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Technology has changed how we do business. But does increasing use of tools like cloud computing make it easier for businesses to grow and compete on the global stage?
In a recent study (PDF link) by Oxford Economics, sponsored by SAP, 2,100 small businesses over 21 countries were surveyed to see how they use technology to improve operations and compete globally.
It reveals small companies use cloud computing, business management software, data analytics, mobile, and social media to drive change within their businesses. 59% of respondents said technology enables them to compete in more locations than in the past.
And with nearly 60% of companies saying they've noticed an increase in foreign competition over the last two years, being able to compete globally is becoming a necessity.
But technology doesn't just make it easier to compete with other businesses. It also opens the gateway to networking and collaboration. Of the businesses questioned, 40% have used online platforms to form strategic partnerships outside their home markets.
Some of those partnerships are initiated via social media. Indeed, 35% of companies questioned are utilising social media to source, market and connect directly with their target audiences. Interactive content and social sharing are cheap, effective forms of marketing.
Technology is constantly evolving, but companies that are not informed about new tech are reluctant to implement services that could ultimately benefit them. In the research, 32% suggested that they struggle to understand how technology can improve their business.
As technology advances, you must regard its implementation and management as an ongoing process. If you want to grow your business, you must be prepared to use the tools that will enable you to compete in a global economy.
Sara Parker blogs for Face for Business, a fast-growing company that provides call answering services for SMEs across the UK.
If your computers look like this, it's time to upgrade. (Image: Flickr user Marcin Wichary.)
Good grief! According to a study from MSM Software, nearly half of businesses haven't invested a penny in IT for two years. A third of organisations are waiting for the economy to pick up before they implement any new IT.
While seeking to control costs makes total sense for many businesses in the current climate (particularly given recent growth figures), not investing anything in IT might be a false economy.
There are two major problems when it comes to burying your head in the sand when it comes to IT investment.
First, there's the issue of reliability. It's kind of like expecting your car to work flawlessly even though you've not had it serviced for two years.
And secondly, there's value for money. If you've not evaluated your IT support contract or shopped around for web hosting in the last couple of years, you could well be paying more than you need to.
If you've not given any thought to your business IT for some time, it can be hard to know where to begin.
Your first port of call should be any regular IT supplier you work with. Be honest with them: explain your situation, talk about any budgetary constraints, and listen to what they have to say.
We recently published a list of things to review every year. These are areas where you might be able to enjoy new features and save some cash.
When it comes to buying new IT equipment, don't be afraid to shop around. The difference in prices between suppliers can be huge - and in the current climate, you don't want to pay more than you have to.
Here are some tips to help you:
Have you bagged a bargain recently? Share it with us in the comments.
Does your IT have a strong heartbeat? (Image: Flickr user Lars P.)
The start of the year is a perfect time to review some crucial aspects of your company's IT systems and services. You can make sure everything's running smoothly and be confident you're all set for the year ahead.
You might even save your company some cash too.
Broadband connections have changed a lot in the last 12 months. Faster fibre optic services are sweeping the country, and if you've not evaluated internet providers for a year or two then there's a good chance you could get a significantly faster connection at a competitive price.
If you're out of contract but are happy with your current service, give your provider a call anyway. You may be able to negotiate a discount if you sign up for a fixed term.
Think about how your web hosting has performed over the last year. Have you suffered any outages? Are you happy with the level of support you've received?
Check how close you're coming to your hosting provider's storage and download limits. It's usually easier to upgrade your package in advance, rather than waiting till you hit capacity.
Hopefully you have a great working relationship with an IT support firm you trust implicitly. But even so, it's a good idea to review your contract with them.
Is the level of cover still suitable for your company's needs? Have you invested in any new equipment or services that aren't covered? (In particular, think about any cloud computing services you might have started using recently.)
Now is a great time to make sure you have an accurate record of all the IT hardware and software in your business. Use a service like Spiceworks (available free) to generate an inventory automatically.
You may uncover underused hardware, or identify gaps in your provision that could be filled by a 'bring your own device' scheme.
Does your company still have a bunch of physical landlines running into its premises, and an old-fashioned switchboard on site? If so, switching to a system which routes your calls over the internet could save you a bundle. Learn more about internet telephony >>
In any case, you may want to consider whether unified communications can help you deliver better service and stay in touch more effectively.
If money is tight but you're looking for ways to improve the performance of IT equipment in your business, try these five thrifty tips:
As the battery in your mobile phone gets older, it becomes less efficient, so you have to charge it up more frequently.
If you use an Android smart phone (like the Samsung Galaxy S3 or Sony Xperia T), these two apps will help you use your battery efficiently:
Most laser printers have an 'economy' or 'toner saving' mode. You can usually find this in the settings - in our case it was accessible via the printer's web-based control panel.
This mode reduces the amount of toner the printer uses. Usually, print quality is still acceptable, and your toner will last quite a bit longer than usual.
Setting your computer screens to switch off after ten minutes of activity, and putting computers to sleep if they've not been used for an hour is a good way to reduce your power bills.
You can change these on an individual computer by going to power options in your control panel.
Alternatively, use the Group Policy feature in Windows to apply power saving settings to all the computers in your business. This requires a little technical knowledge though.
Read more power management advice >>
I really rate Spiceworks, a completely free tool that scans your network and shows you exactly what's installed on each computer.
It's a painless way to build an IT inventory, get network alerts and super-helpful if you're in charge of providing IT support in your company.
If your computers take some time to boot up in the morning, save yourself a wait by scheduling your computer to switch on a few minutes before you get to the office.
You may have to delve into your computer's BIOS settings to do this (it's a bit techy but nothing to be afraid of). There are some good instructions over on Lifehacker.
(Piggy bank image: Flickr user Images_of_Money.)
You'll soon need these for every presentation. (Image: Matt Neale on Flickr.)
At the start of the year, it's traditional for IT pundits to give their predictions for the twelve months ahead. This week, we'll be publishing some of them here.
Here are three to get us started. You can also see what we came up with this time last year.
"2013 is likely to see a marked increase in the volume of and damage caused by cross-platform cyberattacks. These would be malware campaigns able to infect both PCs and Macs, and possibly even mobile devices."
"With vulnerable technologies such as Java and Flash being used across platforms, we've already seen malware capable of attacking multiple platforms and this trend seems certain to grow."
Harry Sverdlove, chief technology office at Bit9
Our verdict: sadly, this one seems pretty likely. As the number of Macs and mobile devices in the workplace increases, so will the efforts hackers put into targeting them. Probably as good a reason as any to stop searching for pictures of Emma Watson.
"We're all pretty accustomed to seeing films in 3D now, but this technology is yet to make its mark in the workplace. With 3D projectors now available for business, video content in business presentations could really get a lift in 2013."
"Last year, a study found that people are 29 per cent more attentive when watching a 3D film than a 2D version so it will be interesting to see how much more engaging business presentations and training can become with 3D capabilities."
Neil Colquhoun, business sales director at Epson UK
Our verdict: no chance. If 3D couldn't distract from the plot holes in Prometheus (warning: spoilers) then how on earth is it going to liven up your average business presentation? Besides, can you imagine doling out 3D glasses before your next sales pitch? Reminds us of how not to use PowerPoint.
"'Bring your own device' (BYOD) was arguably the biggest buzz phrase of 2012. It's now an unstoppable, user-driven wave which will continue to make a major impact on the IT world in 2013 and beyond."
"Smartphones, tablets and laptops all come under this category, as well as desktop PCs used remotely from home."
Ian Kilpatrick, chairman of Wick Hill Group
Our verdict: BYOD is happening everywhere already, driven by employees who are using their own devices no matter what their bosses want. It's a safe bet this will continue, though if a high-profile case of data loss hit the news then that might cause some companies to think twice. Better get to grips with BYOD then.
We'll have more business IT predictions for you later this week. But in the mean time, what are you expecting from 2013?
How has 2012 been for your business? Have you embraced the cloud and seen your business prospects soar as a result? Or are you still debating whether your company can really benefit from tablet computers?
It's been quite a year for our family of Donut websites. Marketing Donut, Start up Donut, IT Donut, Law Donut and Tax Donut have continued to grow in popularity, and we have exciting plans for 2013.
But looking back over the last 12 months, it's clear we've seen some big changes in the world of business IT. And those changes will probably continue into 2013.
Mobile is big, and it's getting bigger. As the number of people using their smart phones and tablets to access the internet grows, companies that sell online must make sure their websites work properly on mobile devices.
The shift to mobile is happening inside organisations too. Increasingly, mobile workers are being equpped with tablets and smart phones, using cloud computing and apps to access company information and work on the move.
There's no sign this trend will reverse - or even slow down - in 2013. If anything, expect the emergence of 4G connections and faster broadband to drive an even greater shift towards mobile working.
But before then, we're taking a few days off to relax, recharge and enjoy the Christmas break. Now is a great time to reflect on the events of the last year and think about what you want to achieve in 2013.
If you're planning to do a little work over the Christmas period, it's a good time to do some routine maintenance and get your IT in first class condition for next year. And if you're heading off this afternoon, don't forget to shut everything down and share contact details in case anything goes wrong with your website over the Christmas break.
Merry Christmas! We'll be back posting regularly in January.
Christmas lights image: George Deputee on Flickr.
We've reached that point in December where people's minds are turning away from work. The secret Santa gifts have been opened, and staff are heading off for the great Christmas getaway.
But before you shut everything down and close the office for Christmas, here are a few things to remember:
If your premises are going to be closed over Christmas, shut down and turn off all equipment that you can. There's no point in consuming energy unnecessarily, and switching things off lessens the chance of a fault occuring while nobody's there to fix it.
Christmas is a prime time for thieves, so make sure you secure your premises properly. If a skeleton staff will be sticking around, make sure they know what should be locked up and how to operate the alarm.
Make sure anyone who is working in your business over Christmas knows who to contact if they have a problem. Remember to check when your IT support firm is open for business, too.
If you sell online, remember that Boxing Day is one of the biggest online shopping days of the year. If your site goes down, you could lose significant business, so make sure you're monitoring for problems and know who to contact to get them fixed.
If your network passwords expire after a set period of time, advise your staff to change them now. That way you shouldn't have to deal with any password issues on the first day back.
Sticking around? Take advantage of quiet timeThe holiday season is an excellent time to take care of IT maintenance tasks that would otherwise interrupt people's work. For instance, over Christmas you could run a deep scan for viruses and malware, install software updates and restart all your servers. |
Hardware as a service - just pay for what you use? (Image: William Clifford on Flickr)
The term software as a service (SaaS) is often used to describe cloud computing, where you pay a monthly charge to use software instead of making a one-off purchase. Businesses commonly use software as a service for things like business accounting and customer relationship management.
Now news has reached us that IT support firm Inbay has decided to offer hardware as a service (HaaS). The company claims it will free businesses from the burden of capital investment in IT by wrapping hardware, software, labour and support into a monthly fee-based package.
In short, you can pay by the month for virtually all your business IT. This model could be particularly attractive to companies which need new IT equipment but can't afford to invest a lump sum. It also shifts more of your IT costs into your operating expenses, which - for most businesses - are wholly tax deductable.
One monthly payment, all your IT sorted. Sounds good, right?
Well, there are some possible drawbacks, the most significant of which is the potential for loss of control. With a single IT supplier to deal with, you always know exactly who to call when you need help or something goes wrong. But you also have to place complete faith in them.
What's more, hardware as a service raises the prospect that your business could own virtually none of its IT. Effectively, you rent your computers, servers and other equipment. Perfectly fine, as long as you keep up the payments. But what happens if your IT supplier runs into difficulties of its own?
Hardware as a service is certainly worthy of consideration if your business is considering an investment in new IT. But as with any other big purchasing decision, take your time evaluating different options and find a supplier you're comfortable working with.
John McGarvey is editor of the IT Donut
To learn more about hardware as a service, you can download a free white paper from Inbay.
Moving office is a time of excitement and stress. When you move office, you have to keep working up to the day of the move. Then you move. And then you need to get up and running again with as little disruption as possible, so you can get back to earning money.
This is a real challenge for many smaller businesses. Often they lack the skills they need to manage an office relocation project smoothly.
A meeting I had a couple of weeks ago is an excellent example of this. It was with a potential client who was refurbishing their office. They needed to add equipment to their existing cabled network.
When we arrived, it was clear work was well underway at their offices. Workmen were installing partitions and laying floors.
On speaking to the client, it became clear they needed the existing cabling sorted immediately, plus some telephone lines, a broadband connection, Wi-Fi and new computers.
"What are your timescales?" I asked.
"We need to be working here in two weeks," was the client's response.
I looked at him, hoping that he'd got the dates wrong in his head. He hadn't.
When you order new telephone lines from BT, it takes at least ten days to get them installed, then you have to wait another couple of days to get the broadband connection activated. Only then can you connect everything up and make sure it all works.
As I explained this to the client, it was interesting to see how his expression changed as he realised they'd started to refurbish the office without giving any consideration to moving the IT and telecoms.
I've had so many similar conversations with clients that it no longer surprises me when this happens.
My personal take on this situation is that as technology has got simpler, people seem to take it for granted. They forget that a lot of thought, consideration and planning goes into the best business IT systems.
It's also important to think about your IT and telecoms services in the wider context of your business growth. For instance, how many network points do you need in your office?
Many businesses simply install one per person. But they forget that person may need a computer, desk phone and printer (that's three network points), and don't consider what will happen when they take on additional staff.
Network cabling and points are cheap, so the main cost involved in installing cables is the labour of the people doing it. This means it's cheaper to get 20 extra points added when you first install your cabling, rather than to add 20 points a year later.
Another trend I'm seeing is the assumption that broadband is available at good speeds pretty much everywhere. This is absolutely not true, and can really catch you out if you don't do your homework before moving offices.
Always, always look at the local broadband situation before choosing your new office location. A client recently moved from a Surrey town centre where he got fast, 12Mb broadband to a rural location where the maximum connection speed is 2Mb.
Unfortunately, they only realised this after they'd signed the lease to move.
If you need another example, look to a popular business park in south Birmingham. Because it was never wired up with BT telephone cables, the only internet connection available on the site is via a leased line. Very fast and very reliable, but also super-expensive, at about £1,000 a month!
Broadband guide site thinkbroadband has a good coverage map. You can also get an idea of broadband availability and speeds from the Sam Knows broadband checker (just put in the postcode of your new office).
Moving office is a stressful time. There is lots to consider, but do not overlook your IT and telecoms systems.
This often happens in smaller companies because there is no single person – let alone a whole department – with the skills and experience to understand everything that needs going.
This is where it can help to turn to a separate IT supplier. Look for one with experience of relocating companies in the past, and make sure they have a range of partners to cover things like phone lines and cabling.
