Best Scanners & Accessories
Style: iX500 ScanSnap (PA03656-B305). Intelligent scan correction performs a quick quality check on your scans - features include auto color detection, auto rotation for upside down documents, and blank page removal.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It didn't eat any pages (of really soft paper, not regular paper), it didn't skip any pages, and the auto-detect for black-and-white versus color and blank-pages is ridiculously helpful. It even had no problem sucking in very hard paper (like a cover) and then right back to soft paper of a different size! It needs another flip-up lip to catch the paper as it comes out, otherwise it starts to pop off and dump on the desk."
"They cut down on paper considerably, as we scan documents brought in by clients and hand them back to the clients. These scanners save on filing time, which saves money and tedium for my employees, and they save money on file cabinets and floor space. The documents scan to pdf and are then easily stored in electronic files (backed up in a dual core hard drive onsite and in cloud storage offsite)."
"When you scan as much as we do, little annoyances become a big deal. I like how the one-touch scan button understands when I want to begin a scan and resume a scan. The eject button and fold out top is designed well enough that it's easy to gently blow out particles and carefully clean the top and bottom scan heads. Scanning to searchable PDF works incredibly well. The OCR module does a pretty admirable job of scanning text and making it searchable in a PDF. Pro tip: if you're on Windows and you want to use Windows Search to look for text in PDF you need to go download Adobe's PDF iFilter app and install it on every computer that needs to search the PDFs, not just the server or workstation where the PDFs reside. Software installation is clumsy and requires a bunch of updates. The ONE THING this scanner needs to do right is to scan to searchable PDF. In order to do this, I had to turn off all the "quick button" features and change the app to scan to application: save to a folder. I demo'd it before some scanning/archiving company tried to bid us $10,000 to do our scanning work for us and their demo system did far worse than this little scanner."
"I have used at least 5 different scanners trying to find one that would handle years of old paperwork. I have thousands of tiny fuel receipts on crumpled carbon paper that no scanner would scan without jamming."
"It's super fast and it's made my life easier by improving my productivity both at our office and at home."
— The Epson Perfection V600 Photo delivers outstanding quality scans from photos, film, slides and everyday documents. Featuring DIGITAL ICE for both film and prints, one-touch color restoration and. Arcsoft Photostudio. , this scanner provides a complete photo restoration solution. 6400 x 9600 dpi for film Enlargements up to 17” x 22” Built-in Transparency Unit (TPU) For slides, negatives and medium-format film. up to 6 x 22 cm Scan everything you need Film, photos, documents, invoices, receipts, books, magazines and 3D objects Complete photo restoration solution. Before. After. Before. After. Before. After. DIGITAL ICE for Prints Remove the appearance of tears. and creases from damaged photos DIGITAL ICE for Film Remove the appearance of dust and. scratches from film Easy Photo Fix For one-touch color restoration Increased productivity. ReadyScan LED technology Fast scanning and no warm-up time Optical Character Recognition (OCR) For converting scanned documents into editable text Four customizable buttons Instantly copy, scan-to-email and create PDF’s Features/Benefits Create extraordinary enlargements from film — 6400 x 9600 dpi for enlargements up to 17" x 22" Scan slides, negatives and medium–format panoramic film — built-in Transparency Unit Remove the appearance of tears and creases from damaged photos — DIGITAL ICE for Prints Remove the appearance of dust and scratches from film — DIGITAL ICE for Film Restore faded color photos with one touch — Epson Easy Photo Fix included Achieve greater productivity — convert scanned documents into editable text with ABBYY FineReader Sprint Plus OCR Quickly complete any task — instantly scan, copy, scan-to-email and create PDFs with four customizable buttons Energy-efficient LED for fast scans — exclusive ReadyScan LED light source means no warmup time, faster scans and lower power consumption Take your photos further — Arcsoft Photostudio included, to help edit and enhance your digital images Weight and Dimensions (W x D x H) — Weight: 9.0 lb, Dimensions: 11" x 19" x 4.6". What's in the Box Perfection V600 Photo color scanner Transparency unit (built into lid) Film holders for: 35mm film and mounted slides & 6 x 22 cm medium-format film Scanner software CD-Rom Arcsoft Photostudio DVD Start Here poster Hi-Speed USB 2.0 cable AC adapter and power cable. Remove the appearance of dust and scratches from film — DIGITAL ICE for Film.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"11th Day Update: all 5400 slide transparencies (35mm mounted slides) have been scanned (at 2400dpi) and burned to DVDs. That was with only selective use of Color Restoration, which doesn't add anytime to the scan. We would look at each set of 4 preview images and click and highlight the ones we wanted to color restore (click on the slide, do NOT click on the checkbox...leave the checkbox on each preview CHECKED ON...that's what lets the scanner know you want to scan all 4 slides that you just previewed). Background: BFA in Art with concentration in Darkroom Photography; Own my own darkroom for 25 years; Decade as an Imaging Specialist/Scanner Operator (you can skip the next few paragraphs and get to the settings which worked well for us while scanning a bunch of old slides). Every day for a decade, 8 hours a day I used PhotoShop 3.0+, flatbed scanners, image setters and even a Nikon Coolscan slide scanner with an automatic slide-feeder. As I recall the slide feeder could hold about 40 mounted slides and took about 8 minutes per slide to scan. I wanted to set up a new, easy scan station for