Virtual Desktops or VDI’s are cheaper and make your business more profitable

Vritual Desktop Infrastructure or VDI’s are desktops that are stored on servers often centralized on premise or in data centers.  This technology has a few very strategic advantages over a traditional desktop and server infrastructure. 

Problem, Desktops are not always there for my employees - Centralized VDI desktops can be highly available.  High availability means you have access to that device 99.99% of the time almost no standard desktop will meet this expectation.  They will get a bad Windows update or a virus minor or major or the user will make  a mistake or a bad uninstall or even just to upgrade and update business applications all cost your employees time.  Think of what an hour or a day of lost productivity out of your best worker costs you?    All desktop hard drives have a mean time before failure of 3-5 years.  You are buying something that will break and cost you money.

VDI is the solution because every time you log out the virtual desktop you were workign on is destroyed and when you log in you get  Windows 7 like its first day.  Any bad installs, or viruses are instantly gone.  On top of that your desktop is on redundant server grade hardware.

Problem: Upgrades cost me more time and more money.  To install that new program update on 50 machines takes our staff or consultants a whole evening or weekend.  Costing time and money

VDI Solution:  The update is applied to the template, tested live to ensure it works.  When confirmed that it works its deployed as people log out and back in their new desktop will have the updated program.  1 update regardless of the number of desktops.

VDI Fears:

1.  I like my desktop box

We will give you one of the most advanced thin clients, with dual, quad monitor support isntant access to USB devices.  Come see our demo or we will bring it to you and put it up against your desktop

2.  I don’t understand virtualization I feel more comfortable with a standard desktop. 

Virtualization just makes more resources more available and is getting easier and easier to mange

3.  This sounds complicated

This is all managed through a basic web interface or taken care of entirely by our highly skilled and trained staff.

4.  This sounds expensive

VDI’s, including 2 servers are on average half the cost of traditional desktops

5.  Im not ready to put this in the cloud

Thats OK we can intall it at your office

6.  What if my interenet goes down?

If you host it with us we will setup redundant internet links through multiple providers and technologies so you are always on 99.99% of the time

VDI’s are cheaper, better and will increase your productivity.  Call us today to see a LIVE demo!

iPad vs. Netbook

If you have watched TV or talked to a human in 2010 you know the general buzz and “coolness” factor of the iPad.  The question I have been getting more lately is to compare the iPad with a Netbook.  Some might say its not a fair comparison but from a business standpoint both have around a $500 price point at their lowest and both aim to provide fast access to your data with long battery life.

So lets compare:

As you can see there is no clear “Winner” the answer to which device is best for your business depends on the specific needs of your users and applications.  If the instant On and battery life of the iPad is a requirement for walking around and meeting patients than the iPad is your winner.  If you need Windows to run that mobile application or Internet Explorer for that one key web application than you need a Windows Netbook.

Don’t forget about the Linux netbook as an option.  Linux offers better battery life and performance for basic web usage. You can still Remote Desktop to your windows machines or use Logmein if you need Windows without the worry of Windows Update or Antivirus holding your ATOM processor down.  My favorite is by a long time Linux company System 76 (http://bit.ly/hZHXi1).  If you haven’t tried Linux in a while take a look again at how far Ubuntu has come in the consumer market.

Windows, Linux or Apple give us a call to find out which is right for your business and your application challenges.

Net Neutrality 101

So you have heard about Net Neutrality and don’t know enough to have an intelligent discussion about the issue.  First a few resources on the subject: (Note this is a political issue and a technical one so read both sides of everything)

http://www.savetheinternet.com/

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/search/label/Net%20Neutrality

Net Neutraility represents the issue of the internet, or our access to the internet which not matter who your provider is will eventually rely on one or more of a small group of major wire runners in the U.S. folks like AT&T and Verizon.  There is currently no regulation on the internet.  This is in some ways by design, there is no regulation, no tax etc. to allow the internet to bolster the U.S. economy and allow the free market to run free.  The other side of the lack of regulation coin is that in theory, though never done, AT&T and Verizon could one day decide to give preference to certain traffic for compensation.  They could allow traffic to and from say the New York times go through faster than the traffic to this blog.  Some argue that its Verizon’s right to do so given the costs they have experienced laying copper and fiber throughout the U.S. Others see this as an opportunity for great abuse and perhaps a real challenge to small businesses.  Would facebook gotten off the ground if they could have only support 100 users because they couldn’t PAY for enough speed to be allowed to their site?

