Happy Halloween!

Well the title says it all...but here's a little video starring all of us (except for Matt Bergen...who tried to burn my hand with a cigarette when I tried to take his picture) here at the Dragontech blog.



Just for reference: Cat (Mike Leader), Robot (Thaddeus Dilday), Sunflower (Alberto Aguilar), Pumpkin (Josh Fisher), Skeleton (Dwight Tabangcura)

Happy Halloween! :)

Microsoft's future

So I was going through my tech news feeds tonight and came across this gem from the folks over at Microsoft.  Reminding ourselves of how fast technology has grown in the past 5 years, 10 years, 20 years...this video's technology doesn't seem so far off.  Apparently, Microsoft says that this kind of tech will be in everyone's hands by 2019...and judging by how it's being used (maybe not the newspaper feed thing) that's a possibility.



Let me know what you think!

HP Personal Systems Group (PSG) Announcement

After the debacle with their last CEO, HP's been in a tizzy with rumors of their desktop/laptop division (known as PSG) being sold off and their cancelling of products and services.  The uproar caused by this was enough to choke a horse, and spelled a lot of tomfoolery and it really hurt HP's place in the market.  Today I received an email from the Offices of Meg Whitman and Todd Bradley at HP...

HP Channel Partners;

Partners like you have made it clear to us how important HP’s entire portfolio of products, services and solutions is to the ongoing health of your business. On behalf of all us at HP, thank you for sharing your views and for your support. We appreciate your partnership.

After a deep data driven analysis, we have decided that HP and the Personal Systems Group (PSG) are stronger together. What this means for you is that HP will continue to partner with you across our complete technology portfolio.  We are committed to making the world’s #1 PC business even better for you, from the products and services we offer to the programs designed to grow your business.

Back in July, we restructured PSG to align with customer segments rather than product form factor. This approach improves our focus on capturing customers’ evolving needs and delivering innovation for them across our portfolio – from hardware to software to services. We will continue to drive initiatives that improve our quality, responsiveness and cost-competitiveness.

In closing, thank you for your ongoing commitment. You remain critical to HP’s overall success. We’re happy to follow up with you directly to discuss this or answer any questions you may have.

Meg Whitman

President and Chief Executive Officer

A step in the right direction finally.

 

Now let's hope they further remember the Touchpad and that they captured a lot of attention several months ago with it.

Update on Thailand and in regard to Hard Drives...

While I don't want to undercut the seriousness of the flooding in Thailand, but if you're paying attention here, IT IS GOING TO AFFECT IT DEPARTMENTS WORLDWIDE.

Alarmist?  Maybe.  However, understand that Seagate, Western Digital and Hitachi all have facilities in the Bangkok area.  Currently, Bangkok is under 3.5 feet of water...and the flooding is getting worse.  Data coming in tells us that they could be upwards of 5 ft. underwater by Saturday.

All of the above manufacturers above have shut down their plants in the area...and there's an unconfirmed rumor that WD has declared their facility a total loss.  I know that distribution and manufacturers are cancelling most backorders and won't take any more backorders until product becomes available.

What does this mean for you?  If you need a drive now, call your rep here at PC Mall and order NOW.  We're doing everything we can to secure stock, but there is going to be a mad rush in the coming weeks, and it's a good idea to stock up.  I can guarantee that prices will skyrocket, and supply will disappear...so take that for what you will.

Have questions?  Call us now.  Get us involved early so we can help.



Update...I actually have pictures of the WD factory and the area surrounding it...They came from our friend Mike Sullivan over at RexMoore (through his contact at WD)...

p455w0rD 53Cur17Y

Hard Drives ... get your Hard Drives! While supplies last!

Thailand has had a major adverse effect on the supply of hard drives in the last two weeks. Approximately half of the world’s hard disk drives are produced in Thailand. In the last two weeks, we’ve seen both Western Digital and Toshiba suspend production, due to flooding in factories. Western digital issued a press statement early last week (17 October 2011) assuring that their employees remain safe, but warning that the floods would affect its ability to meet customer demand for its products in the December quarter. This is despite the company’s other facilities in Malaysia, Singapore and the U.S. being fully operational.

While Seagate’s factories have not been flooded, there have been issues in the supply of components that are sourced through the local Thai market.

Doing Business with Google?

I know many smaller businesses think that it's a great idea to work with Google.  Low/Free pricing, and great experiences as consumers will always cause people to gravitate to them.  Personally, I have had a wonderful experience with Google's email, maps and other services...but I would never use them for my own business.

Why?  I was thinking about this the other day, and wanted to explain it in a blog post to everyone...but I noticed today that my friends over at TechRepublic were riding the same wavelength as I was.  Worth the short read for you.  Here's a bit shorter version with my own spin.

1) Google's app environment isn't stable.  Outside of Gmail and Maps, the sheer amount of things that Google introduces and then pulls is massive.  This to me always shows that their products aren't really that well thought out or tested...and if you're a business, why would you want to be using an advanced beta product in your environment?  There's already rampant changes to Gmail coming...and that's messing with an established product that works.

2) Google could care less about you.  I think the folks at TechRepublic hit the nail on the head.  They don't have a SLA for their users.  That alone would be a deal breaker for me.  Those of you who've worked with any company that has a warranty, or response time added into it have expectations.  If your whole system relies on them, and they don't get back to you, how much money are you bleeding out during that time?  That should horrify any businessman or IT person.

3) They're collecting your information. Yup, when you click their search engine, and use their apps, you're generating them income...and they're finding better ways to sell to you.  Other companies out there who sell you the software you need, only collect information if you let them...and that's how it should be.  Google really wants your data to sell...and that's all you're worth to them.

I brought this up to a friend who owns a small business that uses Google a while back, and he laughed at me, calling me biased because I sell solutions.  Unlike some people, I do get it...that some businesses may not have the capital to start with enterprise level products...but there are answers that are much better than a free service who sells your information.  Heck, $5/month an email box for hosted services is what PC Mall and Microsoft charge...that takes the workload off of you, and keeps things safe.

In the end, you always get what you pay for.   Either do your own laundry, or hire a laundry service to do it for you.  Don't let the neighborhood kids paw through your clothes and wash them for you.  :)

Tired of outdated technology in your conference room? Ditch the Star!

Lets face it, that polycomm/cisco star in the middle of your conference table hasn't changed since the 80's. That may be ok for the Member's Only crowd but being hunched around the phone on a conference call is no longer new wave.

The folks over at RevoLabs hs totally redesigned the conference phone with modular, wireless design that puts your caller in the room with superior sound quality. The advantage of the system is that the omnidirectional microphone(s) can be placed where the people are talking, The speaker can be placed where it is best heard. The unit comes with 2 onmidirectional mikes so it can act as 2 of the "old" star phones. Optionally you can replace the second mike with a lapel mike for presentation environments.

It can connect to a cell with bluetooth or use a standard line plugged into your existing system.

Don't take my word for it go to their site!

Xerox Printer Promotion ALERT!

No sooner do I post the last bit than this stuff hits my desk.  Xerox is known the world over for their quality printers.  While always expensive, you do moreoften than not get your money's worth out of them.  So, when something like this comes up, it's hard to not share. :)

This Phaser 6360 model was recently over produced, but there was some overproduction and now Xerox has given us a special deal to push them out to our clients.  This model originally was $1599...but now we have them for $598.95. You can view them at that link, but if you give your PC Mall rep a call, they can bring that price down a bit more for you.

PHASER 6360/YDN: 7204130

Xerox Phaser 6360 leads the industry with best-in-class print speed and exceptional color performance. Easy to operate and engineered to meet the exacting demands of high-volume office environments.

 

Quick Specs:

-          Up to 42 pages per minute color and mono

-          First page out as fast 9 seconds

-          Letter / Legal

-          Standard paper capacity 700 sheets (expand up to 2,350)

-          Recommended monthly print volume of 14,000 pages

TAKE ADVANTAGE! :D

Attacked by a virus!

Well actually it was ME who was attacked over the past several days...and I missed a couple here in the office.   So now I've been trying to play catchup with all of my client and all of the things I had lined up for our awesome readers!  Just expect an article from me later this afternoon.  :)

Force Updating Phones to Windows 7.5 (Mango)

As many of you know, I have a Samsung Focus windows phone.  Wonderful device, it's easy to use...and I'm not a part of the "apple machine" anymore.  However during the recent updates to the new 7.5 operating system (known as Mango), there were some folks who've had a heck of a time getting their device to do the update.  This isn't something on Microsoft, it's actually related to the phone's manufacturer and the firmware installed.  Here's the instructions I followed from when I couldn't get the final step to update.

1. Connect your Windows Phone to a PC and launch the Zune client.


2. Click on Phone/Settings/Update. Allow the software to tell you whether an update is available. If it is, do that and enjoy...if not keep going.