my father to scan his old slides: 54 slide projector carousels (round thingies) filled with a maximum 100 slides each. SETTINGS FOR SLIDE SCANNING. I installed the CD software, then plugged in the machine, and finally I turned it on with the ON/OFF button HIDDEN on the right side of the machine. So, for decent slide scans here is a nice setting list: Mode = Professional. Document type = Positive film. Image Type = 48-bit. Resolution = 2400 dpi. CHECK the unsharp mask box to turn it on, set level to LOW. CHECK the Color Restoration box to turn it on. Click preview, select and flip any upside-down slides with the options. Click Scan and sit back and wait while all 4 slides are scanned (a little under 4 minutes to scan and auto-name and auto-save). ACTUAL PROJECT: Each slide takes 1 minute to scan, auto-name and auto-save. 54 boxes of slides x 100 slides each = 5400 slides. Yes, at about 1 minute per slide it's a little slower (at 2400dpi) but you can save a little time and scan at 1200dpi, or even go down to 100dpi, lol. A minute per slide is a lot slower than 1 second per slide. I'd rather spend two weeks getting 5,400 great scans then spend 5 hours getting crappy scans that look terrible and I'll end up deleting. WHAT DIDN'T WORK WELL (FOR US) AND WHAT DID. First off, use the professional mode for slides. The automatic easy mode has drawbacks: it only allows 1200dpi scans at the highest setting; even though it's only 1200dpi it seems to take longer than the professional mode at 2400dpi; even though in the manual it says you can skip the preview...it actually does one preview at a time and shows that to you while it scans, which means the preview portion takes FOUR times as long. Also, when you select the color restoration option: the little preview is color restored, but the scan isn't! So: it takes 2x-4x as long and doesn't actually apply color restoration to the scan that is autosaved to your computer. Thus: if you want to scan, color restore and sharpen you have to use the professional mode (and re-check the color restoration box after selection "all" 4 previews with the blue frame highlighting them AFTER EVERY PREVIEW!!!!). I fiddled a little with the grain removal setting, but it just kind of blurred my test slides. There are other settings were you want to: UNcheck the write over files with the same name (why would you want to overwrite your previous scans? TIFFs are still a tad bigger, but if you're scanning once and then throwing away your slides then scan huge and save as TIFF for that once in a lifetime chance of archiving. Somewhere in the advanced settings option when you first open Epson Scan you can also uncheck the "include color profiles" box. Unless you're sending your files to a professional printing press that needs specific color profiles THIS JUST BLOATS THE SIZE OF EACH OF YOUR SCANS! I don't care about LAB COLOR vs CMYK vs Srgb ICC profiles and when I was a professional our printers (and by printers I mean the humans who ran huge color printing presses that are about 40' long) would set their prepress to strip out/ignore any color profiles accidentally left attached to image files we sent them...because THEY wanted to control the color, not some random file that nobody on our end looked at or modified or fixed or cared about. UNLESS YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER SENDING SCANS TO A COLOR PRINT PUBLICATION THAT REQUIRES YOU TO SEND ALONG COLOR PROFILES uncheck the box and save space on your computer. Click on Epson Scan. Select "Professional" and "Current Settings". 2400dpi. Check color restoration box on. Check unsharp max on / Medium. Dust spray and put in 4 slides. ****VERY IMPORTANT STEP RIGHT HERE: Click the "ALL" button the highlight all four previews with blue frames and then click "RESTORE COLOR CHECKBOX TO ON"/ (The color restoration feature shuts itself off after every preview, and if you turn it back on it only applies to the previews with blue frames around them!). This is for "pros" who only color restore 1 out of every 4 slides or whatever. Computer (we have a 2/3 year old Dell with i5 core processor and Windows 10, regular non-solid state hard drive). This Scanner. Dust-off Sprayer. USB Thumbdrive (archive 1). Blank DVDs (archive 2 or more if you burn multiple copies to send to various relatives). External HD (archive 3). Time: 1 minute per slide. This thing is heavier than my 25 year old Umax PowerLook III scanner which was used in by my at my job in a multi-million dollar publishing empire. I don't know who got to take home the Nikon CoolScan slide scanner (w/auto-feeder), LOL! Do you have only a month to scan 50,000 slides? Well, then contract a vendor to do them for 60 cents per slide and then sell you an external hard drive with your scans on it...plus shipping...plus expedited service...plus insurance which will give you a few dollars if the shipper looses all your slides so instead of your photos you'll have like $300 and the horror of loosing priceless, irreplaceable pictures. By the way: for my 5,400 slides it would cost at least $3,240 to have them scanned (plus shipping, plus hard drive they return the scans on, etc.). If anything I gave you: a template to plan your project/setup/costs & some easy start-up settings to get great slide scans. UPDATE: It's the second day of ownership, and even with our time spent testing settings, setting up a light box, unpacking and dusting off 54 boxes of 100-slide carousel wheels we managed to scan 2 entire boxes out of the 54! The ONLY THING THAT SUCKS ABOUT IT IS: after every 4 slide batch is previewed the "Color Restoration" box UNchecks itself. So you have to select all four previews and ONLY THEN click to check the color restoration box, and then scan. I can spend 5-15 minutes trying to color correct an RGB color image, and even longer for a CMYK image for print (textbook, magazine, book cover, etc.). After you do a few dozen you won't even have to think: your hand will just click ALL and Color Correct and SCAN. Good luck, have fun, spend a day or two scanning and rescanning a few documents to get the perfect settings and physical workflow that works for you!"
