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Dell has added the Latitude 13 to its business notebook lineup, with a design that is identical in virtually every respect to the Vostro V13 introduced in December. The “Latitude” brand name is used by Dell to indicate that the notebook includes features for management by large companies. Here’s the description of the added features distinguishing the Latitude 13 from the Vostro V13:

The Latitude 13 adds features such as remote manageability and  desktop virtualization through certification from Citrix and VMware to deliver a full PC experience to users in non-standard computing environments such as

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When you tell me about certain kinds of computer problems, I sometimes begin weeping uncontrollably, or excuse myself from the room for a few minutes while I gobble down powerful antidepressants. Let me give you another example to show you why.

A law firm wrestled with a new Dell Optiplex 760 for months, starting almost immediately after it was purchased – erratic lockups with no obvious cause and no pattern.

At some point the computer refused to restart, with a message on a black screen that there was no boot device to be found. It wasn’t consistent – […] continued

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Once my wife saw my Dell Vostro V13, it didn’t take long before we had two Vostro V13s.

The Vostro V13 is an ultrathin notebook with a 13” 1366×768 nonglare screen and a full-size keyboard. It’s two-thirds of an inch tall with the lid closed and weighs just 3.5 pounds. The aluminum body oozes style and elegance, with curved edges and a polished exterior that is surprisingly solid for such a light machine. It has the same appeal as some very expensive ultrathin laptops, the Dell Adamo and Sony Vaio Z, but sells for far […] continued

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There is more frustration with passwords than almost any other part of our interactions with computers. Part of the frustration is the difficulty of remembering them, of course, but there is also no consistency to help you understand when a password is required or what it’s for.

Passwords will be a fact of life for a long time. They are crucial to our security as we move forward into an era when our data is stored online or is accessible online. Frequently it is only a password that protects you against identify theft or financial loss. I’ve written […] continued

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Happy holidays from all of us at Bruceb Consulting! All my best wishes for an abundance of happiness and good cheer!

I’m looking forward to working with you in 2010 in a rapidly changing world of technology. These are the trends that will shape next year for small businesses:

• WINDOWS 7  Many of you will be getting new computers to replace the aging, slow Windows XP systems under your desk, and finding that Windows 7 is quite delightful for work and play.
• MULTIPLE COMPUTERS  You’ll be more likely to have several computers as prices drop

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Keeping your computer up to date is the only way to be secure.

If your home or office computer needs housekeeping, I’m standing by to clean things up. I’ll install security updates, remove unnecessary programs, and put on powerful, free antivirus software from Microsoft – all for a fixed price, no matter how long it takes. Frequently it’s like a shot in the arm for a slow computer, speeding things up so you can live with it for a while longer.

A PC Tuneup is a lovely gift for parents or friends who could use some help from […] continued

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Dell’s line of Optiplex desktops was updated a few days ago. It continues to be my first choice for small businesses. Like all the manufacturers, Dell changes its consumer lineup frequently – there are a dizzying array of Inspiron, Studio, and Studio XPS models, with constantly changing colors and specs. The Optiplex line has looked more or less the same for years; as much as possible the parts and configuration are standardized across the Optiplex line. They’re sturdy and Dell ships them with virtually no useless extra programs.

The latest models are the Optiplex 380 […] continued

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It won’t be long until netbooks take their place as something you’ll be considering as your second or third computer.

On January 10, Intel will formally unveil the next-generation processor that will allow netbooks to function at a reasonable speed. Asus, Acer, Lenovo, MSI, and others will have netbooks using the “Atom N450” processor available immediately. Dell and HP will presumably follow suit. Early reports suggest that prices will be similar to netbook prices now.

Netbooks with the new processor will run simple programs on Windows 7 at full speed, or close to it. They will be fast enough […] continued

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Now that we’ve all had our fun looking at ultraexpensive ultrathin notebooks, Dell announced one this week that looks much more reasonable. The Dell Vostro V13 has all the characteristics we want from an ultrathin notebook – a 13” screen and a full-size keyboard, in a package that’s two-thirds of an inch thick and weighs three and a half pounds. It can be configured with a Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4Gb of RAM, a 7200RPM hard drive. It’s beautiful.

Prices for the Dell Vostro V13 start at $650 for Windows 7 and a Core […] continued

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Let me show you some of the ultrathin notebooks that have caught my eye. There are more on the market and new ones are appearing every week, so this isn’t an endorsement, just an idea of what’s out there.

There are a few Dell models that look svelte and sleek. Click here to go to the Dell Small Business web site, then let your mouse hover over “Laptops & Netbooks.” You’ll be able to pick the specific models I mention from the menu that drops down.

Start with the Dell Studio 14z. It’s relatively inexpensive; it’s thin […] continued

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