The Business Card

No advertising or networking method is more powerful and cost effective for the burdgeoning small business owner than  the business card.  

It’s a great ice breaker and conduit for face-to-face conversations about your business to potential customers. It’s an extremely portable advertisement for your business that people can take with them and keep in their wallets/purses.  Nothing is more basic than the business card, providing the most important information about your business and nothing more.  Finally, there’s no denying that it’s much cheaper than an ad in your local paper or phone book, saving you money in those critically cash-strapped first years of business.

So it goes without saying that the first thing any new small business owner should do is get some business cards made.  And that’s exactly what I’ve done.

However, before I could send my order to the printers, I needed to completed a few start-up steps so I’d have something to adorn the face of my card.  Namely a business name, website url, logo, and phone number. Now that those things are complete, I can proudly display all of that on my business card.  After all, this will be my primary advertising method for the next year or so as I try to build a small, part-time client list.

I’d like to share with you some of the things I took into consideration when designing my business card.  The most important thing to take from all this is that your card will be an extension of your business philosophy and image, so make sure to do them justice.

Information

First and foremost, you need to figure out what information to put on your business card.  This is a balancing act.  Although you want to tell your potential customers as much as you can about your business, you also don’t want to clutter the card with too much information.

First and foremost you should list all the ways that customers can contact you.  I think it’s a mistake to list only your phone number or only your email address, list both.  I personally don’t understand why people still list their fax number.  Does anyone fax anymore?  Finally, it’s probably a good idea to throw in your website URL, that’s where people can go if they’re interested in finding out more information than the card provides.

Next, you want to include your name.  This personalizes the card and gives the card that human element.  It makes the receiver feel “special”, like they are receiving a personal invitation from you to contact your business.  This is what separates the business card from traditional ads.

Of course, don’t forget your business name and logo.  These keep your company brand in the minds of your potential customers, helping them remember your business.

So far all of these things are pretty obvious.  What about extra information like a run-down of your services, the area you service, your motto, your specials, etc? Well, this is all purely optional and it’s up to you if you feel you’ll need to include any of this stuff.  My advice, and this is what I tried to follow with my own card, is to keep things short and simple.  Give just enough information so people know what you’re about and then they can refer to your website for specifics.  Nothing is worse than a cluttered business card.

Layout

By layout, I’m not only thinking about on what part of the card you put certain information, but also what colors and font you use.  This is a matter of personal preference and there are an infinite number of possible ways to lay out your card.  But here are some personal guidelines I tried to follow:

1. White Space is OK- Don’t feel like you have to fill every square inch of the card with info.  Cluttered cards not only look bad, but it’s hard for your customer to find the information they need.
2. Keep Things Consistent - Try to stick to two or three colors and fonts on the card.  If everything is the same color, that’s boring.  The opposite is if you make every line of text a different color and font which will begin to look unorganized and chaotic.
3. Consolidate Similar Info-  It’s probably a good idea to keep all your contact info together on the card.  If your website is in one corner, email in a another, and phone in yet another, your customer might miss the info they’re looking for and move on to the next card in their stack.

Appearance

Finally, there’s the overall appearance.  These are some questions you’ll probably want to ask yourself before ordering your cards.

Glossy or matte?- This is a matter of preference, but I personally prefer matte finish for two reasons: 1) I like being able to write extra info on a business card if I need to and it’s much easier to write on a matte finished card.  2) Glossy finish just looks less professional to me for some reason.  But you may find you like glossy finish better.  It certainly makes the colors pop out a little more if that’s your goal.  Take a look at some business cards that you’ve received in the past and see which finish you prefer.

White Background? - My personal preference on this one is to keep the card white.  Again, I think it’s not only more professional looking, but it allows your logo and text pop out and be the focus of attention.

Flare? - Some printing companies offer options such as foil printing and raised lettering.  I think options are nice if you can afford them.  But don’t break the bank on such things that probably don’t make a huge difference in the long run.  Concentrate more on making the things that cost the least look the best.  And keep in mind that even with these fancy features, moderation is important.  Unless, of course, you’re promoting a night club in which case the more glitter the better!

