Tag Archives: Inc.com

About 2817 days ago Computer Security

Microsoft’s Small Business Mission

Sept. 28, 2005–On Sept. 21, Microsoft announced that it had reorganized its corporate structure to streamline product development and compete with nimbler rivals. This complements Microsoft’s broader effort to brand itself a partner to small businesses. To find out what this means for small businesses, Inc.com interviewed Doug Leland, general manager of the company’s small business division. Q: How does the management reorganization help Microsoft respond to the needs and desires of small businesses? A: With Microsoft’s Small and Mid-market Solutions and Partner group part of Jeff Raikes’ Office group, we’ll be able to reach more customers with software the makes business processes, such as financial management and teamwork, easier. We think about offerings as integrated solutions, starting with the base level infrastructure, the basic plumbing of office networks. This means things like networking, storage, and remote access. Moving up a level there’s the teamwork component that we address with the Office suite of tools. Moving up another layer, we get to business applications like the accounting and Business Contact Manager. Through the reorganization, we’re trying to improve how the applications at each of these levels talk to each other. Q: What do small businesses need most in terms of software and solutions? A: We’ve heard four top business priorities. The first is all about sales and marketing. How do I attract new customers, and how do I make sure existing customers keep buying from me? Number two is how do I manage my business. This has a lot to do with financial management. Smaller businesses need applications for core accounting functions like inventory management, processing purchase orders, managing payroll, and integrating banking and financial reporting with third party applications. Also, these functions have to be integrated with Office and other office applications. The third thing businesses are talking about is teamwork. How do I get productivity our of my employees? How do I get them to work closely together, and to work collaboratively on projects? The fourth concern has to do with mobility, and specifically giving a mobile workforce the tools they need to be productive. Microsoft’s Small Business Server allows mobile a workforce to dial into their company’s system and get access to critical information in an easy and secure manner. With Microsoft’s Business Contact Management, they can access contacts, records of interactions (phone calls, emails, and meetings), and also sales data and outstanding invoices. Basically, we provide them with access to that information whether they’re in or out of the office. Q: What kind of research are you doing to identify these needs and concerns? A: There are a number of different activities happening all of the time. We have cultural anthropologists that go out and sit down with small businesses and just watch what they do from dawn to dusk. Based on this research, we develop personas of the owner/manager and office manager, and design systems and solution to meet their needs and work habits. On our campus, the engineering groups the product groups spend a lot of time working with customers to conduct usability tests. Q: A key rationale behind the restructuring is to make computing solutions available over the Internet, rather than as part of an off-the-shelf package of desktop software. How appropriate are such solutions for small and medium sized businesses? A: There’s no question that small and mid-sized businesses can gain value out of these types of services. Currently, Microsoft and ADP have a partnership to allow small businesses to subscribe to a service that automates payroll processing over the Internet. Businesses can track employee timecards with Microsoft Small Business Accounting, and them upload them to ADP to process the payroll. Business is clearly moving toward this type of hybrid environment with some systems hosted on corporate services and others offered over the Internet.

