Posted by Amy Kardel on Fri, Jan 22, 2010 @ 04:54 PM
Our latest press release:
Clever Ducks, one of San Luis Obispo's leading providers of IT services for small and medium-sized businesses has announced that it has earned the prestigious Microsoft Gold Certified Partner status.
According to the Microsoft website, "Gold Certified Partners represent the highest level of competence and expertise with Microsoft technologies, and have the closest working relationship with Microsoft." The sought-after partner level is obtained through a combination of software sales, customer endorsements, and engineering competencies. Clever Ducks has obtained competencies in the following two areas: the Information Worker Solutions competency and the Virtualization competency. The Virtualization competency is reserved for partners who "optimize IT infrastructures". Also according to the Microsoft Partner website, Gold partners must have "capabilities including server consolidation for date center and branch office scenarios, server business continuity, development and test lab virtualization, client and application virtualization, along with environmentally sustainable IT initiatives."
Clever Ducks is very proud to announce this achievement and plans to celebrate with an employee "Gold Party" next week.
For the full article: http://www.prlog.org/10500589-clever-ducks-achieves-microsoft-gold-partner-status.html
Posted by Amy Kardel on Wed, Dec 23, 2009 @ 02:57 PM
The Clever Ducks office is looking squeaky clean these days. Kardel kids, Erik and Jorgen have been hard at work to make sure all of us here get to enjoy working in the best-looking pond there is! Erik Kardel(6th grade) assembled tool boxes and even cleaned out our fridge. No more expired leftovers! Pictured is Jorgen Kardel (2nd grade), who did the backbreaking job of whiteboard cleaning. There is no doubt these boys are making the top of Santa's Nice List this year!
Posted by Amy Kardel on Fri, Dec 18, 2009 @ 03:18 PM
Click on the link below to see the message that Clever Ducks (and Santa) has prepared for you!
http://portablenorthpole.tv/watch/6ebcaba7744f38db5a932a81c0d39f9f
Have a great Holiday Season!
Posted by Amy Kardel on Mon, Nov 30, 2009 @ 05:05 PM
Windows 7 users outnumbering those on Macs. (and don't get us wrong, we love Macs too here at Clever Ducks...)
The overwhelming majority of the market uses Microsoft Windows, so it should come as no surprise that Windows usage this past weekend was higher than that of Mac OS X. The interesting stat, however, was that Windows 7 usage surpassed all versions of Mac OS X combined.
According to tracking firm Net Applications, Windows 7 commanded an average of 5.07 percent usage last Saturday and Sunday. The growing slice of market share was enough to move past the 5 percent that Apple held across all its current versions of OS X for that week.
"It's safe to say that Windows 7's daily share did peak above Mac's weekly share," said Vince Vizzaccaro, executive vice president at Net Applications, according to Computerworld.
Looking at Window 7's full week average, which started out lower than numbers attained over the weekend, Mac OS X still led ahead by nearly a percentage point. Windows 7's week averaged at 4.15 percent usage. Vizzaccaro believes that the growth of Windows 7 will mean that it'll soon leave OS X behind.
"Certainly, the trend line shows Windows 7 will surpass Mac share soon," he predicted.
Source : Tom's Hardware US
Posted by Amy Kardel on Tue, Sep 01, 2009 @ 06:33 PM
On the hottest day of the year (111 degrees at SLO Airport), the Clever Ducks took to the water... Morro Bay that is for a picnic and kayaking. The timing was superb as it was hot but not as hot on the bay. Here's a link to the album of photos.
Posted by Amy Kardel on Thu, Aug 13, 2009 @ 08:55 AM
Late last week Channel Pro, a national trade magazine focused on the small and medium sized business IT providers, called and wanted to send a photographer up to SLO from LA to shoot images at our office to go with an interview I gave a few weeks earlier. That was great news, of course. And our friends at Wingswept were key in the interview and its contents. (I’ll post a link to it here once it comes out).
But then, I immediately thought, how am I going to make the office and me look good. So I called on some good friends. It all went well yesterday. And I want to thank my friends:
Janet Hooper of Recreated Spaces for dressing up the office
Ian Saude of iansaude.com for the fabulous jewelry and wadrobe consulting
Coverings for the great clothes
Salon Lux and Marissa for the great makeup
Christa at Jassi and Christa’s for the great hair
Thanks to my staff for accommodating all the commotion here . It was quite a production. And thanks to the photographer Steve Morales, for making the trip up. And his assistant Brian. We look forward to seeing the results.
Posted by Amy Kardel on Mon, Aug 10, 2009 @ 06:40 AM
We met our intern Jordan through the planning for the mission. He's just back and here's the video that will show you the brightest lights are those that give back. Jordan, thanks for sharing your light at Clever Ducks this summer too! Congratulations on a great mission to help those who need it most!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7BO-3LOZwI
Posted by Amy Kardel on Fri, Jul 31, 2009 @ 01:49 PM
Here's a big thanks to all the system admins that keep things running behind the scenes!
July 31 is your day!
http://www.sysadminday.com/
Posted by Amy Kardel on Fri, Jul 17, 2009 @ 05:00 PM
It is summer and Junior Lifeguards (and a sandy house) are a big part of my life. Sophia came in 3rd in Carpenteria in Girl's Paddling. Way to go! Ducks take to water, as you all know!
Posted by Amy Kardel on Fri, Jul 17, 2009 @ 04:57 PM
I saw this sign at Rancho Grande Motors this week and thought it was worth sharing. Without customer focus there is no reason to be in business. A good reminder!