Midway to Midlife!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-08

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0000

@RunnerOH_nma I think my next laptop will be a macbook pro w/ parallels vm's… Did u buy anything @ apple store? in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
RT @billshrink: Cellphone Plans, This Week’s Money Saving Tip http://bit.ly/aXhfAs #
RT @google: Google Docs welcomes DocVerse: http://bit.ly/c4mWva #
RT @ParallelsMac: Parallels Desktop 5 Supports Chrome OS http://bit.ly/caOMSM #
RT @turbotax: Plan for taxes due on a Roth IRA conversion. By @taxtweet: http://bit.ly/bCJMwO #
RT @thurrott: Making Windows 7 Home Premium the Ultimate OS http://bit.ly/dhFTqG #
@matthewneely awesome! in reply to matthewneely #
RT @IntuitPayroll: RT @smallbizlegal: 10 Tips for Small Businesses to Reduce the Risk of an Audit http://bit.ly/9VaV28 #
RT @google: How Google Apps work for data disaster recovery: http://bit.ly/9nkti8 #
RT @TechRSS: Google adds free cloud "backup" to Apps, feature that reduces risk of data loss (Sam Diaz)… http://bit.ly/dhGQZg #
@stack congrats man! in reply to stack #
Lots of great books on sale at Amazon: http://bit.ly/90A1Fk Enjoy! #
@brandonkaid I've been debating too! Maybe if we take a min wage job b4 retirement we can pay low taxes on ira withdrawals.. in reply to brandonkaid #
@ParallelsMac – found it funny/ironic that Parallels (PC *on* Mac) tweets a "PC or Mac" link… Hehe! in reply to ParallelsMac #
@RunnerOH_nma doubt that would happen in ATL! Yay for the big city! in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
Good job schmidty! RT @swschmidt: Dropped my total cholesterol 30 points in 6 months thanks to @kellyoc!!! http://www.kellyoconnellrd.com #
@swschmidt dashorrible! in reply to swschmidt #
@paulwaling thanks man!! Another year older, another hour longer to recover from hangovers. in reply to paulwaling #
@paulwaling I have the mbr-900 at home. Love the "failover" capabilities! in reply to paulwaling #

10 Behaviors of Highly-Effective Small Business IT (Part 2)

MW2ML Technology — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:09:58 +0000

As mentioned in my previous article 10 Behaviors of Highly-Effective Small Business IT (Part 1), there’s quite a bit of overlap between many of the “best practice” articles I read online. In my experience, there were really only 10 behaviors or best practices that seemed to provide the most bang for the buck (or time). After all, as a small business, there are some “best practices” that are simply out of reach on a small scale (either due to cost or complexity). In my first part to this two-part series, I gave you five of what I called the “10 behaviors of highly-effective Small Business IT.” Lets take a look at the remaining five.

Utilize Remote Access Software/VPN:

Remote Access and VPN (Virtual Private Networking) is sometimes pretty confusing to people when I mention it. After all, in the article detailing the first five behaviors, I told you to secure your Internet connection to prevent people from gaining access to your systems from the Internet! Well, yes, but in that case I was referring to people NOT on your payroll! VPN’s and Remote Access software can be handy in any number of scenarios. For starters, it allows your employees the ability to work from alternate locations, such as the case with traveling salesforces, “road warriors,” or telecommuters. Additionally, VPN’s can provide secure connectivity between branch offices over the Internet (utilizing cheaper broadband Internet connections versus expensive, dedicated point-to-point leased lines) .

Fortunately, there are a number of ways to do this (and it depends on what you wish to accomplish). If you simply wish to enable connectivity to desktops inside your organization, get remote IT help, or enable remote collaboration, you can look into services such as GoToMyPC.com, Microsoft LiveMeeting, or WebEx. However, if your needs are more complex or you wish to enable connectivity between multiple sites (such as branch offices), you should probably look at hardware-based VPN options. Here are a few to get you started:

Cradlepoint MBR-1100: Easy to configure VPN Endpoint and Wired/Wireless Router with built-in Internet connection failover capabilities.
Cisco Adaptive Security Appliances: Not for the faint of heart, but definitely enterprise-grade security!
SonicWall VPN Gateway: Provide your remote users access to internal resources using only their web browser!

There are quite a few ways to go when it comes to VPN. It is best that you determine how you will use remote access in your business, and then choose a solution to fit your budget. As you can see, there are plenty of options out there.

Encrypt Portable Storage Devices

If you’ve ever ran a Google search for “Security Incidents from Lost USB Drives”, you’d probably be amazed by the number of hits you’d get. I know, the great part about USB storage devices is that they allow you to put a large volume of data in a small, portable package. Unfortunately, their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness. Think about it, how often do you misplace or lose something small like a book, MP3 player, or your car keys? Worse yet, the size of a USB storage device also makes it easy to steal (putting your data and/or intellectual property at risk)! According to a 2007 survey report published by ASIS International, the number of information compromise attempts increase year to year, with the financial impact of those attempts between the thousands to millions of dollars. Bear in mind, those figures don’t include the loss of reputation and trust, competitive technological advantage, and overall profitability if you suffer a data leak. Point being, the potential impact of a lost or stolen portable storage device is a hefty price to pay for something that can be prevented with a little bit of forethought!

Fortunately, it is easy enough to encrypt those portable drives. There are two notable software packages that enable encryption of portable storage devices: a free, open-source software product called TrueCrypt, and the “BitLocker” software built into Windows 7 Ultimate. While it would take a while to cover all the features of TrueCrypt, just know that it’s quick and moderately easy to use as its use is well-documented on the Internet. BitLocker is similar, and its use just as well documented. There have also been some hardware-encrypted storage devices released in recent months, including the IronKey and Lexar JumpDrive Secure II. As you can see, there really is no excuse for leaving those portable storage devices unencrypted.

