How to Keep Your New Year's Resolution: via HuffPost http://huff.to/UxILo8
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Hello 2013
What can we look forward to in 2013? That is a good question. Hopefully soon we won't have to talk about the "fiscal cliff" anymore. I'm excited. I think Microsoft is really getting on track with their products. The new Windows 8 phone looks like a really good platform to build on. As people slowly adopt the new Windows 8 for their desktops and tablets it will be a nice alternative. Those who are fully bought into the Apple Ecosystem will now have to look and see what others are doing. Google and Android are still doing great work as well. Tons of apps and terrific devices. Heck, I love Blogger and G+. The great news is that there is more and more for consumers and businesses to pick from.
What about the cloud? based on this past years experience I think we will see more application of hybrid cloud solutions. What I mean is solutions that allow companies to choose which applications and data they want in the cloud and which ones they want locally. Why would companies want to keep data local. Take for instance firms that move a lot of data around. Why not move it at 1000 Mbps locally instead of 10 Mbps over the internet? That is if you can get 10Mbps. Then keep a copy in the cloud nice and safe in a protected data center. What does it make sense to have in the cloud? I think in a lot of cases Email is best kept in the cloud. It is complicated to manage and not as sensitive to bandwidth fluctuations.
The good news is that customers have amazing products and solutions to pick from.
Happy New Year!
What about the cloud? based on this past years experience I think we will see more application of hybrid cloud solutions. What I mean is solutions that allow companies to choose which applications and data they want in the cloud and which ones they want locally. Why would companies want to keep data local. Take for instance firms that move a lot of data around. Why not move it at 1000 Mbps locally instead of 10 Mbps over the internet? That is if you can get 10Mbps. Then keep a copy in the cloud nice and safe in a protected data center. What does it make sense to have in the cloud? I think in a lot of cases Email is best kept in the cloud. It is complicated to manage and not as sensitive to bandwidth fluctuations.
The good news is that customers have amazing products and solutions to pick from.
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 20, 2012
What Would You Tell the 25 Year-Old You? | LinkedIn
I just had to post this because it's cool. As I've grown older I've really come to appreciate wisdom. I try to listen more, talk less and ask better questions.
What Would You Tell the 25 Year-Old You? | LinkedIn
What Would You Tell the 25 Year-Old You? | LinkedIn
Monday, December 10, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thursday, November 22, 2012
A fair perspective on Windows 8
At the end of the day there is no perfect technology. I this article talks about how Microsoft 8 might not be perfect but it is a big move for them. I think it will be hard for some users to adapt to. I do love the idea of on operating system for phone, pc and tablet. It makes so much sense for businesses today who need to control security and information while giving users choices and the right technology to fit their job.
Why Jakob Nielsen's Windows 8 critique is old-school thinking
Why Jakob Nielsen's Windows 8 critique is old-school thinking
Monday, November 12, 2012
Grocery List - Online note solution shootout
I'm always looking for the practical application of technology. Well for me one of the most practical applications seems to be the Grocery List. Why? First of all its dynamic. every time I go to the store and I think I have the list down right I always get a call. "Honey, I was thinking you should get some cilantro for the salsa we are making for the guests we are having over tomorrow night". Second, details are important. "not the garlic hummus, the garlic red pepper hummus". Finally, I'm not a mind reader. I've been married for almost 14 years now and I can't seem to get it down. So, the dynamic, detailed grocery list can improve my relationship with my wife instead of adding to the stress.
I've been working with 3 different applications to figure out which one performs best. I've been using 1.Microsoft Onenote with Skydrive 2.Google Drive and Docs and 3. Evernote. The winner is? Evernote hands down. Why? it comes down to ease of use and device synchronization. Evernote is super easy to use and you don't have to worry about synchronization once you have it set up. First of all I want to make it clear that I like all of these products for different reasons, however, for this purpose I love Evernote. When I want to make a list or take something down, I don't want to have to wait for an application or worry if it is going to synchronize. I don't want to have to search for a file or an application within an application. That is the beauty of how Evernote behaves for me. Here is an example: Last night I was heading to bed and my wife says "hey honey can you remember this number for me? My answer was yes, and by the time I responded I had Evernote open and ready to roll. So what do the other Two applications offer? Well Onenote from Microsoft is great for meetings where you bring your laptop. My only problem with Onenote has been that it is kind of slow to start up. also, more of a manual process when it comes to synchronization while being less intuitive. So, I use Onenote for meetings at work. Onenote feels more like a notebook with tabs then a note pad where you can take a quick note or a list. What about Google docs. I've been using this for years. In fact, when I was interviewing for this job I had my resume uploaded and could send it on demand from my phone. My wife and I keep our budget on Drive from Google Docs. It works great. we can share the document and make changes that update as we do. It is just more of a document repository than a notebook. So, these are all great products but Evernote wins out for the grocery list.
Thanks for reading.
