Schulz Consulting » Technology

Former Sage Channel Chief Taylor Macdonald Joins SaaS Provider Intacct

Wayne Schulz — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 19:18:31 +0000

In what has to be a coup for SaaS (software as a service) provider Intacct, industry veteran Taylor Macdonald today is announced as their new VP of Channels.

Taylor spent 9 years managing and building the reseller channel for Sage North America.

Taylor Macdonald Joins ERP SaaS Provider Intacct As VP Channels

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Locked out of LinkedIn?

Wayne Schulz — Mon, 10 May 2010 23:49:20 +0000

Do you have a LinkedIn account which you access infrequently and might have trouble remembering the password?

Here’s a tip from Dawn Westerberg whose LinkedIN account was linked to her old work email address.

When she left her job she had forgotten her LinkedIN password.

Without access to her old work email address she was unable to perform a standard password reset which would have sent a link to her (old) email enabling her to login to LinkedIn.

It turns out that if you forget your password and cannot access your registered email address (in Dawn’s case this was her old work address) then LinkedIn will not – (a) reset your password, (b) update your account or (c) transfer/merge account information to another account.

Their solution? Create a new account and re-invite your connections.

Seriously. That’s the best solution that LinkedIn has to offer?

Think about the time when you are changing jobs. That’s typically when you need to use LinkedIn the most.

And if for some reason you’re unable to remember the password or gain access to your old work email address – you’ll be potentially shut out of important LinkedIn connections!

To be safe, use a primary email address that YOU own to sign up for LinkedIn – and not an employer email that you would lose access to when changing jobs.

LinkedIn allows you to enter in additional email addresses (such as work) so that people can still send invitations by knowing your work email.

Change your primary email address in: Settings – Personal Information – Email Addresses.

Dawn Westerberg

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Great Plains Guy vs Netsuite Guy – ERP Cloud Computing Spoof

Wayne Schulz — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 11:48:18 +0000

Another humorous take on cloud computing. This version (authored by Netsuite) is obviously slanted to show the cloud computing strength of Netsuite versus Great Plains and SAP.

The product name “Great Plains” is used to poke fun at the product’s Fargo North Dakota roots. Those familiar with the Great Plains software will of course realize that Microsoft now owns the product and has rebranded it under the Microsoft label.

Of course anyone who sat in on Netsuite’s latest earnings call knows that they reported essentially flat license growth. That lead us to proclaim that Netsuite appears to lose customers as fast as they replace them.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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SAP Guy v Netsuite Guy – parody

Wayne Schulz — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 11:42:47 +0000

I just stumbled across this humorous parody of the Mac v PC commercials that Apple made famous. This version pits SAP versus Netsuite in a spoof of SAP’s cloud computing strategy.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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Apple iPad: First Impressions For Business Users

Wayne Schulz — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:15:58 +0000

The Apple iPad launched this past weekend leading to an overwhelming influx of posts both online and in print media.

Most reviews have gushed over the devices capabilities (here’s a pretty good iPad review from the Washington Post) . There’s a lot to gush about to be sure – with a great looking 9.7″ screen the iPad makes the applications that we loved on the iPhone work even better on the iPad.

The next question to be answered is whether the iPad can replace laptops. While the touch screen device is certainly attractive and simple to use there are a few issues that I noted in my weekend of testing that make me wonder just how quickly businesses might adopt an iPad type device.

Issue #1: The iPad browser won’t run all the sites that your laptop will

In my initial testing I immediately ran into problems running Google Wave which repeatedly crashed the iPad browser. Similarly when trying to use Facebook I was stopped when trying to view videos that friends had posted because the iPad doesn’t (and won’t) support the Flash technology that Facebook uses to embed the video.

Yes there are mobile sites that I probably could have run instead. However to make a fair comparison between an iPad and Laptop I feel you have to test the process of opening the same sites – and not relying on another typically lightweight (and crippled) mobile site for compatibility.

Apple has been steadfast in their refusal to support technology such as Adobe Flash. This is probably irrelevant or uninteresting to most people – unless they rely heavily on a web site that makes use of Adobe Flash technology for displaying content or interacting with users.

