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

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

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

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

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