Gaskin Guides: The Podcast

Seeing eye to eye

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 12:24:49 -0500

Can we blame YouTube for convincing young people computers are visual devices? Text seems so boring onscreen now. Remember the promises of desktop videoconferencing eliminating air travel? We're not there yet, but services are improving. (5:30)

Desktop protection for pennies per day

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:16:24 -0500

When your ISP sends you software, it has to get it from someone. When you also get support, including software that keeps your computer safe, your ISP (including cable and telephone companies) may rely on SecurityCoverage. (5:00)

Pockets full of technology

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:14:16 -0500

Their signs stay in one place, but Realtors don't. Although selling a low tech item, houses, many Realtors fill their pockets (and briefcases and car trunks) with technology to improve their sales. (5:05)

Vista and small businesses

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 12:13:06 -0500

The Microsoft Vista Hype Machine now runs at high gear for Vista's release on Nov. 30 for businesses with license agreements and Jan. 30 for consumers. Should you succumb and try to upgrade to Vista now? I say no. (5:30)

Point of Sale

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:08:21 -0500

Millions of small businesses still use a cash register, since you can buy a small cash register from some company like Casio. Its PCR-262 sells for $119 including cash drawer, printer, and two tax table programs, so many business owners start there. But when you need to quickly handle credit cards, scan bar codes, and track more sales, you need to upgrade. (5:18)

Centralized printing

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:43:37 -0500

The Paperless Office dream remains a nightmare, as cheap printers abound and may soon show up as toys in cereal boxes. How can you manage a different printer model for every user? UniPrint offers an interesting solution for those using Citrix and Microsoft Windows. (5:02)

HP Gears up for Vista and TotalCare

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:27:53 -0500

Continuing with reports of my trip to Houston to see HP's Small and Medium Business teams, let's talk today about computers: new ones that are ready (almost) for Vista, and how much you're willing to pay per user to keep them safe and secure. (5:18)

Exchange outsource options abound

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:41:16 -0500

Several recent surveys indicate surprise that the majority of business people would give up their telephone before they gave up e-mail, but that fits what I see. If the surveys showed people would give up their cell phones before e-mail, that would surprise me, but that's another story. (5:11)

HP's small business matchmaking

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 16:38:01 -0500

HP has taken a PR beating lately, but don't let the idiots in the boardroom distract you from the successes of the real HP workers. If you're a small business interested in working with government agencies or large businesses, HP may be your best friend. The company�s "business matchmaking" meetings have arranged over 40,000 "speed dates" where small businesses talk one on one with procurement officials for large enterprises, both public sector and private. (4:57)

MicroNet PlatinumNAS

Thu, 12 Oct 2006 16:47:02 -0500

I'm increasingly impressed by the advances in storage appliances offered to small businesses. This week I've been testing the 1.0TB PlatinumNAS from MicroNet and the feature bar gets ever higher. This box would have done well in my network-attached storage review last October. (5:59)