Upcoming Meeting Notice

The Association of Service and Computer Dealers International (ASCDI) is a 30 year old, worldwide non-profit organization made up of companies who provide technology solutions, technical support or value added services to the business community.

Members and non-members are invited to learn how to grow your business, find new business opportunities, hear from industry representatives and enjoy some fabulous networking events at our conferences:

The following event will take place on the ROOFTOP looking over Wrigley Field.  We will eat, drink, and network while watching Chicago Cubs vs Milwaukee Brewers:

2011 USA SUMMER RECEPTION
June 15, 2011
Chicago, IL

2011 USA FALL RECEPTION
September 14, 2011
Boston, MA

2011 EUROPEAN FALL CONFERENCE
October 26 - 28, 2011
Hamburg, Germany

Click here for more information on ALL ASCDI MEETINGS, to view the agendas, lodging details, attendee lists and to REGISTER AT THE EARLY BIRD RATE.

ASCDI Inside
Cisco
Cloud
Disposal
HP
IBM
Printers
Storage

ASCDI Inside

ASCDI/NATD Japan Relief Fund
The Association of Service and Computers Dealers Charity Foundation and the North American Association of Telecommunications Dealers Charity Foundation are raising money to help in relief efforts in Japan.  The ASCDI and NATD have members throughout the world, including Japan.  We are in communication with our Japanese Members and with their help, will choose appropriate recipient(s) for the funds.

The ASCDI and NATD are calling upon our members, the members of the ASCDI and NATD Trading Networks (ATN & NTTN) and all technology resellers worldwide to join us in this effort.

We need to give a special “thanks” to KULJIT PARMAR from Knowledge Computers who has graciously agreed to match the first $5,000.00 in donations dollar for dollar.

We are accepting donations in any amount.  Just CLICK ON THE LINK TO SEND US YOUR DONATION: CLICK HERE TO DONATE TODAY TO THE ASCDI/NATD JAPAN RELIEF FUND

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends in Japan.

Thank you,

Joe Marion
ASCDI President
NATD Executive Director
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Cisco

Cisco and Living PlanIT announce alliance
Cisco and Living PlanIT announced a strategic alliance and the signing of a definitive framework agreement to develop new business models for city management, through the use of networking technology, to advance sustainable urban living. This collaboration between Cisco and Living PlanIT is based on a shared vision of revitalizing communities and accelerating innovation in urban development. Through this agreement, the companies intend that PlanIT Valley, near Paredes in Northern Portugal, will become Europe’s largest sustainable development, deploying Cisco Smart+Connected Communities solutions. Living PlanIT appointed Cisco as the master planner for information technology and communications design and architecture for PlanIT Valley; and the companies announced that they will explore integrating the Living PlanIT technology platform with Cisco’s networking technology. The two companies moved a step closer to establishing a technology innovation zone and a research and development center in PlanIT Valley in Paredes.
Visit www.cisco.com/go/smartconnectedcommunities and www.living-planit.com.
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Cloud

Samsung and Google introduce the world’s first Chromebook
Samsung Electronics America Inc. announced its stylish Series 5 Chromebook. The 12.1-inch Super Bright display is both anti-reflective and anti-glare for a consistently vibrant visual experience across a variety of light conditions, from outdoors to dimly lit environments. It weighs 3.3 lbs. and has a battery life of up to 8.5 hours, including five hours of video play for all-day use without the need to recharge. The Series 5 battery has a lifespan up to 1,000 cycles, three times longer than conventional batteries, which reduces the need for replacements. Google developed the Chrome operating system with three key factors in mind: speed, simplicity and security. The average out-of-the-box laptop starts up in 45 seconds. By contrast, the Series 5 starts up in less than ten seconds. For a secure experience, Chromebooks run the first consumer operating system designed from the ground up to defend against the ongoing threat of malware and viruses. They employ the principle of "defense in depth" to provide multiple layers of protection including sandboxing, data encryption and verified boot. The Chromebook has also reduced concerns about security and data loss by moving everything to the cloud. If the Chromebook is ever broken or lost, all of your files are saved online.
Visit www.samsung.com/business.



Juniper Networks unveils Junosphere Classroom
Juniper Networks announced Junosphere Classroom, a new cloud-based service designed to enable educational institutions, partners and customers to efficiently and cost-effectively educate networking students and professionals. Junosphere Classroom is based on Junosphere, a new cloud environment that enables the creation and modeling of virtual networks and elements running the industry-leading Junos operating system. Juniper Networks hosts Junosphere Classroom resources in data centers, designed using Juniper’s networking and security technologies, which are accessible to students via a secure Internet connection. “In Princeton University’s Network Systems Group, whether we are teaching students or researching next-generation network systems, we rely on networking labs to provide practical applications,” said Jennifer Rexford, Princeton University. “I am excited to see Juniper’s Junosphere Classroom product, because it allows research and education with commercial networking technology in an on-demand, virtual environment without the expense and complexity of physical network labs.”
Visit www.juniper.net.
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Disposal