Issue #2: The iPad is a closed environment where all applications must be approved by Apple

A closed operating environment is great for home users. It shields them from a lot of complexity and issues with rogue applications that could be attempting to steal data.

For business users though the inability to readily access third party applications that might expand upon Apple’s Safari web browser functionality – say to make it more compatible with all web sites – is troubling.

Apple has essentially stated they aren’t supporting Adobe Flash. While many web sites are working hard to redo their embedded content to avoid Flash – will corporate users want to be at the whim of what Apple states they will and won’t support?

Businesses need to be sure that the applications they require in the future can be loaded to their hardware. With the Apple iTunes policy there’s no way to be certain of that.

Issue #3: The lack of multi-tasking is presently a deal breaker

In my testing over the weekend I found that inability to easily read incoming emails while working in another application to be a deal breaker for business user.

Unless you want to be constantly closing and opening applications so that you can read email as it arrives you’ll probably soon tire of this limitation.

For home use I don’t believe this will be as much of an issue as for businesses where the volume of incoming email is greater and typically of more importance.

Apple is rumored to be working on releasing multi-tasking capabilities in a future revision of their operating system. However as it stands today you can’t multi-task within the iPad – and it’s an annoying problem that you won’t have with a laptop — which might cost less than a new iPad.

Summary

The iPad is a great device that, for now, is best suited for home use. It makes viewing online content much easier primarily because the screen is so much bigger than that of the iPhone or iPod Touch.

Battery life appears to be fully capable of achieving the promised 10 hour life – and then some. Integration with all the existing (over 100k) iPhone applications is wonderful although nearly all applications need to be updated to take advantage of the bigger screen.

Should you buy one?

Yes if you’re an iPhone or iPod Touch fan and would like to see the applications that you use on the iPhone/Touch on a bigger screen with more functionality.

No if you’re solely (or primarily) looking at replacing a laptop and you intend to do more than use iPhone type applications.

Until Apple is more open about accepting apps that they claim “duplicate” the functionality of the built-in programs you’d be better off buying a laptop that allows you to load any applications that are needed for your business.

Via: Apple iPad First Impressions

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LinkedIn for BlackBerry 1.0 Connects

Wayne Schulz — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:04:28 +0000

LinkedIn has just released version 1.0 of their new application for BlackBerry smartphones.

Users of the BlackBerry Tour, Curve and Bold can download the application from BlackBerry App World. Unfortunately there is not (yet) any support for the popular BlackBerry Storm though I suspect that will be added pretty quickly.

From the LinkedIn Blog:

LinkedIn for BlackBerry is a continuation of our efforts to help you leverage the power of your professional network anywhere, anytime. Now, you can walk into any interview, any customer engagement or client meeting with the ability to look up the details on over 60 million professionals worldwide, in real-time.

LinkedIn for BlackBerry includes a full, rich feature set designed to bring the most useful features of LinkedIn to your business smartphone. The application features six modules, each with a user experience designed from the ground up for BlackBerry devices:

* Network Updates. View and share crucial business intelligence and updates with your network. Perfect for those spare moments between meetings.
* Search. Search across over 60 million global professionals, and get the answer back in seconds. We’ve implemented a unified search across both your direct connections and the entire LinkedIn network.
* Connections. LinkedIn is your address book in the cloud. Get quick access to any of your connections to get their up-to-date profile information, and the ability to send them a message immediately.
* Invitations. Why wait to get back to your desk? Accept outstanding invitations immediately.
* Messages. Messaging is one of the reasons that BlackBerry owners love their devices, and we’ve worked hard to integrate your LinkedIn Inbox.
* Reconnect. You can’t leverage your network if you don’t build it. This module brings suggestions for new connections to you anytime. Now you can build your network from anywhere, in seconds.

While the interface of the BlackBerry LinkedIn application is not as pretty as that of the iPhone version – the deep integration to the BlackBerry inbox is a key feature.