About 3701 days ago Telecom and Wireless

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Video Gives Face Time

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report Videoconferencing systems have long been an expense better suited to large companies. But now that the Net offers an essentially free platform for video delivery to multiple sites, any business wanting to hold videoconferences can create Net-based “facilities.” “Many [business users] see Web conferencing as taking over for video,” says Joe Gagan, a senior analyst at research firm the Yankee Group. However, “quality is not guaranteed” on the Net, says Christine Perey, president of Perey Research and Consulting. She characterizes the current videoconferencing market as “uneven” — which reflects feedback from Inc.com’s “What’s Your Technology Plan?” poll. In that survey, 69% of those responding do not feel their businesses would save time or money by making a videoconferencing investment. Are they buying laptops for their traveling employees instead? STAY THE COURSE Microsoft Windows XP [ www.microsoft.com]. It doesn’t get any more economical than this. Because real-time voice, data, and video capabilities for an up to 10-person confab are built into the $299 operating system, videoconferencing really costs nothing more than the price of your Net connection (just add camera and microphone). A decent camera with adequate videocast resolution (320 x 240 pixel rate), wide angle and zoom features (important for zeroing in on those presentations), and a 30-frames-per-second capture rate will set you back approximately $100. MOVE AHEAD First Virtual Communications’ Click to Meet Express [ www.fvc.com/eng/webconferencing] lets four or more conferencees on the Web do everything that more expensive private systems allow — including such media-rich meeting capabilities as shared documents and PC presentations — for much less. Get together with three of your colleagues for 15 one-hour meetings per month (or 3,600 minutes of meeting time) and you will pay roughly $591 per month over three years. (Budget in a camera, at a cost of approximately $100 for each user.) But the good news is that First Virtual claims the system pays for itself in about eight months. Click to Meet targets small groups at small- and medium-size businesses that frequently share documents, images, and presentations. BLEEDING EDGE Sleek and aimed at the small to medium-size work place, the TANDBERG 1000 [ www.tandberg.net] is a flat-screen desktop videoconferencing system that can also be wall-mounted. Along with a 12.1-inch screen, this unit also offers wireless local-area network (LAN) support, embedded security, and PC compatibility for making presentations. Pricier than some of its counterparts, the TANDBERG 1000 lists between $5,490 and $8,980. What to Ask How many people will be participating? What is the cost as compared with travel? How many cameras do I need? Do I have enough bandwidth to handle video? Case In Point Mike Daugherty Founder/President LabMD THE NEED: LabMD, an Atlanta-based clinical testing lab, finds it cost- and time-prohibitive to have regular meetings and training sessions with its nationwide clients and its on-the-move reps, who work out of D.C., Atlanta, and Memphis. Mike Daugherty wanted to leverage the “essentially free” Net. THE SOLUTION: Daugherty chose First Virtual Click to Meet Express, with Logitech 4000 cameras and high-speed Net access. Cost was key for him, and he also wanted a Web-based solution. Image and audio clarity were essential. “You don’t want people to sound like they’re underwater.” A LITTLE HINDSIGHT: “The marketplace has to get more bandwidth,” he says. NEXT TIME: He expects wireless advances to free up his sales reps to roam even more. JUSTIFYING THE COST: LabMD bought the initial software directly from First Virtual, licensing it for $5,000 for five to 10 users. The Logitech cameras cost about $100 each. “As our sales force grows, it will cost me more,” he says. “But the long-term savings are worth it. The Net flattens out all of the cost.” DON’T FORGET TO ASK: “‘What do you know that I don’t know?’ Some distributors capitalize on your infant stage … and take advantage.” But vendors are often more interested in long-term relationships, Daugherty says. Their sales reps are generally more forthright. 2003 Tech Buying Guide Laptops Handhelds Hybrids Cell Phones Wi-Fi Networks Digital Cameras Videoconferencing Setups Shopping Tips Log On and Be Counted In recent weeks, visitors to Inc.com have been sharing some of their tech-buying strategies with other readers by taking our buyer’s guide poll. Take the quick survey yourself, then see how others are thinking about the product areas covered in this story. Please E-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.

