Windows Genuine Annoyance

Many of you who use Automatic Updates in Windows are familiar with the new WGA initiative, the Windows Genuine Advantage. It basically checks that your copy of Windows is valid. But, it also makes sure everything else is kosher as well. Personally, I find it annoying and indicative of Microsoft's distrust of their customers. The good news is that with a little Registry editing, you can remove it. This site shows you how.

New Processor

Intel has finally released the long-awaited Core 2 Duo processors this week. I've been reading all the benchmarks over the past few weeks and all I can say is, "Wow!" Every report I've seen shows this processor beats the next fastest processors by anywhere from 30-70%, depending on the test. This is huge. The chip runs like a mobile chip and one test I saw ran it under full load with no cooling fan and it didn't crash...amazing stuff. This is the processor that will be in all computers we sell within a few months when the prices come down. You can read about the results of the tests here.

Patterson Finally Does WAN

Patterson announced the release on nSite, which seems to be designed towards multiple-location offices. Here's the press release:

Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. announces the availability of nSite for Patterson EagleSoft, an innovative software application that allows Patterson EagleSoft customers to independently operate their leading clinical and practice management software at more than one site while simultaneously sharing data.
Combined with Patterson EagleSoft, nSite is ideal for large dental practices with multiple locations sharing access to patient files, billing information and insurance claims. nSite manages Patterson EagleSoft practices independently and jointly by linking information stored on a centralized database. With nSite, employee information is accessible at any number of locations, and scheduling and billing functions can be run from one central location. As a result, practices can outsource scheduling and billing operations to an off-site facility while maintaining up-to-date schedules and records on-site.
"nSite is unique because it functions off of one data set, not five or six, eliminating the need for data synchronization," said Patterson EagleSoft Development Manager Jim Garrett. "Additionally, tests to this point have elicited great customer feedback, which we greatly value when evaluating new products."
For data protection, nSite also offers security features which allow users to access data on a privileged basis depending on personal security rank, ensuring restricted patient information cannot be viewed by unauthorized users.
For more information about nSite for use with Patterson EagleSoft Version 13.00, call the support team at the Patterson Technology Center at 1-800-294-8504 or contact a local Patterson Technology Representative.

A Rewarding Smile

I saw some info about an interesting program today, called SmileRewards. Basically, it's a patient loyalty program that keeps them in touch with your practice and rewards them for being returning customers. The program seems pretty comprehensive and is priced around the same as many other similar programs like patient confirmation and reactivation. Definitely worth a look...tell them I sent you.

Customizing Firefox

According to my web and blog stats, a good 15-20% of you are using Firefox as your browser. I've always found this browser to be quicker and safer than Internet Explorer, although, out of the box, it's pretty basic. Here's a great list of some of the best extensions and modifications for Firefox to improve your browsing experience.

How Not To Set Up A Wireless Network

I found this great little summary that has 20 excellent things you should not do when setting up a wireless network at home. Some is common sense, but there are plenty of good tips here nonetheless.

New All-in-One

Pelham Sloan has just announced the release of their new 17" All-in-One system. I've always thought that these were good options for offices who didn't want to deal with running VGA and audio cables from a computer to the monitor, as the entire computer is built into the monitor. I hadn't recommended them before as the size was only 15", but with 17", it's now a viable options for dentists. Expect pricing to be in the $2500 or so range.

Extending Windows 98

While Microsoft has now dropped support for Windows 98, I truly believe it's time to change. However, for those offices not willing to take that step, there are many things you can do to extend the life of systems running 98. You can read some excellent ideas at this site here.

New Dragon

Nuance recently released the newest version of their voice-to-text software, Dragon Naturally Speaking 9. This is the engine that drives many of the voice recognition software modules used by dental practice management software systems. The problem in the past was the need to train the software to your voice, and the 90% accuracy was still very low. According to them, the new version requires no training and has close to 99% accuracy. If this is true (and time will tell), we may be at a point where voice recognition might become a real viable option for dental offices. We'll see...

More Schein News

Well, it seems like they've been busy this week. They just announced that they have entered into an exclusive relationship with Imaging Sciences International, the makers of the incredible i-CAT machine. If you haven't seen what this 3-D imaging can do, you will be absolutely blown away with the images. At $150k or so, it's not for everyone, but this technology is really the future of imaging. Here's the press release.

The "Force" is With Them

Big news from the Sullivan-Schein Annual Meeting: Schein has entered into an exclusive relationship with DemandForce. I've talked about DemandForce before, a very slick application that handles many of the patient recall and activation chores, as well as patient satisfaction surveys. They've recently updated their website and are now offering a free, 45-day trial. Definitely worth a look and I think it's a good fit for Schein.

