It has been quite a while since this site received the attention it deserves. Today, that changes.

As we look toward the future, we’ve been thinking about what our experience can truly offer you. We aren’t here to give you advice on how to manufacture your products or how to drive sales; instead, our expertise lies in the Internet technologies and services that power your business behind the scenes—the tools that control and support the activities your customers actually pay you for.

The Value of Choice: FOSS vs. Commercial

Our journey has been shaped by the incredible value of the Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) movement. We have found immense utility in the free tiers of various providers. However, we’ve also learned that it is often a smarter strategic decision to subscribe to a commercial product—provided you understand the potential for vendor lock-in and the long-term pricing risks.

Why Google Workspace Remains a Top Contender

Currently, Gmail stands out as a premier service that extends far beyond simple, reliable email. A free account serves as a gateway to a full suite of productivity tools:

• Google Docs & Sheets: Seamless collaboration and document management.
• Google Calendar: Integrated scheduling.
• Google Photos: Secure cloud storage for your visual assets.

Our Advice: Embrace the Ecosystem

To get the most out of Google’s offerings, we recommend staying flexible. Try running with their native workflows and recommendations first, rather than trying to force the tools into your existing habits.

Specifically, we’ve seen that attempting to emulate the Microsoft Outlook experience within Google products often leads to a steeper, less productive learning curve. If you embrace the Google “way” of working, the transition is much smoother.

Gmail is available on every platform and consistently ranks in our Top 5 Essential Tools for Small Business.