►4 Battery Tips for Your Mobile Gadgets
By Christopher Elliott

Reprinted with permission from the Microsoft Small Business Center

Mention the words "battery life." The first gadget that comes to mind is probably the energy-consuming laptop computer — particularly if you're on the go a lot.

If not, it should be. There never seems to be enough juice to run your portable PC, as I griped about in a previous article. Ah, but if laptop PCs were the extent of your battery blues, you might not feel so, well, powerless.

But power problems plague other mobile devices. For example, a 2003 In-Stat/MDR survey found that long battery life ranked as the most important feature to business users when selecting a wireless handset. Users of personal digital assistants (PDAs) are just as concerned about a possible energy crisis. I know because I am one and I never seem to stop worrying about running dry.

So, what about mobile gadgets? How do you make sure your batteries last as long as possible? Here are four tips.

►Just for Laughs
 

Microsoft Office 2007 has a wealth of features that you may have overlooked that could help your business. Here are four you may want to learn about.

In Summary:

At the core of every business are the fundamental office productivity applications that support nearly every business function. The Microsoft Office suite of applications is so familiar that many managers probably assume they know everything they need to know about its capabilities.

But according to Monica Robinson, Microsoft Office 2007 senior product manager, there are numerous new features-some subtle, some dramatic-that can make a significant difference for businesses. "With the right software tools, employees are better able to impact the business," she says.

Many businesses are recognizing an increasing need for employees, customers, and partners to collaborate effectively, says Robinson. Office 2007 has several features designed to address this and other business challenges, including:

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You’ve no doubt heard a lot about cloud computing (or the cloud). What you may not have learned is how this misty concept can help with the real problems of operating your business, especially in hard times.

In short, cloud computing offers attractive options for small and midsize businesses that need critical IT upgrades, but may lack the cash for a large capital investment.

Through the cloud, you can add new, vital applications or you can supplement the capacity of an existing infrastructure. Because cloud services are delivered via the Internet (often the Web) you only pay for the features and functionality you use and don’t pay for extra hardware, software, staff and maintenance. As a result, your business can grow its IT capabilities, often at a lower cost than doing everything itself. And you can pull the cost from your operating budget rather than your capital budget.

So what is cloud computing exactly, and why is it significant to small and midsize businesses?

If you are sitting at your desk now, take a look around and ask yourself: "What is this desk saying about me?"

For example, what messages does a three-day-old apple core send to your co-workers, or the photo of your ex-girlfriend, or the novelty postcard from Uncle Bob’s big summer holiday?

Ask a psychologist and, unsurprisingly, they’ll tell you that just like the clothes we choose to wear or the meal we take at lunch, our desk is often perceived as an extension of our personalities. Nothing ground-breaking there – but certainly worth bearing in mind.

Recent studies have revealed that desks can be useful to managers attempting to understand and motivate their staff. Vice versa, if you are interested in the way you are perceived at work – and perhaps you are thinking of modifying that perception – a desktop makeover is a great place to start.

When considering the state of your desk and what signals it sends about you, keep in mind the following stereotypes: