Review: iPad (3rd generation)

Apple's tablet has seen better days with the technology press. This new tablet doesn't feature any show-stopping new toys (as did previous incarnations). But, this is Apple, so you often have to see it to believe it. Join me as I get my hands on a new iPad determine if it's worth the $519+ (in Canada) for a new one.

You should also know, for some inexplicable reason, it took me more than a week to open the box. Perhaps I just wanted to collect my thoughts before trying this new device. Sometimes I'll go against the mad rush in an attempt to let things sink in. Finally, with the box open, I give you my thoughts on the new iPad. No doubt, you've seen other reviews of this device - and most of them have been positive. I'll try to give you my impressions as an IT Guy and as a person who has used every single iPad model that came out.

Review: Dell Vostro 3550 Laptop

Much of the recent news I've heard about Dell involves what they aren't selling anymore (like phones). But, what still sell are laptops and ultrabooks. I've really never been the biggest fan of Dell's laptops, preferring to recommend either Toshiba or Lenovo offerings. Today, I've ordered a Vostro 3550 laptop and I'll share my thoughts on that.

Why removing "Desktop Shortcut" from Logmein Free should concern you

Logmein is a great product. Probably the best thing about Logmein is that it provides a basic subset of remote access features for free. In a small environment, you can administer and remotely control a number of computers easily and do it for free. For that reason, this is a wonderful tool and fits the needs for many different scenarios that don't need to go and buy expensive tools. But, there is a reason why we have never featured Logmein in a "THAT great tool" feature, and it is the considerable dark side to using this tool as your daily remote access solution. The recent news of a free feature removal underscores this the caution that should be taken when buying into a company offering a "Freemium" product.

Review: Drobo FS Network Attached Storage (NAS)

The storage space comprised of  NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices is an interesting one. It appears to be growing in multiple ways -  companies are downsizing away from the server they didn't need, gamers are looking for that home data store, and businesses are increasingly using them for backup applications. I've seen great many of these devices, and today I was able to look at the Drobo FS, a five drive NAS device with one and two drive failover capabilities aimed at users and small businesses.

Decoding the noise: Windows Storage Server 2008 R2

Some people think Microsoft releases so many products that when the information about them is needed, it's impossible to find it. I tend to agree with that assessment, and finding information about the server product named Windows Storage Server 2008 R2 is a perfect example of this problem Microsoft has with releasing so many product versions and communicating little about them. So, let's take a look at this and see what's out there.

Rogers and CIBC announce NFC mobile payments

In a recent event, Rogers and CIBC have jointly announced (read the release here) a mobile payment solution based on NFC (Near Field Communications). This announcement is apparently a first in Canada (contact-less payments are already possible by way of other solutions - but generally not with smartphones).

The payment process seems to rely on using a Rogers smartphone's SIM card to allow for secure transactions by way of NFC. The software involved looks to be only branded as a CBIC product (see at left). I would expect that this software be included with Rogers phones by default. This new payment technology is expected this year.

Almost immediately after the announcement today, Rogers Redboard (a Rogers communications blog) posted an article about NFC payments (read it here).

No clear word right now on pricing to the consumer or the business, as the information is developing. The CFIB has expressed concerns about mobile payments opening up a huge tier of excessive fees.

Update: It appears though there will be no additional merchant fees charged to the business for using this service, more details as I get them.

Consulting: Is the customer always right?

Photo Credit

I run a small business. I handle customer service and I'm also a customer to other businesses. Often, the phrase "The customer is always right" is mentioned in passing or sort of in jest when someone talks of a customer/business disagreement. There is actually a history to this phrase that dates back to the early 20th century. But I wanted to talk about whether, as a consultant and a business owner, is it really true that the customer is always right?