Just ANNOUNCED THE LATEST IN OFFICE FURNITURE, HARDWARE, AND SOFTWARE - News Briefs

Home Office Computing, March, 2001 by Marshall F. Lager, Marilyn Zelinsky Syarto

... For Your Office

* Herman Miller's ergonomic Aeron chair may be out of your price range, but you can afford Red, its newest home office line. The roomy and lightweight Spider desk with corner screen has a white laminate work surface and steel wire legs ($285), with add-ons in lieu of drawers. The yellow document holder ($55), supply bag ($55), and replacement screens ($120) are all colorful and uniquely shaped. 888-520-7646, www.hermanmiller.com

* Open up valuable desktop real estate by using "the mouse pad that roared"--a multitasking device from The Sharper Image. The Multipurpose Mouse Pad fits a lot of productivity into one compact 8.5-inch-wide by 11-inch-long device. Besides a mouse surface, it offers a built-in calculator, memo recorder, room thermometer, perpetual calendar, and an alarm clock. $50; 800-344-4444, www.sharperimage.com

... For Your Handheld

* Users of the popular RIM Blackberry wireless handheld device now have even more on-the-go versatility--Galileo Wireless' travel services are now available for Blackberry users. Subscribers to this national WAP-based service can view flight itineraries, hotel bookings, car reservations, and more--all in real time. The service can inform users of schedule changes, and can even be used to rebook flights. $5 per month; 847-518-4000, www.galileo.com

* Turn your handheld device into a "fourth PC peripheral" with Informal Software's Enotate utility. Version 1.2 supports the Handspring Visor and IBN WorkPad as well as the Palm family of PDAs. Enotate lets you mark up images and Office documents with your stylus in real time, appearing on the PC instantly. Enotate supports full color and grayscale, and functions with Microsoft PowerPoint slides. $70, $15 upgrade; 408-845-9490, www.informal.com

... For Your Contracts

* If you're a home officer in need of technical help or an information technology (IT) contractor yourself, actlikeanowner.com is your resource. Founded in 1999, the site lets technology pros bid for troubleshooting assignments. A new incentive plan gives rate bonuses to contractors who create a Power Portfolio, which allows them to detail their special skills. Prices vary; www.actlikeanowner.com

* Contractors and those seeking them meet at UbidContract.com. This new portal for freelancers and sole proprietors Looking for work also serves companies seeking help. Basic membership lets you advertise your service or needs, and bid as appropriate. Free basic membership; www.ubidcontract.com

... For Your Web Security

* Sygate has released an upgrade patch for Sygate Personal Firewall 2.1, to fix some security gaps. Improvements include better spotting of suspect applications, and earlier blocking of intrusions. SPF offers highly customizable protection against hacker intrusions, is effective over dial-up and broadband, and can create new security rules on the fly for the greatest freedom of use. Free download; www.sygate.com

* SohoWare has added a router and a powerful new firewall to its popular Broadband Internet Gateway to create the BroadGuard Secure Broadband Router. It offers business-level security (such as stopping Denial of Service attacks) at a consumer-level price. $199; 800-632-1118, www.sohoware.com