~pz
I've been working with 3 different applications to figure out which one performs best. I've been using 1.Microsoft Onenote with Skydrive 2.Google Drive and Docs and 3. Evernote. The winner is? Evernote hands down. Why? it comes down to ease of use and device synchronization. Evernote is super easy to use and you don't have to worry about synchronization once you have it set up. First of all I want to make it clear that I like all of these products for different reasons, however, for this purpose I love Evernote. When I want to make a list or take something down, I don't want to have to wait for an application or worry if it is going to synchronize. I don't want to have to search for a file or an application within an application. That is the beauty of how Evernote behaves for me. Here is an example: Last night I was heading to bed and my wife says "hey honey can you remember this number for me? My answer was yes, and by the time I responded I had Evernote open and ready to roll. So what do the other Two applications offer? Well Onenote from Microsoft is great for meetings where you bring your laptop. My only problem with Onenote has been that it is kind of slow to start up. also, more of a manual process when it comes to synchronization while being less intuitive. So, I use Onenote for meetings at work. Onenote feels more like a notebook with tabs then a note pad where you can take a quick note or a list. What about Google docs. I've been using this for years. In fact, when I was interviewing for this job I had my resume uploaded and could send it on demand from my phone. My wife and I keep our budget on Drive from Google Docs. It works great. we can share the document and make changes that update as we do. It is just more of a document repository than a notebook. So, these are all great products but Evernote wins out for the grocery list.
Thanks for reading.
~pz
Friday, November 2, 2012
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Microsoft VP: 100,000 Windows 8 apps by January | Microsoft - CNET News
I see this as an important effort to the success of Windows 8 and related devices.
Microsoft VP: 100,000 Windows 8 apps by January | Microsoft - CNET News
Microsoft VP: 100,000 Windows 8 apps by January | Microsoft - CNET News
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Hackers post data from dozens of breached college servers | Security & Privacy - CNET News
I have to say that I've not been hacked yet, that I know of. As you could guess, I speak with companies each day about their concern for security. I ask questions about what they are doing? Have they ever been compromised? do they have confidence in their security? It's easy to become complacent. After a time of little or no problems with viruses, malware or spyware a person could start to think that it's all just a big scam which allows the IT security companies to make a big paycheck. Then I read an article like this and I'm reminded that somewhere out there are people who apparently have enough time on their hands to hack into servers and grab information. This article shares some information about the motivation behind these hackers but most hackers have more sinister plans for their hacking treasures. Its great encouragement to keep up the fight to keep my current and future customer networks secure and protected.
Hackers post data from dozens of breached college servers | Security & Privacy - CNET News
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Office News - The new Office 365 subscriptions for consumers and small businesses
I shared this on Linked in and am posting it on my blog as well. It is some very helpful information about where Microsoft is headed with their Office product.
Office News - The new Office 365 subscriptions for consumers and small businesses
Office News - The new Office 365 subscriptions for consumers and small businesses
Saturday, September 15, 2012
to Cloud or not to Cloud
As you would expect much of my work lately has been discussion about the best way to use the cloud resources now available. My answer is a predictable "it depends". First, what is "the Cloud"? and Second, what questions should I ask to figure out if it is right for me?
1."the Cloud" is applications and solutions that are not located at your facility but are available through the internet and function as if they were at your facility. That is the simplest way that I can figure out to describe it.
2. Figuring out what questions to ask can be the tough part. I think the reason for this is that there is so much excitement and momentum around cloud solutions that it's easy to forget to ask questions. I'll say that I've spent a fair amount of time "un-clouding" customer networks. Too often sales people are anxious to sell what they've got because its the only tool in their bag. So that might be a good first question:
A. What type of solutions do you offer? Are they only cloud based solutions or do you provide customer premise based solutions as well?
I think for the time being the best solution providers will offer both types of solutions and will provide them based on the requirements identified in the discovery process. Most of the frustration I see has come from the inhibited performance that cloud based solutions can have when they are sold or configured incorrectly. The reason is that by moving your IT resources to the cloud you have the potential to greatly reduce your speed of access to those resources. In short, when you have to go over the internet to get to your cloud it can be slow going. Next question:
B. Can I see a demonstration of your solution and test it myself? Can you explain to me how your solution will work going through the internet as compared to my local LAN?
I think a lot of the confusion that I see lies in the fact that most people (because they are not in IT) don't understand the difference in speed on your office network (LAN Local Area Network) as it compares to the internet. Simply put: most LAN environments travel at 100 or 1000 MPH where as most internet connections are traveling at 10 MPH or slower. Can you see the potential for a traffic jam? What the best cloud providers do is make their application store information on both ends of the internet connection or they make it web based. That does not solve the problem completely. The next step is to make sure you have a large enough internet connection. I think the 50 or 100 MBPS connections from Comcast work great! Next question:
C. What size of internet connection will I need in order for this solution to perform at its best for me?
Final question:
D. Whats the best solution for my business based on my performance requirements and the ROI of the competing solutions?
I'm fortunate to be working for a company that embraces both cloud and non cloud assets for our customers. I'm not forced to guide my customers to a decision that they will later regret because of a limited product selection. Honestly I don't think I would do well with such a limited product offering. That being said there are some great cloud solutions like Office 365 and Backup and Disaster Recovery.