Utilize NAS as an alternative to SAN (when it makes sense to do so)

Many people think of NAS (Network Attached Storage) and SAN (Storage Area Networks) as interchangeable terms/technologys. However, that is far from the truth as there are a number of differences between the two (each with their own advantages and disadvantages). I’ve seen in the past where businesses have made the shift in policy and thinking from having disparate local storage to a single centralized storage platform. Generally, they’ve let some salesperson lead them down the path that “SAN is the answer to all their storage problems” or “SAN is the best performing centralized storage solution” (don’t get me wrong, you can pull some impressive performance stats from a properly configured SAN). Whether you’re a large business shocked by the pricetag on your new SAN, or a small business on the cusp of centralizing your storage, I wanted to remind you that NAS can be a great addition to your centralized storage philosophy and can help keep your costs down. If you’re looking for some great “NAS versus SAN” discussions, you may want to look at these:

It boils down to this, there are some centralized storage applications that don’t need the high performance of a SAN. The most notable instance of this – generic file storage (such as departmental or users’ home drives). If you’re looking for a place to dump a bunch of data that will be accessed infrequently, NAS can quickly fit the bill. Here’s why:

It makes use of the network you already have in place (Wired and/or Wireless).
NAS devices typically use inexpensive, large capacity disks.
Most NAS devices have few moving parts (outside of the hard drives), making the NAS device itself fairly reliable.
Most NAS devices utilize numerous file-sharing protocols, which is great if your environment has a mix of Windows, Linux, and Mac machines.
Many NAS devices can integrate with pre-existing authentication directories/systems (such as Active Directory or LDAP).
NAS devices come in a range of sizes and prices. You’ll definitely be able to find something that fits your budget!

It is easy to find a NAS device which can fit your needs and budget. However, not all NAS devices have easy-to-use configuration software, so make sure you read reviews before making a purchase.

Use a VOIP PBX for your phone system

If you’ve heard of services like Vonage, Skype, and MagicJack, then you’re already familiar with VOIP (Voice-Over-IP) services. You probably also know that these services provide the ability to make telephone calls for a reasonably low rate (and a rate much lower than their Telephone Company competitors). Have you thought about looking into similar solutions for your business? If not, you should and here’s why:

A VOIP PBX is generally easier to install and configure than traditional telephone systems (thanks to web/GUI interfaces).
VOIP Phone Systems provide opportunities for significant cost savings: lower hardware costs, discounted long distance/international calling (by using VOIP telephone service providers), and (often times) a larger list of included/standard features normally costing extra in traditional phone systems.
Hardware and Software vendors for VOIP PBX systems must adhere to the SIP standard, meaning you can mix and match hardware and software vendors based on your needs.
The architecture of a VOIP PBX allows for some fairly convenient features such as “soft phones” (i.e. software phones that you use through your computer and are great if you travel), desk roaming (move your phone to a new location in the office without needing to have it rewired in a closet somewhere), and scalability (increase capacity quickly and easily).

A pretty well-known VOIP PBX is the open-source software called Asterisk. If you prefer a “turn-key” solution, you can contact the hardware vendor that wrote Asterisk – Digium. I’ve also seen some other systems advertised by 3CX and OneBox which integrate with smartphones. I’ll admit that I do not have personal experience installing and configuring a VOIP PBX, but from what I’ve read and researched it has the potential to save you a fair amount of money in the long run. This may be one of those items you want to research before you call the phone company and sign a multi-year commitment for phone service.

Be Proactive

This one is so important, as the majority of problems I see result from being too reactive. The most obvious and best example of this I can give involves security patching and antivirus definitions. Yes, it’s annoying to apply those updates on a regular basis (and potentially need to reboot). Yet, is it better to spend 15 minutes patching/updating the system(s), or 2+ hours recovering from a virus infection that exploited your unpatched/unprotected machine(s)? (Attach hand to face as shown in the picture, yes?)

Here are a few instances where I suggest you stay proactive:

Security Patches and Antivirus Updates – Stay Secure, Enough Said!
Major Operating System Upgrades – Don’t wait until you have a problem to find out that “Windows 2000″ is no longer supported by Microsoft. This also rings true for the application software you have installed on those OS’s.
Data Loss and Disaster Recovery Strategies – Don’t wait until your closet catches fire or you lose hard drives to find out you never got around to setting up your off-site backups!
If you’re a new business just starting out, look into utilizing cloud-based applications (such as Google Apps) and simplify some of your technology.

My advice (and the reason this is on my “10 Behaviors” list): Be careful not to get so caught up in the day-to-day or comfortable with things just “humming along” that you don’t keep an eye on what’s ahead. I’m not saying you need to be SO proactive that you’re “cutting edge” (or worse, “bleeding edge”), but forethought and proactive activities (be it implementing new stuff or maintaining old stuff) can definitely save you time, money, and problems in the long run. Ultimately, this contributes to the bottom line and your competitive advantage.

Conclusion:

So there you have it, the remaining five of my 10 Behaviors of Highly-Effective Small Business Technology. As always, I welcome commentary on your experiences with computers and IT in your own home or small business. If you have questions, feel free to Contact Me directly!

