Epson Canada Ltd. is entering a new product category with its introduction of a sub-$1,000 colour multifunction laser printer. The Epson AcuLaser CX11NF offers business customers in small offices printing, copying and scanning capabilities. It is a step up from the AcuLaser CX11N, adding a 50-page automatic document feeder and 33.6 Kbps Super G3 faxing with colour support. This multifunction printer (MFP) provides printing up to 25 pages per minute (ppm) of monochrome documents and up to 5 ppm of colour output. The Epson AcuLaser CX11NF comes with a one-year limited on-site warranty and is priced at $999.
Master of licensing
Zenworks 7 Asset Management, a new compliance and asset tracking suite from Novell, includes connectors allowing licence tracking for software purchases from Software Spectrum, SHI and Softchoice. Certified by the Software and Information Industry Association (SIIA), the software also includes improved cross-platform inventory features. Organizations can automatically reconcile their installed software with actual licence purchasing records, helping to ensure compliance and to avoid unnecessary software fees.
Mini enhancements
The top two models of Apple‘s Mac mini line of computers now include built-in AirPort Extreme for 54 Mbps 802.11g wireless networking along with an internal Bluetooth module. This enables cable-free communication with Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones and PDAs, as well as with peripherals such as a wireless keyboard and mouse. All three models also now come with 512MB of memory standard. Two inches tall, weighing 2.9 pounds, the Mac mini includes one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports. A DVI interface supports VGA so customers can connect to a LCD or CRT display. Mac OS X version 10.4 “Tiger” is also pre-installed. Prices start at $629. The Mac mini with built-in wireless networking, AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth starts at $749.
Betting on small business
DreamOn Softwareís Wheel of Business software, with a target customer of three to seven users, handles company activities including contact management and accounting. The software includes sections which automate quoting and proposals, and is capable of converting these into orders in the accounting system. Service scheduling and billing are part of the package, which permits products to be included in the service order. When a sale is concluded, Wheel of Business relieves the inventory in the accounting package. Wheel of Business also integrates with QuickBooks or MAS90/200 accounting software.
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