The second link about is to the proposers of the most current legislation, no not your senator, but Google.  Google, a private company with Verizon are trying to pass a moderate version of a bill in order to get some protection on the books now.  Note that this proposals balance point is that it curiously makes an argument that wireless net neutrality should not exist.  Perhaps they are biased since they are buddies with Verizon, perhaps not.

What is important is that Net Neutrality could drastically alter our daily internet experience.  The great power of the internet comes from the ability for everyone to have a voice on the same playing field.  Its up to us and our government to help find the balance on this issue before an offer to an ISP gets too big to say no to.

Kindle goes on the offensive against the iPad

Amazon’s Kindle went on the offensive recently on their e-reader vs. the iPad.  Amazon’s kindle was arguably the first real mainstream successful e-reader.  Leveraging their sizable market position in book sales online.  They took their content ability to a device.  Now in its 3rd generation it continues to get cheaper and the text more clear.  The iPad is really what I would call a converged device.  The iPad tells you that you don’t want to carry multiple devices and that this unit can be your e-reader/laptop/ipod.  The challenge with converged devices is often “jack of all trades, master of none” applies.  In the recent TV campaign Kindle takes its shot at the iPad on one of these traits, a glossy screen.  Glossy screens are critical to the iPad to reduce finger print show and to make videos and games brighter.   The flip side is in direct sunlight this type of screen will perform poorly and may even be near impossible to see.

So when selecting a device for you, ask yourself what you think you will use it for the most and select that device.  If you want the convenience of an all-in-one product then make sure you know the trade offs.

The iPad – Not Ready For Business…Yet

I’ve been going through lots of the information on the iPad since its release and here’s my very simple take:  it’s really cool, possibly even groundbreaking, but it doesn’t have a place in the business world. Yet.  Here’s why…

1. No keyboard/mouse.  Touch screens are amazing multimedia devices.  But for typing documents, responding to e-mail, or working within your business application they’re not nearly as productive as a good ol’ keyboard & mouse.  And really, what else do you use a computer for in business?
2. Integration.  Integration is powerful stuff for business these days.  Those that have it, love it.  Those who don’t are trying to get it.  Not enough integration on the iPad as it stands today.
3. Marketing.  I don’t think the iPad is really being sold as a business device.  Oh, I could be wrong (it wouldn’t be the first time), but other than being really cool, what business advantage does it provide?  Ease of use?  Probably, but what else?  Not much, I’m afraid.

Okay, so let’s be clear about something – I’m not knocking the iPad.  I think it’s innovative and well designed.  And for personal use, I think it’s fantastic.  In the business world, however, it doesn’t provide any real advantage over the existing toolset.  I will say this though, I once said the same thing about the iPhone and over time the folks at Apple proved me wrong.  If I were to be completely honest here, I guess I wouldn’t mind being proved wrong again.

The World of Mobile Phones – One Man’s Predictions

Let’s face it – for most business professionals, their phone is no longer just a phone.  In fact the “phone” functionality is, oddly enough, becoming less and less important as a feature.  More important to business users now is integration with business applications, ease of use, e-mail compatibility, and wireless synchronization.  Take the iPhone for example.  Through the multiple iterations of the OS, users have remained stubbornly loyal even though the phone service itself was quite poor (a result of AT&T’s service in my opinion).  With the pending release of OS 4.0 for the iPhone, there’s no doubt that Apple will once again make significant improvements on an already excellent product.  Now that the Droid has been released and appears to be holding its own within the market, the market has gotten even tighter for all competitors.  Add to the mix the new Windows Series 7 phone slated for release near the end of the year and the world of phones has clearly grown far more complicated (and interesting) than it was just a few years ago.  So, what does this all mean to us, the business professionals, and moreover, what does this mean for Blackberry (RIM), the once “default” phone for business people? Of course, no one knows for sure, but I’ve got a few predictions…

1. Blackberry’s antiquated pricing model and architecture that requires server software be installed on your network will be a thing of the past. With all the other manufacturers providing functionality without the extra piece of software (or cost) this whole “Blackberry Enterprise Server” nonsense has to go away, doesn’t it?  I say it does – at least for small and medium businesses.
2. The iPhone will continue to gain market share.  Apple just has too big of a lead on some of the other competitors and the “brains” at Apple have been exceptionally successful at addressing the business world’s needs.  The only thing that will hold Apple back will be AT&T.  Anyone hear rumors of a deal with Verizon?  Anyone?
3. The Windows phone will do well, but feel some of the pain any new system/software does. Be prepared for very cool, yet sometimes irritating, and an overall lukewarm experience.
4. The Droid will hang tough, but find it becomes old news very quickly in this ever changing market.  Speed is the need in this fickle market.