Info on the back? - Most printing companies also allow you to have something printed on the back of the card for an extra fee.  This is a perfect opportunity to add a little extra something that you couldn’t put on the front face of the card.  You can include a complete list of your services, client testimonials and media quotes, or include a coupon or discount for people who present the card to you during service, which is the route I’ve taken.

Traditional or funky? -Lets face it, business cards are boring.  Some people choose to take the business card to the next level by breaking the mold and offering alternatives to the rectangular peice of card stock we’ve all come to know.  Here are some of the more creative examples I’ve encountered on the web:

http://www.quicksprout.com/2008/09/20/creative-business-cards-that-make-you-look-twice/

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/inspiration/50-awesome-and-creative-business-cards/

http://www.toxel.com/inspiration/2009/01/22/30-memorable-and-creative-business-cards/

Now, while these business cards may be awesome to look at, and no doubt memorable, I wouldn’t use them for my business.  First of all, I normally put business cards in my wallet when I receive them.  If the card is oddly shaped or too bulky, it may end up in my pocket and eventually lost.  Secondly, the cost to benefit ratio for these cards is very questionable.  Yeah, you may gain the attention of a few more people, but are they going to translate into new customers? And are those new customers going to make up the difference in the amount of money you spent to have these custom cards created?  Maybe.  But I’d rather rely on my good service and personable approach to gain new customers at first…both are free.

Show us the Money!

Gmail now knows who you want to e-mail!

Gmail can now figure out if you're trying to start up another conversation thread with people you've recently been talking to, saving you some time on starting a new message thread, or simply using a reply all on an old one. (Credit: Google)

Google's Gmail Labshas just rolled out a useful, but mildly creepy feature that gives you suggestions on who you should e-mail based on previous conversations. So, if you've had threads going with a group of people, it will recommend some of those folks once you've added at least two addresses in the recipients field. Best part is, they don't even have to be in a group of contacts you've created in Gmail's contacts manager. I got this to work to an almost uncanny level. It handles things like family members without a hitch, but where it gets useful is in pulling up people you've recently been corresponding with and giving you a one-click link that adds them to the message. Short of organizing these people to a group (in which you may need to add or delete someone on a per-message basis), or doing a reply-all on an old message, this is a really fast way to get another thread started with the same group. Now all Gmail needs is a quick way to take these contacts and add them to a sending group without leaving the message, something that can only be done in Gmail's contact manager.

How to keep fit?

Instructions Step1: We should keep a balanced diet and that is to say, we should not have too much intake of animal fat, but more vegetables and fruits. Step2: If one wants to keep fit, he must give up the habits that damage his health. Eg, quit smoking, drinking too much wine, staying up late... Step3: Regular physical exercise is essential for a healthy mind and body.In the morning, you can get up early, go outdoors, breathe the fresh air, and do physical exercises. Running and swimming are extremely helpful to keep one fit. If you are a busy person and have no special time allocated to do these things, there are still some ways useful for to keep fit. The easiest way is to walk to your office instead of riding a bike or taking a bus. Step4: You also have to take a routine physical check-up. Your doctor will know the condition of your body most clearly, and he will give you the most valuable advice to keep fit. You should always try to make yourself happy. If you feel happy, you can eat well, sleep well, and your body is sure to be in an excellent condition.

Blogger simplifies posting via SMS and e-mail

Last month Google released a less complicated way of linking up your phone with one or more of your Blogger blogs as part of its Blogger in Draft program. It put the settings to post to a specific blog through your phone or e-mail next to each blog's title inside of the dashboard using small and simple icons. And as of today the change is now live to everyone.

The most important part of this seemingly minor update is that it takes two sets of settings that were previously tucked away and puts them front and center. Posting via SMS or MMS message can be set up in about 30 seconds if you have your phone handy, and you don't even have to leave the dashboard to do it. The same goes for creating a special e-mail address to post to each blog--something which was also, previously hidden away from non-savvy users.