About 3701 days ago Telecom and Wireless

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Phones Break New Ground

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report If you’re an intense phone, e-mail, or instant message “aholic,” for whom a calendar and contact list are secondary considerations, consider the smart communicators offered by various cellular phone services. According to Forrester Research analysts, the mobile phone market is nearing saturation. This means that providers can now only expand their customer base by luring users away from one another with more interesting capabilities. Some of them are welcome (it’s always great to have e-mail access). Some are more debatable (instant messaging is already invasive enough on the desktop). But in any case, more choice in the marketplace means you’re the winner. BLEEDING EDGE If you need constant contact not only by phone but also via e-mail and instant messages, the T-Mobile Sidekick [$250, plus monthly service; tmobile.com] rises to the occasion. Spin out its screen and there’s a roomy keyboard under your digits. The monochrome system offers a full-featured, proprietary PDA. Given its unique form factor and somewhat fragile feel, the 2.5- by 4.5-inch unit isn’t for everyone. But it’s hard to resist its curvaceous appeal. STAY THE COURSE The Motorola i95cl [$500; Nextel, Southern LINC] has a nice heft in the hand, a good assortment of PDA functions under its hood, and Nextel’s “push-to-talk” service for walkie-talkie-like chatting with other Nextel users — great for field or more industrial uses. Those who work or move around in loud environs will like this unit’s very loud ringer. MOVE AHEAD Touting a built-in camera, the sleek Sanyo 5300 [$400; SprintPCS.com] also offers an exceptional screen; expect similar competing units to arrive by late spring. Also: The RIM BlackBerry 6710 [contact T-Mobile, tmobile.com, for pricing, or AT&T Wireless, www.attws.com] combines a phone with BlackBerry’s worldwide e-mail, Net, and messaging services — and the best keyboard among its peers. What to Ask What applications do I need? Am I willing to use a small screen for portability’s sake? Can I forgo a Palm- or Windows-based interface? Can I download data from my PC? Does it have a global reach? Case In Point Lisa Wible Co-founder Oh Fudge THE NEED: Lisa Wible’s phone, which she says is clipped to her when she’s making fudge and has gotten dropped “over and over,” needed not only to stand the heat but also to get out of the kitchen. Wible prefers to deliver her fudge in person — a big job when her 45 client stores are spread over six Western states. THE SOLUTION: Motorola i55sr (Nextel) FEATURES CONSIDERED: Coverage area was crucial. “Our first major project after founding the business was the Olympics. I spent a lot of time in Salt Lake City,” recounts Wible, who hosted an official booth in the Downtown Festival during the Games. “I knew I’d have to be able to conduct business as if I was home in Whittier.” When business takes you across the Mohave Desert and up into the northern Rockies, a map doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about coverage. Wible, a first-time Nextel customer, started asking everybody along the way if their phone cut out. NEXT TIME: Wible isn’t using her push-to-talk features as much as she initially expected. “It’s like a walkie-talkie; you have to wait for the other person to respond. It doesn’t work [for talking] with clients.” Great sound quality is a plus, as is her phone’s rugged chassis: “Not only has it been dropped, it’s been dropped and kicked.” DON’T FORGET TO ASK: Make the most of your minutes, Wible says: “There’s a lot of plan variation, and it’s useful to know if minutes on your plan can be transferred to other times of day or rolled over for later use.” 2003 Tech Buying Guide Laptops Handhelds Hybrids Cell Phones Wi-Fi Networks Digital Cameras Videoconferencing Setups Shopping Tips Log On and Be Counted In recent weeks, visitors to Inc.com have been sharing some of their tech-buying strategies with other readers by taking our buyer’s guide poll. Take the quick survey yourself, then see how others are thinking about the product areas covered in this story. Please E-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.

About 3701 days ago PCs, Laptops, and Notebooks

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Photo Comes of Age

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report The benefits of digital photography as a leisure luxury have been obvious for a few years. In the work place, those assets have been less evident. Nevertheless, with digicams getting some buzz for showing up on business-oriented cell phones and handheld devices, manufacturers are prompting professionals to consider going digital. “Pictures pretty much make the sale,” says automobile salesman Kyle Russell, of D-Patrick Automotive. He sees great benefits in the ability to show a prospective buyer a simple digital photo he’s snapped of a car from his lot and downloaded to a Handspring Treo 90 Palm device. Likewise, real estate agents, insurance claims adjusters, and others who rely on visuals to close a deal or illustrate a point are natural users. When it comes to buying digital cameras, count pixels before considering other features. If you’ll be taking simple snaps for Web pages or e-mail attachments, focus on a camera in the 2-megapixel-plus range. But if you’re going to be replacing film-quality images — making prints, enlargements, or including photos in publications, it’s time to move to 3-megapixel models or better. Fortunately, a steady decline in pricing has brought digital models into the range of traditional point-and-shoot cameras. This selection, which skews a bit to the high end, is geared toward both quality and ease of use. THE BLEEDING EDGE If you’re a serious photographer who wants the ability to switch lenses and have a true single-lens reflex experience, a 5-megapixel model like the Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi [$1,300; www.minoltausa.com] fits the bill. The 7X optical zoom covers a 28mm to 200mm range, and the autofocus can be overridden with a manual focus. Extra perks include fast shutter advance and a lens that accepts 49mm SLR screw-on accessories. STAY THE COURSE The Canon PowerShot S230 Digital ELPH [$400; www.usa.canon.com] is a straightforward 3.2-megapixel point-and-shoot zoom model that also records short video clips. Used in concert with Canon printers, you can bypass the PC for direct printing. MOVE AHEAD The 4-megapixel resolution of the Kodak EasyShare LS443 [$449; www.kodak.com] guarantees prints at sizes even beyond 8×10. Optical and digital zooms combine for a total 10X zooming power. It is also the most effortless camera to use of this trio, with intuitive controls, a good solid grip, and a one-button setup for transferring photographs to your PC using the included cradle and EasyShare software. What to Ask Do I need top-of-the-line images? If so, why? What bells and whistles am I paying for? Is the memory expandable, and if so, how? Can I carry this thing? Do I want to replace a film camera? Do I want video capabilities? Case In Point Richard Aaron President BizBash Media THE NEED: “Planners are extremely visual people,” says Richard Aaron of his clientele. These customers use the New York City-based BiZBash to find the latest information about products, services, and locations they can use to plan their business events. The goal is for Aaron’s crew to get the highest quality photos possible from galas, dinner parties, and New York bars and clubs to these planners with a minimum of hassle. THE SOLUTION: Three Canon PowerShot S30 3.2 megapixel cameras FEATURES CONSIDERED: The “right price point” was key, but “quality is a huge consideration,” says Aaron, who wanted 3-megapixel cameras with excellent zoom and editing features and memory sticks that offered enough capacity so “we can shoot as much as we want, and then get rid of them. We absolutely went on the Web. We researched digital cameras,” he says, then added a human touch. “We went out and put our hands on the cameras, to see the features and which were easier and better to use.” NEXT TIME: Aaron would “obviously like an [even] higher generation” of image quality, but at the current time finds the cost prohibitive. JUSTIFYING THE COST: “We chose 3-megapixel cameras and paid $400 to $500 each” instead of buying the more expensive 4- or 5-megapixel camera. “It’s required equipment — very much a part of our infrastructure,” says Aaron. DON’T FORGET TO ASK: He stresses matching camera with the users in your organization, who may have varying levels of technical competency. “So many cameras have too many technology bells and whistles: Know what the end use is going to be,” says Aaron. 2003 Tech Buying Guide Laptops Handhelds Hybrids Cell Phones Wi-Fi Networks Digital Cameras Videoconferencing Setups Shopping Tips Log On and Be Counted In recent weeks, visitors to Inc.com have been sharing some of their tech-buying strategies with other readers by taking our buyer’s guide poll. Take the quick survey yourself, then see how others are thinking about the product areas covered in this story. Please E-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.

