( 
)Here are some BASIC FEATURES AND FUNCTIONS to consider when purchasing equipment for your home-office:
COMPUTER:
1. DESKTOP - Stationery in one place in your office area, on a DESK or TABLE.
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DESKTOP UNIT:
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Purchase a COMPLETE Desktop system
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Purchase Desktop system PIECE-MEAL:
- PC TOWER UNIT
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KEYBOARD, MOUSE
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MONITOR
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SPEAKERS
2. NOTEBOOK/LAPTOP - transportable; take it with you. Be sure to buy a CASE.
OTHER BUYING CONSIDERATIONS:
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CONDITION - Brand NEW, Refurbished from Manufacturer - comes with a Warranty; USED from Consumer-Owner; Build-Your-Own vs. Off-the-Shelf
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BRAND - do you have a trusted Brand/Company in mind?
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OPERATING SYSTEM [OS]: MAC, WINDOWS XP
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CD-ROM Drive - Standard; for installing software, playing music, games...
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CD-WRITER - for writing, storing data/music to CDs. Media needed: CD-R vs. CD-RW; Music vs. Data
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DVD-ROM - for videos on DVD Media.
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FLOPPY DRIVE - Standard on Pre-Windows XP OS; works with Diskettes - 3.5. External Floppy Drives are available.
- TECHNICAL DETAILS: Processor Type, Speed, Hard Drive, Memory...
SOFTWARE: what do you want to DO ON YOUR COMPUTER?
1. TYPE, (Print, Fax, Email-Attach) Letters, Reports...
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WORD PROCESSING PROGRAM:
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MS Word
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MS Works [usually comes with Windows XP]
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Word Perfect
2. Keep TRACK of DATA, Print Reports of the data...
- WORKSHEET, SPREADSHEET SOFTWARE/PROGRAM, such as MS EXCEL
- WORD PROCESSING SOFTWARE: Create Tables for data
3. KEEP TRACK OF ACCOUNTING, FINANCES...
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Personal vs. Business ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE
4. PREPARE TAX RETURN...
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Personal vs. Business; TAX PREPARATION SOFTWARE guides you through your return step by step.
5. CREATE STATIONERY & MARKETING MATERIALS...
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DESKTOP PUBLISHING SOFTWARE: Create and publish high-quality stationery, marketing materials - assuming you have a great printer.
6. CREATE WEB PAGE...
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WEB PUBLISHING SOFTWARE: Create, edit, manage, and update website.
7. Insert CLIPART into documents...
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CLIPART SOFTWARE provides a variety of categories of clipart from which to choose.
8. EDIT PHOTOS...
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PHOTO-EDITING SOFTWARE: Edit photos; Make photo projects; use special effects, etc.
9. TRACK APPOINTMENTS and TO DO TASKS...
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CALENDAR SOFTWARE: Keep track of appointments and To Do Tasks; set Alarm-Reminders of your appointments and tasks.
OTHER OFFICE EQUIPMENT:
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PRINTER:
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INK Cartridges/Toners needed.
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PAPER: Plain 20lb. [everyday-use]; 24 lb. [Professional]; Photo [Cards, Gloss]; Labels [for Folders, Address/Shipping]
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SCANNER
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Scan documents and photos to print, email, fax, etc.
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FAX MACHINE:
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PAPER: some fax machines take special-coated paper.
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Keep in mind that your PC probably has a FAX/MODEM and FAX SOFTWARE already installed.
OTHER OFFICE ACCESSORIES:
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SCREEN PROTECTOR-FILTER:
reduces glare; helps relieve eyestrain and fatique.
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COPY HOLDER:
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Mount vs. Desktop. holds paper or books, for easy viewing-reading/typing.
MORE OFFICE EQUIPMENT to consider:
CALCULATOR:
- Paper-Printing vs. Display Only
- Black vs. Black/Red-Color. uses ink ribbon or cartridge
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SHREDDER:
Rather than throwing confidential papers in the garbage -- Shred! those papers. cross-cut vs. strip-cut; from 2-Sheets to 30+-Sheets.
I hope that this information assists you with STARTING YOUR RESEARCHING for your needs in PURCHASING EQUIPMENT FOR YOUR HOME-OFFICE.
Guide created: 08/25/06 (updated 02/16/08)
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