PICS ITech

by S. E. Slack - used with permission from Microsoft At Work

I use Microsoft Internet Explorer all day long, every day. I’ve arranged all the settings just how I like them, and once I’ve done that I don't like to change. I'm the kind of girl who just wants technology to work when I need it; I'm not into installing all the latest gadgets and upgrades so I can one-up my friends. So whenever I hear there is a new version of Internet Explorer, my first reaction is, "I don't need that."

Then I hear about some cool new feature in the newest version and curiosity gets the better of me. I give the new version a try and I’m always impressed by how things just keep getting better. Each version of Internet Explorer seems to be faster, safer, and easier to use than the last. And it’s free. You can always download and install the latest version of Internet Explorer for free from the Microsoft Download Center.

Here are some recently added features that'll make your browsing experience more productive.

by Jeff Wuorio
reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center

It's the nightmare that every businessperson experiences: a shouting match with a customer or client.

Flush with frustration over something gone wrong, the client or customer flies into an uncontrollable rage. Complaints crescendo into shouts, accusations fly and, sad to say, an occasional profanity slices what little silence remains.

Although every small-business person needs a bucket of water to douse these sorts of fires, it's hard to know where to reach amid the flames. Here are seven at-the-ready responses that may help tame even the most unpleasant situation:

1. "Let's go over what's happened."
This simple phrase covers several powerful areas. For one thing, by asking your client to recount the wrong, you're forcing him to think, not just vent. That unto itself can smooth things considerably. On top of that, you're letting the other person know that you're genuinely interested in his or her version of what happened. Lastly, it deals you some time to listen and, hopefully, devise a solution to the problem at hand.

used with permission from Cisco

Wireless Networking: Getting Started
Wireless networking is an essential productivity tool for today's mobile workforce. With wireless networking, you and your employees can stay connected to your company's information resources virtually anytime, anywhere.

Ready to get started with wireless networking? Begin by familiarizing yourself with the basics and benefits of having a wireless network.

used with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center

Do you remember wondering as a kid how a magician could put one scarf in a hat and then pull out ten? And wishing you could do the same, maybe with a candy bar instead of a scarf? Well, magic might seem in short supply these days, but thanks to virtualization, your childhood wish just might be possible.

Okay, full disclosure: Virtualization won't work on candy bars. But it can turn one server into many, and since servers cost a heck of a lot more than Snickers, that's a pretty neat trick.

Consider those servers sitting in the backroom. Without virtualization, each of these physical boxes is functioning as a dedicated server, meaning it is dedicated to running a particular set of applications and "client devices" (that's IT-speak for PCs and peripherals, like printers, fax machines, and scanners). With virtualization software, one physical server can become multiple "virtual" servers, each capable of independently handling its own set of applications, devices, and users.

You may be wondering, how is this possible? More likely, however, you are asking yourself, what's in it for me? Here's what: Virtualization can help save a small business a pile of money!