2006 February

What’s all the hubbub about change management? It’s simple. Sort of. When an organization alters its course, the success of the change is strongly influenced through the process of implementation. A change may be worthy, but if it’s handled in the wrong way, watch out. Software change management, on the other hand, is a horse […]

Coming soon to a chain store near you … self-service Hewlett-Packard Photo Kiosks! HP bills their new Photosmart Express station as “the most advanced standalone, self-service photo kiosk dedicated to producing 4 x 6-inch prints quickly.” Welcome to a market filled with cannibals, as aggressive online photo printers battle the discount chains …

The upshot of last week’s blood pressure test? The doctor insisted that I immediately get checked for high cholesterol. They usually make you fast before taking a blood test, but my doctor said it would be accurate, since I had only had toast and coffee. Man, I hate needles. Call me a wuss, but I […]

I got a call from the local Apple Store today. The technicians brought my tired old iBook back to life, and in just 24 hours, to boot (literally, even). Yeesh, that was fast! I’ve only received one suggestion for an after market laptop battery source, so far. I haven’t had a chance to follow up, […]

I’m in the midst of resurrecting a moribund laptop. While it’s “not quite dead yet,” in the Monty Python sense, this horse has been ridden hard and put up wet too many times. Well, okay … it hasn’t really been put up wet, but it has lived a tough life. Lots of things need […]

What is a 401K Plan and why should you have one?
The 401K Plan, or 401(k) to be exact, is corporate America’s primary flavor of retirement plans. These employer-sponsored plans allow workers to invest their money before taxes and even better, allow the investment to grow without the penalty of taxes. Money drawn from a 401K […]

What do you do when you have champagne laptop taste, but a beer laptop budget? Sure, those Panasonic Toughbooks look really sweet, but all you can afford is a stripped-down entry-level notebook. Do you roll the dice with a brand new yet unfamiliar brand? Comb eBay for an off-lease rugged laptop, perhaps? Cruise the […]

Panasonic’s gone mainstream with the marketing of their line of gorgeous Toughbook ultralight rugged laptops. I first noticed the television commercials on CNN and NBC this week. And I couldn’t miss the flashy Toughbook banner advertisement on cnn.com this morning. “Super model meets muscle head,” the ad proclaimed. “Thin, gorgeous, and tough as nails.” Oooh […]

I had my blood pressure tested at the doctor’s office this morning. While my numbers were elevated, I wasn’t upset to hear that they were a bit on the high side. Why didn’t I worry? Quite simply, I’ve been doing my homework. Knowing that I was due for a checkup, I used my USB blood […]

Adware … it’s just evil, pure and simple. For years, I’ve suggested that the way to end the scourge of adware is to attack it at its source: the unwitting advertisers. It sounds like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) may have finally taken this approach to heart …

Online home hunters gained a shiny new arrow in their quiver this week, with the launch of Zillow.com. Want to know the appraised value of that sweet little house you saw on the drive home? Zillow lets you quickly zoom through neighborhoods with satellite views to access a raft of statistics. The site is invaluable, […]

I’ve fallen a bit behind in my quest to rip all of my music CDs into digital files. If I had more money than time, I might consider using one of the CD ripping services. But since both are tight at the moment, I’ve resorted to a multi-tasking approach. It might not be the most […]

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day present? Sure, chocolates and flowers are wonderful, but they’re usually done by the time the week is out. What’s that? You’re on a tight budget? If you’re looking to give a personal gift that makes a big impression and lasts forever and a day, here’s a geeky hint […]

Want another cool free benefit of VoIP (Voice over IP)? How about having an unlisted or unpublished number at no charge? Check your VOIP plans, kids! AT&T just sent a message out to their CallVantage VOIP customers, giving their customers a choice between non-listed, non-published, and listed numbers …

Have you ever bought a pair of shoes online? Barry Diller, the Chairman and CEO of IAC/InterActiveCorp, is betting that you will, and he’s betting big …