Setting Up Office

Original phone number isn't involved, VOIP just sends the calls down the broadband to your computer.

I think it does fax too, haven't really looked at that part

 

I used to work from home and I wouldn't touch a fax machine with a 100 foot pole. irritating crap and outdated technology.

Use an online fax provider. You e-mail them and they fax the document to the number you want and you are given a fax number which you recieve e-mails from, albeit an 0870 one (pay more for a normal number). So every fax you ever sent and recieved is stored in outlook.

its quite cheap, 5p a page or so, even with heavy usage is cheaper than a real fax machine, and a whole lot more realiable.

 

Aren't there systems that have VOIP phones that you essentially treat the same as a DECT cordless (it just works off VOIP). It's not coming via your computer, just the broadband connection.

 

Will keep that in mind. Most of my correspondence is by pdf's sent via email anyway.

 

Here is a list of them: http://www.sipgate.co.uk/voipshop , I was just being cheap so use the PC

 

I have the Greanstream BT101, its a very very nice phone, a lot better than the PC for many reasons. It plugs straight into my router.

Edit the only downside to that thone is it needs a fixed IP address (the ISP one) otherwise it gets confused.

 

Thanks,

All suggestions have been noted.

Going the VOIP route may get me over a major hurdle. I live in Nth Ireland but most of my clients are actually based in Southern Ireland.

I want my business to have a Sth Ireland phone number (will help with marketing, etc.) so I assume I can just sign up to use a VOIP provider down south. Clients won't know the difference.

 

Yes that's usually the cheapest way. Colour Laser printers cost a lot more to run than a B&W laser printer, just check out the price of colour toner.

Why do you want to avoid professional printing?
I ask that as I am a professional printer.

Thermal printers are expensive to run my brother uses one and has complained about the cost.

 

Looks like I should go the prof. printing route.

It's just that some of my reporting requires limited use of colour printing (figures, etc.) so I had planned to get a colour Laserjet anyway.

 

FWIW I've found laser printers seem to last about 3 years and then die from some kind of ailment. With the the last couple I had, one went unreliable on what it would print and both stopped fusing the image properly. On our main digital printer we have a service contract and use it regularly. I'd buy something cheapish and expect to throw it away sometime. If you're not doing a lot of colour you shouldn't have a huge bill for replacement toners and extended guarantees are not that expensive.

 

Thanks,

I'm getting a better idea which way to head. Will put an upper ceiling of about £500 on the price and expect to use professional printers for my main colour stuff. I'm not too worried about the colour toner prices as I would be a very light colour user.

Think I will stick with HP as they seem to have a decent reliability record.

p.s. anyone that see's a HOT laptop deal around the £1000 mark let me know. I just resigned from work and may loose my laptop soon!!!!

 

I reckon that IBM I mentioned is a good deal, £955 (off top of my head), dual 2GHz, 1G ram, 100gb HDD, decent screen res. Best I've seen so far.

 

Regards suppliers:
SCAN

Ebuyer.com

And Misco have now become very competitive again on certain things, good to watch for special offers.

As for your 20" monitor this one is my current fave (and sits atop my desk as I write this).

 

Best laptop deal we could find at the mo... if you can beat this I'd be surprised.

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/HP_Compaq_NC6320_Laptop_EY401ET-ABU/version.asp

Intel Centrino Core Duo T2500 Processor 2.0GHz
1GB DDRII SDRAM - Low cost double memory offer – call for details!
100GB Hard Drive
DVDRW Multi Drive - To read DVDs and CDs and write CDs and DVD+, DVD- and DVD-Ram
15" SXGA+ TFT Screen (1400 x 1050 Resolution)
Intel GMA 950 DVMT 3.0 128MB shared graphics
Integrated Gigabit LAN and 56k v.90 data fax modem
Integrated wireless 802.11a/b/g LAN - Call for advice on Wireless networking
Integrated Bluetooth
4.5-hour Battery Life Depending On Use
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition Pre Loaded
1 year warranty - upgradeable to 3 years

 

Btw - the NC series is the equivalent of the IBM/Lenovo T Series

 

Excellent, funny I was just looking on that www.laptopsdirect.com website.

I would be happy with either HP or IBM, I like both manufacturers.

Anex, I assume this is the IBM your are talking about?

http://www.dabs.com/ProductView.asp...&NavigationKey=11105,50600,46160000&InMerch=1

Can anyone explain the differnce between the Intel Pentium M (used in the IBM) and the Centino Duo Core whatsit (used in the HP).

Also, thanks Greg re. the link for ther LCD screen, I hadn't considered Samsung but expect they are good value for money. Did you do much research before buying yours?

 

Regards HP vs IBM, I use an IBM T Series (T43) and I wouldn't swap it, but the HP NC series (which a few of my folks use) seem very similar in terms of quality and performance but generally quite a bit cheaper. The NX series is the equivalent of the IBM/Lenovo R series.

Pentium M is the CPU used in single core Centrino systems. Centrino being a collection of features rather than a CPU: ie. Pentium M (eg. Sonoma) CPU + Intel WiFi chip + Intel Southbridge and Northbridge chips.

There are other Pentium M based laptops which have different WiFi and or MBoard chips which are not strictly Centrino.

Regards Centrino Duo Core. I think the same applies regards Centrino or not Centrino (ie. all 3 aspects being Intel).

Core 2 Duo is the replacement for Core Duo which was the replacement for Pentium M. With Core 2 Duo the Pentium brand bites the dust.

Core 2 Duo is a significant improvement over Core Duo and its predecessor Pentium M. There are flaws in Pentium M and the inheritor Core Duo. Core 2 Duo is an all new design which irons out a number of issues and is a return to Notebook and Desktop machines using the same low power CPUs. Hence you don't get Core 2 Duo M (M for Mobile) separate from Core 2 Duo. , plus it supports EMT64 which Pentium M and Core Duo don't.

Edit: regards the Samsung screens, we were looking for a screen which would support at least 1600 * 1200 res and at that time all options were circa £500. The Samsung seemed very good vfm at (then) 329 + VAT. We bought three and they have been very well liked by everyone here and free of any problems so far. Ebuyer's price of 309 + VAT is a steal IMO.

 

You have kinda put me off buying a Pentium M.

Sounds like Core Duo is the better plan.

So there won't be a Core 2 Duo "M" in the future? My current laptop was built around a desktop CPU (I think) and the bloody fan drives me nuts, way too active. Don't want to make that mistake again.

 

Nope the Duo 2 Core is basically low power low heat by design so the desktops will be using a mobile processor rather than the other way round.

 

No its this one
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quicklinx=450Z
which is core duo.