Top 3 Mac Book Air rivals

MACBOOK Air 2011
Size: 0.3-1.7 thick
Weight:1.08-1.35 kg
Runtime: 7 hours (WiFi on)

While the latest version of Macbook Air (2011) is still the leading ultrabook of the market with up to 7 hours of wireless surfing and its 1kg weight, Apple's competitors are looking for their share of the market. 2012 brought some brand new models from all major manufacturer, but are those ultrabooks better than the MacBook Air?

Difficult to compare; on one hand we have a delightful combination of hardware and software, with the MBA’s multi-touch trackpad, nearly instant wake up from hibernate, great and not bugged applications, perfectly shaped aluminum case with backlit keyboard and MacOS X…

On the other hand we can see some good MacBook Air imitations (aluminum case, light weight) but unfortunately they are running Windows 7 OS. Moreover some manufacturers provide special drivers to enable some limited and buggy multi touch-pad functions; others optimize their ultrabooks to allow hibernation wake-up under 2 seconds... But none of those competitors can keep up with the MBA’s 7 hours of battery usage.

But the real problem is not the hardware or the quality of their products, but the Windows OS. Even the MBA runs only for 4 hours when is booted on Windows 7, and has equal performance to the other Windows OS ultrabooks.

I would say that the MBA hardware is not as good as other ultrabooks presented at Cebit convention, but the latest MacOS X is by far more powerful than Windows 7, at least when it comes to portability, battery life and multi-touch trackpad support…

Here the top 3 Windows Ultrabooks:

LG Z330 and Z430 Super Ultrabook
Size: 1.47 cm thick
Weight: ~1.3 kg
Runtime: N/A

Asus Zenbook UX31
Size: 0.3-1.7 cm thick
Weight: 1.4 kg
Runtime: ~6 hours

SAMSUNG Series 5 (14”)
Size: 2.09 cm thick
Weight: 1.84kg
Runtime: ~6 hours

Opus Energy SME survey finds companies are turning to renewable energy generation

New research from Opus Energy, a UK based business power supplier, suggests a growing amount of interest among small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in generating renewable energy from their own businesses. One third (32%) expect to introduce anaerobic digestion, wind turbines, solar panels and 38% expect to generate their own renewable energy within the next five years.

Despite recent cuts in energy prices, and perhaps faced with finding innovative ways to generate income, a vast number of SME business leaders questioned in the Opus Energy survey expected to be producing renewable power within the next five years, with business owners between the ages of 18 and 34 more likely to make the investment earlier.

Opus Energy recently launched its power purchase agreement product which enables customers to generate additional income from renewable energy, whilst reducing their carbon footprint and powering their businesses. The survey highlighted that a relatively high percentage of SMEs (59%) felt they would be interested in producing their own energy if the Government provided subsidies.

The research also found that many SMEs (42%) said they would switch to generating all or some of their own energy from renewables if it could be proven that they would make a profit from it. This has persuaded Opus Energy to call on the energy sector to make it easier for companies to gain the information they need to get started. The business currently offers these details on its Renewables webpages.

Craig Birch, a Lincolnshire farmer who also runs a green waste composting company, is a good example of an SME owner who is investing in generating renewable power. He installed a wind turbine on his land in May 2011 and is already benefiting financially from renewable energy generation and believes he is contributing to sustainability at the same time.

The wind turbine produces between £40,000 and £50,000 per annum in income for Craig’s farm, and the equivalent sum of energy needed to power half his village. In addition, his import supply agreement with Opus Energy has created over £1,000 per year in cost savings for Craig on connection capacity charges and standing charges. This is approximately one quarter of the total contract value for the exported energy.

Software Every Office Needs

Productivity in the office can be increased if staff has the right software. Although each office would require some unique software to improve productivity, there are applications that should be on every computer in any business setting;
Microsoft Word and Excel MS Word and Excel are two of the most popular programs in the world. MS Word is more than just a place to jot down notes, the program offers spell checking, word count and table options to increase versatility. MS Excel, Microsoft’s spreadsheet program has also become a must-have piece of software. It allows users to keep track and arrange information in a simple way.
Skype Although there are other VOIP services that can compete with Skype, it’s already considered a leader as well as the pioneer in the industry. The fairly recent inclusion of mobile phone support has made Skype a must for every business. Skype-to-Skype calls are also free allowing your business to save money on phone calls and unnecessary travel expenses.
Microsoft Outlook Just like MS Word and Excel, MS Outlook is a key piece of software for any business. The program removes the need to keep logging into email accounts and keeps all of your emails in one place. The software also allows users to schedule meetings and keep track of tasks.
Norton Antivirus Norton Antivirus is a powerful application that protects computer from a range of viruses. Aside from software and network security, Norton also provides options to back up your data.