U.S. Micro Corporation issues national alert for proper disposal of IT equipment
U.S. Micro Corporation, a pioneer in IT asset disposition (ITAD), issued a national alert underscoring the importance for organizations to properly dispose of IT equipment to prevent costly data breaches and reputation damage. While companies spend millions establishing security when acquiring equipment, an alarming number of enterprises are uninformed about sensitive information at risk on computers, copiers, printers, smart phones, etc. when disposing of assets. A single incident can cost a company millions in disaster recovery and liabilities. When establishing ITAD protocols, Jim Kegley, president and founder of U.S. Micro Corporation, recommends the following:
-- Establish a tracking system to account for assets recording the status of each unit as it moves through the process.
-- Never allow equipment still containing data to leave your site. Your ITAD vendor should provide verification that all data has been wiped prior to shipment.
-- Hire only bonded and insured professionals trained to implement data wiping procedures.
-- Recycle assets according to EPA guidelines. If using a vendor, make sure they have a 100 percent no-landfill policy. If they rely on third parties to process e-waste, verify that their procedures meet EPA guidelines.
-- Make your ITAD operation a profit center by negotiating an upfront purchase deal with a qualified vendor. This ensures a guaranteed price and the transfer of ownership eliminates risk.
Visit www.usmicrocorp.com.
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HP

HP enhances office productivity with new workflow solutions
HP announced new imaging and printing solutions and devices designed to help small and midsize businesses (SMBs) and enterprise organizations enhance employee productivity, both in the office and on the go. HP solutions previously only available to HP’s enterprise customers are now available through select channel partners. These HP trained and certified partners will offer a portfolio of printing and imaging applications including:
--HP ePrint Enterprise: improves productivity through mobile access to print without data ever leaving a secure network.
--HP Access Control Printing Solutions: recently enhanced with new features, delivers cost controls, security functions and simple operation.
--HP and TROY Secure Document Printing Solution: for businesses that need to print high-value, black-and-white documents with antifraud security features using plain paper and their enterprise-class HP PCL5 LaserJet printers and multifunction printers (MFPs).
--The HP Web-Connected Business App: accessed through a printer’s touchscreen, is designed to increase productivity with improved document workflows.
--The HP LaserJet MFP Wizard Console: set of tools on select HP LaserJet MFPs that help SMBs manage and streamline their document handling processes.
Visit www.hp.com.
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IBM

New global IBM study confirms cloud computing poised to take off at companies
A new IBM study of more than 3,000 global CIOs shows that 60 percent of organizations are ready to embrace cloud computing over the next five years as a means of growing their businesses and achieving competitive advantage. In IBM's 2009 CIO study, only a third of CIOs said they planned to pursue cloud to gain a competitive advantage. This year’s study shows a dramatic increase in the focus on cloud, particularly in media and entertainment, which rose to 73 percent, automotive (70 percent) and telecommunications (69 percent).  From a country standpoint, seven out of 10 CIOs in the US, Japan and South Korea, and 68 percent in China, now identify cloud as a top priority. This is dramatically up from 2009, when CIO interest in cloud hovered at about a third in each of these countries. The IBM study also found that more than four out of five CIOs (83 percent) see business intelligence and analytics as top priorities for their businesses as they seek ways to act upon the growing amounts of data that are now at their disposal. CIOs are also increasingly turning their attention to mobile computing to keep pace with the fast-changing marketplace.
Visit www.ibm.com/ciostudy.
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Printers

Xerox keeps every day color costs in check with newest solid ink multifunction printers
Xerox announces new multifunction printers (MFPs) built on the award-winning ColorQube platform which save customers money with faster print speeds and simple-to-use features that make work easier. Companies can cut color print costs in half with the Hybrid Color Pricing Plans available on the Xerox ColorQube 9300 Series – paying only for the amount of color on a given page. This is an important differentiation when using just a little bit of color, such as a company logo on letterhead. Other benefits of the ColorQube 9300 Series include Color by Words, a color-editing tool that allows for accurate and vibrant colors from the first print. The ColorQube 9300 Series is ENERGY STAR qualified and generates up to 90 percent less consumable and packaging waste than comparable laser devices. It includes only one replaceable component – a cleaning unit with an average life of 330,000 prints – that can be recycled through the Xerox Green World Alliance program. Additional productivity options include simple mobile printing: on-the-go workers can print securely from any email-enabled smartphone, tablet or laptop without downloading an application, loading software or searching for online printer information.
Visit www.xerox.com/tr/office.
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Storage

IBM delivers technology to protect and retain "big data"
Demand for storage capacity worldwide will continue to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 49.8 percent from 2009-2014, according to IDC. Clients require new technologies and ways to capitalize on the growing volume, variety and velocity of information known as "Big Data." IBM announced the industry's first tape library system to provide over 2.7 exabytes of automated, low cost storage -- enough to store nearly 3 times all the mobile data generated in the U.S. in 2010 (an exabyte is 1 followed by 18 zeroes). IBM System Storage TS3500 Tape Library is enabled by a new, IBM-developed shuttle technology -- a mechanical attachment that connects up to 15 tape libraries to create a single, high capacity library complex at a lower cost. The TS3500 is the highest capacity library in the industry, making it ideal for the world's largest data archives. For example, the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) in New Zealand uses two TS3500 Tape Libraries to support a sophisticated POWER supercomputer used to tackle challenges in such fields as energy, aerospace, weather and climate modeling. The libraries together hold 5 petabytes of data, the equivalent of more than 1,000,000 DVDs.
Visit http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/storage.
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