gap intelligence Announces Partnership with Greg Walters, Inc. on The Office Tech Tap

– Top executive will lead new office technology newsletter –

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – December 5, 2022 – gap intelligence and Greg Walters, Inc. have formed an alliance tasked with bringing relevant content to providers and users of office technology.

The Office Tech Tap newsletter informs, educates, and inspires users, providers, system integrators, and decision-makers on business technology, work, and life (subscribe here).

“We’re excited to partner with prolific writer, frequent speaker, and hyper-charged freelancer, Greg Walters,” said Gary Peterson, gap intelligence CEO. “Bringing his unique and provocative view on selling technology to the masses is a big win for everyone in the business of selling to businesses.”

The Death of The Internet

Originally posted on Walters & Shutwell, April 11, 2014.

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the addressing vehicle for the internet, the "World Wide Web". The internet, as it is defined, has been around 40 years, created in 1973.  The thing is, I don't see the internet surviving another 40, let alone 10 years.

No really, I'm calling it, we are witnessing the very beginning of the Death of the Internet.

Indicators:

1. MSFT releases iOffice - One of the largest technology hierarchies cries "Uncle!"
2. The Snowden Effect - the internet is a centrally located sieve 
3. The US gives up ICANN - addresses are irrelevant
4. Bio/Nano technology - not 'smaller' technology but 'closer' technology
5. Apple implements 'beam' and wire-less mesh for messaging...(Someday, very soon, Apple will be bigger than the internet)

Expansion and contraction are natural ways of business technology and social evolution.  For instance, the glass rooms of mainframes moved to the desktop with the PC, then to our laptops, notebooks, tablets, smartphones - smaller yet more powerful computing expanded the reach boundaries of connectivity.

Meta's Meta-Verified Subscription: A Hail Mary Pass to Keep a Dying Idea Alive

As someone who has been involved with technology since 1988, I have witnessed many technology revolutions, and I can confidently say that this move by Meta is the last gasp of a dying idea and company.

This is nuts and as oblivious as the night sky.  Meta is following the likes of MySpace and WordPerfect - we are witnessing the slow development of Facebook's Kodak Moment.

AI is in Slack

Slack’s New CEO Brings Generative AI to the Workplace Conversation

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Date: May 5, 2023

The integration of Salesforce data with Slack's messaging app and generative AI could enhance productivity for companies like Paramount Global, according to CIO Lakshman Nathan.

Greg's Words

This was inevitable.  It was bound to happen.

For years, we've sought a unifying force to bridge the gap between disjointed applications. We've grappled with core software systems composed of various elements: one firm's stellar inventory control, another's exceptional order entry interface, and spreadsheets laboring to transform disconnected databases into insightful information.

AI could be the key that not only links everything but also refines the data.

Expect numerous announcements and integrations ahead, but this time, we'll witness the fusion of previously human-centric tasks.

Slack is the latest, but SAP has also shoehorned AI into its core.

We've put together a quick summary, enjoy!

Key highlights:

• Slack unveils new generative AI features, such as summarizing conversations and drafting responses.
• Company releases Canvas, a hub that combines internal documents, Slack messages, and Salesforce customer data.
• 70% of IT leaders in exploration mode with generative AI, with 19% already testing it, according to Gartner Inc.

_________

Okidata - VARs/BTA/PSA/RMM - and Agiliant

I just read the press release from Okidata announcing a relationship between Oki and Agiliant.

You'll remember Agiliant is a newcomer to the MpS space(sorta, they pretty much invented MpS back in the day before flipping out to Pitney) - Agiliant is looking to provide third-party IT services to MpS providers, rounding out any managed services portfolio.

Not a bad model.

Okidata adds yet another dimension to their VAR strategy.  Again, you'll remember back in the summer of 2011, Oki announced a re-vamping of their Total Managed Print portal that included interfaces to many of the popular PSA's.(Connectwise, Level Platforms...)

