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SVUGA logoThe listing of Silicon Valley User Group Activities is now included as part of this SVCS.NET website.  You may still reach the listing at SVUGA.ORG or by clicking on either the logo at the left or on the 'Meetings' tab above.

CES 2012 Show Wrap

Tue, 01/17/2012 - 4:02pm — AndyMarken

 Sure we hate missing the holiday season to get ready for the really big show.  Sure we hate the hours of standing on thinly carpeted concrete for hours on end to see what's hot, what's new, who's new, who's gone but has CES begun to lose its shine?  No the market changes, the industry changes, the association changes, the show changes.  The 3,000 + small/medium CES stands get overwhelmed by the big boys' big budgets but these hidden jewels are what keep the industry moving forward and being part of folks daily lives. Read the whole story... 

Oversharing

Fri, 01/13/2012 - 1:43pm — AndyMarken
Despite what "social media specialists" tell you not all social media is about business and all business certainly isn't about social media. Get real and use it when it works and when it doesn't stay out of folks way.  Of course those people can also turn on you when you're not paying 100% attention so walk with ease, talk gently, do the right thing first.  Then things are so much better. There are a lot of challenges, opportunities out there for everyone. Read more...
 

Wizards Emerge

Fri, 01/06/2012 - 2:01pm — AndyMarken

The clean, fresh start of a new year filled with optimism, opportunity.  Still you didn't clean your storage over the holidays because there's a lot of stuff there.  Really good, useful stuff.  And with almost everything beginning it's "life"  digitally and staying that way there is an excellent opportunity for you to dig into that content, that information and make giant strides forward.  We've got a new name for the opportunity -- big data -- and most of it will spend its life in the cloud being stored, shared, used.  The key to your success in the new environment is to determine how to quickly, easily, profitably mine the clouds.  Read more...
 

Back to the Future

Thu, 12/29/2011 - 2:38pm — AndyMarken
Everyone is busy telling you what's gonna be hot, what's not, what's going to be the killer, what's not.   We know too but we're going to wait to tell you what we know until the end of 2012 (assuming the Mayans aren't right).  Then you'll be amazed that we're 100 percent right...amazing.   But to know, understand what tomorrow holds for us we really need to see what the past year delivered.  Read more...
 

Friending

Fri, 12/23/2011 - 2:49pm — AndyMarken

Facebook is out to change its ways for you because well it might have been just a tad over aggressive in following you follow your friends...just a tad.  But they're going to make it all up to you by giving you more ads to make more money so they can do their IPO (initial public offering) to make even more money.  Whether it's your company, you, your friends or Zuck's friends it's going to be fun to figure out who likes who and why. Read more...
 

Blogging Moms

Fri, 12/16/2011 - 4:40pm — AndyMarken

 They're half the world's population, control/influence 2/3 of the purchases, spend over half the U.S. GDP.  They're women, females in business and online.  Usually their sites, blogs, outreach is filled with information, assistance, guidance that even guys can understand.  But muck up your communications, work with them and they can be mean, vicious -- a force to be reckoned with!!!!  Unfortunately lots of marketing/communications folks miss golden opportunities because they either dismiss their knowledge, expertise, influence or they talk to them in a condescending manner...mistake dude.  Big mistake !!!!  Read more...
 

Stuff, Storage

Fri, 12/09/2011 - 3:26pm — AndyMarken

You know the environmentalist tale about a butterfly in the rain forest affecting.. Same is true of overwatering in Thailand affecting PC manufacturers, users around the globe.  The Big 3 HD folks are slowly bouncing back (give em 3 quarters) but it made lots of folks think even harder about systems with solid state memory (SSDs).  We all knew they were faster, lighter, cooler running, easier on batteries.  Now the new Win ultrabooks and Mac Air are looking even better because what the heck you don't need all that big storage to take with you and the prices are looking pretty darn good. For the rest of your stuff...use the cloud.  Us?   We "need" the storage so you go right ahead and leave us behind.  Read more...
 

Socially Yours

Fri, 12/02/2011 - 4:02pm — AndyMarken
Now that all the social media companies are either public or getting ready to go public we can tell you the truth...social media was formed to help folks sell stuff, make money!   Yes we've heard some social media experts say it isn't about money but gee it's sorta, kinda important.   Sure there's more like better, faster customer service, customer support.  But that's just to: a) keep the product/service sold and b) make the customer happy so he/she will suggest friends, neighbors, others also buy the product/service.   Companies know social media is important to them tomorrow they just can't quite figure out what their real ROI (return on investment) is.  Just don't tell us what your Klout number is!  We want names, IP addresses... Read more...


Getting More with Your Existing PC

Fri, 11/25/2011 - 2:33pm — AndyMarken

Our son decided - thank goodness -- that he didn't need a new ultrabook.  What he needed was "a little" upgrading, tune-up.   He wanted to swap out his hard drove for SSD (solid state drive) and slip the HD in an external case.  He had all the answers -- it would be lighter, cooler operating, faster and all with a longer battery life.  Took just a few minutes and as he watched it leap to life he said why would anyone want the old-fashioned moving parts HD when the world is digital...high speed digital.  To see his system go from zero to 60 instantly there's no turning back.  We may spruce our system up as well.  Read more...
 

Social Security

Tue, 11/22/2011 - 3:23pm — AndyMarken
With folks bringing their own devices to work, more than 3 billion mobile connections around the globe and nearly all of your devices open to the world in one way or another, it's little wonder that malware producers, hackers, cybercriminals and "others" make it feel like everyone is out to hack/borrow your personal/private data.  No wonder you have anxiety attacks.  Social media lets - encourages -- you to put your entire life out there for folks to read/follow.  Sure you want it to stop there but you've just opened the door for "them" to walk in and do a quick/easy snatch 'n grab.  Don't make it so easy for them.  There are ways you can protect yourself from yourself. Read more...
 
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