Ultimately, I think the innovation within the market will continue to grow – possibly far beyond the true needs of users today (in case we aren’t already there).  I think the differences between the platforms, however, that will begin to dwindle, with each manufacturer stealing the others quality concepts and good ideas.  At the end of the day, I think it will be a benefit to all, providing us with better, more adaptable phones – and we’ll enjoy more choices than ever before.

iphone 3.0 released. Why you should download today if your a lawyer

Here at ITP we make sure we use one of each of the major manufacturer’s mobile devices so that we can make strong recommendations based on actual use to our clients.

For example, did you know the Blackberry Storm is a great device but often mute’s itself accidental when pressed against your ear?

Did you know that the iphone cannot open Wordperfect documents but a Blackberry can?

These might seem small but it is the smaller annoyances that can lead to unsuccessful technology rollouts to your attorneys and professionals.

Back to the iphone. That is my device of choice. With the iphone’s latest FREE release of the 3.0 software which you can get by plugging your device into a computer with itunes. Apple has addressed some of those little nagging issues people had with the iphone. Application developers are excited about more use of GPS and push notifications. For you the professional here is why you should go download it TODAY.

1) Landscape keyboard in email. Finally, flip your iphone and get a much bigger keyboard that you can use your thumbs to type out, just like on a Blackberry.
2) Search your email. Press the “home” button while at the main screen and search all your email/contacts/content on the device. Also find a search box on top of each email folder including for Microsoft Exchange/Gmail and others.
3) ctrl+c ctrl+v ? Sound familiar? Keep looking for those buttons but you can now copy and paste from notes and emails. Select the text. Tap and the options will appear.
4) Here come the physical keyboards. Apple has given us reasons to believe that you will be able to plug in or use Bluetooth for physical add on keyboards.

Small changes but they make a big difference. See the full list of changes here: http://www.apple.com/iphone/softwareupdate/

The iphone wins the platform award with me every time and thats what I tell our clients. What your iphone is today WILL become better and change with software. I have not seen that kind of feature improvement midstream on a device from any other manufacturer.

Now if only my iphone would stop dropping calls….

Cell Phone Address Backups

What is the best gift you can give a guy?  How about a cell phone back up drive?  These nifty little devices are compatible with a number of cell phones and can be plugged into your computer with a USB connection. You can find one version at www.redenvelope.com (I am sure you can find them in other techy stores and I am sure the price ranges will vary drastically).  Also, RedEnvelope always has an option to add a gift box for $5; they dress up a gift like nothing else can.  Their gift boxes are awesome – think Tiffany-quality gift boxes.  This is a great gift for the guy who has everything and is at least a little tech savvy.  Perfect gift found!

Google Checkout

Google is once again rolling out a new service.  Called “Google Checkout,” it is meant to go head-to-head with Ebay’s favorite payment system, Paypal.

To make signup more tempting, Google is offering pretty nice discounts at a number of online vendors if you pay using Google’s checkout service.  Probably the most attractive is their deal with Buy.com.  If you’re unfamiliar with Buy.com, it is a relatively large online vendor that carries some of the same items as Amazon.com (lots of books, games, videos and electronics).

Google has been running the promotion for $10 off any $30 purchase for awhile.  Now they’ve added a $20 off any $50 purchase.  And to top it off, Buy.com has pretty competitive pricing on most items.  In fact, many books on Buy.com are cheaper than Amazon.  They also offer free shipping on orders over $25.

What does all this mean?  You’ll find deals like this one:

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=202743519

It’s a 1 gigabyte Kingston Secure Digital memory card.  Buy.com sells it for $50.  Using the $20 coupon will bring it down to $30 immediately.  There’s also a $30 rebate, so the final cost is $0.  Free shipping, no tax charged (at least in Wisconsin).

If you’re looking to pick up a few books, spend $50, use the $20 off to bring it down to $30.  Again, free shipping, no tax.  And, as I mentioned, their book prices are about the same as Amazon, so you’re already getting a great discount.

It’s easy to use Google Checkout.  On the vendors’ websites you’ll see the promotion to check out using Google.  When you click on it, the $20 will automatically be deducted at the Google checkout.  Also note that you can use this as many times as you’d like!  I’ve placed three orders using the system and have not run into any issues.

Another personal favorite of mine is Shop4Tech.com.  Despite the name, it is a reputable site that has been around for years.  Great deals on DVD media and memory.

For a list of all the stores using Google checkout at the moment, you may click on the link below:

http://www.google.com/checkout/holiday/merchants.html

If you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me an e-mail or post here.  The discount is supposedly a holiday promotion, so you’ll want to jump on any deals you find quickly.