Like this posting? You will definitely enjoy getting my free technology tips and tricks sent straight to you as I write them! No spam, and I will never give your email address to any other company!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-03-01

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Sorry the posts have been absent the past weeks! I've been officially "moving" to the ATL! All the boxes and… http://bit.ly/cNMk1j #
Love the cradlepoints! RT @woot: $99.99 : Cradlepoint PHS300 Personal Portable WiFi Hotspot http://www.woot.com #
@matthewneely october if I stay on sprint – dec to go elsewhere! Plus sprint's current android selection sucks! in reply to matthewneely #
I wanna jump ship from bberry to android! Stupid etf fees! #
Been a rough past day & half – bberry took a dump, had to fight w/ it in order to get it to reload OS! #
Stiiiiiiillllll at the DMV! Slow line! #
Long line at the DMV in GA! Prolly 100 or so peeps in front of me! http://mypict.me/4g0QC #
Hahaha! RT @paulwaling: @brandonkaid …winamp is da bomb! Just like jorts, mullets & flannel shirts! #flashback #welcometo2010 #
RT @google: Reading solid post by @thefounder re good SEO hygiene – thanks for delving into how it's supposed to work. http://bit.ly/bzIeRV #
I find it amusing that googlevoice transcription doesn't seem to handle southern accents well… #
RT @billshrink: The 12 Biggest Ripoffs in America http://bit.ly/b86Rn9 #
RT @TechCrunch: SugarSync Makes It Simple To Upload Files Via Email; Adds 500 GB Storage Plan – http://tcrn.ch/bBHl0d by @leenarao #
RT @TechCrunch: Inbox2 Debuts Public Beta Of Message Management Desktop Client For Windows – http://tcrn.ch/9Dv1Ow by @robinwauters #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-22

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

RT @mashable: 7 Mind-Blowing Free Android Apps – http://bit.ly/cQhXsp #
RT @TechRSS: The 20 best money Web sites: These sites have tools you can trust to help you make better money decisions. http://bit.ly/dtBXPW #
@paulwaling too many snow days lately – ppl working from office to get outta the house and away from spouses/kids!! in reply to paulwaling #
Scary!! RT @swschmidt: Blippy + Foursquare. Now I know when you are not home and what I can rob from you. Sweet. #
RT @mashable: 7 Superb Social Plugins for WordPress – http://bit.ly/dqSDHe #
RT @turbotax: Pls. RT: Want free TurboTax? @reply @TurboTax w/ ur best #taxhaiku We'll select our winner at 11a PST. Go! #

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-15

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

@RunnerOH_nma even if they're hoodie-footie-snuggies?? I think snuggie is blurring the line b/w pj's and velour track suits… in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
So I've heard bad things about comcast, but i just got my cable modem installed: 17Mbps down, 4Mbps up! Not too… http://bit.ly/9C5W8z #
@swschmidt science rules! in reply to swschmidt #
Agreed, but prefer frostfire! I grew up not too far away from breitenbach! RT @RunnerOH_nma: Breitenbach First Crush…good stuff #
RT @google: Introducing Google Buzz: a new way to start conversations about the things that you find interesting http://bit.ly/9t3zek #
RT @ParallelsMac: 10 things I love about my MacBook Pro: http://bit.ly/afPWK1 #
@RunnerOH_nma find any postings of interest on solid's website? in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
RT @ParallelsMac: RT @SkeeterHarris: Windows on the Mac: Parallels vs. VMware vs. Sun – http://ow.ly/16wLbP #

Mac v. Windows – Contemplating the old Switch-a-roo?

MW2ML Technology — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:49:11 +0000

It seems as time rolls on, the folks up in Cupertino (that’s “Apple” for the non-techies out there) continue trying to make computers less of “work machines” and more like “life machines” – works of art that become the hubs of your digital lives (and occasionally allow you to type up a document or do “business” stuff). While I hardly concede that one should purchase a computer on looks alone, it is hard to deny the insane amount of positive reviews the Mac hardware seems to amass. While I agree that the subject of this blog is predominantly “Windows-based,” I do like to remain open minded and throw out an occasional post about interesting things in the Mac and Linux world.

One of the things that generally held me back from making a switch to Mac was application compatibility. In my mind, many of the programs I ran on Windows never seemed to have worthwhile Mac counterparts. Many times, a software company either didn’t write a Mac-compatible version at all, or wrote a version that included basic functionality (and wasn’t a feature-to-feature equivalent). I’ll admit that has started changing (case in point – MS Office:Mac, and Quicken Essentials for Mac) due to the greater overall adoption of Mac hardware platform (yay for Intel processors!) and positive acceptance of OS X. One of the things I’ve been reading up on is the idea of virtualization within OS X. While Windows OS’s have had this for years with programs such as VMWare and Virtual PC (and we can’t forget Linux with the “Wine” project), it seems that virtualization is something new on the block with OS X. What is “Virtualization” you ask? Basically, it’s running an Operating System (such as Windows) within another Operating System (Such as OS X). Think of it as “Picture-in-Picture” for your computer.

Sidenote: Macs have supported “Dual-Boot” (by way of Boot Camp) since Intel processors joined the Mac hardware. However, I personally think it would be annoying to reboot back and forth between OS’s when trying to accomplish different tasks.

If you’re like me and are worried about application compatibility on a Mac, then the following few links (noted from the Twitter-verse) may give you some new food for thought. As you will see below, not only does the Mac have a number of merits on its own, but if you combine it with Virtualization (the ability to run the Windows-based everything else as though it’s a program within your Mac), you may just have everything you need.

10 Things I Love About My Macbook Pro – Mike Afford
Virtualization Performance Testing – Macworld
Windows on a Mac – Infoworld
Side-by-Side Windows and Mac OS with Parallels – LifeHacker

As I said, this is just a little food for thought I wanted to share for any of you who may be contemplating the switch to a Mac. As always, I welcome commentary on your own experiences switching to Mac and/or using some type of Virtualization software (Parallels, VMWare, etc) on a Mac. If you have questions, feel free to Contact Me directly!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-08

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

@Shmunkie78 same here! How's it going? Chris liking the new digs? in reply to Shmunkie78 #
Cleaning up dog pee… Yet again. Grrrrr! #
Interesting! RT @TechRSS: Facebook removes Microsoft banner ads from site: SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) http://bit.ly/cW18qE #
Unleashing my inner urban – doing geek stuff to the rhymes of ludacris. #
RT @mashable: Smartphones Are Selling Like Crazy – http://bit.ly/aYCOI2 #
@paulwaling @RunnerOH_nma nate's just jealous b/c he's buried under a foot of snow! Haha in reply to paulwaling #
@brandonkaid warmer weather, here we come! in reply to brandonkaid #

Social Lending with LendingClub – Your Thoughts?