"While that sounds like an over whelming task, it has changed my approach to working with my family archives. Rather than simply copy them forward to digital in their original condition, I am being handed an opportunity to improve them. But, with the right mindset you can enjoy the experience of enhancing those photographic captures that you have kept and treasured, but seldom viewed. While in LR, as the last enhancement, edit the photo in a separate software, Noiseless CK. While the process takes time, it is enjoyable and rewarding to see the old memories once again before you in Kodak Carousel brightness and color -- and better. I doubt this machine is up to professional application either in terms of endurance or image quality."
"The second picture was scanned with Digital ICE and you can see how it removed all the dust and imperfections that were left on the slide even though I cleaned it using canned air."
"I got rid of all my darkroom equipment years ago along with all my film cameras, but still had a lot of 6x6 and 35mm negatives and Kodachrome slides. Also, when working with negatives and slides, just like you were working in darkroom, dust is a real PITA at these levels of enlargement."
With the FF-640, you can scan thousands of photos — as fast as 1 photo per second (2). Ideal for life's special events - easily create slideshows, displays and more for anniversaries, weddings and family reunions.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I can't blame the unit for poorly stored photos that aren't totally flat, nor can I definitively say this is the problem. I have cleaned the daylights out of it so that is not the problem. A very fast, clever, unit with mostly good UI software that also does a good job of enhancing photos with the exception of red eye which is pretty bad. I would really like to hear more from Epson about the blob problem and perhaps see more scan pressure on the paper, or maybe an accessory to help flatten photos if that is indeed the problem."
"Then it auto adjusts the photos (white balance and color) which saves me hours of Photoshopping to do the same. I can't say enough positive things about this smart gadget, and how many years it is probably going to save me."
"In the past I have used a flatbed scanner for scanning photos, but it is just too slow and cumbersome to scan a large number of photos in a timely fashion. I own a Fujitsu ix500 ScanSnap scanner that quickly scans both photos and documents that I use mainly for document scanning, so I was quite interested to see how the Epson FastFoto FF-640 scanner would compare. Oddly, unlike any other scanner I have owned, no installation disc is included, and you are directed to Epson’s web site to download the necessary scanning software to use the scanner. Once you have installed the basic software and connected the scanner you can download additional software to add OCR functionality and features for greater scanning configuration. This is an extremely fast scanner and scans photos significantly faster than my Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500 scanner. The only real time consuming aspect of scanning with this Epson scanner is making the configuration settings prior to scanning. Overall, the Epson Fast Foto FF-640 scanner is a lightning fast scanner that does a very nice job of scanning photos and documents, including business cards and credit cards. It is significantly faster than the Fujitsu ix500 ScanSnap scanner, which is also a very fast scanner, but the Epson scanner also costs a great deal more. For scanning primarily photos, though, the Epson FastFoto scanner would be a better choice if you have lots of photos to scan and want automatic image enhancement as the Epson FastFoto does this very easily and with lightning speed. The Fujitsu scanner is better suited for document scanning, and while it can scan photos it lacks the scanning resolution and image enhancement features that Epson offers with its scanner. For primarily document scanning, though, I think the Fujitsu ix500 scanner is simpler to use and does a better job of helping to organize scanned documents at a much lower cost."