Thanks,
1."the Cloud" is applications and solutions that are not located at your facility but are available through the internet and function as if they were at your facility. That is the simplest way that I can figure out to describe it.
2. Figuring out what questions to ask can be the tough part. I think the reason for this is that there is so much excitement and momentum around cloud solutions that it's easy to forget to ask questions. I'll say that I've spent a fair amount of time "un-clouding" customer networks. Too often sales people are anxious to sell what they've got because its the only tool in their bag. So that might be a good first question:
A. What type of solutions do you offer? Are they only cloud based solutions or do you provide customer premise based solutions as well?
I think for the time being the best solution providers will offer both types of solutions and will provide them based on the requirements identified in the discovery process. Most of the frustration I see has come from the inhibited performance that cloud based solutions can have when they are sold or configured incorrectly. The reason is that by moving your IT resources to the cloud you have the potential to greatly reduce your speed of access to those resources. In short, when you have to go over the internet to get to your cloud it can be slow going. Next question:
B. Can I see a demonstration of your solution and test it myself? Can you explain to me how your solution will work going through the internet as compared to my local LAN?
I think a lot of the confusion that I see lies in the fact that most people (because they are not in IT) don't understand the difference in speed on your office network (LAN Local Area Network) as it compares to the internet. Simply put: most LAN environments travel at 100 or 1000 MPH where as most internet connections are traveling at 10 MPH or slower. Can you see the potential for a traffic jam? What the best cloud providers do is make their application store information on both ends of the internet connection or they make it web based. That does not solve the problem completely. The next step is to make sure you have a large enough internet connection. I think the 50 or 100 MBPS connections from Comcast work great! Next question:
C. What size of internet connection will I need in order for this solution to perform at its best for me?
Final question:
D. Whats the best solution for my business based on my performance requirements and the ROI of the competing solutions?
I'm fortunate to be working for a company that embraces both cloud and non cloud assets for our customers. I'm not forced to guide my customers to a decision that they will later regret because of a limited product selection. Honestly I don't think I would do well with such a limited product offering. That being said there are some great cloud solutions like Office 365 and Backup and Disaster Recovery.
Thanks,
Thursday, September 13, 2012
cool use of technology for education in Minnesota
Check out this story about our own Itasca Area Schools and how they are using technology to improve rural learning
http://www.iasc.k12.mn.us/sites/itascaareadistrict.new.rschooltoday.com/files/images/Story%20of%20Itasca%20Schools%2002%2012.pdf
http://www.iasc.k12.mn.us/sites/itascaareadistrict.new.rschooltoday.com/files/images/Story%20of%20Itasca%20Schools%2002%2012.pdf
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Looks interesting
I've been having a lot of fun with one note from Microsoft. I'm definately going to give this a try.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Microsoft Lync - Liking it so far
Here at Veracity Tech we are currently testing the new Microsoft Lync product. What is Lync? It is the latest version of a unified communication solution. This means it includes, Instant Messaging, Voice, Video, Screen Sharing, App Sharing and whiteboard. There is a lot to be said about Microsoft Office 365 and not all of it good but one truly attractive characteristic is that they are connecting local resources like Exchange server with cloud based resources like Office 365. Practically speaking this means that I can have a local mail server like Exchange and purchase cloud seats of Lync and they will work together as seamlessly as if I had purchased all the licenses for my local server. So...we rolled out cloud based Lync seats to our local Exchange server and it is working great!. Well...I guess the potential down side is that you could spend time and money setting up synchronization between your cloud and local resources and then when you wanted to change it you'd have to spend a bunch more time on configuration. So, it makes sense to spend the time up front testing the product to see how feasible it is for your business and then use the license that makes the most sense for your company from a cost and deployment perspective.
What I love about the product is that it fits with the Microsoft platform so many of my customers are already using. Up until now a lot of companies have been forced to start by using Skype (which is now owned by Microsoft) and set up users individually. Which can be a pain if you have a lot of users. This has been the way that a lot of people have their first exposure to voice and video simultaneously. Now we can wrap voice video and text all into the Exchange/Outlook platform that most people are already using in a business setting. The product works well and it is intuitive to set up a call or share a desktop. It integrates nicely with the calendar. I'm sure there will be some who have complaints. after all its part of the fun of new products in the IT business. You get to complain and then the manufacturers make them better. I hope people have a chance to try this product out. Its easy to order a few seats and pay on a monthly basis.
Feel free to contact me at Veracity if you have questions.
