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A Turkey’s View of Thanksgiving

November 26th, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving from CRE Rentals

Business Sense from CRE Rentals: Company Credit Cards

November 24th, 2009

You’ve started a business and now you need everything from phones to office supplies. Plastic in hand, you run full steam ahead toward—debt! Instead of watching your dreams come true, you are watching dollars go out the door for credit card payments and interest. One day, thousands of dollars down the road, you may suddenly turn around and ask yourself, What happened?

For one thing, until you have your business plan worked out, it may be smarter to rent a Mac Pro from CRE Rentals than buy one. You won’t know that, of course, until you’ve crunched all the numbers, including the ones related to your company credit cards. Look into low APR’s (Annual Percentage Rates) and annual fees, and aim for the best deals on late charges and other penalties. Also look for a card that accrues points that you can use for travel, rebates on products or supplies, and other benefits of real value.

Simple rules

Corporate Credit It is easier to borrow money on a credit card than it is to go get a bank loan—easier but costlier, of course. Do not risk your credit rating by getting caught up in a vicious circle of debt. After you’ve had your cards for awhile and have been making payments on time, call the credit card companies and negotiate for lower interest rates (if current rates are high). Also be careful with introductory offers. Many cards offer interest-free periods to bait you, but once that period ends the rates may then rise to (or past) the 18.9% national average.

Just remember: Don’t mix business dollars with personal ones. And that goes for mixing your computers, fax machines and printers, too. If you don’t have the money to buy, keep your personal things personal (like the IRS wants you to) and rent your office equipment from CRE—along with whatever else you need.

Use it, don’t abuse it

Try to make the most of your credit card. If you qualify for a low-interest “rewards” card that earns cash back at the gas station, get it. Small businesses can save a lot of money by using their rewards correctly. It all adds up—if you are paying attention. If you get an LCD monitor rental from CRE, you can use the ongoing rewards to offset some other expenses. Of course, if the items that you are considering are not necessities, then rent, pay by cash or go without. Remember, every time you swipe that card you are incurring debt, and debt can become a beast to maintain.

You cannot charge your way to success, or borrow your way into better revenues. Your credit cards, of course, can finance your good ideas and help you advance toward your goals, just like a computer rental from CRE. If you end up making bad decisions that get you financially stressed, remember the old saying: It’s a poor carpenter who blames his tools. Credit is a tool, so use it—don’t abuse it. If you need help crunching those numbers to see how renting can make sense until you can afford to buy, call one of our expert Account Executives toll free at (877) 266-7725, send an e-mail or fill out our Quick Rental Quote form. CRE is ready when you are.

Build a Site, Build Your Business, with CRE Rental’s Help

November 19th, 2009

Whether your business involves manufacturing, distribution, a profession or a service, you can build it up by creating a plan to expand your online presence.

09_11_19_Site We recently ran a series on Web design tips (Part 1 and Part 2), so now it’s time to put your new knowledge to good use. Even if you don’t launch a state-of-the-art site, you can help your customer service staff out big time if you put up a site with FAQs, parts manuals, solutions to common problems and perhaps an online chat page.

Don’t worry about it!

Web sites can cost a lot in both time and money. If you don’t have a large monitor, consider renting a LCD monitor (or two) so you or your designer have plenty of screen real estate to handle all the pages, menus, art and tools that need to be right at hand. It might be easier to start with something a tad less complex than a full-blown site, too, since you can “scale up” gradually.

Glamorous corporate Web sites can cost a lot to develop. Do you really have to have a site in the first place? Probably. Does it need to cost a lot? No. Web presence is going to be important to your customers, but start out easy. You can get budget hosting plans for as little as $5 a month, and most of the offers today include everything you need, including shopping carts.

If you are considering getting new software and embarking on a Web project, you might consider a computer rental (Mac and/or PC) so you can dedicate a workstation or two to the job without interfering with other work. If you anticipate having a lot of photos, audio or video material, consider some extra storage like a Xserve RAID rental. You can never have too much storage—ever!

Now go get the customers

Now, you need to drive traffic (customers) to your Web site. Let’s face it, if customers don’t know you’re there, you won’t have a business, no matter how nice your site or how great your product or service. You need to invest what you can, which will mostly be time plus whatever money you can allocate, in promoting your site and your business.

You should devise an e-mail campaign, send press releases to print publications and online services, get trade links, create a Facebook Page, use twitter, post comments on online forums and generally sing a “one note song” about what you are doing. If you need wireless laptops for a “mobile campaign,” or plasma screen rental for a digital signage program, CRE rents all sorts of technology equipment.

