Small Business Computing Staff

by Matthew Klare For a long time, small businesses were the forgotten step-children of the business technology market. Now it has become the norm for major manufacturers to dedicate themselves to serving the needs of small businesses. One of the biggest needs a networked business has is the right server. For any system to function […]

by Joey Latimer Computers are tools, made up of many parts, designed to work together to help users accomplish goals. Operating systems (OSs) are the glue that holds all of a computer system’s functions together and makes them easily accessible. Once an OS is installed properly, it should coordinate the actions of the system components […]

by Lowell Rapaport Instant GigadriveRating 88 Businesses that run on peer-to-peer networks enjoy simple wiring requirements and a relatively easy setup. However, while peer-to-peer networks permit file sharing, they make no allowances for centrally shared storage. Additionally, adding network printers is often an expensive prospect for low demand applications. But fear not, a solution is […]

by Steve Bennett Turbo LabelwriterRating 90 If label printers conjure up images of tacky embossed tape, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Dymo has charged into the digital age with its slick LabelWriter series. The Turbo model, featuring serial and USB interfaces, is the most impressive of the bunch. Perhaps the most exciting capability of […]

by Matthew Klare Lexmark Optra T612Rating 90 Lexmark’s t612 is a speedy printer that’s aimed at supporting medium-sized workgroups. Printing at 20ppm, this 1200 by 1200 dpi monochrome laser printer can handle high volume jobs for producing sharp business documents. The T612 is built around a 167MHz NEC processor with 8MB of RAM. The T612 […]

by David Batterson XRay Vision Viseo Camera KitRating 84 Small businesses can spend thousands of dollars setting up security cameras to monitor entrances, warehouses, cash registers, and parking lots. However, the XRay Vision Kit from X10.com provides an affordable solution that also allows users to monitor activity over the Internet. Its handy feature for keeping […]

by Keith Kirkpatrick Maximizer Enterprise 2000 V5.5Rating 85 Tigerpaw Business Suite 8.2Rating 80 Managing customer contacts, appointments, sales leads, and follow-ups can be a daunting proposition, especially for small businesses that don’t have a large support staff. That’s where the right customer-relationship management (CRM) software package can greatly enhance productivity and organization. We pitted Maximizer […]

by Steve Bennett WinFax Pro 10Rating 98 If your business sends out or receives a lot of traditional paper faxes, PC faxing can make life easier. Symantec has updated its popular WinFax Pro software, and with Version 10 electronic faxes can be composed on the PC and sent via e-mail. Documents can also be received […]

by Allen Plummer Every business will eventually find itself applying for a loan. Whether for startup, expansion, equipment purchase, or construction, there will come a time when the money in the bank just isn’t enough to get the job done. Applying for a business loan traditionally entails hours of waiting ­ in traffic, in line, […]

by David G. Propson It’s coming. the great leap forward for the Internet revolution. Broadband. Gone will be the days of slow connections, of waiting for Web pages to download, of watching choppy video feeds in tiny little boxes. In the future, we’ll be able to carry on live teleconferences with participants on six continents, […]

by Angela R. Garber Organic farming is nothing new, but in a society that favors high yields over environmental concerns, it has long been considered part of the “fringe.” But now, as consumers start questioning the use of pesticides, herbicides, and genetically engineered foods, demand for organic products is growing rapidly. And for a farmer […]

by Cathy Brower Every june our cover story features information on what technology companies are doing for you ­ the small business owner. We spend months interviewing those that are touting their wares and we choose the ones we think are best meeting your demands. This year we changed our approach a little. Who are […]