5 Things Every Modern Office Needs
The business / office environment has come a long way from even ten years ago. Gone are the days when everyone needed their own extension, and soon the office itself just may become obsolete. In the meantime, here are some things that are essential to the efficiency of a modern office, no matter if you employ 100 people or just yourself.
Chat: While it might be going a little far to say that the modern office does not need a telephone, today’s chat clients make it almost possible to say that. The favorites around our office are Digsby or Trillian for PCs and Adium or iChat for Macs. Wikipedia has a great chart that lists which clients are compatible with which operating systems here. Test some out and choose the one with the coolest emoticons! Instant messaging is so much better than calling because it is faster and less hassle. To make a phone call, you have to pick up the phone, find the number, dial it, wait for it to ring, hope someone answers, and on and on. Chatting is way less commitment and way more efficient.
Jump Drives: If you had told someone back in 1990 that in less than 20 years you would be able to carry around the equivalent of many, many computers on a drive the size of a stick of gum, they probably would have just thought you were crazy. Also known as USB flash drives or memory sticks, jump drives are indispensable. You can always take your work with you or use them to back up important files at your home or office computer. You can even put important programs on them to make sure you have what you need to get things done wherever you are. Get one that is at least 8G.
Whiteboards: We here at the Top One Report are firm believers that the one thing you cannot live without no matter your vocation is a whiteboard and some multi-colored dry erase markers. The reason? There is no better way to flesh out ideas whether you are alone or in a group. It is like being able to stand back and take a look at the contents of your own mind. A whiteboard placed in a prominent position in your office or workspace can be a constant reminder of what you need to accomplish. The bigger the whiteboard, the better. Can’t afford the outlay for a whiteboard at the moment? Write on your windows! (Just make sure the marker isn’t permanent.)
Office: So, Vista may not be the most popular software package on the planet, but no matter which edition you prefer or what OS you’re running, you’re going to need an Office Suite. There is no denying that Microsoft Office is still the industry standard. The $400 price tag can be a pretty hefty starting fee for those starting out. If you can go without all the bells and whistles, viable alternatives are better than ever. The more we use Google Docs, the better we like it, and Open Office is building a pretty devoted following.
High Speed Internet Connection: Last year we tore up the street outside of the InfoMedia offices all in an effort to boost our bandwidth. Moral of the story? At the very least, spring for cable internet. Bandwidth means speed, speed means efficiency, efficiency means more money in your pocket.
