BIZ BITS FEBRUARY 2006
on the go
Super searcher
Google Mini
Do you have a small to medium-sized business that handles a lot of vital information? The leader in digital searching solutions promises to bring order to the chaos of your vast data storage network. The little brother to the $30,000 Google Search Appliance, this powerful hardware/software tool for your corporate intranet can index and search up to 100,000 of your company’s documents. The Mini is able to read over 220 different file formats and will quickly become as indispensable to your network as Google.com is to the Internet. $2,995, www.google.com/mini
Hotspot helper
ZyXEL AG-225H Wi-fifinder & USB adapter
Sick of searching for hotspots? Then this little gizmo is just what you need. The ZyXEL AG-225H combines a 802.11a/b/g USB 2.0 adapter with an amazingly handy hotspot detector. You can scan the area for a signal and find out important information about the various wireless networks on a small LCD display without turning on your computer. It can also turn your computer into an access point. $99, www.us.zyxel.com
Classy carry-on
Clava leather 17-inch laptop briefcase
Give your expensive laptop the stylish briefcase it deserves. This sleek bag from Clava features a full-length back exterior zipper pocket and two front pockets perfect for carrying PDAs, iPods and other travel essentials. Inside, the front section has a removable sleeve, while the back section features three accordion files for all your documents. When you’re done with your business trip, toss out all of your work gear and use the chic bag for weekend getaways. $290, www.clava.com
bizbits the word
Sell out!
New Sales Speak:
The 9 Biggest Sales Presentation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
by Terri Sjodin (John F Wiley & Sons) $19.95, www.wiley.com
Sometimes, you only have a few precious minutes in which to sell your potential client. And while you may know your product or service like the back of your hand, it’s not information alone that will win you a new customer—a successful salesperson should know the art of persuasion.
Terri Sjodin, a renowned presentation consultant and professional speaker, gives the dos and don’ts for making the perfect pitch. So leave the Powerpoint-filled laptop at home, and go into your next presentation armed with skills that are guaranteed to seal the deal.
CEO soundbyte
Al West is the CEO and Chairman of SEI Investments—an asset management company that has administered hundreds of billions of dollars in mutual funds and pooled assets. As the keynote speaker at the 2005 ABA Wealth Management and Trust Conference, West discussed how to meet the demands of the Baby Boomers, the wealthiest generation in history. “To a Boomer, wealth is completely intertwined with life’s events. At each event, there are new opportunities and new problems. While these events have a financial center of gravity, wealth is only important in the context of one’s life and what it can do to enhance life. To the Boomer there are certain imperatives: ‘First, deal with me. I am living my life and I am a person first before I am a consumer. I want a full solution, but don’t make it too complex because saving time and minimizing hassle are of prime importance to me. I don’t want to work hard at doing or managing the deal. I want you to do most of the heavy lifting. It’s also important that I get the highest quality. In this way, I can feel smart with it. Help me, and do it for me, but let me make the important decisions. I need to feel in control because I am in the best position to make my life decisions…’ In short, the boomer is saying, ‘Give me an experience like no other—just like I have received during every previous phase of my life.’” |