When you receive emails from anyone you can quickly use the BlackBerry shortcut menu to lookup their LinkedIn profile – quite a handy feature for those of us who spend most of our time on the road.

For more information -

LinkedIn for BlackBerry Curve, Bold and Tour – Now Available

Connect:
Wayne Schulz on LinkedIn

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Google Nexus One vs Droid : Pros and Cons

Wayne Schulz — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:11:59 +0000

Google’s entry into the phone world – the Google Nexus One – is out. I’ve been testing it for the last day since FedEx dropped one on my doorstep. I paid $529 for an unlocked version which means that I am able to use it on my existing T-Mobile account simply by swapping the tiny SIM card that is inside my BlackBerry 9700.

What many people have been asking is whether the Google Nexus One is the best Android phone or whether the much advertised Droid might be a better choice.

Well since I own both phones I’ve taken a few minutes this morning to write up a pros and cons comparison between the two.

You can read my Google Nexus One vs Droid Pros and Cons on my gadget blog for the full details.

In a nutshell I like everything about the Google Nexus One – especially the speed. If you’re comfortable using T-Mobile as the carrier (which is the only carrier supporting the phone for now though Verizon is slated to provide service come Spring 2010) and if you’re a heavy Gmail user (which I am) then you’ll love Android and I think the Google Nexus One.

Based on my repeatedly poor experiences with the Droid voice quality – I don’t recommend you purchase a Droid.

If however you’re company is stoic in its use of Microsoft Exchange Server or you are not on Gmail (and don’t plan to be) then I think either the BlackBerry (for heavy emailers) or iPhone (for those with light email needs but strong desire for third party applications and music/video) are better choices.

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Free Turbotax Business 2009

Wayne Schulz — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:42:19 +0000

Intuit has a special free version of their Turbotax 2009 for Business. Although this version is only for businesses (it will NOT work for individuals or sole proprietors filing a “schedule C” on their 1040) it’s still a relatively hot deal considering Amazon sells the full version for $95.

Prior year data won’t automatically transfer (probably one of the reasons this is free) making this version primarily for new Turbotax users who would like to get a free fully functioning version to test on their current year data.

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Schulz Consulting MAS90 Newsletter Signup

Wayne Schulz — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:37:30 +0000

Interested in tips, tricks and news about Sage MAS90 and MAS200 accounting software?

Sign up here for our twice monthly (first and fifteenth) MAS90 email newsletter. Each edition contains the latest MAS 90 and MAS 200 news as well as technology tips and tricks of interest to MAS90 users. There’s no advertising and you can unsubscribe from the email list yourself at any time.

The cost is free and we presently have over 2,000 members receiving the newsletter every month.

MAS 90 Newsletter Topics Include (but aren’t limited to):

Instructions on closing the year in MAS 90 and MAS 200
News of critical software patches
Links to whitepapers describing new features
Information about free web seminars
Reviews of different add-on solutions for MAS 90 and MAS 200
Technology tips – mobile phones, social media, web site links

Schulz Consulting MAS90 Newsletter Signup

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Wayne Schulz Named 2009 Sage Spirit Award Winner

Wayne Schulz — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 02:27:57 +0000

When Paul Johnson (Executive Vice President – Sage Business Solutions) called me late last night my first instinct was to check the Schulz Consulting web site.

Usually when I get calls from executives at odd hours of the day (or weekend) it’s to “point out” something on the site that I’ve written earlier in the week. The conversation starts out with admiration for “that little blog you run” and the “support for those who blog”.

And oh, by the way, could you remove that item about __.

This happens about once per quarter, and truthfully except for that little mis-understanding about Sage MAS 200 SQL, Sage doesn’t call that much. It’s usually other publishers or consultants who catch their name in a Google Keyword Alert and confuse the term blog with free advertisement.

I quickly scanned for potential issues on the web site. Except for an innocent announcement about MAS90 payroll tax tables there didn’t seem to be anything that would warrant a late night call.

So I call Paul Johnson back.

I’m braced for questions about something on the site – though I’m unsure exactly what questions there could be.