Best Printers & Accessories
Its Full HD Movie Print feature takes a frame from an HD movie recorded on a compatible EOS, PowerShot, or VIXIA camera or camcorder and prints it as a photo, ensuring you never miss a photo opportunity while shooting video. Features: Wireless LAN,AirPrint, Google Cloud Print, Wireless Printing, Mobile Device Printing,USB 2.0 Hi-Speed: Plug the cable into your PC for a super-fast connection for your data transfers.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is my first review on any product on Amazon, this review will be on the Canon PIXMA MX922 Wireless Color Photo Printer with Scanner, Copier and Fax. First to the complaints on the wireless air-print from Ios or Android, if you setup the printer using WPS your phone will never pick up the printer or will appear offline. Also the printer by default will print even all Black and White documents in the color setting because it brings a better quality this can simply be changed in your printer settings in your control panel to Black and White so most regular text documents will use the XXL cartridge which lasts for ever. With this setting changed if the page has color it stills prints in color.Compared to other printers when one cartridge runs out the printer will not continue to print until the ink cartridge is changed. One of the few downfalls of this printer is the size it really is a rather large printer compared to other all in one printers in it's class so take that into consideration."
"My printing needs have diminished over the years as I have become increasingly more digital in document storage, online financial transactions, etc. I never turn it off as it has a low-power state (automatic after a few minutes of inactivity) where everything powers down with only one small, blue light glowing. If I send something to the printer it immediately comes to life, takes a few moments to warm up and (this is cool) the paper output tray *automatically* opens and the extension support flips out! :-) Also, if I place one or more documents in the scanner slot (while in low power mode) then it instantly springs to life and takes a few moments to warm up. :-) Now I don't FAX much these days, but it's nice to know that it is hooked into the "clone" line through my PhonePower VOIP adapter (2 ports) and therefore is available upon demand. Final analysis: This machine's capabilities pleasantly exceeded my expectations, even after reading the specs and reviews. It has proven to be fairly equal in functionality to the Xerox multi-function machine at work, but at a fraction of the cost. UPDATE, 11-24-13: I had occasion to send my sister a letter today (she hates email) so I typed one up and hit the print button. Apart from a slight smudge at the top (probably due to inactivity for several months) the letter printed out flawlessly, including the photo. UPDATE, 08-24-15: Earlier in the year I decided to start creating my own greeting cards (using CorelDraw) and printing out 5x7 photos for b-day gifts to relatives and friends (from PhotoShop). For those wanting to find them, do a search on Amazon for "MX922 compatible ink cartridges" and look for Blake Printing Supply."
"The best wireless support I've ever seen in a printer. I worked with Canon technical support, and they say that the printer has to be serviced or replaced."
Best PDAs, Handhelds & Accessories
![[3-Piece] Fintie for Apple Pencil Cap Holder / Nib Cover / Lightning Cable Adapter Tether for iPad Pro Pencil, Black](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51DbyORFzgL._SS600_.jpg)
Protect your Apple Pencil with this Fintie Pencil Cap Holder at all times! The Cover for Apple Pencil protects Apple Pencil Cap against rolling off uneven surface and being lost. Package includes: 1x Pencil Cap Holder, 1x Nib Cover, 1x Lightning Cable Adapter Tether (Apple Pencil & Cap & Charging Cable & Adapter Not Included!).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Everything fit perfectly."
"The “ZWhite-bonus” actually came with 6 pieces total which was a huge surprise~. There is a “mickie mouse” cap, a devil horns cap, and a hair bow cap~ They are all super cute and like I said I didn’t expect there to be any more than the mickie cap so I think they should add those pictures~. If these ever give out I will more than likely buy again!"
"My only gripe (to no fault of this product) is that the double ended holder that goes on the end of the pencil cannot stay on the end of the pencil when the pencil is in the case that I have for my iPad (for reference, I have the poetic lumps iPad Pro 12.9 tpu case cover)."
"And dirty Apple Pencil nubs can ruin the screen of the iPad, so the cap is a useful addition."
"The first thing I thought of when I got my Apple pen was how easy it will be to lose the little pieces."
"I personally don't use the 2nd one for your charge adaptor, but I do use the cap when carrying the pencil loose in my pocket."
"I got this so I wouldn't lose my pencil accessories (I'm pretty absent minded and always putting stuff down and forgetting where."
"I really like having the extra charger for the apple pencil and the cover for that end of the pencil."
Best Video Projectors & Accessories
DBPOWER 1800 lumens mini video projector, do you want to have amazing watching experience at home? DBPOWER mini video projector is your best choice at a reasonable price, which has high fidelity images and focusing function. It will enhance the images to make the pictures crisp and clear through the technical processing and optimization. Large screen experience - relax your eyes from TV, To connect DBPOWER mini projector with iPad or smart phone, you need a wireless HDMI adapter. To connect the mini video projector with PC/ laptop, please help adjust the PC/laptop display resolution to 800*600 or 1024*768, which can provide the best clarify. By placing the projector at the optimum distance of about 2 to 2.5m, it will display a super-clear and bright 130” image, giving you a superior private home theater experience.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When I plugged in the flash drive with the digital images I wanted to run - it worked perfectly right off the bat. :D. I've included two very short video that shows the projection of the digital files onto uncarved pumpkins - as you can see - this projector did a wonderful job!"