MW2ML Technology — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:52:41 +0000

As you all probably know by now, personal finance is one of my interests. I read quite a few RSS feeds (and books when I can make the time) on the subject. While I am in no way an expert, some posts in one of the feeds I follow has been catching my eye. The subject of these posts is a website called “LendingClub” – basically it allows folks to apply for micro-loans which are socially funded by the Internet populous ($20 from you, $30 from me, etc). From a borrower perspective, you can generally get a better rate than you may get from a bank (as well as the ability to “plead your case” to potential lenders). From a lending perspective, the potential exists to get a much higher return than you would get from a typical high-yield savings account.

While I’ve found myself in more of a “save money and pay off debt” mode lately (thanks to the many posts I’m reading and lessons learned from the recent economic downturn), I’ve been mulling the idea of jumping into LendingClub. I’ve held a “high-yield” savings account for years, but as most bank-related things have done with the downturn, the “high-yield” isn’t so high. I was thinking of using LendingClub as a new way to build some savings through interest. One of the bloggers I follow, FiveCentNickel, recently published a post on his own loan selection criteria that seems to be working for him. He’s written a post that provides an overview of LendingClub, with instructions on how to create an account.

Have any of you looked into LendingClub and/or joined the social lending game? What have your experiences been thus far?

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-01

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:00:00 +0000

@RunnerOH_nma you could "live solid" down in the ATL in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
@RunnerOH_nma move to atlanta! in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
So, I gave "Clear" Wi-Max a try down here in Atlanta. Basically, it didn't work so well. Apparently I've got… http://bit.ly/bzzqDZ #
@RunnerOH_nma I think its considered "brisk" moreso than "crisp"…. Hahaha in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
RT same here @swschmidt: @INGDirect Why are you blocking @Mint from updating? Please fix so I don't have to close my account with you. Thx. #
@turbotax giving some blog love to turbotax – http://bit.ly/cMgWUL in reply to turbotax #
RT @MSWindows: The top ten reasons to buy Windows 7 – http://bit.ly/49szVv ^JS #
RT @TechRSS: iPad or Kindle: will our wallets decide?: http://bit.ly/9VUekC #
Wow, here's some nostalgia: hunt for food, get dysentary, ford rivers – Oregon Trail @ Amazon http://bit.ly/c1RpMb #
RT @billshrink: America's Best & Worst Banks For 2010: http://bit.ly/aIIaGU #
@ParallelsMac no prob! Been eyeing parallels and fusion while debating a switch to mac… in reply to ParallelsMac #
@brandonkaid just run #win7 in vm fusion or parallels, then u'll fit in, but have a familiar environment for working in reply to brandonkaid #
#overheard hotel mgrs telling maintenance that a lady was stuck in a bathroom stall. Bad spot to have a handle break, eh? #
Just saw on CNN that gary coleman is in jail. What'chu talking 'bout, Willis?! #
@brandonkaid soon u'll be writing applescript on ur macbook! Hahaha! in reply to brandonkaid #
@brandonkaid smart move! Winmo & sharepoint are not my faves! I'm surprised u didn't talk them into droid! Ha! in reply to brandonkaid #
RT @IntuitPayroll: Hiring Employees? Conduct Background Checks for Your #SmallBiz http://bit.ly/8azGlU #
Speaking of games, I used to love playing "the 11th hour" – a real mind bender! http://bit.ly/6s5pvc #
Bored? Download a game and have some fun!! http://bit.ly/6Hskko #

Apple iPad Announced! Pricing starts at $499!

MW2ML Technology — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:26:19 +0000

All,

If you haven’t been following coverage on Apple’s media announcement today, they’re releasing the “iPad” starting at $499! It runs all the apps in the app store, plus does some fancy other stuff for e-reader functionality and your usual web/email/music/video stuff. Looks pretty neat. Engadget has a live feed going right now on their website.

Available with 16GB up to 64GB of storage. On-screen virtual QWERTY keyboard, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G coverage from AT&T (at $15 or $30 price tiers). Looks awesome!

I’m sure there will be more to come regarding this one!

Rob

Its 2009 Tax Time: Tax Preparation Software!

MW2ML Technology — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:45:21 +0000

Wouldn’t it be great if paying your taxes was as simple as it was in the game of Monopoly?! If only!

Yes, it’s that time of the year again – the time of year when you figure out if Uncle Sam owes you money back, or if you owe Uncle Sam a fat paycheck. If you’re like most people, you find the whole process of filing taxes a pain in the rear. However, I’m here to tell you that filing your taxes has never been easier, thanks to a few of the popular tax preparation software options in the market today.

A word of warning – the purpose of this article is *not* to provide tax advice (you can easily get that advice from Intuit’s “Ask a Tax Expert”). I simply want to show you that tax preparation has matured over the past decade and is now a do-it-yourself tax preparation option worth a look. If you’re still paying the local bookkeeper lots of money to prepare and file your taxes, or wasting hours of your life sitting in a brick-and-mortar tax preparation store, you may want to read further before you you do the “same old” tax prep this year.

TurboTax – Taxes Made EASY!