Best Regards,
Peter H. Zubert 952-201-0527
What I love about the product is that it fits with the Microsoft platform so many of my customers are already using. Up until now a lot of companies have been forced to start by using Skype (which is now owned by Microsoft) and set up users individually. Which can be a pain if you have a lot of users. This has been the way that a lot of people have their first exposure to voice and video simultaneously. Now we can wrap voice video and text all into the Exchange/Outlook platform that most people are already using in a business setting. The product works well and it is intuitive to set up a call or share a desktop. It integrates nicely with the calendar. I'm sure there will be some who have complaints. after all its part of the fun of new products in the IT business. You get to complain and then the manufacturers make them better. I hope people have a chance to try this product out. Its easy to order a few seats and pay on a monthly basis.
Feel free to contact me at Veracity if you have questions.
Best Regards,
Peter H. Zubert 952-201-0527
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Google evolution. Hmmmmm
Gmail In Search Results? That's The Latest Idea From Google: via HuffPost http://huff.to/PFSP7h
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Helpfu, insightful.
Tips for Managing Information Overload in Email, Facebook and Twitter: via HuffPost http://huff.to/PEW0w2
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
A disaster recovery plan that worked!
I've recommended collocation at hosting facilities numerous times. We spend a lot of time planning and hope nothing ever happens. This is a great example of where planning paid off. While most of the residents and businesses were in the dark, these call centers kept right on rolling. Pretty cool.when a plan works.
Hundreds of millions left in the dark, but phones keep ringing in India Outsourced call centers in India remain open despite a Monday crash to the power grid in Northern India that left as many as 370 million residents sweltering and in the dark.The massive power outage -- the worst to... On Fluent News: http://scitech.foxnews.mobi/quickPage.html?page=24036&external=1622268.proteus.fma&pageNum=-1
Windows 8 takes big RTM step toward consumers | Windows 8 - CNET Reviews
Microsoft is making big moves. This article talks about all the new products coming out. This is a very exciting time for us Microsoft Geeks.
Windows 8 takes big RTM step toward consumers | Windows 8 - CNET Reviews
Windows 8 takes big RTM step toward consumers | Windows 8 - CNET Reviews
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Microsoft explains how Windows 8 smokes Windows 7 | Business Tech - CNET News
I am curious about Windows 8. The main reason is that I like Windows 7 so much. I think that there is a very real opportunity to for Microsoft to leap ahead if this new OS works well. I understand from some of the reading I've been doing that it will be a significant adjustment. Here at Veracity some of the engineers have been running the beta's as they've arrived. Initially they said that it was difficult to get used to the interface. Now there seems to be some consensus that the recent candidate releases have been better. I've been experimenting with Microsoft Sky Drive. I understand that this will be one place where the desktop, tablet and smart phone will tie together. I guess we will have to wait and see. I'll update my blog as soon as I get the chance to install it.
Microsoft explains how Windows 8 smokes Windows 7 | Business Tech - CNET News
Microsoft explains how Windows 8 smokes Windows 7 | Business Tech - CNET News
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Great article about chip construction
Want a terabyte iPad? Then you’ll want to read this In the latter half of the 19th century, the introduction of elevators and steel trusses enabled us to put up taller buildings with denser cores. It changed urban landscapes forever–packing more people into small spaces. Now, chips are... On Fluent News: http://mobile.washingtonpost.com/rss.jsp?rssid=611&item=http%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fbusiness%2ftechnology%2fwant-a-terabyte-ipad-then-youll-want-to-read-this%2f2012%2f06%2f29%2fgJQAccj7BW_mobile.mobile&cid=581&spf=1
Monday, July 16, 2012
Take a look Zimbra from VMWare
Wow. I have to admit I just found out that VMWare was going to compete against Microsoft in the Unified Communications space. (email, chat and voice tied together with info about presence). I think businesses are having a hard time taking Google too serious in this space but VMWare could be a contender with Zimbra.
� Zimbra :: Blog
http://blog.zimbra.com/blog/archives/2012/07/zimbra8.html
� Zimbra :: Blog
http://blog.zimbra.com/blog/archives/2012/07/zimbra8.html
Monday, July 9, 2012
Understanding, Identifying and Upgrading the RAM in your PC
Here is a helpful guide to understanding RAM and how it works.
Understanding, Identifying and Upgrading the RAM in your PC
Understanding, Identifying and Upgrading the RAM in your PC
Friday, July 6, 2012
Best Buy takes cue from Apple in new retail store design | Tech Culture - CNET News
I think one of the reasons that people love Apple so much is that the Apple products feel personalized and easy to use. I like the fact that Best Buy is taking the same approach to selling technical products. Like Apple has already done. For a long time it was cool to be techie and speak at another level to impress others, now it is seen as disrespectful. Ultimately technology is for people. It is there for them to use and to make their lives better. I always try and keep this in mind when working with businesses. More and more I find I am in meetings where my main contact is not technical. This means I need to be able to understand the technical but explain it in every day terms. I love that part of my job. I love to see my customers and prospects gaining understanding and realizing the value that technology can bring to them and their businesses.
