So now that Windows 7 has hit the market and starting to make its way into business networks, whats the judgement?  Mostly, a definite improvement over previous versions of Windows. However, there are some caveats and facts that your should be aware of.

First, is the real cost to upgrade.  Most likely you will want a new processor.  If you are not using a processor from Intel or AMD with the new VT technology, you won’t be able to take advantage of at least one key feature; the ability to run XP in virtual mode.  Not every motherboard will support this processor or even be able to support it correctly.  There are issues concerning correct BIOS versions, step codes on processor lot numbers, etc. 

Additionally, if you don’t have at least 3 GB of RAM, count on adding some more in.  If you don’t have a graphics card that supports Direct X 10, plan on adding one in.  Direct X 10 takes full advantage of the updated Aero interface.  Some software will need to be upgraded and this can be expensive if multiple licenses need to be bought for your company.  Finally, there are a few older peripherals (printers and scanners that may not play nicely).  So, be sure to review the list of devices and check it out.

You probably are getting the picture here. In many instances, it will be more cost effective to simply buy a new workstation/notebook preloaded and with the proper hardware.   So while Windows 7 is definitely worth the upgrade, plan on some extra costs along the way.   Additionally, you need to check EVERY program currently running, particularly specialized programs like those you use to run your business.   Finally, there is NO upgrade path from XP. So, unless your hardware is brand new with the XP OS, you will definitely want to plan on a whole new unit.

Lenovo’s IdeaPad U1 is a clever combination of multi-touch tablet and laptop.  The device is notebook computer with a detachable screen that has it’s own processor and can be used as a multi-touch slate tablet.   When closed it looks like a regular laptop, with rounded edges and a snazzy red cover. 

When both halves of the U1 are together, it runs on Windows 7 on an Intel Core 2 Duo SU processor, but when you split them up, the tablet will use a custom version of Linux and a Qualcomm ARM Snapdragon processor.  This means that you get the best combination of power and battery life for each scenario.   Weighing just 3.8 pounds total, each mode supports more that 5 hours of Web browsing and 60 hours of standby. 

Lenovo will start selling the hybrid in June and until then we will be left wondering if it really the best of both worlds wrapped in a pretty package.

Ever been in the middle of a  presentation and Outlook notifications pop your current email messages across the screen. This can be less than desireable for several reasons.  This is the a component of the Microsoft alerting feature that pops up a desktop notification every time you get a new email in your inbox.  While this is very handy when you are expecting an email and waiting for it, in the middle of a meeting it can be a nuisance or worse.  What if you received mail from a source you did not want to share with attendees?

The good news is that there are ways to either disable the feature or just make it far less noticeable. This is a simple process to complete and it doesn’t take long at all.  Here is how to do it:

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It seems that every month a new cell phone, MP3 player or cool electronic gadget is released, making your current model seem outdated.  Making the decision to upgrade is always exciting but what to do with the old model?  Unfortunately there haven’t been many places where you can easily recycle old electronic equipment and too often they end up in the landfill.  

www.YouRenew.com is on a mission to make the planet a better place and provide an easy way for you to “renew” your old electronics.  Enter your decommissioned product in their search engine, answer a couple of questions about model, condition, and any accessories you may have, and YouRenew.com will give you a quote for the amount they will pay you for your item.  If your product isn’t worth money you can ship it to them for free and they will recycle it for you.  If this isn’t incentive enough, for every item “renewed” or recycled, YouRenew.com will make a donation towards domestic renewable energy or  planting a tree.  YouRenew.com - Simple, Elegant, and Green.  Nicely done.

NeatDesk is a great tool to help you become organized more efficiently and increase your productivity.  It quickly turns all the paper on your desk into organized, digital information.  Neatdesk is more than your average scanner; it will organize your documents. the software extracts and organizes key data from your scanned items and creates a searchable database of all your information. 

• Expense reports: Key information is extracted from your scanned receipts, including date, vendor, and amount and is then organized in an excel or pdf report.
• Tax prep: Receipts and financial documents can be organized according to IRS tax categories to maximize deductions and keep digital copies of your tax records.  Data can then be exported to TurboTax.
• Business Cards: Business cards can be scanned into Outlook contact files with the press of a button.  It will even keep a digital image of the card. 

Scanned documents are keyword searchable and are stored in organized digital folders so files can be found in just a few seconds.

Want to find out more about NeatDesk, visit our online store or contact Randy Todd, Client Solutions Manager at rtodd@launchpadonline.com, 813 920 0788 x202.