I’ll freely admit that I’m a fan of TurboTax. It all started for me in 2002 when I double-checked the return prepared by my bookkeeper against TurboTax. As it turns out, TurboTax would have gotten me an additional $200 on my return. I’ve been using TurboTax ever since and haven’t looked back. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate a few of the following aspects of preparing my taxes with TurboTax:

The “Wizard”: This was especially useful the first few times I used the software. Basically, TurboTax asks you questions and helps you determine all the Income and Deductions that apply to you. Once you’re familiar with the software, you can also do your taxes by looking at a menu of options and picking the subjects that apply to you.
Come Back Later: You never have to worry about doing your taxes in a single sitting. TurboTax allows you to save your information and then come back at another time and pick up where you stopped in your previous session.
Its on the Web: While you can still purchase a “boxed” version of TurboTax, you can also do everything completely online. I like this as I never have to worry about the “upgrades” year-to-year, or making sure that my computer meets the minimum requirements (except for having an up-to-date web browser like Firefox or Chrome).
E-Filing: While this isn’t necessarily a feature exclusive to TurboTax (you can e-file with most popular tax software), it’s integrated, flawless, and free! Plus, the online version of TurboTax provides a method to get notified if your tax file has been accepted by state and federal organizations.

However, I realize that different folks have different priorities. Here is a slightly more exhaustive list of features that you may be interested in exploring:

Free Online Federal Tax Return Preparation for “1040EZ” forms: If your tax situation is very simple and you would normally only file a 1040EZ form, you can generate your Federal tax return for free with TurboTax (Online Only – it’s roughly $30 for the downloadable/boxed software).
Continuous Error Checking: TurboTax monitors your return for errors and notifies you when you may have made a mistake.
Audit Risk Warning: TurboTax can analyze your return and notify you of situations that may cause you to get Audited by the IRS.
Audit Support Center: TurboTax includes a downloadable “Audit Support Center” which can help you understand why you’re being audited and what the letters from the IRS mean. A handy feature to have if your return is a member of the “One Percent Club” (i.e. the one percent of all tax returns that get audited each year). Yes, an audit is rare, but do you really want to be without help if it happens?
Imports Data: TurbTtax can import your previous year’s data (if you become a regular TurboTax user) to speed up the tax preparation process. Additionally, TurboTax integrates with Quicken and can import data from Quicken/QuickBooks to help make tax preparation easier.
Live Tax Answers: Intuit fosters an active community where you can get free answers to many of your tax questions.
State Preparation Available: You can also prepare and e-file your state tax returns (for an additional fee).

As you can see, Intuit’s TurboTax software gives you a pretty hefty bang for your tax preparation buck. Additionally, Intuit does a great job of improving the software year-to-year. They always make sure that the software is up-to-date and optimized for the tax codes/deductions that apply.

H&R Block At Home – “TaxCut” Gets a New Name!

As mentioned before, there are multiple options out there for tax preparation software. Being a huge TurboTax fan, I don’t have personal experience with any of the others, but wanted to bring one other option to your attention – H&R Block at Home. This is H&R Block’s competitor to Turbotax. I’m not sure if the interface is as easy as TurboTax, but I did notice a few worthwhile features in their product info:

Five Free Federal E-Files: Handy if you are married filing separately, or filing for yourself and a few relatives/children.
Unlimited Federal Return Prepare & Print: If you’re doing taxes for the whole extended family, you can prepare their returns and print them. Unfortunately, they’ll need to mail these in.
Audit Support: H&R Block will also assign you an agent for representation if you get audited.
Imports Data: The software can import data from most other software packages to speed data entry.

Conclusion:

Let’s face it, tax preparation is a task that seems daunting and/or mundane. However, tax preparation software has seen some huge improvements over the past decade. If you’re like me and trying to be mindful of your spending, you may be able to save some money by preparing your taxes on your own this year using one of the above mentioned tax preparation software packages. Are you a current TurboTax or H&R Block at Home (or “TaxCut”) user, let us know your experience as well. Have either of these packages found you some great deductions also? I welcome comments as to your own personal experience. As always, if you have questions feel free to Contact Me directly!

Like this posting? You will definitely enjoy getting my free technology tips and tricks sent straight to you as I write them! No spam, and I will never give your email address to any other company!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-25

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

Interesting?! RT @boygeniusreport: AT&T rumored to lose iPhone exclusivity this Wednesday? http://goo.gl/fb/7uqz #
RT @RunnerOH_nma: @paulwaling pdubs – looks like u got called out. #
@turbotax I've used turbotax the past 5 years and love it! Excited to get started on my 2K9 taxes. in reply to turbotax #
@paulwaling http://tweetphoto.com/9412842. U look like Moby w/ ski goggles. Ha! in reply to paulwaling #
@RunnerOH_nma @paulwaling @Tina_Marie_77 lindemans is awesome! Love the lambic beers! in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
@paulwaling wow! How wierd is that?! in reply to paulwaling #
@paulwaling tricky nikki?? in reply to paulwaling #
RT @turbotax: Small business owners prepare for another rough year ahead… http://bit.ly/6VmIRo #
So fun! RT @GiulianaRancic: Tune to Giuliana & Bill Sunday @ 9/8c on The Style Network! Info: http://bit.ly/81lIJz #gandb #
@swschmidt @billshrink – Same here: iTunes plus Amazon. See my old post: http://bit.ly/8J7Ci3 in reply to swschmidt #
I second this! RT @stack: Firefox 3.6 released today. If u've not switched from IE, it's time. http://bit.ly/AWNUV #
RT @woot: $59.99 : Philips 8.5” Portable DVD Player with iPod Dock http://www.woot.com #
@brandonkaid no disassemble johnny 5!!! in reply to brandonkaid #
In the process of applying a new theme to the blog. It's a little less "flashy", but I think it makes it easier to… http://bit.ly/8GWUdZ #
RT @swschmidt: Cellular Plans: Ultimate Comparison: http://www.billshrink.com/blog/cell-phone-plans-comparison via @billshrink #
@brandonkaid any noticeable performance impact to the server when running those calcs?? in reply to brandonkaid #

Online Apps for a Paperless Small Business

MW2ML Technology — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:32:12 +0000

I was browsing through my RSS Feeds, and stumbled onto a great post at Small Business Trends: 30 Online Invoicing Apps for Small Business. If you’re starting a small business, many of these online tools can help you get invoices and estimates out to your clients in a timely fashion. The prices are all over the board, from free (via introductory offerings or open-source software) to up to $150 per month. There are definitely a number of options for you.