Dell Deal

I noticed that Dell has really started to drop the prices on their laptops. They currently have a very sweet Duo Core system with 14" screen for under $700. There are a few tweaks I'd make such as changing the OS to XP Pro, but it's still a great deal for someone who wants a fast laptop for basic chores but nothing high end like video editing or games. You can see the specs of the system here.

e2v Grows

Many of you know that my current favorite sensor is the e2v sensor, used by such companies as XDR, Dentrix, Progeny, and Air Techniques. Well, news has come out that e2v just acquired Atmel last week. Atmel is a large sensor manufacturer that is currently best known as the provider of sensors for Gendex. The acquisition should make e2v the largest sensor company in the world. How this will play out for current e2v owners and Gendex users is anyone's guess. I would expect that e2v will incorporate some of the Atmel design into a newly designed sensor, but there is no official confirmation of that. You can read the news report here.

New Dell "Laptop"

And I use the term laptop loosely. Dell showed a prototype system at the CES which, surprisingly, has actually been released as a fully functioning system. Sporting a 20.1" screen (yes, 20'!) and specs to drool over, this is definitely on the top of my Holiday Wish List. It's not for running through airports at around 18 lbs but is more suited as a desktop replacement. You can check out the specs of the XPS M2010 (or order me one) at Dell's site.

New Backup Software

I've been playing around with a backup program I found a few weeks ago called NovaBackup. It's a very easy-to-use yet robust program that seems to do a really nice job of backup. What I especially like is the ability to backup open files, which is huge for any office that uses a SQL-based database, such as Eaglesoft or Open Dental or Dentrix Image. While not free like my beloved Karen's Replicator, it's around $50 and a very worthwhile addition to the backup software scene.

Shipping Rates

If you're like me, you are constantly sending things from your office. Wouldn't it be nice to know who has the better rates? Here's a great little site called Red Roller which makes it very easy to compare rates.

Eaglesoft 13.0 Ships

Here's the press release:

Patterson Dental Supply, Inc. announces the release of Patterson EagleSoft Version 13.00, the latest version of leading clinical and practice management software featuring new and enhanced features to ensure optimal efficiency.

In response to feedback from current Patterson EagleSoft users, Patterson EagleSoft Version 13.00 provides specialized time-saving tools to assist practitioners with each patient visit, from check-in to walkout. For example, the new Fast CheckIn feature allows patients to enter registration information directly into the system unassisted. Version 13.00 also features IntelliCare, in which users can set automated alerts pertaining to patient care, such as patient records that require updating.
"The variety of customizable features in Patterson EagleSoft Version 13.00 accommodates the individual needs of each practice," said Jim Garrett, development manager, Patterson EagleSoft. "Combined with Patterson's hardware, digital imaging, patient education and unmatched support capabilities, EagleSoft continues to streamline clinical and daily operational tasks, allowing dental professionals to spend more time with their patients."

New Features in Patterson EagleSoft Version 13.00:

-Fast CheckIn. This kiosk-style check-in center is designed for patients to enter registration information directly into the system unassisted. The patient registration form includes patient demographics, medical history, HIPAA forms and the ability to view CAESY patient education presentations. Patients can access Fast CheckIn from a desktop computer or Tablet PC.
-IntelliCare. The IntelliCare feature allows practices to create automated alerts for patients matching user-defined criteria. For example, to ensure patient X-rays are up-to-date, users can set parameters that alert them to patients without a current panoramic X-ray on file. IntelliCare message options and settings are limitless.
-Integrated Credit Card Processing. The Credit Card Integration feature accelerates the billing process by offering users the ability to obtain electronic authorizations directly from their workstations.
-Quick Reports. This feature allows users to create customized groupings of commonly used reports. With Quick Reports, batches can be created for accounting reports, patient-based reports, referral report groups and more.
-Live Video Exam in Advanced Imaging. With this feature, practitioners can record live streaming video in Advanced Imaging and save within the corresponding patient record.
-Electronic Attachments. Charts, X-rays and other patient records can be submitted and tracked easily and securely using the Electronic Attachments feature.

For more information about Patterson EagleSoft Version 13.00, call the Patterson Technology Center at 1.800.294.8504 or contact a local Patterson Technology Representative.

Photo Storage and Sync

Got this from my friend Marty Jablow of DTS. It's a new web-based file sharing and sync system called Sharpcast. While they plan to extend it to all files, it's just for photos right now. It's a real simple way to store and sync your files, and have the updates sync automatically, saving you from the tedious chore of running a new backup each time you add new images. Definitely worth a look, and, of course, free of charge.

Blue Note Continues to Impress

I had a chance to check out the newest version of Blue Note Communicator and I continue to be impressed with the features and development of their company. Besides the new version, they now offer online chat for support and they have also released a free timer program called BlueMinder that is pretty slick. You can check out their website here.

Windows 98...R.I.P.