While sending a post to Blogger through your phone is nothing new, Google clearly wants to make the process a little easier. Putting the icons and setup tools right there in front of you is a good start. The one big caveat that remains is that posting through SMS still only works in the US, so if you're a Blogger user from another country you're stuck having to use your phone's e-mail app--meaning you need a data plan.

There's also the continuing matter of a lack of an official, native Blogger application for mobile phones. WordPress and MovableType have had free mobile applications out for some time now--including some snazzy ones for the iPhone. These make it simple to work on and post entries locally, as well as edit and moderate posts while on the go. SMS and e-mail are nice, but at this point in the game a dedicated application would be a nice touch. Those with an iPhone and who are willing to part with $3 can have it with this app called BlogPress which also posts to WordPress, TypePad, Live Journal and others.

Here's the original demo on how to post from your phone from last October:

5 Overlooked Characteristics Of A Successful Computer Consultant

Lets face it, there are a lot of “computer guys” out there.  It’s no secret that the IT industry is growing and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.  The demand is there and the money is good.

However, not every computer guy is created equal.  Just because you have a degree related to computers, you solve all your friend’s computer problems in less than 15 minutes, and you can hack into the pentagon, doesn’t mean you’re cut out to start your own computer repair business.

Since starting my business, many customers I service seem to be relieved when they realize that I’m not out to make a quick buck, and that I can speak to them about their computer in terms that they can understand and relate to.  Some have even related to me the pains they’ve experienced at the hands of some other computer guys that they’ve worked with in the past.  Couple these experiences with the fact that, through interviews on this website and other encounters with successful computer techs, I’ve noticed that there are some characteristics that make certain independent computer consultants really stand out among the competition.

There are many obvious traits that one must posses in order to be a successful independent computer consultant.  You must have people skills, business savvy, and broad technical knowledge.  But that’s just the beginning.

Be a Teacher - It’s one thing to show up at a customer’s home, fix their computer problem, collect your check, and take off.  It’s another level entirely when you take a moment to explain to them what went wrong and how they can prevent it in the future.   Most service calls you make should be accompanied by some form of training for the user.   This will help instill a sense of trust with your customers, not only will they feel like you truly have their best interest at heart, but they’ll be excited about the extra bonus they’re getting with their service.

Don’t pass up opportunities to teach your customer how to do different things with their computer.  Make it free of charge at first.  Then, when you feel you’re comfortable in the role of trainer, start offering classes in things like how to use the latest version of windows, or how to back up data.

Have The Patience of a Saint -  Computers are frustrating pieces of machinery.  Add frustrated customers who wouldn’t know a a right-click from a hole-in-the-wall, multiply by the amount of technical knowledge you posses, and you have the formula for a bitter and jaded computer tech.  You’re going to see the same problems over and over again, from the same customers over and over again, and it’s going to wear you down.

It’s important to keep perspective on things when you’re in the trenches.  You’ve got to constantly tell yourself that if it weren’t for these issues, you wouldn’t be in business.  Always greet customers with a smile and always take the time to listen to what they have to say.  Don’t interrupt them or correct them.  Think about how you’re going to explain an issue and stop yourself when you feel like you’re getting too technical.  It’s little things like this that make a big impact on customers.

Many company IT guys don’t understand the importance of patience because their corporate customers have no choice but to turn to them when a computer issue arises.  Once the customer is given a choice, they’ll choose a tech that makes them feel comfortable and one that doesn’t talk down to them.  Learn to be that tech.

Never Stop Learning - The single most important trait for a computer technician to have is a desire to never stop learning.  I concur 100%.  The computer industry grows fast and furious and you’re going to need to constantly sharpen your skills as a tech in order to stay on top.

Many computer techs learn what they need to learn in school and then they seem to feel like they’ll be able to keep up with technology simply by tapping into their previous educational well.  That may help you sustain a competent level of troubleshooting ability, but you’ll soon see your businesses effectiveness dwindle.

I say keep learning.  Subscribe to industry forums and blogs.  Read the latest tech literature.  Re-certify yourself every few years.  Network with other technicians and take time to “talk shop”.  None of these are a silver bullet that will keep you ahead of the game.  They must all be a constant part of your life in order to ensure your continued effectiveness.

Learn To Take Time Off - This might seem like a no brainier.  In fact, the reason why many quit their job to start their own business is so that they can be afforded the freedom to take time off whenever they choose.  But in my experience,this is one of the most overlooked traits on the list.  When working for yourself, you don’t have the luxury of allotted vacation time or sick leave. It’s easy to get caught up in your work.  If you don’t plan properly, you’ll soon find that you can’t afford to take time off.  That time you’re away will be lost profit.

You have to make sure you save and plan for an expected, or unexpected, temporary hiatus.  In fact, I would argue that it’s necessary to take some time off every year to unwind and decompress.  I know a few independent computer consultants who have left the game because they got burned out.  Avoid burn out and stay in the game for the long haul by making yourself take time off.

Experiment Wisely - I see two types of people that don’t make it too far in computer consulting:  those who stubbornly stick to the same old methods of doing things, and those that experiment so wildly, they loose focus.  Since there is already a strong push towards experimentation in business these days, I’m going to stick with the other extreme.

Beware the trappings of over-experimentation.  This is when those super-driven highly motivated techs out there feel like they have to constantly try all of the latest trends in marketing and computer repair.  This is fine, to a certain extent.  When you never stick with what works, you miss out on the value of experimentation.  Wise experimentation means making sure you’re constantly gathering metrics when you try a new tactic to see if the methods you’re using are helping to improve your situation.  If so, great, keep them up.  If not, move on to the next one.  I’ve been surprised by how many people I’ve seen who just bounce from one thing to the next, never taking the time to focus and refine the things that work.

Many of your competitors are probably lacking these skills, but if you hone them, you’ll to gain an edge over those other computer guys in your neighborhood.  Concentrate on being a friendly neighborhood computer guy, not jut the typical jaded computer tech that everyone dreads, and you’ll be one step ahead of most of your competition.

Top 5 Podcasts for Computer Techs

A podcast, for those of you not in the “know”, is basically a digital radio show that can be streamed to your computer or downloaded onto any number of digital listening devices, including the ever popular iPod.  Podcasting is now more popular than ever thanks, in part, to two factors: 1) the popularity of the iPod and other portable digital listening devices and 2) the reduction in price of quality audio broadcasting equipment. 

This increased popularity means that there are a lot of podcasts sprouting up around the net.  These podcasts range in quality and produciton value from a kid with a cheap microphone in his parent’s basement to a nationally syndicated radio show.  

I’ve fallen in love with podcasts recently after buying a car (my silver lightning myvi)  This enables me to hear pertinent, relevant, interesting stuff on my 45 minute drive to and from work back before i got accepted t o UiTM.  Better than radio, podcasts allow me to choose WHAT I listen to and WHEN I listen to it.  Kinda like Tivo for audio broadcasting.

As a computer guy or gal, listening to tech-related podcasts regularly will help you keep up with the latest trends in computer consulting and the IT business in general.  You can listen at home or in your shop while working on a computer or in the car on your way to your service calls.  There are quite a few tech-centric podcasts out there.  This list provides you with the podcasts that I personally enjoy and in which I find the most value as a computer guy.

So here, in no particular order, are my top 5 podcast recommendations for computer techs:

Buzz Out Loud - This is a daily podcast  produced by the folks at CNET that provides news and commentary on the latest tech trends.  I like it’s combination of knowledgeable hosts and the laid-back friendly vibe.  Although they don’t get too heavy into technical stuff, they provide a breath of fresh geek air to start your morning.

