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Click to view ParadiseOasis's profile Professional ParadiseOasis 7 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
15. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 10, 2007 5:10 PM
Wireless internet for sure.
Click to view bboyfanatic's profile Start-up bboyfanatic 1 posts since
Oct 11, 2007
16. I 2nd the iPhone Oct 11, 2007 7:49 PM
I would make some improovements on it tho.

  • Calendar alerts with a snooze function.
  • Tasks

Otherwise, it's excellent for accessing email and a fully rendered webpage. Reading and replying to email is easy enough. I am even able to connect to my work's exchange server. AT&T service is very spotty though, almost aggravating. If the original iPhone carrier was Verizon, I would've been happier.

A personalized feed aggregator like netvibes or pageflakes also helps when you're dealing with tons of thingas to check on.
Click to view mpoweringu's profile Mogul mpoweringu 29 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
17. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 12, 2007 11:30 AM
Just repeating some others here in a way, but maybe a few new ones.

Totally have to have my Motorala Q 9m with my contacts, voicemail, cell phone, email, calendar, tasks, mobile documents, network connections, and mobile web to access my web-based CRM tool. This is my key device to get business done!

My trusty Dell x300 laptop that weighs less than two poinds and has a 12" screen and mobile wifi to access anything requiring a PC and for working remotely via the free service offered by LogMeIn.com at www.logmein.com (same as GoToMyPC, but FREE!) Also I use Hamachi from LogMeIn.com, a free VPN client to connect my laptop remotely to my internal office network (I can even print documents in the office instead of trying to find a fax machine to print it locally and send it to the office.)

My iPod Nano when I just need to relax and want to listen to some tunes or podcasts (I also use it to "read" the news via podcasts when on trips.)

My Canon Rebel xTi 8MP digital SLR camera for "catching" the sights on any of my trips as photography is a hobby of mine or using it to capture images used in client work.

That's about it!

My trusty Canon travel bubblejet printer for printing documents on the go.
Click to view IOJOE1's profile Start-up IOJOE1 2 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
18. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 12, 2007 11:57 AM

How about a 'tech gadget' that can run your business from anywhere your are? There is a new technology solution that is here today called Software as a Service - SAAS. This solution should be taken seriously as a consideration for running your business and web site because it helps solve the myriad
of day-to-day issues single owner, small and medium size businesses face.

In today's work place issues like travel, two offices, part-time workers, teleworkers, stay at home mom's are becoming a large factor in the operational ability of a company to be efficient and productive. Additional issues of email mgt, shared contacts, shared calendars, order management, inventory management - all need to be addressed. This tool not only provides easy management of your web site thru simply to use Content Tools and centralized your business data - you can access it from any computer/pda/cell phone - with an Internet connection.

In typical software you have 5-9 pieces of software, phones, pda, servers, web site designers, hosting - and the story goes on and on. What if you could lease a 'service' for a low monthly fee (like cable television) that solved all these problems and significantly cut those expenses! Take a look at http://www.internetoffice.biz as one of the providers of this new 'gadget' to help business get organized, centralized, efficient, productive and most of all happy doing their job!

To learn more about the new SAAS watch this short video: http://www.internetoffice.biz/overview/whatisSAAS.aspx


IOJOE

Click to view Wirelessany1's profile Professional Wirelessany1 7 posts since
Oct 11, 2007
19. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 12, 2007 2:26 PM
I think one of the coolest "gadget" for running a business is a Remote Deposit scanner. This scanner coupled with the software provided by your bank allows you to make your deposits from your very own PC. The checks are imaged and the deposit is made available to your account.

A huge plus to this is that these deposits, no matter how large are not subject to the hold regulations placed by a teller in a branch. The regulations governing how deposits are handled only cover deposits made in a branch. When you are making the deposit from your PC, you are not in a branch. So that 100k that may have been held by the branch is completely available when you make the deposit from your own office.

Talk to your banker about Remote Deposit Service!
Click to view ogonzy's profile Start-up ogonzy 1 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
20. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 12, 2007 5:06 PM
in response to: Wirelessany1
I like the Remote deposit service info. Sound interesting. Thanks for that.

The lates coolest "gadget" I've found is a Cellular Wireless broadband router. This is a router where you can insert a Verizon wireless card (commonly used in laptops) and you will get 4 broadband hot ports where you can connect 4 devices like in any other network. This is a cool way to share your Wireless broadband connection which it's been always subject to only your laptop. I use it when I install my Camera security system in construction sites where there is no power, phone or internet wiring yet. This way my customers can keep eyes on their constructions from their offices. Also they can use a VoIP phone for a temporary construction office.

