Palo Alto

Business Plan Pro 15th Anniversary Edition
$99.95
I recommend this product to anyone that is going to start a business or who is just thinking about starting one. It take a lot of time to prepare a business plan. This software will help you keep organized, ideas, and help.

Business Plan Pro Premier 15th Anniversary Edition
$199.99
I've never written a business plan, nor have I done any serious work with financial spreadsheets. Just using examples found online or in books seemed a bit overwhelming. When I got the software installed and running on my computer, I was very pleased at the intuitive way the program was laid out. All of the text sections that I needed to write came easily with the clear instructions and samples.

I had troubles with the spreadsheets. When I had the Business Plan software check my spreadsheets, it claimed there were errors. The good news is that the software even listed the name of the spreadsheets, which had the errors (I had not noticed the spreadsheet names before this point). The software even told me how to fix my errors. This was great!

Sadly, I could not just link to the offending spreadsheet with a click of the mouse. Confusingly, the spreadsheet names did not match the software program outline titles. The spreadsheet names were also in a different order than the business plan outline. I had to manually hunt through every section of the entire software program to find the offending spreadsheet. By the time I had found the spreadsheet, I had forgotten HOW I was supposed to fix the error. Once I found the right spreadsheet, I ended up manually writing down the business plan outline section where the spreadsheet was located so I could find it again, then I went back to the spreadsheet check section for information on how to fix the spreadsheet.

And worst of all to me, I still did not understand how the numbers went together when the software printed out the tables. I know the numbers I have from my research, but the software did not make this section simple or intuitive enough for me to understand.

Lastly, when I finished the work I could do and took it to a local Small Business & Entrepreneurship Development place, I was told there were a couple of spreadsheets of information missing:

1.) A spreadsheet listing the cost of fixtures and equipment is needed to justify the dollar amount I listed on the line "Start-up Assets To Fund" under Table: Start-Up Funding. Currently it appears the software just asks for a single number input to cover everything you need to start, which seems pie-in-the-sky, pick a number at random, and not hard financial data. Also, I have no idea where my advertising, website development, and other start up expenses before opening the business are supposed to go since those are not "assets" as is defined by my understanding of the term.

2.) A "Personal Assets" spreadsheet is needed. This software is missing that critical piece of information that lenders will require about a borrower's loan worthiness.

I'm still working on this part, so I don't know if I can import these extra spreadsheets into the program, or if I'll have to print out my spreadsheets separately and add them to the back of the business plan.

Overall, despite the spreadsheet issues I'm still working through, this software is very worthwhile. I went from knowing nothing about business plans, to having one that will work when I get the extra spreadsheets finished. The director of SB&ED had even complimented me on the written portion of my plan, citing the details written. Considering I knew nothing about how to construct a business plan, that impressed me.

Over Time: Palo Alto, 1947-1980 (General History: California)
$26.99
Adrian Hatfield was one of many happy veterans returning to Palo Alto after World War II, but this flying ace and Stanford student (class of 1938) would spend the next 33 years photographing every inch of Palo Alto and vicinity. Presented here for the first time in published form is the aerial photography of Adrian Hatfield, founder of Hatfield Aerial Survey in 1947. The astounding visual archives that he created during his long career documents the evolution of a small town surrounded by dairies, farms, and apricot orchards to a tech-industry giant that finds its roots firmly attached to Stanford University. Working closely with developers such as Joseph Eichler, Hatfield witnessed, recorded, and helped build the community that is Palo Alto today.

Geek Silicon Valley: The Inside Guide to Palo Alto, Stanford, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, San Jose, San Francisco
$15.95
This book delivers as advertised. A great summary of Silicon Valley. If you've just arrived in the valley it is indispensable. Pick up this book and spend your time learning, visiting and eating through the locales mentioned. (They should hand this out to incoming students at Stanford, and at the immigration line at SFO.)

Minor quibble, the book suffers from "young journalist syndrome," where its history, anecdotes and insights are a synthesis of the bibliography in the back. However, kudos to the author for reading more valley history than 99% of other writers. He is headed for greatness when he finds his own voice.