Let's Solve Our National Identity Crisis
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published July 2, 2008
Because we don't move forward with a comprehensive, protected ID system, we've instead ended up with a third-rate, insecure system based on social security cards and government agencies collecting data without our knowledge or permission.

Tips on Getting a Better IT Job
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published June 27, 2008
Concentrate on the technique that works far better than any other. Plus: tips for shaping a tech resume, and recommendations for developing your career.

Will Snow Leopard Leave Some Mac Users Out in the Cold?
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published June 30, 2008
Early indications suggest the next Mac OS may take some directions that will leave some users less than pleased.

Microsoft vs. Apple, Post Gates and Jobs: Which Survives Until 2020?
By Rob Enderle | Columns Article Published June 25, 2008
Microsoft suffers from a tarnished brand while Apple relies far too heavily on the brilliance of one man, Steve Jobs. Can either firm overcome their inherent flaws?

Will Traditional Software Vendors Disappear?
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published June 30, 2008
The old-line software firms are in a state of denial about changes disrupting the industry, from SaaS to open source. If they don’t change soon it may be too late.

The Mouse Is Dead
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published June 25, 2008
Take the time to savor every point and every click. It won't last: several new technologies are in the process of replacing this vintage technology.

The Invasion of the Female Programmers (You Might Have to Work with One)
By Sara Chipps | Columns Article Published June 25, 2008
A female software developer discusses the unique challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field.

Emailers Still Struggling with Authentication
By Ray Everett-Church | Columns Article Published June 20, 2008
While over 50 percent of email is authenticated in some fashion, smaller companies lag behind in this key security concern.

IT Salaries: Glassdoor Reveals Tech Pay Figures
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published June 18, 2008
As the buzz mounts, opinion is sharply divided about a new Web site that reveals the salaries at prominent tech companies.

Browser Wars: Mozilla vs. Safari vs. Internet Explorer
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published June 18, 2008
Didn’t we have a browser war years ago? Let’s hope the current one turns out far better.

Your Privacy: Bring Back the Company Memo!
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published June 19, 2008
In the confusion between private email and official business communication, workers’ rights are being trampled. Resurrecting the company memo could clarify this issue.

iPhone 3G: Beyond the Distortion Field
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published June 11, 2008
I’m pretty sure that Steve Jobs could pull a napkin out of his pocket with the word “Apple” written on it, and people would want to know when it went on sale.

The Future of the Internet, according to Web Trendsetters
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published June 5, 2008
A group of bloggers, editors, and Web publishers gathered recently to talk about the Web’s evolution.

Value-added SaaS: Is this SaaS 2.0?
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published June 9, 2008
In software as a service, there’s a clear dividing line between traditional “pure-play” and forward-looking “value added.”

Is Leopard Suffering from Vistaitis?
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published May 18, 2008
If complaining about operating systems is set to be the norm, then both Microsoft and Apple are going to have to get used to the idea of people wanting the OS to be the way they want it, and not how the developers think it should be.

Should You Use Free Software at Work?
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published May 14, 2008
There are upsides and downsides - but downloader beware.

Lenovo ThinkPad X300 Review (Best. Notebook. Ever.)
By Eric Grevstad | Columns Article Published May 17, 2008
Okay, It costs more than $3,000. Fair warning: You won't care. Lenovo's lightweight goes toe to toe with Apple's MacBook Air -- well, it would if the Air had a DVD burner, a LAN connection, and a sharper screen. Thinkabout a solid-state hard disk, full-sized keyboard, ample battery life, and impeccable green credentials in a 13.3-inch, just-over-3-pound slimline. Now try to be satisfied with your current laptop.

Is There a Cure for the 'Distraction Virus'?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published May 22, 2008
The Internet is an incredible productivity tool that offers unprecedented access to information and communication with others. But it's also distracting, and getting more distracting every day.

Are There Too Many Women in IT?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published May 13, 2008
The various efforts to boost the number of women in IT are well intentioned but doomed to failure.