The VARs are coming, and their infrastructure partners are leading the way.  All this is fine and grand.  But software does not an MpS Practice make.

How are these new VARs going to SELL this new service?  Just like helpdesk and the NOC?

It ain't that difficult, so we should see thousands of VARs embrace and prosper in this new realm, shouldn't we?

It's our ecosystem all over again - let's call it the MpS ExoSystem.

Press Release:

Ripple Effects: U.S. Import Ban on Ninestar and Xinjiang Zhongtai Shakes Office Tech Industry

When the ink dries up: The U.S. puts a cap on printer imports from Ninestar

Quick Summary of the Current NineStar Situation.

Big Win for HP - I wonder if their lobbyists had a hand in this.  It is difficult to predict the direct impact this will inflict on our industry.  Okay, maybe not that difficult.  More toner manufacturing plants here in the US?  Higher prices? Sure.  

BUT WHAT ABOUT LEXMARK?

Lexmark may be in jeopardy, Xerox had some dealings with Ninestar, and let's not forget Static Control.  

China is on the wrong side of so many issues - social, political, and economic.  This is just one more thing. 

Check out our take.

Executive Summary:

1. The United States has prohibited imports from Ninestar Corporation and Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemical Co Ltd, over human rights abuses allegations in China, disrupting the U.S. office technology industry.
2. These sanctions are part of the U.S. Uyghur Forced Labor Protection Act (UFLPA), prohibiting imports from companies identified on a UFLPA Entity List, impacting the global supply chain.
3. The DHS has examined over $1.3 billion worth of goods likely manufactured with forced labor, highlighting the scale of the issue and its potential repercussions on the global office tech market.

__________

Greg Walters, Inc. Releases the DOTC Office Technology Partnership Ecosystem.

12 Influences and Influencers Outlined and Measured in the DOTC Office Technology Partnership Ecosystem Model

 
 
Oconomowoc, Wi. – Greg Walters, Inc. announces the release of the DOTC Office Technology Partnership Ecosystem (DOTPE) blueprint. The DOTPE identifies 12 Influences that shape the customer experience. Examples of Influences include OEMs, Training firms, Infrastructure, Software Applications, Finance, Toner Suppliers, etc. Within each influence, one or multiple Influencers vie for relevancy and participation in the sales journey. 

This change in perspective is mandated by the current business environment, in which the customer journey is no longer transactional, but never-ending. A strong team of niche providers working toward a common goal, with clear and transparent roles, will collaborate and provide a collective and increased value to customers.

“For over a decade, we’ve defined the network of vendors and resellers as the 'Office Technology Landscape.' This view needs an update," said Walters. "In today’s dynamic and turbulent business environment, it is beneficial to establish relationships beyond vendor and reseller.  Companies that utilize partnership ecosystems drive innovation, maximize efficiencies, and bring greater value to their clients."
 
The group is currently interviewing and evaluating Influencers against 20 data points. The model will highlight and rank relevant firms within each Influence, measuring everything from financial viability to their social footprint.
 
Through the model, resellers will see how existing relationships stack up and make educated decisions when building or revamping partnerships. The ultimate consumer will compare their existing or future providers against established standards and KPIs.
 
Technology resellers, and managed IT firms will benefit from the DOTPE by knowing who to review when forming their specific ecosystem.  Prospective clients will gain insight into the quality and effectiveness of their provider when compared to other industry resellers.
 
The DOTC Office Technology Partnership Ecosystem model is available now at thedeathofthecopier.com and the evaluation results will be presented throughout the summer.
 
For more information or to be considered as an Influencer contact Greg@grwalters.com. 

 

Connecting the Dots: How the Copier Industry Pioneered Modern Business Models

You Think I'm Crazy When I Connect the Dots

Humans tell immortal stories about figures in the sky. Illusions are created by drawing imaginary lines from one point of light to another and another and so on.

