Chapter 3. Technology: 60-Second Commute Essentials

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Welcome to the age of technology. There has never been a better time to work from home. Even the catchword " telecommuting " was born of technology.

All home office professionals need equipment. Depending on what it is you do, technology needs can range from fax machines to copiers, computers to data storage. When trying to combine a family into the home office equation, choices in equipment become more urgent. You need equipment that will stand up to sticky little fingers or peanut butter smears. Erica has one darling who fed Cheerios into the disk drive of her computer.

If you're a telecommuter, your company may provide you with some or all of the equipment you need to "hook up" to the on-site office (though this varies from company to company). But if you're starting a home-based business, you may be worried about keeping costs low as you invest in equipment to get your company up and running.

And what about all the bells and whistles? Technology can easily become its own monster with so many gadgets and electronics you almost don't know where to turn first. Admittedly, too, some of us are "gadget geeks " who just can't live without all the latest electronic marvels. We see it in the computer store or eye our friend using it and just have to have it. But is having every gadget necessary, and is the cost and time taken to learn all the equipment's capabilities really worth it?

This chapter will then cover some of the basics of home office equipment. For starters, Cheerios in a disk drive will render said disk drive unusable.

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