Another cool gadget is my Vonage wireless WI-FI phone. Any place where there is a free internet hot-spot (restaurants, hotels, airports or neighbors) my vonage wi-fi picks up the internet signal and I get unlimited nationwide calls over the internet at a very unexpensive flat montly rate.
Click to view talbratton's profile Start-up talbratton 3 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
21. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 13, 2007 11:25 AM
Skype VOIP is a must, very very cost effective and with most headsets totally mobile. For international business a necessity.
Click to view NatOnline's profile Mogul NatOnline 670 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
22. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 13, 2007 11:38 AM
I've got a widescreen computer, very nice to manipulate multi windows, softwares, etc...

Another gadget, I build my computers myself all the time, I choose my CPU, my motherboard, etc...put all parts together it was fun, work great, very very fast computer.
Click to view Faerie's profile Authority Faerie 27 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
23. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 13, 2007 2:42 PM
LogMeIn is the remote access program I use to remote access the primary business computer when I'm at home. I have it installed on two laptops both upstairs and downstairs so it's as easy to work from home as at the office.

RingCentral is the 800 service we use. I absolutely love it. When I'm in the office it rings there. When I'm working from home I have it forwarded to our distinctive ring number. If I'm expecting a call I can forward it to my cell phone. I set business hours so during evenings and weekends it goes straight thru to the message service.

The last thing is something I learned from my first business mentor - task specific printers. With the affordability of good printers it is more time efficient to have dedicated printers for specific tasks or work areas. For example, I have one printer that does nothing but print our packing slips/label sheets. One drawer is for printing USPS labels and reciepts and the other drawer has the paper oriented differently for printing from our order management program. On the same computer is attached a second printer for plain paper printing. No more swapping out paper - just print as needed.
Click to view MadBiz's profile Professional MadBiz 7 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
24. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 14, 2007 5:17 PM
in response to: ogonzy

Thanks for the router info, this is really helpful info for me.
Click to view unicorn's profile Start-up unicorn 2 posts since
Oct 14, 2007
25. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 14, 2007 7:25 PM

Without question the hottest is D.E.X.S.A.R. (digital exchange, storage and retrieval system) which lets me manage my entire business digital estate including electronic copies of bank statements, deeds, warranties, wills, trusts,medical records, and tax records. It alleviates having crates of paperwork and clutter. DigitalNow, the company that markets DEXSAR is giving away free business accounts at http://www.dexsar.com.
Click to view NatOnline's profile Mogul NatOnline 670 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
26. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 14, 2007 8:33 PM
in response to: unicorn
That's cool, I recently discover many French banks offer this service. At the branch you can get a safe service, but why not to offer a online a mega secure safe for all very important electonic files?
Click to view score81's profile SCORE score81 76 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
27. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 14, 2007 8:48 PM

There are following possible suggestios:

    1. Banking on Line with microsoft Money /Quicken books.
    2. Wireless LAN connection with in store for easy access on every corner.
    3. USB memory stick to take home all daily data from your computer.
    4. PDA to get recent updae about your needs of the work.
Click to view NatOnline's profile Mogul NatOnline 670 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
28. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 14, 2007 8:59 PM
in response to: score81
Well score81, I really careful about the new gadget like the PDA for a few security concerns:

1) They don't provide firewall

2) The Bluetooth can be accessible by anyone if close enough from your devise.

3) All anti-virus software companies start to offer this service for PDA or smart devise.

I don't understand why Microsoft Mobile don't have any firewall, that's a shame when you know how Microsoft is targeted. I hope to see some main updates very soon.
Click to view GoGators's profile Start-up GoGators 2 posts since
Oct 15, 2007
29. Re: Cool tech gadgets for running your business? Oct 15, 2007 5:06 PM
in response to: NatOnline
1. Most PDA's and smartphones really don't need a firewall and the web browsing is fair at best. I personally never use the browser except for the Bank of America mobile banking (which is secured by SSL) however I do use the secure wireless sync to my Exchange server so all of my appts and email are updated in realtime.
2. Another bluetooth device can only access your device if you have your device is set to discoverable and not password protected.
3. Anti-virus should be done at the server level for email.

In my opinion the must have gadget is a smartphone wirelessly syncing my calendar and email in realtime.
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