Other Ways to Go Paperless:

However, running a business involves more than just invoicing clients. Yes, you need to get paid, but there’s also a number of ways to simplify other aspects of your business. I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the services out there for going paperless, but here are a few other services well worth a look:

Payroll, Bookkeeping, and Invoicing:

Intuit Online Payroll – Make it quick and easy to pay your employees. 30 day FREE trial + lock in the discounted rate of $9.99/month for the first 2 months.
Quickbooks Online – Pay for what you need, rather than purchasing the full-blown Quickbooks software! Get started easily with online accounting.
Workingpoint.com – This one is the new kid on the block. Think of it as a combination of bookkeeping software and CRM/contact manager in one. The pricing on this package is fairly attractive, with the first user getting free access forever.

Document and Records Management:

Intuit MyCorporation – Easily complete business filings (such as LLC or S-Corp) and maintain an always-available registered agent. Get an LLC or Corp for Free!
BizFilings - Similar to MyCorporation, BizFilings lets you create an LLC or Corp and maintain a registered agent for your small business. Incorporate or Form an LLC.
Shoeboxed – Easily track your receipts and business cards by mailing them in via pre-paid envelopes, emailing them, or by using your mobile phone. Focus on your business, not the paperwork!
Pixily - A document management service (similar to Shoeboxed) that allows you to to send in full-size documents for conversion to fully-searchable electronic copies. Find your important documents quickly and easily!

NOTE: According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, businesses spend $20 in labor to file a document, $120 in labor to find a misfiled document, and $220 in labor to reproduce a document. They also stated that 7.5% of all paper documents get lost. This makes a great case for online document management services!

Marketing and Communication:

Constant Contact - Easily create Email marketing campaigns and surveys which can help you engage your potential and current customers. Try it FREE for 60-Days.
RingCentral - Voice-over-IP phone provider that also has an electronic fax service. Getting rid of your fax machine is a great start to a paperless office! Try RingCentral Fax FREE for 30 days.
eFax - Another popular electronic fax service. Try eFax For 30 Days Free.
Logoworks - Get a logo design that will become the main ingredient for your brand. Logoworks Start Up Package is perfect for new businesses. It includes logo design, stationery design, a 3 page website, & 250 business cards.

Drawbacks to Going Paperless:

In a dream world, you can get your entire office utilizing e-everything (or all-digital this and thats). However, going paperless can be a challenge so I thought I’d give you with a little bit of extra food for thought:

Paperless generally means “Less Paper”: I read something to this effect in an article one time. Basically, it means that even in a “paperless” office, there will still be an occasional paper document that will float your way (typically from a client or vendor). Make sure you can at least accomodate these one-offs in your office so that you can maintain business relationships with your “paper-ridden” counterparts.
Backups are Critical: If you’re keeping everything electronically, ensure you have an Offsite Backup! Paperless businesses have an even greater dependence on electronic information. Make sure you are regularly backing up your electronic documents and ensure those backups go off-site. I highly recommend the use of an Online Backup service.
Buy a nice Monitor: Yes, I just told you straight-up to buy a nice monitor. When you go paperless, it means you’ll be reading and editing all your paperwork on a computer screen. A nice 24″ LCD flat panel will probably help with your sanity.

Conclusion:

While the MW2ML business is fairly new and small, you can bet that I plan to make it as paperless as possible. My biggest start to going paperless was my use of Google Apps, and the ability to use Google Docs for all the surveys, forms, and documents I’ve created. I realize that the services I’ve mentioned above are the more common ways to go green, but in all honesty almost anything that you can *think* of can be done digitally. Have you gone “Green” or “Paperless” with any aspects of your business? I welcome comments as to your own personal experience. As always, if you have questions feel free to Contact Me directly!

Like this posting? You will definitely enjoy getting my free technology tips and tricks sent straight to you as I write them! No spam, and I will never give your email address to any other company!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-18

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

@swschmidt That would be interesting. The main reason I left VZW was they were so expensive! All hail cheap data plans! in reply to swschmidt #
Currently researching the differences (in price, speed, reliability, and customer service) between ComCast… http://bit.ly/7s35uL #
Getting ready to make the move to Windows 7 on my laptop. Anyone out there already running it? What do you think… http://bit.ly/4QZKIG #
RT @robterakedis Identity Thefts: Simple Steps to Prevent Complex Problems http://bit.ly/1QPz1H #
@RunnerOH_nma I'm excited for 24… If only I had cable down here! in reply to RunnerOH_nma #
Currently in a VMWare class. It's interesting to learn all the cool things you can do with virtualized hardware… http://bit.ly/8o8fKJ #

GMail Enables Default HTTPS: The Good and Bad

MW2ML Technology — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:02:46 +0000

Just a quick post regarding the news that Google’s Gmail Team will be enabling default HTTPS for everyone! I read this post and was happy to see that they’re being proactive in helping to secure email for the masses. If you’re unfamiliar with why this matters (don’t worry, you’re probably in the majority), you can read a good description in Gmail’s help website. Besides, just think about all the personal stuff that comes to your email address – electronic statements, “password reset” emails for your online banking and credit accounts, etc. By gaining access to your email, someone could easily gain access to a wealth of valuable information about you (much of which could be used to commit identity theft).