Surprisingly I learned that I’d been awarded one of the two Sage Spirit Awards. This is a new award category that Sage created this year. It’s meant to honor those who don’t sell bazillions of dollars worth of Sage product but who perhaps still should be recognized at the annual Sage President Circle.

Paul was calling to tell me I was one of the winners. (I guess that stuff on TV where people show up with a big check on your doorstep and a bouquet of balloons isn’t how it all happens in real life).

Out of 140 people nominated (I did not nominate myself -honest), the Sage team narrowed the selection to two Sage Spirit Award Winners.

While admittedly stunned I’m thankful and grateful for the award.

The presentation is January 25-27 in Arizona where I’ll presumably take the stage wedged between the men and women who’ve sold millions and millions of dollars of Sage Software and I’ll gladly accept the Sage Spirit Award.

I can’t wait to give my acceptance speech.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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QuickBooks Payroll Alive And Well

Wayne Schulz — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:07:45 +0000

This morning I received a somewhat confusing email from my local Paychex representative. The subject line of “QuickBooks May Be Discontinued” caught my attention.

There was no message in the body of the email, however, attached was a graphic (see below) that stated QuickPayroll was being discontinued.

Sensing that something wasn’t right and that there’s no way that QuickBooks was going to be discontinued I contacted Intuit for their feedback.

As it turns out the notification, sent by my local Paychex representative, was only partially correct.

QuickBooks Payroll is not being phased out.

An older low-end version product called QuickPayroll is being discontinued in favor of any of Intuit’s other three payroll processing options.

With over 1.2 million payroll customers there’s a slim chance that Intuit’s going to turn their back on the payroll market. In July of 2009 Intuit actually increased their presence in the payroll market with a $170 million acquisition of Paycycle which also brought 85,000 additional small business payrolls under their arm.

Here is Intuit’s response:

Discontinuation of QuickPayroll

As of December 31, 2009, Intuit will discontinue its stand-alone QuickPayroll, a very basic payroll service that did not require the use of QuickBooks. We have notified the QuickPayroll customers (http://payroll.intuit.com/support/kb/kbitem/1012532.html) and have provided them with two offerings so that customers can continue their payroll services with Intuit. With its advertising,

QuickBooks Basic and Enhanced Payroll – payroll services that link to QuickBooks desktop
Intuit QuickBooks Assisted Payroll – payroll service in which Intuit handles the tax forms and payments; payroll integrates with QuickBooks desktop
Intuit Online Payroll – cloud-computing payroll service that runs stand-alone or integrates with QuickBooks desktop and QuickBooks Online.

So rest assured that QuickBooks and QuickBooks Payroll are both alive and well. While we don’t offer services on the Intuit product we wanted to provide this update for any users who might have received the same type of email with mis-information about the status of QuickBooks Payroll.

A full comparison of each option:

http://payroll.intuit.com/compare/compare-quickbooks-payroll.jsp

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Verizon Droid and Eris Buy One Get One Free This Weekend

Wayne Schulz — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:48:32 +0000

If you are in the market for a new smartphone keep an eye on your local Verizon store this weekend (December 4 to December 7). If rumors are true they’ll be having a BOGO (aka Buy One Get One Free) sale that will allow anyone purchasing either the Droid or Eris to also get a free device.

Update: The BOGO offer is only allowing a free Droid Eris and not a buy one Droid and get one Droid – you can only buy a Droid and get an Eris free.

Naturally they expect you to enter into a 2 year service agreement for each line. And data costs add $30 per smartphone to any family plan.

Still, this is not a bad overall deal. Presently the Verizon stores sell the Droid for $299 less a $100 rebate and the Eris is $199 less a $100 rebate.

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Wayne Schulz Launches Modeling Career in SCOTTEVEST / SeV Catalog

Wayne Schulz — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:29:03 +0000

The current issue of the SCOTTEVEST Catalog features Wayne Schulz prominently modeling the Fleece 5.0 Jacket.

Well, ok, that’s a bit of a stretch. Technically Wayne IS in the catalog. But..

