One of the most import things for a business is its' information, customer, product, financial, etc... Vista (Ultimate and Business Edition) has the feature to create and save a complete disk image so you can use in case of a disk of other major failure.
It is an easy to use feature! The only hardware requirement is another hard disk (in your PC, external drive are OK but LESS reliable, or a networked drive is best) or enough DVD's to complete the backup.
The DVD alternative is not practicable! Do the math, if you have 100 gigabytes of data and each DVD holds 4.3 gig, it would take approximately 24 DVD's to do a backup. With the hard disk alternative it is fast and easy (a rarity in today's world!)
I just installed a RAID card in my prime PC. It is an I/O FLEX PSA150 (Dual channel SATA). (I will blog my opionion on the product in 2-4 weeks as it is a lower cost product versus other brands).
I have a Western Digital drive (My boot drive) that was reporting “drive errors” and I needed to make sure that I could keep this PC functioning with little hassle. I had already received an RMA from WDC for the failing drive and was awaiting the replacement. Much to my surprised a Vista window popped up saying that a disk drive failure was imminent and asked if I wanted to start a backup! You BET! I did the backup, and removed the failing drive from the mirrored set.
I felt that I was well prepared and had avoided a major hassle because I had the raid drives installed and a current backup.
If you would like a review of your backup procedures please contact me for a no obligation consultation (San Diego County businesses only).
A computer without your data is worthless!
Wow 5 days to New Years!
San Diego Small Business Owners Rate your business practices:
1. I have good book keeping software and use it
2. I back up MY complete computer regularly
2. I have good records about my customers
4. My Web site, and Shopping Cart and are up to date and look good
5. My customers can contact me easily
6. I have cleaned up existing warranty, quality, and other product issues.
7. I have a plan on how to reduce my shipping costs
8. I have maximised my selling channels
9. I am ready for tax fillings
10. My computers are running well
11. My Business Plan is current
Perhaps, for you, some of the above are New Years resolution material.
Start the year with a clean slate. Contact me for a free 1/2 hour consultation via phone.
Webster's Dictionary defines trance as a stupor, or a daze.
Sometimes we are in a trance in the way we conduct ourselves in our business or personal lives.
There is a new Blog by Dave Brown: Please Pass the PASTA.
Dave's first post is, “Ten Ways to identify, “Break the Trance” and learn how to dance with your Trance”. The first step, Dave writes is to, "Recognize the signs of your trance. Write down five to ten concrete and specific behavioral, emotional andintellectual patterns that indicate that you are in your trance."
Just as your business will benefit from a “Computer Coach” you will also benefit from a professional life coach! Dave is an accomplished Executive Coach - Mentor - Personal Advisor and Business Coach. He is based in Del Mar, California. You will benefit from what he has to say! (and the way he says it!). His web site is, Dave Brown Coaching.
In the last several weeks I have done 4 Vista installs and or upgrades. I have just converted the machine that I use the most to Vista Ultimate.
Vista has been out since January 2007. I usually wait a least 1 year before I install a new operating system but I needed to stay current with this new technology. So, I decided to use Vista every day.
First reaction - I think Vista Ultimate is the fist big step forward since Windows 3.1! Vista is GREAT!
The “MAC versus the PC” commercials are very entertaining but they don't reflect the experiences that I and probably millions of others have with Vista. I am not an unconditional Microsoft fan, however my expectations were substantially exceeded Vista.
No problems with install!
My computer environment is a low end machine by vista standards:
I installed an OEM version of Vista Ultimate on a clean disk. Over the next several posts I will review the features that I find most interesting for the home and the business user.
I think that there is still hope for he smaller regional retail and service businesses in San Diego given my experience with Macy's (The department store).
While in New York my “GF” shopped at the flagship Macy's store in Herald Square (34th Street). She purchased several items to be shipped to us in California.
A week later I tried to get a tacking number for the shipment. After an hour of calling the store I had no luck in reaching any one who could help me. However, I did reach several rude and or untrained employees.
Last Monday I decided to try again. After a half hour of making several calls I finally reached the administrative assistant to the store manager. After getting some information from the sales slip she got me the tracking number in 1 minute!
I decided to write the CEO of Macy's:
Terry J. Lundgren
Chairman, President &
Chief Executive Officer
Macy's, Inc.
about my poor customer service experience. I needed to confirm his mailing address. I got his administrative assistant on the first call in about a minute!
I will publish the letter to Terry (mailed today) and the response if any.
Lessons I learned:
Lessons for business owners:
For businesses catering to the edgy, young, trendy, urbans, the importance of e-marketing to reach your demographics is KEY.
The first thing you need is a great product! No problem for Barrie the designer and self styled "cornfed fashionwhore". The clothes are HOT, EDGY, and priced affordable!. You can see her stuff 12/2 at "The Fashion Event" (THREAD San Diego - Sunday December 2, 2007 The Aerospace Museum, Balboa Park..)
An example of this relationship between a web site and a MySpace site is her sites: http://www.fablesbybarrie.com/ and her MySpace site Cornfed by Barrie.
