How Cloud Computing Is Slowing Cloud Adoption

On September 24, 2009

How Cloud Computing Is Slowing Cloud Adoption

There's the cloud, and then there's the cloud. The first cloud everyone talked about was really software-as-a-service (SaaS), a method for delivering applications over the Internet (the cloud) more effectively and cheaply than traditional implementations installed behind corporate firewalls, as exemplified by the likes of Salesforce.com, Successfactors, NetSuite and many others. Then along came this other cloud, the infrastructure that you could rent by the processor, by the gigabyte of storage, and by the month, and which would expand and contract dynamically according to your needs, which Amazon, Microsoft, IBM and many other vendors offer. Both have come to be known as cloud computing, but as you can see, they're very different. You can, of course, run cloud-based software (let's...
On September 24, 2009

New Accounting Rule Could Put Shine on Apple’s Fortunes

Nestled in between three items relating to revenue recognition topics and a decision on financial statement presentation, a rule change put forth by the Financial Accounting Standards Board could dramatically affect the fortunes of certain tech companies. In its monthly summary for board decisions, FASB summarized changes that could benefit such firms as Apple and Palm.
On September 24, 2009

Chase Debuts Small-Business Credit Cards; Advice Site Bizmore Launches

It's been a busy week for marketers targeting business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Yesterday Chase debuted four new payment cards, including one that requires holders to pay off balances in full each month, with no interest charges. The WSJ had an analysis piece about the cards yesterday. Here's a snippet:

As issuers have cut back on marketing to small business, "Chase is looking to exploit that opportunity as the economy starts to pick up," says Andrew Davidson, senior vice president at Mintel Comperemedia, a research firm that tracks credit-card mailings. Indeed, Chase's new suite of cards—dubbed "Ink from Chase"—takes direct aim at American Express Co., long known for its charge cards and small-business customers, he says.

And today executive coaching and networking group Vistage International officially launched Bizmore, a Q&A advice site intended to connect owners and managers of small and medium-sized businesses to help them find practical advice. Veteran business writer Alice Hill, who was approached to build and run the site two years ago, told me it already has 25,000 registered users. The site has been attracting attention because one of its backers is financier Michael Milken, who sits on Vistage's board. See this NYT blog post from this summer for more.

On September 24, 2009

For Your Small Business, the Holidays are Coming Sooner than You Think

So, the Holidays are almost here and… Wait, what? If by holidays you mean Columbus Day and Halloween then yes, that’s right. But Christmas, Hanukkah and the other “holidays-with-a-capital-H” are months away! What’s all this talk about holidays? Actually, if you are a small business owner, the holidays are going to creep up on you sooner [...]
On September 24, 2009

Chris Whalen to Bloomberg: Shut up

Chris Whalen says the FDIC's deposit insurance fund is in no danger of going kaput. The noted banking analyst sent an open letter responding to a piece today by Bloomberg columnist Jonathan Well saying the fund is "broke." Presumably, the message is also aimed at other credulous financial journos (of which I seem to be one) echoing the theme. Fuggedaboutit, says Chris: Repeat after me: The FDIC does not run out of cash. The FDIC does not run out of cash. FDIC can confiscate all of the net assets and earnings of all FDIC insured banks. That is trillions in total. FDIC can borrow from Treasury, the Fed and even from FDIC insured banks. They can also issue notes. Our...
On September 24, 2009

Gadget Lust: TrendNet Mini Wireless-N USB Adapter

Now that 802.11n Wi-Fi is finally final, you may want to start upgrading your PCs to take advantage of it (assuming you have an 802.11n router, of course). That means buying new Wi-Fi adapters to replace your existing ones. Cutest, smallest, and most affordable 802.11n gizmo I've seen yet: The TrendNet TEW-648UB 150Mbps Mini Wireless N USB Adapter. It's barely larger than a quarter, meaning you'll hardly notice it protruding from your notebook or netbook. (That being said, I'd consider pairing this with an inexpensive 90-degree USB plug (like this one from Meritline, $2.99) so you can angle the adapter up.) The TEW-648UB promises a 6x increase in connectivity speed and three times the range of 802.11g. It supports all...
On September 24, 2009

3 Perils Business Owners Ignore Until It’s Too Late

It is impossible to plan for every problem that your business could face, but there are some issues where a little preparation will go a long way towards reducing the damages. Here are three areas that you should address in your business before it's too late.


On September 24, 2009

Red Hat Rises on Rosy Q2 Results

Red Hat, a software distributor behind the Linux operating system, said Wednesday its fiscal second-quarter profit grew as companies opted for its products amid the economic downturn. For the quarter ended Aug. 31, the company earned $28.9 million, or 15 cents per share, up from net income of $21.1 million, or 10 cents per share, in the same period a year earlier.


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