Office 365 is all of the familiar office productivity applications – Word, Excel, email, etc – based in the cloud (on the internet) and accessed/delivered via a web browser.

In other words, all you need on your end, is a web browser and internet connection. You don’t need to buy and install applications and you never need to update or upgrade your software. Updates happen on the server – in the cloud – and are done automatically and seamlessly. Your experience is always up-to-date.

You don’t buy Office 365 and you don’t install Office 365, you subscribe to it and it is ready-to-go. Add an employee, add a subscription. No muss, no fuss and no need to add another to-do item to your IT list.

Office 365 Includes

• Email
• Calendaring
• Office Applications
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft OneNote
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
• Websites
  • Create a central place to access all your documents and business information or a public-facing website
• Collaboration
  • Instant Messaging
  • Online Meetings
• Storage

Advantages of the Working in the Cloud

Office 365 offers several advantages over traditional software installations.

First, there is the reduced cost. Up front costs are lower and you can subscribe for 3 years for roughly the cost of a license for Office Professional. Additionally, hardware requirements (costs) can be significantly less than traditional hardware+software approaches.

Second, flexibility is gained. Office 365 subscriptions are per user, not per device. In other words, an individual can now access all of their applications (and documents) from any internet connected device – desktop in the office, laptop on a business trip, home PC on a snow day, kiosk at the airport.

Best of all, Office 365 is built for collaboration. Documents can more easily be “shared” with collaborators. With automated syncing, a single copy of a document, in a single location, is worked on simultaneously – no more emailing multiple copies, getting them back with changes and comments and then manually folding them back into a master copy.

For more about Office 365, or a 30-day free trial, visit http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/office365

Still using Office 2003? Maybe it’s time to upgrade.

Think about it:

• In 2003, cameras were just starting to appear on phones.
• Facebook first appeared on campuses in 2004.
• YouTube launched in 2005.
• The first Tweets were shared in 2006.

All that feels like (ancient) history.

A lot has changed since 2003. If you haven’t upgraded yet, consider this: 9 out of 10 users say that Office 2010 is the best version yet.

A lot can happen in eight years. Productivity software is no different. More about why you should move to Office 2010.

A Little Background

In the US, over 150 million individuals are “on” Facebook. The average Facebook user spends 7 hours per month on Facebook. In the US, there are over 80 million adults ages 18 – 34 on Facebook and over 56 million aged 35+ on Facebook including over 16 million adults 55 and over – the fastest growing segment.

What Is This “Like” Thing?

On Facebook, if someone thinks a web page or site, including a Facebook page, is worth sharing or, in the case of a celebrity or “cause,”  showing an affinity for, they can “like” the page by clicking on a little thumbs up icon. This action adds the page to a list of pages they like, as well as sends a message – via a news feed – to their Facebook friends. Once someone “likes” a page they also get updates from that page in their own news feed. Think of it this way – by liking a company’s facebook page, I can get the “inside scoop” on activities. I also tell my friends, “hey, you might be interested in this too.”

How I would use Facebook if I were a . . .

Bank

Banks work hard to convince us that they are part of our community. Facbook can help with this. I’d use my Facebook page to point, or give recognition to the things that banks typically help “sponsor” – youth sports, local nonprofit fundraisers, etc as well as general community “good news” (we have enough places to hear bad news – I want people to associate good feelings with my bank). I’d salute local “heroes,” provide or point to useful information on the web, give the friendly faces of employees a place to shine (remember, these days a lot of people never actually go into their bank!).

Example:

• 7,258 people “like” the Arvest Bank on Facebook.

Grocery Store

Supermarkets fight hard to convince you that they have the lowest prices, best selection or freshest produce. I’d use my Facebook page to offer coupons (old school grocery marketing), but I would also use it to have a relevant conversation with my customers. Fresh shipment of grapes? Why not let me know that they just arrived. Local corn now available? Why not let me know the “farm stand” is open for the season. And while I’m at it, I might offer relevant tips – ie how to pick the best corn, how to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe, etc. Used in conjunction with a website, I could show my customers more ways to use fresh kale (recipes). I might consider more elaborate offerings such as a party/menu planner. Grocery stores like banks, want to be seen as a vital part of the community, so I would also us my page to help with worthy local causes. Think of it as the web equivalent of the bake sale out front or community bulletin board by the door.

Examples:

• 4,462 people like Ukrop’s Super Markets
• 146,653 people like Safeway
• 22,970 people like Piggly Wiggly

Restaurant

First off, let’s look at the biggest complaints about restaurant websites: slow loading, flash-based and incompatible with smart phones; hopelessly out of date; lacking or at least difficult to find basic information such as address, hours, etc; lacking in corroborating evidence (visitor feedback). With my Facebook page, it should be a piece of cake to update my hours and post daily or weekly specials. (The menu might be a bigger challenge if I’ve been lazy and posted a pdf. I might want to look into a better solution for that.) I can post my address on my info page and FB will turn it into a link to a map and directions. Restaurant “shoppers” are more likely than other groups to be searching on a mobile device. They’re on the run, on the street and they wan t to eat! And Facebook works hard to make its content available across all evolving platforms. Like other businesses, I’ll use my FB page to promote new menu items, events and special offers, especially things that might help fill my slow nights (2 for 1 specials, etc)! Finally, and this might sound scary, my Facebook page is great place to gather and share feedback – either through “comments” or via a poll (“which of these specials – or desserts – would you like to see return to the menu?”).