3. Select Update again, only as soon as you click it, immediately disconnect your computer from the internet.  (Pull the cable/disconnect wifi/etc.  Personally, I had my wifi connection open and was able to shut it off in 1-2 seconds.)  This will cause the program to cycle through the Update only not go through


4. It takes about a minute or so, but it will then say an Update is available.  This is 7392, a post-NoDo security update.


5. Now, turn your internet back on and do this update.  It may take 1-2 tries to work.


6. Following that, run the update again and you should see the update for 7403 (security update).  Run it and you're good to go.  If not, follow the same procedure as above, and it'll pop up.  It may take a couple tries.  (Took me 4 tries.)


7. Just as 7403 finishes it is supposed to auto install 7720 (Mango).  If it doesn't happen, follow the same steps above again.

There you have it.

Don't have a windows phone?  I suggest looking at them...they're a lot better than most folks would think. :)

Blackberry: The solution is in the squeeze

So, with all this h-e-double hockeysticks going on with Blackberry's services over the past couple days, I've had several clients who have been under the gun and pulling their hair out waiting for a solution.  While I'm glad that it looks like RIM has things under control...this is going to take some time to recover from on the business front.

Not that ONE major glitch is any reason to drop Blackberry like a bad habit, but businesses are jumpy about how they spend their money.  So when something like this happens, it's going to be remembered.  Already my clients are questioning using Blackberries in their environment, because almost any carrier now can deliver the same quality (and now Apple has copied the same messenger service that RIM uses on the Blackberry with iMessage) that RIM delivered.

Today's apology from RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis, while a nice thing to do, comes across very robotic.  It's obvious that he's reading from a teleprompter...and that's disconcerting.  For a CEO of RIM to not be connected enough with his company to understand exactly what's going on without being spoon-fed information shows a severe level of disconnect with his business.

Malik Saadi, principal analyst at Informa Telecoms & Media, said RIM would have to resolve the problem quickly. "The current situation with the Blackberry outages couldn't come at a worse time for RIM, following some harsh criticism in recent months," he said. Such crashes may lead RIM and others to "re-evaluate their reliance on centralised servers and instead look to investing in more corporately controlled servers", he added.

 

Someone asked if this spells the end of Blackberries and RIM in general.  I don't think it's the end, but it's surely a gut punch from the fists of innovation that will hopefully remind them that they need to push forward before they're left behind to pick up the crumbs in the middle of the road.

Adobe offering 20% off upgrades!

Almost everyone uses their product at some point in their day.  They're on every new PC that you buy.  They've helped shaped the graphics industry for many years...yes Adobe.  Love them, severely dislike them, we're all touched by them sometime.

Right now, they're offering some good discounts on upgrading your old CS2, CS3 and CS4 software to the 5.5 version.  I would never sneeze at 20% off most anything...and a chance to make sure you're using the most current and best version is a chance well taken.

For example, normally the upgrade from Design Premium CS4 to CS5.5 runs just over $675.  Right now you can get it for $515 off of our website.  This deal extends across all of these Adobe products:

Design Standard & Premium, Web Premium, Production Premium, Master Collection, After Effects, Audition, Dreamweaver, Fireworks (pc), Flash Pro (pc), Illustrator (pc), InDesign, Photoshop.

Don't lose out...call your PC Mall rep today! :)

Have a lot to do? Let us partner up and take on your load!

by Dwight Tabangcura

How often have you or your office purchased something and it's sat for a week...two weeks...a month...and you've not found the time to install it? We can help fix that with our iTeam solutions.

PCMall has partnered with iTeam to provide our customers with Onsite Installations of :

• PCs & Notebooks


• Digital Signage


• Servers & Storage


• Flat Panels


• Networking


• Projectors & Screens


• Printers


• Surveillance


• Software


• VoIP

iTeam, Inc., a private company, is the industry’s leading provider of Service-as-a-Product (SaaP). iTeam has transformed the complex, multi –step process of service sales and delivery into well-defined, packaged products that can easily be purchased by the end-user. One sku number to quote. One step process of engaging a skilled and certified service advisor and field technician. With a pool of over 13,000 field technicians across the US and Canada, each service installation engineer is carefully selected and matched to the customers needs based on the tech’s skills, certifications, location, and track record of successful delivery.

What makes SaaP different and better :

• Price is guaranteed, no up-charges, no onsite extras.