Wayne’s not featured. And while he is in the catalog (as a postage stamp image) he’s not exactly prominent.

…but you have to start somewhere, right?

SCOTTEVEST is a manufacturer of activewear jackets and clothing that feature lots of storage space for holding phones, MP3 players, and more. They asked for customers to submit pictures of themselves wearing their clothes. Wayne submitted a picture from a June 2009 trip to the Ridin Hy Dude Ranch which was used in the catalog.

To see Wayne riding Trigger – and modelining his SCOTTEVEST Fleece Jacket – flip to page 9 of the catalog below (upper right corner – second image down).

Catalog SeV09

SCOTTEVEST

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Google Wave Guide Is Available Online

Wayne Schulz — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:58:53 +0000

Have you started to explore Google Wave?

Google Wave is a new web-based tool that is still in early testing. Ultimately it’s hoped that Wave will become an easy-to-use tool that enables collaboration between teams of people.

From the Google site:

Google Wave is an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration. A wave can be both a conversation and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more. If you have spent any amount of time with Google Wave you’ll know that a big part of the initial experience is confusing.

Without any formal user guide to provide information on Google Wave’s unique collaboration features work – most users are initially left to wonder aloud “what do we do next”.

Gina Trapani and Adam Pash have created an online manual titled The Complete Guide to Google Wave. This free manual is available now. You will be able to purchase a PDF copy starting in November.

The Complete Guide To Google Wave

Chapter 1 – Meet Google Wave
Find out what Google Wave is and what problems it solves

Chapter 2 – Get Started With Wave
Set up your Wave account and create your first wave

Chapter 3 – Manage Your Wave Contacts
Find and add people and groups to collaborate with in Wave

Chapter 4 – Find and Organize Waves
Tag, file, search and filter waves

Chapter 5 – Dive Deeper into Wave
Add rich content to your waves like maps and photo slide shows

Chapter 6 – Master Wave’s Interface
Navigate Wave from the keyboard and customize your Wave interface

Chapter 7 – Wave Gadgets
Add interactive content to your waves with gadgets

Chapter 8 – Wave Bots
Automatically update the contents of your waves with bots

Appendix A – What Wave Can’t Do
It’s not just you. See what’s NOT working in the current version of Wave, and what features the Wave team has promised are coming.

Appendix B – Contribute to The Complete Guide to Google Wave
In the spirit of Google Wave, this guide is a collaborative effort. We need you (yes, you) to help revise and expand this guide as Wave evolves.

One observation is the manual itself is in an open sourced MediaWiki online format rather than being created in Google Wave itself – perhaps an indication of how far Google still has to go in order for Google Wave to be truly useful for group collaboration.

[The Complete Guide to Google Wave] via [Download Squad]

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Business Card Reader for iPhone is A Must Have – $5.99

Wayne Schulz — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:56:50 +0000

If you’re like most people you have top desk drawer chock full of business cards that you’ve collected at conferences and other business meetings.

Of course you’ve collected them with the best intentions of manually entering them one-after-another into your computer – but somehow they sit unentered in that top drawer. Someday when you have extra time you’ll sit down and enter them all into your computer.

At last there’s a cheap and easy solution to automatically enter the information on most business cards to your computer.

If you have an iPhone 3GS there’s a new inexpensive software application called Business Card Reader from Shape Services that you should try.

For only $5.99 you can download it to your iPhone 3GS (other versions are supported but because the 3GS has a higher resolution auto-focus camera this is the preferred model).

Use the application to take a picture of a business card.

Here’s a really lousy sample of a business card from a prospective client that I collected about a year ago. I took this picture with my iPhone 3GS in the dim light of my kitchen.

And unbelievably this $5.99 program transcribed the business card perfectly.

In this instance the contact phone, address and email were all exactly as they should have been – despite having been capture off a dimly lit photograph of a business card. Total time from image to transcription? About a minute.

Certainly in many instances you might have to tweak the final address if the program doesn’t read the information perfectly.

Total time from taking the image to having a new contact in my iPhone? About a minute.

