Run Multiple cirruct for basic Power
Manufacturing - Conditioned power for high power electronics - basic power for lights, blowers, vacuum cleaner and utility used.
Offices - Central hard wired UPS to all desk for PC only. Conditioned line for printers and other electronics. Utility power (can be conditioned or not) for lights, cleaning and such.
Network CAT 6 wire within Building: Can be run beside or together with Telephone wire (if not going for IP phones) use SAME Cat 6 wire - different colors (we used BLUE for Data/network and GREY for Telephone - Network A and Network B) . Make sure you run copper and fiber to to building (even if fiber is not yet available).
Use Wiring Trays for any wire over 10 to all area in building (easy to ADD more cables at a later time that way). EMT Conduit or other wiring channels for any runs with 10 or less. Single drops (telephone and data wire - within walls) don't need conduit - but suggested. All Surface mount in Manufacturing area should be conduited or use SHELDED wire. All should be terminated on all ends with a female jack attached to a hard surface.
Router/Switch should be POE Plus - Power Over Ethernet Plus standard - so you can install Wireless points of access without running power. Or for IP video security Cameras etc....
Install about 25% more runs that you think you need. Switch/Router/termination points - should be over-sized by 50% to 100%
Just my 2 cents.....
I agree - Terminal like Wyse can be had 2nd hand - quite cheap (if you can find them). They are also not drawing too much power. Use in off line mode as is and you got it...
Optionally - Get stats and remote control ablity - use a USB serial or muitlport serial and cheap wire to connect all of them to a main PC.
Yes I have a many points of my life used Calculus and Discrete and Dynamic and other types of math and related theories. Luckly I don't have to crunch the numbers (or show all the steps) like in university as I write programs to do that. I do use math in programming - manually figuring out things on paper and/or in excel and/or other programs. Often thing are complex at first - write a function to work with the problem to derive the answer - then reuse that function or modify it for similar problems.
Short answer - you need to KNOW how to do calculus - you may or may not have to actually perform it like you did in highschool/collage/university and may never crunch it like that..... but when given a set of data - you know how to formulate the equation and when given the answer - you should UNDERSTAND if that is correct or out in left field and totally is wrong!
Just read "Blackle vs. Google Monitor Power Consumption Tested".
Compared the worst and best (for LCD - who still used CRT??) is about 4w of difference. Compared that to a user (such as a office worker who uses a PC
and internet all day at work) and can work in nearly total screen blackness to achieve this saving. Averages 8 hours of PC screen time a day. There is 365 days a year (not counting weekend or holidays-he may work at home or watch PC based TV - Who knows!!) Thus 4w 'saving' (which is per hour) X 8
hours per day X 365 Days = 11680 watt hour or 'wh' worth of power 'saving'.
Now consider electrical companies charger per 1000 w or by kw.... so that is 11.68kwh of saving.
National average charged is $0.1099/kwh (as per http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html) so that is
$1.28 savings (PER YEAR!). That is if you can read a nearly all black screen.
My coffee to keep my bugged eyes open enough to view that screen is more than that per day. Not to mention the DAMAGE to my eyes from squinting
trying to read or watch the PC.
Better yet - use a power setting to turn off that 34.8w to 38.4w LCD Screen after lets say 5 mins - will save nearly 10 time the power than when you view a Dark gloomy hard to view website. BOTH option will give you a BLACK screen to view!!! LOL! Good WORK!
And he responded:
I still use a (good) CRT for photo editing... it has better colour than an
LCD can display.:-)
Thanks for the comments, I don't disagree with anything you say. We were more interested in testing the claims Blackle was making... while there is a
mathmatical difference, how relevant that figure is an entirely different question.
Cheers,
Max
NOW who wants to "save" UP to $1.28 per year on power - but end a life squinting at a dark screen only
So they almost developed something that was done with the SAME hardware 10 years prior to releasing Windows 95.
That was one thing I loved from Amiga - no "Inset disk X and press enter".
I had fun installing extra (generic) floppy drives and converting a standard 25 pin d-sub to work with the 23 pin custom d-sub that the Amiga used.
"the buyer shall receive complete copy of the source code of the applications together with tools and instructions how to build the application, and the right to use and modify this source code for any purpose. This right shall not be transferable to third parties."
That does not always work. People often used non-GPL (ie:commercial) licensed tools and library for programing. I am not about to give away copy of MS-Visual Studio with every program I sell/give away. MS Lawyers are not fun to deal with....
You need to review other non-GPL commercial products that offer open code. Like VBulletin board.
Which states:
By installing and using vBulletin on your server, you agree to the following terms and conditions.....
* vBulletin license grants you the right to run one instance (a single installation) of the Software on one web server and one web site for each license purchased. Each license may power one instance of the Software on one domain. For each installed instance of the Software, a separate license is required. Modifications to the Software or database to circumvent the one-license-one-board rule are prohibited.
* The Software is licensed only to you. You may not rent, lease, sublicense, sell, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Software in any form, on a temporary or permanent basis, without the prior written consent of Jelsoft. .....
* The Software source code may be altered (at your risk) .....
DONE!
OPEN CODE (not open source) with all the rights of commercial copyrights and licensing requirements.
There are alot of variable and depends on the type and levels of service you actually perform and provide. Overall it could be called metrics.
First this I would do is keep a diary of what you do (date/time reported, time in, time out, type of job, and LEVEL of emegency ie:CEO laptop-ASAP, CFO account issue-Ugent, new hire setup-2 days etc...) Using a break-fix or job tracking type of software (punch clock) will help.
Next is to figure out How much inconvence each of the types of job are and or cost to the business. I an employee is sitting idle cause can't use his computer (even though he could do something manually) is a big inconvence and cost the company productity - say about TWICE to THREE time the average salary of the employee (the company pays more that just say your 15.00/hour wage - like insurance, Payrol taxes, computer leases, and other benifits etc...). You could even figure out levels for like office vers CEO - but most likely not Urgent is always worth MORE than non-urgent.... Multiple people down cost (ie Server or Router problems) company more and there are thing we can't control or don't fix our selves - telco interconnect/internet lost etc.... (some contruction dug up a line or two on a few occation here....)
That then SHOWS how much VALUE you save the company.
Then there are other thing like more ADMIN style stuff - creating new employee accounts and installs and decoms and maybe a little bit of programing etc... all that can be equated to time and cost as well - Again time you input - is MUCH more that your hourly salary. Possably 3 to 5 time your salary....
That is the VALUE of what you inputed into the company.
However you have to be carefull as you ALSO have to account for your DOWN time as well (possably 2-3 time your hourly salary) - say ADMIN time / Clean up / prep time etc...
Regarless of how you setup your own metric or measurement - your "Value" will vary - possably ALOT (I know personally). It SHOULD not be used to say - well you did not do hardly anything today/this week/month... cause it should look at how well your performing and possably explain where your bogged down/over whemed and maybe need help or when you have free time to help maybe other people like the boss etc...
Don't lie- it looks bad. Marketing is a big thing. Do it correclty and the (internal) version number does not mater. Do it badly and the PUBLIC number will KILL your product and the company due to BAD press or word of mouth.
Don't use a Public version number. Use something publicly that means NOTHING to the version - Like the Year. "Ultimate edition" or some kind of code like some version of Linux that use code names - even Windows used code names Like VISTA XP NT ME 98SE etc...
If people find out that your markeing a verion 4 or so - My question is.... Can I ask someone with version 3.X...... See a older review somewhere etc... When I found out that there is no prior version - the heck - no way man. You like are like deceiving me - don't want it now.
Yes sending out verion 1.0 is not really good (marketing wise). Find a few alpha/beta people - give them the 1.0 version. When you debug it - then change the internal number to 1.1 . When you have that out for say 6 months to a year. Fancy things up or add a feature or two - Call it Vesion 2.0!
I have purchased a few first version of commecial s/w - what I looked for if they are actively updating/fixing bugs (like a small update every week or so) and if they have a forum. If I look at a company and thee is only 12 posting in a forum and there on version 4 or whatever - WTF.... But if it is version 1 or 2 then it is a littel bit more understandable....
Google it for your area. It is a group (localized) that post "free" items that other people may want. They contact you and make arrangement to pickup.
It's to stop the throw out mentality/marketing that we have now. Reduce the garbage we throw out but to reuse what we have by give it to some one who might need it.
First of all - DON'T QUIT.
1. Stick to your guns about not installing unauthorized copies. Draft a friendly letter detailing the cost and benefits of purchase or using OSS - PROS and CONS of each. Explain your moral - as they seam to lack the same.....
2. Track/record/log every email/memo/conversation (even manually write down: who what when where and who else herd it) - KEEP OFF SITE
3. LOG all illegal installs and serials used - verify if possible the real number of purchased licenses (copies of Invoices). Just remember that the number of CD/Install disk does not necessarily qualify - as many get lost or pilfered. Take down Serial numbers and which PC it is installed in (multiple PC with ONE serial number is good but not the best proof).
4. Take your NDA-Non-Disclosure Agreement (if you signed one) and talk to a lawyer in this feild (use the 1/2 hour "free" that most will give - maybe you can strike a deal that if you get fired - maybe he do pro-bono or can get a percent or if awarded reasonable "Lawyer fees" - there are organization that will supply legal support for this type of dismissal)
5. Get your CV out - get references/letter of remediations from people you work with (not the illegal promoting people). If anyone is interested - tell them you have to meet before/after work. (I have been there - Nice to have some one take you out for breakfast!) Explain it might take a month or so to "be free".
6. Be friendly and helpfully in all correspondence and conversation! DON'T do anything that gives them just cause to fire you (except not acting on doing the illegal act).
7. If they threaten to fire you over not doing this illegal act. Again please be polite and friendly - State: If so would they like to discuss severance package and/or continuation of salary and benefits for a set time frame (don't tell them: to give you time to get a new job and to be satisfied with that new position). (PS: This is also called hush money.)
8. ONCE terminated - Go straight to the Lawyer (Do not pass GO, do not collect $200) to have HIM may explain it to the firm that it might HAVE been cheaper to buy the licenses as what they have done is wrongfully dismissal and that it will be treated as such.
9. File with court and get the "appropriate" groups involved. If need be - request an audit etc....
10. Collect a NICE severance package as issued by the court!
End of THAT story.
This should NOT hurt your future job positions as you did NOTHING illegal - you went though LEGAL hoops to keep your legal morals. If any thing this should help you to get a job with a larger firm as it show your a upstanding guy - and besides you could be saving them money in the long run.
Good luck.
Got a Xerox Phaser 860 a while back - BLACK ink is FREE! Yes Free!
http://www.office.xerox.com/programs/fbi/freeblack ink.html
Outputs like Laser (and is water proof! - but it is really based on inkjet technology) and is tons fast for color or B&W. Sure every 40,000 copies I have to spend 200 for a maintanice cartridge (chip and oil roller) but other than blocks of colored wax there is NO other consumables.
Color an't that bad of price too. OEM $220 per color per 7000 pages yeild - but I got well over 10000 per with doing just spot colors- can cost much less for 3rd party ink - about $80 per color for the same amount of ink. I figure that after 150000 copies printed - my cost was less than $0.07 per page on average doing color INCLUDING PAPER. Print just B&W was like less than $0.01 WITH PAPER (cost more for the paper than the ink!).
If you can Pickup a used 840/850/860 - the best quality for the price. The newer 8500 series is good too - but the Black ink is no longer free - cost just a small amount - but they include a free block or two of black when you purchase color.
People buy these older printers - get JUST the FREE BLACK INK and use it as a straight MONOCROME printer - The fill all the slots with BLACK - Dremel drill is your friend!
Use the BUILT IN stuff in your laptop
on
Telecommuting Backlash
·
· Score: 4, Informative
I work at a place where I deal with or work with Telecommuter and is quite the norm. Of these MOST of these people are only part-time telecommuters.
What I don't understand is why people are not the built in features of laptops - ANY NEWER Laptops have a Power on password. Many newer ones even have HARD DRIVE passwords (so you can't swap out the drive to use it on another PC). Some even are coming with THUMB readers. Prevent thiefs - ALL laptops have docking stations or cable slots where it can be LOCKED down. If not locked down and not in use then put it in to a LOCKED cabinet. Also to NOT have it in the open cab of car (put it in the trunk - for the smash grab and dash thiefs) - also not good if it hits you in the back of the head in an accident..... Use a BREIFCASE or BACKPACK or CARYBAG that does not scream "I GOT A LAPTOP FOR YOU TO STEAL!" (these are all actual policies where I work).
Also you can secure your Email by always accessed it via VPN and by using IMAP based or HTTPS web based (and/or require RSA token access). Any Local "copy" in the email client is encrypted (We use PGP? or such). I don't telecommute - but I personally only use IMAP (when at work) or WEB BASED email clients (ie: Squirrelmail and such) for the last 12+ years. No chance if SOMEONE steals my PC and tries to look at my MAIL - I don't even have a PC based mail client (no spam bot using POP3 on MY email account - unless they use there own client-but then I have that port BLOCKED on my personal firewall). In 12 years I have not got infected by even ONE virus by email (I get a "hit" every couple of weeks with one - but getting fewer)...My ex-wife however insist on using a pop3 client and has gotten infected many times.
Also setup most business applications such they can be used via VPN and a local client or has a web based interface and/or Citrix/Termial Services or VMWare or such. Also provide Backup space on their servers for your "EXCEL" and "WORD" type of documents. A hot sync Software tool make this easy.
One big thing is adopting a software policy - ONLY install APPROVED software on any BUSINESS PC - no personal software or "free downloads" or demos. As well only approved "accessories" may be attached/used (ie: Thumb Drives and External drives etc). And by approved - I mean not by some "know nothing" boss or supervisor - but approved by IT and/or management who is in touch with what is acceptable and is safe to use. After all this is not your personal PC but own by your employer's. (like the "scattered" or "found" USB drives that was used at one BANK location - most was picked and pluged into the BANKS PCs by there own employees.)
