Business today is becoming more and more reliant on e-mail. While it is an excellent form of communication, it can also be a huge drain on productivity.

Did you know that inefficient use of e-mail can waste up to two hours per day? Now, multiply that by the number of people in your organization. 

Many of my clients report spending four hours or more on e-mail each day! Here are five simple ways you can streamline your e-mail and save yourself some time.

A single person typically uses less than 5 percent of his or her own computer's resources and power. NComputing offers a low-cost solution to organizations needing multiple computer workstations by virtually separating the user interface of one computer into several workstations.

Users feel like they are engaging in an independent desktop experience while splitting the cost and resources of one computer with several other users.

You're ready to establish a new Web presence and you know the first step is to find a domain name. You probably want more than just a domain name you can live with – you want a domain name that means something to your business and to your customers. You want a domain name that is distinct from your competitors, but easy to find.

Although it may seem that all the good names are gone, you can still get a great name for your website by using a little creativity and by gaining a bit more knowledge. Here are some tips to help you find your way to a better – available – domain name for your website.

• Is it comprehensive and helpful? 
• User-friendly? 
• Appealing to the eyes? 
• Well organized? 
• Up to date? 

You need your site to communicate the right message, but maintaining your website can be time consuming and tedious. Having it all taken care of by a professional Web designer is expensive, but doing it yourself, if you've tried it, borders on the impossible. 

Try Open-Source

Open-source software is a great option for those who want the best of both worlds. With programs like Joomla, you can have a clean, professional, and detailed website with all the bells and whistles, a system that allows you to update and edit your own content, and no Web coding experience necessary.

Joomla also has a large community, forums, and a library of extensions that make this a great choice for business owners. It's the reason Hathway Tech uses it to design its websites. And because most open-source software is free and constantly updated and developed by volunteers, you get a lot of bang for no extra bucks.

1. If your computer is slow at start up, it may mean you have too many programs launching at the same time as your computer loads. Many software applications have part of their software load in start up. Often, this is unnecessary and wastes computer resources. If your problem is slow start up, you should have a technician remove unnecessary items from your Start Up folder and from the Run key in the computer Registryl.
2. If your computer consistently runs slowly your system may not have enough memory. A computer that consistently runs slowly may need a simple memory upgrade. You can check the current amount of memory under System Properties in your computer’s Control Panel.  Typically, we recommend you have at least 1GB of memory for running Windows XP, and at least 2GB for running Vista or Windows 7.
   

Social media's impact on employers and employees has clearly affected the workplace.

According to the 2009 Deloitte LLP Ethics & Workplace Survey, "58 percent of executives agree that reputational risk and social networking should be a boardroom issue."

No longer a question of "if" or "when," it has been a matter of how employers can best respond to this quickly emerging and constantly changing issue that can greatly affect employee productivity and how business gets done. 

As opposed to traditional and generally more costly media vehicles (i.e. TV, radio, and print), social media encompasses and leverages a wide variety of highly accessible technologies and tools (i.e. blogs, wikis, social networking sites, etc.).

Companies have observed the growing usage of LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and the like among their employees and even have adopted them as part of their marketing and branding efforts. In the process, however, the delineation between what is personal and what is work-related has become a challenge for employers to manage.

New remote server technology is the answer for small businesses, remote sales staff and offices with multiple locations.

Server technology has made leaps and bounds recently. We want to fill you in on the buzz and how you can benefit, but first, some background…

What do companies use servers for?

Servers are a vital tool for many companies. For starters,

• Servers provide centralized file sharing, which allows multiple people to access and collaborate on documents and files.  
• They include security features, so an administrator can grant or deny file and folder access to individuals and/or groups. 
• Centralized account management means user accounts, password changes, etc., only need to be done from one location. 
  

Written by Russ Levanway, CEO of TekTegrity, Inc

Do you get the feeling that there is an easier way to centralize processes and information in your company? Are systems such as customer contact databases, billing, project management, sales prospects, sales cycle and finance completely separate and independent from each other? Are you frustrated with having to spend too much time on administrative tasks, juggling programs and information, and investigating what is going on at any given time with clients, projects, staff and sales? 

Chances are, there is a simpler, streamlined solution. We learned a lot from working through this process in our own company, as well as finding solutions for our clients. This article will provide insight and inspiration if you are encountering a similar challenge.

Written by Brian Weiss, the CEO of ITECH Solutions

Feb. 10, 2010 ---

In the modern workplace it is imperative to stay on top of the day-to-day tasks required to keep your workplace running smoothly. Everyone knows the value of a computer in the workplace for keeping track of your email, calendar and contacts. These items are vital for managing your schedule and keeping in touch with the contacts used to operate and produce income for your business.  

Most of our days are filled with appointments and tasks that can easily take us away from our desk and computer. This effectively separates us from the device that helps us operate in an efficient manner which can cause delays in projects and overall productivity.

Sometimes all it takes is a quick response to an email, or access to a calendar to keep a project or task on schedule for completion. When you are away from your computer you are not able to keep up with these essential items for sometimes up to a whole day. This is a counterproductive problem that a smart phone can easily solve.

There are many smart phones on the market so the question becomes: “Which smart phone is right for me?” Here are some things to consider when purchasing a Smart Phone:

1. Touch Screen Keyboard or Traditional Keypad?
   Consider they type of keypad you feel comfortable using when entering information into your smart phone. There are touch-screen keyboards, and the traditional keypad which is easier for users that need to feel the keys as they are typing. If you are a new smart phone user, both types of keypads will take getting used to. Existing smart phone users have already learned one type of keypad and tend to prefer the one they already use. Some smart phone keypads may just be incompatible with your hands altogether making it very difficult to enter any information.