Top 5 Foods to Boost Productivity

Food is more than just fuel for your body. It’s also a fuel for your mind which means good food can boost your mental performance and productivity. More often than not, you need to undergo a regular diet of healthy food to ensure your productivity in any work conditions.
But aside from your regular diet, there is actually food that can give you a quick boost to become more productive. Enjoy these types of food while at work and notice your productivity improve in no time.
Honey It is a bit surprising that honey could actually boost your productivity. But the orange liquid can help you greatly deal with stress. It can also help with fatigue, sore throats and even digestion problems.
Milk Milk does not necessarily boost your brains but it has a powerful contribution to your body because it’s extremely rich in proteins, vitamins and other minerals. Milk can also help develop the immune system which means you will never have to miss work again since you are consistently healthy.
Whole Grains Whole grains are rich in fiber as well as other vitamins and minerals. The fiber content is very beneficial to the body because it has the ability to deal with stomach problems as well as flushing out the dangerous toxins.
Dates Easy to digest and there are tons of available soluble formats of dates in different pharmacies and groceries. They are rich in fructose and sucrose or simply sugar and they are known for their quick boost of energy.
Olive Oil Great for the skin and known to prevent cancer, olive oil could even prevent aging because of their antioxidants. It’s a bit more expensive that regular oil but the health benefits are more than enough for its price.

Top 5 Most Comfortable Keyboards for Frequent Typers

If you are in front of a computer screen for at least eight hours a day, you need to invest at least a small amount on a good keyboard. This is the reason why computer peripheral companies are looking for ways to innovate the keyboard to improve productivity with ergonomics. Fortunately, there are some companies who know how to make an amazing line of keyboards.

SteelSeries Shift

The SteelSeries Shift is one of the most durable keyboards on the market. It’s the perfect solution for those who want a versatile piece of typing equipment. It’s perfect for gaming as well as business and at home. WoW (World of Warcraft) players will definitely enjoy the keys and design.

Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750

The best thing about the wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is that you don’t have to purchase any batteries just to run the keyboard. It’s surprisingly useful and the ergonomic design is just enough for everyday typing.

SteelSeries 6Gv2

The 6Gv2 is another keyboard from SteelSeries which offers a better keyboard configuration for gaming. It still performs well for day to day typing through improved ergonomics which will help frequent typists.

Rosewill RK-9000

Rosewill RK-9000 is a mechanical keyboard which means it creates a click sound to encourage typists to type faster. Aside from the sound, it is also a keyboard specifically built to handle continuous pounding.

Das Keyboard Model S Professional Silent

The Rosewill RK-900 is often compared to Das Keyboard because of its mechanical sound. Das Keyboards are regarded as the leader in mechanical keyboards because of their near-perfect clicking sound with durability and ergonomics.

Top 10 Secret Santa Christmas presents for work colleagues

Gift giving in the office through Secret Santa is very common. It’s a way for colleagues to give each other a memorable gift for the holidays. These gifts don’t have to be expensive but it shows that work colleagues really care for each other especially during the holidays.

If you can’t think of an affordable gift as a Secret Santa, look for these items as options for gifts:

1. Small Plush Toys – this is a perfect gift for high-pressure offices. Plush toys can help soothe the tension because they can be used as a stress ball.
2. Stress Ball – a stress ball never goes out of style and it’s perfect for everyone. Be creative with your stress ball by purchasing items with a good design or message.
3. Slippers – this may not be a common Christmas gift but it’s one of the simple gifts you could give that can relieve stress of the feet.
4. Desk Notes – there are thousands of desk notes to choose from so you have to select a very unique desk notes to stand out.
5. Rubik’s Cube – it’s inexpensive and people are very familiar with the toy.
6. USB Santa Claus – there are hundreds of USB flash disks you could purchase online and they come in various designs including Santa Claus.
7. USB Rocket Launcher – one of the most popular affordable gadgets because of its unique system at a very affordable price.
8. Caps and Ear Warmers – Another popular option is to hand out items that help with the weather without spending too much.
9. Custom Designed Pencils – the pencils don’t have to be about Christmas but look for these designs to commemorate the holiday season.
10. USB Cup Warmer – another popular gift for co-workers in the office because it’s very simple (plug and play), affordable and can keep cups warm for hours.

Top 10 Excuses for Not Going to Work

We all have our reasons why we don’t want to go to work. While many of these reasons are true, there are days where you simply don’t want to show up at work. Telling your boss that you can’t go to work simply works because you don’t want to leave a bad impression and have possibly termination.

Even though we think of different creative ways to make excuses at work, we usually end up with some familiar conditions. The following are the top 10 excuses of employees who don’t want to go to work.

10. Diarrhea – very familiar and common since it leaves you some window to simply stay at home because you constantly need the toilet.