Connecting the dots illuminates a pattern and tells a story.  For instance, do you understand the following 'lights in the nighttime sky'?

Alnitak - a triple star system located at a distance of several hundred parsecs from the Sun

Alnilam - a massive, blue supergiant star some 2,000 light-years distant

Mintaka - a multiple-star system some 1,200 light-years from the Sun

Three seemingly singular points of light, to us, form the belt of the constellation Orion - visible throughout the world.

We are adept at making connections and telling stories - it is in our nature. 

At first, industries appear unrelated and vaguely disconnected. But just like the constellations, when observed from afar and with a fanciful imaginative eye connected, great stories are revealed.

As more disparate items converge, a common thread(technology) is observed between and defined. 

ChatGPT: The AI Game Changer That's About to Shake Up Industries

Highlights:

1. Generative AI, the technology underlying ChatGPT, is poised to disrupt nearly every industry in which knowledge from written records, videos, or images can be digitized.
2. Generative AI democratizes AI access by providing a natural language interface and lower barriers to entry, making it cheaper and more effective to use for companies.
3. In the medium term, generative algorithms will drive innovation through "transfer learning," allowing for new capabilities in various industries such as biopharma, engineering, and software development.

Remote Workers and the Paperless Office - 2014

One Of My Earliest Articles at The Imaging Channel: Paperless Offices, 2014

________

The year was 2014 and like some ancient legend, the paperless office debate was at full speed.

Today, as you know, the paperless office is 'still a dream'.

Or is it? 

• Can you tell me that you're selling as many copiers as you did in 2014?
• Can you point out to your customers who have INCREASED their monthly volume? 
• Remember, there was a time when copiers were kicking out 10k images PER WEEK. Any of those in the field today? How about mailrooms, remember them? 

Summary of ECS 2024 - Ai

By GRW_GPT

“Implementing AI is going to shrink jobs...you’re going to see legislation that can fundamentally change how you are using AI in your business and what the future possibilities are.” - Joe Brunsman of The Brunsman Group

What You Will Know After Reading:

1. AI as a Central Theme: AI dominated discussions at ECS 2024, highlighting its increasing role in shaping the future of office technology.
2. The Importance of Managed Services and Diversification: Insights from leaders like Frank Cucco and John Hey underscored the need for businesses to innovate and diversify, particularly into managed IT and cybersecurity, to remain competitive.
3. Veterans' Value in the Tech Industry: The summit spotlighted the significant contributions veterans can make to the industry, encouraging companies to embrace their skills and experiences.

Digital Transformation: Is it all it's Cracked up to be? My Personal Experience and the Importance of Improving User Experience

Inspired by an experience first written here, by Amy Wiess, and passed through ChatGTP.

__________

Digital transformation is a buzzword that is frequently thrown around in business and technology circles. But, what does it actually mean in practice? This morning, I had a firsthand experience of what some might call a "digital transformation" in the medical field, and it left me questioning the true meaning of the term.

"...is this how digital transformation is supposed to work? Shouldn't digital transformation make things more efficient and streamlined, not more complicated..."

Connecting the Dots: How Technology is Uniting Industries and Revolutionizing Business Models

Humans tell immortal stories about figures in the sky by creating illusions by drawing imaginary lines from one point of light to another. 

Connecting the dots illuminates a pattern and tells a story. For instance, the "lights" in the nighttime sky that we see as the belt of the constellation Orion - Alnitak, a triple star system located several hundred parsecs from the Sun; Alnilam, a massive blue supergiant star some 2,000 light-years distant; and Mintaka, a multiple-star system some 1,200 light-years from the Sun - are visible throughout the world.

We are adept at making connections and telling stories - it is in our nature. At first, industries may appear unrelated and vaguely disconnected, but just like the constellations, when observed from afar and with a fanciful, imaginative eye, connections are made and great stories are revealed.

What do ChatGPT, JBIG2, a German computer scientist, #Xerox, and a construction project all have in common?

