From Marc Kramer
1. Laptop: Don’t waste your money on a desktop. A laptop, maybe with a docking station, is what you need.
2. Business software: Microsoft Office is absolutely essential software because it provides you with:
Database, for contacts: The size of your database is only limited by the size of your hard drive. I have more than 5,000 contacts in my Outlook mail client.
PowerPoint, for presentations: How often do you make presentations without graphics?
Word, for writing documents.
Excel spreadsheets, for developing projections.
Calendar.
Web site development.
Tasks: Once a day I check my tasks to see what I have gotten done.
3. Norton 360: I like this product because it gives you the following:
PC security;
Transaction security from identify theft;
Automatic backup and restore for protecting files, which is invaluable when your system goes down and you have to recapture files and documents;
A computer tuneup to make it run more efficiently; and
2 GB of online storage for photos, music, contacts and financial documents.
4. BlackBerry: I use the T-Mobile BlackBerry, but there are a variety of BlackBerry products out there. Next to your laptop, this is the most essential purchase you will make. I have to admit I am a “CrackBerry addict”…
5. Seagate Mirra: This device is one of the best investments I have ever made. It is a must-have product. It backs up your computer onto a separate hard drive and allows you to access your machine online in case you don’t have your computer. The price is less than $300 for a 100 GB hard drive. It’s priceless when your laptop crashes and you need to reformat your system but can’t retrieve the hard drive.
6. Online backup:
7. Telephone: I like the RCA Executive Series
8. High-speed Internet access:
9. Internet telephone: I use VoiceWing from Verizon… What I like about VoiceWing is that I can make unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada for about $25 a month. Skype is very good if you are making international calls, because it is free.
10. Four-in-one printer: These are machines that print, copy, fax and scan.
11. Web site:
12. Constant Contact: This is one of the best online services you will purchase.
13. Accounting software:
14. Tax software:
15. Business cards:
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