April 2009 - Posts

Ask Quill
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:35 AM

Printer or Multifunction Machine?


Buying a new printer for your office might seem like a relatively easy task….until you realize the incredible number of options associated with the decision.

Inkjet or laser? Color or monochrome? Do you need two-sided printing, collating capabilities, or an extra-large input tray? What about wireless?

If you’re going to print a lot of black and white pages, a laser printer is your best choice because it’s faster and costs less to print each page. (Inkjet printers initially cost less but because it’s more expensive to print each page, the cost of cartridges can really add up). Many businesses today, however, are now deciding to upgrade to a laser or inkjet multifunction machine because in addition to printing, they can also handle scanning, copying and faxing.

Buying a multifunction machine can save your company money, space…and maybe a little bit of aggravation, too. Here’s how:

  • Save money – you could spend many thousands of dollars for a dedicated printer, flatbed scanner, copier and fax machine….compared to only a couple hundred dollars for a reliable multifunction.
    One multifunction machine also consumes less power than three or four separate machines.
  • Save space – if things are getting just a bit crowded in your office, a multifunction can consolidate all your necessary office functions into just one machine
  • Save some aggravation – having one machine that does it all can also make office life just a little bit easier. You’ll have to download just one driver update (as opposed to separate downloads for different machines) and you’ll only have to purchase ink and toner for just one machine (and not different kinds of ink and toner for each of your machines).  

If a multifunction machine is right for your office, here are some recommended models to take a look at:

  • Canon ImageCLASS MF4370 Mono Laser Multifunction—Features 2-sided printing, copying, faxing and scanning and includes a 35-page auto document feeder and built-in Ethernet port for network printing. Prints up to 23 ppm with up to 600x600 dpi resolution.
     
  • Brother MFC-7840W Mono Laser Multifunction—An ideal choice for wireless networking. Has a 10,000 pages per month duty cycle and prints up to 23 ppm with extra sharp 2400x600 dpi resolution.

  • HP Color LaserJet CM1312 NFI Multifunction—Perfect for creating marketing brochures and other presentation-quality materials that require sharp graphics and attention-getting color. Prints up to 12 ppm (black) and 8 ppm (color). Energy Star® qualified.

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by tinadh | with no comments
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The Welcome Mat
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:18 AM

 

Curb appeal

Curb appeal is the popular buzzword for how good your house and yard look from the street. If your house isn't selling, or if you're preparing to put it on the market, chances are your front yard could use a facelift.  
 

Homeowners address curb appeal by what they can do to make the outside of their home look its best. It is essential when selling the property—first impressions are very important and can sway potential buyers to have positive or negative reactions before entering the home. An inviting home encourages people to visit.

 

Curb appeal relates to landscaping, exterior color, masonry and entryway, including porches and doors, garage and driveway. Windows say a lot about a home, not only by their appearance and upkeep, but also about their efficiency.

 

Your house should be welcoming and its appeal easily visible at every angle from the street. Most importantly, it should make you feel proud when you drive up to it—feel something special about your house "that makes you smile when you come home," according to exterior designer Pamela Berstler. Exactly what that something is, depends on the home style and owner, since different people value different things. Curb appeal is a balance between what makes you happy and the style of your neighborhood.

 

Many sources tout the financial benefits of boosting curb appeal, citing a 1999 Clemson University study showing that consumers valued well-landscaped homes at 11% above the asking price. A 1999 Gallup survey found landscaping could add 7-15% to a home's value. A 2003 SmartMoney magazine article suggested that spending 5% of your home's value on landscaping could yield a return of 150% or more.

 

Having a plan is important, says landscape designer Jim Riley, because it means there will be consistency to the work you do, even if it’s done in phases. Not all improvements need to involve major and expensive work. "It can be as simple as painting the front door a different color—it’s a quick and easy thing you can do yourself."

by tinadh | with no comments
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Media Mix
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:17 AM

Luba Mason
Krazy Love
Sunnyside Records

 

On her new CD Krazy Love, vocalist Luba Mason premieres eight original songs that explore many kinds of love, from childhood memories of her parents’ home in “This House” to betrayal in both “From Me To You” and “A Summer Night.” Behind her masterful singing, acoustic instruments create an intimate atmosphere, playing soulful Brazilian and jazz rhythms mixed with the raw emotion of folk and pop. Through her interpretations, the songs come alive as personal and heartfelt expressions of real human experience.

 

The emotional depth of her singing comes in part from her extensive performing experience. She danced and sang in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of “The Will Roger’s Follies.” In the celebrated revival of “How To Succeed In Business…” she shared the stage with Matthew Broderick as the sexy Hedy LaRue. She played Velma Kelly opposite Brooke Shields’ Roxy Hart in the smash musical, “Chicago,” and she starred in the Broadway production of “Jekyll & Hyde.” Her television credits include guest appearances on “Law & Order,” “NYPD Blue,” “New York Undercover,” and most recently opposite Jeff Goldblum in the psychic detective series, “Raines.” While performing Paul Simon’s “The Capeman,” her husband Latin superstar Ruben Blades – then just her castmate – asked her to sing on his CD Mundo, which won a Grammy Award in 2003.

 

Krazy Love features guest appearances by Blades and also by world-renowned flutist Hubert Laws. Additionally, Luba’s top-notch band features pianist Renato Neto (Prince’s pianist), bassist Jimmy Haslip (from the Yellowjackets), percussionist Cassio Duarte, Sandro Albert on guitar and Marco Costa on drums. Luba Mason will be featured at this year’s Panama Jazz Festival. Visit www.lubamason.com for more information.

by tinadh | with no comments
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Ask Quill
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:16 AM

Power Strips 

Sometimes, it’s the little things that can really add up and make a big difference.