Because I use Google Apps for my email and contact management I am also able to use the free iPhone GoogleSync program to automatically synchronize contacts off the iPhone directly to my Google Apps account.

The end result is a business card accurately scanned from any iPhone 3GS into your iPhone contact database. If you are synchronizing that data to Google Apps then the contact information will also synchronize in real time.

Recommended.
[Business Card Reader] (iTunes link)

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Sage Twitter List Live – easily follow MAS90, MAS200 and other Sage product discussions

Wayne Schulz — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:43:53 +0000

Looking to keep up with what other Sage employees, consultants, end users and vendors are saying on Twitter?

Use our new free Twitter list that provides a concise timeline showing ~~only~~ mostly tweets that are relevant to people involved with Sage products.

This is not sponsored by, endorsed or affiliated with Sage.

Rather twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author’s profile page and delivered to the author’s subscribers who are known as followers. Senders can restrict delivery to those in their circle of friends or, by default, allow open access. Users can send and receive tweets via the Twitter website, Short Message Service (SMS) or external applications. While the service itself costs nothing to use, accessing it through SMS may incur phone service provider fees.

One of the frustrating things about Twitter is that it can be difficult to find people to “follow”. Unless you’ve been using the service for a while you can easily become frustrated at trying to find people like:

Himanshu Palsule (twitter) –
Executive VP, Product Strategy/Marketing, Sage Business Solutions, and GM, Specialized Solutions

Bill Kizer (twitter) who worked in sales for years at Blytheco and is instrumental in starting and running the Sage LinkedIn Group.

Alok Tyagi (twitter) – VP of R&D for Sage Software North America

There are many more Sage related twitter feeds on our list. As of now the number of followed accounts is 83 and growing.

To easily follow and read the Twitter feeds of people most likely to be discussing Sage related topics, follow the link below.

Disclaimer About Twitter

Be aware- Twitter is an unfiltered stream of messages. While many of the users are affiliated with different companies – it’s a good idea to assume that their comments reflect their own personal thoughts and not necessarily those of their employer.

This is also not an official Sage feed. They do not endorse, recommend, follow, participate or provide any other approval of the messages or content.

If we’ve missed adding your name to the Sage Twitter list – leave a comment with your Twitter ID and affiliation and we will add your name to the Twitter list.

Sage Twitter List

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Schulz Consulting providing MAS 90 and MAS 200 support and collaboration via Google Wave

Wayne Schulz — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:01:58 +0000

Schulz Consulting is now active on the new Google Wave service that’s presently in a limited preview release.

Google Wave is the next step beyond email. It allows for real time group conversations where every participant can view a complete history of the discussions. Simple email exchanges often omit large parts of conversations to anyone not on the email distribution list.

Future uses of Google Wave may involve collaborating on workarounds for software issues, real time seminars where participants can comment and add to the topics as well as technical support tracking where more than one company contact could have access to a complete history of the items that have been discussed.

Because Google Wave is in a limited testing preview you must first request an invitation from Google to participate (request).

If you are already on Google Wave you may connect to Wayne Schulz via wayneschulzct@googlewave.com

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What’s new in MAS 90 3.50 through 4.2?

Wayne Schulz — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:10:48 +0000

One question that we’ve heard time and time again as MAS 90 upgrades are released is “what’s new?”.

Often this can be a difficult list to remember – especially if the person asking is several release levels back on the software. It’s easy to remember what has been added from version 4.1 to 4.2 — but how about from 3.50 to 4.2?

If you’re curious about all the enhancements that Sage has made to MAS 90 and MAS 200 since version 3.5 then you may wish to review this handy list on their site.

A detailed list of every change is available on a release by release basis. The chronology starts at version 3.5 and extends to 4.2. There is no login required – simply click away at the link below.

What’s New in MAS 90 – Version 3.5 to 4.2

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What’s New In MAS 90 and MAS 200 4.4 (Mini Brochure) Sage has just released this four page “What’s New in...
What’s New In MAS 90 4.4 Product Update 2 In an email to the consultant channel Sage posted a...

