SOHO-Helpers

Computers | Credit Card Processing | Instant Messenger | Linux Accounting

Computers

How much does a new computer cost? $800? $1600?

How about $325 for a new Athlon XP system with plenty of power for typical office tasks like word-processing, web and e-mail. That's what I paid for my last new machine sans monitor and software.

I had a monitor already, but used monitors are easy to find. For software I installed the latest Mandrake Linux distribution (Called Mandriva now), which gave us everything we need and more with no need for an anti-virus!

A bit outside the box, but why pay more? Drop me an if I can help you source hardware or software to take your step out of the box.

Credit Card Processing

Want to process credit card transactions, but reeling from adding up set-up fees, monthly fees, transaction fees and fee explanation fees!?

For on-line credit card payment processing have a look at PayPal. No set-up or monthly fees, very competitive transaction fees and a variety of merchant tools available.

Instant Messenger

Instant messaging is growing in popularity as a quick form of communication across the office or across town. People collaborating on a project can pass quick questions and comments more efficiently than with a phone call or e-mail.

If you have looked at Instant messaging and dismissed it for the ads and garbage that accompany its use, take a look at Gaim.

Gaim is cost-free, ad-free, cross-platform and multi-protocol. Available for BSD, Linux, Mac OS X and Windows, Gaim is compatible with AOL, ICQ, MSN and other IM protocols and can even do different ones simultaneously!

Linux Accounting

If you've been looking for a Canadian accounting solution for Linux that won't empty the accounts to pay for? Look no further than Linux Canada's Quasar Accounting.