Craig Sharp is the MD of Abussi IT, who provide small business IT support in Birmingham.
If you were to list all your company's suppliers in order of importance to the success of your business, there's a good chance your IT supplier would be near the top. With IT playing a part in virtually every aspect of most companies, you need an IT supplier you know will be there when you need them. So, how do you find that key business partner?
In my opinion, IT services are purchased on the basis of trust. Sure, there are lots of other factors involved, but for smaller businesses the relationship is often between an IT professional and the company's owner-manager. Establishing trust in that relationship is crucial.
I have held this view for a while and it often crops up when I am speaking to owner-managers about IT security, staff access or other sensitive matters. I'm often involved in conversations where the owner-manager is keen to ensure that staff can't access 'x' or are limited in their viewing of 'y'.
The only way a business owner will feel reassured in that sort of conversation is if they trust me as their IT supplier.
But the one thing that's never discussed is that we have access to absolutely everything. Not just a company's server, but all its data, all its email (past and present), every single document and probably a lot of the company's financial data too.
Like all responsible IT suppliers, we take this very seriously. And like every responsible IT supplier, we have processes in place to ensure that access to clients' data is strictly monitored.
Trust is also a factor in the advice you get from an IT professional. It's not unusual for businesses to come to use with a very general description of a problem:
"We can't put our finger on anything specific, but we just get the feeling that something is not quite right..."
That's a very broad statement and really difficult to isolate in terms of IT needs. But what that client often means is that they feel they've lost trust with their current IT provider. And once you've lost it, it's almost impossible to get back.
In summary, ask some important questions of your IT provider to establish trust right at the start of your relationship. How long have they traded? Can they provide references? Can you talk to one of their existing clients?
Because for your business to have reliable IT systems that you can place trust in, you also need to place trust in your IT supplier – from day one.
Craig Sharp is MD of Abussi.
Moving offices can be a tricky process. And IT relocation – transferring your computers, servers, networking and so on – can be one of the hardest parts of the operation. You need to get everything shifted, usually overnight or over a weekend, and maintain network and telephone connectivity the whole time.
Many companies underestimate the amount of preparation they need to do to ensure a smooth IT relocation. Leaving IT relocation to chance is likely to cause stress and disruption that could have a dramatic effect on your company's bottom line.
Here are some really common issues that can stymie an IT relocation project, along with tips on how to avoid them. If you're moving offices soon then good luck!
Have you been through an IT relocation recently? Did it go ok? Leave a comment and let us know.
Clare Moorhouse is from Help Moving Office, an online resource to help companies plan, manage and execute a successful office move. You can read their IT relocation checklist online now.
Against the backdrop of a challenging economic climate and unpredicted social and political upheavals, the need for agility and flexibility in business is paramount. Accompanying this turbulent environment is a tidal wave of technology change. It's having an impact on every aspect of businesses operations, from the boardroom to the shop floor.
These trends are fuelling an unprecedented change to the way businesses and employees operate. And many organisations aren't ready to adapt to the future workplace.
Recent Ricoh research – conducted via the Economist Intelligence Unit – demonstrates how power is shifting away from the traditional management hierarchy. This research found that 63% of business leaders are predicting that business decision-making will shift towards individual employees, as businesses move towards a decentralised structure by 2020.
Although lacking the financial resources of bigger companies, smaller businesses could find themselves at an advantage in this scenario. Their size and nature means they're more likely to have a cohesive, collaborative management structure where the best ideas can rise to the top and be implemented into everyday operations.
Likewise, SMEs often have a more flexible approach to technology adoption. Having a smaller workforce makes IT innovation more commonplace. For instance, it's easier to take an individual approach to IT provision, giving each member of staff access to the technology they're most comfortable with.
It is, however, difficult to shift decision-making to employees if they do not have access to the data and documents they need to take action. So if your business really wants to get ready for employee empowerment, you may need to rethink how your document processes work. The aim is to ensure important information is shared flexibly across your whole company.
The research also points towards a new, more collaborative approach to product and service development. Nearly 86% of business leaders agreed that project teams will typically include people from outside the organisation like customers, partners and communities.
This adds weight to the argument for shifting towards a connected business model where all these parties are linked and able to communicate effectively so they can develop the brightest ideas.
Despite the challenges that lie ahead, there's a great opportunity here for companies willing to implementing more collaborative technologies. The tidal wave of technology change will give birth to a new generation of business success stories, empowered by customers and partners alike.
Chas Moloney is a director at Ricoh UK.
You might have seen our recent survey, in which 60% of respondents said they plan to invest in technology in 2012. Now a separate survey of 1,250 companies, run by the Epson Business Council, has found that 51% of British small businesses reckon IT is an integral part of their drive for business growth.
No surprises there, really. After all, technology plays a key role in almost every aspect of business.
However, when compared to their continental counterparts it actually looks like British businesses are lagging somewhat behind. In France and Germany, the same survey found 76% of businesses consider IT integral to growth. In Spain it was 73% and in Italy it was 68%.
Those differing attitudes were reflected in the adoption of technology too. The research showed that only 27% of British small businesses use smartphones and 38% use tablets.
Given the relative youth of tablet computers, it seems surprising that more businesses use those than use smartphones. But assuming that's accurate, in France and Germany an even greater proportion of businesses said they use tablets. More than half, in fact.
Does that mean British businesses are getting left behind, or are they simple taking a more measured approach in adopting these new technologies?
There is one other possibility, of course. We've seen a growing trend of employees bringing IT to work, circumventing the IT department and hooking their own smartphones and tablets up to company systems. Could that account for some of the discrepancy?
Do these survey results match your own experiences? Leave a comment to let us know how you use tablets and smartphones.
My business provides IT support to its clients. And increasingly, IT support isn't just technology support; it's business support. That's because using IT as a strategic asset can set your company apart from its competitors, bringing you more sales and boosting your profits.
That's the mantra I stick by and use as the yardstick for all my conversations with clients. Good IT will result in good business.
So, you can imagine my surprise when a new enquiry came in from someone who said they needed to update their IT equipment. On the surface it was a straightforward job: new computers, a server and updated software.
However, it turned out not to be quite as simple as I first thought.
Things took an unexpected turn when this potential client told me that the new computers had to run Windows 98. Yes, Windows 98, which was released nearly 14 years ago. It's so old that Microsoft even stopped providing support for it in 2006.
When I pressed them on this, the conversation went something like this:
Me: "Why do you need to run Windows 98?"
Potential customer: "Well, we have this invoicing software that was set up for us years ago."
Me: "Ok..."
Potential customer: "The guy who set it up doesn't work here anymore."
Me: "I think I see where this is going."
Potential customer: "It only works on Windows 98 computers. We have a Windows XP machine but that won't run the software, and our Windows 98 machines are dropping like flies."
Me [after thinking for a moment]: "I think the key issue here is to look at the software and sort it out first, rather than try to just keep Windows 98 running indefinitely."
This business was facing is an issue I see all too often. That's software, written or installed by an individual (not an off the shelf product) which is 'bespoke'.
It's great for the first year or two, while the person that installed it is around and able to help. But 15 years later (yes, they said they've been using it for about 15 years!) it becomes a problem because the installer or designer is no longer around.
My plan in this case is to check out the software properly before making any further suggestions. I guess it's probably some kind of customised spreadsheet or perhaps a bespoke database.
However, the key point is that this software is hindering the company's ability to use IT effectively. It's stopping them from being efficient, productive and responsive to new orders.
The lesson for us all is clear. It's vital to get advice from IT professionals who understand your business and its needs both now and in the future.
Technical people are fantastic. They can do magic things to fix software or resuscitate a dying PC. But it's my experience that they often fail to consider the needs of your business. When you're looking at a big investment in new software and equipment, they are far more important.
Craig Sharp is MD of Abussi.
iPads might not quite breed like rabbits, but it's close
A couple of weeks ago I received a stream of emails from a client. They wanted to know about iPads. The questions grew increasingly detailed but the thrust of the query was whether an iPad could both replace their laptop at home and link back to their main computer at work.
We'd previously set up a remote access service for the client. This allows them to access the desktop on their main PC from other computers, so they can run their usual software and access all their files. And yes, this makes it possible for them to bring up their desktop on an iPad too.
They were pretty much sold on the idea of getting an iPad (it is, after all, one of those gadgets that people 'just have to have' once they've seen it for real) and just wanted to make sure they picked the right model.
But it reminded me of the increasingly common phenomenon of iPad breeding. If you haven't experienced it yourself, it's an easy concept to understand. It starts simply, when a member of staff brings an iPad into your office one day.
Like a mother with a new born baby, a small crowd of people gathers to coo and pet the new shiny-faced device, while steadfastly trying to hide their envy.
Next thing you know, that original iPad has a brother. A co-worker buys one, having been seduced by the seemingly endless opportunities offered by its glossy screen.
After that, the trend has started. You see the number of iPads in your office grow and grow.
There's nothing wrong with that – iPads are a dream to use and can do lots of things. But they can't do everything.
Let's go back to that person who was asking me about iPads. In their case, there was an issue: although they could use the iPad to access their main computer, they found that without a proper keyboard, it didn't work well.
Additionally, they spend a lot of time working on complex spreadsheets – and with half the iPad's screen taken up by its 'virtual keyboard', there wasn't enough space left for them to view the spreadsheets properly.
The aim of this post isn't to criticise the iPad. I have one and I love it. However, before you spend over £500 on one, think about what you actually want to use it for – and work out whether it can meet those needs.
If you're not sure, it's certainly worth seeking advice from an independent IT supplier who can understand your needs and help you decide whether an iPad is best, or if you should be looking elsewhere.
In this case I was able to demonstrate the experience on an iPad. The client saw clearly that it would not work for them. They plumped for a replacement laptop instead, which is much better suited to their needs.
Craig Sharp, Managing Director of Abussi
Work attitudes and practices are evolving rapidly, fuelled by advances in technology and widespread broadband connectivity.
Indeed, perhaps it's the availability of fast internet connections which is enabling information, ideas and knowledge to flow freely.
Our world of work is being redefined. With it, the expectations of workers and managers in businesses of all sizes are being challenged.
To understand how working habits are changing and the impact this will have on companies across the globe, Dell and Intel commissioned a piece of research: The Evolving Workforce. We wanted to learn how the way businesses work is changing.
Part of the research involved polling the workforce itself – approximately 8,000 workers in 11 countries, 1,000 of whom were based in the UK. The results contain some interesting findings for smaller businesses:
Small and medium-sized businesses are blazing a trail in terms of employee-led innovation, but results from our survey suggest the UK lags behind. More than half (53%) of employees say they don't have the freedom to choose how to work.
By giving workers increased freedom, offering flexible working and a choice of devices, small and medium-sized businesses will increase motivation and, in turn, boost productivity and creativity to stimulate further innovation and growth.
Kevin Peesker is General manager Dell UK and Ireland small and medium business
Will 2012 be the year of Google+ for business?
Guessing what's in store is traditional at the start of a New Year. And so I've been looking ahead to consider what 2012 might have hold for businesses and the way they use technology. Here are my predictions.
Consumerisation of IT is going to become even more widespread in 2012. This is the migration of consumer technology – like tablet computers and social networks – into the world of work.
With almost half the UK population using smart phones and tablet computers becoming increasingly popular, demand to access business content on a range of devices will grow exponentially. The line between consumer and business use of technology will become increasingly blurred as workers expect to be able to access work email on their personal devices - and vice-versa.
We'll see an increased adoption of Google+ as a new way for businesses to reach key customer groups. Facebook is not always the right marketing channel for a business but Google+ has the potential to bridge the gap between social and professional.
Small businesses have the flexibility to be amongst the early adopters of new tools like Google+ and so should capitalise on the opportunities they can bring.
If 2011 was all about the growing popularity of discount sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, 2012 will see more and more companies looking to services like Huddlebuy - the small business equivalent of Groupon.
These services enable small businesses to boost their presence, acquire new customers and ultimately increase sales. The offers are widely promoted and generally very well received - so they can provide a great opportunity for small businesses.
Finally, the use of QR codes will continue to grow. We're already seeing these pop up everywhere: in magazines, on groceries, adverts and so on. They provide yet another avenue for customers to interact with a business, giving smaller companies a voice in crowded markets.
More articles looking ahead:
Andrew Miller is technology marketing consultant at Dell.
One of the statistics that's surprised me most in the run-up to this festive season is news that UK consumers are set to spend over £180m online on Christmas day. I'm not sure quite how to feel about it. Do we really dislike spending time with our families so much that we can't go even a day without whipping out the credit card and bagging a bargain on Amazon?
But then maybe it's just another confirmation that we live in a world more wired than ever. Facebook is the UK's second most-popular website (just behind Google). Mobile internet use has exploded – many of us are carrying small computers around in our pockets, and around half of internet users are getting connected while out and about. The internet is part of our everyday lives.
Indeed, 2011 was a year when technology featured prominently in the news. There was, of course, the October loss of Steve Jobs – who arguably did more than anyone else to turn technology into something we can use without having to think about how to operate it.
But what marked 2011 out for me was that technology played a central part in many other major news stories that weren't, on the face of it, about technology at all.
There were the August riots, which many claimed were coordinated via BlackBerry mobile phones. And then there was the Arab Spring, where some protestors used social media to communicate with each other and reveal events on the ground to the wider world.
Closer to home, 2011 was the year tablet computers really started to show they could be more than a flash in the pan (despite some dissenting voices). It was the year cloud computing continued its steady expansion into the world of business computing. And – of course – it was the year when new EU laws about website cookies confused just about everyone. (Don't worry – you have a little time yet to get your website in order.)
As you may know, IT Donut is one of a family of five Donut websites. Together with Marketing Donut, Start-up Donut, Law Donut and new arrival Tax Donut, 2011 has been a good year. Across all these Donuts we've built our readership up to around 90,000 visitors each month. Our monthly Donut newsletter is sent to around 54,000 people.
We've had a go at predicting what might be the big things for small businesses to watch in 2012. But no matter what the forthcoming year does hold for your business, we'll be here offering the best IT advice, help and information, whenever you need it.
In the meantime, we're putting down the keyboard, setting aside the mouse and taking a little time away from the screen to enjoy the festive period. We'll be back at the start of January. Merry Christmas!
A brand's domain name is akin to the wrought iron signs which hung from 'ye old shoppe' on the High Street in days gone by. It is the first signpost to your digital shop front and, just as on the High Street, you need to get it right to stand out from the crowd.
However, many small businesses still have not invested in the online real estate for their brand or for their flagship products. This is a failure on two counts: it's a failure to grow their digital presence and failure to understand that effective use and marketing of a domain name would allow customers to reach their store in a single click of the mouse, without ever straying on to a competitor's site.