Where I work they also PUSH all virus/spam/firewall and security fixes so your always up to date. They also adopted a PASSWORD policy where you have to change password often and not duplicated etc....
With a GOOD policy and ENFORCING it to protect everyone's butt and with a bit of free software and/or a bit of spending of money/time - a Stolen Laptop could means little to NOTHING in impacting a business - with the biggest being the replacement cost of the laptop and going though and wiping out and resetting any and all of the user's passwords (in case people "keep" a list of passwords on the PC or use "auto complete" or other password reminder tools....) and yes I now there is secure "password" tools out there that would be hard to defeat - at lease before they able to crack/hack it to it - you should have all you password reset.
A stolen laptop that causes problems for a business - they had set them selves up for failure to begin with - however the one of the WEEKEST parts is the employee them selves. It costs very little to make a POLICY, and to make minor changes in how people use there PC. Just remember to enforce it (MANUALLY spot checking if you have to - even "leak" out a rumor that it will happen before you do - I can just hear the hard drives going crazy when that gets around....), if you don't - a policy on paper means zilch (nothing) if people are not following it.
I have seen this also - but on on PALLET quanity. A company called - idtenfied them selfes as "Corporate Supply" or some other very vage name. Get info on what you have. They say there recycle toner has 10-50% more than the OEM has -blaa - blaa - and it is much cheaper than others recycled carts....Blaa-blaa. Even offer a FREE toner to try - no charge for me to try. I said to send! I take anything for free (for the company use if they can - anything else goes to some charity golf thing they host). Then sent it okay - but by the time I got to use it - they sent an invoice for 10% less than the OEM cart which was 4 times what I now pay for a recycled cart! I sent it back. Since then they have called and tired to get me to let then send carts (mostly tring to "confirm" non-existant purchase orders or "buy now before cause the price is going up" or "this is the company you get your toner from did you need any more"....). Every time I tell them to "take us off there calling list" - "do not call us" ect... BBB was no help at all. I was told there is very little legally we can do to stop them from calling. Last time when they called - and before the girl "started" in on the junk - I demanded to speak to the manager - every time she said anything to me I interupted her and repeated my message. I had to wait (she did not know what to do) - but it was there dime - but finnaly a guy came on - after I got his full name (most likely was not real anyway as he didn't want to give me his last name) - told him that if you don't remove us from his list and stop calling us - I will be filing a harrasment claim on the company, the president and him (the one and only thing we could have really done)! Have not herd from them since. Mind you it has only been 6 months.... Who knows - they might still call.
I was one to buy inkjet printer every 6 months to a year (due to ware on on it). I use to refill tanks in all of them. I had IBM/Lexmark, Canon and HP. Lexmark is the worset for refill (normally 2-3 times max) as the head wares out FAST.
I have since dumped all inkjets due to the price of replacement cartigages - I thought about Color Laser - but the replacable toner are expensive. I went with Xerox Phaser 860 solid ink printer with NO CARTAGES to replace and only one consumable (a replacement oil roller/counter kit) and FREE BLACK INK for life! Is the cheapest per page than HP or Canon could offer (other than dot matrix printers). However new version of the printer do not have free black - it is still cheaper per page than most other black and white laser printers. The printer is not cheap but for volumes like I do (1000+ color copies plus many full color every month not to mention replacing my old laser or vers photocopy at Staples/Office Depot ect..) I am still ahead. Starting at about $1200 is is not cheap but if you buy a $299 printer every year or two plus all the consumables at $30-50 every month or every few weeks you could spend over $2000 in just 2 or 3 years! I know I have spent way over that in the last 3 years (and 4 or 5 printers later...) Average price per page for inkjet replacement ink was 15-20 cents vers 1-9 cents for my new system.
Inkjet are for low volume and is suited for home use or low use business. If you need larger volume - get a low end LASER - it is still cheaper in the long run. Then you could run your "good" color stuff when needed.
Most people run color when they don't NEED to. It is a point of well I can, so I will. Not thinking SHOULD you waist the ink. Note: using color uses up to 2-3 and even up to 4 times the amount of ink than if you print just black - thus costing you more in ink!
