Brother Portable Scanners and Desktop Scanners

Mobile Scanners
Brother portable scanners are the perfect choice for small businesses, mobile professionals or anyone else who needs a compact mobile scanner loaded with high performance features. Scan photos, business cards, invoices, statements, receipts, contracts, forms, handwritten notes and more with these lightweight portable scanners that take up minimal space whether in a briefcase or on desktop.

Brother portable scanners are powered through an included USB cable, allowing you to scan monochrome or color documents wherever you happen to be. Efficient and convenient, our portable scanners are the easy and affordable way to stay organized, reduce paper clutter and save time.

ImageCenter? DESKTOP SCANNERS
The Brother ImageCenter? desktop scanners are high-speed, reliable, high-quality and easy-to-use. They are the perfect choice for businesses and workgroups looking to scan to various destinations such as a E-Mail, OCR, file, image, USB flash memory drive? and Android? tablet/mobile device?. Additionally the ADS-2500W network model supports scan to E-Mail server, FTP, network and web (cloud) applications?.

Take a moment to think about those multiple-step scanning operations that are done again and again, day after day. Scanning, editing, naming, choosing a file format ? it?s so repetitive. Now imagine the time and money you could save by doing all that at the press of a button. That?s what the Brother ImageCenter? ADS desktop scanner series is all about. The ImageCenter? scanners with built-in, easy-to-use functionality let you capture, manage, process, and deliver PDFs and other file formats – automating processes that previously were time-consuming.

The Brother ImageCenter? desktop scanners are ideal for busy workgroups looking to maximize productivity and streamline scanning applications that were previously in printed form.

Walking On The Job: Treadmill Desks | Neon Tommy

Walking On The Job: Treadmill Desks | Neon Tommy.

Working a nine-to-five job can be draining, especially if you’re sitting down for the majority of the day. Feeling exhausted isn’t the worst of it–heart disease, diabetes and obesity arecorrelated with individuals who don’t get enough exercise or live asedentary lifestyle.

Fortunately for some business men and women, companies like Intel, Googleand Microsoft are adopting a special type of equipment that gets their employees moving as they work. Enter the treadmill desk, a hybrid between a treadmill and a desk.

Unlike your average treadmill, a treadmill desk doesn’t have handles but instead a flat surface at the top of the machine where you can place your laptop or paperwork. The speeds are slow–they range from one to three mph. The low-impact speeds actually help with weight loss, promote blood flow and improve your overall mood.

Dr. James Levine, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic, created the first treadmill desk in 1996. For the first model, Dr. Levine simply placed a bedside hospital tray over a $400 treadmill. Companies have adapted his original idea and now make treadmill desks that range in price from $800 to a whopping $5000.

Some people opt for homemade versions, where they simply add raised tables to an already-purchased machine: an ideal solution for those who work from home.

Susan Orlean, a New Yorker staff writer, describes her homemade treadmill desk in an NPRinterview: “It’s a bit of an ungainly looking thing… I have a normal desk and then I have a kind of platform that sits on it and my computer sits on that platform… I stand on the treadmill, and I walk and I work on my computer, and I do phone calls, and I read and I do all the things that I normally do.”

Celebrities such as Jimmy Kimmel and Al Roker are also fans of treadmill desks.

LifeSpan is one of the few companies that carries treadmill desks. They currently have nine different models. In addition to their treadmill desks, LifeSpan also makes bike desks where you can pedal as you work.

Obviously, not all companies are equipped with treadmill desks. It’s good practice to incorporate a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity per day, either before or after your work day.

Susy Guerrero | October 3, 2013 | 6:54 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

10 Office Technologies on Their Way Out

Here’s a question you may not hear at all in 2017: “Did you get my fax?”

LinkedIn surveyed more than 7,000 global professionals about which tools and trends will disappear from offices in the next five years and which will become even more common. Nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they expected fax machines to disappear, making it the second most likely office technology to go extinct behind tape recorders.

Other once common office tools like the Rolodex, desk phones and even desktop computers ranked high on the list of items likely to become obsolete in the workplace. Meanwhile, more than half of professionals surveyed (55%) believe that tablets will become increasingly common in the office, the most of any technology on the list. Laptops also ranked high, with 34% of those surveyed predicting it would become more common.

The survey is just the latest example that workplaces are gradually abandoning analog technologies for digital. Those in the workforce will need to adapt to these changes or else risk having technological skills that are obsolete as well.

While it’s unlikely many workers will mourn the loss of the fax machine, some may be more nostalgic for other vanishing fixtures of office life like the Rolodex or business cards (which ranked 12th on the list.)