When Copying Goes Wrong: The Xerox Photocopier Incident and What it Teaches Us About Large-Language Models

The New Yorker connected Xerox to ChatGPT: 

"In 2013, workers at a German construction company noticed something odd about their Xerox photocopier: when they made a copy of the floor plan of a house, the copy differed from the original in a subtle but significant way. In the original floor plan, each of the house’s three rooms was accompanied by a rectangle specifying its area: the rooms were 14.13, 21.11, and 17.42 square metres, respectively. However, in the photocopy, all three rooms were labelled as being 14.13 square metres in size. 

The company contacted the computer scientist David Kriesel to investigate this seemingly inconceivable result."

This inspired me to call on my new assistant, GPT, and put this together.

MWAi/Technology United: "Force Multiplier"

Technology United is a group of cutting edge, early adopter companies.

This is not old skool; NOT the same old, MLM, Jaycee-type, loosely run, networking and poker club.(not that there is anything wrong with the Jaycees, old your emails) Technology United members are all best of breed in their industries and standouts in the technology realm.

I like Mike.  I like the idea of TU and I like the players.

Please read Mike Stramaglio's introduction, review and update:

More Than a Newsletter - The Office Tecnology Tap

Decades in the making.

I've been writing, speaking, and commenting about the copier industry since 2008.  I've built dozens of websites, and multiple versions of this blog, spoken at all the major shows and held conversations with thousands of folks in the technology realm.  From DOS to the Cloud; from the OCe 3100 to Edgeline and all things between and beyond.

I'm an advocate for change, I've pontificated on the benefits and dangers of technology, and with the support of a select few, I've been fortunate enough to maintain a presence in this crazy mixed-up world of toner and fire.

It is with great pleasure, that I am announcing an alliance with Gap Intelligence a great team of analysts in Office Technology and beyond.  I look forward to tapping into the cumulative knowledge this company possesses and bringing to you, the best cutting-edge, relevant office technology content on the planet.  

The first fruits of our collaboration are The Office Technology Tap newsletter and website.

The newsletter is the portal into the future of office technology with relevant, curated content and rapier commentary. We'll submit articles, opinions, and reflections and conduct live streams and podcasts.  You may even catch us at a show or two.

Subscribe, here.  Join us!

The Digital Mirage: Navigating the Illusion of B2B Sales in a Post-Paper World

By Gordon P. Thompson

_________

In a world where bytes replace ink, can the human touch still seal the deal?

Amidst Tokyo's neon embrace, I found solace in an izakaya, where the past and present coalesced. As the digital age reshaped the world outside, the warm sake in my hand whispered tales of a time when business was more than just transactions.

The world of B2B sales, especially in office technology, has always been a dance of adaptability. Greg Walters from The Imaging Channel once reflected on the evolution of B2B sales strategies. The tools of the trade have evolved, but the essence? It remains rooted in trust and understanding.

HP - Managed Print Service Contract for TeleCommuters

"Companies are searching for ways to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve environmental soundness," said David Murphy, senior vice president, LaserJet and Enterprise Solutions, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. "The offerings announced today help customers meet their immediate challenges and provide a foundation for emerging stronger once the economy stabilizes."

PALO ALTO, Calif., Mar 31, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) ----HP (NYSE: HPQ: 32.83, 0, 0%) today announced an expanded portfolio of offerings for enterprise organizations seeking to drive efficiency, cost savings and environmental responsibility into their imaging and printing operations.

Designed to help enterprise customers optimize and manage their imaging and printing environments and improve document workflows, the new offerings include two high-speed scanners, extensibility platform capabilities, fleet management software, solutions for telecommuters, and five large-format devices.

"Companies are searching for ways to reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve environmental soundness," said David Murphy, senior vice president, LaserJet and Enterprise Solutions, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. "The offerings announced today help customers meet their immediate challenges and provide a foundation for emerging stronger once the economy stabilizes."

