Much like energy providers reduce the need for customers to generate their own electricity, utility computing allows organizations to pay only for the technology resources they need, without the risks and capital costs of purchasing and maintaining a complex IT network.

Certainly, the cloud computing "buzz" is spreading. Unfortunately, so is the number of IT consulting firms that are arbitrarily throwing cloud computing solutions into their service offerings – without the prerequisite experience or expertise.

 From remote pc solutions to remote pc support, it seems that everyone’s getting in on the “cloud” game.

Taking a Test Run in the Cloud

In an earlier post, we suggested a few steps to take when choosing a computer service provider.  One of the most important steps is to ask for a trial of the solution.

Xvand Technology Corporation recently joined some of today’s top cloud computing providers in helping small business executives determine what to test when considering a cloud computing solution.   

You can read the complete article at Inc. Magazine’s website: Take Test Run in the Cloud >>.

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Have you ever lost a “meeting request” you accepted in Outlook?

You clicked the “Accept” button - and it was gone?

Would you like to keep these meeting requests in your email or subfolder for future reference? Or just keep it in your Inbox until after the meeting actually takes place?

Turn off “default settings” to save your meeting requests

When an appointment is accepted in Outlook, it automatically gets placed onto the calendar and automatically deletes from you Email Inbox.

If you want to keep a copy of the email, the default setting must be changed. Houston IT support expert, Cheryl Smith, shows you how:

1. On the Tools menu
2. Click Options
3. Click E-mail Options
4. Click Advanced E-mail Options.
5. Clear the Check mark from the Delete meeting request from Inbox when responding. 

Now, your meeting will appear on your calendar and stay in your inbox until you decide what action you would like to do next.

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Have you ever wanted to send a picture of your screen via email or inserted in a document and you just didn’t know how?

Did you receive an error message that was long and you didn’t want to write the entire thing down to remember it?

Wouldn’t it be great to take a picture of an error message and send it within an email to the helpdesk?  

You can. With the Print “Screen Function”

If you desire the entire screen shot:

·         Select the Print Screen key on your keyboard, sometimes you may have to use Ctrl-Print Screen.

This acts as a copy function, taking a picture of the screen.

If you only want the “active” or “front” window on your screen:

·         Press and hold the ALT key and then hit the Print Screen key.

This will save you time and it is a great way to show someone what you are seeing instead of explaining it.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

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This week we’re taking a break from IT support tips to lend a hand to those having a tough time understanding “Text-Lingo”.

Have you ever had a co-worker or associate email with an acronym like, “EOD”, “CYL”, or “FYI” – and you were too embarrassed to ask what it meant?

Business text messaging shorthand jargon has become "foreign language" that many business people today need to know in order to keep up to date at work, understand instant messages from co-workers, and get the meaning of office emails.

Houston IT consultant Cheryl Smith helps you “get hip with this tip”:

Popular business text shorthand phrases:

  AFAIC - As Far As I'm Concerned

  ASAP - As Soon As Possible

  BRB - Be Right Back

  BSUS - Business

  BTW - By The Way

  CLM - Career Limiting Move

  DD - Due Diligence

  DRIB - Don't Read If Busy

  EOD - End Of Day

  EOM - End Of Message

  EOT - End Of Thread

  FYI - For Your Information

  GMTA - Great Minds Think Alike

  HIOOC - Help, I'm Out Of Coffee

  IAITS - It's All In The Subject

  IANAL - I Am Not A Lawyer

  IM – Instant Message

  KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid

  LOPSOD - Long On Promises; Short On Delivery

  MOTD - Message Of The Day

  MTFBWY - May The Force Be With You

  MYOB - Mind Your Own Business

  NRN - No Reply Necessary

  NWR - Not Work Related

  OTP - On The Phone

  P&C - Private & Confidential

  PEBCAK - Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard

  QQ - Quick Question

  RFD - Request For Discussion

  RFP - Request For Proposal

  SME - Subject Matter Expert

  STD - Seal The Deal

  TBA - To Be Announced

  TBD - To Be Determined

  TWIMC - To Whom It May Concern

  TIA - Thanks In Advance

  WIIFM - What's In It For Me

  WOMBAT - Waste Of Money, Brains And Time

  WTG - Way To Go

  YW - You're Welcome

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

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The 2010 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility recognizes employers across the country that are successfully using flexibility to meet both business and employee goals.

