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Deciding when it's time to quit
There are just some projects that refuse to die. They take on a life of their own. At some point, you just have to cut bait. But how do you decide when it's time to quit and just go on?
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Do smart phones really provide productivity gains?
There was a time when all you could do with a phone is talk. Now, with the iPhone, the Blackberry Storm and Google's Android phones, the ability to talk seems to be a minor feature. Has feature creep ...
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Deciding to create a culture of innovation
Innovation isn't one of those things that just happen. You have to make it happen. This video shows how one Internet entrepreneur dropped out of college to start a business built around innovation.
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If computers are like cars, then who's GM?
We often use cars as analogies for computers when trying to explain things to users. Can a further analogy be drawn? Is the computer industry also like the auto industry? Not exactly, although you cou...
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Sometimes it helps to be a little crazy
Einstein was famous for saying that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Einstein never worked in IT of course. And sometimes being a lit...
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Do we really need one more mobile device?
Here's a video showing Intel CEO Paul Otellini demoing a new mobile Internet based device. After notebooks, netbooks, MIDs, and cell phones, do we really need one more mobile device? What do you think...
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Be an IT leader, not a lemming
You're supposed to be an IT leader - using your knowledge about technology to help improve the organization. But are you a lemming instead? Forget the stereotype, being a lemming might be worse that y...
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Does Geek Squad give a good or bad impression of IT consultants?
Quite a few people don't deal with IT people directly in their line of work. Instead, they do so only when they have problems with technology we provide. Others only experience IT through customer sup...
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Name the key factor driving your voting decision
We're fortunate to live in a country where we get to help decide who are leaders are going to be. It's not always any easy choice, and you don't always get the best candidates to choose from. What are...
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How can TechRepublic help you decide about products?
A recent study by Jupiter Research and BuzzLogic has suggested that blogs are more influential in product decisions than friends on social networks. What can a site like TechRepublic, which has a mix ...
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Process 300 million transactions a day without going crazy
And you think you've got a busy day. How'd you like to be the CIO responsible for processing 300 million transactions a day? This CIO Session video comes from ZDNet and discusses what Visa CIO Michael...
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What influences you in making a final product decision?
When you have a product purchasing decision to make, there are usually dozens of different makes and models to choose from. Trying to sort out the differences isn't always easy to do without taking in...
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Make better decisions with less information
Is it possible to have too much information to make a decision? The obvious answer is yes, but what's key is how you define what 'too much' information is. By minimizing the amount of information abou...
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Is price no object to the typical Apple customer?
Apple recently freshened the Mac line, including souped up CPUs and new graphics from nVidia. What didn't change however was the Mac price point. Although there's now a (barely) sub-$1000 Mac, most Ma...
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If you sit out Vista, what are your alternatives?
Steve Ballmer has finally come out and said that it's ok with him if you sit out Vista and stick with XP until Windows 7 ships. But will you wait? And when 7 ships, will you sit out that as well?
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Welcome to Decision Central
Bypass the technical jargon and marketing double-talk, and figure out what's best for your organization. Decision Central will help IT leaders identify the technologies that can have the biggest impac...
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Believe it or not, you CAN make a business case for Windows Vista
Windows Vista is everyone's favorite whipping boy. But there are reasons to deploy Windows Vista other than to just get Aero Glass on your workstations. With an objective look at Vista matched to the ...
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Take THAT, Microsoft - IBM is switching to the Mac
IBM is switching to the Mac! IBM is switching to the Mac! Microsoft is DOOMED! Ok, maybe not so much, but IBM's Mac pilot program outlines a great way for your company to decide about how to upgrade...
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What drives your company's decision making process?
What's the key driver for the decision making process for your company? User needs? Office Politics? Take our poll and sound off about how things are done at your company.
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Beware of vendor lock-in upfront, or be prepared to pay later
Vendors don't love you. They love your money and your business. They'll be nice if that's what it takes to get your money at first, but after that, if they can lock you into their solution and keep dr...
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Using Second Life for decision support
Second Life is used for all sorts of things. Here's a video from YouTube that shows Decision Support World. I'm sorry, I just don't get it.
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The more things change, the more they stay the same
When doing some research for Classics Rock today, I found an old TechMail tip we sent out in April 2000 concerning change management. Unsurprisingly, its a topic we still deal with 8 years after that ...
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To USB or not to USB, that's the security question
USB Flash drives are everywhere. Not only can you use them to store data, you can also use them to boot secured workstations. Which is more of a hassle, blocking USB drives or supporting them? This en...
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Do you pay attention to software EULAs?
EULAs are necessary evils when it comes to installing software. You can ignore them, but do so at your own peril. At the same time, I don't think many people pay attention to them. Take our poll about...
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Microsoft shows the importance of not wavering in negotiations
Sometimes you can win by losing. Microsoft walked away from Yahoo, but at the same time probably 'won' by not upping its bid. It seems like the best way to win a negotiation is to do exactly what Micr...
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You may be a conformist and not even know it
The decisions you make for your organization may not be as objective as you'd like to think. Often the opinions of others can have a subtle effect on your decisions. People may be influencing you and ...
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Problems with XP SP3 highlight the need to beware of updates
Microsoft finally shipped SP3 for Windows XP, but even with the final release not everything works right. The last thing you want is for users to blindly install Service Packs or other updates without...
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Tobak gets it wrong - You're not a bunch of sheep
CNET's Steven Tobak says that the media isn't biased. Instead, we just feed you content we know you'll click on, and any media bias is your fault. There's something severely wrong with this argument.
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Deciphering the term "Fixed Mobile Convergence"
Does the term Fixed Mobile Convergence really mean anything or is it just one of those marketing terms? It's a little bit of both. What a vendor means by it depends on what they have for sale. But you...
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SaaS - Software revolution or a warmed-over buzzword?
Lately, one of the acronyms you see bandied about lately is SaaS - Software as a Service. With all the buzz about it, it may sound like a cool new revolutionary concept. Actually, it's been around sin...