IT workers had a big year in 2009, what with the economy going south, virtual schools seeing a boom, and internet marketing changing character completely. Staying on top of all that is new and emerging in technology can definitely be hard work these days, so we have compiled five freebies for 2010: tips you can use and abuse as you like. No charge!
My first tip? Watch out for HDMI cables. No, they’re not coming to get you. It’s just that if you bought one this year, chances are you paid too much! These little suckers can cost you $30 to $40 if you aren’t careful, and those charges add up when you need one to connect your HDTV to the receiver, one for your Blu-ray player, and so on. So troll online for cables like these. You can get brand new ones for a fraction of what you’ll find at your local electronics big-box store, so don’t get cheated!
The second tip is a money saver as well. Ever notice how when you buy something online and you check out, there is always that box for a coupon code? Take a minute to go to another window or tab and google for a coupon. You are very likely to find one, so it is worth the extra few minutes’ effort. You could end up with free shipping or other savings.
Third: take a tip from travelers and learn to negotiate. We so often see prices as set in stone—“take it or leave it.” But seldom is this the case. Today’s marketplace is competitive. If you tell a service provider that you are considering canceling, they may offer you a lower rate. Or you may simply be able to negotiate one. If the representative on the phone won’t do it, talk to a supervisor, because one thing is guaranteed: no one can afford to lose customers these days. No one!
The fourth tips is especially for IT professionals and it is to get side-by-side monitors. This way you can have Outlook and Firefox running simultaneously. This is incredibly beneficial for your work in many many respects. So many IT professionals have heard this advice, year after year, but refrained from spending the money. Spend it! It’ll save you a lot of time and hassles and, more importantly, make you look like a genius to all those folks out there who depend on your insight.
Finally: a lot of technology workers these days wear a Bluetooth headset. Sure, it may be a robotronic fashion statement, but it can be simply essential when it comes to multi-tasking. But be careful when buying one! You want to check out, first of all, sound quality both for incoming and outgoing audio and see if you can find one that blocks ambient noise like wind and ambient noise. You also want to check out your Bluetooth headset for comfort. So many folks have invested in these gadgets only to throw them down and refuse to use them after all. Comfort is essential with these things!
Well, that about wraps it up. No, these five little tips probably won’t make you a genius overnight or a millionaire by morning, but every little bit helps when it comes to making 2010 the best year it can be. Happy New Year!
