What is worse than phone or email tag to schedule a simple phone call or meeting? The back and forth and back and forth, just when you think you got it, someone sneaks in and schedules the time before you get the confirmation. Sometimes it takes longer to schedule the face to face than the actually call or meeting.

So what is a time crunched entrepreneur to do? Get an on-line scheduling tool and leave the tag games to the playground.

This article will compare two great tools that will automatically schedule meetings on your current calendar, Tungle.me and TimeDriver. com.

Comparing the Features
Tungle.me

Free for basic / Premium features cost

1 calendar

A unique link to each invitation sent from you

Synchs with Outlook, Google Calendar, iPhone App, Apple iCal and Entourage

A lot of control over message content that is sent, how it looks, etc, may add to the ease of scheduling.

Confirmation of the invitation schedules appointment on calendar (2 step process)

Dashboard interface on website account to edit details of scheduled meetings, changes trigger updated emails to invitees

Multiple people can be invited with multiple proposed times

No download required for invitee

Can share details of calendar (Actual calendar entries) or just availability.

Total control of availability shown.

Meeting requests initiated by a client have an extra confirmation email on their end

Single address http: //tungle.me/yourname

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Xing links on your profile page that the client sees.

Tungle.me widget to share availability on your website.

Activity Feed Log to view history

Timedriver.com

$29.99/year after free trial period

Unlimited Calendars (Schedule Books)

No invitation to specific times, they see availability and pick a time convenient for them.

Synchs with Outlook and Google Calendar

Customized messages but a one time setup of the generic message. Simplified invitation. Simply embed or send the link.

The client picking the time and confirming it automatically schedules to your calendar. (1 step process)

Dashboard interface on website account to edit details of scheduled meetings, changes trigger updated emails to invitees

Single person invited to schedule

No download required for invitee

Only shows availability

Total control of availability shown

Meetings initiated by a client are automatically scheduled

Multiple addresses according to your Schedule Book address. Not easily given out as they are a “code”.

• There are pros and cons with both programs.

Tungle.me is very robust and has given a lot of control to the user, allows multiple invitees and put safeguards to protect you from spammers. Some of the features add a few more steps into the scheduling process and in some cases complicates it a little. If your client’s are not technically savvy this may have a longer learning curve and they may miss some steps. All in all Tungle.me is a very good tool for scheduling.

TimeDriver.com is a very simplified version of a scheduler:

• Send the link via email or embed in other materials.
• Client pick the time from the availability.
• It’s scheduled on your calendar.
• Reminders are sent out.

Having the ability to separate calendars and tasks is a big plus for TimeDriver. Limiting interfacing with only Outlook or Google Calendar may make the decision for you.

Either of these programs will simplify the scheduling of your meetings and phone calls.

Before you decide which program to use, try both of the Free versions and see how you like them. Check out the interfaces and controls, schedule a few fake meetings and see how it works from both sides of the scheduling process. They are different enough, you will probably clearly make a decision on one or the other based on what you want to experience or what you want your client to experience.

Either way you can’t go wrong and it will give you back a little bit of your precious time…to go play real tag.

Susan Snyder
Founder/CEO
pcstraining.net

Go to http://www.pcstraining.net and look at our current schedule of training. Find one that’s right for you and bring a friend!

Microsoft released a new version in its line of Windows operating systems recently. This version of Windows is available for all types of personal computers and laptops as well. It is called Windows Seven. Windows Seven, like its recent predecessors comes in a home version, actually called Windows Seven Home Premium, and a Professional version. There is also a Windows Seven Ultimate and a 64 bit version.

Earlier versions of Windows had a lot of features to provide to the user, this new Windows version expands the user’s options even further. The presentations that were given by the Microsoft people in the year 2008 were more focused on the redesigned shell of Windows and the new taskbar it featured. They were going to call the taskbar the “superbar,” but this name didn’t really stick. Still, the new taskbar is bigger, but for all intents and purposes functions the same as the old one. It just looks, in the eyes of some, better.

The Need for Speed

More importantly, Windows Seven has made improvements to its functionality. Whereas most upgrades in the past have put the emphasis on power, this upgrade includes some streamlining of the operating system since the computing world has recently turned its focus to speed.

On the downside, Windows Seven does not include Outlook Express or Windows Email. It is also without Photo Gallery and Movie Maker. To have these options installed, you will have to download these programs from Microsoft Windows Live Suite. This download is actually free and includes other optional programs such as Live Messenger, which can be used instead of MSN Messenger and a writer tool which will help you keep your own blog.

The Real Difference

When Windows Seven was introduced to the market, people were curious to know what was the goal of Microsoft to launch such an operating system, which was devoid of new features and making those things we have come to expect, optional. To this question, Bill Gates had commented in an interview, that this version was supposed to be more user centric. It was said this version is supposed to focus primarily on the improvements in performance.