Slashdot Mirror
Run Multiple cirruct for basic Power Manufacturing - Conditioned power for high power electronics - basic power for lights, blowers, vacuum cleaner and utility used. Offices - Central hard wired UPS to all desk for PC only. Conditioned line for printers and other electronics. Utility power (can be conditioned or not) for lights, cleaning and such. Network CAT 6 wire within Building: Can be run beside or together with Telephone wire (if not going for IP phones) use SAME Cat 6 wire - different colors (we used BLUE for Data/network and GREY for Telephone - Network A and Network B) . Make sure you run copper and fiber to to building (even if fiber is not yet available). Use Wiring Trays for any wire over 10 to all area in building (easy to ADD more cables at a later time that way). EMT Conduit or other wiring channels for any runs with 10 or less. Single drops (telephone and data wire - within walls) don't need conduit - but suggested. All Surface mount in Manufacturing area should be conduited or use SHELDED wire. All should be terminated on all ends with a female jack attached to a hard surface. Router/Switch should be POE Plus - Power Over Ethernet Plus standard - so you can install Wireless points of access without running power. Or for IP video security Cameras etc.... Install about 25% more runs that you think you need. Switch/Router/termination points - should be over-sized by 50% to 100% Just my 2 cents.....
Connected 4 to 16 USB Keyboards (optionally mice as well) and connect same amount of monitors to a few video cards like: http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/products/graphics_cards/m_series/m9188pciex16/ or http://www.amd.com/us/products/workstation/graphics/ati-firemv-2d/ati-firepro-2450-mv/Pages/ati-firepro-2450-mv.aspx or USB to Video.... http://ca.startech.com/AV/USB-Video-Adapters/USB-DVI-External-Multi-Monitor-Video-Adapter~USB2DVIE2 There is software out here to create virtual machines for each monitor and to connect a set of Keyboard/mouse to each monitor. With Windows 98, you can connect up to 9 displays. With Windows NT, you can connect up to 20 displays to one system With Windows 2000, XP, you can connect up to 10 displays to one system. With Window Vista - you can connect minimum of 10 displays to one system. - possibly up to 16 With Windows 7 & 8, you can connect up to 16 displays to one system -possibly more
I agree - Terminal like Wyse can be had 2nd hand - quite cheap (if you can find them). They are also not drawing too much power. Use in off line mode as is and you got it... Optionally - Get stats and remote control ablity - use a USB serial or muitlport serial and cheap wire to connect all of them to a main PC.
Yes I have a many points of my life used Calculus and Discrete and Dynamic and other types of math and related theories. Luckly I don't have to crunch the numbers (or show all the steps) like in university as I write programs to do that. I do use math in programming - manually figuring out things on paper and/or in excel and/or other programs. Often thing are complex at first - write a function to work with the problem to derive the answer - then reuse that function or modify it for similar problems. Short answer - you need to KNOW how to do calculus - you may or may not have to actually perform it like you did in highschool/collage/university and may never crunch it like that..... but when given a set of data - you know how to formulate the equation and when given the answer - you should UNDERSTAND if that is correct or out in left field and totally is wrong!
Sent this to the Author:
:-)
Just read "Blackle vs. Google Monitor Power Consumption Tested".
Compared the worst and best (for LCD - who still used CRT??) is about 4w of difference. Compared that to a user (such as a office worker who uses a PC
and internet all day at work) and can work in nearly total screen blackness to achieve this saving. Averages 8 hours of PC screen time a day. There is 365 days a year (not counting weekend or holidays-he may work at home or watch PC based TV - Who knows!!) Thus 4w 'saving' (which is per hour) X 8
hours per day X 365 Days = 11680 watt hour or 'wh' worth of power 'saving'.
Now consider electrical companies charger per 1000 w or by kw.... so that is 11.68kwh of saving.
National average charged is $0.1099/kwh (as per http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html) so that is
$1.28 savings (PER YEAR!). That is if you can read a nearly all black screen.
My coffee to keep my bugged eyes open enough to view that screen is more than that per day. Not to mention the DAMAGE to my eyes from squinting
trying to read or watch the PC.
Better yet - use a power setting to turn off that 34.8w to 38.4w LCD Screen after lets say 5 mins - will save nearly 10 time the power than when you view a Dark gloomy hard to view website. BOTH option will give you a BLACK screen to view!!! LOL! Good WORK!
And he responded:
I still use a (good) CRT for photo editing... it has better colour than an
LCD can display.
Thanks for the comments, I don't disagree with anything you say. We were more interested in testing the claims Blackle was making... while there is a
mathmatical difference, how relevant that figure is an entirely different question.
Cheers,
Max
NOW who wants to "save" UP to $1.28 per year on power - but end a life squinting at a dark screen only
So they almost developed something that was done with the SAME hardware 10 years prior to releasing Windows 95. That was one thing I loved from Amiga - no "Inset disk X and press enter". I had fun installing extra (generic) floppy drives and converting a standard 25 pin d-sub to work with the 23 pin custom d-sub that the Amiga used.
"the buyer shall receive complete copy of the source code of the applications together with tools and instructions how to build the application, and the right to use and modify this source code for any purpose. This right shall not be transferable to third parties."
That does not always work. People often used non-GPL (ie:commercial) licensed tools and library for programing.
