Liberteks.com, Inc. Receives 2009 Best of Business Award
Small Business Commerce Association’s Award Honors the Achievement
SAN FRANSICO — Liberteks.com, Inc. has been selected for the 2009 Best of Business Award in the Computers category by the Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) in the Computers category.
The SBCA 2009 Award Program recognizes the top 5 percent of small businesses throughout the country. Using consumer feedback, the SBCA identifies companies that it believes have demonstrated what makes small businesses a vital part of the American economy.
The selection committee chooses the award winners from nominees based on information taken from monthly surveys administered by the SBCA, a review of consumer rankings, and other consumer reports. Award winners are a valuable asset to their community and exemplify what makes small businesses great.
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About Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA):
Small Business Commerce Association (SBCA) is a San Francisco based organization. The SBCA is a private sector entity that aims to provide tactical guidance with many day to day issues that small business owners face. In addition to our main goal of providing a central repository of small business operational advice; we use consumer feedback to identify companies that exemplify what makes small business a vital part of the American economy.
About Liberteks.com:
Since 1991, Liberteks.com has committed itself to excellence in consultative selling and service to small businesses and personal computer client. Liberteks.com provides timely and critical information along with expert assistance in the ever-changing computer marketplace.
I recently attended a workshop on blogging and social media networking, where I learned that I need to continue to work to develop original, dynamic content, that keeps my audience interested and engaged, in order to create a true on-line dialogue.
One of the routine tasks to be performed is the updating and maintenance of email reader lists, where individuals are added to and deleted from the list as per their request.
I recently had the occasion where an email recipient requested to be deleted from the list, a request to which we complied. His email read as follows:
Turns out I did not recognize him at a business mixer sometime back, hence his desire to be removed from the list for a blog that was providing him — I thought — with a wealth of interesting info on smAlbany, technology and small business, etc.
I found this situation to be unfortunate (in a number of ways), but what can you do…
Rather than trying to be ”memorable” on account of his personality, work accomplishments or standing in the community, he was looking for “professional recognition” from me in our encounter. Because he did not receive this recognition, he wanted to be removed from the list.
This incident reminded me of an event that occurred to me in my early 20’s, when I was just out of college. I was at a technology trade show in Las Vegas and in a conversation with one of my colleagues who was a few years more senior in the business than me. In the middle of our discussion he walked away from me in mid-sentence, and I had no idea where he was off to. Turns out he went off to talk with a good looking woman from one of the other venders at the show. I was quite offended.
When he got back he was unapologetic, despite the offense I took. He told me: “Don’t take it so personally.” When you have an opportunity, you take it, he said.
I learned a lot from this incident, and have carried this concept with me in my business networking. When you have less than five years in a professional capacity, it’s understandable (but not always attractive) to seek “professional recognition” from others, but for people who’ve been in business for years, I suggest that instead you work to be memorable, and when something comes up, no matter what, “Don’t take it so personally.”
You know, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about, so I wanted to thank everyone who read or replied to my smAlbany blog postings.
Without signaling out any replies (they were all so good in my book!) I noticed a trend that while the term can be a bit annoying, “smAlbany” can also be quite endearing.
I also sensed the feeling that our region has the potential to become a “destination” for new businesses and residents based on our strengths in technology, education, health care, recreation, location and more, if we could only get our act together to promote it.
I believe that this is eminently doable, and we must task ourselves to achieve this goal. I am reminded that throughout history, small groups of individuals have gotten together to effect great change. We have a great tradition of that in our own country — our chambers of commerce, nonprofits, free school systems (our founding fathers would probably qualify too).
Our local organizations – Chambers of Commerce, BNIs, Tech Valley organizations, some media and politicians & more – have done much to promote our region, but we must do more.
I commend Steve Jeffes who recently started the Albany Professionals Group on the LinkedIn social networking site. He has attracted over 2,000 members in just a few months and is developing a number of workgroups and member activities. It’s a good example of the power of social networking, and the time is now to harness this power.
What I would ask at this time is that each person respond with the one change or improvement that Albany needs to take it to the next level. I would ask for 3 or 5 suggestions but that’s too complicated right now. What I’d like to see is the best, the greatest idea that’s been nagging at you, that you think would make all the difference. We’ll find a way to present these to the smAlbany Mayor.
