ForumsTechnology Management

Oops - typo - "Would steal your identity"

....................and the debate continues

Thanks!

Gene, thanks for the post! I generally agree with nine of the ten points. (While Antivirus Software isn't perfect, it's about as usable as any other desktop application and a "necessary inconvenience" for a business computer connected to the Internet. Attacks occur daily, and most small businesses can't afford the unexpected downtime or resulting recovery process. Are you really surfing "naked" right now?)

As for the feedback you're getting, it seems that some readers don't understand the function of an op-ed piece. If it doesn't involve a polarizing issue, it probably doesn't get published. The better the piece, the stronger the response (if people agree with your viewpoint, you're a genius and they e-mail it to all their colleagues -- if they disagree, you're a moron and they send you hate mail). So it goes.

The final sentence was key: "unless you're running an online business, these tools have little relevance." Many advocates of the technologies you mentioned believe that ALL small business is online business -- or should be. To offer an analogy, the Public Library is a well-organized, efficient, comprehensive place to find information. Barnes & Nobel has some books, plus they let you talk and drink coffee. Each have their purpose. Web 2.0 is like B&N. It enables customer interaction (among other things). However, the functional purpose of about 90 percent of business websites is to serve as a good library. The majority of web developers don't seem to understand that, and they exclude themselves from some very lucrative work by metaphorically insisting that we (business owners) replace the historical research stacks with a bank of espresso machines.

I will look into this Ed.

Thanks for the input!

Yes this is true!

MoltenJavaDev...thank you for that insight...upfront communications. I manage the team on BaseCamp...and everyone has permissions for all the projects...including the marketing/sales team and the Board Sec/Treas. We are an extremely ecclectic group so for us the transparency works really well. We are also all over 45 which helps....we have conquered other mountains and are looking at this as our final adventure before we head off to the beach or the spa at the ripe young age of 100!

Gene - it is great you are participating on the board and since you are asking questions, I assume BofA isn't paying you to participate which is even better.

I've read your work and have always been a closet fan. I think of you less as a journalist and more as "Joe Business Owner" who has been given the platform to share his voice. I always like your writing particularly for the humor you inject.

Now on to the article - on some points you are dead on, on others maybe you were drinking. Spam filters are an absolute must. A good spam filter will keep the junk out and allow the good stuff in. We run a 4 person firm and my partner, myself, and our assistants generally work from home unless we are on site with a client, so virus protection is a must. Our assistants use their personal PC's, and log onto our private network, Symantec is a life saver.

As far as the blogs and RSS, you are dead on - a pointless use of my time.

But you have to admit, some of the responses to you were downright hilarious!