Windows Tracers

To this end, there were new tracing tools added to this system. These tracers measure the performance of the various areas of the operating system, so that some inefficient paths in the code can be done away with and performance regressions on the system can be avoided. With the help of these tracers, the OS can be monitored by Microsoft on an ongoing basis.

Does this sound scary to you? It does concern me somewhat, but truly, we never actually own a Windows operating system, we just pay Microsoft to use one copy on one computer. Unless, of course, we buy a more expensive license.

Still, this is the way of the world, at least, the Microsoft world. So, if we want to use Windows operating systems we have to make some concessions. I only hope these concessions stop short of giving up our privacy.

Other than this one sore spot, I must say, Windows Seven is an improvement that was needed in the rapidly changing world of computers.

The author, Ed Lathrop is a comp TIA A+/Network+ certified computer technician familiar with the operation, repair and upkeep of today’s PC’s. His site, Compare Registry Cleaners, rates the latest registry programs and tells which registry cleaners work and which ones might actually be dangerous to your computer. Also, Why Computer is Slow? gives you step by step instructions on how to get your computer’s speed back!

If you work for an industry, which essentially deals with the EDI implementation or needs heavy EDI transactions on a daily basis, chances are high that you would be given EDI on-job training, on a number of occasions. Basically, all those who deal with the EDI domain must know to harness the power of the technology, and need some kind of training to help the cause.

As a result, despite being proficient with the present aspect of the technology, you might be required to work with a different environment, and need to under EDI on-job training, on account of the same.

Moreover, you should rather welcome such EDI on-job training opportunities because, these training sessions would enhance your expertise in the domain, and take your career to the next level, and help you in even becoming a full time EDI professional.

Many individuals have started their career from EDI consulting companies, undergone various EDI on-job training programs and eventually established themselves as distinct individuals who are totally well versed with the technology, and increased their income level by multiple folds in due course.

As an employer, you must make sure that your staff has adequate knowledge in the field, and before starting any new EDI operation, you must provide sufficient relevant EDI on-job training, which would help in increasing the productivity. But at the same time, you must also make sure that the money spent on such EDI on job training simply doesn’t go wasted, and you don’t really make any profit in your business from the same!

As a matter of fact, many a times, it has been noticed that certain organizations realize the importance and necessity of EDI in their business and send their staff to such EDI on the job training work-shops so as to incorporate EDI technology into the business. A system integration analyst may be an important person who requires sufficient amount of EDI on job training, because he/she is always crucial in improving the performance of your business as a whole, and also maintaining the entire system in the lowest possible budget too!

Although there are various organizations who may provide EDI services at a decent price, it is always a better idea to educate your staff, so that you may get in-house EDI services, which would be much more reliable as well as cost-effective in the longer, nonetheless you would be faced with a considerable initial expense of conducting the EDI on-job training program.If you work for an industry, which essentially deals with the EDI implementation or needs heavy EDI transactions on a daily basis, chances are high that you would be given EDI on-job training, on a number of occasions. Basically, all those who deal with the EDI domain must know to harness the power of the technology, and need some kind of training to help the cause.

As a result, despite being proficient with the present aspect of the technology, you might be required to work with a different environment, and need to under EDI on-job training, on account of the same.

Moreover, you should rather welcome such EDI on-job training opportunities because, these training sessions would enhance your expertise in the domain, and take your career to the next level, and help you in even becoming a full time EDI professional.

Many individuals have started their career from EDI consulting companies, undergone various EDI on job training programs and eventually established themselves as distinct individuals who are totally well versed with the technology, and increased their income level by multiple folds in due course.

As an employer, you must make sure that your staff has adequate knowledge in the field, and before starting any new EDI operation, you must provide sufficient relevant EDI on-job training, which would help in increasing the productivity. But at the same time, you must also make sure that the money spent on such EDI on job training simply doesn’t go wasted, and you don’t really make any profit in your business from the same!

As a matter of fact, many a times, it has been noticed that certain organizations realize the importance and necessity of EDI in their business and send their staff to such EDI on the job training work-shops so as to incorporate EDI technology into the business. A system integration analyst may be an important person who requires sufficient amount of EDI on job training, because he/she is always crucial in improving the performance of your business as a whole, and also maintaining the entire system in the lowest possible budget too!

Although there are various organizations who may provide EDI services at a decent price, it is always a better idea to educate your staff, so that you may get in-house EDI services, which would be much more reliable as well as cost-effective in the longer, nonetheless you would be faced with a considerable initial expense of conducting the EDI on-job training program.

S Singh
http://www.channelintegration.com
One stop shop for EDI, B2B, CRM integration and training.