50 steals and splurges - Cover Story - Buyers Guide

Home Office Computing, March, 1997 by Nicola B. Godfrey

18 For one-stop online reservations for all your travel needs, get the latest discount deals at Travelocity (www.travelocity.com). For discount hotel reservations, book through such consolidators as Quickbook (800-789-9887) or the Hotel Reservations Network (800-964-6835).

19 Multiply your phone line capabilities with a switchbox such as the ComSwitch 3500 (Command Communications, 303-751-7000, 800-288-6794; $89.95 list). Switchboxes direct incoming calls on one phone line to multiple apparatus, including other phones, answering machines or voice mail, and fax machines.

20 Order bulk office supplies-- from paper clips to blank disks-- online and save big. Check out Quill (800-789-1331, www.quillcorp.com). For computer supplies, log on to MicroWarehouse (203-899-4000, 800-367-7080, www.warehouse.com) or MacWarehouse (800-255-6227, www.warehouse.com).

21 Put an offline browser to work. You will quickly recoup the cost as the browser automatically retrieves updated information on the Web during off-peak times for viewing at your leisure. Our favorites are WebEx (Traveling Software, 800-343-8080, www.travsoft.com; Win 95; $29.95 list) and FreeLoader, free for download at www.freeloader.com.

22 Organize your supplies and miscellaneous office paraphernalia in cheap but practical storage containers. Mail-order plastic media tubs, wicker drawer units, file baskets, magazine butlers, and collector's boxes from Hold Everything (800-421-2285; $10 to $129).

23 Go for the best deal on long-distance phone service. Steals are out there as phone companies continually change their rates and packages. The key is to shop around and not feel that you have to be faithful to one provider. (AT&T, 800-222-0400; MCI, 800-950-5555; Sprint, 800-877-4646.)

24 Free up some needed desk space with an all-in-one multifunction peripheral that combines laser printer, copier, and fax features. Three machines in one are a steal at under $800. Best bets: the Brother MFC-4550, shown (Brother Int'l, 908-356-8880, 800-284-4329, www.brother.com; $799 list) or the Xerox WorkCenter 250 (203-968-3000, 800-832-6979, www. xerox.com; $589 list).

25 Swap free display banners with thousands of other online businesses through Internet Link Exchange (www.linkexchange.com).

SPLURGES

1 Invest in the most powerful computer you can afford. Best bet? Gateway's PS line of powerful computers, our Editors' Pick award winner for best desktop system (Gateway 2000, 605-232-2000, 800-846-2000, www.gw2k.com; prices start at $1,500). Or invest in a Power Mac 8500/180 (Apple, 800-538-9696, www.apple.com; $5,548 with 17-inch monitor) or Power Computing's Power Tower Pro 225 (800-671-6227, www. powercc.com; $5,375 with 15-inch monitor).

2 Give your eyes a break and buy the biggest, sharpest monitor you can afford. Prices for high-resolution 17-inch monitors have dipped well below $1,000. Check out NEC's MultiSync line, shown (NEC Technologies, 508-264-8000, 800-632-4636, www.nec. com; Win, Mac; $799 and up) or ViewSonic's Optiquest Value Line V775 (800-888-8583; www.viewsonic.com; Win, Mac; $649 list).