 

Take, for instance, all the computers, printers, monitors and other electronics around your office. Of course they all use electricity when they’re on...but did you know they also use a small amount of electricity even when they’re turned off?

 

How much money would your office save each day if you could stop these electronics from using power when they’re not in use? 10¢? 25¢? 50¢? No matter what the daily savings amount is, do the math and you’ll see that your office is probably wasting a whole lot of money over the course of a year.

 

One way to stop these electronics from increasing your electric bill is to use a power strip or surge protector. That’s because these strips and protectors all feature a switch you can flip that stops the flow of electricity to turned off electronics. 

Whether you buy a simple surge protector like the APC 7-outlet or Belkin 6-outlet model or something more advanced like the APC Back-UPS CS350, you’ll be saving your office some money and helping to save the environment, too.

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by tinadh | with no comments
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Etc...
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:15 AM


Rewards Programs

 

Shopping lists never end: milk, bread, eggs, dog food, birthday card for Uncle Bill, new shoes for that party, the book you heard about on TV.  A lot o stores are now offering perks for buying everyday items like these. Whether it’s offering up your email at the checkout, filling out a registration card, or signing up online, the time it takes to join a rewards program can be beneficial.

 

All of the following rewards programs offer registration and membership updates online, special savings on products, and exclusive email offers.

 

Everyone needs to eat, so it’s great that grocery store chains offer rewards.  Jewel-Osco and Dominick’s have free rewards programs with college savings opportunities through Upromise.  Jewel-Osco Preferred Card members also receive discounts with other Preferred Partners, and Dominick’s Fresh Value Card holders earn airline miles and discounts on Dominick’s gasoline.

 

There’s always a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion to celebrate.  With a free Hallmark Crown Rewards membership, you earn points for every dollar spent in the store, bonus points for each card, and extra bonus points for every three cards bought in one purchase.  These points turn into rewards certificates good for regular-priced Hallmark products.

           

DSW shoe stores offer free rewards.  Members earn points with every purchase, and those points turn into rewards certificates.  Members also get advance notice of sales, bonus point days, and promotions.

 

Check out the pet store rewards from Petco and Petsmart.  Petco offers free food and free grooming programs and exclusive invitations to pet-friendly events.  Petsmart gives you a welcome kit with savings for your membership and sends your pets birthday cards with special discounts.

 

With a Target REDcard, members earn a point for every dollar spent.  With 1000 points, members get 10% off their next entire purchase.  Members also receive a 10% discount on prescriptions.  Target will also donate a percentage of each purchase to local schools.

 

Borders offers free rewards, and members can earn $5 in Borders Bucks with every $150 in-store and online purchase.  Barnes & Noble offers a program with a yearly $25 paid membership.  Members can save up to 40% on the books they love.

 

Check out the rewards programs at the stores you go to most and start saving!

 

What are some great rewards you have found at the stores you frequent the most?

by tinadh | with no comments
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Ask Quill
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:15 AM

Shredders 

In today’s business world, having an office shredder isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity.

 

Having the right shredder in your office is the fastest and most efficient way to guard against identity theft and keep confidential business information out of the wrong hands. But before you buy, here are just a few things you need to consider:

  

Get the right power

 First things first—figure out just how much paper you’re going to shred. If it’s just a few sheets a day, a smaller shredder like the MailMate cross-cut shredder will do just fine. But if you have more than that, spend a few dollars more and get the power and capacity you need. A more powerful shredder lets you shred more sheets at once (saving you time) and won’t burn out due to overuse. 

 

Get the right cut

Just how small do you need your “shreds” to be? A strip cut shredder offers the least security (and produces a higher volume of waste) because of the design of the cut, but is perfectly acceptable for junk mail and other pieces of non-confidential information. For more security, try a cross cut model or a micro shredder like the Staples 10-sheet Micro Cut shredder—it cuts an average piece of paper into 3,700 pieces.

 

Get the right features
Some shredders are quieter than others—something to consider if you work in an open office environment. Others like the Fellowes Powershred P45C cross-cut shredder feature special jam-proof technology and enhanced safety features like automatic shut off if you fingers get too close to the paper opening.

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by tinadh | with no comments
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Ask Quill
Wednesday, April 01, 2009 12:15 AM

Duplexing Printers 

Help the environment...and help your office save some money, too. It’s easy with a duplexing printer!

 

A duplexing printer is one that automatically prints on both sides of a sheet of paper. The benefits of a duplexing are many:

  • Save money—duplex printing can help you save on printing supplies by cutting your paper use by up to 50%

  • Save time—automatic duplex printing saves you time by letting you print double-sided without having to wait and reinsert the pages yourself

  • Save space—less paper takes up less room on your desk...and in your files, too

  • Shrink your carbon footprint—beyond the sheer number of trees that go into making paper, there is also an environmental impact to producing and transporting paper. Imagine lessening that impact by half!

Choose the right model

 

Buying a duplexing printer is no different that buying a standard printer. You’ll need to consider how many pages your office prints each month, how fast you want your pages to print, and if you want a basic mono printer or one that gives you the added benefit of printing in color.

 

To help get you started, here are some recommended models to take a look at:

  • HP LaserJet P2055DN mono printer—one of our most affordable models features fast 35ppm printing with sharp 1200x1200 resolution. It’s also Energy Star® qualified so it uses less energy when printing, and automatically enters a low-power mode when not in use.

  • HP Officejet 8500 multifunction machine—the perfect office machine for smaller offices. In addition to featuring duplex printing, this space-saver can also copy, scan and fax.

  • Lexmark™ C534DN color laser printer—prints up to 24 ppm (black) and 22 ppm (color) with sharp 1200x1200 resolution. A true workhorse designed for the busy office with a 100,000 pages per month duty cycle and large 350-sheet paper tray.

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by tinadh | with no comments
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