PodNutz- A weekly (almost) computer repair podcast by Steve Cherubino.  He regularly interviews a wide variety of computer techs and business owners bringing good insights into how other techs approach their niche.

Small Business Trends Radio- Not a tech podcast per-se, but a very valuable tool for those of you who run your own business.  Being an independent computer consultant means being a small business owner, CEO, marketing guru, accountant (among other things) as well as an excellent computer tech.  This show will help you become better at those first four things.  Each week Anita Campbell and co-host Steve Rucinski interview a different small business owner/expert that shares their experiences and insights.

Windows Weekly - This podcast is a member of the TWiT.tvtech podcast network.  This network, founded by radio tech guy Leo Laporte, offers very professional broadcast-quality podcasts featuring mostly tech-related subjects.  Windows Weekly is one of my favorites, providing me all the juicy windows tidbits I need to satiate my Microsoft munchies in digestible weekly portions.

The Force Field- Brought to you by Rick Savoia, The Force Field podcast covers a wide variety of computer consulting topics with news, reviews, and interviews.  This one is part of the TechPodcasts.comnetwork, which is home to a smorgasbord of geek-friendly podcasts.

The Tech Guy- This is another offering from TwiT.tv, hosted by the man himself, Leo Laporte.  This is his XM radio show without the commercials.  Very entertaining and informative covering general tech.

Cyber Speak - Two former federal agents discuss computer forensics, cybercrime, and computer security.  Can be dry at times (since this is not my main area of focus), but stick with it, you’ll learn some interesting and useful stuff!

Many of these podcats also include forums, chat rooms, and live participation with the hosts.  So check them out and tell what you think to me....

How can your business online succeed?

How Can Your Online Business SucceedIf You Don’t Invest?I hear it all the time, “How can I start an online business with no money?” People everywhere are looking to start an online or home based business yet they want to do it without spending a cent. So, I ask them, “How can a farmer expect to harvest a crop if he doesn’t buy the seed?”You can talk about starting a business and making all kinds of money all you want, but until you realize that you have to invest in your business, it’s not a business, it’s just a hobby. That does not necessarily mean you have to take out a second loan on your home, but you do have to invest.Put yourself in the farmer’s boots for a moment.

You want to plant a cash crop and you know you can, so how do you go about getting started? First, you decide what crop you will plant. You do your homework to determine which crop will produce you the most return based on all the conditions. Once you make this decision, you have to take the next step. You have to take action. Before you get the seed, you must till the ground and prepare it for planting. This preparation is critical if you want a successful crop. Once the ground is ready to accept the seed, you go the seed store and “buy” your seed.

This is your investment.So can you just throw the seed on the ground and expect great results? No. You must then cultivate it in order to get the results you expect. You work the soil to keep it loose, you water and fertilize. Then and only then will the seed start growing, until it produces the crop you dreamed it would. Once your crop matures, you then can harvest its many fruits. You can see the results of your labor and your investment pays off.Your business, whether online or offline, is much like planting a crop. You decide which business is best for you by reading and studying everything you can on the subject. Once you make that decision, you have to prepare. Get your website ready, everything must be in place. Then you plant or go live with your site. You have to promote and invest your time and money into the business. You keep at it, learning more as you go and one day you walk out to see your crop, and it is time to harvest.

WordPress Complete: set up, customize, and market your blog  PUBLISHER : Packt Publishing | October 17, 2006 | 304 pages | ISBN : 1904811892| pdf | 6 mb

Wordpress is a simple and powerful way to start blogging. If you're not an IT expert but want to use a state of the art blogging system to give your blog the best chance of success, while giving you the time to focus on content and your readers, WordPress is the right system for you, and this book is the right place to start. It will give you a rapid and straightforward introduction to the rich and powerful features of WordPress and get you up and running with a state of the art blog as quickly and painlessly as possible. WordPress is an open source blog engine released under GNU general public license. It allows users to easily create dynamic blogs with great content and many outstanding features. It is an ideal tool for developing blogs and though it is chiefly used for blogging, it can also be used as a complete CMS with very little effort. Its versality and ease of use has attracted a large, enthusiastic, and helpful community of users.

http://depositfiles.com/files/eqtoe6eg1

MIS website presentation (16th April) - BOOK NOW!