Bravo to the Gmail team for deciding to implement this setting. However, I wanted to make sure we all understood that this is not the end-all-be-all solution to many of the security problems that plague the average joe/jane.

The Good:

I can’t even begin to explain how EASY it is for someone with a little bit of know-how to obtain your personal information out of thin air (i.e public wi-fi hotspots such as airports, restaurants, libraries, etc). If you’re surfing the Internet at a public wi-fi hotspot using your personal computer, this new setting will prevent these casual snoopers from obtaining the credentials to your Gmail account. The best part, it will happen seamlessly without causing any extra clicks or interruptions to your day-to-day email routine. While there is *technically* a slight performance impact caused by securing the data, I doubt any of us will notice the difference.

The Bad:

This email setting only secures the information passing between your web browser and the Gmail servers. What this doesn’t provide is any protection from bad stuff that may exist on the machine you’re using. What do I mean? I’m mainly referring to viruses and malware. As such, I recommend applying these few extra precautions to your typical computing behaviors:

Never check email or any type of websites requiring a username/password combination from a public computer terminal (such as those in an Internet cafe, library, or hotel “business center”).
Always make sure your personal computer is up-to-date with security patches and has up-to-date virus definitions.
Make sure to use different passwords for different websites (and make sure to use secure passwords).

Side Note: A friend of mine recently had to go through the painful process of “reclaiming” his Gmail account after it was hacked. As it turned out, his credentials had been stolen while he was travelling and had used a public computer at his hotel. Just a word of caution, don’t just assume it “won’t happen to you.”

Final Thoughts:

I’m excited that Gmail has made the decision to enable secure access for everyone. I just hope to bring awareness to everyone that this is not a fail-safe, and that we should all be mindful of where and how we use our email. As always, I welcome commentary on your thoughts regarding Gmail’s change and whether you take precautions to keep your personal information safe. If you have questions, feel free to Contact Me directly!

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-11

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

@brandonkaid everyday is a saturday, eh? in reply to brandonkaid #
I guess now you can shake it.. Sh-sh-shake your "poker face" like a poloroid picture…. Ha! #
Wow… RT @guardiantech: Lady Gaga to become Polaroid's creative director http://bit.ly/8GEPqh #
RT @TechRSS: Sprint Overdrive 4G mobile hotspot unboxing and hands-on: http://bit.ly/6XRxaa #
RT @nexusonenews: Tips for iPhone users thinking about switching to a Nexus One – http://tumblr.com/xl55bue0u #
I'm making a difference – opening the second door and starting bidirectional flow of people traffic! #
Why is society so lazy that we cause a traffic jam and file unidirectional through the single open door in a two door entryway? #
Did someone hassle the hoff? RT @GiulianaRancic: Hasselhoff leaving America's Got Talent for his own TV show. #
Did someone hassel the hoff? RT @GiulianaRancic: Hasselhoff leaving America's Got Talent for his own TV show. #
RT @drobo: We're GIVING away a Drobo S! Winner to be announced 1/12/10 at 12:10pm PT – RT & SIGN-UP to win!: http://bit.ly/6TIzj5 #Drobo #
Follow @jason to win one of ten Nexus One phones today #freenexusone #
@stack same here – it throws off my day when I can't start at my computer… in reply to stack #
Just entered the Nexus One free phone giveaway – to enter just follow @nexusonenews and retweet http://bit.ly/742J6B #nexusone #
Just upgraded to @Quicken 2010 Premier. Will let you all know my experience once I dig in! #
RT @turbotax: Rules about capital gains and losses? An answer by on @WalletPop by our own tax expert: http://bit.ly/6p4dXd #
RT @mashable: Microsoft Office 2010 Pricing Revealed – http://bit.ly/5wyY0V #
RT @TechCrunch: Google Nexus One: Review http://www.techcrunch.com/2010/01/05/google-nexus-one-the-techcrunch-review/ #
RT @mashable: Google Nexus One on Verizon in Spring 2010 – http://bit.ly/7b5tjg #
RT @mashable: UberTwitter Adds Support for Lists, Retweets, and Location on BlackBerry – http://bit.ly/7LJunn #
RT @mashable: Tweexchange Finds Free Twitter User Names and Domain Names – http://bit.ly/661U09 #

Deal Alert: Lifetime VOIP Telephone Service for Under $250!

MW2ML Technology — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 23:07:46 +0000

Yes folks, you read that correctly! At this very moment, you can purchase the Ooma Core VOIP System for $225 (10% off) and get Ooma’s VOIP (Voice-over-IP) telephone service for free for the lifetime of the device! Basically, you can stop paying that monthly bill for VOIP telephone service (or land-line telephone services) to your cable or telephone provider!

Unlike the MagicJack and other similar devices, this plugs into your home router (such as a Linksys, D-Link, or Netgear) or directly into your broadband internet connection rather than into a computer. As such, you can use the phone regardless of whether your computer is on. Rest assured, Ooma’s VOIP telephone service includes the same features you would expect from any phone service, such as Caller-ID, Call-Waiting, and Voicemail. You can even get notifications via email when you have voicemails that need to be checked!

I know that VOIP telephones aren’t for everyone (personally, I just use my cell phone). However, if you’re in an area where cellular coverage is spotty or you just never have enough cell minutes and you want the ability to make crystal clear calls, then you should definitely check out the Ooma. If you’re hesitant, just read through the 700+ customer reviews on Amazon – this thing is getting some amazing reviews (and it’s still at like a 4.5 out of 5 after 700+ reviews)!

If you’re already an owner of a VOIP phone system, let us know what you think so far!

Lost Credit Cards – Protecting Yourself!

