Better Direct Blog

Better Direct has changed their web site. There were a few glitches going over to a new format, but everything is more intuitive now.  We hope you enjoy the blog and the shop especially.

Major contributors of the new blog are:

Sara Amodio     Josh Breese     Alison Evans    Mark Evans

Not pictured yet, but still interesting contributors, are Chris Hustrulid, Kush Patel, and Lou Torres.

The shop is open 24 hours and has very near to real time inventory feeds.  Some constrained items will have availability questions, but normally if it shows inventory you can order it and receive it.

Thank you for your patience during the upgrade.  There is still some dust settling after the site remodel, but we hope you find it even better to work with and visit Better Direct.

- Alison Evans

Keyboard short cuts are way to expedite common operations by reducing input
sequences to a few keystrokes, hence the term shortcut.

Take a minute to learn (or re-learn) a few and you will realize how keyboard shortcuts
can exponentially improve your overall efficiency and speed.

Most shortcuts will be keystrokes located on the western hemisphere of your QWERTY
Keyboard, leaving your right hand free to operate the mouse.

Today I am going to teach you, what I think are some of the most commonly used,
(or unused) shortcuts.
ALT+TAB
-This shortcut switches between top-level windows.
-Easily alternate between the two most recent tasks, or switch to any running
programs.
Ctrl+F
-Search for any word, letter combo or numbers in the current window.
-Works in web browsers, Excel, Word and PDF documents.
Alt+F4
-Closes current window, (same as clicking the RED X with a mouse)
Ctrl+S
-Saves the current document.
Esc
-Escape, (I like pina coladas)
-Closes any secondary window within a main window.

Most keyboards have a little Windows key.  Most have never used it. Go ahead push
it.

It opens up the START MENU. Try different letter and see what they do.

Memorize and implement these simple keyboard shortcuts and soon you will not only
be able to navigate your PC at lightning speed, your coworkers will be amazed at
your new-found IT knowledge.

Simply conceived, virtualization is a way to run multiple operating systems on a
single machine – whether the virtual machines (VMS) are different operating systems,
versions of the same operation system to be tested, or whatever other configurations
you care to imagine. Think of the VM as the basic unit of a new way to manage your
IT environment.  Want to know more or have any questions?  Give me call or send
me an email and I will be happy to help!
ltorres@betterdirect.com
(480) 921-3858 ext. 246

-Lou Torres

Can’t remember that person’s name that emailed you nine months ago, but have a
vague idea of how their name might sound or be spelled? Xobni can help!

So much time is lost during the workday searching through past emails for
information.  Every email client has a search tool, but they are most often generic
and match only keywords. With Xobni, you can type in any fragment of any phrase
and it returns you a comprehensive list or results, prioritized by usage. Every name,
document, or message in your email client is searched by using an advanced
algorithm that compiles a list containing any part of a phrase or a specific parlance.

One of Xobni’s most unique features is its charting ability.  It tells you which contacts
email you most, and creates a chart that shows you specific times of the day where
emails from those users are most likely. It can tell you the difference between the
chipper morning folks and late afternoon toiler. It has fun (I have fun with it!)
functions, such as a ranker, so you can see who you email the most and who emails
you most frequently. It also includes all of your LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and all
other social media contacts. This feature is especially convenient when using your
smartphone. When you don’t have time to search through all of your emails on your
phone, or only can recall a tiny part of the correspondence you need, Xobni can help!

For even the occasional social media and email user, Xobni is a great timesaver. It
separates files from conversations from links and much more. In the great digital
age where everyone is online and information exchange is almost exclusively
electronic, Xobni is a great tool that keeps everything at your fingertips, and
separates your inbox as you like. It even learns your daily email patterns and can
suggest appointment times that are most convenient for your specific schedule.

Whatever information you need from your email and contact list, Xobni provides for
you. Try it today for free and see for yourself!  For more details, send me an email or
give me call at kush@betterdirect.com, or (480) 921-3858 ext. 230.

-Kush

The industry has seen a steady rise in Lenovo and IBM.  Their ability to execute and
provide post-sale customer support is their proven keys to their success.  One of the
examples I’ve seen is that IBM requires customer support plans on large sales.
They actually take the time to look at what’s sold and to make sure (in so far as one
can) that the parts and pieces to support the order are in place.  When a part breaks
the customer gets the replacement in good time.  Lenovo has made great
improvements by getting away from special bidding every order and build to order
boxes.  Instead they keep specially priced product in the channel (topsellers),
available to ship.  Other manufactures are still pretending they can get anything built
and shipped in 10 days, which they can’t.  As are result, Lenovo is now the #2 PC
manufacturer in the world, with good reason!

