIBLE NAME

Find out if there is a local newsletter or magazine that all prospects read and try to get an ad in it, write an article or become a part of an organization by volunteering or speaking at events. Make sure you mention how your company provides specialized services to that particular group.

You can get into the IT specialist business in many different ways, but the most important aspect of infiltration is to find what you enjoy doing and use targeted marketing strategies to make yourself known and set you apart from the others.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101

PC Programs: Recycling Your Computers

Previously clients would not have had a problem getting people to take their old PCs. Many might use the PC systems for four or five years, then give the PCs to employees or sell them to employees for a reduced price. Other times clients would donate the machines to local schools, charities or other non-profit organizations.

PC RECYCLING PROGRAMS HAVE CHANGED

Several years ago, PC recycling options changed. In the U.S., approximately sixty percent of households own at least one computer. Schools and charities have received so many PC’s as donations that they have been forced to be much more selective about the equipment they accept.

Many places have laws against dumpster PC disposals, as the material is considered recyclable.

PC RECYCLING PROGRAMS

There are several PC recycling programs that can help guide clients to environmentally sound options. The following resources are starting points for those looking to recycle their PCs:

Dell Asset Recovery Services
EIA Environment: Consumer Education Initiative (CEI)
HP Environment: Return and Recycling
IBM PC Recycling Service
International Association of Electronics Recyclers

OTHER PC RECYCLING RESOURCES

If any of the above resources are no longer working, you can find PC recycling information by starting at the home page of the website. Simply look for links involving asset management, disposal or recycling. The search function or site map can also help.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

Gateway Offers IT Consulting Services to Small Businesses

Most fortune 500 companies and other large corporations are getting their IT consulting services from top companies like Dell, HP and IBM. Unfortunately, while these services are affordable for larger businesses, they are not necessarily a possibility for small- and medium-sized businesses looking for IT management services. Most of the time, small and medium sized businesses have to depend on smaller VARs and other IT consulting firms that could offer custom-made services to their businesses.

Gateway offers IT management and IT consulting services including enterprise level networking, virtualization, consolidation and infrastructure planning and deployment to help small businesses. According to spokespeople, packages will start at $4,000. Packages will include audits and advice on solutions. Gateway will also be offering disaster prevention and recovery services along with offline and online backup solutions, migration services and storage options. This marks the first initiative by a larger company to provide IT consulting services geared specifically towards small- to medium-sized businesses.

Blogged By: Joshua Feinberg

Solution Providers: Iridium Reveals New Emergency Kit

One of several major solution providers Iridium Satellite announced yesterday that it would be making an emergency communications package that would be available to first responders and public safety agencies. This announcement comes just before the start of the hurricane season on June 1.

The Iridium package is made up of an Iridium 9505A satellite phone, solar-powered chargers and data and voice transmitters. Other options are available, including interoperability features and antennae. People are excited about Iridium’s new offering based on Iridium solution providers response during Hurricane Katrina, when landline and wireless telecommunications services were completely wiped out.

The Iridium emergency kit might be thought of as a satellite phone, but unlike other systems of its kind, it works in conjunction with all other emergency communications systems, such as UHF and VHF radios. First responders that have used Iridium in the past have said that the solution providers offered them the only line of communications that worked during the disaster and immediately afterwards.

Added By: Computer Consulting 101 Professional Kit

Computer Consulting Tips: Enhancing Your Network

Computer networks area constantly struggling with being too useful, and users are continuing to find new uses for their networks each day. When you are constantly pushing your computer to the limit with requests for information and files or applications, your network can get bogged down. If your network is overly slow, this article can provide you with ten computer consulting tips offered by Joshua Feinberg of Computer Consulting 101 to keep it running quickly and smoothly.

1. NEW EQUIPMENT
Many small and even some larger companies purchased new routers, hubs and switches before Y2K but haven’t upgraded them since then. Buying new equipment to help boost your network doesn’t have to be expensive, but it can totally change your productivity.

2. BANDWIDTH AVAILABILITY AND PRICING
A bandwidth provider might not have increased bandwidth or cut prices even though it should be available, which means lower prices. Upgrading to a higher speed can be more affordable than ever before.

3. INVEST IN STORAGE
Storage items are at bargain prices these days, and with so many computer consulting options for management there is no reason not to increase your storage capabilities.

4. HARDENING YOUR NETWORK
Viruses and malware, including spyware, Trojans and worms have become increasingly problematic in recent years, and having updated security measures is a must. If these items are left unblocked, they can slow or even destroy a network.

5. AUTOMATED RESOURCE MONITORING
You can use this to help find network bottlenecks and speed up the network.

6. USERS AND MANAGERS
You need to keep up the communication with your managers and network users to gauge experiences with using the system so you can determine which measures you need to take to make it work more efficiently. Each will have a different experience.

7. NEW APPLICATIONS
Some information might be entered multiple times, but adding inexpensive software or middleware can often reduce data entry frequency. There are different companies providing network optimization applications and file services, including Tacit Networks in South Plainfield, NJ that recommend the last two computer consulting tips for speeding up networks.

8. E-MAIL CONSOLIDATION AND ACCELERATION
E-mail is one of the biggest robbers of network speed, particularly that which has attachments. Add to that irresponsible or disorganized forwarding of multiple messages that are never opened and things can really get slow. E-mail consolidation and acceleration technologies can help download e-mails but leave the attachments alone if they are left unopened.

9. WIDE AREA FILE SERVICES
These services can create much more efficient WAN communication because they enhance compression abilities and improve communication between users and senders.

10. DATA REDUCTION AND PATTERN MATCHING
This tip can help reduce the workload of appliances sitting at different parts of the WAN by letting them only exchange file changes instead of an entire file. Any unchanged information is simply stored, which leads to less data transmission and better network performance.

IT Consultants: Recommending Video Monitors and PCs

Most PC vendors will give good prices to consumers that buy monitors at the same time as desktop PCs. IT consultants that normally recommend brand name PC products should keep certain things in mind when talking to their clients.

ACTUAL COST FOR YOUR CLIENTS

As IT consultants, you should price every PC both with and without the monitor to gauge what clients are actually paying. After pricing using both systems, you can figure out whether or not the monitor price is actually similar to the price it would be if you purchased a monitor separately.

Soft cost considerations are the most important to think about as IT consultants recommending PCs and monitors. When buying the monitor as part of a package with the desktop PC, the monitor warranty is typically included in on-site warranty coverage. This means if your client’s monitor needs to be replaced during the warranty period, the PC vendor can ship a replacement at no cost.

WARRANTY BENEFITS

Warranties can offer very useful benefits, including the following pluses:

1. Clients of IT consultants don’t need to store and keep packing materials for both monitors and PCs because they don’t need to remember the details for the monitor purchased. They also don’t need to buy return shipping supplies because they can return the broken monitor in the same box when the replacement arrives.
2. Clients don’t have to find a local shipping outlet because PC vendors typically will include return shipping labels for their preferred freight carrier in the replacement package.
3. Customers of IT consultants can save money on freight costs. When the PC vendor sends return shipping labels it saves the cost of sending the package back, which can easily save at least $25.

Buying a monitor with a PC and getting both purchases as a package with an on-site warranty, besides saving money can save a half hour or an hour each time a monitor needs to be replaced.

Blogged By: Computer Consulting Kit