Paying for those credit default swaps

OK, this is off my usual path but the more I think of it the more I'm embarrassed that I have not figured this out and acted on it myself. The country is full of local banks who hire, invest, and contribute locally. In many cases the money never leaves the community. And in some cases the banks have every service available from the big banks who nearly took the country down the financial tubes. Here is a site that advocates a movement to do something about it:
Fewer Fees, More Savings

I've been a member of a credit union most of my life but when I started a small business I landed with one of the banks who took money from the government and continue to do the same things they have causes so many problems including paying their executives at various astronomical rates.

There is a local bank here that offers the same services as my current bank. I'm Moving My Money. Will my current bank care? Probably not. There is a lot of power in numbers, though.

What kind of computer do I need?

I’m going to buy a computer and think I want a laptop but I have a PC right now. Or do I need a MAC?

We get this kind of question frequently. Last to first let me address Apple. The MAC devotees hear angels sing every time they boot up. And for what they cost the angels should be singing. Do you get what you pay for? I think so. BUT, and here’s the big BUT, if there’s a problem you HAVE to go to Apple Land and turn yourself over to the Apple acolytes. In this area of the country that is in the city. It is a very proprietary platform and Steve Jobs hangs on to his boxes with both hands. So your neighborhood computer support can’t do much to help and once your warranty runs out there are some serious bucks involved in repair.

PC or Laptop?

If you’ve already got a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse you like then a PC will be much more cost effective. A PC can be upgraded and are generally less likely to have a hardware problem. If they do it is much less expensive to fix than a laptop. But they obviously take up space, cause serious wiring tangles and chain you to desk.

Laptops are mobile, compact, more expensive for what you get, usually smaller keyboards, not upgradable, generally don’t last as long.

Netbooks are EXACTLY the same as all other laptops but they are smaller and do not have an internal CD/DVD (an external one can be bought that does the same as an internal)
Netbooks cost the least. At about $411 for the excellent ones we sell they are a good value. Add the 3 year warranty and you have a very portable flexible and guaranteed computer for about $125 per year with the probability it will last long beyond that.

If you are doing only email and some online banking, a netbook may do you well.

Need to spend some time composing letters, doing a bit more business, surfing a little more but still want to move around? Then a larger laptop.

If you are doing anything that HAS to be backed up, takes time to put together (think graphics or music composition) or has a serious business orientation then a desktop is the best way to go.

Does your child/grandchild have a domain name?

TOP LINE CREDIT : This entire idea came as a result of training I received from Jennifer Bagley (http://www.complimentsinternational.com/). Jennifer is an exceptional trainer and consultant. I highly recommend getting to know her.

OK, here's what I learned. Remember the first time you learned of Twitter? Facebook? Only been a few years, right? Well, look around. They are becoming commercial engines and it has happened nearly overnight. Given the geometric expansion of technology one must assume that our children and grandchildren will have their entire identities online. Good, bad, or indifferent they will identify and be identified with and on the internet. So their name in the internet domain name world will be important.

WHERE IS THAT LEADING?
Instead of getting a U.S. Savings Bond for that new baby buy them a domain name. Ensure they have the best name possible. Unfortunately for me williamschubert.com was long gone. But both of my grandchildren have unique domain names with the .com ending (I'm not going to say, they'll have to tell you themselves).

AND HOW?
So go to your favorite domain name registration site. I think godaddy.com is the least expensive (and there is NO reason to pay more than the cheapest.. for this you are doing nothing but registering a name and isn't Danica Patrick cute). Put in the name your want, such as williamschubert. The .com ending is still the best to have. If that is no longer available I'd say .org but there are a lot of other choices. Go through the registration process. Costs less than $11 per year but you have to pay every year to keep control of the name so be sure your contact information is good. If you stop paying it releases the name so that anyone can get it.

So be the perfect grandparent and get them a domain name. Hey, as long as you're at it throw in that Savings Bond too.

SOHO

Small Offices and Home Offices (hence SOHO) have a unique set of problems. They are way below the level of having a full time technician to help them through the morass of information superstructure issues but they have the exact same problems that major enterprises have and in many ways are even more dependent on today’s technology.

So how to attack this problem? The most reliable method is to ally with a local computer company. OK, I agree that is a bit self serving since I own a local computer company. But stay with me and I’ll make it worthwhile.

Here’s the logic. Small business to small business is the most efficient way to get things done. The larger box stores can provide equipment at a discounted rate making up the difference in other ways. Economy of scale. And they can sometimes provide less expensive temporary support although in my experience they are usually much more expensive than local computer companies. What they can not supply and will never be able to supply is the ongoing concern for your business as a member of the local small business community. Their techs are usually really nice guys who work hard and are smart but they do not stay up at nights worrying about how they can best serve their fellow small businesses. They clock out and go home. And in a year or so they will be doing something else while that local computer company will still be there with the same owner, the same concern for community and the same concern for your business.
I’ve got SOHO customers I remote into all the time to fix one minor issue or another. No charge. I stop by a business to see how things are going. To check on backups. Just to say hi. My SOHO customers will grow along with me and together we will be successful.

So next time your SOHO needs tech support find a local repair shop. If it doesn’t work out find another until you have someone who really cares about your business. We’re out here.