-Mark Evans

All you see is its wide borderless touch screen. It is sharp, precise, and intuitive. So much so that typing on a virtual keyboard is totally effortless, and very quick for a change. The tablets thinness is quite remarkable and sleek looking. Its edges reach out from an already thin structure (0.67″ or 17 mm at its thickest). And since it weighs less than 1.8 lbs. (800 g), you can easily carry it with you in a purse, book bag, or briefcase and use it any time. The Archos 9 is 8.9″ with LED backlight at 1024 x 600, it has an Intel Atom Z515 chipset… It plays all of your videos with full 1080p and has a 5hr runtime for those long road trips or business flights. It comes equipped with window 7 starter, you can Facebook, tweet, or even Skype at ease, and because the tablet is has a kick stand you can place it virtually anywhere there’s a flat surface. Right now you can get an exceptionally cool, and sleek designed tablet for under 500.00.. When all is said and done, in this economy Archos is making it easier to pass the Joneses!

- Josh      

With increasing business operational costs, the smart entrepreneur is always looking to save every penny. In this increasingly paperless society, electronic transmission of information is at the forefront, resulting in fewer daily cash transactions. Instead of buying a separate credit card reader, the Macally Swipe It ® is a smaller inexpensive alternative.  The devices are currently compatible with all iPhones, iPod Touch, and can be uploaded to any desktop or notebook allowing this small accessory to take the place of larger and more expensive credit card processors. Macally Swipe It ® is the most secure mobile credit card terminal with encrypted reader head, and requires no contracts or expensive software to run.  Some banks charge a fee for credit card processing, and Macally Swipe It ® eliminates these costs, which can incrementally decrease into profit margins.  Whether in the store or on the road, with Macally Swipe It ® you have the freedom to receive payments wherever you are.  Instead of buying readers that cost 10 times as much, you can get the Macally Swipe It ® and use your existing electronics to run it! More secure, more portable, more universally attachable, and far cheaper, what is the downside? The future of payment is upon us, and the Macally Swipe It ® is the industry leader in security and feasibility for businesses of all sizes.

-Kush

CES 1998 was AWESOME! The Compaq booth was all that and a bag of chips! While I could not decipher the difference between ‘N Sync, the Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees, I knew in my soul what I wanted. It was a Compaq Pesario 5000. The world was my oyster. With 1000Mhz Intel Processor, 256MB RAM and a DVD-ROM / CD-RW Combo, there was no holding me back. Except for my 56K modem.

Then….DSL.

Oh bliss! Bliss and heaven! Oh, it was gorgeousness made flesh. It was like a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now. As I slooshied, I knew such lovely pictures (Quote from Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange)

Then….Napster.

Free, EVERYTHING. Music, video, software…

Technology is cool. It is exciting. And it’s not just for us nerds anymore; it’s for anyone who is not afraid of change.

Enter 2012….

In many ways we are reversing technologically. The Concorde SuperSonic Jet that flew so high, its passengers viewed the crest of the earth, is now defunct. Nothing has replaced it. The audio quality of music downloaded by the mass is disgustingly of poor quality. My wife has an iPad ®, that she purchased for use in her on-going, and pointless college schooling.

Real Life Break Down: clearly there is still room for improvement!

Cannot print any documents

Only WIFI internet connection (My neighbors are so irresponsible and the WIFI is intermittent)

What is my point? I do not have a point. This is a blog, a rant a rave. However I will attempt to end with somewhat of significant substance.

In the 1920′s two explorers found relics from a pre-Columbia civilization known as the Tolima. Several of those relics are eerily reminiscent of 20^th century fighter jets. Dr. Uwe Spankas, Aerospace Engineer and German aviation experts Algoon Evon and Peter Ballsin made a scale replica of the flier. The 2000 year old design performed amazingly in tests. Sorry, but those beer-guzzling Wright brothers didn’t have jack on the Tolima. I know I might sound like a bit of an antidisestablishmentarianism, from my dislike of iPads ® to my belief in Greek-era taboo Zeppelins. The future is now. Take a break from pretending to work and watch this video.

http://youtu.be/qO1i7-Qx00k

(It is OK your boss is not looking). Imagine what the future holds!

-Chris

Lenovo has just released three new IdeaCentre product lines that are breaking the mold in fusing style and power.  No matter the size of your business needs, there is a Lenovo ThinkCentre that will fit your needs, surpass your expectations and increase overall productivity.

If you’re looking to save space in your office, then check out the Q Series NetTops.  These ultra-small desktops are about the size of an ordinary book, but have the capabilities to transform your TV or monitor into an entertainment powerhouse.

Are you a serious gamer?  The K Series desktops will blow your mind.  Aesthetically, they may look like traditional tower-style PC’s, but these units are packed with incredibly innovative features and next-generation technology.

Whatever your needs are, Lenovo will have a solution that is right for you.

-Josh