Optimized infrastructures - for the office and the telecommuter

IDC estimates that by 2013 the telecommuter workforce will grow to nearly 10 million in the United States.(1) HP is making it easier for enterprise employees to work from home more effectively.

Through an HP Managed Print Services contract, IT-sponsored telecommuters receive an integrated bundle of technical support, a multifunction printer (MFP: undefined, undefined, undefined%), up to three months of initial supplies and a convenient portal to replenish supplies over the life of the contract.

The solution provides IT managers with a consistent, cost-effective implementation of a home office printing environment. The telecommuter bundles include the recently announced HP Officejet Pro 8500 AiO Series as well as the HP LaserJet CM1312nfi MFP and HP LaserJet M1522n MFP. These highly reliable and productive devices offer low cost of ownership, low energy consumption and compact, space-saving sizes.

Optimize information capture with new scanners and software

HP has broadened its portfolio of dedicated enterprise scanners to meet the needs of document-intensive environments. New scanners include:

-- The HP Scanjet Enterprise 7000n Document Capture Workstation - featuring the HP Easy Select control panel - is an easy-to-use, shared, A4 sheet-fed document capture solution with fast, reliable paper handling and superb network manageability for large workgroups and enterprise customers. Designed to improve and simplify document workflows, the scanner attaches to the network through a direct Ethernet connection without a PC. With HP Precision Feed Technology,(2) users can quickly and securely capture and integrate a variety of sensitive hard-copy documents, such as loan applications, invoices and other records, into electronic workflows. Additionally, this ENERGY STAR(R: 29.21, 0, 0%) version 1.1 qualified product helps customers reduce energy costs by using HP Web Jetadmin to preset sleep and wake modes.

-- The HP Scanjet Enterprise 9000 Sheet-feed Scanner helps streamline document workflows. Working at speeds up to 60 pages per minute (ppm) and 120 images per minute (ipm), the scanner digitally automates business processes - all at a touch of a button. In addition, the PC-connected scanner ensures secure archival of hard-copy documents with HP Precision Feed Technology.(2) The scanner is ENERGY STAR qualified, compliant with the European Union's RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive, mercury-free and can be managed by HP Web Jetadmin to preset sleep and wake modes to help reduce energy consumption.

HP Scanjet document scanners support a broad range of centralized and distributed document capture applications and address industry-specific needs through HP Solutions Business Partner Program for Imaging and Printing.

Optimize imaging and printing infrastructure with new large-format printing choices

HP's expanded large-format printer portfolio includes a range of new workgroup and multifunction printers and software solutions to improve connectivity, security and fleet management for office users, IT managers and production operators in midsize and enterprise businesses.

New devices include the HP Designjet T1120 SD-MFP, HP Designjet T1120 HD-MFP, HP Designjet 4520 HD-MFP and 4520 Scanner, HP Designjet T1120 Printer series and HP Designjet 4020/4520 Printer series. These offerings can save enterprises up to 15 to 30 percent off total large-format printing costs and provide up to 10 times faster response from click-to-print and improved overall print quality with crisper lines and smoother renders.(3)

HP Web Jetadmin seamlessly integrates the expanded HP Designjet portfolio within existing networks and allows large-format printing devices to be remotely managed as part of a diverse printing fleet. The new large-format printers, MFPs and software are integrated into the HP Managed Print Services offerings, enabling customers to reduce printing infrastructure costs, increase uptime and achieve predictable, consistent service delivery across multiple locations.

Secure fleet management of imaging and printing environments

HP's new management solutions and extensibility platform capabilities enable businesses to reliably, efficiently and cost-effectively manage high-volume business document processes. The offerings include:

-- HP Web Jetadmin Enterprise Edition enables customers to efficiently and affordably manage HP and non-HP enterprise fleets, compatible HP and partner software and hardware, and customer-specific applications that lead to increased IT productivity and reduced costs. Web Jetadmin EE, a fee-based offering, offers industry-leading technical support, maintenance and services required to maintain enterprise device management environments. Available with the new platform are:

-- HP Business Intelligence Module offers business intelligence reporting for imaging and printing device management.

