Tips for Buying Tech in a Recession

In difficult financial times, what makes more sense for cash-strapped companies: buying IT equipment outright or leasing and spreading the payments out over time? Many small businesses lease from providers such as Office Depot, Dell or CDW in order to save some cash and still keep their technology fresh.

Still, not everyone sees this economic climate as conducive to leasing. According to Ed Lukens, a spokesman for Micro Center, an online computer and electronics store, the company's leasing program is a very small part of its business

"The credit crisis means banks are unwilling to lend money to leasing firms," Lukens explained. He said that with the cost of borrowing going up, leasing firms have more stringent requirements on credit scores. "With fewer customers qualifying for leases, leasing will decline," he predicted. Also, less-advantageous leasing terms mean that some credit-worthy customers will buy products outright instead of leasing.

Vendors such as HP see things differently. "Leasing is always a sound approach for small businesses to manage their IT infrastructure, regardless of whether the economic picture is sunny or gloomy," said Michael P. Cuno, a spokesman for HP Financial Services. HP provides a helpful summary of how leasing works on its Web site.

At CDW, Gerry Singson, small office segment manager, acknowledged that credit is harder to come by of late. "We’re noticing that access to credit has become a challenge for many small businesses as the availability of traditional start-up sources such as SBA loans and home equity loans has tightened," he said.

However, Singson added that while they expect that the demand for credit will decrease due to a slowing economy, they also expect that "many small businesses will turn to commercial credit sources, including leases, to support their business needs."

Robert Dunlap, divisional merchandise manager for services at Office Depot agreed that it's a tough climate for securing traditional credit. "More people are looking at leasing as an option and a tax-deductible operating expense for businesses. It won't impact your ability to get credit," he said.

Customers can lease equipment they need for their business, Dunlap said, including computers, printers, routers, office furniture ‑ even paper and cartridges. He added that a typical lease term runs for 36 or 48 months.

Asset management, the ability to have the latest equipment and a desire to lower costs are the key reasons small businesses lease IT equipment, according to research by the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA).
Conserve Cash

According to HP, leasing is attractive because small companies lack the funding of their large competitors. "Most small and midsize companies have to manage their cash flow very, very carefully," said HP Financial Services' Cuno. "Few are flush with cash."

"Leasing is a countercyclical business strategy: As the economy goes down, leasing goes up," Pucciarelli said.

Dunlap said Office Depot rolled out its SmartWayLeasing program in Florida and Texas stores in November and will tkae it nationwide in the first quarter of 2009. Leasing provides another way for small businesses to acquire equipment when cash is tight, he said.

"If you have $5,000, you can buy three systems and lease nine," said Jennifer Davis, a spokeswoman for Dell. "A lot of people want to own their equipment outright, but it certainly is an advantage to them to keep their technology fresh and extend their dollars," Davis said.

IDC's Pucciarelli said that although the economic climate is uncertain for the next 24 to 36 months, he foresees an expansion of "point-of-sale leasing" for small businesses. "Leasing provides means for an alternate supply of capital without having to tap normal lines of commercial credit or revolving credit," Pucciarelli said.

Back at CDW, Singson talked specifics about year-end tax advantages. "The 2008 Economic Stimulus Act allows a one-time 50 percent special depreciation allowance (deduction) on products purchased before Jan. 1, 2009," he said. "The Stimulus Act also allows lease payments for technology solutions to be made on pre-tax rather than post-tax earnings."
Keep Your Tech Fresh

Experts say another advantage to leasing is the ability to refresh your technology on a regular basis.

"When companies think of their IT equipment acquisitions like a utility bill ‑ something they pay every month ‑ it puts them in a position where they can afford the best technology available," Lee Eberding, director of the small- and medium business segment for HP Financial Services, said in a statement. "Even better, your monthly payment may not change much because the price of most IT equipment is flat or declining."

Jennifer Davis at Dell agreed. "It helps small businesses keep technology fresh," she said. "At the end of your lease you can trade in your equipment for the latest and greatest technology."
Know the Terms

IDC's Pucciarelli says an essential step for a small business in securing an equipment lease is examining the exact terms and conditions. For instance, some companies let you purchase the equipment at the end of the lease for $1 or fair market value. (PC vendors such as Dell and HP offer both options, while Office Depot offers the option to buy at fair market value.)

"Small businesses need to have a understanding of how the vendor determines fair market values," Pucciarelli explained. "If the contract doesn't say, then that's not a good sign."

"The amount you pay for leasing is much lower when the fair market value is a purchase option," Pucciarelli added. "A lease with the option to buy for a dollar is basically a loan, paying the full price of the purchase."
Brian T. Horowitz is a freelance technology writer based in New York. He has written for publications such as Fast Company and USA Weekend, and writes a blog about innovation at InternetNews.com.

By Brian T. Horowitz

Akar Pohon Kayu JatiHuge Jati Teak Wood Root

(Indonesia Language)
Dimensi dari "Akar pohon kayu Jati".
Ukuran tinggi : 180 cm
Lebar bawah : 400cm x 450 cm
Dalam lubang seperti Goa, bisa dimasuki 6 orang. Tunggak ini sudah berusia 150 tahun jadi sudah seperti barangkuno. Ini foto diambil dari 2 sisi, bentuknya antik seperti diukir, tapi asli. Sangat langka dan besar. Mungkin tidak ada duanya. Hanya ada 1 buah. Dapat dipakai sebagai Ruangan bernuansa Natural (kafe, restoran, bilyar, meditasi, yoga), meningkatkan daya tarik (taman bermain, kebun binatang, taman), Ruangan Kecil diluar rumah, Pintu gerbang masuk utama, Kemah Pramuka, Sangkar, Patung, dan masih banyak lagi.


