Check out our collection of stories aimed at helping IT executives weather the storm of online shopping, office decorating and productivity nosedives.
With the holiday season is full swing, IT pros from all industries are feeling the heat. End users are swapping video greetings that can tax networks, while decorations hung throughout offices can disrupt Wi-Fi nets. For an escape from it all, check out our story about how IT experts can donate their skills to organizations in need. We’ve also got stories about how organizations like the U.S. Postal Service and Shop.com are dealing with the holiday deluge, among our many holiday-themed content. Seasons greetings!
The do’s and don’ts of volunteering
New Year’s resolutions are just around the corner. For IT professionals interested in giving back, there are plenty of groups that would welcome your skills.
`Tis the season for the U.S. Postal Service network to deliver
The U.S. Postal Service overhauled its data and voice networks in 2006, just in time to ship an estimated 20 billion packages and letters this holiday season.
Christmas is a busy time for avoiding work
Ready to slack off? Employee productivity takes a nosedive for an entire month surrounding Christmas, according to a new survey.
Shop.com looks to keep Web site humming
With the holiday shopping season in full swing, Shop.com wants its Web site running as smoothly and quickly as possible. An hour of slow service could cost the Monterey, Calif., company hundreds of thousands of dollars, company officials say.
Videoconferencing for the holidays
Network World’s Dr. Internet dispenses some advice for a reader who’s trying to find some good, easy-to-use PC videoconferencing software for the holidays.
2006 Holiday Gift Guide
Our guide to all the cool stuff — the things you’d just love to get, or give — for the holidays this year.
Holiday Wi-Fi warning as obvious as Santa’s beard
For the love of St. Nicholas, do not let anyone hang holiday decorations willy-nilly about the workplace lest you render the office Wi-Fi net as discombobulated as Santa’s sleigh without Rudolph.
Holiday online shopping risks can be reduced
Santa Claus may take online orders this year, but the Grinches will also be on the Internet. In 2005, Internet-related fraud cost an estimated $340 million, according to the FTC, which this year issued guidelines for Web shoppers.
Online holiday shopping: Who’s doing it and where the deals are
Scores of online shoppers are expected to take advantage of merchants’ Web specials throughout the season. MasterCard reports that nearly three out of four people plan to shop online during the holidays, and 26% of them will shop online more this year than they did last year.
Five Cool Tools lessons learned
Network World’s Keith Shaw shares some trends for the 2006 holiday season he spotted after reviewing more than 100 products for this year’s Holiday Gift Guide.
