Small Business Computing Staff

by David G. Propson “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.” So said Karl Marx, founder of communism and author of Capital. The authors of Digital Capital would probably amend that to something like “From each according to his distributor relationships, to each according to the going rate on eBay.” […]

by Lyle Deixler Choosing a new business phone system isn’t a simple trip to Radio Shack. There are many factors involved that may not surface until a salesperson starts reeling off head-spinning terms like ISDN, T-1, add-on voice mail, and digital upgrade. And as some systems are priced on a per-phone basis, not only is […]

by Matthew Klare NEC Mobilepro 780 Rating 95 NEC’s mobilepro 780 is a 1.7-pound Windows CE-based handheld PC that has enough computing power and applications, and a sufficiently large keyboard, for mobile folks to actually get some serious work done. A standout feature of the 780 is its sharp LCD display that is easy to […]

by David Haskin @Backup 2.0Rating 80 Losing mission-critical business data means losing time and money, which is why smart computer users back up their data. But, what if the tape or Zip drive to which you back up data is lost, stolen, or burned? @Backup backs up files to the Internet, which keeps them out […]

by Rebecca Rohan Scansoft Paper ConverterRating 76 If you like using microsoft’s FrontPage 2000 to create and update your homemade Web site, then ScanSoft’s Paper Converter software for FrontPage 2000 may be a welcome companion to your Web publishing needs. The software works with a supported (TWAIN) scanner and FrontPage 2000 to scan and convert […]

by Joe Rudich A product that can do the job of two is always attractive, provided it works as well as two separate items. That is precisely the promise of combined voice and data network products, which combine the ability to network computers and manage a telephone system and/or share Internet access. Most of these […]

by David Schloss Nokia 8890Rating 90 When it comes to cellular telephone technology, denizens of the United States have lagged far behind their European counterparts. Years ago, when the cellular industry was in its infancy, Europe agreed on a common standard called GSM (Global Standard for Mobile), while the U.S. split up into proprietary networks […]

by Joey Latimer Intel Inbusiness Small Office NetworkRating 85 If you’re a startup looking to build a small network in a day, then the Intel InBusiness Small Office Network may be just the solution. The IISON networking package includes a server device and an eight-port hub for shared access to files, printers, and the Internet. […]

by Angela R. Garber When the compressor in the ice machine at the local seafood store goes, the owner wants to know two things: When will it be fixed, and how much will it cost? Emergency decisions such as this may be based more on time than economics, but in general the contractor with the […]

by David G. Propson People talk about a technology revolution, but n the past 20 years there’s actually been at least three: the Internet, PCs, and cell phones. Cell phones have already had an incredible effect on the way people work, play, and communicate ­ walk down a city street these days and you can’t […]

by Angela R. Garber Professional photographers often take an entire roll of film to get one good picture. For the average shutterbug, the ratio of wasted film to usable images can be even worse. And when you consider that developing costs range from about $7 to $13 per roll, depending on geographic location and how […]

by Cathy Brower Application Service Providers. You’re probably reading about them everywhere, including here. We did a column on them a few months back. Last month we listed dozens of ASPs that specifically cater to you, the small business owner. And finally, in this month’s cover story, we take a more in-depth look at the […]