Transition to Cloud Computing

ksigmtsu

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So I did lots and lots of research on this, and finally made the jump to basically a completely cloud enabled computing setup. For those looking for cheap/easy solutions that can be combined in order to basically have the freedom to use any PC or phone with internet access to run basic office software, here is a list of services I decided to utilize that were pretty nice when I cobbled them all together.

Dropbox.com - this software will allow you to set up a directory on your PC or Mac that is automatically synced with a server, accessible from your cellphone, with 2 gigs of free storage. Best way I see to set this thing up, I put all documents I need access to in it, then shortcut the directories back where the files used to be. Very seamless way to transition document storage to cloud. Free.

google.com/a/ - google applications - This includes google docs, google mail, and other stuff that I'm not using so much. Google docs is a solution to microsoft office that is not quite as powerful, yet, but allows word processing, spreadsheets, presentations to all be created using the web interface. The thing that they can do that is more powerful is that it allows you to share and collaborate on projects. Mail is a upgraded toolset on gmail that you can sync with pop3 servers, have download from multiple servers, and sync all into one file, it also has some innovative solutions for how mail replies are sorted. Calendar is sort of an alternative to outlooks calendar, but is missing the task feature functionality (more on that in a second) All can be synced on your smartphone. Most available for free, pay version is 50$ per year to remove ads and enable extra features.

toodledo.com - toodledo is a todo list task management website, free to signup, but can also be integrated into google calendar, and synced across with a smartphone. Free version is fine for what I'm doing with it. (I missed the task management on outlook and the google calendar task management didn't sync)

pocket informant - smartphone application that can be integrated with toodledo and google calendar that prioritizes tasks, does appointment reminders, and replaces the trash calendar that comes on an iphone. Does cost 12 bucks. Worth the 12 bucks.

1password - password storage application, can be synced in dropbox, stores all website passwords, automatically enters passwords, creates passwords, can store agent numbers. Phone app 9 bucks, desktop app key is 29 if I remember right.

Still looking for a cloud bookkeeping software that will integrate with everything else or do something similar to the old quickbooks I'm using for cheap or free, and something to do the job of dreamweaver and photoshop. Haven't found that yet, pretty sure they don't exist yet.
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And looking like quickbooks online might work for bookkeeping, but its 25 bucks a month. Good side is that it will integrate with my bank system so most all the entry is automated.
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For those keeping track, you're looking at a total setup cost of 100$, plus 25 bucks monthly for bookkeeping, plus 50 a year recurring for google apps.

In the larger scheme of things, the software cost other than quickbooks is cheaper with cloud apps than a single user copy of microsoft office.
 
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I like SugarCRM and vTiger for keeping track of clients, cases, issues, etc. Both free, but each takes a little bit of tech savvy to install on your web server.

For newsletter mailings I use phpList. This also takes a wee bit of tech savvy to install on your web server.

And by "tech savvy" I really mean the ability to follow directions and maybe know how to use an FTP program as well as know how to set up a mySQL database. Most web hosts have a control panel for you to set up a database and they also have an upload facility so you don't even need an FTP program.

Some webhosts will install these programs for you for a small fee.

For me "the cloud" is the only way I do biz. I have rock-solid interent in my area. If you don't you probably want to stick to the install, crash, re-install, update, crash, re-install, re-boot desktop paradigm.
 
I like an Excel spreadsheet, One Note, Outlook with Xobni. Not sexy but cheap and works just fine for me.;)
 
I like SugarCRM and vTiger for keeping track of clients, cases, issues, etc. Both free, but each takes a little bit of tech savvy to install on your web server.

For newsletter mailings I use phpList. This also takes a wee bit of tech savvy to install on your web server.

And by "tech savvy" I really mean the ability to follow directions and maybe know how to use an FTP program as well as know how to set up a mySQL database. Most web hosts have a control panel for you to set up a database and they also have an upload facility so you don't even need an FTP program.

Some webhosts will install these programs for you for a small fee.

For me "the cloud" is the only way I do biz. I have rock-solid interent in my area. If you don't you probably want to stick to the install, crash, re-install, update, crash, re-install, re-boot desktop paradigm.


just got a domain hosted by hostgator, 1 click install for sugar....my own crm...sure its the community version...but its mine :)
 
And looking like quickbooks online might work for bookkeeping, but its 25 bucks a month. Good side is that it will integrate with my bank system so most all the entry is automated.

Be careful of this conversion. It's easy to upload your current qb file. But if you ever want to revert , you cannot download the file. You will have to recreate it.
 
just got a domain hosted by hostgator, 1 click install for sugar....my own crm...sure its the community version...but its mine :)

I've been using the free Sugar community version for just over 4 years now. It is not perfect but I find that if software does 90% of what I need well... sometimes "good enough" is "good enough."

Some of you might like the FreeCRM system. You don't have to host it... it comes already hosted! (The free version has some ads, but the paid version is $15 and has no ads and some additional features.)

I liked the Radius product but thought that their pricing was rather high vs. the value (to me.) Of course YMMV. The guys (gals?) who run Radius are very nice and highly responsive. If I had a multi-person agency it would be my weapon of choice.

A number of hosts now have a one-click install of Sugar as well as Wordpress. But even if they don't, both are pretty simple to get going so long as you can get a database up and running... and many hosts have a control panel that let you do it with a click or two.

Unlike others, I still use the desktop mode for word processing and spreadsheets... mainly because I use the free OpenOffice.org system. However, I'm told the Google apps are quite good and sometime this year I will try them out. Can you create a PDF from the Google word processor?
 
For me "the cloud" is the only way I do biz. I have rock-solid interent in my area. If you don't you probably want to stick to the install, crash, re-install, update, crash, re-install, re-boot desktop paradigm.

I may disagree with Al3 in most things but the above sentence is really true particulary of Microsoft Software which I use.
 
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