Small Business Computing Staff

By Declan Dunn Remember the last time you asked for a commercial message? I don’t. Who does? Who really wants to receive commercial messages? Even if you sign up for an email list or accept pops, do you really “solicit” the endless blather of marketing messages you receive? Let’s look at the definitions. According to […]

By Jim Geier Unforeseen RF transmission impairments, such as cordless phones that use the 2.4GHz band, can cause frustration when deploying wireless LANs. In order to maintain happy users, it’s a good idea to perform an RF site survey before installing access points. The survey can uncover problems such as RF interference and multipath propagation, […]

Wayne N. Kawamoto Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com SmartDisk Corporation announced the availability of its 16x10x24-speed portable FireWire CD-R/W. The drive, which does not require a battery or AC adapter, is designed for on-the-go users who want to store digital data and music on CDs while traveling or when away from home or the office. According to […]

By Bob Woods www.instantmessagingplanet.com Late last year, a study from Basex said that e-tailers could lower shopping-cart abandonment rates by 20% and increase their sales by $20 billion per year by integrating into their Web sites presence services and instant messaging (IM). The $20 billion figure comes from the estimated value of merchandise left in […]

By Philip Say In tech marketing, the old-fashioned client testimonial has come into vogue. Look no further than at the latest approaches of giants such as Sun, Oracle, and Xerox. All are leading with case studies or some example of how they created value for their customers. It’s everywhere you turn, and if your company […]

By Robyn Greenspan What probably prevents you, as an ethical and upstanding e-business owner, from sending spam is that you are probably on the receiving end too. Like most Internet users, you are inundated with unwanted e-mail, making you very respectful of the concept of “opt-in.” While there hasn’t been an entirely foolproof method for […]

Wayne N. Kawamoto Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com Gateway recently unveiled its Gateway 200, a ultraportable computer that sports a sleek new design and improved usability features. According to the company, its Gateway 200 is the perfect companion for mobile professionals who want strong portability and a stylish system. The slender Gateway 200 weighs three pounds and […]

By Heidi Anderson The folks at SilentRunner were recently wondering whether an email newsletter sponsorship could solve their marketing problem. The security solution firm was looking for new ways to reach its customer base of Fortune 1000 companies. They decided to run an ad in a very targeted publication. The results went beyond what they […]

Wayne N. Kawamoto Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com Pioneer Electronics (USA) announced that it will begin producing its first cable modem-based home gateway device. According to the company, its home-networking gateway combines a DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 compliant modem, router-gateway, and wireless base station (802.11b compliant) in one device. The unit should also allow for wired networking over traditional […]

www.smallbusinesscomputing Staff Some businesses use the web to establish a corporate presence, build relationships, and grow profits. Some don’t use the Web at all. If you run one of the companies that are avoiding the Web, ask yourself why. Despite the fact that Web development is tricky business, your place in cyberspace can set the […]

Eric Grevstad www.hardwarecentral.com Palm OS handhelds are famous for their simplicity, while Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2002 platform is pushing powerful PDAs into the corporate enterprise. Casio is aiming to split the difference with what it calls not a Pocket PC but a “Pocket Manager” – and the lowest-priced color-screened, Web- and e-mail-capable PDA you can […]

Wayne N. Kawamoto Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com X10 recently announced its new FloodCam Kit that is designed to automatically shine lights on intruders and record their actions on a TV, VCR, or PC. The wireless device promises to combine the best of surveillance and automation technology in a system that helps users protect their businesses. According […]