MW2ML Technology — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 06:08:39 +0000

Every once in a while, I stumble onto a post that makes me go “wow, why didn’t I think of that?” I guarantee this one will make you think the same thing! You know how all your credit/debit cards have that all-important phone number to contact in case your card is missing or stolen? Well, how do you know what number to call when you’ve actually lost credit cards?!

Yes, that is the basic premise of Get Rich Slowly’s post regarding “Wallet Garden.” In the post, J.D. outlines the basic workings of this free, simple web application:

You enter the phone number on the back of the card.
You enter a friendly name for that particular card (i.e. “Visa Debit Card”, “MasterCard”, etc).
You refer to the catalog of phone numbers you’ve created on the site if you ever notice one or more lost credit cards.

It’s pretty much easy-enough for a zombie. However, if you prefer to keep your important stuff in as few places as possible, here are a few alternatives:

If you have a Gmail account, consider creating a spreadsheet of these numbers in Google Docs. It’s always available and accessible from anywhere you have Internet connectivity.
Consider writing the phone numbers in an area that you generally keep protected or locked up for safe-keeping, such as inside a checkbook or in a notepad stored in a safe/safety-deposit box.
Email the list of phone numbers to yourself, that way you can retrieve them later by searching your inbox/etc.

This is just a few ideas to get you started. However, it’s fun to see that someone has taken the initiative to solve this interesting little problem in a nerd-ish way. After all, there is less chance for disruption the sooner you report your missing cards to your financial institution. Plus, I’m a fan of being able to find this important information in a “one-stop-shop.”

One side note: As I wrote in my article about Identity Thefts, you can make some small changes that significantly reduce your chance of becoming a victim of Identity Theft. Unfortunately, the service provided by Wallet Garden are only useful if you KNOW your identity has been stolen or you’ve lost credit cards . In general, I always recommend that folks look into LifeLock or FICO® Quarterly Monitoring if they’re looking for a little extra peace of mind.

So is it just me, or is Wallet Garden a mind-numbingly simple solution to a problem just waiting to happen? Have any of you had the foresight to copy all those phone numbers down and keep that information in a safe place in case of lost credit cards? Leave a comment and let us know. I’m definitely curious! Personally, I’ve built my list of important phone numbers in Google Docs but may just check out Wallet Garden as a backup plan.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-01-04

MW2ML Technology — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 09:00:00 +0000

RT @wiredscience: Choose your liquor wisely tonight: Vodka will treat you better than bourbon tomorrow. http://bit.ly/7Izkyb #
@swschmidt keyboard lock! Is there an app for that? in reply to swschmidt #
@paulwaling 1hr gate to gate? Surprised they didn't put you on a puddle-jumper! in reply to paulwaling #
Been a rough week on the #MARTA. Seems like each train I've ridden this week has been late or had tech probs… http://myloc.me/2vc0x #
Ahh… 2009 is soon to be behind us! It seems like it went quick! Hope u all have a safe/happy NYE! #
@paulwaling u rish u were irish? in reply to paulwaling #
Shopping w/ snowstorm in dawsonville yay for sales at outlet stores! http://myloc.me/2uaz4 #
RT @turbotax: Time to Convert to a Roth? http://bit.ly/6RqAin #
Always good to know! RT @turbotax: New 2009 tax breaks that will stay around in 2010: http://bit.ly/6e3aCO #
RT @thurrott: Office 2010 Public Beta, Part 4: Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint http://bit.ly/5fSER3 #
@Shmunkie78 as for laptops, let me do some research quick… They turn-over so fast nowadays, I need to see what's current. in reply to Shmunkie78 #
@Shmunkie78 hot-lanta is great! How's ohio? in reply to Shmunkie78 #
@swschmidt you may be better off fedex overnighting ur stuff before you fly in 2010… in reply to swschmidt #
@brandonkaid contact merge has been there for awhile, but the bulk merge option is fairly new (past month or 2) in reply to brandonkaid #
@stack how do u like the kindle2 so far? Have u dl'ed any free e-books/pdfs on it yet? in reply to stack #
RT @TechRSS: Vesax Spin DJ controller reviewed (video): Bedroom DJs and wannabe Sven Vaths, take note. http://bit.ly/5NtIhH #
@brandonkaid – what are you using to make that crm app? Creating an api in google's sandbox? in reply to brandonkaid #
RT @CrainsCleveland: Majority of NE Ohio IT companies upbeat about business. http://tinyurl.com/ybkd6qt #
RT @TechRSS: GSM call encryption code cracked, published for the whole world to see: http://bit.ly/87VdVw #
RT @TechRSS: Ford first automaker to offer HD Radio with iTunes tagging: http://bit.ly/7H39J8 #

Google Reduces Additional Storage Fees

MW2ML Technology — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 15:19:28 +0000

I was browsing through some old posts on the GMail blog, and stumbled onto one that I must have missed awhile back: Extra Storage for Less! If you’re one of the email pack-rats out there, or have lots of pictures that you would like to share via the Picasa site, then Google’s new pricing scheme should make you super-happy! The new pricing scheme allows you to purchase up to 2 TB (that’s Terabytes) of storage in 20 GB increments, with each 20GB increment costing $5 each per year. So basically, if you outgrow your current Gmail or Picasa limit, you can pay $5/year to add 20GB which can be shared between both Google products.

Interestingly enough, rumors have been floating around about this possibly morphing into an Online Backup solution from Google. The purported “GDrive” would provide functionality that would at least compete with the likes of Mozy, iDrive, and BackBlaze. ZDNet has an interesting article about how the Google GDrive is not a rumor.

Personally, I keep my email pretty cleaned up and am using less than 1% of my GMail storage limit (although I use 50% of my Picasa limit). How much space are you currently using for your Gmail? You can find this out by scrolling to the bottom of your inbox.