Whatever you need, our expert Account Executives are here to help you. You can call us, send an e-mail or fill out our Quick Rental Quote form, and the solutions you need will be on the way. That’s what we do, after all—provide the solutions that keep you going and growing.

Mac Says “Farewell” to PowerPC

November 17th, 2009

Forget the press releases. Forget the keynote addresses. Forget the rumor mills. If you want to know what Apple’s plans are for supporting its Macintosh computers, read the “system requirements” on their new software releases.

Within the last few months, Apple has released new versions of Final Cut, Logic Studio and its operating system, Mac OS X. All of them tell part of the story about Apple’s plans. Lets see what Apple’s OS software changes tell us about the company’s hardware strategy.

Goodbye, PowerPC

09_11_17_G4 Rather than making a broad announcement, Apple has quietly noted in the system requirements that its flagship audiovisual applications, Final Cut Pro and Logic Studio, need an Intel processor running OS X 10.5.

Requirements for 10.5, now one “rev” (revision) behind state-of-the-art Snow Leopard 10.6, are increasingly common in today’s third-party Mac software releases. The need for the Intel CPUs that came to the Mac just a couple of years ago is not yet universal. However, the high-end functions for film and music, the types of work that creative pros do on a PowerMac G5 with Kona card rental, now depend on the hardware capabilities of Intel chips.

The way forward

Not every company replaces or upgrades equipment at the same rate. In addition, A/V pros, like those using AJA Io HD rentals, are known to hang on to hardware/software combinations that work “just right” for them, even when (as in the case of Mac’s OS 9) that combo workstation is out of date.

The battle to save working OS 9 workstations is pretty much over, but battle lines are now forming to keep PowerPC Macs (G3, G4 and G5 chips) in the creative arsenal. For a company like CRE, with clients in all industries using all types of hardware and software, it is important to “meet them where they’re at” with the right tools. CRE stocks PowerPC Macs (primarily G5’s, with some G4 laptops) as well as the latest Intel machines.

Whatever kind of project you need extra help with, from graphic-intense creative assignments and video post-processing to PowerPoint presentations and Flash animations, CRE can match your PC and/or Mac configurations to get you the right tools to finish the job. Fill out the Quick Rental Quote form now and expect a swift, problem-solving reply from our experienced Sales team.

CRE Rentals: More Tips on Web Design (Part 2 of 2)

November 12th, 2009

In “Web Design Tips Part 1,” we talked about communicating clearly with both words and images, helping your site visitors find things and employing common sense. Those of you working in both print and Web publishing know the importance of getting the colors right, too, so CRE also has advanced color laser printers for rent. Don’t take your site online without getting good color proofs of your work, and learning how to calibrate your “device chain”—computer, monitor, printer—with “Web safe” colors.

Again, you can’t just push a button and get great art automatically (no, not even on a Macintosh). You will need to study up a bit or hire some professional help. You may not realize it, but many modern desktops and laptops support two monitors right out of the box, so you should really consider one of CRE’s LCD monitor rentals to get a large-format, color-accurate view of your site for you (or your professional assistant) to work with.

Web Design Tips - Part 2

Part 1 had 10 tips. As promised, Part 2 has 15 more great tips (11 through 25) to help you create and host an effective Web site.

11. Blinking or “Times Square scrolling” text displays are completely passé, and hard to read, too.

12. Keep your navigation options easy to spot, right out in the open—and not hidden in a lot of drop-down menus.

13. Since it is faster and much more reliable, use text links for navigation.

14. Settle on a single, consistent navigation scheme. Keep it simple.

15. Don’t use “beginner” or “online interactive” Web site makers. They can be buggy, and won’t deliver consistent, standardized code. HTML is a “markup language,” after all, so the language should be understandable to all browsers…

16. …because your Web site needs to work with all popular browsers, on all platforms.

17. Always insert anchor text on links so visitors know where they’re headed, and so you get the SEO benefits.

18. If you “cloak” links and keep the user from seeing where they’re pointed, you (and your company and your site) can lose credibility.

19. Considering the spread of “popup blocking,” just forget the popup windows. Really.

20. If a link takes visitors to a PDF file, tell them so. Safari and a few other browsers will handle them internally, and well, but others will force Adobe Reader to launch.

21. Do not require people to register for your site unless it is absolutely necessary, such as for a company or legal purposes. People are hesitant to hassle with it.

22. Never—that’s “never, ever”—subscribe site visitors or e-mail correspondents without their consent. If they receive something they didn’t ask for, you’re a spammer.

