Technology In Check

I received a call from a client who wanted help getting a new computer set up and running on their network. They had purchased the computer at a stationary supply chain a few days earlier for a new hire, and now they needed it that person to be able to access the central network.

Nope, not going to happen. The computer’s operating system doesn’t support business networks.

Here’s why IT has more of an impact on your daily operations than you might think, and how a good IT department can save you some real dollars. Continue Reading »

Many people are throwing around the ‘R’ word lately, at least in relation to the US (Canada in general, and BC specifically seem to be doing pretty well lately). Yes, I mean recession. Whether or not there is a recession is something for accountants and other financial types to decide, not me. I’m just a geek.

However I would like to talk about how you, as a business manager, can get the most bang for your IT buck during tougher financial times. Whether you’re directly affected by economic developments, or if you’re simply caught in the crossfire, here’s a few ideas on handling the tech side of things. Continue Reading »

As promised, I want to talk about commodity computing this week. What it is, how it affects you, and how it relates to utility computing.

So let’s get straight to it, shall we? Continue Reading »

This week I want to take a look at one of the buzz-phrases that’s sometimes bandied about by computer types - utility computing. It’s an idea that’s generated a lot of interest in the past year or so, and I can understand why. The Wikipedia has an item on utility computing, but it’s a bit heavy on tech-speak.

So what is utility computing, and can your company use it? Or do you even need it? Continue Reading »

In this last of a series of articles on XP vs. Vista, we’re going to discuss the idea of new software features and who they’re really aimed at.

While much maligned, Vista does have some features that can be a benefit to many people and organizations. But knowing who’s being targeted by those features will help you decide if it’s really worth buying into the marketing hyperbole.

Continue Reading »