Hye ppl, plz book your turns of presenting websites this thursday. As usual, it's on a first-come-first-serve basis. Hurry! Book your place now! Comment to this post ASAP!

Turns already booked:-
1. Mohd. Izham
2. Nurul
3. Izzaura
4. Affazila
5. Adilah
6. Ekin
7. Fizi
8. Erin
9. Zila
10. Sha
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17. Lily

Religious knowledge through ICT

Two years after its launch, KnowledgeGrid Malaysia will welcome a new application to its network. Called IslamGrid, this new addition aims to promote religious understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims around the world. The KnowledgeGrid is a national infrastructure that consists of hardware, software and services. It provides access to computing power and data for research and industrial development. Jointly developed by applied research body Mimos Bhd, the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) and the Malaysian Administrative Modernisation and Management Planning Unit, IslamGrid will use the KnowledgeGrid’s infrastructure to collect,store and disseminate information about the religion and its contribution to world history. Although the developers have big hopes about developing IslamGrid, they planned its roll-out ­conservatively. In his presentation, IslamGrid’s project manager, Kamaruddin Dolmoin said the first version of IslamGrid will be ready by the middle of the year. “When support for it picks up, we want to introduce IslamGrid to South-East Asian nations first before bringing experts from around the world to contribute to it,” he said. But Fauzan said that IslamGrid has already caught the attention of a larger audience who are keen to help with the project. “We already have parties from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt interested in helping us with the project,” Fauzan claimed.

Could the Internet run out of space?

LONDON, England (CNN) -- When a small group of university scientists began linking computers on different campus sites at the very end of the 1960s, they had no idea that their work would one day spiral into a globally-accessible network in which the total number of pages is measured in the tens of billions. Running out of space? Web cafe users in China Such has been the Internet's phenomenal and dizzying growth that much of the technology which supports it has grown organically and without much forward planning. But what if the Internet was to run out of space? This isn't just a theoretical debate, but something experts warn could become a real issue within a few years. Now, one business school professor studying the issue believes he may have come up with a solution. The problem isn't one of storage, but of location, the so-called IP addresses which are handed out to new sites. These are all given a unique number based on something called the IPv4 (Internet protocol version 4) standard, the system under which the web first expanded globally. IPv4 assigns main host addresses using a system which gives around 4 billion possible combinations, a figure which at the time seemed greater than could possibly ever be used. But now the numbers are running out. A new system, IPv6, has been developed, but technical issues and a reluctance among Web companies to begin using it means it could be years before this is widely adopted. Benjamin G. Edelman, a professor of business administration at Harvard Business School, is warning that such a bottleneck could seriously hamper the Internet, saying the Web is in danger of becoming "a victim of its own success." If new technology businesses can't acquire sufficient IP addresses it will be difficult for them to get a foothold in the industry, he said in the Harvard Business Working Knowledge newsletter. Edelman believes he has come up with an interim solution -- a free market in defunct or unused IP addresses, of which there are many millions, which can be transferred, at a price, to new owners." "It's unlikely that other networks would return their space for free. Why would they?" he said. "But if the price is right, they may be willing to transfer the space to someone who needs it more." In the Web's early days, Edelman explains, when the number of IP addresses seemed inexhaustible, some networks were allocated huge numbers by the non-governmental independent regulators which control this. Some of these companies later scaled back their Internet activities or even went out of business altogether. These unused addresses could attract a market price, bringing not only what economists call "allocative efficiency" -- moving resources to where they are most needed -- but also another benefit. "The bigger worries come if Internet Service Providers just cannot expand, or just cannot enter the market. If that were to come to pass, I wouldn't be surprised to see effects on service price and quality."

Humans beat computers again!