"I've since connected my Ruko stick with the provided HDMI cable and streamed Netflix through the projector, attached my JBL bluetooth speaker with an AUX cable, and even used the HDMI to connect my MacBook so we could watch old home movies and flip through photos through the projector."
"------ end of original review -------. Added 2/9/2017: One More Thing... they have excellent customer service. When they saw my original "Three Star" review they immediately reached out to me via e-mail and wanted to know if they could do anything for me to fix my issue, they even offered me a discount to the price I paid to make it up to me or return the unit for a full refund. The following is my response to their e-mail, sent on 2/8/2017. ------------. 2/8/2017. "Thank you for your e-mail and your concern. I tried to express my experience in my review that my expectations might have been too high, beyond the units performance level, which directly lead to my disappointment. ------------ End of e-mail response dated 2/8/2017 ------------. My experience with their customer service department was exceptional which in turn I came back and willingly change my review rating to a strong "Four Stars"."
Best Office Copiers
With a pop-up handle and a scant 19 pound frame, the Canon PC170 Personal Copier makes the portable office more portable. Enter your model number to make sure this fits. Instant Warm Up, no waiting.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I couldn't find a replacement part, so I bought the new one two years ago."
"I "upgraded" to the PC420 in 1999 since it could make more than one copy at a time (i.e. stackable feeder), and gave the PC100 to a friend (still working as far as I know). The PC420 started pulling the paper in slightly askew a year ago, and stopped pulling it in this week. BTW, my 1st Canon copier cost $429 (after $50 rebate), the 2nd $250 (after $50 rebate), the 3rd $135 - what, no rebate??"
"I am a homeschooling mom and in order to keep costs down I needed a copier so I could run off duplicate pages of certain books."
"I use the machine for general household BW copying since it is simpler to operate that a scaner/printer/fax combo machine. Addendum: The auto exposure (AE) comes on automatically when you turn on the machine."
"A machine that uses toner cartridges @ 2 cents per copy instead of ink @ 50 cents per copy!"
"I have had one of these at work for over 6 years; I make a few copies a week on it and am still using the original toner cartridge. There are just about no features on this machine, but it's so much easier and faster than scanning a document into your computer and then printing it out."
"This is a cleverly designed compact copier, but don't buy it if you think you would ever need to copy a page from a book."
Best Dictionaries, Thesauri & Translators
Special sections include: A Handbook of Style, Foreign Words & Phrases, Biographical Names and Geographical Names. The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales, the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"When using it as a writer (I know the word, but not its spelling, nor if I completely understand the word I seek to use) and not as a reader, I would have been more pleased if those who had added electronic usability had also made it more intuitive to those of us with poorer ability to spell by more simply allowing the browsing for a word as is done with a paper dictionary."
"Received what I ordered and needed."
Best Electronic Organizers
Material: durable and water-repellent nylon Dimension: 9.4"L x 6.3"W x 0.8"H Applications: SD cards, thumb drives, earphones, USB cable and other accessories. Interior Offers Secure Storage Space ■Double zipper opening for easy and immediate access. ■2 inner mesh pockets with zipper can fit portable hard drive. ■6 mesh pouches with elastic loops expand to store multiple sizes of USB drives. ■Elastic loops for storing various items like cables and headphones. ■3 special SD card pouches to prevent your small SD card missing. ■A special logo can help you distinguish it from different bags. It makes the most efficient use of packing space inside your suitcase or bag and still keeps your accessories neat. Construction of heavy-duty, durable and water repellent nylon molded case with elegant design protects your item from scratches, dust and accidental dropping.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I continue that in our travels and wanted something that would eliminate multiple bags (camera, cord, tech extras such as SD cards) and allow me to access them without the bag dump. This one pouch eliminates a camera bag, an Eagle Creek bag (small I used for cords), an SD card pouch, multiple twist / zip ties for cords, earbud case and much more. Now all I need is this pouch, my Kindle Fire and cellphone and all electronics can easily be presented at PEK and other locations where your bags may otherwise be dumped for electronic scans."
"I am new to the world of business travel, and realized that I needed a better system to keep all my tech accessories organized."
"Bought this for travel organization of my cords, and it works really well."
"It is a good organiser, helps to keep everything neat and tidy but if you load it up with camera charger, portable power bank, phone charger etc it came handle it."
"Nice product but a bit expensive."
"Use it all the time and it makes it easy to find all my cords and rechargeable items."