Online real estate can be purchased for as little as a few pounds and perhaps this is why many businesses consider it to a minor part of a wider branding strategy. Combine this with the fact that most domain name portfolios are managed by the people in charge of IT rather than branding, and it is clear to see why domain names get forgotten about.
The company I work for, Sedo, ran an industry survey at Internet World 2011. It revealed that despite keyword domain names being available for as little as £500, well over a third (36%) of UK respondents would be willing to spend more than £5,000 on the right domain name for their company. This shows that the right domain name is now considered an essential part of a small company's brand and online presence.
It is important to remember that if you do not see the value in your domain portfolio someone else will. Owning the right digital property is big business. Even the faintest rumour of a new product often results in a flood of acquisitions by savvy domain name experts wanting to sell on keyword domains for a profit.
It's therefore important to build domain name planning into new product launch strategies and to think about multiple regions – like other countries - to ensure no one else is benefiting from your brand and marketing.
1. Unify your IT, marketing, and legal teams. In smaller businesses, these aren't always separate departments. They might even be outsourced to third parties like your IT supplier and a law firm. But whoever they are, it's important the people in charge of these areas work together to plan any expansion of your brand.
2. Short and sweet is best. The best brands are increasingly investing in snappy domain versions of their names such as t.co for Twitter. Short, relevant domains stick in people's minds and can be easily integrated into advertising and marketing materials.
3. Keep an eye out for domain opportunities. Early 2012 will see hundreds of new domain name extensions becoming available as the domain name market is liberalised. This will be a massive opportunity to occupy new space on the web under new generic names like .dad or .sport. However, the changes also increase the level of protection you will need around your core digital assets to outwit brand hijackers.
4. Make domain names part of your wider strategy. Before launching a product, check whether or not that domain name already exists in key markets such as .co.uk and .com. If so, try to negotiate to purchase the domain from the current owner before your product launches, so you can keep the value as low as possible. If the domain isn't currently owned by anyone, purchase it as soon as possible.
Read more relating to domain names
Are you turning your office heating down to save money?
It's getting cold. Energy bills are going up and competition for small businesses is fiercer than ever. Cutting your costs will always be the most efficient way to save money and increase profits – so why not start with some simple energy efficiency measures?
Many of these tips are just as relevant for your business as they are for your home.
Improving your energy efficiency is a great way of saving money on your energy bills, but it's vital to make sure you're not overpaying for your business gas and electricity in the first place.
Business energy contracts don't work in the same way as domestic energy contracts. You can switch your domestic energy at any time, whereas business contracts lock you in for a fixed period.
At the end of your business energy contract, you'll be given a short window of time to shop around and switch your business energy. But if you miss this window, you'll be rolled into a new, fixed-term contract.
Worryingly, if you fall into the roll-over trap, you could see your prices increase by over 30%. I've seen cases where customers have been rolled onto rates that are over 100% higher.
Once you've had a letter from your energy supplier to let you know you're in your renewal period, it's time to shop around for a better deal.
If you give us a call at Make It Cheaper, we can talk to you about your energy use and requirements before finding you the cheapest deal on the market right now. Our advice is impartial and we can switch your business energy for free.
This winter, save thousands on your energy bills by following our simple tips and by securing the best possible prices for your business.
More ways to cut your technology costs:
Jonathan Elliott is Managing Director at Make It Cheaper.
People who run businesses are always on the lookout for what is best for their company. And when people in business ask for help with technology, they get a number of equally firm but often contradictory answers.
At best this is confusing. At worst it can harm a business. As a business owner, what can you do about this?
Let's start with why it happens. People who work with technology become very invested in that technology. It's not just a financial investment - it's also the huge about of time and energy they spend learning about and staying current with a way of working and thinking.
This breeds the kind of deep seated loyalty that is normally associated with fans. In fact, your typical computer worker is not that different from a football fan. When you ask 'what is best for my business?' the answer is often skewed by that inherent devotion.
You also have to deal with conservatism. Everyone working with technology knows that if they make a mistake with their advice then the financial cost to a business could be significant. Computer hardware and business software alters and adjusts how people work. Get the answer wrong and you could lose a company a fortune in man hours.
The result is a set of standard answers that you'd never get fired for giving. The most common one is Microsoft Office. It is widely accepted as being the best and most standard piece of office software. The only choice, in other words.
However I typed this article on a small laptop away from the office, using Google Docs. I find the simpler display of Google Docs useful and since the article was stored online, in the cloud, it was easy for me to return to it once I was back in the office.
That's just one example. When you get into the various arguments for and against, PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, Linux, Windows and the rest then the situation becomes almost impossible to sort out.
Fortunately there is a way to solve this problem. Instead of getting brow beaten by conventional answers, ask some pertinent business questions. Get the answers to these and you'll be able to shortlist your options:
1. How much does it cost?
Can you afford what you are being offered? That means not just now, but months or years down the line when you need to expand or replace equipment. If the answer is no then you need to think about other choices. (Think about your IT budget.)
2. Does it suit how you work?
Try this thought experiment: will your new IT work well with the different ways you want yourself and your staff to work? Can you foresee any way it might not be able to work, or any scenarios where it could add extra time to your working practices?
3. Is it expandable and reliable?
This is an easy one. If the reliability isn't demonstrable, don't do it. And if the proposed technology can't scale beyond your current needs, be wary. Switching to an alternative when you outgrow it can be very expensive.
4. Is it easy to use?
How long does it take to train someone to use it? Training time costs money, and so do mistakes when something is hard to use. If there's a choice between 'easy' and 'hard', always look for easy.
Notice anything interesting about this list? It does not talk about specifications or features. There are good reasons for this. Features are driven by business need. Your business needs determine what you require - there is no magic feature set that works equally well for everyone.
This is also true of specifications. Technology is now pretty mature. This means that buying by specification is less important. Again, needs must drive your decisions – don't let a cool and glittering list of specs deflect your decision making.
Finally, what is best is what provides your business the best combination of price, reliability and flexibility. That probably isn't the cool tech of the moment. Remember that a moment is not forever - but your business is.
Rob Davies is from internet specialists Kashiko.
Does your business IT break down often? (Image: fauxto_digit on Flickr.)
Japanese electronics firm Casio found itself on the wrong end of a news story earlier this year when classified documents released on WikiLeaks linked the company's F-91W digital watch with terrorists.
Never mind that the watch is a popular, affordable model which has been a huge seller for years - apparently US officials still considered it a possible sign of terrorist links.
Perhaps keen to put this association behind it, the firm recently commissioned some research to find out just how big a role brand plays in business IT purchasing decisions.
We all know that certain brands have more power than others. For the real heavyweights, look not further than Interbrand's list of top brands.
But does that power translate to the workplace? When business owners are considering a new IT purchase, does the pull of the brand make them more likely to opt for Apple over a no-name PC from a local supplier?
According to the YouGov research Casio commissioned, the answer is a definite no. Just 1% of British workers surveyed reckoned brand was an important factor in choosing office technology.
When asked to give the most important factors, respondents rated reliability top and performance second.
But if the most important factor is reliability, how do you judge that? Aren't some brands perceived as more reliable than others?
Whether you're buying technology, toiletries or t-shirts, brand perception isn't just about the 'cool factor'. It's composed of all sorts of elements, unique to each specific brand.
Some brands are perceived as rock-solid reliable. Others as cheap and disposable. That's just the way it is.
Sure, there are lots of ways for business owners and IT managers to judge reliability. Their own experiences, product reviews and recommendations can all play a part. But survey results be damned: I find it hard to believe than brand isn't part of that mix at all.
Quite simply, some brands are perceived as being more reliable than others. And if you're investing in IT for your business, those perceptions may well influence your decisions.
Do you think some technology brands are more reliable than others? Does that affect your purchasing choices? Leave a comment and let us know.
Is the technology gender gap growing? (Image: whatleydude on Flickr.)
The 'gender gap' is something which gets analysed in almost every aspect of our lives. The age old 'battle of the sexes' rears its head time and time again – and now it has cropped up in the world of technology.
Even in the twenty-first century it seems notable trends develop between males and females. Recent reports suggest that men are more likely to engage earlier with new technologies such as tablet computers and that they use mobile broadband more than women.
If you resist dismissing these tendencies as irrelevant, you'll see that they raise some interesting questions. Why aren't more women engaging with new technology? And, if they do, why does it seem to happen long after men do?
Are us women fearful of newer devices? Or do we simply like to stick to what we know works?
When the first smart phones hit the market, the majority of users were men. They were the first to jump on the bandwagon and it is only now that that ownership is balancing.
Even women who went against the trend and purchased a smart phone were reportedly less likely to use the mobile broadband available through it.
Overall, around 10% more men are accessing the internet, regardless of what device they are using. And while 10% may sound like a small margin, it is large enough to be significant, highlighting a gender gap in the way we use technology.
In fact, only one statistic bucks the trend: 61% of people in the US using e-readers (like Amazon's Kindle) are female – and that mirrors the higher proportion of women who buy physical books.
These statistics seem to clarify the stereotypical view of how women engage with technology, in that we use it simply to assist or enhance life's daily activities. Only 35% of women are likely to go online to relax, whereas for men it's 45%.
Indeed, men are more likely to use technology for pleasure as well as work – and they are unarguably quicker to embrace new technology.
Take tablet computers. The iPad's release in 2010 was one of the year's major technology stories, and young wealthy male professionals were amongst the first to try the new device in the workplace.
Women professionals were more cautious about these new tablet computers. For instance, 80% of female directors openly said they were concerned about requests from employees (PDF link) to bring devices into the workplace.
So, these statistics appear to tell us that men are quicker than women to embrace and engage with new technology. But that doesn't mean women are fearful of new devices.
I am a woman and I embrace lots of new technology. I know many professional women who do the same. It's important not to over-analyse statistics like these, or be too quick to make judgments from them.
They reinforce the stubborn gender gap in technology which seems to be pretty well cemented already – perhaps making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
But maybe it's simple: when it comes to technology, for the majority of women it's not a priority unless the device makes day-to-day tasks easier. For now, we're happy to leave the job of figuring out if certain devices are worth using to the men.
Frances McVeigh works for Zabisco. Read the Zabisco blog.
The Timico research shows that over 50% of SMBs don't think BYOD is a positive development. Yet isn't it one of the easiest ways to give your staff access to the latest technology? This post would make the argument for BYOD - or even giving employees their own budget to spend as they wish.
Time was people would drive along in their company car talking on their company mobile phone. In those days the company car was provided to them by - their company of course. Tightening tax laws made it easier for a business to give an employee a car allowance and let that person go away and chose their own car.
Now the pressure is building when it comes to the choice of that mobile phone. Nothing to do with tax but everything to do with choice. Companies still prefer to provide their staff with BlackBerries and the old business stalwart the Nokia.
This leads to people carrying two mobile devices around. An iPhone or Android which they use for most communications and the company phone that is grudgingly kept in the other pocket or the dashboard because that is what their company expects them to use.
So what you might say. The problem lies in what staff do with their personal phones and that is "everything they do with their company phone and more". They pick up email, access the corporate network and carry a contact database that potentially includes the company client list.
Called BYOD or Bring Your Own Device this is not being met with open enthusiasm by SMBs which sees it as a threat. A recent research report from mobile ISP Timico shows that 72% of SMBs were worried about the trend with security being at the top of their concerns (75%) followed by the risk of loss (55%). Cost was a concern to only 22% which you could either interpret as a large number or a relatively small one compared to the risks associated with loss of data.
The main issues centre around the lack of control companies have over personal telephones. With a BlackBerry they can manage security policies and even perform remote kill on devices. IT departments don't have the same control over your iPhone.
One of the conclusions of the report was that as large majority (82%) of businesses would allow BYOD if they had access to a Mobile Device Management service that offered protection to company data held on an employee's own device.
The opportunity here is to save money, enhance the security of your business data and enhance the working environment. By allowing BYOD you are offloading some or potentially all of the costs associated with the handset in a mobile contract and at the same time making your staff feel loved.
You can download a copy of the Mobile Working Report which is packed with useful data relevant to a small business.
1 "What made the Macintosh great was that the people working on it were musicians and poets and artists and zoologists and historians who also happened to be the best computer scientists in the world"
2 "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected."
3 It's not the consumers' job to know what they want."
4 "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."
5 "Things don't have to change the world to be important."
6 "Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn't matter to me. Going to bed at night saying 'we've done something wonderful', that's what matters to me."
7 "We don't do market research. We don't hire consultants. We just want to make great products."
8 "The most compelling reason for most people to buy a computer for the home will be to link it into a nationwide communications network. We're just in the beginning stages of what will be a truly remarkable breakthrough for most people – as remarkable as the telephone." (speaking in 1985)
9 "Simple can be harder than complex. You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple, but it's worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains."
10 "My model for business is The Beatles: They were four guys that kept each other's negative tendencies in check; they balanced each other. And the total was greater than the sum of the parts. Great things in business are not done by one person, they are done by a team of people."
11 "What a computer is to me is the most remarkable tool that we have ever come up with. It's the equivalent of a bicycle for our minds."
12 "I'm the only person I know that's lost a quarter of a billion dollars in one year. It's very character-building."
13 "You can't just ask the customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they'll want something new."
14 "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."
15 "You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
16 "When you're a carpenter making a beautiful chest of drawers, you're not going to use a piece of plywood on the back, even though it faces the wall and nobody will ever see it. You'll know it's there, so you're going to use a beautiful piece of wood on the back. For you to sleep well at night, the aesthetic, the quality, has to be carried all the way through."
17 "It's really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don't know what they want until you show it to them."
18 "Innovation comes from people meeting up in the hallways or calling each other at 10:30 at night with a new idea, or because they realized something that shoots holes in how we've been thinking about a problem. It's ad hoc meetings of six people called by someone who thinks he has figured out the coolest new thing ever and who wants to know what other people think of his idea."
19 "I don't think I've ever worked so hard on something, but working on Macintosh was the neatest experience of my life. Almost everyone who worked on it will say that. None of us wanted to release it at the end. It was as though we knew that once it was out of our hands, it wouldn't be ours anymore. When we finally presented it at the shareholders' meeting, everyone in the auditorium stood up and gave it a five-minute ovation. What was incredible to me was that I could see the Mac team in the first few rows. It was as though none of us could believe that we'd actually finished it. Everyone started crying.''
20 "Stay hungry, stay foolish."