Humans trump computers in NCAA hoops picks After all the developments in computers, Humans can still beat the super computers. Remember how Kasparov beat the world's super computer in Chess? This is another similar story. Allah Almighty shows His Hikmah all the time. We just need to find out. Read the story to find out further. (CNN) -- Once in a while, a gut feeling and some human instinct can out-think a computer. A professor says people, not computers, were most successful at predicting the NCAA basketball tournament. A professor says people, not computers, were most successful at predicting the NCAA basketball tournament. That's what happened this year at the NCAA men's basketball tournament, as computer models trying to predict the outcome of March Madness generally fared worse than their human counterparts, said Joel Sokol, a professor at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. "This year, it was sort of revenge of the humans, in a way," he said. It's a trend for computer scientists like Sokol and statistics junkies to use online data to try to pick the winners of the notoriously random tournament. About 40 people and groups use Internet statistics -- like team records and point margins, for example -- to publish such reports on college basketball, said Kenneth Massey, whose Web site, masseyratings.com, lets users compare the analyses. The professors' computer model, which correctly named the Final Four and tournament winners in 2008, picked only one of the Final Four teams this year. That team was the University of North Carolina, which Sokol and his computer correctly said would win the Big Dance on Monday night. This year, many people who used their gut feelings or basketball savvy made better predictions, he said. "There are things like injuries that [computers] can't take into account," Sokol said. "They can't watch a team and just say, 'Hey, this team looks really good,' which is something that humans can do. And sometimes, human experts are really right about that. "And this year sort of is one of those years where the human experts did a nice job." Tournament predictions by college basketball experts and the group that slots teams into tournament brackets generally fared better than major computer models this year, Sokol said. And, at the start of the season, coaches and sportswriters voted the winning Tar Heels No. 1 in their respective polls, SI.com reports. Jeff Sagarin, who has been doing computer ratings for USA Today since 1985, said it's silly to think of the ranking in terms of computers versus humans, because all of the humans use computer models to formulate their opinions. The best predictions are made using both human instinct and data, he said. Sagarin, who uses some of the oldest and most respected sports prediction equations in the business, also said computer models can be judged only over the long term. One season is not enough, he said, especially because there are so few games. He criticized Sokol and his peers for putting out news releases about their successful basketball predictions. "I'm the guy they all want to beat," he said. In one model, Sagarin predicted three of the Final Four teams this year. On a comparison site called thepredictiontracker.com, Sagarin's models are listed as having some of the lowest error ratings. Las Vegas betting lines generally win those comparisons, though. Sokol's model from Georgia Tech fell short in the middle of the tournament this year. His computer model incorrectly predicted that the University of Southern California would beat Michigan State in the second round, but Michigan State went all the way to the championship game.

Alert!! Email Me Your Web Comparison & PIXAR Slides!!

Salam...

I am going to burn all the slides for all our MIS projects (web comparison, international case study, book review). To those who have not submitted your slides to me, plz do so ASAP as Wednesday nyte tomorrow(8 April - 9PM) is the due date for you to submit.

Currently, I am short in web comparison slides. The ones submitted to me are: -
Alibaba vs Agribazaar, Lelong vs E-Bay, Marimari vs Asiatravel, Maybank vs Citibank, MyGov vs MyEG, and NUS vs UiTM.

To the other 3 groups, plz e-mail to me ASAP.!! Also, PIXAR group plz email me your group's slides ASAP!!

What I hate and love about Gmail

I've had a love-hate relationship with Gmail ever since it was introduced in 2004. Among the things I love about Google's free e-mail service is the vast storage, terrific spam filters, fast search, and the ability to automatically forward mail to another address or access it from any e-mail program. What I hate is that the only way to look at your mail at Gmail.com is through a threaded or conversational interface.

Most e-mail programs and Web-based e-mail services present mail in reverse chronological order so that the most recent message is always on top, on a line all by itself. Gmail sort of organizes mail chronologically but it does so it in "conversations" so that messages, responses and responses to responses all wind up within the same message, which may or may not show up on top, even if it's the most recent message to arrive.

