Outfitting Your Home Business for Much Less
by Zooi, Walter; Edwards, Paul; Edwards, SarahFormat: Paperback
Pub. Date: 2000-02-01
Publisher(s): Amacom Books
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Summary
Provides inside information on how to buy the most reliable computers, printers, and software at the best available prices, tips for finding the lowest prices on quality office equipment and furniture, and strategies for negotiating the best rates for essential business services; bookkeeping, Internet service, and legal counsel. Softcover. DLC: Office equipment and supplies--Purchasing.
Author Biography
Walter Zooi is director of communications and marketing at USC's Thornton School of Music. He has run a successful home-based communications and marketing business for 15 years. Paul and Sarah Edwards write columns for publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, and host the "Working from Home Show" on the Business News Network. They live in central California.
Table of Contents
| Acknowledgments | p. xi |
| Introduction | p. xiii |
| Computer Equipment | |
| Finding the Right Computer System at the Right Price | p. 3 |
| Defining Your Needs | p. 3 |
| Well-Reviewed 56K Modems Under $200 | p. 10 |
| Well-Reviewed ISDN Modems Under $260 | p. 11 |
| Desktop Computer Needs Assessment | p. 13 |
| Desktop Computer Features and Specifications Matched to Your Business Needs | p. 17 |
| Well-Reviewed Desktop Systems | p. 18 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Desktop Systems | p. 19 |
| To Sum up | p. 33 |
| Resources | p. 34 |
| Notebooks and Other Portables | p. 39 |
| How Portable Is Portable? | p. 39 |
| Do You Really Need a Portable Computer? | p. 40 |
| Well-Reviewed Business Portable Manufacturers | p. 42 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Portables | p. 43 |
| Resources | p. 45 |
| Not All Printers Are Created Equal | p. 47 |
| A Printer Primer | p. 47 |
| What to Look For: Inkjet Printers | p. 48 |
| What to Look For: Laser Printers | p. 49 |
| Assessing Your Needs | p. 51 |
| Well-Reviewed Inkjet Printers and Manufacturers | p. 52 |
| Well-Reviewed Laser Printers and Manufacturers | p. 56 |
| Well-Reviewed Personal Laser Printers Under $500 | p. 57 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Printers | p. 60 |
| To Sum Up | p. 62 |
| Resources | p. 63 |
| Multimedia | p. 65 |
| What Is Multimedia? | p. 65 |
| Well-Reviewed Multimedia Systems | p. 67 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Multimedia Hardware | p. 69 |
| Scanners | p. 70 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Scanners | p. 71 |
| Digital Cameras | p. 72 |
| Well-Reviewed Digital Cameras Under $800 | p. 74 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Digital Cameras | p. 74 |
| Resources | p. 75 |
| Palmtops, PDAs, and Gadgets | p. 79 |
| You Don't Need an MBA to Use a Good PDA: But Do You Really Need One? | p. 80 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Palmtops | p. 82 |
| Gadgets | p. 82 |
| Business Card Scanners | p. 84 |
| Speech Recognition | p. 85 |
| Resources | p. 87 |
| Networking Your Computers | p. 91 |
| Do You Need a LAN? | p. 91 |
| How Networks Work | p. 93 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Networks | p. 96 |
| Resources | p. 97 |
| Business Software | p. 99 |
| Suites | p. 99 |
| Word Processing | p. 101 |
| Best Way to Buy: Suites | p. 103 |
| Financial/Spreadsheet Software | p. 112 |
| Tax Preparation Software | p. 115 |
| Shareware Financial Management Programs | p. 115 |
| Database Management | p. 117 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Business Software | p. 119 |
| Resources | p. 120 |
| Office Equipment and Communications Services | |
| Fax Machines, Copiers, and More | p. 125 |
| Fax Technology | p. 125 |
| What to Look For: Plain-Paper Fax Machines | p. 127 |
| Well-Reviewed Plain-Paper Fax Machines Under $300 | p. 128 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Fax Machines | p. 132 |
| Small-Office and Personal Copiers | p. 132 |
| What to Look For: Small-Office and Personal Copiers | p. 133 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Small-Office and Personal Copiers | p. 141 |
| Multifunctional Devices | p. 142 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Multifunctional Devices | p. 147 |
| Resources | p. 148 |
| Office Furniture | p. 149 |
| Office Furniture Redefined | p. 150 |
| Desks: The Buck Stops Here | p. 151 |
| More Furniture Alternatives | p. 153 |
| Best Ways to Buy: New Furniture | p. 158 |
| Resources | p. 161 |
| Office Supplies | p. 163 |
| Keeping Track of Office Supply Expenditures | p. 166 |
| Alternative Sources for Purchasing Office Supplies | p. 166 |
| Resources | p. 170 |
| Telephone Equipment, Services, and Alternatives | p. 171 |
| Business Phone System Primer | p. 172 |
| What to Look For: Single-Unit Phones | p. 174 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Single-Unit Phones | p. 175 |
| Best Ways to Buy: Phones | p. 179 |
| KSU Systems | p. 179 |
| Questions to Ask Prospective Key Phone System Dealers | p. 182 |
| Squeezing the Most out of Your Phone Lines | p. 186 |
| Local and Long Distance Services | p. 188 |
| Pricing: General Questions to Ask Any Prospective Long Distance Carrier | p. 191 |
| Service: Questions to Ask Any Prospective Long Distance Carrier | p. 191 |
| Online Rate-Saving Resources | p. 192 |
| Resources | p. 195 |
| Going Online without Getting Hung out to Dry | p. 197 |
| A Quick History of the Internet | p. 197 |
| Finding an ISP | p. 198 |
| Establishing a Web Site for Your Business | p. 201 |
| Building a Web Site That Catches Flies | p. 206 |
| Resources | p. 212 |
| Essential Business Services and Marketing Ideas | |
| Paying the Piper: Finance Options | p. 219 |
| Ways to Pay | p. 219 |
| Consumer Lending Institutions | p. 222 |
| Resources | p. 227 |
| Legal and Accounting Services | p. 231 |
| Lawyers: You Don't Need to Be a Brass Player to Use a Good Mouthpiece | p. 231 |
| Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Prospective Attorney | p. 236 |
| Finding an Accountant You Can Count On | p. 242 |
| Resources | p. 248 |
| Dealing with Graphic Designers, Offset Printers, and Finding Alternatives | p. 251 |
| General Tips before Getting Started | p. 252 |
| Resources | p. 262 |
| Business Travel | p. 265 |
| Airfare Bargains | p. 265 |
| Going Online for Airfare Bargains | p. 266 |
| Resources | p. 270 |
| Low-Cost, Effective Marketing without Putting on the Gorilla Suit | p. 273 |
| Indirect Marketing | p. 274 |
| Lower-Cost Direct Marketing | p. 291 |
| Resources | p. 300 |
| Appendix | p. 303 |
| Index | p. 309 |
| Table of Contents provided by Syndetics. All Rights Reserved. |
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