Stuart J. Johnston

As Microsoft gets ever closer to final release of the latest updates to its Small Business Server (SBS) product line, it is revealing more about the final naming, as well as licensing costs, and estimated delivery dates for them. “Since we announced the availability of the beta version of Windows Small Business Server code name […]

Mac small business owners who run their business on Mac computers but still need to deal with a Windows world, rejoice — well, OK, maybe “pay attention” is more appropriate. Microsoft finally released Office for Mac 2011. What’s more, you won’t find Entourage in the new release. Instead, Microsoft has added a Mac-specific version of […]

It’s no revelation that the iPhone, the App Store and now the iPad, have created an entirely new technology ecosystem — apps. There are currently more than 250,000 apps for Apple’s (NASDAQ: AAPL) platforms. For small business computing users who want to get project management and collaboration with others in hand — literally — now […]

Despite continuing signs that the recession is not quite finished, small business technology decision makers are beginning to show more optimism — which may be an indicator that the darkest economic clouds are at least thinning. In CDW’s latest bi-monthly survey of IT sentiment, the technology solutions provider found that 27 percent of small businesses […]

In a move to reach more small and midsized businesses (SMB), Dell has announced that it is delivering a network attached storage (NAS) device, two new small business servers, and new wireless gear aimed at providing the same powerful technology that enterprises use, at a reasonable price. Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) introduced the PowerVault NX200 Network […]

Microsoft and LinkedIn are making it easier for small business professionals that use the company’s free Windows Live services to share information, contacts and other important updates. The move makes it possible for Windows Live users to social network professionally over LinkedIn from within the Microsoft’s online applications. Datamation has the full news story. Microsoft […]

Microsoft unveiled new features to its free online productivity applications suite Thursday, building on its successful debut. Over 20 million people have already taken Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Office Web Apps for a spin since it first became available a bit more than 100 days ago. The announcement came via a post to the Office Microsoft […]

Computing giant Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) announced a deal this month whereby it will sell PCs to small and medium-sized businesses pre-installed with a 30-day license for Trend Micro’s cloud-hosted Worry Free Business Security (WFBS) Services, along with the option of adding more licenses incrementally. The move is part of Dell’s ongoing strategy to provide SMBs […]

Small businesses and other organizations are getting a small, but welcome, favor from Microsoft in the area of system security — for free. In early October, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) will begin allowing users to download and install its Security Essentials anti-malware and security software on up to 10 PCs, the company said Wednesday. Microsoft introduced […]

Small businesses that deliver goods or services directly to their customers have been able to take credit card payments on the spot using mobile devices for some time now. Usually these systems allow you to use a smartphone’s Web browser and key in the card numbers by hand, but that can be error prone. Some vendors […]

Microsoft says it will begin beta testing the next rev of its Small Business Server (SBS) by the end of the month. The move by Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) puts version 7 a little behind two other related servers but still within a week of being on track to ship “by the end of summer,” which […]

Most computer makers have historically focused on two distinct markets — big businesses and consumers — which misses a huge potentially lucrative market that’s been largely caught in limbo. Small businesses. HP addressed that gap Tuesday when it rolled out its new ProLiant MicroServer . “The ProLiant MicroServer was designed from the ground up for […]