"Very handy to keep cables and plugs neat in your pack/bag."
"Holds a lot."
Best Telephones
Use Google Voice with the OBi and enjoy free calls inside the USA and Canada. Call internationally at amazingly low rates to over 150 destinations. Rates to China, India, and Mexico as low as 1¢ per minute – with no connection fee. When someone calls, ring multiple OBi devices, anywhere. Block unwanted nuisance and tele-marketer calls. Voicemail that acts like email. Designed, developed and supported in the USA. Many more features! Also Supports T.38 Fax and SIP Bring Your Own Device Services like Anveo, Callcentric, Voip.ms, etc.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With OBi, Google charges $20 to port your old number. However, there is one annoying catch: Google doesn't allow porting landline numbers, so you have to go through a bit of redundant obstacle if you want to keep your cherished old landline number; you have to first port your landline number to a mobile carrier such as T-Mobile (it was very smooth with them, which is what I've used; this part is free, but it takes a day to process), AT&T, Verizon, etc. -- to make Google think the number now belongs to a wireless service, which Google will then accept, AND THEN once that's completed, you would then request a port with Google ($20 fee). If you don't care about keeping your old home number then you don't have to go through any of that hassle; just make a google account and use whatever number Google gives you. What this OBI device is basically allows assigning different VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services on it, so you can then connect your old "brick" phones to it; Google Voice just happens to be the main preferred choice. Google Voice is not an actual carrier/phone service - what Google Voice does is just forward numbers to you, like a secretary. I like that Google Voice charges no connection fee for international calls, whereas Skype does. I did notice that I was receiving more spam calls when I signed up with Google; I'm not sure if that is a coincidence or not, but there is also a option in Google to block known spam calls. This OBi device will be useless without internet and a router - or if you don't even own a "brick" phone to connect this to; or if you want to get rid of "brick phones" entirely and modernize your whole home all together with just using tablets/WIFI only smartphone, or PC to make calls, then you don't even need this product and can just sign up for Google and use Hangouts Dialer app for that (granted you don't need 911 emergency services, since Google Voice does not support 911 calls; if you do, you need this Obi/connect a brick phone/add/sign-up/pay monthly fee for just the 911 emergency service). (granted you have internet). - More features than what you'd get with landline services that's a rip off costing more (this gets you cheap international calls, call forwarding, caller ID, threeway calling, transcript voicemails, text messaging, etc). - Small and easy to setup. - Better than the Ooma. Cons: - It relies on Internet/router, so if either of those fail on you, you won't be able to place calls."
"The 200 model supports multiple VOIP provider configurations and 1 Phone line while the 202 supports 2 Lines (regular pricing around $49 and around $69). Note some of have complained that Obi tries to sell you an 2nd year extended warranty and or priority customer service $20 also additional phone features you may or may not need. I only use my land line phone for making conference calls when I work from home and when I need a clearer call then I can get from cell phone. Some other providers I read on line even make it almost impossible to cancel or modify service, Ooma in particular had many reviewers complaining about that Obi talk works with many providers including the completely free Google Voice. ** This device has always paid for itself in 1 Month as I was paying over $40 a month extra to Verizon Fios **. Tech Note: The only thing I was not automatically promoted to do was change the default Obitalk password. Changing default passwords on all internet connected devices is always good idea both for you and the world.You can find out your Obitalk IP address from dialing ***1 on your handstand of a connected phone."
"Not anymore, thanks to Google voice + OBihai combination, that we never have to pay a single penny for using the landline at home. You also need to sign up for the Obihai account and register your device and a step by step wizard will integrate your google voice account with your obihai device."
Best Fax Machines
A convenient communications tool for a range of personal and home office applications, the new Fax 575 is a compact, stylish plain-paper fax with an unobtrusive footprint that works well in typical home or home office environments. 9,600 BPS fax modem transmits at about 15 seconds per page.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If you receive a lot of faxes (and some faxes from a medical provider can be 30-50 pages) then this machine will burn through you monthly stipend in short order. My home office space is at a premium and this machine is mini in size but Maxi in function."
"It is a compact fax machine for home office."
"As advertised."
"FOR LIGHT DUTY AND PERSONAL USE."
"i only get 5 or 6 pages takes 5 or ten minutes. i wouldnt want to do regular big faxes on the thing all in all good product amazon is the place for ink you get hosed in the stores for a replacement cartridge."
"We had a much older Brother fax machine that was way more expensive when bought."
"I had purchased a brother fax/copier and after mny years, it no longer worked."
"This was a very stressful experience and will never again make this mistake and will advise anyone considering to stay on the safe side and do efex."
Best Office Calculators
Enter your model number to make sure this fits.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"It's really hard to go wrong with Texas Instruments, they set the standard for graphing calculators."
