small-business buyer

ZDNet Resources

• sort by:
• Relevance
• Date
• Popularity

Look who’s buying Vista Home Basic (hint: it’s not home users)

Who’s buying new PCs with Windows Vista Home Basic? Judging by the name, you’d assume those OS editions would be loaded on underpowered machines for starving students and penny-pinching families. But you’d be wrong. Based on my observations of the PC market over the past year or two, I think...

Tags: Dell Computer Corp., PC, Microsoft Windows Vista, Small-business Buyer, Microsoft Windows Vista (Longhorn), Microsoft Windows, Operating Systems, Software, Ed Bott

Blog posts 2008-10-09

Additional Resources

Acer announces first Google Chrome OS netbook

ChromeOS as dual-boot optionAlthough not Google's plan, I think ChromeOS would be a great dual-boot option, for existing Windows & Ubuntu netbooks.When you want an instant on, fast, secure & no maintenance OS, for internet access, boot into ChromeOS. When you need a specific desktop application, boot into Windows or...

Tags: Netbooks, nettops & MIDs, Google Inc., Google Chrome, Acer Inc., netbook, ChromeOS, Ubuntu Netbooks, operating system

Discussion threads 2009-12-02

Hands-on with the HTC HD2, most impressive Windows Mobile device to date

I like what HTC is doingYou've got the Hero and the HD2. I'd like to see what the difference is in performance between the two, but the Hero has a slower processor. Personally, I like the Windows Mobile platform, and it is the best option for Windows-based IT...

Tags: Smart phones, Notebooks, Operating systems, mobile device, Apple iPhone, HTC HD2, High Tech Computer Corp., Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows Mobile

Discussion threads 2009-11-19

B&N's Nook e-reader: Weirdly unrevolutionary

In addition to this posting, please visit this clarifications posting to get the whole picture. It would be nice to say, as Matt Miller has, that the e-book and e-reader market was revolutionized today. It simply got more interesting. A careful reading of the $259 Nook's...

Tags: E-reader, Device, E-book, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Inc., Wireless, B&N, Nook, Cover-flow, Wireless LANs, Wi-Fi, Wireless And Mobility, Mitch Ratcliffe

Blog posts 2009-10-20

Gartner in the dock over Magic Quadrant

Persona Non GartnerOver the years, I've watched, participated in researching and experienced the results of the positing of Gartner's disclosures. My analysis is as follows:On any given subject at any given time, there is a .90 probability that the opinions expressed by Gartner will be either flat out wrong or...

Tags: Gartner Inc.

Discussion threads 2009-10-20

Art of the software deal can get messy

So, are you saying we are stuck with this or are there alternatives? N/TRE: Art of the software deal can get messybrilliant article. Clear concise and incredibly timely. If I had another hand it would be a triple thumbs up but you are stuck with two.RE: Art of...

Tags: Sales strategy, Tools & Techniques, software deal, software, sales, server

Discussion threads 2009-10-20

Study: 67% of Mac users would install, try Windows 7 if it was free

Marketing failureThe irony of course is that changes introduced in Vista mean that anyone could try it free for 4 months.I'm pretty sure that Windows users would also try OSX on the same basis. (Indeed some are helping themselves!)I might try Win 7 for free, but not on my Mac.I'd...

Tags: Desktops, Linux, Operating systems, Apple Macintosh, MAC USERS, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Windows 7, Win7, Microsoft Corp.

Discussion threads 2009-10-06

How to save the PC: A petition to Microsoft and Apple

IndeedThat's the point. Let's not leave this to the user to have to figure out, when a change to the default installation could make system recovery a lot easier for both IT and end users.Yes, two drives would be idealBut it's also a little more expensive and it would depend...

Tags: Operating systems, Microsoft Corp., Apple Inc., operating system, PC, hard drive

Discussion threads 2009-09-21

Office 2010 for students excludes Office Web Apps

I have to defend Microsoft hereThey have chosen to play in the price game so that's what you get: a price.You don't get a Rolls-Royce for the price of a Ford Ka now do you?MS has enormous investment costs to recover here. I'm no MS lover but their stock...

Tags: cloud computing, Web application, Office Web Apps, Office Web, Microsoft Corp., Microsoft Office

Discussion threads 2009-09-17

Will the policy debate narrow or end?

here we go again!Obama is trying to destroy the best healtcare system in the world and give free care to people who don't deserve it.The solutions for the healt reform are simple and have been enumerated by conservatives like John McCain and others:1.Vouchers to buy insurance2.Tort reform3.Tax cuts in the...

