BIZ BITS
on the go
Micro Miracle
Imation Micro Hard Drive
The new Imation Micro Hard Drive makes light work of even the heaviest digital files. Shaped like a padlock with shock resistance up to 1,000G and a flexible USB that locks neatly into the drive, it is a sturdy and secure way to store and transport files up to 2GB. Thanks to the ergonomic design and convenient size (equal to a deck of cards), plus the ability to run without an external power source, this device is a sure-fire hit for the business traveller. $190. www.imation.com
Desktop Dynamo
Swiss Business Tool Model 60
The office can be tough, so you’d better have the right tools to survive. And this new take on the classic Swiss Army Knife will help to see you through most desktop challenges. Available in three different colors, the lightweight (8oz) Swiss Business Tool is equipped with a flat-clinch stapler, hole punch with accuracy gauge, a locking blade, 2” spring-mounted scissors and a discreet compartment for spare staples and paperclips. This model might not work so well by the campfire, but in the office it will have you prepared for anything. $110. www.wenger-knife.ch
Voice Box
Sony Visual Voice Recorder
Do you ever wish you could take pictures and notes at the same time? If you’re in a position that requires recording interviews, seminars, meetings, product evaluations and the like, Sony’s ICD-CX50 Visual Voice Recorder should be on your wish list. The compact ICD-CX50 is a combined 256MB voice recorder and 1.2-megapixel camera with a 4x digital zoom. Pictures and short videos can be played back on the mini LCD screen, and all recordings can be easily filed and archived to memory, so you will never have to worry about misplacing your valuable data. $400. www.sony.com
the word
Innovation Nation
Rules for Strategic Innovators
How can well-established companies with powerful and proven business models deliver the same kind of innovation that young start-up companies are renowned for? This classic question for large-scale business progression has had few fundamental rules of guidance—until now. In 10 Rules for Strategic Innovators: From Idea to Execution (Harvard Business School Press), Tuck School of Business professors Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble have identified three central challenges that face large companies in the quest for fresh business opportunities. And they offer 10 rules for fostering progress as innovators in the marketplace. The book is the result of five years’ research and in-depth analysis of 10 large corporations. It includes instructive, real-world stories of innovation in action, as well as examples of how breakthrough growth opportunities can make or break companies and careers. Published December 1
Unique Boutique
The Hotel ZaZa
They say there’s no place like Hotel ZaZa—and they’re right. Set in the heart of bustling uptown Dallas, this luxurious boutique hotel provides the setting for an incredibly lavish escape. It’s among the 153 guest rooms that you’ll find the qualities that make ZaZa stand out from the rest. With 14 individually designed concept suites, from the Zen Suite to the Bohemia Suite, you can choose the room to reflect your mood. If business is slick for you in the Lone Star State, settle into the cowhide-covered and leather-bound opulence of the Texas Suite to really feel on top of the world. And if you’ve had a hard day in the boardroom, a soothing massage at the ZaSpa or an indulgent dinner at the Dragonfly Restaurant should restore your spirits. www.hotelzaza.com
Sound Byte
Dell Chairman of the Board, Michael Dell
Michael Dell started PCs Limited in his dorm room while still at the University of Texas, and it soon became successful enough for him to drop out at the age of 19 to run the business full time. By 1992, the company was renamed Dell Computer Corporation, and he had become the youngest CEO ever to earn a ranking on the Fortune 500. In 2002, Dell Inc. became the most profitable PC manufacturer in the world, with sales of $35 billion and profits of $2 billion.
“I think the customer has the control in the industry, not the company. Our business is really about understanding what those needs are and responding to that. During the last 10 years, our business has become much broader, growing from PCs to mobility products to servers, storage, services and, really, all the products that go with computing. So we’ve become a much broader provider of the kind of products and services we use in the IT world.
I think that there will be no slowing down in the improvements of fundamental technology, such as Moore’s Law and the improvement in semiconductors. The amount of power that will exist out there to do things like desktop video conferencing, or mapping protein genes or creating digital movies is just fantastic—and we’re not going to see a slowdown anytime soon.” www.dell.com