Can't Install Adobe Reader

Are you running Vista and can't get Adobe Reader to install? Well you aren't alone. It was recently listed as one of the top complaints regarding Vista. Fortunately, we have an answer to the issue. Actually, two answers!

First, unless you logged right into the administrator account, or you are a power user and have turned off User Access Control (UAC) you will need to turn it back on, then install Adobe. I would then recommend you leave UAC on for normal operations. To do this, go to Control Panel, click on User accounts, then click on the setting to turn UAC on. Restart your computer, then install Adobe.

If that doesn't work, or UAC was NOT turned off, then you can install Adobe in Windows XP compatibility mode. Browse to the folder where you placed the Adobe installer file. Right click it, and select the compatibility tab. Check "run this program in compatibility mode" then select Windows XP in the list. Adobe should then install.

To your success,

Tim

Phone System - Part 2

Last week in "How About a Phone System for the Little Guy" I talked about Microsoft Responsepoint, the new Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone system for small and medium business. It has the blue Responsepoint button that, when pushed, responds to your voice commands. It also has a built-in auto attendant, voicemail capabilities, and even the ability to convert your voicemails automatically to emails to send to your email account.

What I didn't tell you at the time was that this system has the ability to accept regular telephone lines (POTS) or VOIP inbound lines. By signing up with various VOIP carriers, you can keep your existing telephone numbers, and send both your inbound and outbound phone calls over your business internet connection. This allows you to save bundles of money on long distance charges, among other things. Now, you may have tried VOIP calls in the past, or even used it on your pc. But this is not the old voip. This is business class service. I've been using it in my business for all phone operations for the last nine months. The trick is you have to find the right carrier.

My carrier of choice is New Global Telecom. NGT does voip right, by installing a special router at your business location to make sure the phone traffic is routed correctly overy your internet connection. They constantly monitor the connection, and can even forward the calls automatically to another number (your cell phone, for example) if your internet connection ges down.

If you want to save money on your long distance phone bill, and have all the features of a business class phone system, without the huge expense, Response Point and NGT may be for you.

To your success,

Tim

If Operating Systems were Airlines

Since I have strong ties to the airline industry (those who know me know why) I found this little bit of humor all too true. Enjoy!

To your success,

Tim

DOS AIR All the passengers go out onto the runway, grab hold of the plane, push it until it gets in the air, hop on, jump off when it hits the ground again. Then they grab the plane again, push it back into the air, hop on, etcetera.

WINDOWS '95 AIRLINES The terminal is very neat and clean, the attendants are all very attractive and the pilots very capable. The fleet is immense. After your plane arrives 6 months late, you begin to wonder why it has not arrived yet. Your jet takes off without a hitch, pushing above the clouds, and at 20,000 feet it crashes without warning.

MAC AIRWAYS The cashiers, flight attendants, and pilots all look the same, feel the same and act the same. When asked questions about the flight they reply that you don't want to know, don't need to know, and would you please return to your seat and watch the movie.

OS/2 SKYWAYS The terminal is almost empty, with only a few prospective passengers milling about. Airline personnel walk around, apologising profusely to customers in hushed voices, pointing from time to time to the sleek, powerful jets outside the terminal on the field. They tell each passenger how good the real flight will be on these new jets and how much safer it will be than Windows Airlines, but that they will have to wait a little longer for the technicians to finish the flight systems.

FLY WINDOWS NT All the passengers carry their seats out onto the tarmac, placing the chairs in the outline of a plane. They all sit down, flap their arms and make jet swooshing sounds as if they are flying.

WINGS of AS/400 The airline has bought ancient DC-3s, arguably the best and safest planes that ever flew and painted "747" on their tails to make them look as if they are fast. The flight attendants, of course, attend to your every need, though the drinks cost $15 a pop. Stupid questions cost $230 per hour, unless you have SupportLine, which requires a first class ticket and membership in the frequent flyer club.

VMS AIRLINES The passengers all gather in the hanger, watching hundreds of technicians check the flight systems on this immense, luxury aircraft. This plane has at least 10 engines and seats over 1,000 passengers. All the passengers scramble aboard, as do the necessary complement of 200 technicians. The pilot takes his place up in the glass cockpit. He guns the engines, only to realise that the plane is too big to get through the hangar doors!

UNIX EXPRESS Each passenger brings a piece of the airplane and a box of tools to the airport. They gather on the tarmac, arguing constantly about what kind of plane they want to build and how to put it together. Eventually, they build several different aircraft, but give them all the same name. Some passengers actually reach their destinations. All passengers believe they got there.

Need a Company Logo, But Can't Afford It?

The other day I ran into a post on a forum I frequent. The poster was asking what the other small business owners did in regards to having a logo created. One of the answers was to utilize the power of the web.

99 Designs is a website created for the mutual benifit for all parties. It brings the designers of the World in contact with small, medium, and for that matter, Fortune 100 companies. For a fee of $39 dollars (or credits as they call them) anyone can start a contest, describe what you are looking for in a logo, a website, business card, letterhead, etc., post a prize amount, then sit back and watch the magic happen! 99 Designs uses the power of "crowdsourcing" to get maximum imput for your design.

What is crowdsourcing you ask? It's the power of sourcing skills, in this case design skills, from a group of people. In this instance, the group of people who are members of 99 Designs. Contests run for 7 days (or shorter if you find what you want and award the prize sooner), then you choose the best design, pay the designer, get the copyright, and you have a new logo!

I used 99 Designs to design a new company logo for my company, Networthy Systems. I had hundreds of submissions. One tidbit of advice: if you truly want designers to participate, you need to continously rank the designs, and leave lots of feedback for each designer. They like feedback, good AND bad. If you don't like the design, tell them!

I got a wonderful logo for $325.00 US. I had a hard time choosing between some of them, so I offered a lesser amount to some of the runner-ups, and secured those logos as well.

So, if you need a new look for your company, but can't afford thousands of dollars, give 99Designs a try. I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

To your Success,

Tim