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Sage MAS 90 Service Updates Now Quarterly

Wayne Schulz — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 11:56:58 +0000

The last service update for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 version 4.3 was issued 6/29/09. According to several consultants who have contacted us – Sage has told them that service updates will be issued on a quarterly basis instead of monthly.

Service updates for Sage MAS 90 and MAS 200 are released for the most current version of the software only (currently 4.3) and contain a bundle of fixes which are self-installing and correct noted issues.

Users of older supported versions of MAS 90 (prior to the current level) will still need to load program fixes individually as the service update bundles will continue to only be released for the current levels.

Please consult with a competent Sage Business Partner prior to installing any service updates. These fixes contain program changes which could cause any enhancements (including Sage’s Extended Solutions) to stop working.

In general we recommend loading service updates for MAS 90 only if you (or your Sage Business Partner) are in the process of logging a support case with Sage or see that a program patch or service update fixes a specific issue that you are experiencing.

In all instances, we recommend you contact your Sage Business Partner for advise on when and how to load any service updates before trying to install them yourself.

Sage Service Updates – MAS 90 and MAS 200 Version 4.3

Service Update 17 for Sage MAS 90 and 200 4.30 (4.30.17) released 12/24/09 Sage issued Service Update 17 for MAS 90 and MAS...
MAS 90 & MAS 200 v4.4 Product Update 1 Disappears (again) We continue to monitor the Sage MAS90 & 200...
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VAR 500 member Sysix Technologies closes following CEO’s suicide

Wayne Schulz — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:59:52 +0000

Online site CRN (Computer Reseller News) is reporting today that one of the members of their VAR 500 list, Sysix Technologies, has closed following the July 2009 suicide death of CEO John Schaeffer. The company had been on CRN’s VAR 500 list since 2002 and was most recently ranked #286 on the 2009 VAR 500.

From the Sysix LinkedIn page:

For over 20 years, Sysix continues to be your single source provider of broad-based integrated business IT solutions. As a national provider of business technology from leading computer hardware and software manufacturers – we can help you to effectively manage your technology solution by combining industry leading products with innovative consulting services and flexible financing options to meet your technology needs, industry focus and budget requirements. via Sysix LinkedIN Company Page

Sysix’s LinkedIN page claimed revenues of over $94 million and 60 employees.

According to a Hoover’s entry:

Sysix Solutions helps firms get their IT act together. Operating through three units — Sysix Financial, Sysix Consulting, and Sysix Technologies — the company designs, leases, and installs IT systems. The value-added reseller carries products from Cisco, Datatel, Dell, EMC, Hitachi Data Systems, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, PlateSpin, PolyServe, Sun Microsystems, and VERITAS, among other vendors. Customers have included Dana, Goodrich, the Moody Bible Institute, Tenneco, and the law firm of Ungaretti & Harris. Founded in 1988, Sysix has offices across the US. CEO John Sheaffer is the majority shareholder.

CRN is reporting that Sysix closed at the end of July idling over 40 employees. This closing appears to have recently been finalized as noted in a story that CRN did on August 25, 2009.

Why So Little CRN Coverage Of A SuddenVAR 500 Closing?

Surprisingly there is not much (if any) follow-up coverage for the sudden closing of one of CRN’s own VAR 500.

In July 2009 when the MIS Group, Sage’s largest business partner, closed abruptly CRN followed up with several posts that spotlighted the type of problems that they felt were indicated by this sudden closing.

Sysix had been a member of CRN’s VAR 500 for the last consecutive 8 years. Yet aside from a story announcing the sudden demise of the firm, there’s very little (if anything) that I was able to find by searching the CRN site.

While Sysix’s closing appears to only have been finalized recently the site notes that the doors were shut at the end of July 2009. Sage business partner MIS Group closed over the July 4th holiday weekend and CRN first posted on their demise here, then followed up with a scathing post on July 24, 2009 which compared MIS Group (not a VAR 500 member) to AIG.

Will there be a similar feature story from CRN on the sudden closing of one of their VAR 500 members?

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