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Adult Learner' s Companion
Author:Davis, Deborah
Pub Date: 2006
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin College Div
Summary: Adult learners face unique challenges--work, family, and the numerous responsibilities and obligations that they must juggle while pursuing a degree. With limited time and financial resources, adult learners need to know where and how to get help quickly and easily, and who to turn to when they have questions. The Adult Learner's Companion helps students navigate the challenges they encounter, using an accessible, us...er-friendly style that is both encouraging and motivating. Author Deborah Davis, a former adult student, provides a concise manual that helps adult learners navigate their way through the college experience, while providing the skills necessary for academic achievement. The Adult Learner's Companion takes into account knowledge gained through life experience and suggests how work-related experience can be applied in the classroom. Use the text in any Student Success or first-year seminar course with an adult learner or non-traditional student population. [read more]
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Pub Date: 2006
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin College Div
Pub Date: 2006
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin College Div
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Imported from India, this rug is made of wool that is tufted by hand to create an exquisite masterpiece. The Boho Area Rug will complement the look of any room and will survive foot traffic for years to come so order yours now.
You asked and we simplified! We are dedicated to making your shopping experience easier than ever, so we created Simple Shipping:


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Great ice cream maker. Used it four times and it makes great ice cream. The only downside which may be a concern to buyers is the noise. I had no issue with the moise, since the machine only runs for 30 minutes. Overall, totally satisfied with the product.
For the most part, I'm happy with this purchase. We bought it as a gift for a family member. The only problem we've had with it deals with room temperature. The home where this is used is an older home. In the hottest part of the summer, it's hard to keep the house cool without spending a fortune on energy bills. The first time that we tried to use it, the device kept running and running, but the mixture never froze. We have since found that if we make the mixture in advance and leave it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, it works better. Another option is to make the ice cream in the morning or evening. Other than this issue, we are very satisfied with the product and would recommend it to others.
My husband loves to make homemade ice cream and he chose this product. It makes great ice cream and the machine is easy to use and quite efficient. Would definitely recommend it to friends and family and good price.
This is a very nice ice cream maker that I would recommend to anyone wishing to purchase a quality one.
I thought the ice cream would be ready to eat when the machine was done doing its thing. I had not planned time to put it in the freezer to harden up, but other than the extra time I am very pleased with it.
Defective -- returned and ordered another. Replacement works great.
my family loves ice cream and what i absolutely love about this machine is that you can actually make healthy ice cream with it. i have made non dairy ice cream as well as dairy ice cream and of course i use half the amount of sugar in store bought ice cream. it takes about 25 minutes. easy clean up.
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Diffrient World
Made by Humanscale®, the Diffrient World® office chair, designed by Niels Diffrient, is incredibly comfortable and intuitive. It automatically adjusts the angle of recline as you move naturally in the chair, providing support without fiddling with knobs and levers. Made with a non-stretch mesh back and seat, this is one chair in which you won't mind spending long hours.
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- Easy to adjust
- Ergonomic
- Great design
- Rolls smoothly
- Well made
Best Uses
- Computer chair
Customer comments about Diffrient World® Office Chair:
- I live in a:
- Apartment/condo
- This product is used in my:
- Home office
- Comfortable
- Easy to adjust
- Great design
- Rolls smoothly
- Well made
Best Uses
- Computer chair
- Conference chairs
- Primary work chair
Customer comments about Diffrient World® Office Chair:
I spend a min 6hrs a day in a chair and invested in the Aeron chair a several years back to help preserve my spine over the long haul. One of the best investments I've made. Just recently started to work from home a few days during the week, so decided to invest in this Diffrient World chair.
Before purchasing, I was a bit concerned that the reclining mechanism would continue to push me forward and/or not keep me upright, but this chair has just the right amount of resistance. Was also concerned that the lack of controls would somehow make it inferior, but having had it now for a few weeks, it is everything my Aeron wish it could be and just as comfortable.
Along with the comfort, I love the design, color, how quiet and smooth it rolls and the adjustable seat. My only wish would be that the chair came stocked with adjustable arms, but that hasn't been an issue for me.
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Displaying reviews 1-2
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- Diffrient World® Office Chair
Does this chair have carpet casters?
Will it roll easily over a rug?Asked on 10/21/2013 by Francesca from New York, NY1 answer
The caster is a dual surface caster working well on hard or soft surfaces.Answered on 10/22/2013 by Design Associate from Room & Board
- Diffrient World® Office Chair
The description states that the arms are adjustable, yet I cannot see the lever mechanism that controls the arm movement in the photo. The chair in the photo appears to be the fixed arm model. Can you please confirm which model this is?Asked on 7/23/2013 by Mygirlmom from Florida1 answer
The arms on the Diffrient World chair are fixed, the arm height range indicates the corresponding height range of the arm as you adjust the seat height.Answered on 7/24/2013 by Design Associate from Room & Board
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Where is this chair made - it looks AWESOME!Asked on 7/11/2013 by comfy chair user1 answer
The Diffrient World® Office Chair is American made in New Jersey. We think it's awesome, too!Answered on 7/11/2013 by Design Associate from Room & Board