I am not about to give away copy of MS-Visual Studio with every program I sell/give away. MS Lawyers are not fun to deal with....
You need to review other non-GPL commercial products that offer open code. Like VBulletin board.
.....
.....
Which states:
By installing and using vBulletin on your server, you agree to the following terms and conditions.....
* vBulletin license grants you the right to run one instance (a single installation) of the Software on one web server and one web site for each license purchased. Each license may power one instance of the Software on one domain. For each installed instance of the Software, a separate license is required. Modifications to the Software or database to circumvent the one-license-one-board rule are prohibited.
* The Software is licensed only to you. You may not rent, lease, sublicense, sell, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Software in any form, on a temporary or permanent basis, without the prior written consent of Jelsoft.
* The Software source code may be altered (at your risk)
DONE! OPEN CODE (not open source) with all the rights of commercial copyrights and licensing requirements.
There are alot of variable and depends on the type and levels of service you actually perform and provide. Overall it could be called metrics.
First this I would do is keep a diary of what you do (date/time reported, time in, time out, type of job, and LEVEL of emegency ie:CEO laptop-ASAP, CFO account issue-Ugent, new hire setup-2 days etc...) Using a break-fix or job tracking type of software (punch clock) will help.
Next is to figure out How much inconvence each of the types of job are and or cost to the business. I an employee is sitting idle cause can't use his computer (even though he could do something manually) is a big inconvence and cost the company productity - say about TWICE to THREE time the average salary of the employee (the company pays more that just say your 15.00/hour wage - like insurance, Payrol taxes, computer leases, and other benifits etc...). You could even figure out levels for like office vers CEO - but most likely not Urgent is always worth MORE than non-urgent.... Multiple people down cost (ie Server or Router problems) company more and there are thing we can't control or don't fix our selves - telco interconnect/internet lost etc.... (some contruction dug up a line or two on a few occation here....)
That then SHOWS how much VALUE you save the company.
Then there are other thing like more ADMIN style stuff - creating new employee accounts and installs and decoms and maybe a little bit of programing etc... all that can be equated to time and cost as well - Again time you input - is MUCH more that your hourly salary. Possably 3 to 5 time your salary....
That is the VALUE of what you inputed into the company.
However you have to be carefull as you ALSO have to account for your DOWN time as well (possably 2-3 time your hourly salary) - say ADMIN time / Clean up / prep time etc...
Regarless of how you setup your own metric or measurement - your "Value" will vary - possably ALOT (I know personally). It SHOULD not be used to say - well you did not do hardly anything today/this week/month... cause it should look at how well your performing and possably explain where your bogged down/over whemed and maybe need help or when you have free time to help maybe other people like the boss etc...
Don't lie- it looks bad. Marketing is a big thing. Do it correclty and the (internal) version number does not mater. Do it badly and the PUBLIC number will KILL your product and the company due to BAD press or word of mouth.
Don't use a Public version number. Use something publicly that means NOTHING to the version - Like the Year. "Ultimate edition" or some kind of code like some version of Linux that use code names - even Windows used code names Like VISTA XP NT ME 98SE etc...
If people find out that your markeing a verion 4 or so - My question is .... Can I ask someone with version 3.X...... See a older review somewhere etc... When I found out that there is no prior version - the heck - no way man. You like are like deceiving me - don't want it now.
Yes sending out verion 1.0 is not really good (marketing wise). Find a few alpha/beta people - give them the 1.0 version. When you debug it - then change the internal number to 1.1 . When you have that out for say 6 months to a year. Fancy things up or add a feature or two - Call it Vesion 2.0!
I have purchased a few first version of commecial s/w - what I looked for if they are actively updating/fixing bugs (like a small update every week or so) and if they have a forum. If I look at a company and thee is only 12 posting in a forum and there on version 4 or whatever - WTF.... But if it is version 1 or 2 then it is a littel bit more understandable....
Google it for your area. It is a group (localized) that post "free" items that other people may want. They contact you and make arrangement to pickup.
It's to stop the throw out mentality/marketing that we have now. Reduce the garbage we throw out but to reuse what we have by give it to some one who might need it.
Keep It Simple Silly Principle- Something that every programing language can use and is very open source:
CSV - Comma Separated Values.
"This is one text entry follows by date, integer and float",20080520,2,3.222
Compatible with nearly everything out there. Crunch number in a spreadsheet if you need - or with any number of SQL compatible programs.
