Innovations in mouse technology...

Normally we really focus on what will affect your lives in IT.  It could be new software or server tech...down to how to better manage your networking time (coughMERAKIcough).  This time around, I was jumping around on Kickstarter this past week looking for new game projects to help fund, and I found this amazing thing:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DpcQlkbZUM&w=560&h=315]

Tell me that doesn't look amazing.  I think the jury is out on if it will help us carpal tunnel sufferers, but the ability to not have to move back and forth from the keyboard to the mouse so much just SCREAMS productivity.

Right now you can help Kickstart the project, for $79 and receive one of the units after the kickstarter goes through and they get them made.  Worth it.  I think this one is coming out of my bonus money. :)

Leads me to ask...what kind of innovations are you all interested in seeing?

 

Battleground - APC Vs. Cyberpower

Howdy folks!  One of y'all asked me if I would do some Vs. statistics on products I think are commonly used and purchased.  Well, I think nearly everyone uses UPS units and go through them quite quickly.  One of the most common I've sold are these two units, one from APC and one from Cyberpower.  Both are quality...but I will let you tell me what you think the primary difference is...

APC				Cyberpower
SMT1500				CP1500
1500VA with LCD readout				1500VA with LCD display
24 min 1/2 load & 8 min full				24 min 1/2 load & 8 min full
Hot swappable batteries				Hot swappable batteries
3 year warranty				3 year warranty.
$477 (retail)				$340 (retail)

Crazy right?  Well, several of my clients and I have found that Cyberpower offers a lower cost alternative to APC without losing any of the features that you're used to.  I don't like to tout one manufacturer over the other, but I've been personally using Cyberpower in my home for 4 years now, and that little guy keeps on ticking without issue.  APC is the industry standard...and if you're happy using them, more power to you.  (oooh a pun!)  :)

Have questions?  Ask away! :)

Threat Predictions for 2013

Howdy folks.  Here's something that is free and can give you a bit of a leg up on this year's potential threats.  Our partners, Trend Micro, are holding a special webinar slated to run at 1-2pm Central time on Tuesday February 12 in regards to the security and risk landscape of 2013. Take a look below and come on out for it!  Better to know more and prepare, than sit in the dark, twiddling your thumbs and hoping for the best, right?

http://www.trendmicro.com/us/security-intelligence/events/index.html

THREAT PREDICTIONS 2013 The security and risk landscape will be more complex in 2013. Are you concerned about protecting intellectual property and valuable company information? What are the gaps that cybercriminals use to steal information, profit, and sabotage operations? And what can organizations of all sizes do to use effective solutions to protect themselves? Please join Jon Clay, Sr. Manager of Core Technology at Trend Micro, for this LIVE webinar. Jon will outline the key security threats from 2012 and discuss what CTO Raimund Genes, along with the 1,100 threat researchers at Trend Micro, deem as the highest security risks for 2013. We hope to see you there! Trend Micro 877-21-Trend Tuesday, February 12th 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm CSTRegister Today > Topics will include: • Security threats to businesses, our digital lifestyle and the cloud • Effective solutions to protect your organization • Safeguarding your customers' interests • Establishing and implementing IT usage Who should attend: • IT and infrastructure professionals • security architects • network engineers • risk and compliance teams • frontline managers who want increased visibility into the 2013 security landscape.

The Elitepad is about to Land.

Alright folks...you saw my earlier post about the HP Elitepad 900 and how it is just about to launch.  Rather than talk at length again, here's a video you likely haven't seen that will detail it for you...

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRTOg3b1NZQ?list=PLEB6A9D285B9C0EDB&w=560&h=315]

No it isn't the iPad...they're similar but far different.  The Elitepad 900 was made for businesses.  (Unless you really have to look at your Excel spreadsheets in HD.)  This is designed to work with your existing Windows infrastructure.  (No jury rigging here!)  The Elitepad 900 will work right out of the box with what you need it to do.  Add the Battery Jacket and battery...and you've got a tablet running with 24 hours of battery life.  Add the keyboard dock and you now have a desktop replacement as well.  It's worth looking at.

Right from the PCM website...click the graphic to go there and look.  Interested?  Want to know what pricing is like?  Contact us. :)

Dell goes Private...

The Dell issue has been talked about over the past few weeks, with rumors of a buyout.  Now today, AP newswire has confirmed that Dell is going Private in a $24.4 billion dollar buyout.  It looks like Michael Dell himself and a few financial partners (Microsoft is one, Silver Lake Partners another) are buying out his own company in order to take it Private.

There's going to be a lot of speculation on this for the coming weeks...on whether or not this is good for Dell as a whole.  Yes, taking the company private makes them not accountable to anyone but themselves, and will likely allow them the chance to restructure much easier.  Question is, who gets hurt?  In these kinds of deals, usually it is the consumer who is hit with higher prices, reduced service and lack of accountability.  I'm not saying that this can happen to Dell...but I've seen it happen before to other companies.

We in the DMR channel are waiting to hear what it will mean to us.  We don't know yet...it could be very good for us and our clients, or it could spell the end of Dell working with the channel.  Who knows?  We're waiting and watching here.

 

ZDnet asks 10 questions about what is going to happen to Dell here.