Examples:

• 3,100 people like Calandra’s Restaurants in Caldwell, NJ
• 7,526,603 people like McDonalds

What about you?

Are you or your business on Facebook? We’d love to hear how you’re using Facebook and other social media. Drop us a line or visit us on Facebook. We’re putting together a comprehensive list of Berkshire businesses and organizations with Facebook pages and we’d like to include yours!

Word 2010

Considering an upgrade to Office 2010? Inertia seems to be giving way, and we find a lot of business interest in making the move. We think most will find the upgrade a worthwhile investment.

To answer some of the “what’s new” questions, we’ve pulled together some information and resources to highlight a few of the enhancements you’ll find in Microsoft Word 2010.

Here is a short 3 minute video highlighting some of the new features to be found in Word 2010 (tip – if the video doesn’t display/play here, click on the link below).

(Alternate link – Introduction to MS Word 2010 video)

What’s Up With The Ribbon?

Learn more about the new “ribbon” at Word 2010 Help and How-to / Getting started with Word where you can step through a detailed video.

For a more extensive description of everything new, visit what’s new in Word 2010 which also includes several short videos focusing on specific areas of the application including:

• new navigation panel
• customizable “ribbon”
• document collaboration (multiple authors working on same document)

More “Design” Options

For those who use Word for newsletters, flyers and other presentation documents, Word 2010 offers enhanced art effects.

WordArt offers new colorful art effects. Select text, click “Word Art” and a list of options will appear.

New graphic effects are now possible by clicking “Artistic Effects” on the ribbon allowing you to select for a variety of options including Pencil Sketch, Chalk Sketch, Glowy Edges and Photocopy.

See how you can bring your newsletter to life with MS Word 2010 – 5-minute makeover for your sales flyer.

More Details

A drier, more detailed technical list of the changes – what’s added, what’s removed – can be found in the Microsoft Technet library.

CompuWorks is seeking highly motivated and experienced technical candidates to join our Professional Services Team.

The qualified applicant should have a minimum of 5 years experience providing implementation and support services in Microsoft Windows-based network environments as well as hands-on knowledge of Microsoft Windows Server, Exchange,  and Windows desktop operating systems.  Experience working with multiple clients in a variety of environments a plus.  Knowledge of HP hardware also helpful.

Candidates should have proven skill levels as demonstrated by certifications to include:  CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, MCP, MCSE, CCNA etc…  Candidates should have a strong desire to advance their technical skills.  Applicant must have excellent organizational, customer service and communication skills, be detail oriented and able to function as part of a team.

Please e-mail resume and salary requirements to info@compuworks.biz

One of the more daunting/perplexing questions today is what to do with old, out-dated or no longer needed office equipment – especially electronics including computers, monitors, copiers, etc. As we all know by now, recycling is preferable to discarding in a landfill. Electronics contain toxic materials. A CRT monitor can contain up to 8 pounds of lead alone and there are hundreds of other toxic materials -  chlorinated solvents, brominated flame retardants, PVC, heavy metals, plastics, gases, etc used in the process of  making technology that our businesses now rely on.

Reuse Before Recycle

Equipment that no longer meets your needs, might do very well for a local non-profit or might be suitable for refurbishing. Organizations that refurbish and re-purpose computer equipment include the National Cristina Foundation or World Computer Exchange as well as some members or the e-Steward recycling network.

Recycle Responsibly

If your equipment can’t be reused, responsible recycling is the next best option. It would be comforting, yet naive, to believe that all “recycling” is done responsibly. To make sure yours don’t end up in an illegal dump here or shipped to a landfill in a third world country, you’ll want to find a responsible recycler and the e-Steward network can help you with that. Visit e-stewards.org to find a network member near your location. Locally (in Pittsfield, MA), the CET offers information about recycling.

Other Options

For other recycling options, visit the “how-to” page at the  Electronics Take Back Coalition.

Learn More

Electronics Take Back focuses on 4 key points – recylcle it right, buy greener electronics, hold manufacturers accountable and promote good laws – and offers actionable information for each point.

Center For Environmental Health offers a green(er) electronics buying guide for the work place.  CEH also suggests several videos that might be shared with coworkers fo help motivate them to think and act green.

Business Exchange (Bloomberg Businessweek), still in “beta,” tracks “the most relevant content for you, filtered by like-minded business professionals.” Examples of relevant topics includes Sustainable Business Practices and, for manufacturers, Green Supply Chains.

U.S. Small Business Administration Green Business Guide – “As a “green” business, you’ll not only help protect our ecosystem, but your sales could benefit among consumers who value your environmental efforts.”

The Small Business Guide to Energy Efficiency offers tips, advice, and resources to help save on energy costs including information about incentives available for making energy efficient upgrades to your facilities.

The Small Business Environmental website offers a lot of resources specifically targeted for SMBs. For example Environmental Best Management Practices focusing specifically on 10 small business models including Bakery, Landscaping, Health Care and Retail Store.

Energy Star for Small Business offers information to help you “reduce energy waste and energy costs, while protecting the earth’s environment.”