Best Buy takes cue from Apple in new retail store design | Tech Culture - CNET News
Best Buy takes cue from Apple in new retail store design | Tech Culture - CNET News
Monday, July 2, 2012
Quote Valet - Technology that I can use
I once again find myself awed by how cool technology can be when it is applied in the right context. I've recently been introduced to something called Quote Valet. I had to take a few moments to write about it because it is just plain cool!!. Something I do every day with customers is provide them with quotes on stuff. More specifically IT stuff. PC's, Servers, Mice, Monitors,Printers, Phones. you name it and I can sell it in the IT space. The old process was create a quote and fax or email it over. discuss on the phone and then have the customer print it, sign it and then fax or email it back. (given a lot of customers have abandoned fax). Worst case scenario would be customer has to print it, sign it, scan it and then send it.
With this application I create the estimate at my desk. Email it to the customer and they can review it and accept it online. Once I have the approval there is nothing to print out. I click a few more buttons and turn the order into an activity to have purchasing order product and a ticket to have service install it. One of the coolest things is that, as the sales rep, I receive an email when the customer reviews it. Now that is one less time I need to bug them and we can make sure our communication is more effective.
Of course for the more complicated solutions I go on site and I always love to get a signature in person. I love that part of this job. I am always ready to get face to face. With this tool we can keep the day to day activities as a minimum interruption and focus our time on the strategic projects. This is a terrific application of technology and I'm lucky to be working for a company that is embracing automation in the way that Veracity does.
Thanks ~pz
With this application I create the estimate at my desk. Email it to the customer and they can review it and accept it online. Once I have the approval there is nothing to print out. I click a few more buttons and turn the order into an activity to have purchasing order product and a ticket to have service install it. One of the coolest things is that, as the sales rep, I receive an email when the customer reviews it. Now that is one less time I need to bug them and we can make sure our communication is more effective.
Of course for the more complicated solutions I go on site and I always love to get a signature in person. I love that part of this job. I am always ready to get face to face. With this tool we can keep the day to day activities as a minimum interruption and focus our time on the strategic projects. This is a terrific application of technology and I'm lucky to be working for a company that is embracing automation in the way that Veracity does.
Thanks ~pz
Thoughts about voice recognition
Interesting article. I'm not super impressed with the google voice recognition yet. Maybe I've not spent enough time with it yet. I think this technology will be very powerful once it gets perfected. Maybe we won't all be walking around with our noses in our phones. Something to consider if you are trying to pick a new phone.
Siri vs. Google Search: Test Shows iPhone Assistant Isn't A Google Competitor Just Yet: via HuffPost http://huff.to/MGBFJL
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Luvin the Lenovo
I have to admit that I've been pretty stuck under the blue and white banner of HP for the last several years. I suppose it's just easier to fall in love with one brand and stay there. Well...My HP, 6 years in age, died this week after serving me for a short 45 days. Actually it was just the monitor but fortunately for me I ended up with a new Lenovo think pad. I'm generally very careful with my laptop so I guess ruggedness has never been a big factor for me. My opinion on that may be changing. That is the characteristic that impressed me right away on the Lenovo. The materials they used to construct it just seem more rugged. The processors, the memory and the video displays are really very similar between the different manufacturers. It really depends on how much you want to pay. So with a laptop, I want it to be tough and functional. I also really like the size. I believe it is a 14 inch which turns out to be just right. One of the items I was considering when looking at this was what role the Ipad would be playing in my future sales career at Veracity. I definately see using one in my future but those devices are not at the point yet where I can run all the software needed to put together proposals. So, the small size of this unit makes it perfect. I can take it home to do proposals and.....er ....... blog. I can also take it out to demonstrate products and run ROI calculators for prospects and customers.
So...out of the gate I'm luvin my Lenovo. It looks great. the size is great. the quality is great and it is fast. I guess I'll see how it goes over the next few years and report back.
Have a great Day!
~pz
So...out of the gate I'm luvin my Lenovo. It looks great. the size is great. the quality is great and it is fast. I guess I'll see how it goes over the next few years and report back.
Have a great Day!
~pz
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Email Newsletter | Veracity Technologies
Hello All,
As I've said in previous blogs, I'm thankful to be with Veracity. It's been fun to get on board here and see all of the advances they've made through automation and process. Whats even more exiting is that there is a never ending pursuit of new innovations. This is just what we do. it is where I need to be. In my career I've heard a lot of people talk about wanting to innovate. I've seen a lot of companies try and innovate, try to put new systems and procedures in place only to give up and go back to the old way of doing things. I'm convinced that there is often pain that comes along with this kind of change. It takes patience and determination to make it through organizational change to realize the benefits of improved process and systems. It seems that Veracity is committed to this kind of change. Which in the end benefits Veracity, its employees and most importantly its customers.