23. Don’t make new browser windows open, or move or resize existing ones. Control should remain with users. That’s where it belongs.

24. Never link to blacklisted or questionable Web sites. Google, Yahoo, AOL and other large portals are getting very strict about this.

25. Ensure that visitors can search your whole Web site. Make it easy for people to find the information that they want.

Whatever business you are in, CRE has the technology you need to keep forging ahead, flattening out those bumps in the road and empowering you to meet all challenges. Whether you need our ”render farm toolbox” that includes the high-performance graphics capabilities of the 8-core Mac Pro rental, an additional 16 gig of RAM and 23″ Apple Cinema Display, or a dozen laptops for a marketing meeting, CRE has you covered. Our experience Account Executives know how to get you just the right solutions, so call, write an e-mail or fill out the Quick Rental Quote form right away for a swift, courteous reply.

CRE Rentals Offers Tips on Web Design (Part 1 of 2)

November 10th, 2009

There are a few types of businesses that don’t need a Web site—really!—as well as a growing number that do business only over the Internet. Whatever business you are just starting—with a few computer rentals from CRE and a dream—you may be tasked with building a site yourself. Just how do you go about it if you’re not a design pro?

Keep it simple

World Wide Web Your site needs to communicate your business’s mission and “value propositions” clearly—and cleanly. Give visitors what they need to make the decision that you want, whether it’s to purchase a product, engage your services or donate to your nonprofit. Although Flash animations are entertaining, they are no longer cutting edge. Minimize the “eye candy.”

Whether you are testing your new company intranet with an Xserve rental, or refining the site you already have, some basic design rules will help. It is easier to warn you about common “Web site woes” than teach you good design in a couple of blog posts. We will give you 10 great tips today, and 15 more next time around, to get you thinking (then doing).

1. Some Home pages make visitors click “Enter” or “Continue” to get to the real Home page. Home should be, well, Home!

2. Don’t waste space with an array of badges, Good Housekeeping seals or other certificates. If they are important, include them on your About page.

3. Be sure to include contact information. You’d be surprised how many sites leave out the most important details, like how to reach them or store location.

4. Visitors will leave in a nanosecond if they can’t figure out, immediately, what your site is about. Tell them clearly.

5. Do not “auto play” your favorite tune. If you really do need music, put “mute” and “off” buttons in plain sight.

6. Everybody speed-reads on the Web. Use short sentences, headlines, bullet points and lists to assist readers in “finding and filtering” your site’s content.

7. Forget fancy fonts, six different typefaces or eensy-teensy 5-point type. Don’t make visitors use the zoom control (which many don’t even know about).

8. Limit the Flash animations and video clips. Pages take longer to load, and overuse can irritate people.

9. Don’t go crazy with the color scheme. Super bright or very dark colors take some skill to use correctly, so stay in the “muted middle.”

10. This is your company’s “virtual face,” so no spelling or grammatical errors are allowed. If you’re not the best writer or editor, get professional help.

Above all, don’t let the Web work worry you. Just keep your cool, do some research, look at what good sites do (and don’t do) and do your best. CRE is here to help businesses, with everything from comprehensive office equipment rentals to high-powered workstations for exacting work in science, IT, the visual arts and audio engineering—as well as your bookkeeping and e-mail, of course.

Whatever you need, from laptop to computers (including Mac Pro rentals), our expert Account Executives are here for you. You can call us, send an e-mail or fill out our Quick Rental Quote form online, and the solution is on its way.

CRE Rentals – Tech Product Update, Part 2 of 2

November 5th, 2009

Part 1 of this two-part update appeared Tuesday, November 3rd.

As we discussed in Part 1, the pace of technological advancement is positively dizzying. How can anyone possibly keep up on all of this? Well, the folks that do—like the folks at Web sites from AnandTech to ZDNet (yes, A to Z)—pore over every announcement from thousands of manufacturers, then summarize their findings by category. That way, another “layer” of editors and helpers, like CRE, can get the info we need to keep the users of our desktop rentals and our interactive kiosks updated on just the “tech they need to know.” Without further ado, here’s more news from the leading edge of technology.

HD video in the pocket

JVC GC-FM1 Picsio JVC’s latest pocket camcorder, the GC-FM1 Picsio, has four video and camera modes. You can record 1440 x 1080p video at 30fps (that’s HD, folks) and take 3264 x 2448 still images. Video is saved in MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format to SD/SDHC memory cards up to 32 GB in size. Image stabilization minimizes camera shake even when using the 4X digital zoom, and high-end features include CMOS sensor and HDMI connectivity (currently the top digital transfer standard). In the hands of the kinds of pros that CRE knows, the video is good enough to import to Final Cut Pro for editing with a CRE G5 with Kona Card rental. Smaller can be better, too.