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Maximize v2 is prob the best high stim pre workout I have tried. The energy on It is crazy.
In terms of jitters, pumps, the beta alanine rush and so on. Ready set go!
Maximize v2 is prob the best high stim pre workout I have tried. The energy on It is crazy.
Why would you want jitters and a BA rush?
-RecoverBro Zombie Specialist and Paracord Wrangler
-Independent due to lies that hurt my family. Loyal to myself and my Bro's.
Craze > eats the comp. Not jittery but hyperfocused like George Bush reading a book upside down.
If we are talking just stupid amounts of stim's the orginal Razor8 was just redic. But for me i get good energy from CryoShock good drive and focus on it, plus i think i said it before i love the addition of COP in it. One of the best overall preworkout for strength gains that slowly accumulate as you take it would be Omega's Ultima. And Controlled Labs White Flood used to give me the BA tingles the hardest.
PES Representative
The above is my own opinion and does not reflect the opinion of PES
I take 2 grams of bulk BA on an empty stomach and don't get tingles...
some old school lg preworkout used to give me the worst ba tingles.....i actually hate ba tingles, but i think pump fixx and no exhaust have a good serving of ba in them
for crappy stim'd out shakyness look at hemo rage uc....geez
I Force Anabolic Minion, Eat, Train, Grow
Jitters are just somthing I love, but the ba rush its the tingleing after doing a set all over your face and it feels orgasmic. So why not?Originally Posted by T-AD
cobra labs cursed, its not even close to anything you guys have mentioned, its cherry powdered meth
Look forward to seeing this! The Max V2 was already solid. If big stims is what you want then Muscle Marinade would probably fill the bill. If you want good ingredients and nice focus then MaximizeV2,SuperSize,Craze,Lit Up, and FlashOver will do the job nicely. Number of scoops obvoiusly will depend on your tolerance.
Always open light. Its not what you open with, its what you finish with. Louie Simmons
Biggest stim I still swear is razor 8
PES Representative
The above is my own opinion and does not reflect the opinion of PES
Yea forsure the strongest I've tried yet.Originally Posted by PrepNwa23
Dude you have to let me log, beta test or something I'm in love with maxamize !Originally Posted by StakedCop
Wait... WHAT!!!!!Originally Posted by StakedCop
I want NOWs!
RecoverBro ELITE
I love BA tingles to. When I feel them it feels like I have a jolt of energy.Originally Posted by Lockxxheed
Has anyone tried N2KTS (need to build muscle) ????