In an interview, Gmail product manager Todd Jackson told me that users prefer that interface and, while I've never done a scientific survey, I'm quite sure that some people do prefer that interface to the more traditional one that's used by Outlook, Yahoo Mail and most other mail services. But I know I'm far from the only Gmail user who at least wants the option to look at mail purely chronologically.

It seems to me that it wouldn't be all that hard for Google to give people a choice of how they want to see their mail. Google Labs has come up with all sorts of other options for Gmail that range from the very useful to the downright silly, and it strikes me that an option of letting people see their most recent message on top would be pretty popular. Jackson acknowledged that others have made such a request but says that "it's not in the top five" on their list of popular requests.

Workarounds

There are a couple of roundabout ways to get your Gmail in pure chronological order. One is to click on Settings followed by "Forwarding and POP/IMAP to configure Gmail so that it can be accessed via Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora, Outlook Express, or any other e-mail program. Another--and I know this sounds weird--is to also set up a free Yahoo account and forward your Gmail to Yahoo Mail. That way you get Gmail's amazing archiving feature and superior spam filters with the option to view your mail chronologically in Yahoo Mail.

Back to the love side of the equation, Gmail does have some tools that make it easier to find important mail including labels and filters that allow you to highlight mail from certain people or domains. To avoid missing messages that could impact my career, any Gmail I get from colleagues for example, are highlighted with a red VIP label. I've set things up so that mail from jobstreet, and other updates get a green label with the word "must see." hehehe...

MyPortal extra class

Dear friends,
For those who are still not an expert in handling your MyPortal website projects, please join MBA Group B's basic introduction class of MyPortal.
Time: 3pm
Place: MBA Lab (Level 5)
Date: 3rd April 09 - Friday (TODAY!!!)
Note: Aiman (Ms. Mardziah's son) will be there. So please do ask him anything and everything that you need to know to complete your websites. Do not feel scared or ashamed to join that class. Ms. Mardziah called me this morning and ask me to inform this info to all classmates.
*MALU BERTANYA SESAT JALAN*

MIS website presentation (9th April)

Please take note my dear friends. These are the order of presentations Thursday this week (9th April).

1. *still open and available*
2. Marzuk
3. Azzah
4. Alia
5. Yan
6. Marha
7. Marni
8. Faiz
9. Rina
10. Wawa
11. Zila
12. Yusuf
13. *still open and available*
14. Firdaus
15. Idham

Turns 1 and 13 are still open and available. Reply in this post ASAP for those interested as reservations are on first-come-first-served basis. *huhu mcm bukak restoran plk*

Scan Toaster

This articles, remind me a lot to Azzah (^.^)...

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If you’re bored with your regular everyday sandwiches with egg and sardine, why not bring a bit of culture to the sandwiches with some toast art? This nifty scan toaster by designer Sung Bae Chang, will transform your plain piece of bread into an art canvass, and the best thing is, you can still eat it.

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It doesn’t need an electricity socket to short-circuit as a regular toaster would, but instead will connect to your PC via USB. The Scan Toaster will download the design for your piece of toast. It has the ability to download everything from the weather and current time to the latest news headlines.

Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote Control

Well I ask you do you have a problem with remote controls spawning around the house and taking over your sofa? if you have this problem, you are the one who need the Harmony 1100 Advanced Universal Remote Control made by Logitech. Lets face it who hasn’t been on the quest for the lost remote. The Harmony 1100 Universal Remote Control is the answer and will allow you the flexibility and customization to control so much within your house from this one remote control.

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The concept and design of the Harmony 1100 Universal Remote Control is sleek and stylish. The touch screen capabilities are easy to use and make controlling the remote so much easier. Whilst with older remotes you had to navigate through a complex sequence, this allows you to select whichever electrical device you wish with ease. P/S: Interested to find more about this gadget??? juz click the title which linked you to the related website of this cool gadget..