Operating Systems

• Doc or Docx? Which Office Format to Use

  For those using older versions of Microsoft Word, or other non-Microsoft word processing software, the new .docx format can be a real pain. It has caused dis...

  Minda Zetlin

• How to Leapfrog from XP to Windows 7

  Most small companies will be upgrading from Windows XP to Windows 7 this year – basically bypassing Vista. Here's what that entails, between reinstalling s...

  Minda Zetlin

• Browser Wars: Does IE8 Change the Game?

  Microsoft's Internet Explorer 8, built into Windows 7 or available as a free download, offers improved security and functionality to businesses. It's the lat...

  Marc Saltzman

• Windows 7: Should You Upgrade?

  Microsoft's next operating system, Windows 7, debuts in October. Given the debacle that greeted Windows Vista and the changes in the marketplace, your busine...

  Marc Saltzman

• Tech Talk: PR Firm Succeeds with Dashboard

  A public relations firm deployed a business intelligence dashboard to help give clients quantitative and qualitative data that proves the success of the firm...

  Elizabeth Wasserman

• Tech Talk: Deaf Provider Scales with Platform

  A developer of next-generation video relay services for the deaf and hard-of-hearing found that a new enterprise platform helped the company grow across the ...

  Elizabeth Wasserman

• Software: Is Now the Right Time to Negotiate?

  Because software vendors are also facing tough economic times, they're more likely to offer concessions on upgrades and bundles. Here's how to ask for a bett...

  Kim Boatman

• A Windows 7 Sneak Peek

  Microsoft is expected to unveil a beta version of the successor to the Vista operating system sometime in 2009.

  Michelle V. Rafter

• Webtop OS: What's on Your Desktop?

  The new crop of Web 2.0 remote desktop operating systems, called Webtops, is a new way to run business workstations. All you need is an Internet browser.

  Bill Pfleging

• Drive Business with a Software Dashboard

  Do you use a business dashboard in your small business? Think they’re too expensive or out of reach? They’re more available than you think. In fact, y...

  Anita Campbell

• Free and Open Source Software Licensing

  What are the liability issues involved with using free and open source software (FOSS)? Here's a guide to copyrights, choosing a license, trademark registrat...

  Alice Osborn

• How to Recycle Your Software

  Keep software costs down by reusing code and producing applications more quickly. Cloud computing and software-as-a-service can help leverage already-built s...

  Jodi Mardesich

• Putting a Price on Software "Savings"

  Software companies make extravagant claims about how their products benefit your bottom line. Here's how to make sense of it all.

  Minda Zetlin

• Tech Talk: Warehouse Management System Aids Hardware Firm

  A chain of hardware stores in Washington state improved inventory accuracy and reduced "out of stocks" at stores after deploying radio frequency barcode read...

  Elizabeth Wasserman

• Tech Talk: Image Software Helps Baker Backup

  A Pennsylvania baker that employs a staff of 400 found that replacing its file-based tape backup system with a disk imaging solution helped to reduce downtim...

  Elizabeth Wasserman

• Operating Systems: You Do Have Choice

  In the wake of negative feedback about Microsoft Vista, we look at alternatives. Is this an opening for desktop Windows-like versions of Linux, such as Xandr...

  Bill Pfleging

• Play Harball Over Software Licenses

  In the age of software-as-a-service and all sorts of free or open source options, IT managers can stand to be tougher negotiators with software vendors. Here...

  Alice Osborn

• Tech Talk: Tour Firm Boosts Bookings and Data Safety

  An Oahu-based excursions company finds that upgrading from paper to computers not only increases business but helps provide another layer of security for cus...

  Elizabeth Wasserman

• Software to Help Immigration Compliance

  A growing number of Web-based software vendors is making it easier for small businesses to process mandatory federal I-9 forms that prove new employees are l...

  Michelle V. Rafter

• The Software License Police

  Think once you've paid for your software that you can do whatever you want with it? Think again. Your business also needs to be compliant with warranties and...

  Alice Osborn

• The AAAs of Social CRM

  Social customer relationship management is about joining the ongoing conversations in which your customers and prospects are already engaged.

  Brent Leary

• The Truth about OS Security and Patches

  Many system administrators at small and mid-sized businesses believe that the more secure they think their operating system is, the less likely they need to ...

  Joel Keller

• Just What Is a "Vista Capable" Computer?

  Over the past year, many businesses have tried to upgrade their operating systems to Windows Vista, only to find it to be a bad experience. Here's how to mak...

  Bill Pfleging

• Bye Bye Vista

  Some business computer users who hate Microsoft Vista are uninstalling the Windows operating system software and switching back to XP.

  Michelle V. Rafter

• Software that Sends the Alert

  Notification software can let you know when inventory levels are low, or tell your customers when it’s time to buy.

  Minda Zetlin

• Test the Waters: Migrate to Open Source

  A growing number of small businesses, disappointed with licensing software, are sticking a toe in the open source waters, by migrating some employees over to...

  Bill Pfleging

• Leopard Has Landed: Assessing Mac's New OS

  Computer users gave the latest operating system upgrade from Microsoft, Vista, a thumb's down. And business users have been slow to adopt. But now it's Apple...

  Marc Saltzman

• MS Office 2007: Worth the Investment?

  Microsoft's latest office productivity suite has great new tools and menus so you can create better and faster documents. But will the design changes zap you...

  Marc Saltzman

• When Open Source Goes to Open Court

  Monsoon Multimedia became the first test case for an open source software lawsuit. The fact is, few companies know exactly what source code or open-source so...

  Minda Zetlin

• Getting In-house Software Shops Back on Track

  Too often, when businesses operate their own software development teams, projects can go awry. Here's how to get your software team to do what it was suppose...

  Renee Oricchio

• The Open Source Security Primer

  Open source software has permeated many corners of the business world, but is it safe? Here are some guidelines for how to deploy open source solutions witho...

  Renee Oricchio

• Ease Your Microsoft Vista Migration Headaches

  Many businesses will eventually upgrade their desktop and laptop operating systems to Microsoft Vista in conjunction with Office 2007. Here is the low-down o...

  Patricia Brown

• Do You Need Utility Software for Your Business?

  Operating systems offer basic utilities, but are they enough for the security of your business or do you need to spring for protection against viruses, spywa...

  Mary O. Foley

• Virtual Machines for Small Business

  Virtualization software can help a small business operate more efficiently by allowing one server to run multiple operating systems and applications.

  Jennifer Zaino

• What's the Update: When to Get New Software

  New versions come out all the time, like Microsoft's new Vista operating system, raising questions about whether and when to upgrade. Here's how to decide.

  Anne Stuart

• Life after QuickBooks

  At some point the requirements of a business expand and additional features and performance may be necessary from your accounting system. Here's what to cons...

  Lisa Metcalfe

• Everything You Need to Know About Buying Software

  A primer on smart software buying, including whether to buy software as a service and how to negotiate advantageous licensing deals.

  Jennifer Zaino

• What is Linux?

  The basics on the open-source operating system and how it can be used by small and mid-size businesses.

  Peter Suciu

• How to Choose Office Productivity Software

  Microsoft Office is the best known productivity suite, but there are other choices out there. Here's how to pick the best product for your business.

  Caroline Waxler

• The Hidden Costs of Open Source

  When switching your business to open source software, you lose the licensing fees but may pick up other costs.

  Courtney Macavinta