A Revolution Threatens the Relational Database
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published May 13, 2008
SAP’s in-memory database technology has Oracle-killer written all over it, and nothing would give SAP greater pleasure than knocking Oracle’s database out of its current position as top-dog in the SAP database kennel.

Why Steve Ballmer Should Resign
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published May 7, 2008
Microsoft needs the opposite of a tough-talking wimp as CEO. Microsoft needs a sweet-talking killer, one who charms rather than intimidates, then pulls the trigger when required.

Apple's Perpetual Motion Marketing Machine
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published May 7, 2008
The "What will Apple do next?" game is one that anyone can play, and there are no downsides to making an incorrect prediction. So go on, come up with your own wild Apple prediction and join the fun!

When Is International "Shut Up Day"?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published May 2, 2008
Saturday is International Computer Shutdown Day. But I don’t accept the thought that the Internet is some kind of addiction, a dark mental prison that keeps us from living our lives.

Return of the Keyboard Shortcut
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 23, 2008
Two Web sites boost your personal productivity by helping you enter computer commands more quickly.

IT Budgets: Vitamin Pills Versus Pain Killers
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published March 31, 2008
While cost management projects are always appealing, when times are tough companies should invest in projects that will eventually make them money.

Dealing with An IT Bully
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published April 14, 2008
They’re difficult, nasty and aggressive. But there are tactics that help tame these tech-world bad geeks -- sometimes.

Why You'll Hate Cell Phone Spam
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 11, 2008
Like lambs to slaughter, the cell phone using community (i.e. everybody) has no idea what's coming.

Why Can't Google Catch Easy Spam?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 16, 2008
Google: I don't speak Chinese! When I get e-mail that's entirely Chinese characters, it's spam, OK? What could be easier than that?

Killing XP: Microsoft's Fatal Error
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published April 3, 2008
What about the millions of people currently using XP? What is their preferred alternative? Microsoft assumes they'll choose Vista. I'm here to challenge that assumption.

How Free Wi-Fi Hurts the Poor
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published March 26, 2008
If cities want to motivate poor people to use Wi-Fi, they need to merely subsidize its use. But don't cut private companies out of the deal. Don't kill competition and block innovation.

When an IT Staffer Gets Thrown Under the Bus
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published March 25, 2008
Who’s responsible when your company’s bug-infested software causes massive customer complaints?

Ten Pet Peeves About Workplace Emails
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published March 24, 2008
By using common sense, basic courtesy and just slowing down before pressing 'send', you will avoid 'peeving' off your co-workers.

Has Digg Already Picked the President?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published March 19, 2008
The emerging technology of social networking is affecting the political process. Or is it?

24 Hours in the Life of IT Professionals
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published March 17, 2008
5:30 AM: Dragged to consciousness by alarm clock. Pulled out of wonderful dream where Vista desktop upgrade went without a hitch. 3:30 PM: VP of Sales stops in office to show off new iPhone. Wants IT to support it.

Apple's iPhone SDK Off to The Races
By David Needle | Columns Article Published March 15, 2008
Downloads for the beta software development kits have already topped 100,000.

64 Seriously Cool iPhone Applications
By James Maguire | Columns Article Published March 12, 2008
Utilities, social networking, weather, sports, news, games, music – all the apps you need to hypercharge your iPhone. (And yes, the list includes Gumball Bingo and Castle Feud. Serious fun is not optional.)

Is It Time to Globalize Time?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published March 11, 2008
Don't look now, but business is global. Media is global. Communication is global. So why are we still torturing ourselves with local time?

How the Recession Effects IT Spending
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published March 10, 2008
"Save money or make money" is the argument, nothing more, nothing less.

Apple's iPhone Headed For Enterprise
By David Needle | Columns Article Published March 7, 2008
Microsoft Exchange support and $100 million iPhone developer's fund announced.

Inside the Shady World of Spy Gadgets
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published March 6, 2008
A look at the tech gear used by the underworld. Are you being spied on with a spy gadget? (Or are you one of the spies…?)

Apple: Beyond the iHype
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published March 6, 2008
Amid a plunging stock price, a saturated iPod market, unlocked iPhones and cash-strapped consumers, is Apple suffering an iHype famine?