Tags: Vertical industries, Benefits, HEALTHCARE, health care, Obama, car

Discussion threads 2009-09-09

Forget Linux. Microsoft trains retailers on how to pitch Win 7 PCs vs. Macs

Better than setting up shop next to an Apple Store. [i]That[/i] idea makes BOB look brilliant.RE: Forget Linux. Microsoft trains retailers on how to pitch Win 7 PCs vs. i think microsoft should work to convince xp users to upgrade to windows 7 as that will let the numeroususers of...

Tags: Desktops, Retail, Operating systems, Ksplice, Microsoft Corp., reboot, Win 7 PC, Apple Macintosh, PC, Linux, Win 7, average user, Microsoft Windows

Discussion threads 2009-09-09

Microsoft and their Photoshop diversity policy

Wow!Looking forward to hearing the PR claw back for this one. This is just in-excusable, regardless of local politics. It's not even well done!World's shortest neckCould have lifted the head a bit higher.Also, not necessarily any sinister motive. When budgets are enormous, you pay for focus groups to determine...

Tags: Public relations, Marketing research, iGeneration, Photoshop diversity policy, Microsoft Corp., diversity policy, Adobe PhotoShop

Discussion threads 2009-08-25

Chevy Volt: 230 mpg in city driving; Are you a buyer?

Why the focus on MPG for an electric vehicle?The real question is: How much in increased electricity costs will one incur from recharging this vehicle "at least once a day"?That plus the added price tagare warning me away from this. If I thought I could save money versus buying a...

Tags: car, mpg, battery

Discussion threads 2009-08-11

Hottest trend in autos? Dumping the old clunker

The federal government has over $800 million dollars left in its "cash for clunkers" purse. But already one Michigan Congressman is worried the money isn't enough. This auto-booster wants more federal dollars. Ten percent of the cash for clunkers money has already been spent. Seems car...

Tags: Car, SUV, Clunker Program, Harry Fuller

Blog posts 2009-07-29

Walmart to sell $298 Compaq laptop in time for back-to-school, 'while supplies last'

The annual back-to-school shopping trip is just around the corner. Load the family in the mini-van, drive over to your local Walmart, and watch as your shopping cart fills with new clothes, shoes, pencils, notebooks, protractors, calculators, and a million other things. The yearly resupply is...

Tags: Hard Drive, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Laptop Computer, Entertainment, Compaq Computer Corp., Notebooks, Advertising & Promotion, Hardware, Notebooks & Tablets, Marketing, Jennifer Bergen

Blog posts 2009-07-24

Windows 7 "Anytime Upgrade" prices set to chisel netbook users

Windows 7 "Anytime Upgrade" prices set to chisel netbook usersAero...While you can mimic some of the Aero features with free apps, you can't enable Aero w/o an upgrade. There are a few apps that require Aero, but most likely nothing you'd want to run on a netbook. This was blatantly...

Tags: Netbooks, nettops & MIDs, netbook, Microsoft Windows 7, Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Corp.

Discussion threads 2009-07-21

"Windows 7 is the same as Ubuntu"

"Windows 7 is the same as Ubuntu"Well, I agree, but, the flame war will not end, and MS will not go down without a fight. It has been obvious for quite some time, that the only thing that windows has going for it is familiarity (both the brand and the...

Tags: Operating systems, Media players, Microsoft Windows, Ubuntu, operating system, Microsoft Windows 7

Discussion threads 2009-07-03

Saas? We're too busy making ERP work

It's sometimes good to be reminded that while the industry hype is around saas/cloud/on-demand that there is still another world out there where customers are wrestling with more traditional approaches to computing. The other evening I had a conversation with Erick Kimberling, CEO of Panorama Consulting. Panorama...

Tags: ERP, Panorama Consulting, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Tools & Techniques, Enterprise Software, Software, Management, Dennis Howlett

Blog posts 2009-07-02

China demands new PCs carry spyware

China demands new PCs carry spywareI don't think that anyone thinks that China's government has changed its position on freedom of speech.RE: China demands new PCs carry spywareWait for something like this to come our way in the US. Except under the guise of protection against software piracy.RE: China demands...

Tags: Spyware, adware & malware, Cyberthreats, Viruses and worms, SECURITY, COMPANIES, spyware, government

Discussion threads 2009-06-08

Why are plasma HDTVs still the minority view?

Why are plasma HDTVs still the minority view?Size and Power ConsumptionI think the main issues with plasmas is that they are hard to find below 50" and I would be that most TVs sold today fit into the

Tags: Monitors & displays, TVs, TV & Home Theater, LCD technology, HDTV, LCD, plasma, TV, minority view

Discussion threads 2009-05-13