The Ekaru Technology Advisor Vol 6-8 October 2006
Welcome to this month's issue! The Technology Advisor's mission is to provide quick technology tips and trends to help you manage and grow your business!
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 (IE7) Release:
Proceed with Caution!
Microsoft is releasing IE7 this month and recommends that all genuine Windows customers install the upgrade. The upgrade enhances security, platform management, and usability, through such features as "tabbed" browsing. Shortly after it is released, Microsoft will distribute IE7 as a high-priority update through Automatic Updates.
However, we advise caution before you upgrade!
If you rely on business-critical browser-based applications in your day-to-day operations, we highly recommend that you proceed only with caution, since the new browser may not be compatible with your particular application. Recognizing the potential concerns, Microsoft is making a blocking tool available to prevent users from inadvertently upgrading. If you want to block the upgrade in your organization, blocking measures should be in place by November 1, 2006.
Although IE7 won't install until the local administrator accepts the update, and it is possible to roll back to IE6, we recommend that businesses don't proceed with the upgrade until they are certain all their business-critical applications will run properly. Since many users are actually running as local administrators, they should be educated to decline IE7 when Automatic Updates makes it available. Microsoft has also made available an Application Compatibility Toolkit for testing applications for seamless operation with IE7. Call if you need help or advice on this subject.
Dell Laptop Battery Recall
Just a reminder for those of you who may not have taken care of this yet: If you own a Dell laptop manufactured between 2004 and July of 2006, you most likely will need a replacement battery to address a serious safety issue. If you haven't already done so, go to: www.dellbatteryprogram.com to see if your laptop model is affected and for instructions for getting your free replacement battery. If you need help or have questions, give us a call.
Save the Date for Microsoft Vista: Friday November 17
We will be hosting a lunch-time learning experience to showcase Windows Vista and Office 2007. A guest speaker from Microsoft will be giving a whirlwind tour of what's new - you won't want to miss this! There is no charge for Ekaru clients and subscribers - send us an e-mail if you'd like to attend. Some of the big productivity enhancements include faster search capabilities, virtual folders, "ribbons" instead of the 31! toolbars in Office applications so you can do things faster, and greatly enhanced data visualization techniques in Excel. If you spend way too much time looking for things in your computer or way too much time trying to format documents, you need to see this! Mark your calendar to get a sneak peak at what's new!
Ekaru in the News!
Bolster your Backups: How Encryption Technology Can Keep your Data Secure
Processor - September 1, 2006
Tip:
Use PowerPoint Templates to Create Professional Looking Presentations
Need to make a presentation but you're not too confident about formatting it to make it look great? No problem! Go to the Microsoft Office Web Site and download free PowerPoint Templates. The Templates contain designs for the cover slides and interior slides, including graphics, phone color, style, and size, and formatting. Links change frequently, but try this link to get to the download directly. In minutes, your plain-looking presentation will look polished and professional!
Was this newsletter helpful to you? If so, forward it to a friend or colleague! Do you have suggestions for future newsletter topics? Send us an email!. We want to write about what's important to you! Click here to read past issues.
Sincerely, Introductory Technology Assessment Over 250 local
small businesses have chosen Ekaru to manage their computers and
networks. We offer a free, no-obligation initial consultation to get
started. We'll visit your office, review your network, and make
recommendations. Call us at 978-692-4200 or email us to schedule a
no-obligation assessment. If you know someone who could benefit from this offer,
simply forward this email to them. Thank You!
Enjoy Fall!
Team Ekaru
©2006 Ekaru, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