At the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in Boston yesterday, Microsoft officially announced that they are no longer supporting Windows 98 or ME. Considering that the program came out 8 years ago, it had a good run, but they will no longer be providing any support, including security upgrades. If you've been on 98, it's time to change (and, most likely, get new hardware as well). You can read about the decision on many different web sites; here's just one.

XCPT Takes Shape

I had a chance today to demo a relatively new software program called XCPT (pronounced "accept"). This is a very cool program that's a bid hard to describe. It's basically a cross between imaging and patient education software. I was really impressed with the feature set, ease-of-use, the ability to email images to referring offices, and a host of other features. You use your patient's own x-rays (digital or scanned) or photos to communicate with them. While not cheap at $6000, I think this program can sell a lot of cases so don't let the price put you off. Highly recommended.

Slideshow Software

Here's a great little program I've been playing with for a few days: LPJ Slideshow. This is a really simple program that allows you to easily create a slideshow of images that you can show patients or burn to a CD that will autoplay when they take the CD home...no computer experience needed. And, of course, the program is free. Give it a try!

Toshiba...Caveat Emptor

In the past, I've often recommended Toshiba laptops for people who want a high-end desktop replacement. Unfortunately, Toshiba seems to have really dropped the ball with tech support recently, and as this article shows, they just received an F grade from the BBB. I'd have to recommend staying clear of Toshiba products for the time being.

Tiny Computer

While there's been a lot of press lately about the UltraMobile PC (UMPC), Sony appears to have stolen the spotlight with their UX180P. This little guy is the smallest full-featured computer I've ever seen and it seems to have some decent specs. At $1800, it ain't cheap, but if you love gadgets (and who doesn't?), it's worth a look. You can read the full review here.

Upcoming Patches

Microsoft has announced that they are releasing 7 new security patches for Windows and Office next week. This is just one more reason why we always recommend that you leave Automatic Updates turned ON in Windows. You can read the details of these patches here.

Windows Services

Many of you have probably heard of Windows Services, but may not know what they do, which ones are important, and which ones you can disable to improve system performance. This Beginner's Guide walks you through the process in plain English, and is worth a look.

Security Check

Here's a great free program that not many people know about: the Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer. This excellent software scans your system to let you know if you need updates to Windows, antivirus, firewalls, strong passwords, etc. Highly recommended.

Hard Drive Tweaks

Here's a great little tip that I found online to increase hard drive performance on older IDE drives by up to 600%. It's designed for older IDE drives (which need the boost anyway), but see if you can get some better performance on your laptop drives. You can check out the details and the steps to follow right here.

Dell EV-DO card

I'm a huge fan of the EV-DO network, specifically the one from Verizon. For those of you not familiar with EV-DO, it's a high speed data network that runs over Verizon's cell phone network. So, unlike Wi-Fi hotspots that you need to be within 100 feet of, you can use an EV-DO device anywhere you can get cell reception. Some new laptops, such as the Lenovo X60s that I recently purchased, have this built-in. If your laptop doesn't, you can still use an EV-DO card, such as the new Dell one. You can read about it here. The card costs about $180 with one month free service, then about $60-80/monthly for unlimited service.

Laptop Tips

PC World has released a nice list of things you can do to increase the lifespan and functionality of your laptop, everything from upgrades to gadgets. Check out the article here.

Air Techniques Expands

July 2006, Melville NY:

Air Techniques, Inc., manufacturers for the dental, medical, veterinary and nondestructive testing markets, has moved its headquarters to Melville, Long Island. AIR TECHNIQUES' entire product line is created, developed and manufactured at the new 200,000 square foot facility. These new headquarters house the Company's manufacturing, administrative, engineering, marketing, warehouse, shipping
and sales departments. The Company also has a sales and distribution center on the west coast. With a workforce of over 350 people, and a vertically integrated manufacturing plant, products are designed and manufactured using computer-controlled fabricating and testing equipment. All design and manufacturing activities comply with FDA Good Manufacturing and Design Practices. AIR TECHNIQUES is an ISO 9001:2000 company.

AIR TECHNIQUES' most popular product, the innovative and patented ScanX Computed Radiography System which utilizes reusable phosphor storage plates in place of film, makes digital radiography accessible to private practitioners. It is rapidly becoming the choice for the private office due to its remarkable, unique design and
economical price. Today, AIR TECHNIQUES' AT2000XR and Peri-Pro film processors, AirStar oil free air compressors, VacStar and STS vacuum systems, Provecta 70 x-rays, Acclaim Intraoral Cameras, ScanX Computed Radiography Systems
and Accent CCD Direct Digital Intraoral Sensors are used by dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, veterinarians, orthopedic specialists and other medical practitioners.
Formerly located in Hicksville, Long Island the Company made a commitment to remain on the Island, and moved to Melville in May 2006.

Air Techniques, Inc. is dedicated to providing its global customer base with superior products supported by responsive customer service and expert technical assistance. All products are sold through its network of authorized dealers. For further information, visit: www.airtechniques.com.