First of all - DON'T QUIT. 1. Stick to your guns about not installing unauthorized copies. Draft a friendly letter detailing the cost and benefits of purchase or using OSS - PROS and CONS of each. Explain your moral - as they seam to lack the same..... 2. Track/record/log every email/memo/conversation (even manually write down: who what when where and who else herd it) - KEEP OFF SITE 3. LOG all illegal installs and serials used - verify if possible the real number of purchased licenses (copies of Invoices). Just remember that the number of CD/Install disk does not necessarily qualify - as many get lost or pilfered. Take down Serial numbers and which PC it is installed in (multiple PC with ONE serial number is good but not the best proof). 4. Take your NDA-Non-Disclosure Agreement (if you signed one) and talk to a lawyer in this feild (use the 1/2 hour "free" that most will give - maybe you can strike a deal that if you get fired - maybe he do pro-bono or can get a percent or if awarded reasonable "Lawyer fees" - there are organization that will supply legal support for this type of dismissal) 5. Get your CV out - get references/letter of remediations from people you work with (not the illegal promoting people). If anyone is interested - tell them you have to meet before/after work. (I have been there - Nice to have some one take you out for breakfast!) Explain it might take a month or so to "be free". 6. Be friendly and helpfully in all correspondence and conversation! DON'T do anything that gives them just cause to fire you (except not acting on doing the illegal act). 7. If they threaten to fire you over not doing this illegal act. Again please be polite and friendly - State: If so would they like to discuss severance package and/or continuation of salary and benefits for a set time frame (don't tell them: to give you time to get a new job and to be satisfied with that new position). (PS: This is also called hush money.) 8. ONCE terminated - Go straight to the Lawyer (Do not pass GO, do not collect $200) to have HIM may explain it to the firm that it might HAVE been cheaper to buy the licenses as what they have done is wrongfully dismissal and that it will be treated as such. 9. File with court and get the "appropriate" groups involved. If need be - request an audit etc.... 10. Collect a NICE severance package as issued by the court! End of THAT story. This should NOT hurt your future job positions as you did NOTHING illegal - you went though LEGAL hoops to keep your legal morals. If any thing this should help you to get a job with a larger firm as it show your a upstanding guy - and besides you could be saving them money in the long run. Good luck.
Got a Xerox Phaser 860 a while back - BLACK ink is FREE! Yes Free! http://www.office.xerox.com/programs/fbi/freeblack ink.html
Outputs like Laser (and is water proof! - but it is really based on inkjet technology) and is tons fast for color or B&W. Sure every 40,000 copies I have to spend 200 for a maintanice cartridge (chip and oil roller) but other than blocks of colored wax there is NO other consumables.
Color an't that bad of price too. OEM $220 per color per 7000 pages yeild - but I got well over 10000 per with doing just spot colors- can cost much less for 3rd party ink - about $80 per color for the same amount of ink. I figure that after 150000 copies printed - my cost was less than $0.07 per page on average doing color INCLUDING PAPER. Print just B&W was like less than $0.01 WITH PAPER (cost more for the paper than the ink!).
If you can Pickup a used 840/850/860 - the best quality for the price. The newer 8500 series is good too - but the Black ink is no longer free - cost just a small amount - but they include a free block or two of black when you purchase color.
People buy these older printers - get JUST the FREE BLACK INK and use it as a straight MONOCROME printer - The fill all the slots with BLACK - Dremel drill is your friend!
I work at a place where I deal with or work with Telecommuter and is quite the norm. Of these MOST of these people are only part-time telecommuters.
What I don't understand is why people are not the built in features of laptops - ANY NEWER Laptops have a Power on password. Many newer ones even have HARD DRIVE passwords (so you can't swap out the drive to use it on another PC). Some even are coming with THUMB readers. Prevent thiefs - ALL laptops have docking stations or cable slots where it can be LOCKED down. If not locked down and not in use then put it in to a LOCKED cabinet. Also to NOT have it in the open cab of car (put it in the trunk - for the smash grab and dash thiefs) - also not good if it hits you in the back of the head in an accident..... Use a BREIFCASE or BACKPACK or CARYBAG that does not scream "I GOT A LAPTOP FOR YOU TO STEAL!" (these are all actual policies where I work).
Also you can secure your Email by always accessed it via VPN and by using IMAP based or HTTPS web based (and/or require RSA token access). Any Local "copy" in the email client is encrypted (We use PGP? or such). I don't telecommute - but I personally only use IMAP (when at work) or WEB BASED email clients (ie: Squirrelmail and such) for the last 12+ years. No chance if SOMEONE steals my PC and tries to look at my MAIL - I don't even have a PC based mail client (no spam bot using POP3 on MY email account - unless they use there own client-but then I have that port BLOCKED on my personal firewall). In 12 years I have not got infected by even ONE virus by email (I get a "hit" every couple of weeks with one - but getting fewer)...My ex-wife however insist on using a pop3 client and has gotten infected many times.
Also setup most business applications such they can be used via VPN and a local client or has a web based interface and/or Citrix/Termial Services or VMWare or such. Also provide Backup space on their servers for your "EXCEL" and "WORD" type of documents. A hot sync Software tool make this easy.
