Useful Tools For Running Your Business

[Cenobite]

Subversion repository installed on a server locally. Windows front-end using TortoiseSVN. Preaching the benefits of VCS should be teaching people here to suck eggs. Absolutely ALL business related data gets stuffed into version control (working copy maintained on the laptop HDD) where it is both safe and available across the network. I don't bother with NaS, USB-drives, or manual backups. The repo itself is backed up incrementally to the VPS's overnight..

The problem with Subversion is that you need an Internet connection to interact with the repository (see file changes, history, etc.). Because I didn't want to pay the Internet connection at my hotel, I created a free private Git repo at http://www.bitbucket.org/ and could work with the local repo without an Internet connection during the week and do a push to the remote repo on the weekends when I had a connection. If you want a backup of the repo, just make a clone of it on another computer.

[Contreras]

The problem with Subversion is that you need an Internet connection to interact with the repository (see file changes, history, etc.).

This is true. For software dev. pure svn can limit the workflow as you say. I posted what works for me in the context of business admin. Anyway the point was that using <insert your favourite vcs here>, once it is set up, is way more convenient and more robust than periodically trying to manually munge backups onto a USB-drive or NaS for example.

[SimonMac]

Bump

Updated first post

[woohoo]

how about Onenote for keeping track of all your notes. Great if you also have a touchscreen tablet with pen.

I also take pics of my receipts and upload them to onenote, handy cause I'm always losing receipts (works well on WP8 phones).

[MicrosoftBob]

The problem with Subversion is that you need an Internet connection to interact with the repository (see file changes, history, etc.). Because I didn't want to pay the Internet connection at my hotel, I created a free private Git repo at http://www.bitbucket.org/ and could work with the local repo without an Internet connection during the week and do a push to the remote repo on the weekends when I had a connection. If you want a backup of the repo, just make a clone of it on another computer.

And worse if you get network problems, subversion can corrupt your data

Luckily I kept my own version controlled backups on an external hard disc, so could say "I told you so"

[eek]

for cheap linux play machines you can't go wrong with digitalocean.com ....

$5 a month can't be sniffed at...

[SimonMac]

Updated first post

[garethevans1986]

I would like to add:

1) http://www.sipgate.co.uk to the VOIP/SIP category, free UK telephone numbers (one per account), incoming calls are free, outgoing calls are cheap but are a PAYG type payments or you can pay £5 a month for 1000 minutes to landlines etc which is pretty handy.

Some 0844 numbers are blocked too due to cost.
Calls between Sipgate numbers are free too.

I've got it a spare box running Elastix, working with 5 x SipGate numbers, 2 x Cisco 7940, 2 x Cisco 7960.

2) For when we're not available by phone we use Telephone Answering Service | Answer.co.uk these guys are £1 per answered call, you can mark calls as "sales" and get your money back for that call. Highly recommended.

GE

[robpow]

I would like to add:

1) w ww.sipgate.co.uk to the VOIP/SIP category, free UK telephone numbers (one per account), incoming calls are free, outgoing calls are cheap but are a PAYG type payments or you can pay £5 a month for 1000 minutes to landlines etc which is pretty handy.

+1 for Sipgate, been using them for years, works great both as an additional regional (020 in my case) number for the home office with a basic Siemens IP phone and from the mobile using the 3CXPhone app over 3G.

Matt

[SimonMac]

Bump