Summary: We talk with three IT service providers and ask them if they think the data in the National Contractor and Service Platform Survey Report is a fair assessment of the state of the IT service industry.<br> TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10<br><br> Intro 1:18<br><br> Billboard :48<br> News and Comment segment 7:13<br><br> <a target="_blank" title="http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-chairman-genachowski-issues-gigabit-city-challenge" href="http://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-chairman-genachowski-issues-gigabit-city-challenge">The FCC</a> wants everyone to be on gigabit ethernet by 2015.<br> Makeuseof.com is offering a FREE Guide called <a target="_blank" title="http://theforcefield.tradepub.com/free/w_make72" href="http://theforcefield.tradepub.com/free/w_make72">Ubuntu: An Absolute Beginners Guide</a>. This 30 page guide will tell you everything you need to know about Ubuntu, a free, open-source linux based operating system with 20 million users worldwide. The guide is free to qualified professionals.<br> <a target="_blank" title="https://leapmotion.com" href="https://leapmotion.com">Leap Motion</a> announced plans to launch the <a target="_blank" title="https://leapmotion.com/press_release_leap_best_buy" href="https://leapmotion.com/press_release_leap_best_buy">Leap Motion Controller</a> exclusively at Best Buy this spring.<br> <a target="_blank" title="http://www.officemax.com" href="http://www.officemax.com">Office Max</a> and <a target="_blank" title="http://www.godaddy.com" href="http://www.godaddy.com">GoDaddy</a> have teamed up to offer web site bundles to small and medium-size businesses in the retail marketplace.<br> Commercial Break 2:00<br><br> <a target="_blank" title="The Computer Business Kit" href="http://www.technibble.com/aff/forcefield">The Computer Business Kit</a><br> Intro to Topic 2:14<br><br> In the summer of 2012, The Force Field conducted a survey of IT service providers and asked them to rate the national contractors and service platforms from best to worst. The results were published in a 20 page <a target="_blank" title="The National Contractor and Service Platform Survey Report" href="http://www.theforcefield.net/reports/2012/index.html">The National Contractor and Service Platform Survey Report</a> released in tandem with <a title="The Force Field Episode 62" href="http://www.theforcefield.net/podcast/?p=345">The Force Field Episode 62</a>. Today we’ve assembled a panel of three IT service professionals who represent a cross-section of technicians who actively perform contract work in the field. Our three panelists are Parrish Reinhoel of <a target="_blank" title="Pathfinder Networks" href="http://www.pathfindernetworks.com">Pathfinder Networks</a>, Chris Tiffany of <a target="_blank" title="Sprinter Technology Solutions" href="http://www.sprintertech.us">Sprinter Technology Services</a> and Dave Hayden of <a target="_blank" title="Computer 911" href="http://www.computer911online.com">Computer 911</a>. We will ask them what they think of the survey data and if it paints an accurate picture of the techs, the nationals, the platforms, and the IT service industry as a whole. Download <a target="_blank" title="The Force Field 2012 National Contractor and Service Platform Survey Report" href="http://www.theforcefield.net/reports/2012/index.html">The Force Field 2012 National Contractor and Service Platform Survey Report</a>.<br> The National Contractor and Service Platform Survey Report Panel Discussion 23:30<br> Wrap up and Close :46<br> Comments, questions or suggestions? Send them in to comments@theforcefield.net or post them in <a target="_blank" title="http://www.theforcefield.net/forums/index.php?board=205.0" href="http://www.theforcefield.net/forums/index.php?board=205.0">The Force Field Forums</a>. Feedback on this topic will be read by the host and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at <a target="_blank" title="http://www.theforcefield."></a>
