Gerry Blackwell

A reviewer no doubt should judge products strictly on their own merits and not on how well they meet his own personal needs and expectations. But in the case of the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, that was almost impossible for me. The N800, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled handheld, pen-based computer, is a very cool, if […]

Managing information technology is always a problem for small businesses. Most companies can’t afford to hire full-time computer professionals, so their best solution is to find a trusted consultant who can function as a virtual IT department. It’s not the same as having somebody in the office, of course. If your server crashes, it could […]

At a gala event introducing Windows Vista and Office 2007 in January, Microsoft called it the most significant product launch in the company’s history – the first time it debuted new versions of its two flagship offerings at the same time. Mostly, of course, it was pure hype. Vista has yet to prove it can […]

If you’re sold on using Skype for business, Trendnet‘s ClearSky Bluetooth VoIP Conference Phone Kit ($130 to $145) could be a useful addition to your telecom arsenal. It’s designed like—and works like—a conventional boardroom conferencing unit, with a control pad, small LCD display, speaker, and three hands-free microphones. You place the three-pronged ClearSky unit on […]

Most big retail chains have long since made the move to computer-based point of sale (POS) terminals that integrate tightly with accounting and inventory control systems and offer bright color graphics displays and easy touchscreen operation. They make cashiers more productive, enhance customer service and streamline managerial and back-office functions. Now Microsoft, with its recently […]

Sotto Wireless, a Seattle-based startup with a pedigree, aims to be all things communications-wise to all small businesses. Sotto is currently market-testing a hosted solution that will offer SMBs a combination of VoIP in the office, including voice over Wi-Fi using dual-mode wireless phones, cellular service and wireless e-mail. The objective, says CEO and co-founder […]

For a small e-commerce business – or a big one for that matter – the company that provides your Web hosting services is your most important supplier, bar none. You look for reliability, connection speed, scalability (the ability to increase capacity seamlessly as Web operations grow) and responsiveness. Did we mention reliability? Sportsguys LLC, which […]

Portable Wi-Fi/Skype phones have enormous appeal for Skype enthusiasts. Unlike the cordless DECT phones we’ve been reviewing here recently (see Related Articles)—which are really only practical for use around a home or office—a Wi-Fi phone also lets you make wireless low-cost or cost-free Skype calls at hotspots or other open wireless networks you find around […]

The Consumer Electronics Show, held every January in lovely Las Vegas, Nevada, is no longer just about TVs, stereos and car radios. CES is also a coming out party for new computer and mobile communications gear. In fact, it’s the coming out party. It’s the biggest trade show in North America, with exhibition halls the […]

Keeping data secure has become a top priority for a growing number of small businesses. At Elektrofilm, a media post-production house in Burbank, Calif., ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to data assets has become a major strategic issue. Usually, the imperative is to keep one’s own data safe from prying eyes. For Elektrofilm, […]

After trying Skype at home for a few months, Eric Taylor decided it was good enough to use at work—and would solve a couple of pressing problems there. Taylor manages an independent branch of Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corp., a residential mortgage brokerage firm, in Warrenton, Virginia. “I was looking for a way to reduce […]

The Toshiba Portege M400 is the top-of-the-line convertible tablet PC from one of the world’s foremost laptop makers, so it’s little wonder that it satisfies on almost every level. It’s fast. It has a great — if necessarily small — screen. It’s solidly constructed. It includes extras such as fingerprint authentication and hard disk protection. […]