Basic equipment to work from home

skintandscared_2

Just wondered if anyone could recommend some basic equipment to enable me to work from home in an emergency, but not as a regular thing (so equipment that is small and won't take over my flat!)

I'm a PA and was stranded at home yesterday as my train line was totally screwed. This has happened several times over the past few years and I'm fed up of wasting days' holiday being stuck at home. It occurred to me that if I had a small printer at home, and access to my work emails/document system, I could actually have easily worked from home yesterday. If my boss scanned and emailed me his handwritten notes and document amendments, I could do them and email them back to him.

My work have said they can supply me with something to plug into my PC that will mean I can access my office system and basically have my office PC at home.

Can anyone recommend a good SMALL printer (maybe printer and fax?) that will be quite discreet and not take over my dining table when it's not in use? I need something reliable that will print pdfs as clearly as possible (my boss' handwriting isn't the best!)

Many thanks.

scheming_gypsy

you don't need anything apart from a computer and access to the office via VPN.

If it's only temporary how come you need a printer? can't you just view electronically from your email?

skintandscared_2

Not really, no. My boss handwrites things to type up and makes manuscript amendments to documents. I need for those to be scanned and emailed to me so I can print them out, access the original document (or create a new document), type up the notes or make the amendments then email the finished document back. It would be quite tricky to have the pdf open and keep switching between the pdf and the document to make the amendments.

I think the only other thing I need is a foot pedal to use the digital dictation system, in case he posts dictations. I already have headphones.

I do think that I can get all I need for about £40 (i.e. a wireless printer) and the rest is just getting the software side sorted out.

diable

Speak to your IT dept at work and they should sort you out as it shouldn't have to cost you anything.

skintandscared_2

Oh yes, work have said they are happy to pay for it. I just have to take the receipt in and claim it back. Really I just wondered if anyone could recommend a compact printer (preferably wireless) that has a good quality print. As I said, my boss' handwriting isn't the best so fuzzy printing would be useless

Lil306

skintandscared wrote: »

Oh yes, work have said they are happy to pay for it. I just have to take the receipt in and claim it back. Really I just wondered if anyone could recommend a compact printer (preferably wireless) that has a good quality print. As I said, my boss' handwriting isn't the best so fuzzy printing would be useless

Not sure if they make them, but Samsung ML series are quite good for the price. You get a life of about 2000 pages from a toner on laser printers and the quality is good imo.

S0litaire

Check out ASDA or Sainsburys they usually have a HP Wireless Printer Scanner for around the £30 it comes and goes from the shops every couple of months. (cheaper then the branded ink that comes with them!!) lol

The printing is clear and sharp (from what I've seen)

Owain_Moneysaver

I'd also suggest that you get a VoIP extension linked into the phone system at work, that way you won't be paying for phone calls.

macman

If you just wanted to print b/w text, then a cheap Samsung laser is the best option-compact and cheap to run.
Your boss still handwrites memos? Sounds like he needs introducing to the 20th century, let alone the 21st!

marms

S0litaire wrote: »

Check out ASDA or Sainsburys they usually have a HP Wireless Printer Scanner for around the £30 it comes and goes from the shops every couple of months. (cheaper then the branded ink that comes with them!!) lol

The printing is clear and sharp (from what I've seen)

These cheap printers come with what's known as starter cartridges, in other words cartridges that're nearly empty, and don't usually work with compatible cartridges.
Expect to pay the price of a better printer many times over with the rip off ink prices.

skintandscared_2

macman wrote: »

If you just wanted to print b/w text, then a cheap Samsung laser is the best option-compact and cheap to run.
Your boss still handwrites memos? Sounds like he needs introducing to the 20th century, let alone the 21st!

I know, bless him. He's over 60 and still very "old school" He was the last one in the firm to switch to the digital dictation system and he hates it. He's such a fabulous chap to work for though, I'm happy to work around the way he likes to do things and I'm dreading the day he retires!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.