• Every installation service is managed by a highly experienced iTeam Service Advisor.


• Customer selects the day and time they want the installation.


• Performance guarantee ensures that the customers are satisfied before the technicians leaves the premises.

How much does it cost?

Well, like I said above, it's a fixed cost...not something that you have to have plotted out. I'll even provide a full price list below. What you need done not on there? Give us a call and we can figure it out so you'll know up front. Let's save you some valuable time!

Click here to look at what PC Mall & iTeam can do for you!

Cisco wants to give YOU money!

Well...not just anyone.  However, this promotion is rather special. Cisco may be #1 in the network industry (sorry HP, you know I love you, but you aren't number 1), but they're never very keen on providing bonus to their clients. That's how it is when you're on top.  Well, a recent climate change there has brought in a wonderful new rebate program that you can take advantage of if you're buying specific Cisco products.

Right now if you're buying or have bought any of the below products between August 1, 2011 and October 29 2011, you qualify for the rebate listed. Oh, you want me to tell you how to get it...only if I get half. ;)

Just Login to www.ciscorebateprogram.com, select your products, fill out the form and voila! :D

I just made a client of mine extremely happy with an extra $250 back...right Kevin?...why can't you be happy too?

Routing		Rebate
10/100 4-Port VPN Router	RV042	$ 30
10/100 8-Port VPN Router	RV082	$ 50
RV120W Wireless-N VPN Firewall	RV120W-A-NA	$ 20
Cisco RV220W Wireless-N Network Security Firewall	RV220W-A-K9-NA	$ 50
Switching		Rebate
48-port 10/100 Stackable Ethernet Switch with PoE	SFE2010P	$ 170
24-port 10/ 100/ 1000 Gigabit Switch with PoE	SGE2000P	$ 125
48-port 10/ 100/1000 Gigabit Stackable Switch	SGE2010	$ 180
48-port 10/100/ 1000 Gigabit Stackable Switch with PoE	SGE2010P	$ 250
SG 200-50 50-port Gigabit Smart Switch	SLM2048T-NA	$ 90
SG 200-26P 26-port Gigabit PoE Smart Switch	SLM2024PT-NA	$ 75
SF 200-24P 24-Port 10/100 PoE Smart Switch	SLM224PT-NA	$ 50
SF 200-48P 48-Port 10/100 PoE Smart Switch	SLM248PT-NA	$ 90
SG 200-50P 50-port Gigabit PoE Smart Switch	SLM2048PT-NA	$ 130
20-port Gigabit Managed Switch	SRW2016-K9-NA	$ 150
28-port Gigabit Managed Switch	SRW2024-K9-NA	$ 200
SG 300-28P 28-port Gigabit PoE Managed Switch	SRW2024P-K9-NA	$ 100
52-port Gigabit Managed Switch	SRW2048-K9-NA	$ 300
24-port 10/100 Managed Switch with Gigabit Uplinks	SRW224G4-K9-NA	$ 100
24-port 10/100 PoE Managed Switch with Gigabit Uplinks	SRW224G4P-K9-NA	$ 200
48-port 10/100 Managed Switch with Gigabit Uplinks	SRW248G4-K9-NA	$ 150
48-port 10/100 PoE Managed Switch with Gigabit Uplinks	SRW248G4P-K9-NA	$ 300
Wireless		Rebate
Dual Band Single Radio Clustering Access Point (FCC)	AP541N-A-K9	$ 75
Surveillance		Rebate
Business PTZ Internet Camera with Audio and PoE	PVC300	$ 80
VC 220 Dome WDR Day/Night PoE Network Camera	VC220-K9	$ 80
VC 240 Outdoor WDR Day/Night PoE Network Camera	VC240-K9	$ 90
Phones (US Only)
5-Line IP Phone with Color Display, PoE, 802.11g, Bluetooth	SPA525G2	$ 150*
*Must purchase five (5) or more SPA525G2 phones to be eligible for a maximum $150 rebate

In Memoriam...

Sorry I haven't posted in a couple days.  Things have been quite hectic, and now with the passing of Steve Jobs, it's going to be interesting.  Steve Jobs made a lot of difference in this industry, and love or hate Apple, I believe we all should respect the innovation he brought in his lifetime.  The products he helped to create have touched all of our lives in one way or another...and we can't deny that.  Rest in Peace Mr. Jobs.

Here's a tribute from one of my favorite webcomics:



Another...