~pz
Email Newsletter - Minneapolis, Plymouth, St. Paul, Twin Cities, Minnetonka | Veracity Technologies
As I've said in previous blogs, I'm thankful to be with Veracity. It's been fun to get on board here and see all of the advances they've made through automation and process. Whats even more exiting is that there is a never ending pursuit of new innovations. This is just what we do. it is where I need to be. In my career I've heard a lot of people talk about wanting to innovate. I've seen a lot of companies try and innovate, try to put new systems and procedures in place only to give up and go back to the old way of doing things. I'm convinced that there is often pain that comes along with this kind of change. It takes patience and determination to make it through organizational change to realize the benefits of improved process and systems. It seems that Veracity is committed to this kind of change. Which in the end benefits Veracity, its employees and most importantly its customers.
~pz
Email Newsletter - Minneapolis, Plymouth, St. Paul, Twin Cities, Minnetonka | Veracity Technologies
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Finally a good use of government funding.
Dept. of Energy throws millions at solar startup The U.S. Department of Energy wants normal Americans to start using solar energy in their everyday lives. To that end, it’s just granted $2 million to Solar Mosaic, a sort of Kickstarter for solar projects. Solar Mosaic is... On Fluent News: http://mobile.washingtonpost.com/rss.jsp?rssid=611&item=http%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fbusiness%2ftechnology%2fdept-of-energy-throws-millions-at-a-startup-trying-to-make-solar-energy-mainstream%2f2012%2f06%2f13%2fgJQA3iuUaV_mobile.mobile&cid=587&spf=1
Monday, June 11, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
What does the future look like for IT companies?
Here is a blog from a couple of guys who are leaders in our industry. Talking about where IT companies need to be in the future. I think they are right in saying our industry is about focusing on customer experience. I like the idea of "getting IT out of the way".
What does the future look like for IT companies?
What does the future look like for IT companies?
Friday, May 18, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Everyone Has Been Hacked. Now What? | Threat Level | Wired.com
I wanted to share this great article my coworker Laura found.
Everyone Has Been Hacked. Now What? | Threat Level | Wired.com
Everyone Has Been Hacked. Now What? | Threat Level | Wired.com
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Proud to be here!
On May 1st I started my new position at Veracity Technologies. Before I get into that conversation I want to thank all of my previous employers. I've learned something in every position I've had the pleasure of holding. Why did I make a move? I thought and prayed about this decision quite a bit. I was afraid at first to admit that I was not fitting in where I was. After selling my business I had a need to have a steady pay check and...well...health care benefits. So I was accomplishing that but I was not fulfilling my purpose. In 2000 I decided to move out of Telecom and into the IT world. I went back to school and began taking certification exams with the goal of becoming an engineer. This is what I did for about a year. Then the dot.bomb hit and I was out of work. That is when I started my own IT company. This was out of the necessity to work. It took off and we had a blast for 5 years. Then I sold it to my business partner and headed back out into the world of being an employee. My family was tired of living paycheck to paycheck and so was I. I went to work for a communications company that wanted to be in the IT managed services business and they wanted my "expertise".
Well 4 years later and I've decided that the best place for me to be is with a company who is dedicated to being excellent at providing IT support and Managed Services to small and medium sized businesses. Here is my info:
I look forward to growing in my knowledge of IT and how to help businesses be there best with Technology. We have a high standard of engineering excellence here at Veracity Technologies. I've been very impressed in my short 3 days here. I'm excited to share my experiences and Ideas.
I'm really excited!!!
Stay Tuned ~pz
Well 4 years later and I've decided that the best place for me to be is with a company who is dedicated to being excellent at providing IT support and Managed Services to small and medium sized businesses. Here is my info:
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"Managed IT Solutions that let you focus
on your business."
P Please
consider the environment before printing.
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Monday, April 30, 2012
Ice cream sandwich
I just picked up the HTC One. It is running the latest version of android called ice cream sandwich. Right off the bat the voice recognition software is improved. I do miss my menu button. I understand that those features have been relocated. I'm gradually finding them. I was sceptical as to what the need for dual core processors as in phones. Now I can see by the speed on this device and the type of applications that it runs how the power is being utilized. Overall I really like this device. Ishould not forget to mention the battery life on the One is very nice as well. I seems to go for a whole day pretty easily.
Now if I could stop fat fingering the keyboard.
Pz
Friday, April 20, 2012
Great Article from the Star and Tribune
Think twice before you resell that device
DEBORAH NETBURN, Star Tribune
Thinking of selling your smartphone or laptop computer? If you have a BlackBerry
or an iPhone, go right ahead. If you were planning to sell an Android phone or
a computer running Windows XP, however, you may want to think again, McAfee
identify theft expert Robert Siciliano says.Siciliano recently purchased 30 electronic devices from Craigslist -- mostly smartphones and laptops -- to see how effective normal people are at removing personal information from their gadgets before selling them.