-- HP IT Operations Module improves IT operations with scalable performance.

-- HP Advanced non-HP Device Support Module manages non-HP print and multifunction devices.

-- HP Application Integration Module provides web services interfaces to HP Web Jetadmin, allowing IT applications to programmatically retrieve device lists, device status information and fleet notification.

-- HP Open Extensibility Platform (OXP: undefined, undefined, undefined%) and solution developer kits (SDKs) dramatically simplify the development and deployment of custom imaging and print solutions across HP's fleet of multifunction products. An industry first, the HP Solution Installer reduces the time and cost of deploying embedded solutions on a fleet of imaging and printing devices - in some cases from days to hours. In addition, OXP adds new management interfaces (OXP-Management) such that IT managers, system integrators and software solution providers can use web services to interact with HP Web Jetadmin to retrieve device information and status alerts.

-- HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 helps administrators optimize device utilization, control color costs, set default PIN authentication, secure devices and streamline supplies management for HP and non-HP network peripherals. New features of HP Web Jetadmin 10.2 include enhanced remote management capabilities, improved device discovery and configuration and advanced supplies management that reduces maintenance time and overall device deployment costs. In addition, users can remotely schedule sleep and wake-up modes to conserve power and reduce energy consumption.

-- HP Universal Print Driver 5.0, the award-winning,(5) feature-rich driver, now includes HP EasyColor, which optimizes color printing and improves print performance for image-intensive documents. In addition, users can set printing devices to automatic two-sided printing to reduce paper waste. Features in HP Web Jetadmin and Universal Print Driver software can set an organization's printers to duplex in a few simple keystrokes, saving up to 25 percent in paper costs.

Transform document workflows with information management solutions

HP provides a comprehensive suite of offerings to help businesses capture, create, secure, manage, retrieve and deliver documents. Using HP scanning and multifunction devices, enterprise customers can capture and deliver documents digitally - speeding up document-based workflows, eliminating the need for faxing and reducing the amount of paper the organization uses. Expanded solutions include:

-- HP Output Server Solution offers new capabilities, including HP Smart Office Delivery, which delivers documents to all destination channels including printing, faxing and publishing to web and file servers, and HP Inbound Fax, which streamlines and automates the document process to improve inbound fax delivery efficiency. HP Output Server streamlines business processes and workflows by delivering a unified infrastructure that allows enterprises to centrally manage, transform and process business-critical information from any source to any destination - in a paper or digital format.

-- HP Delivery Notification Solution for Manufacturing, powered by HP LaserJet MFPs, dramatically improves information shipping, tracking, billing and auditing processes for the manufacturing industry. Using partner software, this solution automates proof-of-goods delivery by scanning and capturing signed paper invoices and routing them through accounts receivable and customer service centers, enabling them to quickly receive status. This solution reduces inefficiencies and costs and improves customer satisfaction for manufacturers.

Document workflow demonstrations on solutions including TRIM, HP Exstream, HP Output Server, HP OXP, HP Web Jetadmin, HP Scanjets, HP Designjets, HP MFPs with Edgeline Technology, and HP LaserJet MFPs, as well as solutions from EDS, an HP company, will be presented at the AIIM Exposition and Conference in HP booth 1400.

More information on HP's expanded imaging and printing portfolio is available in an online press kit at http://www.hp.com/go/AIIM2009.

HP and the environment

For decades, HP has been an environmental leader, driving company stewardship through its HP Eco Solutions program, which spans product design, reuse and recycling as well as energy and resource efficiency. HP influences industry action by setting high environmental standards in its operations and supply chain by providing practical solutions to make it easier for customers to reduce their climate impact. More information is available at www.hp.com/ecosolutions.

About HP

HP, the world's largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com/.