One big thing is adopting a software policy - ONLY install APPROVED software on any BUSINESS PC - no personal software or "free downloads" or demos. As well only approved "accessories" may be attached/used (ie: Thumb Drives and External drives etc). And by approved - I mean not by some "know nothing" boss or supervisor - but approved by IT and/or management who is in touch with what is acceptable and is safe to use. After all this is not your personal PC but own by your employer's. (like the "scattered" or "found" USB drives that was used at one BANK location - most was picked and pluged into the BANKS PCs by there own employees.)
Where I work they also PUSH all virus/spam/firewall and security fixes so your always up to date. They also adopted a PASSWORD policy where you have to change password often and not duplicated etc....
With a GOOD policy and ENFORCING it to protect everyone's butt and with a bit of free software and/or a bit of spending of money/time - a Stolen Laptop could means little to NOTHING in impacting a business - with the biggest being the replacement cost of the laptop and going though and wiping out and resetting any and all of the user's passwords (in case people "keep" a list of passwords on the PC or use "auto complete" or other password reminder tools....) and yes I now there is secure "password" tools out there that would be hard to defeat - at lease before they able to crack/hack it to it - you should have all you password reset.
A stolen laptop that causes problems for a business - they had set them selves up for failure to begin with - however the one of the WEEKEST parts is the employee them selves. It costs very little to make a POLICY, and to make minor changes in how people use there PC. Just remember to enforce it (MANUALLY spot checking if you have to - even "leak" out a rumor that it will happen before you do - I can just hear the hard drives going crazy when that gets around....), if you don't - a policy on paper means zilch (nothing) if people are not following it.
I have seen this also - but on on PALLET quanity. A company called - idtenfied them selfes as "Corporate Supply" or some other very vage name. Get info on what you have. They say there recycle toner has 10-50% more than the OEM has -blaa - blaa - and it is much cheaper than others recycled carts....Blaa-blaa. Even offer a FREE toner to try - no charge for me to try. I said to send! I take anything for free (for the company use if they can - anything else goes to some charity golf thing they host). Then sent it okay - but by the time I got to use it - they sent an invoice for 10% less than the OEM cart which was 4 times what I now pay for a recycled cart! I sent it back. Since then they have called and tired to get me to let then send carts (mostly tring to "confirm" non-existant purchase orders or "buy now before cause the price is going up" or "this is the company you get your toner from did you need any more"....). Every time I tell them to "take us off there calling list" - "do not call us" ect... BBB was no help at all. I was told there is very little legally we can do to stop them from calling. Last time when they called - and before the girl "started" in on the junk - I demanded to speak to the manager - every time she said anything to me I interupted her and repeated my message. I had to wait (she did not know what to do) - but it was there dime - but finnaly a guy came on - after I got his full name (most likely was not real anyway as he didn't want to give me his last name) - told him that if you don't remove us from his list and stop calling us - I will be filing a harrasment claim on the company, the president and him (the one and only thing we could have really done)! Have not herd from them since. Mind you it has only been 6 months.... Who knows - they might still call.
I was one to buy inkjet printer every 6 months to a year (due to ware on on it). I use to refill tanks in all of them. I had IBM/Lexmark, Canon and HP. Lexmark is the worset for refill (normally 2-3 times max) as the head wares out FAST. I have since dumped all inkjets due to the price of replacement cartigages - I thought about Color Laser - but the replacable toner are expensive. I went with Xerox Phaser 860 solid ink printer with NO CARTAGES to replace and only one consumable (a replacement oil roller/counter kit) and FREE BLACK INK for life! Is the cheapest per page than HP or Canon could offer (other than dot matrix printers). However new version of the printer do not have free black - it is still cheaper per page than most other black and white laser printers. The printer is not cheap but for volumes like I do (1000+ color copies plus many full color every month not to mention replacing my old laser or vers photocopy at Staples/Office Depot ect..) I am still ahead. Starting at about $1200 is is not cheap but if you buy a $299 printer every year or two plus all the consumables at $30-50 every month or every few weeks you could spend over $2000 in just 2 or 3 years! I know I have spent way over that in the last 3 years (and 4 or 5 printers later...) Average price per page for inkjet replacement ink was 15-20 cents vers 1-9 cents for my new system. Inkjet are for low volume and is suited for home use or low use business. If you need larger volume - get a low end LASER - it is still cheaper in the long run. Then you could run your "good" color stuff when needed. Most people run color when they don't NEED to. It is a point of well I can, so I will. Not thinking SHOULD you waist the ink. Note: using color uses up to 2-3 and even up to 4 times the amount of ink than if you print just black - thus costing you more in ink!