After he got the devices home, Siciliano, who calls himself a wannabe hacker, did some digging around in the phones and computers himself and then sent the machines to a forensics expert, who he describes as "just some kid who knows a lot about computers" to see what personal data he might glean.
Fifteen devices revealed no information about the previous owner's identity, no matter how thoroughly Siciliano and his young forensics specialist looked. But as for those other 15 devices -- they coughed up plenty of private data.
Siciliano said he was able to get bank account information, Social Security numbers, court documents, credit card account log-ins and a host of other personal data off those devices with not much effort.
And the worst part? Most of those devices had already been "wiped" by their previous owner -- meaning all personal files had been deleted and the user had restored the device's factory settings as per the manufacturer's instructions.
"What's really scary is even if you follow protocol, the data is still there," Siciliano said.
So, what's the difference between the devices that still reveal personal information after being wiped and those that don't?
Siciliano said it came down to the type of device that was sold and what kind of operating system it was running.
BlackBerries were totally impenetrable, "RIM has fantastic software," he said. "They did a really good job of destroying data when you reset the factory settings."
Similarly, he was unable to get data off devices running iOS such as the iPad and the iPhone. Devices running Windows 7 that are wiped by their owners also got his vote of confidence.
As for smartphones running the Android system and computers running Windows XP, Siciliano said he recommends people don't sell them at all.
"Put it in the back of a closet, or put it in a vice and drill holes in the hard drive, or if you live in Texas take it out into a field and shoot it," he said. "You don't want to sell your identity for 50 bucks."
Business Etiquette: 5 Rules That Matter Now | Inc.com
I really like this article. With my love of technology I'm wary of getting too casual. This is a great reminder. I generally avoid writing thank you notes because my writing suffers, regardless, it is a great Idea.
Business Etiquette: 5 Rules That Matter Now | Inc.com
Business Etiquette: 5 Rules That Matter Now | Inc.com
Thursday, April 19, 2012
5 Steps to Game-Changing Relationships | Inc.com
This article has nothing to do with technology but I wanted to share it because I think what we end up talking about in business most of the time is communication. I'm a student of communication. I figure the more I know about communication the better I am able to help my clients. This article gives great insight into how Men and Women see networking and relationships differently.
5 Steps to Game-Changing Relationships | Inc.com
5 Steps to Game-Changing Relationships | Inc.com
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Blogging from Florida
Its interesting how blocked up the mind gets when we never give it a chance to breath. Now that I've been in Florida for 3 days I finally feel more clarity. I've been thinking a lot lately about the cloud. It's interesting how when a new technology movement comes along people will rush out to consume it before really understanding its capabilities or its risks. Like me moving all my pictures up to Google plus. Who knows how secure it actually is?
Its time to decide if this cloud is offering life renewing rain or dangerous thunder and lightning. Take the positive stance. The ability to enjoy the abundance the cloud has to offer is dependent on our readiness to consume it. Have we virtualized? Do we have affordable bandwidth? Are we keeping up on the latest versions of the applications we run? How do we figure out where to start?
This where we need to make sure we have the best support team. Both internal and external to our company. Do our vendors put us first or their quotas? Or their manufacturer relationships? Craft some creative questions to truly understand your vendors motivation. Talk to their customer list. Get ready for the road ahead which leads to the airport to fly to the clouds.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time - Tony Schwartz - Harvard Business Review
I know this is supposed to be a technology blog but I could not resist adding this article. I find this type of advice invaluable. Primarily because I suffer from distraction. These are ideas I'm going to apply in my own work. I've definitely found that with the increase of technology my ability to focus has been degraded. No matter what you do for a living their are always going to be tasks that are top priority. There will surely always be distractions.
The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time - Tony Schwartz - Harvard Business Review
The Magic of Doing One Thing at a Time - Tony Schwartz - Harvard Business Review
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Microsoft Partners Want Simpler VDI Licensing In Windows 8
I'm fascinated with desktop virtualization. I've seen some implementations that are very impressive. One that was running fast and very responsive on an Ipad over a Verizon wireless internet connection. This article talks about what is going on in the background for companies that want to provide this service and use the Microsoft platform.
Microsoft Partners Want Simpler VDI Licensing In Windows 8
Microsoft Partners Want Simpler VDI Licensing In Windows 8
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Dell to buy SonicWALL, terms not disclosed - CNBC
Wow! I think this is really interesting. Over the last few years I've learned to really like the Sonicwall product. Their product lineup is extensive powerful. This news is really big just from the fact that 2 very large players who come close to dominating their segment of the IT product market place will come together. I hope they are able to maintain the reputation that Sonicwall has as a solid firewall solution provider. This puts further evidence to the fact that Dell is looking to be known as more than just a box builder.
