December 2008
In this issue


 
A Year in Review
  There is Still Time!
 
Infrastructure Leaking Money?
  New Hire: Kyle Hammes
  Elephant Named Sharepoint
  Ask Sparky
  Upcoming Events
  Did You Know?

Upcoming Events. . .

  December High Tech
Happy Hour

Thursday, December 18, 2008
5pm to 7pm
Sponsored and located at Scatz Sports Bar and Nightclub – 2248 Deming Way, Middleton.

Visit www.hthh.org  for more information or to sign up for reminders of future events.

  SBS 2008 Launch Event - Lunch & Learn
SPACE STILL AVAILABLE
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
11:30am to 1:00pm
Applied Tech – Madison
203 S. Paterson Street, Ste 500
Register Now

  SharePoint Lunch & Learn
Thursday, January 15, 2009
11:30am to 1:00pm
Applied Tech – Madison
203 S. Paterson Street, Ste 500
Register now

  January High Tech
Happy Hour

*Sponsors needed!!!
01/29/09

  February High Tech
Happy Hour

*Sponsors needed!!!
02/26/09

  March High Tech Happy Hour
*Sponsors needed!!!
03/26/09

*interested? Contact www.hthh.org  for more information

 Did You Know. . .
No, Microsoft Office Home and Student cannot be used in a business! That’s right. While it’s attractive cost and unknowing sales rep may have been convincing, big trouble awaits if you use this edition for business use. For a no sugar-coated, to-the-point explanation, read here what Eric Ligman of the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Group has to say about being able to use the Home and Student edition of Office in a business setting. Wondering what edition of Office 2007 is best for you? Click here.
 

Open your presents at Christmastime, but be thankful year round for the gifts
you receive.

-Lorinda Ruth Lowen

 

Applied Tech – A Year in Review

Another year coming to an end. (wow - I feel like I just did the 2007 year in review!) 2008 may have rocketed by fast but that didn’t stop Applied Tech and its employees from surpassing our business and personal goals and experiencing some surprise accomplishments along the way.

I’m not one to keep good news to myself (I’m a bit of a chatterbox. . . ) so I hope you take a moment to share the good tidings of 2008 with me by reading our Year in Review.

Read more


There is Still Time!

Economic Stimulus Act of 2008
     +      Section 179 Deduction      
= Big Savings for Small Business!

As we near the end of 2008, let us take one last time to remind you about the great opportunity in saving and upgrades your business could apply for by using leveraging the Economic Stimulus Act and Section 179.

Read more


Is Your Infrastructure Leaking Money?
reprinted with permission from HP

Whoever said "don't sweat the small stuff" never managed an IT infrastructure—and certainly never during turbulent economic times.

According to independent analyst Forrester Research, global IT purchases in 2008 will grow by only 6 percent, versus 12 percent growth in 2007. So, although you're already doing more with less, it's time to do even more with even less.

Investing in management solutions to control infrastructure costs is one way to meet that challenge. Effective infrastructure management tools can lead to significant savings over time and help position your business to take full advantage of the upside when the economic tide turns.

Here are five ways effective infrastructure management can help keep you fighting lean:


Applied Tech is pleased to announce New Hire,
Kyle Hammes
 
Kyle joined Applied Tech in December 2008 as a Customer Service Representative (CSR). Kyle will be a liaison between clients, vendors and internal staff to ensure satisfaction from beginning to end.

Kyle is currently attending PC Pro School to pursue is Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MSCA) certification. Kyle is already certified a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) and as a Support Center Analyst (SCA).

Kyle Hammes
Customer Service Rep

Please help us welcome Kyle to Applied Tech. He can be reached at 608.257.6051 x21 or at hammes@appliedtech.us.


The Elephant Named Sharepoint

Many of us have heard the fable about the blind men and the elephant. When the men were asked to describe what an elephant looked like the descriptions ranged from a snake to a tree to a fan depending on whether the blind man had touched the trunk, the leg or the ear. What does an ancient fable like this have to do with technology? It’s the same problem we have when we try to explain to you how useful a tool Microsoft SharePoint can be to your business. SharePoint is so flexible and has so many uses; we often have trouble describing it in a way you can get the whole picture.

So, here goes our description of SharePoint.  It’s:


Ask Sparky!

Do you have an IT question or concern that you’ve been hung up on? Now’s your chance to “Ask Sparky”! Sparky is what we loving call our company logo. Sparky is our fearless leaders who encompasses all that is IT. Applied Tech works hard at keeping IT as pain-free as possible and Sparky is with us every step of the way! Send your IT questions to Sparky at sparky@appliedtech.us.

Jamie asks:
"The potential of data loss continues to worry me, no matter what I do to protect my businesses data. Any suggestions on ways to alleviate my neurosis?"

Click for answer
 


Madison Office
Applied Tech Solutions, Inc.
203 South Paterson Street,
Suite 500
Madison, WI 53703
Ph: 608.257.6051
866.933.7471
info@appliedtech.us

Stevens Point Office
Applied Tech Solutions, Inc.
2417 Post Road, Bldg B
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Ph: 715.344.3703
866.933.7471
info@appliedtech.us

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