Black Swan Management, LLC

Investments and Strategies for the Future of Business

Archive for November, 2011

Bill Gates WOWs us with Microsoft Windows Vista at CES Keynote

Nov 10

Posted by Marylin Stompler in business, Companies, Leadership, people, wealth | No Comments

I just came back from my annual trip to CES to find the best iPod accessories and the latest technology for my company. This year, the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) celebrated his 40th birthday and was kicked off by the Bill Gates keynote on Sunday November 7 in Las Vegas at the Venetian Hotel. The event was sold out! 5,000 people attended and hundreds more people tried to get in without success. Security was tight! The focus of Bill Gates keynote was a showcase of the newest products from Microsoft including Windows Vista and the new Zune music player; Gates also gave us a glimpse into the future with products such as Ford (F) Sync and a demonstration of technology from the Microsoft futuristic house.

Here are some of the Windows Vista features demonstrated in the keynote. You can now play video files as the background of your desktop in Windows Vista. It was visually stunning! Another new feature was the Windows Photo Gallery where you can easily organize, find, and view pictures. With Windows Vista, you can also easily burn DVDs complete with a main menu and the play option, just like in commercial movies! This is definitely something the many Windows users will love to use! Windows Vista also provides enhanced capabilities to play games and access to XboxLive. Something really cool in Windows Vista is Windows Live with a lot of functionality such as Windows Live Search powered by Microsoft Virtual Earth, somewhat similar to Google (GOOG) 3-D application, Google Earth, which lets you view maps and satellite images for regional searches. The actual demonstration was very real. I felt like I was inside a video game, going down the Las Vegas strip and seeing hotels and traffic. What a trip! Windows Vista includes other impressive features such as Instant Search Box and Windows Sidebar & Gadgets to quickly access functionality, data, and files, Internet Explorer 7, which I have been using since the beta and that I love, Data Backup and Restore so you never lose information, and a lot more.

Windows Vista also features a digital entertainment system, called Windows Media Center (not included in Windows Vista Business Edition)–providing the ability to store and access live and recorded TV, movies, music, and pictures with an easy-to-use menu and remote –in one place. Very nice!

The new Microsoft Office 2007 was very impressive with major improvements in the look and feel and with key functionality at your fingertips to make it much easier for new users to be up and running quickly. Another benefit of Microsoft Office 2007 is that it also runs on Windows XP in case you do not want to upgrade to Windows Vista, just yet!

With Windows Easy Transfer, Microsoft makes it easier to transfer your data, user accounts, settings, photos, videos, and more to your new computer running Windows Vista. Belkin also offers the new Easy Transfer Cable for Windows Vista working in conjunction with Windows Easy Transfer to facilitate the transfer on your new computer.

However, if you upgrade, watch out that the software you run on your current version of Windows are all compatible with Windows Vista. You can check the Microsoft (MSFT) Web site to view a list of the software that work with or are certified for Windows Vista. Otherwise you may have some downtime struggling with software that may not run smoothly on Windows Vista.

To sum it up, Microsoft got really great reviews about Windows Vista, which won the Best of CES Award in the Computers and Hardware category. I must admit: it looks real tempting to upgrade!

All trademarks in this article are the properties of their respective owners.

Author: Marylin Stompler
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Cool mobile gadgets

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Negotiation Mastery – Knowing When to Say When

Nov 3

Posted by Matt Fagerness in business | No Comments

Negotiation in business is a critical aspect to getting more accomplished and generating more valuable sales. Negotiation is founded upon principles but it could be argued that it is more art than science. The best negotiators are often brilliant strategists and gifted technicians but their perhaps most unsung trait is the mastery of the true art of negotiation. Let’s explore this a little more.

The basic fundamentals of negotiation call for careful planning and, in most cases, pursuit of a solution that leaves all parties better off than they were before. While these basic principles can guide and govern many negotiating scenarios, there is certainly more to it.

What is the art of negotiation? The art behind this critical business skill comes from the intangible ability to simply get the job done. For example, perhaps you have experienced a negotiation where you followed your plan to the letter and felt like you tactically handled it perfectly. The end result: the negotiations failed and you were left scratching your head as to how this could have happened.

Now consider a scenario where a negotiator also follows their plan, but only almost according to plan. Their tactics are sound but there seem to be some key elements missing. The end result: the negotiation is a dramatic success and, despite the negotiator’s apparent missteps, everything seemed to work out great. What was the difference?

As you may be gathering, the answer to what differed between these two scenarios may not be readily apparent. The negotiator who seemed to do everything perfectly failed and the one who seemed to stray away from the original plan had more success. What gives? The answer lies in the intangible nuances of human nature.

Chances are, the successful negotiator from our example probably sensed the need to change his or her course during the negotiation. This could have been based upon a specific response from the other party, body language, or just an instinctual feel for how things were proceeding. They adjusted their plan, perhaps stopping short of seeking all the objectives they originally set out to achieve. They may have even offered an additional incentive to the opposite party.

While this approach may not immediately make sense, it is highly effective. Sure, we all have an agenda when it comes to negotiations. However, asking for too much puts the entire agenda at risk, while knowing when to say when may eliminate a single objective but leave the rest intact and still satisfy all parties when the day is done. The ability to recognize the need for this and know when to change the plan is an art that the best negotiators have mastered. Even they may not know exactly how they do it; it’s just a feel for the process that makes them great.

This feel for negotiation comes from two key things: experience and attentiveness to the other party in the negotiation. The take home message is to pay attention and be involved in as many negotiations as you possibly can. These elements will make you better and will help hone your feel for the process that will make you better over time.

In summary, you can call it a sixth sense, a gut instinct, or whatever you wish, but the art of negotiation comes not from a textbook, but from within each of us. Knowing when to say when, when to not press for that extra benefit you would like to have, is what sets the best negotiators apart from the rest of the world. It is their artistry that can inspire all of us to reach new heights in business.

Dr. Matt Fagerness left the academic world to pursue his own dreams of business ownership and doing things “his way”. Today, he is a successful real estate investor, venture capitalist, business consultant, and author who has touched the lives of new entrepreneurs who are looking to build upon their own dreams of success. Focusing on written materials and coaching services for success-driven and business-minded people, Dr. Fagerness has a no-nonsense approach to starting and building small businesses that speaks volumes to the clients with whom he has worked. Dr. Fagerness and his various professional services are accessible by visiting http://www.chameleonfreelancing.com

Author: Matt Fagerness
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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