Microsoft has released the latest version of its Office software. Office 2010 seems to have improved upon some of the features from 2007. Take a look here:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/cool-things-you-can-do-with-office-2010-VA101842280.aspx

You may need the latest version of Silverlight to view the video.

Like many others, I am still getting used to Office 2007 and probably will not be an early adopter of 2010. Because this is my business, however, I will be seeing it on a client’s computer sooner than later. It looks like they have kept the “ribbon” navigation, which I am not a huge fan of. Improvements include more ways to share and collaborate and improved graphics and movie integration. What do you think? Do we need another new version of office so soon?

So for the last couple of days, my phone has been acting up. This has happened once before. Basically, the phone part of the phone stops functioning. I can’t receive or make calls, voice mail is screwed up and I don’t get texts.
Today, performed a restore of the phone and it didn’t do a darn thing.
SO . . . . I made an appointment at the Apple Store Genius Bar. I took the phone in, told them what I had tried and they did some diagnostics. The diagnostics turned up bubkus. They replace the phone anyway.
Thank goodness for Apple Care.
Now, my phone is happy again and so am I. It really affects my bottom line as a business owner when the cel phone quits working.

Has anyone else needed to get a replacement iPhone?

Lately my reseller discount has been disappearing.
That’s one.
They have switched account reps on me 4 times in the last 30 days.
That’s two.
If I want a quote on a PC and it’s after hours, I literally have to pretend to be someone other than myself.
Three Strikes And You’re Out. Read the second to last line again.

I needed a quote on a strange tablet PC and it was after business hours. I called Dell and they asked for my account number. When I gave it to him, he said he would have to transfer me to my “channel group.” My “Channel Group” leaves at 6pm MDT. It was around 7pm. I told him that it would not help me to talk to someone’s voicemail as I needed to get pricing information this very night. He said he could not even open his terminal with the business account number that I gave him because it “has to go to the channel group.” I asked if I should then call the 800 number and pretend NOT to be me so I could get service. He said he could not advise me on a course of action at this time.

WHAT THE #$$#^%$#!!!!

I am considering becoming a “Carbon Neutral” business. Renewable Choice is a company in Boulder that works with businesses and families to become carbon neutral. Check their site for more information on the topic and what you can do.

From a strictly business perspective, I feel like the amount of new business I could attract by becoming carbon neutral would (over time) outweigh the costs involved.

Personally, I am one of those “environmental wackos” that thinks that we can control the amount of issues we have in this world by our own, albeit small, actions. In our home we recycle everything we can, we have a worm bin for composting and one of the 50 gallon drum variety. Our entertainment system is on a power strip that only gets turned on when in use and off immediately afterward. We turn on the A/C about 3-5 times per year only. We have two cars that get 30mpg and a gas guzzler that is parked unless we’re hauling something, or on a camping trip. We raise as much of our own food in our yard as we can. So we try to make a difference in our own home.

As Ghandi said. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”
I’m trying.