Office Living : Ask Quill

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tinadh — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:02:00 GMT

Wireless Mice

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Wireless mice are nice!

They’re sleek and stylish, fast and precise…and they’ll help “clean up” your work area by eliminating that old fashioned mouse cord that always seems to get tangled up in one thing or another. With their
3-6’ operating range, they’ll also give you additional freedom to reposition your computer exactly where you want on your desk!

There are two different kinds of wireless mice – optical and laser. Both types work great, but laser models do operate faster. Optical and laser models both rely on batteries, so make sure you consider battery life when making your selection (some models feature rechargeable batteries with their own recharging stand – you’ll pay a bit more for these rechargeable types of wireless mice in the beginning, but they could prove cost efficient in the long run).

For some, choosing the right wireless mouse isn’t so much a matter of performance…it’s a matter of style. Like the look of metallic black? Take a look at this Microsoft Wireless Laser Mouse 5000 with 5 customizable buttons and tilt wheel technology that lets you scroll 4 different ways. Prefer the sleek styling of silver? The Microsoft 5000 comes in that color, too!

If performance is a key element in your buying decision, take a look at the Logitech MX 620 cordless laser mouse. It features a hyper-fast scroll wheel that lets you literally fly through long documents (scroll through 10,000 lines in just 7 seconds) and also features an on-off button that lets you prolong the battery life.

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tinadh — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:50:00 GMT

In-House Marketing

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Your marketing budget is tight...and getting tighter. You still need to reach your customers, of course, but you now need to find a way to do it for a whole lot less.

If the above describes the challenge your office is currently facing, try creating and printing the marketing materials your office needs yourself! The benefits are many:

You’ll save money—no outside agencies to deal with and no high priced designers and writers to pay

You’re in control—no one know your organization better than you, so who better to write and design than yourself? It’s like the old saying goes—if you want something done right, do it yourself!

You’ll gain added flexibility—print only the material you need, exactly when you need it! If something needs to change or be updated, you can do it in seconds without having to waste a bunch of previously printed pieces.

Of course, to create and produce the marketing material you need, you’ll need the right equipment. There are two excellent options you should to consider: multifunction machines or a high speed color laser printer.

Multifunction machines or laser printers-- what machine should I buy?

The answer, of course, depends upon what exactly you need to do to create your own marketing material. If you’re starting from “scratch”, we’d suggest multifunction machines like the Brother MFC-6490CW or the HP Officejet Pro OJ8500W because they let you scan in pictures and produce high quality printouts. If you already have your materials created and just need to make small updates to charts and text, then a color laser printer like the Lexmark C543DN would be an ideal choice with its fast 21 ppm output and sharp 1200x1200dpi resolution.

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tinadh — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:01:00 GMT

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GPS Devices

Fold up the old maps. Toss out the piles of MapQuest directions you’ve printed out. Start traveling the roads in a whole new way with the help of a GPS navigation device!

To the first-time buyer, all GPS receivers may look alluring with their bright lights and fancy buttons, but there are real differences you need to know about before making a purchase. Screen size is important (the bigger, the better!) but even more important is the screen resolution (240x320 pixels is good…272x480 pixels is even sharper). Some models are ready to go right out of the box – others may require you to first register software or copy data from a DVD to a media card.

There’s a lot to consider before buying, but perhaps the biggest difference in today’s vast array of available GPS devices are their prices – models range anywhere from about $150 to more than $1,000. If you’re only using your GPS for short trips around town, you’re probably OK with a less expensive model with fewer bells and whistles. If, on the other hand, you’re constantly driving to new (and unfamiliar) places, you might want to consider a higher priced model with enhanced features and capabilities.

Since prices vary to such a large extent, here are 3 of the GPS models on Quill.com to fit budgets both small and large:

Less than $200 – Tomtom ONE 130 GPS

Slim and lightweight, this GPS features a full-size touchscreen, crystal clear 3D graphics and turn-by-turn spoken instructions. This model also features a foldable, EasyPort mount that lets you take it with you from car to car, and includes Tomtom’s Map Share technology so you can instantly modify street names, street direction, and Points of Interest on your own device. Switch on and go right out of the box – no activation, no monthly fees!

Less than $300 – Garmin nuvi 255W

A widescreen 4.3” display lets you easily view map details and driving directions in bright, brilliant 3D clarity. Text-to-speech feature speaks street names and “Where Am I?” feature lets you quickly and easily locate the nearest hospitals, police stations and gas stations. Pre-loaded with City Navigator NT – includes detailed maps of the lower 48 states plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

Less than $500 – Magellan Maestro 4350 GPS

One-touch interface lets you access your favorite routes, searches and applications with just a single tap of the screen. Features a widescreen 4.3” anti-glare display, built-in AAA travel information, text-to-speech, and built-in FM transmitter. Also includes the Magellan TrafficKit (subscription required) for real-time traffic updates and suggested alternative routes.

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tinadh — Fri, 15 May 2009 05:08:00 GMT

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Digital Cameras

How many megapixels do I need? What’s the difference between digital zoom and optical zoom? If you’re about to buy your first digital camera, it’s easy to become confused by the overwhelming number of models currently on the market.

Following are some tips you can use to help you choose a new camera that’s just right for you…and just right for your office budget, too!

What’s the right number of megapixels?

It all depends on what you’re going to use the camera for. If you’re only going to use your pictures for posting on the Web or sending in an e-mail, you shouldn’t need more than 2 megapixels. If you want large printouts of your photos, than you should get a camera with 5 megapixels or more – you’ll be able to capture all the fine details you’re looking for.

What about a zoom lens?

You’ll most definitely want a camera with decent optical zoom (as opposed to digital zoom). Here’s why: optical zoom physically moves the camera lenses to “zoom” in on your subject – digital zoom only averages and magnifies the image within the camera’s microchip resulting in lower picture quality. Many experts recommend getting at least 3x optical zoom in any camera you buy.

Battery life

Often, this is the feature that digital camera buyers overlook. Make sure you find out how long the batteries in your camera will last so you don’t run out of power during your photo shoot. If you’re using a camera that runs on disposable batteries, AA lithium, CRV2 and AA Oxyride batteries offer longer life than standard alkaline batteries.

Now that you have some basic knowledge about what to look for in a digital camera, it’s time to start shopping. Start by checking out the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H50 (packed with user friendly features) and the Canon PowerShot SD870IS with its 3” pure color LCD screen…or take a step up to the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi with its full array of advanced features and technological advances!

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tinadh — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:35:00 GMT

Printer or Multifunction Machine?

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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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tinadh — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:16:00 GMT

Power Strips

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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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tinadh — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:15:00 GMT

Shredders

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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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tinadh — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:15:00 GMT

Duplexing Printers

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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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