About 3701 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Here, There, and Everywhere

2003 Tech Buying Guide Perhaps you’re a true technophile — the kind who shows off that new Palm tip-calculator software at parties. Or you may be the technophobe who clutches a circa 1995 Filofax as firmly as his first teddy bear. Either way, your business technology budget is probably shrinking. Goldman Sachs projects that decrease will average about 10% in 2003. Concurring with this forecast, Kevin Burden, analyst at tech research firm IDC, says that pared-down IT budgets are being devoted to critical purchases such as PCs and laptops. But there are ways to have your gadgets, too. For example, a $199 handheld unit such as the Palm i705 can hold your client contacts, keep track of your appointments, and even send and receive e-mail. This survey addresses the categories that keep you plugged in to the office while you’re out and about — laptops, handhelds, cell phones/PDA combos, Wi-Fi networks, digital cameras, and videoconferencing setups. We’ve presented Case In Point, profiles of businesspeople like yourself who’ve enhanced their work lives by making wise tech-buying decisions. Also included is a Market Report, which gives a brief overview of each category and a sampling of products at three levels of price and/or functionality. Finally, What To Ask suggests key areas to investigate before you plunk down the plastic. 2003 Tech Buying Guide Laptops Handhelds Hybrids Cell Phones Wi-Fi Networks Digital Cameras Videoconferencing Setups Shopping Tips Log On and Be Counted In recent weeks, visitors to Inc.com have been sharing some of their tech-buying strategies with other readers by taking our buyer’s guide poll. Take the quick survey yourself, then see how others are thinking about the product areas covered in this story. Please E-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.

About 3701 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Laptops Set the Stage

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report Businesses are sinking their thinning tech dollars into desktop and PC replacement first and foremost. Laptops are enjoying particularly brisk sales, with the number of units shipped during the third quarter of 2002 increasing 18% over third-quarter 2001 figures, according to market researchers at International Data Corp. Prices continue to fall. A well-equipped, businessworthy laptop such as the Toshiba shown below has a street price of about $1,500 — a 50% reduction from three years ago. Despite this favorable turn of events, you need to account for this technology expense. While PCs which meet certain IRS guidelines can be written off in one year, a computer is generally depreciated over a five-year period — longer than its likely lifespan, especially when discussing laptops. When allocating dollars, figure on a three- to four-year lifespan, says Keith Waryas, an IDC research manager. He says this is more typical for small- to medium-size businesses. For business users, the principal dilemma remains portability versus functionality: “There are tradeoffs. Ultraportables [typically 4 pounds or less] are superlightweight, but don’t have any drives,” says Waryas. STAY THE COURSE Toshiba’s Satellite 2435-S255 [$1,700 base price; shop toshiba.com] comes with a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 CPU, 15-inch display, and combo DVD/CD drive — this provides your shop with more than adequate insurance against obsolescence for at least two years. MORE SEXY THAN SMART? Sure, the Apple PowerBook G4′s [$3,299 and up; www.apple.com] 17-inch display is the largest in notebook history, and its keyboard is backlit. But forget using it comfortably in coach. Think of it as a superior desktop PC alternative for the casual traveler. 51% of Inc.com poll respondents figure they’ll keep their laptops “up to two years.”*