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From the Hill
Colby News
Colby Online
Editorial & Opinion
History with a Twist
Earl Smith brings a new perspective to the life of the College
By Gerry Boyle '78
Published November 6, 2006
Earl Smith doesn't know how his new history of Colby will be received. The emeritus dean of the College, Smith does know that he never intended to write a complete chronology filled with the names of all of those who have come and gone. What he delivered, after four years' work ("eighty percent research, twenty percent writing") is a book that begins 10,000 years ago, when Native Americans plied Maine's rivers, and that sees the College and others like it as being at the forefront of social change.
Earl Smith reads from
Mayflower Hill
Emily Judem '06 talks with Earl Smith about
Mayflower Hill
In other words,
Mayflower Hill: A History of Colby College
is not a continuation of the venerable history of Colby written by Dean Ernest Cummings Marriner, published in 1963.
"Would Marriner have had a chapter with a title, 'Shake Your Booty'?" Smith asked. "I don't think so."
Mayflower Hill
does indeed open with the native tribes who first populated what is now central Maine. But it quickly moves through the early years of the College before Smith focuses on decade-long defining periods: The move to Mayflower Hill, the sexual revolution, the anti-Vietnam War years.
Yes, there are names. Yes, there is new information (Smith makes a strong argument that President Frank Johnson never intended to move Colby to Augusta, but skillfully used the specter of a move there as leverage in negotiations with Waterville). And, yes, there is an abundance of Smith's dry and understated humor. The section on changes in sexual mores in the 1960s begins, "The Sexual Revolution was under way and students were well pleased to be a part of it."
If Smith's wry humor colors the text, his fascination with history—both long past and relatively recent—shapes Mayflower Hill. In fact, he says, it is the only way he could approach such a project. "Left to your own devices, you probably wouldn't write a college history, because it's too narrow," he said. "If you can wrap enough stuff into it, you've got something.
"Review the history of Colby and other places and you're struck by the fact that colleges are in the vanguard of social change. From the Fifties through the Eighties, [there was] enormous social change, almost all of which was led by the colleges. The sexual revolution, the feminist movement, [opposition to] the war in Vietnam. It's little wonder that some things fell by the wayside, from panty raids to fraternities.
"Students were empowered because there was such division between the young and the old. The young felt they could change the world—and they did."
As the world changed, so did Colby, Smith writes. Faculty who for decades had taught the same material in the same way were replaced by professors who actually encouraged students to question authority. Rules and customs that included women students shouting "man on the floor" when a member of the opposite sex ventured into a women's dormitory fell to coed dorms and actual coed education. Students struck in protest of the Vietnam War, occupied Lorimer Chapel to demand redress for inequities for minority students, and began to shape the curriculum in ways unheard of just 20 years before.
Joining the Colby administration in 1962, Smith witnessed some but not all of these happenings. But still he spent months poring over old files, eventually amassing a data-base with more than 2,000 entries, he said. He called alumni who played pivotal roles and found them glad to help, Smith said. "Inevitably they'll tell you something you don't know."
The result is a portrait of a time, made more vivid by telling detail:
The Waterville Morning Sentinel
crusading to keep Colby in Waterville while its publisher, William H. Gannett, offered land for a new campus in Augusta.
The city celebrating when it raised enough money to buy Mayflower Hill for Colby. Fire alarms were sounded, bringing fire trucks roaring up from the South End, where firefighters hadn't been informed of the party.
Senator Margaret Chase Smith speaking to a group of anti-Vietnam War protesters on campus, confronted by a veteran who debunked her account of how and where the war was being fought.
And other smaller anecdotes that Smith would read with a chuckle.
"The homecoming queen getting a carton of cigarettes," he said, smiling. "Chesterfields. I think it's funny as hell."
Some alumni will be relieved to hear that Smith, though he mentions his own role in some events in passing, does not dwell on one role he had as dean of students—College disciplinarian. "That's another book," he said, grinning. "That's the one they're paying me not to write."
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November 23, 2007
Kenneth P Lord, III
I found this article interesting as it outlined my great grandfather's efforts on behalf of Colby. I have been impressed over my lifetime with stories from my grandfather and father regarding Gen Herbert M. Lord's accomplishments. My only regret is I never was able to meet him personally.


