The Force Field
A podcast for and about IT Service Providers including computer businesses, field service technicians, solution providers, VARs, independent contractors, resellers and other IT professionals.

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Syndication

This week we talk to an insurance professional and discuss the need and importance of insuring your IT business.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10

Intro 1:20
Billboard 1:05

News and Comment segment 2:44
Cisco unveiled the new Nexus 7000 series switch today. Designed for data centers, the switch is the first of a new series of data center class switching products called the Cisco Nexus family.
Sam’s Club, the wholesale company owned by big-box giant Wal-Mart, launched Sam’s Club Online Services now offers a bundle of online services including design, marketing and website hosting.
Microsoft issued a security bulletin January 8 advising users of an important TCP/IP vulnerability in Windows which allows an attacker to send malicious packets and effectively take control of a compromised system. Last Friday the company updated the bulletin to include Windows Home Server and change the exploit from important to critical.


Commercial Break 1:01

Sponsored by PC-Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.

Intro to Interview 2:08

When starting a IT business one of the many costs to consider is insurance. Whether you have a home office or a retail store front, you will have liabilities and assets, and they will need to be insured.

There is one insurance company that specializes in covering the computer professional. The company is called TechInsurance and its President, Jim Cochran, focuses specifically on the IT industry to help techs find the coverage they need.

This week we are going to talk to Jim, learn about the different types of insurance available and find out how much insurance we really need or if we really need it at all.

Jim Cochran Interview 25:19

Wrap up and Close :46

©2008 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

Direct download: The_Force_Field_14.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:23pm EDT

This week we talk with Jeremy Larson and learn how you can manage your calls and techs in the field by using the new web based work order system called TechDispatch.

TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10

Intro 1:24
Billboard :59

News and Comment segment 8:18
The Consumer Electronics Show was held in Las Vegas last week. The Force Field provided video coverage of CES to the public and members of The Force Field from January 7 through the 11. High Definition Video coverage provided by The TechPodcast Network, Geek News Central and Slashdot Review was featured on TheForceField.net throughout the event.The videos were hosted by Todd Cochrane of Geek News Central and Andy McCaskey of Slashdot Review. They were accompanied by a camera crew to provide daily reports from the floor of CES. Gizmodo, a web site dedicated to the news and reviews of tech gadgets, pulled a prank at CES last week that got a member of their video crew tossed from the show.
The CaffiNation PodCast, a show about Caffeine Culture & Technology News hosted by Paul Muller, will reach two milestones this month. It will be both the 2 year anniversary and the 200th episode of CaffiNation. To celebrate, Paul will conduct a contest for listeners of his podcast. Bill Gates delivered what may be his last keynote at the opening of CES 2008 last week. During his keynote, Gates claimed that since the initial launch of Microsoft Windows Vista last year, over one hundred million Vista licenses were sold and one hundred million Vista users were surfing the web. On the surface that seems like a huge number and it is, but in a world with an estimated one billion PCs its relevance is not as impressive as he would have us believe. It may also not be accurate.

Ricks Tips 2:54

Using an eyeshadow applicator as a tool.

Commercial Break 1:01

Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.



Intro to Interview 1:37

Recently Jeremy Larson launched a web based application to manage work orders for one of the national contractors he services. Others became interested in using his system and on January 15, 2008 he expanded it to allow Providers everywhere to dispatch work to their techs in the field.

This week we are going to talk to Jeremy and learn about his system, find out how it works and how you can manage your calls and techs in the field by using the new web based work order system called TechDispatch.

Jeremy Larson Interview 11:33

Wrap up and Close :46

©2008 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

Direct download: The_Force_Field_13.mp3
Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:22pm EDT

This week we talk with Shane Bell and learn how he created a new services directory called wefixyou.com overnight, how he plans to profit from it and how you can profit from it too by using it to market your business by using the new dot com called We Fix You.

Techpodcast Promo Tag :10

Intro 2:03

News and Comment segment 3:58

Geek News Central hosted the first 24 hour podcast marathon in December to raise money for the One Laptop Per Child program. The Force Field was invited to participate and I signed on as a guest for half an hour from 10:30 PM to 11 PM Eastern. The entire 24 hour podcast marathon was released in segments beginning last week. You can download the segments at www.24hrpodcast.com. The Force Field is discussed in segment 16. Last week we welcomed a new editor to The Force Field.net. On his first day as an editor I wanted to give him a quick tutorial on some of the powerful publishing features on The Force Field web site. So we set up a session with GoToMeeting. Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts . Microsoft issued a warning last week advising users of a bug in Microsoft Windows Home Server that corrupts files used by certain applications. The flaw causes file corruption when they are loaded into the applications for editing and saved to the server. For more information reference Microsoft KB article 946676. Interestingly, they did not advise users against storing their files on Microsoft Windows Home Server.

Commercial Break 1:01
Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.

Intro to Interview 2:05

My favorite discussions are those with IT Professionals who innovate, push the envelope and do something different with the technology and their business because can be an inspiration to others to examine their own businesses and their potential to innovate as well.

This week we are going to talk to Shane Bell and learn how he created a new services directory called wefixyou.com overnight, how he plans to profit from it and how you can profit from it too by using it to market your business by using the new dot com called We Fix You.

Shane Bell Interview 21:13

Wrap up and Close :46

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:20pm EDT

This week we talk with four techs and ask what tool they use the most and why they depend on that tool to get the job done.

Techpodcast Promo Tag :10

Intro 3:51

News and Comment segment 3:53
The Force Field will be part of the first 24 hour podcast hosted by Geek News Central this week to raise money for charity. On December 21st at 6 AM Hawaiian Standard Time, Todd Cochrane, the host of the Geek News Central podcast, will start a live and interactive event that will last 24 hours. The event will raise money for the One Laptop Per Child program. Beginning December 21, 2007 Todd Cochrane will stream live from his Hawaii based Studio on www.Ustream.TV and will have interactive talk on www.TalkShoe.com. Rick Savoia, host of The Force Field podcast, is scheduled on as a guest from 10:30 to 11:00 PM Eastern. One of my favorite tools to communicate with the administrators of TheForceField.Net is GoToMeeting. Try GotoMeeting free for 30 days! For this special offer, visit www.gotomeeting.com/techpodcasts . Microsoft announced it would release a Release Candidate for Windows XP Service Pack 3 for download to the public on its web site December 18. Microsoft indicated that Service Pack 3 will be the last for Windows XP.

Commercial Break 1:01
Sponsored by PC Doctor Service Center 6. 1-866-BUY PCDR. Mention The Force Field podcast for $49 discount. Offer good until January 31, 2008.

Intro to Calls 1:27
This week we are going to poll the Providers and find out what tools they use and rely on the most to get the job done. We’ll discuss their preferences and why they depend on that tool to complete the job to their customer’s and their own satisfaction.

Renee Call 3:11

Chris Call 2:28

Kapi Call 1:33

Todd Call 8:53

Wrap up and Close :46

©2007 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.

Category:podcasts -- posted at: 5:16pm EDT