Ready Set Go!Business development and project management solutions
for your small business or non-profit organization
Ready Set Go!There are amazing tools and software available for free on the Internet. Here are a sampling of some tools we have found useful. All of the following are third-party products and not affiliated with Ready-Set-Go! consulting in any way.
Ride to work on SEPTA
Sit at my Multiple-Monitor setup with Ultramon toolbars
Provide technical support using CrossLoop
Setup meetings using MeetingWizard
Discuss plans over a conference call using FreeConferencePro
Receive faxes through K7.net
Print PDF files with CutePDF or PDF Creator
MeetingWizard is simple, professional tool designed for the business setting. It can be used to coordinate schedules and find the best time for a meeting.
Alternative: MeetWithApproval (paid service): meetwithapproval.com
Evite is the popular, graphic intensive, ad-based web/email scheduling program that is designed for inviting people to parties.
Alternative: crush3r.com
Alternative: www.mypunchbowl.com/
Alternative: www.socializr.com/
There are several free teleconference services available. Individual callers only pay for their own long distance charges (many people have unlimited minutes anyway!).
Free Conference: http://www.freeconference.com/
Free Conference Calls: http://www.freeconferencecall.com/
Free Conference Pro: www.freeconferencepro.com
OpenOffice does just about everything that Microsoft Office does (and some things that Microsoft Office doesn't!). The biggest difference is that OpenOffice is free!
These free providers will send you email reminders of events or tasks you need to pay attention to.
Please note that Ready-Set-Go! consulting can also provide reminders related to your website. Please inquire if such reminders might be helpful.
FareCast - Not only does it compare airfare, it predicts whether prices for your flight are going up or down, based on historic trends.
CrossLoop - Allows one person to see and control another person's computer, across the internet. Free and easy to setup.
Imagination Cubed - Simple online sketchpad -- share, collaborate, send, etc.
http://www.imaginationcubed.com
File Backups - By folder, etc
Email Backups - Including Settings and Email
If you have a good internet connection, you may not need a fax machine to send your faxes. Check out these two resources to find the right service for your volume of faxing: http://www.savetz.com/fax/ and http://www.faxprices.com/
I have been especially pleased with http://www.K7.net for free incoming faxes (and voicemail, if you want). You get your own 206 area code phone number and receive faxes to your email address.
Try faxZero for low-volume, free out-going faxes: faxzero.com
See also: Creating PDF files
I also have a client who has done large volume out-going faxes through Metro Hi Speed with great success.
I don't generally look to Bill Gates as my guru, but I have mimiced this triple monitor setup in my office:
money.cnn.com/2006/03/30/news/newsmakers/gates_howiwork_fortune/
MaxiVista - Let's you use a second computer (laptop or desktop) as a second/dual monitor without any extra hardware. Requires a local network. Can also serve as a keyboard/monitor/mouse (KVM) sharing tool. Commercial software. Windows only.
MultiMon - Free software to add an extra toolbar on your multi-monitor setup.
www.mediachance.com/free/multimon.htm
UltraMon - Software to add an extra toolbar on your multi-monitor setup. Commercial, but worth the investment.
http://www.realtimesoft.com/ultramon/
Synergy - Lets you control multiple computers from one mouse/keyboard. Works with Windows, Macintosh and Linux as long as they are on the same local network.
http://synergy2.sourceforge.net/
Also see MaxiVista below for another software KVM option. And hardware KVN area also available.
PhillyCarShare
SEPTA
Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia