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A special inquiry into the activities of FirstNet, the Commerce Department entity responsible for building a $7 billion nationwide wireless broadband public safety communications system, found that the group has adhered to open meeting and public records rules.
The probe was launched after Paul Fitzgerald, sheriff of Story County, Iowa and a FirstNet board member, complained that the organization was not being run on a transparent basis. He was concerned about e-mail threads and conference calls among directors that had the characteristics of meetings, but were not announced by public notice, nor included in the public record.
"The [FirstNet] plan was developed largely by consultants who were not engaged in a fair, transparent, objective manner as required by the law, whose qualifications in relation to the public-safety communications have never been disclosed or demonstrated to the board, who have prior relationships with certain members of the board who come from the commercial wireless world, not the public-safety community, and who are paid amounts that have never been disclosed to the board as a whole," Fitzgerald alleged.
Investigators looking into the charges disagreed.
The inquiry, led by former Denver mayor Wellington Webb, found that the emails and conference calls did not rise to the level of meetings because they were informational briefings and didn't involve decision-making. The report acknowledged concerns that the informal communications might serve to establish consensus on certain issues without public discussion, but stated that this did not take place. "Discussions of substantive issues occurred at the open Board meetings, and Board members did not know whether resolutions would and motions would pass or fail or be tabled until the Board meetings themselves," the report states.
The report also addresses the complaint that consultants were hired without their qualifications or compensation being disclosed to the entire FirstNet board. The report found that Fitzgerald didn't make a formal request for these records, and that if some board members had more access it was because they were serving in dual roles of managers and directors. The admission points to some of the problems experienced by FirstNet in staffing the new organization. Since then FirstNet, "Has taken steps to ensure that Board and management responsibilities are not conflated in the future."
Fitzgerald's concern that the FirstNet effort was driven by consultants with industry ties was not directly addressed, but the report did try to tamp down suggestions that FirstNet has decided on a network architecture. "The planning document that has given rise to expressed concerns was a 'straw man,' a FirstNet staff effort intended to provoke reaction and thought among the Board members," the report reads. An examination of potential conflicts of interest among FirstNet board members will be addressed in a subsequent report.
Commenting on the report in a Sept. 23 meeting, Fitzgerald said, "I found the review committee, while finding no breach of the law, made many recommendations for the board to improve."
FirstNet was conceived after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to solve the problem of real-time radio communications among federal, state, local and tribal authorities. The plan, authorized in 2012, dedicated $7 billion in revenue raised by planned spectrum auctions for the construction of the nationwide network, operating on the high-speed Long Term Evolution Standard.
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Home |
FAQs: Purchases of Longer-term Treasury Securities |
Effective December 12, 2012
Why is the Desk purchasing longer-dated Treasury securities? The FOMC also directed the Desk to maintain its existing policy of reinvesting principal payments from the Federal Reserve's holdings of agency debt and agency MBS in agency MBS, and, in January, to resume rolling over maturing Treasury securities into new issues at auction. For more information on MBS purchases and reinvestments, please see Frequently Asked Questions for agency MBS purchases. What Treasury securities will the Desk purchase?
*The on-the-run 7-year note will be considered part of the 5¾ to 7-year sector, and the on-the-run 10-year note will be considered part of the 7- to 10-year sector. Under this distribution, the Desk anticipates that the Treasury securities purchased will have an average duration of approximately 9 years. The distribution of purchases could change if market conditions warrant. The Desk will continue to refrain from purchasing securities that are trading with heightened scarcity value in the repo market for specific collateral or that are cheapest to deliver into active Treasury futures contracts. Specific issues that will be excluded from consideration will be announced at the start of each operation. Currently, the Desk does not plan to purchase STRIPS or securities trading in the when-issued market. Will the Desk complete Maturity Extension Program (MEP) purchases and sales? How will the Desk manage the System Open Market Account's (SOMA's) maturing Treasury securities? For example, if on a given date the SOMA holds two Treasury coupon securities maturing with balances of $0.5 million and $1.1 million, the full $1.6 million would be allowed to mature without reinvestment. However, if the balances of the maturing securities on that date were instead $0.5 million and $1.6 million, the full $2.1 million would be reinvested into newly issued Treasury coupon securities at auction. For a full list of SOMA holdings, please see http://www.newyorkfed.org/markets/soma/sysopen_accholdings.html. How will the Desk purchase securities in the open market? How much will the Desk purchase each month in Treasury securities and how will this be communicated? How would a change in the FOMC directive be reflected in the Desk's published schedule? What is the maximum amount the Desk will purchase in each issue?
How will the Desk adjust for any unexpected deviations between anticipated and actual Treasury purchases over a given monthly period? Will the Federal Reserve lend the Treasury securities it purchases through this program?
Who is eligible to transact with the Federal Reserve under this program? How will the purchases be conducted? How often will the Desk conduct operations to purchase Treasuries?
What is the minimum amount for which a dealer may submit offers? How many offers can a dealer submit during a purchase operation? How will the Desk communicate the operation results? Will the Desk release operation pricing results? In addition to the pricing information released each month, Section 1103 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 requires that detailed operational results, including counterparty names, be released two years after each quarterly transaction period. Whom should dealers call if they experience difficulties during the operation?
When and how does Treasury security settlement take place? |