9. My Kid is Sick – one of the most popular excuses because employees don’t have to prove anything after their kid recovers.

8. You Don’t Feel Good and Will be at the Hospital – relatively common because it’s true. People calling in with this reason often ask for a medical certificate to prove that they actually went to the hospital because something is wrong.

7. “It’s my time of the month” – women can call in with this problem without any dispute from their boss especially if their boss is a man.

6. Still at the Airport – after a long weekend, you can easily extend your vacation by calling to tell them that you’re still stuck at the airport.

5. “I have to deal with something personal” – the keyword here is “something personal” they can’t ask for anything more because this will be invasion of privacy.

4. Someone Passed Away – this is another popular excuse since you can easily make up something especially when your boss is not familiar with your personal background.

3. Car Trouble – although not a perfect excuse not to work, it’s one of the best excuse to come in late. Just make sure you didn’t purchase your car last week.

2. Weather Problems – more often than not, weather problems can easily become the reason why you don’t want to work but it often turns out you’re not the only one out there.

1. Migraine – perfect excuse for people who already experienced migraines while at work.

Opus Energy Ltd - Cheap Office Energy

Opus Energy Ltd is a supplier of electricity and gas to UK businesses. The Company was established 9 years ago and has become a leading independent energy provider to the retail industry, government sector and housing associations. Opus Energy offers customers a competitively priced source of power as well as a high level of customer service.

Opus Energy's portfolio of companies has grown rapidly in size during the past few years. The business provides energy to more than 100,000 sites across the British Isles. Many of its customers are small or medium sized businesses that enjoy the savings and flexible billing the company can provide. Opus Energy Ltd supplies many household names with power including; Halfords, Cambridge City council, Stagecoach and Lloyds Pharmacy.

Opus Energy Ltd was recently featured in The Sunday Times Top Track 250. The league table is made up of Britain's top mid-market private companies. Opus achieved the placement through improving sales by 31% during the past year. Currently the company employs 360 staff at its Northampton and Oxford offices. Following The Sunday Times announcement the company has announced it aims to create 100 new jobs.

The new positions will be aimed at helping the company continue its level of growth. Charlie Crossley Cooke, the Managing Director at Opus energy, has stated that he expects the new jobs to be filled by local people.

Opus Energy provides tailored and flexible products specifically aimed at larger business customers. Opus Corporate Solutions delivers customers with an end to end, customer focused service. The company supply low-cost energy with flexible and tailored products led by customer's requirements.

Best Flooring for Offices

Choosing the right type of flooring is essential for a well insulated office. Although it’s fairly easy to choose flooring based on personal preferences, there are other factors that makes a specific type is ideal for the office.

Tiles as Floor

Tiles are very hard and sturdy which is very ideal for offices looking for a floor with great support for heavy objects. The advantage of tiles is not only on its sturdy feature but also for its wide range of options based on design. The disadvantage of tile as flooring option is that it could create a lot of noise.

The Hardwood Option

Hardwood is almost the same as tiles when it comes to design options but only better on the noise level. Wood is recommended for those who want to have the classic look in their office floor. The main disadvantage is its vulnerability to scratches as well as dents.

Laminate Option

A laminated floor is a relatively new flooring option for offices. The properties of laminated floor are practically the combination of wood and vinyl. This means you’ll have a good looking floor with better resistance to scratches and dents because of the vinyl property.

Carpeted Floor

Carpets are very popular in offices because of its ability to insulate the room. The design option is also very good and installation is relatively easy compared to wood and tiles. The challenge for carpeted floors, on the other hand, is the maintenance cost. Carpets are very susceptible to scratches, dirt and even smell which means regular cleanup is a must.

Top 3 Unique Places to Work

A regular office will look like a collection of cubicles where everyone is very busy in front of their computers or dealing with customers through a glass window. But there are offices around the world that will make you rethink what a typical office should be. The following are some of the most unique offices in the world. As expected, these offices are from well known brands and companies, as they push their employees to do more or think outside the box.

Red Bull Office in London

The Red Bull office in London is a highly unique office because it features slides instead of escalators and tables in their meeting rooms can also be used for table tennis. The office also features a roof terrace where employees can hang out and enjoy the view of the bustling city of London.

Googleplex in Mountain View, California

The search engine giant did not hold back in getting the best for their employees. Their main office has a swimming spa, doctors on site that can help their employees anytime and free meals. There are also sports facilities that practically cater to any type of hobby. It’s one of the most popular workplaces in the world and it receives more than 1,300 resumes everyday.

Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, California

Pixar is all about inspiration – and their office makes sure that their employees will always have something to be inspired about. It’s practically a complex with different types of offices you can’t find anywhere. Large open spaces to socialize and lounge areas where you can sit comfortably surrounded by world class designs.