This year, In addition to the luncheon, we will be having an early panel discussion starting at 9:30 am on the "Future of Workplace Flexibility".  

The panel participants will speak on topics of workplace flexibility, such as policy development, IT services, wellness, and implementation and future impacts of flexibility.

Victor Grinshtein, President of Houston computer services company, Xvand Technology, will discuss technology as it relates to workplace flexibility

For more information about the panelists, visit Panelist Information.

For more information on this program, visit http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2xxsft7da4ba7f4

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Have you ever found yourself frustrated when trying to read a really long spreadsheet full of data because the column headings do not appear on all pages?

Houston IT consultant Cheryl Smith shares a few tips on how to freeze cells so you can read the column headins of long spreadsheets.

Simple way to read column headings in long spreadsheets:

1. Click the row below the heading aka titles of the spreadsheet

1. Select the Window tab on the toolbar

1. Click Freeze Panes

Note: A line will appear directly under the information that will be frozen.

This allows you to continue scrolling through the entire spreadsheet and still be able to read the titles of the columns.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

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When typing many words into a single cell in Excel, you might find it looking disorganized.

Or, perhaps when you print an Excel spreadsheet, your cells aren’t wide enough to display all the information it contains?

Houston computer service expert Cheryl Smith shares a few tips on how to format the cells to fit your preferences.

There are several methods, to accomplish this task, but here is one shortcut that works. Using you mouse, click between the two letters of the cells in which you would like to alter.

§         At this point you can either drag the cell to desired width

OR

§         Double click the mouse and Excel will format for you.

Like any function in Excel, there are many ways to do what you would like to accomplish. By going to the Format tab on the toolbar, you also have the ability to change width and height of columns and rows.

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We at Xvand Technology Corporation are honored to be selected as a Houston finalist for the 2010 Alfred P. Sloan Award - and proud to be associated with The Flexible Workplace Initiative Program.

The program – also called Flexworks - encourages area employers to utilize flexible workplace policies that promote business activity and improve Houston's mobility.

As a long time promoter of the flexible workplace, this is, of course, an initiative that’s near and dear to our hearts, and we encourage you to partake in this effort.

Many of the organizations that use our computer services have reported more productive (and happy!) employees by implementing a flexible workplace program in place. 

For more information on this program, visit http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e2xxsft7da4ba7f4

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Do you spend too much time and energy typing information in an Excel spreadsheet?

Would you like faster way to do this?

How about sequential information - like numbers or dates?

Houston computer service expert Cheryl Smith shares a few tips: 

For Repeated data:

1. Enter the first data in cell desired.
2. Highlight all cells in which you want this data to appear
3. Use function command: Control D, Control F or Edit Fill

For Sequential data:

1.       Enter the first data preferred such as; January, Monday, or a date 8-25-2010 etc.

2.       Click at the bottom of this cell allowing the Fill Handle (black cross) to appear

3.       Drag this handle to the end of desired cells; this will automatically fill in the information for you.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask our Houston IT support experts in the “Ask The Experts!” box on the right.

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See the above video for tips on using animation in PowerPoint.

Animation is one of the most abused tools in PowerPoint. Unless you’re discussing the wind, having text “woosh” in is probably unnecessary.

The same rule can be applied to sounds effects.  Most of the sounds included in PowerPoint are not recommended for professional use. Breaking glass, whistle blowing and cars screeching should not be used unless it is the exact affect you are looking for.

We hope you have found this information helpful. If you would like to learn more about this subject, please feel free to contact us:

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