(English Language)
Dimension of "Huge Jati Teak Wood Root"
Height 180 cm ( 5.9 ft)
Width bottom : 400 cm x 450 cm (13 ft x 15.6 ft)
Inner Side has a huge hole (niche vaulting), 6 people can comes in. It's already 150 years old (antique museum piece). It's scarcely over and only 0ne pcs and comes from Jati Teak Wood (tropical forest wood). You can use it for Unique Natural Style Room (Cafe, Restaurant, billiard, meditation, yoga), Attractiveness (Kinder garten, Zoo, Garden, Park), Small external room, Main gate, Scout Tent, Aviary, Sculpture etc.

Please contact me in my email :
getwiselearn@gmail.com

thanks

qroqmiel






Blogger: kafelakilaki - Buat Posting

Efek Samping Bila Pake Transmisi Otomatis

Buat Pengen Tahu efek apa saja yang terjadi bilamana kita pake transmisi otomatis.

1.Kampas rem depan mobil akan lekas habis merupakan hal yang wajar. Pasalnya mobil menggunakan transmisi otomatis, sehingga kerja dari rem lebih berat, lantaran transmisi matik kurang memberikan efek engine brake, belum lagi ditambah bobot kendaraan yang cukup berat.

Engine brake : Putaran Mesin dipakai untuk mengerem kendaraan. (Kalau transmisi manual misalnya pada kondisi jalan menurun, gunakan gigi rendah.)

2. Ada baiknya rem tromol belakang diganti dengan rem cakram. Untuk mobil tertentu seperti Hyundai Trajet GLS bisa dilakukan dengan memesan solid disc brake belakang milik Trajet GLS terbaru di bengkel resmi Hyundai. Seangkan perkiraan biayanya sekitar Rp. 6 jutaan.

3. Usahakan penggantian OLI sama dengan Transmisi Manual (5000 - 10000 km). Saya anjurkan penggantian oli sekalian semuanya (sekitar 6 liter) + ganti filter sekalian. Jenis Oli harus dibedakan sesuai dengan jenis transmisi otomatiknya (oli Transmisi Otomatis CVT beda dengan oli transmisi Otomatis Konvensional)

4. Sempatkan mengecek kolong mobil bilamana diketahui ada rembesan dari paking (karet) plat penutup transmisi. Bisa juga rembesan dari sensor oli.

5. Transmisi otomatis memiliki propeler shaft lebih pendek dibanding transmisi Manual. Selain itu besarnya transmisinya lebih tambun/gendut dibanding transmisi manual.

6. Kalau anda ingin membersihkan kolong mobil, jangan memakai alat angkat berbetuk diagonal (huruf X) karena akan merusak transmisi otomatis (contoh suzuki apv otomatik), gunakan alat pengangkat segaris berbentuk I I (Keempat roda menjadi tumpuan).

Pendidikan Anak

Membuat Patuh tak Perlu dengan Kekerasan.

Untuk membuat anak menjadi patuh kepada orang tua tak perlu menggunakan kekerasan. Anak harus diajak berdialog dan kerja sama.

Demikian diungkapkan Ketua Umum Komisi Nasional Perlindungan Anak (Komnas PA) Seto Mulyadi di Jakarta, Jumat (28/12/2007). Menurut Seto, menggunakan kekerasan untuk mendidik anak adalah cara yang salah.

Ia mencontohkan, jika anak melakukan kesalahan, orangtua justru wajib bertanya dan membantu anak memperbaikinya. Namun, biasanya para orangtua justru menjewer telinga anak yang kemudian meningkat ke bentuk kekerasan lainnya.

Dari data Komnas PA, tahun 2007 ada 1520 kasus kekerasan terhadap anak, yaitu kekerasan fisik (346 kasus), seksual (532 kasus), psikis (642 kasus).

Survei oleh Badan Pusat Statistik dan Kementerian Negara Pemberdayaan Perempuan tahun 2006, menunjukkan ada 2,29 juta anak menjadi korban kekerasan. Dari jumlah itu, sebesar 51,9 persen kerena anak tidak patuh.

"Orangtua memang harus tegas dalam mendidik, tetapi tegas bukan berarti keras", kata Seto. Jika anak diperlakukan keras dan dipaksa menuruti semua perintah orangtua, anak akan sama halnya dengan robot.

Psikolog anak dan play therapist Maike Tedjasaputra mengatakan, cara mendidik anak dengan kekerasan sudah membudaya dan sulit dihentikan orangtua, kata Maike, orangtua harus belajar tak bersikap otoriter. Orangtua harus peka dan selalu berkomunikasi dengan anaknya. Sikap ini harus dilakukan orangtua saat anak berusia 9-12 tahun. "Pada usia itu sifat anak yang menonjol adalah pemberontak", ujarnya.

Dikutip dari Harian Kompas (A04) 29 Des 2007 Halaman 12.