"It has been thirty years since I have cracked a math book, but I have recently been asked to help someone in high school with their math and so back to some algebra, geometry, and beyond."
"Even though it’s not the newest, most technological calculator, it still is a great buy."
"This product works well and is a necessity for any high school math class."
"A solid calculator for school."
"Classic calculator, can't go wrong with TI calculators."
"The price is very good compared to buying it from stores."
"TI has been doing this a long time."
Best Document Cameras
With improved hardware, advanced chips and facial- enhancement technology, Besteker brings you a sharp clear image quality even in dim and harsh lighting( improves night vision). 30fps. ●Video Coding Format: H.264/ MJPG/ YUY2. ●Lens: 7 layers (6+1IR) of optical glass, high-precision Carl Zeiss standard glass lens for clearer imaging. ●Image Sensor: High megapixels Aptina CMOS sensor. ●Focus Type: Manual focus( Spin the focus ring ). ●Focal Length: 2.8’’ to to infinity. ★ Obtaining the optimum 1536P image quality is dependent on supported/available bandwidth and the application used. ✔ Full 1536p high resolution HD camera provides crystal clear true-to-life video.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"You get a lot for your money and you can't be beat the crystal clear 1080p image (you can also choose other resolutions that are lower if you are trying to save space)."
"The quality of the picture is really clear and easy to see."
"This is pretty good Webcam."
"It was easy set up my windows 10 PC it picked up the driver and was easy to install i could not say its Ultra Hd but the quality is good."
"Did not provide the kind of quality I needed for my online job."
"Good product, very clear and it’s also easy to use.it can fix on the computer, of course it looks good,much better than my last one."
"very good quality， clear picture."
"Be careful and read whether it works with USB 3.0."
Best Office Presentation Products
Thermal Pouches fits documents up to 8.5-Inch x 11-Inch.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"These laminating pouches are the perfect thickness to laminate bookmarks that fit comfortably between pages. I've laminated both 100lb coverstock as well as 80lb, so I laminate paper on the thicker side and they work amazingly well. I found the best way to feed into the machine is setting the document in the laminating pouch on top of something that is on level with the opening feed."
"My son has Autism and can't talk so I use this to make him pecs communication cards and it works like a charm."
"Another plus here is that unlike the older laminating machines, you do not need to use a "manila folder" to wrap around the pouches before feeding this into the device."
"I used to make stickers but eventually the stickers were peeling and not sticking because the heat through the laminate ruined the sticky part of the label sheets and the cold makes it peel."
"I use them with my scotch laminator, and they allow my center materials to stay nice and neat for several years!"
"My wife loves crafting and making all sorts of things. It is so easy, that I have even laminated some things for my football coaching and a little mothers day project for the wife."
"Two will go through my Amazon Basics laminator without jamming so it's not that big if a deal, just a waste of laminating sheets."
"I used them to make posters and curriculum for my son's homeschooling and they are FANTASTIC!"
Best Office Electronics Installation Services
lntroduction：. USB Type-C is the new USB-IF standard that solves several challenges faced by today’s Type-A and Type-B cables and connectors. This product can expand your computer’s connectivity and functionality with the usb 3.0 hub for ultimate flexibility.widely used for external storage storge devices，computer power source adapter，card reader，mini Display1.2 video output，4K displays at 30Hz refresh rate，USB 3.0 HUB and so on. 1* 4 K displays at 30Hz refresh rate. ★➤【Multi-USB Ports】: PLUG & PLAY No line HUB,do not require any software, drivers or complex installation process. ★➤【SMART DESIGN】: Unibody aluminum alloy exterior, ionized finish, reinforced TPE cable coating, EMI protection to prevent interfere with wireless devices.Crafted aluminum hub effectively saves your desk space and expands your devices connectivity.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I don't think this hub in particular looks as clean as some others that I have seen, but I like that is has a USB-C chord rather than just a stubby plug, so the hub doesn't have to be right up against the side of your laptop."
"The indentation of the wire makes the hub very portable, but one downside is the wire is too short for me to make adjust."
"This USB C hub is such worth the money!"
"So far I haven't heard any complaint but compliments about how much convenience this has brought to him especially when he wants to connect his Iphone, camera SD cards, Mac Pen, and his external hard-drives together."
"Pros: 3 USB 3.0 Ports, it is enough for you to connect 1 mouse, 1 keyboard, and portable harddrive. No overheat when use all the ports. Cons: It seems easy to disconnect (pulled out) from my Mac."
"I have already two this kind of USB-C to HDMI hubs in the office, and both are different, and just need these two to connect my two monitors."
"Brought this for my Dell XPS and nexus phone and it works well."
"I also use it to view photos from my phone to the HDMI output to a monitor I have in the studio."
