Apple has determined that certain lithium-ion batteries containing cells manufactured by Sony Corporation of Japan pose a safety risk that may result in overheating under rare circumstances.

The affected batteries were sold worldwide from October 2003 through August 2006 for use with the following notebook computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4.

Apple is voluntarily recalling the affected batteries and has initiated a worldwide exchange program to provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge. This program is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities.

Check your laptop.Check your laptop.

Creative Resources, Orange County's premier Apple certified technical services and trainer, has opened an office in Honolulu, Hawaii.  As of July 2006, Creative Resources has begun offering Macintosh training at Apple's Ala Moana retail store and in its own classroom at Restaurant Row's Innovation Center, Building 7- unit 405.  Creative Resources also offers technical consultation to individual companies looking to revamp or build their Apple computer network, including purchasing recommendations and employee training.

The Creative Resources team in Hawaii includes Jason Yoshioka, office/sales manager, who brings a strong background in Corporate sales and marketing.  Joining Jason, is Billy Howes, Systems Engineer, who is an Apple Certified Help Desk Specialist (ACHDS), is working on his ACTC and has over 10 years in computer experience, including numerous PC certifications.  Additionally, Creative Resources in Hawaii has the ability to tap into the talent and knowledge of its Santa Ana and San Diego offices to ensure that we find the right solutions for our client's needs.

In the enterprise, support is critical to business continuity.  In the ld days, it was good to stick with the tried, tested and true.  That meant staying with (and paying for) the support of the original equipment manufacturer.  But several small to midsized enterprises have been turning to third-party organizations to get decent, if not better, support options.

If a third party is chosen as a support type, there are a number of benefits that come with the support.  When associating with a third party, SME's get involved with people who are intimately knowledgeable about the technology without paying for dedicated support staff.  Because support is their specialty, third-party vendors also have close relationships with hardware and software vendors, making it easier to deliver bona fide support.

How does an SME find and contract with the right third-party vendor?  For starters, check with trusted colleagues for referrals to someone they trust.  This is the best way to find someone that can help out, or who has knowledge in your same market.  For support on the Apple platform, a great search engine exists on Apple's website.  

SME's should evaluate whether the third-party support provider is truly a support organization with the manpower to service your needs, especially in an emergency.  It is always a good idea to do a little bit of background checking on potential contractors.  Make sure they have the most current certifications in the fields you are looking to employ them.

It may cost more to hire third-party support, but SME's will generally be compensated cost-wise in the quality of support they receive.  At any rate, companies must decide on their support goal:  Is it just to cut costs, or is it to achieve the best possible quality?  In many ways it can make sense to contract with a third party to provide support for IT equipment.  But that's not s bad for SME's whey the common denominators are money and better, faster service.