Microhoo and the Rise of Google 2.0
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published March 3, 2008
First and foremost, Microhoo could try to fix the fact that Google’s search technology is sooo last century, as in the Stone Age, that it’s almost funny to call it “search.”

Mozilla to Apple: Show Your Hand
By Andy Patrizio | Columns Article Published March 1, 2008
Does a six percent market share permit Apple to behave in a manner that would get Microsoft hauled into court?

How Fake Is Your PC?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published February 29, 2008
The ugly truth is that you can never be 100% certain that any PC you buy contains all legitimate components. But you can minimize the risk by shopping for reliability, not just low price.

The Best Free Service You've Never Used
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published February 20, 2008
Zoho isn’t so much a replacement for Microsoft Word as an additional source of fun and useful tools.

Apple iPhone: Datamation Product of the Year Winner
By Troy Dreier | Columns Article Published February 19, 2008
The handheld is winning over both business and personal users. Plus: If rumors are true that Apple will integrate the iPhone with Microsoft Exchange, it would increase the device's use as a business productivity tool.

Malware Threatens Mac Users: Report
By Andy Patrizio | Columns Article Published February 18, 2008
Survey shows Apple users expect the bad guys to follow them, but the good news is the evildoers are looking the other way.

Dealing with Idiot Vendors
By Eric Spiegel | Columns Article Published February 15, 2008
When that software vendor comes calling, don’t seal the deal until you get everything you want – in writing.

Microsoft Invents a Reason to Buy a Tablet
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published February 14, 2008
Tablet PCs tend to be a snooze – overpriced and underwhelming. But that’s about to change.

Why Can't America Vote Right?
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published February 7, 2008
Computers can save democracy, if only we give up our affection for paper ballots.

The Candidates' Plans for Information Technology
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published February 7, 2008
McCain proposes tax credits, Clinton sees increased research budgets, and Obama would appoint the first U.S. CTO.

The Recession-Proof Enterprise Software Market: It's Not 2002
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published February 3, 2008
Companies aren’t glutted with unused software as they were in the last recession. Plus, if a software purchase improves revenues or lowers costs, the green light is still on.

A Digital Camera from the Future
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published January 30, 2008
A Casio unit unveiled at this year’s CES suggests that the future has already arrived.

Learning From Gamers
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published January 24, 2008
By learning from video games in the development of your company's culture, your people will have more fun, they'll become more skilled and -- most importantly -- you'll PWN the competition.

Does Apple Have a Monopoly?
By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes | Columns Article Published January 23, 2008
It's possible that Cupertino could face some serious pressure to change its ways.

15 Reasons to Use Virtualization Software on a Mac
By Joe Kissell | Columns Article Published January 21, 2008
Believe it or not, there are still some uses for which it helps to have Windows access on your Mac. Plus, you might want to run Linux.

An Open Letter to the Ultraportable PC Industry
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published January 18, 2008
The PC industry needs to wake up and learn how to make a small, lightweight computer. Here’s what they should be doing – now.

The Price May be Right: Oracle Finally Lands BEA
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published January 17, 2008
For Oracle’s shareholders, the real question, as with all the other acquisitions, is whether BEA customers will stick around long enough to make the deal worthwhile.

Ten Things That Won't Change in 2008: The Pessimist's Report
By Joshua Greenbaum | Columns Article Published January 13, 2008
Given the continued irrationality of the tech marketplace, perhaps 2008 will be the year of WOE 2.0.

Where Annoying Tech Buzzwords Come From
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published January 8, 2008
What do you do when you want to emphasize the cool newness of something that’s not really new? Make a buzzword!

Consolidation for Sale: the Tech Industry by 2020
By Steve Andriole | Columns Article Published January 7, 2008
The future of IT is visible in the flurry of mergers and acquisitions now taking place. Here’s an outline of where it’s headed.

The Most Hated Company In the PC Industry
By Mike Elgan | Columns Article Published January 4, 2008
One relatively small firm is reviled by competitors across the spectrum. Unfortunately for them, this upstart’s fortunes are headed only higher.