Best Other Office Equipment
Style: Shredder. 8 minute continuous run time with 45 minute cool down time; Auto start and manual reverse to clear paper jams.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"PROS: - Micro-cut produces nearly 8X more particles than cross-cut. - Quiet for a shredder. - Pullout basket comes out and goes back in easily. - Large 6.7 gallon capacity bin. - Caster wheels for easy mobility. CONS: - Lacks secondary safety lock. - Blindingly-bright power LED. MICRO-CUT VS CROSS-CUT. The biggest advantage of the AmazonBasics over my old W-11C is the micro-cut feature. Here's a breakdown of the different cut types: strip cut: security level 2, 39 strips per 8.5" x 11" sheet. cross-cut: security level 3, 399 particles per 8.5" x 11" sheet. micro-cut: security level 4, 3,000 particles per 8.5" x 11" sheet. That's almost eight times the number of particles from cross-cut to micro-cut. It removes easily when you need to empty it and goes back in pretty smoothly as well. The three-position auto/off/reverse switch works well, but is the only way keep the shredder off, other than unplugging it. I always unplug the shredder when I'm not using it, but if you like to keep yours plugged in, just keep in mind that there's no additional lock."
"I've shredded credit cards, CDs, and paper with this sucker and not one thing has jammed it. -transparencies. -laminated documents. -cardboard. -any items with adhesives. -hard materials or plastic (except credit cards and CDs). I admit to shredding windowed envelopes, continuous forms (like those credit card balance transfer checks), and ad mailers that have cards stuck to them with strips of adhesive. It's quiet. It shreds 12 sheets of paper, credit cards, and CDs as stated in the product description. It can run 8 minutes plus without overheating (it hasn't overheated on me yet). It hasn't jammed. The bin is a good size to not have to empty it frequently. The micro-cut is fabulous. It wheels around smoothly, no creaking or squeeking, and is easy to move around. Striker (the cat) loves the end results :)."
"I can even shred that junk mail without opening it and stretching it out like I had to so my old shredder would not go 'hermitle' (think 'hermit crab retreating into its shell and glaring with its beady red eye (sic 'light')). The shred is also nice little 2 cm squares and do not fly around/grab onto/annoy me like the slips of paper from my old cross-cut shredder (those suckers would stick to everything and were able to achieve flight from me just breathing near them)."
Best Point-of-Sale (POS) Equipment
Square Reader for contactless and chip comes with a free Square Reader for magstripe so you can swipe cards the old-fashioned way, too.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"To put together the perfect square stand system, at minimal cost, this is what you need: Square Stand of your choosing. APG Cash Drawer VB320-BL1616 note: this is NOT usb, it uses an RJ11 connection to piggyback off the printer. Start TSP143IIU Printer. APG CD-101A Cable to link the drawer to the printer. Motorola LS2208 Scanner OR a Socket 7CI bluetooth scanner. Square chip reader OR the Muria model (don't be misled by the paypal branding, it still works here after the firmware automatically updates)."
"Pros: Increases sales. Easy to set up (5 min or so). Easy to operate. Easy to carry. Records transactions w/ GPS location. Sends Email Receipts to customer (if they choose so). Debit/Credit Apple Pay/ Android Pay. Cons: Easy to lose/steal. 2.75% charge per transaction. Confusing Fee from above. Confusing 1st time "mail Sample". Unknown/ Not Tested yet: Customer Service. Printing Capabilities. Durability. Review: So when i ordered, it was advertised with the Square thingy + card swipe adapter. Customers already familiar with it, make transactions faster than cash, and I've notice sales have gone up, despite the 2.75% current charge (as of 11/01/16). Which means that if you sell. a product for $1.00, the customer pays $1.00 but you will only receive $0.97 cents. So if your profit margin has to be $1.00 then you must sell the product at 1*(100+2.75)/100 = $1.03. In general: Sales = Price*(100- r) /100. where: Sales = your desired cash revenue. Price = the advertised amount in a cash transaction. r = interest rate from Square , currently at 2.75%. Generally customers don't mind the extra charge because of the convenience of not wasting time in going to an ATM. 2) Leave prices as they are, and take the hit for using this product (Recommended by me, some is better than nothing). 3) Raise prices altogether to keep profits marginal ( customer satisfaction goes down, and maybe sales as a consequence)."
"I also have an iPhone 7 and therefore don’t have a headphone jack on my phone, but the mag strip reader worked great with the apple lightening adapter."
"Works fast and pairs well on android and iOS devices alike - wish we had upgraded sooner."
"Bought this to add to our stand and it works well, however you need to buy a dock and when the reader goes to sleep you need to take it out of the dock to push a button which for those who are not good with electronics became a barrier."
"Way faster than swiping a card, and it protects you in case of credit card fraud as it places the responsibility back on the issuing bank."
"LIFE SAVER!"
"Worked fine for 1 week."