About 3701 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Handhelds Go the Distance

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report Handhelds (or PDAs) stash your contacts, track your day, and with the right software can even help you find a great Thai restaurant. But can you justify their expense? Research firm Gartner Dataquest reports that 70% of handheld sales last year were made by individual consumers — not enterprises. Todd Kort, a Gartner analyst, attributes this to “a perception that PDAs are not yet capable of delivering sufficient return on investment.” So think hard before buying into costly features such as color displays and built-in cameras — though they certainly have their professional uses. Consider how long you plan to keep the unit and amortize from there. THE BLEEDING EDGE Okay, the Palm-based Sony Clie PEG-NZ90 [$800; www.sonystyle.com] could be cost-justified — if you’re a rock promoter with a knack for creative accounting. Its large pivoting color screen, spacious keyboard, and Bluetooth wireless technology put it in the top echelon of power PDAs. Bells and whistles such as the 2-megapixel digital still/video camera and MP3 player are indisputably cool, though the old rule of thumb applies: When one component breaks, or is upstaged by new technology, your kids have a new toy. STAY THE COURSE Pocket PC price tags are finally falling. Dell’s Axim X5 [$249 and up; dell.com] includes pocket PC versions of Word, Excel, and Outlook, and a voice recorder. Use its expansion slots to add memory and software, or to load document files. Also: The Palm i705, at $200, is a durable, no-nonsense PDA entry point for professionals, with a backlit screen, rechargeable battery, and e-mail capabilities. MOVE AHEAD The recently released HP iPAQ h1910 [$300; shopping.hp.com], a Pocket PC system with a crisp display, is thin and light enough to win over some steadfast Palm snobs. Though it offers only a single expansion slot, it weighs just 4.2 ounces (as compared to the Axim at 6.9 ounces). What to Ask Does the device offer the software I need for my business? Can I justify the cost of a color display? Do I need expansion slots? Do I want graffiti or keyboard input? How much do size and weight matter? Case In Point Mike Schapansky President Pure-Chem Pool Service THE NEED: Drowning in a flood of paper that held customer data, Mike Schapansky’s Austin, Texas-based pool-service company needed to go digital. “We service 700 pools a week,” says Schapansky. After the routes had been efficiently plotted, measurements were stored in ever-bulging binders. “If you lost one of these, there was no way of getting the data back,” he explains. THE SOLUTION: Three Palm Zires, three Palm Vs, two Palm 5x, and a Kyocera 7135. “Everything the service guy once put in the binder, now goes into the Palm,” he says. “We have all the customer readings since 1999.” FEATURES CONSIDERED: The ubiquity of the Palm is important. It means Schapansky can walk into any store and buy a replacement. Capacity is a big issue for him; he admits, “I get as much stuff on there as I can.” Also, his sometimes technophobic service technicians can learn how to use the Palm in “a quick 10 to 15 minutes.” NEXT TIME: He’ll upgrade to faster and higher-capacity units as they come to market. JUSTIFYING THE COST: Although he’s hardly a spendthrift, Schapansky spends “thousands of dollars on handhelds and custom programs — they are worth every penny. I handle many more customer calls daily because I don’t have to sift through route books.” DON’T FORGET TO ASK: For those using handhelds out in the field, he suggests checking out flip-top models and hard cases that offer protection from pens, keys, and other implements of destruction that you may carry around. 2003 Tech Buying Guide Laptops Handhelds Hybrids Cell Phones Wi-Fi Networks Digital Cameras Videoconferencing Setups Shopping Tips Log On and Be Counted In recent weeks, visitors to Inc.com have been sharing some of their tech-buying strategies with other readers by taking our buyer’s guide poll. Take the quick survey yourself, then see how others are thinking about the product areas covered in this story. Please E-mail your comments to editors@inc.com.

About 3701 days ago Mobility Tips and Tricks

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Hybrids Put It Together

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report Hybrids look like typical handhelds, but tout the added value of a built-in phone. Some have their microphones and earpieces cleverly concealed — just use the on-screen dial pad and hold the unit up to your ear as you would with a regular cell; others use a detachable earbud. Downsides to this seemingly perfect marriage? For one, you may not want to invite your relatively bulky handheld out with you on a Saturday night. Also, your current or preferred phone ser-vice might not offer the unit you’d like. Our advice: Because phone-service quality varies widely depending on region, go with a provider you know is solid and choose your device from there. STAY THE COURSE Those who’ve never taken to Graffiti can follow the lead of our case-study subject, who speaks highly of his Handspring Treo 270 [Cingular, T-Mobile; plan prices vary]. The QWERTY-style keypad on this 4 x 3 x 1-inch unit isn’t as roomy as you’ll find on a BlackBerry or a T-Mobile Sidekick, but it has a good tactile response. 59% of Inc.com poll respondents say they’re interested in buying a combination device.*

About 3701 days ago Wireless Networks

2003 Tech Buying Guide: Wi-Fi Slices the Wires

2003 Tech Buying Guide Market Report A growing number of companies are using wireless local area networks in their office settings. “The 802.11 [wireless LAN] standard is so dirt cheap,” says Keith Waryas, an analyst at International Data Corp. “There’s virtually no installation, no massive servers, no drilling through walls,” he says. Wi-Fi makes particular sense for the small business, which may move its people and equipment around to accommodate growth and thus need a more fluid networking solution. A small law office, for example, can raid the shelves at CompUSA for all the networking products it needs. However, once a company reaches 10 users or more and uses more than one server, it may be time to call in the services of a value-added reseller (VAR) such as IBM or Accenture for tech support, he says. Wi-Fi has expanded its reach well beyond the walls of the office. Hot spots, or wireless on-ramps to the Internet, are popping up in very public places like Starbucks, which partners with T-Mobile to offer a $70 monthly flat-access card. (Individual visits cost $7 to $8.) AT&T, Intel, and IBM recently joined forces to form wireless networks to provide connectivity at more than 20,000 sites — such as hotels, campuses, and other businesses — in 50 major U.S. cities. Even with the push toward public hot spots, those efforts will “go cold” in the next couple of years, says Bob Egan, president and founder of research firm Mobile Competency. “The business plan does not pay out,” he says. He believes the real value of Wi-Fi, once security concerns are resolved, will be in private settings. MOVE AHEAD An expanding office environment looking for a Wi-Fi setup needs the type of network that will grow along with it. The 3Com OfficeConnect 11 Mbps Wireless Cable/DSL Router Starter Kit [$240; www.3com.com] includes a cable/DSL gateway that, with optional cards, can support up to 32 wireless users spread out to a distance of 300 feet. STAY THE COURSE Technophobes will find that the Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station MN-500 [$139; www.microsoft.com] requires little downtime or sweat. Its setup wizard gets you sharing your broadband Net connection, files, and printers easily. THE BLEEDING EDGE If your wireless demands include sending full-motion videos and other intensive multimedia fast, Belkin [ www.belkin.com] offers an array of wireless networking products to build super-fast networks. Mix and match gateways ($150), notebook and desktop cards ($75-100), and access points ($175) to build a custom network. What to Ask How much will I spend on access? Does my data require enhanced security? Which PC’s, handhelds, and laptops complement my wireless strategy? Do I send enough image-based data to require high-speed service? Case In Point Dan Bean CEO Music Channels, LLC THE NEED: “I travel all over the country,” says Dan Bean, who runs an Internet- and radio-based entertainment company out of Newcastle, Wash., produces Broadway plays, and handles corporate promotions. Bean looked to Wi-Fi alternatives to support his mobile lifestyle. THE SOLUTION: A Winbook X1 laptop, a Compaq wireless modem, and T-Mobile wireless service. “I’ve used it everywhere, in Chicago, New York, L.A., and Vegas. I’ve had meetings with big shots at Starbucks,” he says. FEATURES CONSIDERED: Wireless coverage of the cities and locations that he most frequents was critical, as was the number of locations that he could “pop into” to work. Luckily, Starbucks had already secured prime real estate. “A guy I was working with had Wi-Fi in his laptop and showed it to me,” says Bean, who admits it was love at first sight. “I set up T-Mobile from my cell phone while I was sitting with him at a Starbucks,” he says. “It took all of 10 minutes.” Only 16% of Inc.com poll respondents feel wireless services are “critical” right now.*