~pz
Dell to buy SonicWALL, terms not disclosed - CNBC
~pz
Dell to buy SonicWALL, terms not disclosed - CNBC
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
XChange: HP Exec Says Hardware Portfolio Is Strongest In Its History
I have long been one to recommend HP as a solution. Except for a brief foray into going direct against their partners they have remained one of the strongest supporters of the channel. This is good for my customers because I know HP has my back and that allows me to support my customers at a higher level. Read this article about recent comments from HP about their partner program. They are still one of the best.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Lets meet face to face. I love this article. In years of selling it seems the most powerful tool for building lasting relationships. The kind that allow for long term client vendor relationships.
http://www.inc.com/rene-siegel/five-reasons-you-need-to-meet-in-person.html
http://www.inc.com/rene-siegel/five-reasons-you-need-to-meet-in-person.html
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Coming in 2012: Firefox for Windows 8's Metro | Microsoft - CNET News
this is an interesting article about the next Windows os. Looking forward to this release.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Let the Robot Drive: The Autonomous Car of the Future Is Here | Magazine
Once I took some time to think about this. It makes some sense. Read on and be amazed.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Read this great article about Facebook
http://m.techcrunch.com/2012/02/04/mark-zuckerbergs-6-ingredients-for-success/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&%23038;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29
Friday, January 27, 2012
Future of Voice Expert-led Workshops - Future of Communications blog - Peak�Telecoms
This is an interesting take on the future of voice.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Amazing. It looks like Amazon has great aspirations
http://www.crn.com/news/cloud/232500430/amazon-storage-gateway-bridges-cloud-on-premise-data.htm;jsessionid=HZaWx388ODGdrb7t9v+vrw**.ecappj02?cid=nl_stor
Friday, January 20, 2012
Remote blogging
Thursday, January 19, 2012
CrashPlan Cloud Storage Vendor Code 42 Grabs $52.5 Million In VC Funding
This is unique for a startup. I have not tested the product yet but I plan on giving it a try.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Comcast is the fastest broadband provider in the U.S. — Broadband News and Analysis
I find it interesting that we think that our cable providers are fast. Yet in other countries the get much faster speeds at lower prices, as it states at the end of this article
Monday, January 16, 2012
A truly funny story (source unknown)
Have you heard about the lost balloonist?
A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realises he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts: "Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."The man below says: "Yes. You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. latitude, and between 58 and 60 degrees W. longitude."
"You must be an engineer" says the balloonist.
"I am" replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well" says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but your information is useless, and the fact is I am still lost."
The man below says "You must be in marketing."
"I am" replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"
"Well", says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but now it is all my fault."
I loved this story. I picked it up off an HP group that I'm part of. I've observed this phenomenon over and over. Especially in the past few years. I've been on both sides of the coin. Engineer and Marketer. Now I find that I spend my time in the middle. It's one of those things I love about business. I love that things are so imperfect. We strive as humans to make everything exactly how we want it with our "new technology". We end up with the same human problems which beg for human solutions.
Have a great week.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Interesting stuff
I've been working with Zenith for a long time. this seems like a good development. I'm hopeful that it will result in a more stable on and offline backup solution that we can all bank on. Read on.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Customers Matter | HTG Peer Groups - Promoting Business and Personal Growth for IT and MSP Industry Leaders
I really like what Arlin has to say. I hope to get the chance to meet him some day.
About the old new phone
Now that I've got some time in with this Droid I have a lot of positive feed back. With one looming question. Who needs more horsepower than this phone? I'm starting to understand my answer to this question. Here are my favorite Apps so far: Wells Fargo, Realtor.com, Delta airlines, Walgreens, Yelp, Blogger and of course Facebook. I think you can tell by my favorite list of Apps that I'm new to this game. I guess that is kind of how technology works. Once you get in the pool and feel how warm the water can be you then start to see what else you can do. Like maybe the back stroke. I've not been a very avid user of Facebook but now that I have a droid I'm starting to see the magic of it. Take a cool picture, show it to all of your friends with some kind of witty saying. Express yourself. Stay connected. reach people you've lost track of or who have moved away. Do this as a natural part of living life with a few clicks should I say finger presses. In the US we like to have our own space and control over who we communicate with and how. These hand held devices are opening up an entire new way of communicating about ourselves. Different ways of processing our world. I'm sitting there the other day thinking "I don't want to pick up the phone and talk to an auto attendant and try to punch in the right numbers to renew my prescription". Then I have a thought. "I wonder if there is a Walgreens application?" Sure enough there is. So I set myself up and BAM! there are all my prescriptions just click go. It was a wow moment for me. Everyone has to do this. everyone needs to interact with the pharmacy so make it easier. Not just for the patient but for the pharmacy. So cool.
I'm really excited to see what else I can discover. I can't wait to share my thoughts with you.
~pz
I'm really excited to see what else I can discover. I can't wait to share my thoughts with you.
~pz
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