To paraphrase Arlo Guthrie, with one person you have an idea, with three people you have an organization, and with 50 people you have a movement!
So just think about that when you hear Arlo singing the annual “Alice’s Restaurant” on the radio this Thanksgiving. Think about smAlbany, me and Arlo, and have a Happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends.
More than 50 people showed up Thursday for the Liberteks.com open house and technology workshop on Windows7 — one of many events held nationwide for the debut of Microsoft’s new operating system analysts hope will reboot the company’s reputation.At its Guilderland office at 1648 Western Ave., Liberteks.com President Larry Zimbler led presentations and paraded users through “hands on” demonstrations of the new user interface that marked the first Microsoft system upgrade in nearly three years.
“The biggest question people here have been asking is should they change [their operating system] now and is it something they need to do urgently, and if so, what the path is,” Zimbler said.
The upgrade disc for the new operating system may cost from $120 to $250, depending on customized options, Zimbler said.
“Most people don’t upgrade. Most just get a new machine when they are ready,” Zimbler said.
But for computer notebook or laptop users, it may be worth the cost because of features that extend battery life and improve connections to wireless networks, Zimbler pointed out.
According to Zimbler, the new Windows7 allows users to “easily restore files or folders that are accidentally deleted or overwritten, protect confidential information with new encryption technologies, choose the level of security and prompts, protect data and the operating system from Internet threats, spyware, and other threats.”
Microsoft hopes people like Windows7 much more than Vista, which is slow and didn’t work well with existing programs and devices. Microsoft fixed many of Vista’s flaws, but it was too late to repair perceptions. Many businesses avoided Vista altogether, preferring to keep using Windows XP, an operating system that is now 8 years old.
Windows7 promises to boot up faster and reduce the clicks needed to get common tasks done. Microsoft has cut out some redundant ways to start programs and added flourishes that can help users keep track of all their open windows. It promises to put computers into sleep mode and wake them faster, too.
Windows7 is also meant to be “quieter” — with fewer pop-up boxes, notifications, warnings and “are you sure” messages. Instead, many of those messages get stashed in a single place for the user to address when it’s convenient.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer celebrated the arrival of Windows7 in New York with a few hundred people who had helped test early versions of the software that runs PCs. One of them, technology consultant Jonathan Kay, flew from Toronto to attend.
“Windows7 will redeem Windows,” said Kay, 27.
But Capital Region institutions and businesses are likely to be slow to adopt the new operating system.
“At this time, the college is reviewing Windows7 and will decide at a later date [whether] to install it at the college,” said SCCC President Quintin Bullock.
At the University at Albany, Windows7 will be phased in among the computers for the school’s 3,000 faculty and staff, according to spokesman Karl Luntta.
“When a new program comes out ” it generally gets phased in as machines are purchased or if people ask for it,” Luntta said. “We have the beta version. We’ve been working with it, testing it and when the university begins to acquire it the university will be able to service it.”
For Rotterdam-based Price Chopper’s 120 stores, corporate offices and all warehousing and distribution facilities, no operating system upgrade to Windows7 is expected.
“We do not have plans in the immediate future to transition,” said Price Chopper spokeswoman Mona Golub.
For Saratoga Springs-based Stewart’s Shops, which has more than 300 stores spread across upstate New York and southern Vermont, there will be no changes based on the release of Windows7 either, spokesman Tom Mailey said.
“Not in the near future. We’re happy with what we have rolling,” Mailey said.
Even as retailers such as Best Buy cut prices for PCs to spark holiday-season sales, analysts at Gartner don’t expect PC sales to benefit much from the launch of Windows7.
The PC industry has seen considerable decline as global shipments declined through the first half of this year.
Businesses are also delaying spending on PCs and other technologies during the recession — conditions PC makers expect will change beginning in 2010.
Reach Gazette reporter Ameerah Cetawayo at 395-3040 or acetawayo@dailygazette.net. Material from The Associated Press was included in this story.
Copyright (c) 2009 The Daily Gazette Co. All Rights Reserved.
All small businesses need to turn opportunity into value. What happens when a bluebird lands on your perch. How do you motivate the bluebird to stay and build a nest. The 8675309 opportunity presented that problem to me. I received the number as a gift from my step son after it landed in his lap.
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