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Sharon Lewis wants to
The British Columbia Hydro is causing great and undue hardships for people from every single income level, and its impossible for people with a lower or fixed income to pay for a BC Hydro bill that becomes so high, its beyond their financial means to cover. Many times the poor or most vulnerable people of British Columbia lose their hydro from disconnection because of their financial inability to…
I campaign for freedom, equal rights and a peaceful resolution. Exercising internal and external…Read More
Community opposition over dam, lets get support to stop corporate abuse.
Everyone deserves heat - its a Basic Human Right in British Columbia not a Luxury "IDLE NO MORE"


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Hi! does anyone have any information about how this type of board rides? im transitioning from a longboard to a shortboard. Im planning to have this as my "trainer" shortboard then transition again to a real shortboard, maybe 6'3" below. I first learned on a 9'0 board, then went down to an 8'6, 8'2, 8'0, 7'7 and 7'4. Do you think this would be good for me? BTW im 5'8, 140lbs. Not really an expert longboarder but i've progressed from being a beginner. Waves in my place aren't that big, big is when it breaks at abot chest-neck hig (for my height), and that's one reason why i considered buying a fish first to get used to riding a shortboard.
What do you guys think? thanks!


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Ask a Question Please complete this question form so we can get back to you! Thank you.
Continental Genuine Ivory Musician $ 247.00 Germany- genuine elephant ivory carving depicting a musician playing the triangle- fine3 conditiom, no faults- ivory is 2 3/4" tall. 1 1/8" wibe, 1 1/4" deep- the wood barrel base adds 2" to the height- Ca.1950-pre ban
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Fincke Gallery Ivories Etc. Contact us! 18304 Harborside DriveCornelius, NC 28031United States Updated Monday, March 17 2014Product descriptions copyright© 2014 Fincke Gallery Ivories Etc.All else copyright© 1995-2014 TIAS.com All rights reserved.


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Using Language Services as a Risk Reduction Strategy
featuring a case study from Banner Health
- Event Date:
- Event Time: 01:00 PM Eastern
- Event Type: Virtual Signature Learning Series
Banner Health established a Language Access Plan with language services to help mitigate potential risk factors. Implementation of these services helped it improve patient-provider interaction, increase quality of care and meet the new Joint Commission standards.
You Will Learn:
- What the new Joint Commission standards say about language services
- Why the risks of improper patient communication are so severe
- How Banner Health uses interpretation and translation services to mitigate risk
Banner Health presents its successes, setbacks, knowledge and best practices for managing risk through the implementation of a language services strategy. Learn new ways to improve operations and ensure compliance by promoting proper communication throughout your organization.
- Liz Swan, RN Risk Management Consultant, Banner Health
- Marisa Hernandez, Interpreter Educator for Corporate Risk Management, Banner Health


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Molori Lodge, Luxe Safari Style in South Africa
South Africa's Molori Safari Lodge is the epitome of the new luxury safari style. Situated on a 185,000-acre game reserve on the border with Botswana, the lodge features five luxe bungalows with spacious wooden decks, private infinity pools and floor-to-ceiling fully retractable glass walls. A staff of 44, including a chef serving local delicacies like pan roasted gazelle, looks after a maximum of 14 guests. Upon arrival the Lodge's butler unpacks your bags, presses your safari suit, provides a selection of Aqua di Parma toiletries and stocks each suite with an assortment of homemade cured meats and dried fruit. Up at the main lodge a well-stocked library also features a great selection of whisky, brandy and cigars, while the wine cellar is of course stocked with the finest South African vintages. There's also one of the largest private telescopes in southern Africa as well as a holistic indoor-outdoor spa.
[via Duncan Quinn]


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IoES Professor and Department of Environmental Health Sciences Chair Richard Jackson recieves honor
Dr. Jackson has been elected for honorary membership of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).
Founded in 1899, ASLA is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing 17,000 members in 48 professional chapters and 68 student chapters. The Society's mission is to lead, to educate, and to participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning, and artful design of our cultural and natural environments. Members of the Society use the "ASLA" suffix after their names to denote membership and their commitment to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Membership is one of the highest honors the organizatin can confer.
To learn more, visit the ASLA website.
Published: Tuesday, July 10, 2012


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One fantastic week with a man he just couldn't forget has kept Rory thinking about Purgatory for nearly ten years. The ski resort wasn't the same after Dante went back to the Navy, so Rory got on with his life, leaving to travel, doing odd jobs and saving up for his dream of owning a ranch.
Now he has everything he wanted; the ranch, a good income from the tourists that come to play cowboy, and his Colorado mountains close to hand. The only thing missing is someone to share it with, until by some twist of fate, Dante comes back into his life, revisiting his own happy memories. Can Rory convince Dante to stick around, putting their time in Purgatory to rest once and for all?
More about Purgatory
Product 58/87
For more information, please visit this product's webpage.
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RRB Radio is honored to welcome Matt Brossard, Customer Experience Manager at Terapeak, to share with our listeners the details of their product launch this week, Terapeak for Amazon!! Matt will share the details of their new product and take questions from the chatroom!! He will be with us for at least two segments, so come with your questions and we will see you in the chatroom.
Join RRB Radio on Talkshoe LIVE Weds 8:08 p.m. Eastern Time 06-26-13


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Due to the ethnic and cultural diversification that has occurred in recent years in Ireland, there is a growing tradition for celebrating everything from Literature to Lore and Organs to Oysters.
For your next trip to Ireland, here are a few of the highlights throughout the year...
Londonderry,in the North of Ireland, boasts the biggest Halloween Festival in the world with around 40,000 visitors to celebrate the Celtic New Year.
The Belfast Festival at Queen's University is Ireland's biggest International Festival and boasts an eclectic mix of music, talks, comedy, exhibitions and films.
Visit the more Traditional Festivals of the Mary from Dungloe, the Galway Races, the Rose of Tralee Festival, Puck Fair in Killorglin, and the Ould Lammas Fair in Ballycastle which are all world famous and offer a great chance to enjoy and experience life among the locals.
Food festivals are quickly becoming more and more popular today and are a huge draw in Ireland with local produce scoring high among international food aficionados. Consider travelling to the now famous oyster festivals in Clarenbridge or Hillsborough, County Down, just outside Belfast.
Are your tastes more in the field of music? Tune in to the Open House Festival with the Waterford International Festival of Light Opera, or the Feile an Phobail in west Belfast. Or grab a seat, fill your hand with a pint of Ireland's best and tap your feet to a great variety of artists at the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.
Add to this the Wexford Opera Festival with full-scale opera productions, concerts, recitals, talks, cabaret, and fireworks.
For something more historical and indeed a little different, try the Magnus Barelegs Festival in Downpatrick offering a slice of Viking life, or the Eagle Wing Festival in Groomsport, County Down, which celebrates Ireland's cultural links with America.
The literary lovers among us must head off in June to the intriguing Bloomsday Festival, where fans of Joyce's Ulysses dress up in traditional gear and devour old Dublin food like gizzards and kidneys. Alternatively, seek out the delights of the Aspects Literature Festival in Bangor (about 13 miles from Belfast and a beautiful sea-side resort) in September, an annual celebration of Irish literature with lectures, discussion and music.
Finally of course, around March 17th, the country turns forty shades of green for a myriad selection of St Patrick's Day Festivals. All over the country, from the Saint's hallowed burial place in Downpatrick to the more carnival atmosphere of parades and exciting firework displays, people of all races, creeds and colors, celebrate the life of our Patron Saint, even if he has been demoted out of the Saints' list.


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Don-Ray's Haiti Tribute: As Is Above / So Is Below + MP3
October 8th, 2010As Is Above, So Is Below is an eclectic mix CD that contains 12 tracks compiled by Producer/DJ Don-Ray, to to be released on All Massive Music on 10/10/10. World renown artists like Tortured Soul, Osunlade, Wunmi, Lady Alma, and Fertile Ground donated their music to support the rebuilding effort in the Haitian republic resulting in a soulful selection of Deep House, Afro-Beat, Hip-Hop, Nu-Jazz, Neo-Soul, and Future Funk. This essential "mixtape" brings obscure gems from countries such as Brazil, Ghauna, Sweden, U.S., Canada, and Finland.
Replife & Don-Ray - "Out of Soul (Don-Ray's 52nd and Broadway Remix)" [MP3]
All Massive Music | Don-Ray on Facebook
Don-Ray's "Midnight Maraudaz" Podcast on iTunes
Purchase As Is Above, So Is Below on Traxsource | iTunes


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This is one condition that has no symptoms but needs to be noticed by the parents. Normally the testis is formed inside the abdomen below the kidneys (before birth). During the 7th month of pregnancy, the testis is pulled down and in the 9th month it comes out through the passage and enters the scrotum. At times, due to various reasons – mechanical as well as hormonal, the testis does not fully descend and continues in the abnormal position even after the birth. This can occur on one or both sides. The absence of a visible testis should be noticed by the parents early in life. This testis may be felt in the groin or inguinal region, or it may not be felt at all. If the testis can be felt, no other investigations are required; however, if the testis is not palpable, then, it may be inside the abdomen, deep in the inguinal region, or rarely, it may be absent on that side. To find out, there is no foolproof investigation; but sonography to localize the presence and location of a testis is fairly reliable. If no testis is seen, it does not necessarily mean that it is absent but that it could be in a position difficult to detect by sonography. The child must be examined by a Pediatric Surgeon as soon as the parents detect the absence of the testis even if the child is only a few months old. If the child is below 1 year of age, one can wait and see if the testis comes down on its own which is known to happen. However, if the child is above 1 year when seen, then surgery must be planned early.
Why this hurry for this operation? Last updated on 01-04-2005 |