Perfect Presents for Any Professional, Part II

From the January 2009 Issue

This issue of our magazine probably arrived at your office or home (or in your inbox if you receive our e-newsletters) on or around December 19 or 20. If you’ve still managed to procrastinate on picking the right gift for a few people, even after checking out my last column (www.CPATechAdvisor.com/go/2196) … well then, here’s one last chance.

Of course, it could be that you’re reading this after the holidays, in which case you may be looking for some cool gadgets that you wish somebody had given you. Either way, here are a few more ideas for last-minute tech and business gifts, whether they’re for a coworker, client, friend or yourself. Hurry up and enjoy playing with them, the tax season starts in 5… 4… 3….

IN THE OFFICE

Everything but the Kitchen Sink
The new line of small business printers from Epson is focused on one thing — everything. The WorkForce 600 all-in-one printer combines printing capabilities with copying, scanning, photo printing and a fax, with superfast (38 ppm) printing speeds and high-quality output. The device is a full color inkjet, but you’d swear the crisp printing was laser, plus it offers built-in memory card slots, a large LCD function screen and Wi-Fi capabilities. So you get everything, plus the added benefit of fewer wires. Brilliant! (www.Epson.com)

DYMO-Mite!
Trying to print mailing or folder labels on an office printer can be a hassle, what with remembering the settings, which tray they’re in and other issues. Fortunately, the DYMO LabelWriter Twin Turbo makes it easy, providing two sizes of label output simultaneously (including postage printing), with perfectly clear, laser-quality thermal printing that never needs ink or toner. Plus, it works with Word, Outlook QuickBooks, ACT! and other programs so that it prints instantly. You can even print photos onto the label roll paper, which lets users quickly create custom labels or fun stickers. (www.DYMO.com)

ZIPiddy-Do-Dad
As technological as we’ve become, most of us still “stick” to some of the devices of the past … like sticky notes. Almost everybody has a dispenser on their desk, and they really are handy little buggers, but they aren’t always large enough to write everything down on. That’s where ZIP Notes comes in, with a roll of sticky note paper inside a battery-powered dispenser that lets users make sticky notes as long as they need. (www.WarehouseDirect.com)

Scan-Tastic
Ambir makes all kinds of scanning gadgets and software for different markets, but among the coolest are the new 7 Series, an ultra compact and portable duplex scanner, and Ambir’s ID Scanners. The devices help ensure that all critical information is documented in digital format and allow the files to be attached to virtually any work folders. The company also offers a line of workgroup scanners that can handle high-volume environments. (www.Ambir.com)

Visual Voicemail
With the new VonagePro, accountants and other small business owners can quickly take advantage of several productivity features that only a VoIP phone system can offer. One of the coolest is the ability to have voicemail transcribed into an e-mail that you can check from the road and even search and store. VonagePro also has one-click functions for recording calls, selective call blocking and conference calling. You can even set up numbers in different area codes so that clients can call with no long distance charges. (www.Vonage.com)

ON THE GO, GO