New LCD monitor

Acer Corporation has a new LCD monitor, the S243HL. The company claims this latest model is the first to have a contrast ratio of 8,000,000:1, with full HD resolution of 1920×1080. The slimmest 24-inch widescreen display on the market, it is under 15 millimeters thick, has an integrated speaker and offers energy-saving, white LED backlight. CRE has great LCD monitor rentals already, and is committed to the technology for its environmentally friendly ways. Compared to traditional monitors, says Acer, the S243HL can reduce power consumption up to 63%.

Wearable display

In the “wearable monitor” market, Vizix is set to release its latest video eyewear, the Wrap 310. The new unit features a widescreen display with 428×240 screen resolution, equivalent to viewing a 55-inch screen from about 10 feet away, and runs six hours on two AA batteries. Some of the professionals currently using CRE plasma rentals and other big-screen displays for exacting, detailed work in video, post-production and design work may want to keep an eye (or both eyes) on this developing monitor technology. Even today, this unit supports every 3D video format and connects to portable DVD players, desktop computers, laptops, Blu-ray players, iPhones and iPods. Companies like Vizix claim that, within several years, most highly magnified, detailed visual editing will be done on these kinds of wearable displays.

Need answers for your own technological challenges? Contact one of our experienced Account Executives—by phone or e-mail from our Contact Page—or fill out our Quick Rental Quote for a swift reply. We’re here to answer questions, offer solutions and reduce your crunch-time stress, and we’re good at it. Let us know how we can help you today.

CRE Rentals – Tech Product Update, Part 1 of 2

November 3rd, 2009

The pace of technological change is not only relentless, it’s breathtaking. Every day, new kinds of devices make work (and play) less time-consuming and therefore less costly. It’s too much for the average person to stay abreast of, so CRE Rentals brings you monthly updates from every corner of the Tech Universe. Whatever kind of technology you’re using for video, post-production, event planning, conferences, meetings or just plain office work, CRE has you covered when you’re in a crunch. From advanced Audience Response System rentals for meetings and marketing focus groups, to a dozen wifi-enabled Tablet PC rentals to keep your conference staff connected, we’re here with solutions.

Pro specs at a consumer price

Lumix Camera Panasonic’s newest, most compact “Micro Four Thirds” camera is the Lumix GF1, which has 12-megapixel resolution, a 3-inch LCD viewscreen and integrated flash. Professional photographers and filmmakers, many of whom have MacPro rentals, know that the “Micro Four Thirds” standard is an impressive extension to the “Four Thirds” standard that Leica, Olympus, Panasonic and other makers developed for their pro-level digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras. The GF1 stores images on SD/SDHC cards, has a dust cleaning feature, boasts optical image stabilization and still comes in 35% smaller and 26% lighter than its predecessor, the G1.

Smartphone for video pros?

Philips is set to debut its latest Google Android smartphone, the V808. It is the firm’s second Android-powered unit and has a bright, detailed 3.2 inch touchscreen display, support for microSD storage cards up to 8GB and a full-featured 3.2 megapixel camera. Video post-production pros that use AJA Io HD rentals from CRE can now get up-to-the-minute samples of projects sent to their phones, as the device offers both “widget” support and an audio/video multimedia player. The V808’s 1000 mAh battery should give several hours of service at full-on use, and its GSM/GPRS/EDGE connectivity will interface every which way.

MacBooks get a boost

Apple just upgraded its MacBook with more powerful components, with CPU speed upped from 2.13 to 2.26GHz and the hard drive from 160 to 250GB. The 2GB of DDR2 RAM was replaced by the latest memory module technology, the faster DDR3 memory. Cosmetic changes include the new rubber bottom, the Apple-exclusive multitouch trackpad (made of glass), a seven-hour built-in battery and LED backlighting for its 13.3-inch display. As CRE integrates newer models into its MacBook and MacBook Pro rental inventory, users will find a unibody polycarbonate enclosure in the former and an aluminum one in the latter.

If you have questions about how the new technologies can help you, call one of our expert Account Executives today, toll free, at (877) 266-7725. You can also use our Contact Page or Quick Rental Quote web form for immediate assistance. We’re here to offer first-rate service and support, and get you the solutions that you decide you need.

Watch for Part 2 of the CRE Tech Product Update, set to appear on Wednesday, November 4th.