Note to editors: More news from HP, including links to RSS feeds, is available at http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/.

(1) "Telecommuter Update, 2008: Employer and Employee Profiles, Changing Work Dynamics, and Technology Use," Doc. No. 21372, IDC, August 2008.

(2) HP Precision Feed Technology is a suite of technologies that ensure reliable paper feeding, including multi-phase pick process, advanced separation technology, automatic picking technology, mixed stack handling, and ultrasonic double feed detection.

(3) Compared to the HP Designjet 800 Printer series, based on four copies of 50 A1 pages using normal print quality on plain paper. Intervention time not included.

(4) Fee modules can be added individually or bundled in the Web Jetadmin Enterprise Edition Suite.

(5) The Technological Innovation Award by Industry Analyst Inc. was granted to the HP Universal Print Driver in December 2006. Industry Analyst Inc.'s IATSD test lab reviews dozens of hardware and software solutions each year and identifies a product, service or solution they feel is truly innovative and worthy of recognition. Tests and analyses that led to this recognition were not funded by HP.

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. registered mark of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the achievement of expected operational and financial results; and other risks that are described in HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended January 31, 2009 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

(C: 2.67, n.a., n.a.%) 2009 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

SOURCE: HP

Click to email me.

The U.S.-China Standoff Intensifies: Recent Developments and Their Impact on Tech Trade

From Copiers to Superpowers: When Office Tech Meets International Espionage

Greg's Words

China is not our friend.  The country is not a good trade partner. The society is one of compliance with the state - China regulates everything from access to the Internet, to how many children a couple can create.  The political system is directly opposed to democracy, independence, and freedom.

But they make things really cheap - computer chips and Fentanyl. 

In the office technology niche, toner and printers from China are but a slice of the market; less than a sidebar in the world debate - somewhat analogous to a canary in the coal mine.

We've distilled multiple articles into this summary of the current situation: China wants to put a listening base on Cuba.

What we should do:

1. End the War in Ukraine
2. Invite Russia into NATO or
3. Dissolve NATO
4. Purchase the island of Cuba.

Article Executive Points -

• China and Cuba have reached a secret agreement for China to establish an electronic eavesdropping facility in Cuba, a development that poses a new geopolitical challenge to the U.S.
• The US-China relationship has further been strained by an incident where the U.S. shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon. China insists it was a civilian airship used for meteorological research, but the US has protested against this as a violation of their sovereignty.
• These geopolitical tensions are playing out against the backdrop of an escalating tech trade war between the US and China. The tech industry, a major contributor to the US trade deficit with China, finds itself at the center of these trade disputes.

________

Born to Run the Digital Highway: Springsteen's Musical Shifts Reflect Our Office Tech Evolution

Darkness was my first album.  I bought it thinking it contained the song "Born to Run".    I was wrong and it was so very right. 

Today it Bruce's birthday.  He turns 74.

I've listened to him since 1978.

Darkness on the Edge of Town, to a kid living just outside Detroit, witness to the fall of the big V8 and the rise the Japanese automotive industry.

Jimmy Carter, Oil Embargo, and the "Great Blizzard of '78".  Yeah, there were blizzards back then and we didn't have ABS, or all wheel drive and somehow we made it out alive.

Regardless, time changes everything especially the view.

Bruce is 74.  His political beliefs are typically skewed left, because of the entertainment commands it so.

It doesn't matter. 

Travel with me and Wendy as she bemoans the parallel paths of Office Technology and Bruce Springsteen from 1978 to today.

_________

In the dimly lit corner of a New York bar, Wendy sat, a glass of whiskey in hand, reflecting on the ever-evolving world of music and technology. The raspy voice of Bruce Springsteen echoed in the background, singing tales of blue-collar struggles and the American dream. 

Wendy, always one to appreciate the art of storytelling, couldn't help but draw parallels between Springsteen's musical journey and the technological transformation of the modern office.