Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
John Koliopoulos of Rizer & Associates went looking for acolor printer. But he got a lot more, thanks to the DocumentHomeCentre, a new multifunction machine from Xerox. Koliopoulostook the extra step for one main reason: adaptability. TheHomeCentre ($499) performs a number of duties, including copying,scanning and color printing, for Koliopoulos' San Mateo,California-based product research and development company.
"I ask a lot of my resources," says Koliopoulos, 46."The HomeCentre gives me the functionality of all these otherpieces of equipment plus the versatility to produce a document inwhatever form necessary."
HomeCentre's feature list is undoubtedly long. First, itboasts an 800 x 800 dpi color scanner that's detachable so youcan place it on oversized documents for easier scanning. TheHomeCentre is also a 300 x 300 dpi color inkjet printer. It printstext at up to 4 pages per minute (ppm) and color documents at up to1 ppm. Plus, the HomeCentre offers color copying through yourPC.
The HomeCentre's diminutive size (11 7/8-by-17 3/8-by-9¼ inches) is also a main attraction; it saves Koliopoulosconsiderable space by combining many functions into one compactunit. "It's important for me to use my square footagewisely, and the HomeCentre gives me accessibility to many machinesin one drawer," he says.
The HomeCentre, available through CompUSA and other selectretailers, comes with software, including Pagis Pro 97 for managingand editing scanned photos and text, and TextBridge Pro OCR forturning scanned pages into text. For more information, visithttp://www.xerox.com/products/dhc/
Stow It
There just never seems to be a good place to store CD-ROM discs.If you're like me, you leave your discs in an unorganized heapamong your books and files. Fortunately, Curtis Computer Productshas a bright solution called the CD Pick.
The CD Pick ($16.95), available in charcoal gray, holds up to 10discs and comes with a spring-loaded mechanism to retrieve themeasily by gently pressing on them. It attaches underneathyour bookshelves, freeing up valuable desktop space.
The CD Pick is offered through select retailers or directly fromCurtis Computer Products at (319) 263-8144
All Together Now
It's a common scenario: You start with one phone line forvoice, fax and Internet communications only to find this setupineffective. So you purchase a second line for fax and Internet useand keep the original one for your phone. Because your voice andfax/modem lines are separate, however, this solution keeps you fromusing computer telephony tools to efficiently manage yourtelecommunications from your PC.
Total E-Call2 ($199.95) from American Network Systems (AmNet) isone hardware/software solution that ties up all the loose ends. TheAmNet Telephone Interface Card fits into a standard ISA slot on aPC. This allows you to manage telephone tasks on your PC throughthe voice line while simultaneously keeping an open Internet or faxconnection through the modem line, bringing advanced communicationstools to the home office user.
Available through leading retail stores and distributors, TotalE-Call2 includes software to create up to 20 voice mailboxes.Standard features let you forward messages to other phones--or evensend them via e-mail as audio files, reducing your long-distancecharges. Other useful features include an auto-connect to theInternet to send e-mail or download files at preset time periods,RSVP calling to play recorded messages to individuals and recordvoice responses, and call forwarding so you can receive messageswherever you are, by phone or via the Internet. For moreinformation, visit http://www.americannetwork.com
What's In Storage
With a whopping 1GB of storage per cartridge, SyQuest'sSparQ drive is a flexible storage solution. By saving importantfiles and applications on a removable cartridge, you can use it asa second hard drive or easily back up data to it from a desktopcomputer. You can also create personal "hard drives" forfamily members on cartridges.
The SparQ drive's sleek design works well on a crowded deskor on the road. Hook it to your computer's parallel port, andit provides extra storage for high-end software, graphics andanything else you can't squeeze on your hard drive. What'smore, its portability allows you to transport files andapplications.
The SparQ drive ($199), available through select retailers andauthorized SyQuest resellers, also comes with McAfee Network WebScan for detecting viruses before downloading Internet files, andWebVCR off-line browsing software. Cartridges cost $39 each or $99for a 3-pack. For more information, visit http://www.syquest.com
High Power
Because you never know when disaster will strike, it'simportant to protect your computer with an uninterruptible powersupply (UPS). If there's an interruption in power, a UPS takesover by providing battery backup power for a few minutes so you cansave important files and properly power down the computer. It alsoprotects your computer equipment from potential damage resultingfrom a power surge or spike.
One model that's ideal for home offices is the PulsarDesktop 220+ from MGE UPS Systems Inc., sold through selectretailers. The Pulsar Desktop 220+ ($129) offers up to 10 minutesof battery backup in the event of an interruption in power. Unlikemost clunky UPS systems, the Pulsar Desktop 220+ has a lightweightdesign (weighing just 3 pounds), so it fits well in tight quarters.MGE UPS Systems also kept home offices in mind when designing anattractive shape you won't mind displaying in your home. Formore information, visit http://www.mgeups.com
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