Here are the top 10 office tools and trends that professionals think will vanish in the next five years:

1. Tape recorders (79 percent)

2. Fax machines (71 percent)

3. The Rolodex (58 percent)

4. Standard working hours (57 percent)

5. Desk phones (35 percent)

6. Desktop computers (34 percent)

7. Formal business attire like suits, ties, pantyhose, etc. (27 percent)

8. The corner office for managers/executives (21 percent)

9. Cubicles (19 percent)

10. USB thumb drives (17 percent)

 

Article via Mashable

 

Top 10 “Germiest” Places AT Work

If you’ve pumped gas, used a grocery cart, or touched an escalator handrail, you’ve come into contact with a few of our most germ-ridden public places. But what about less public spots, like your office? Turns out that’s a hot bed of bacteria too. Before cold and flu season gets into full swing, let’s take a look at the top 10 germiest places at work.

 

1. Office phone – According to University of Arizona research, your office phone gets coated with bacteria from your mouth and hands, harboring about 25,000 germs per square inch. Yikes!

2. Keyboard and Mouse – Unavoidable and constantly touched.

3. Desktop – Most of us don’t wipe down our desktop before and after eating lunch or a snack, yet food particles can be a breeding ground. And if you place your purse or briefcase on top your desk, you’ve just added to the petri dish.

4. Fax and copier machines – While the toilet seat gets regular cleaning, have you seen anyone sanitize these recently?

5. Communal kitchen items – The communal coffee pot, refrigerator, and microwave are all laden with illness-causing germs.

6. Water cooler – The spout rarely gets disinfected and you often see people filling their already used water bottles or cups with it, sometimes touching the spout directly.

7. Shared pens – You might want to think twice about letting a co-worker use your pen. On average, surface germs lurk for up to 72 hours.

8. Common areas – Conference room armrests, doorknobs, light switches, and railings, touched by many hands and cleaned only occasionally, if that.

9. Vending machine – Beware the innocent vending machine. Fingers, money, and food – a great combination for harboring potential pathogens. Neither the vendor filling it nor the cleaning crew wipe down this germy beast.

10. Elevator buttons – There’s a reason you see people using their elbow to press their floor.

Even the cleanest person comes into contact with various bugs and bacteria on a daily basis. While frequent hand washing remains your best defense, add an extra layer of protection by using disinfectant wipes on frequently touched items and keeping a hand sanitizer available. And, just in case the bug bites, be sure to have a fresh supply of cold and flu medicine on hand. With these tips in mind, you can stay strong and healthy this season and all year long.

5 Secrets to Saving Money on School Supplies

August. It’s the month when teachers start updating lesson plans and preparing supply lists for the fall. With shrinking budgets and increasing expectations, now more than ever educators need to stretch their dollars while continuing to enhance the learning experience. Here are a few tips that can help.

1. Be creative. Post your classroom wish list of educational games, classroom learning tools, equipment, and books at sites that match donors with teachers including Adopt-A-Classroom.com, donorschoose.org, and supplyourschools.org. In the spirit of nothing’s better than free, check out freecycle.com for gently used audiovisual equipment, posters, rolling carts and more. You may need to pick up the items, so look local first.
2. Gain parental involvement – no pressure needed! Establish one-on-one relationships with parents. Early in the year as you discuss your educational philosophy and classroom plans with them, let them know what projects you’d like to undertake, what the students will learn, and what specific supplies are required. A surprising number will step up without your asking. Another subtle technique: Post a wish list of supplies on your bulletin board or chalkboard during parent-teacher conferences that parents can read while waiting for an appointment.
3. Choose quality over quantity. In some cases, like electronics, floor mats, storage cabinets, and shelving, quality makes a difference. You’ll spend more money upfront, but save in the long run because the items will last for years.
4. Start early. Prepare your classroom wish list and your students’ supply list at the end of the year and make both available to parents. This way everyone knows what’s needed, it allows expenses to be spread over time, and lets you shop sales.
5. Talk to the staff at SBM Your office supply store manager is a valuable resource and can help you look for creative solutions to outfit your classroom and get the biggest bang for your buck. Some stores offer special teacher discounts or participate in donation programs. Let them know what you need and they will find a way to help.

May is the perfect month to begin planning for the new school year. Create your list and start shopping and saving today.

Shareable: 10 Creative Ways to Reuse Extra Office Supplies

Some Great Ways To Reuse Your Supplies!
By Mary Mazzoni

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Office supplies are often sold in bulk, meaning the majority of that 2,000-count box of paper clips may sit forgotten in the back of a desk. Help keep useful items from collecting dust or going to waste by finding creative ways to re-purpose office extras at home. Read on for 10 ideas we love.

Shareable: 10 Creative Ways to Reuse Extra Office Supplies.

Tips on maintaining your fountain pen.

 

Remember when handwriting and penmanship meant something? Often times many of us don’t worry how good our bad our penmanship is. We’re all so busy and we just don’t care. If we have to make something look nice, well we have a keyboard for that. There are a few of us though that still care about penmanship. If you are one of the few left then you probably take pride in owning a fountain pen. Some of you may not even know what a fountain pen even looks like. What a travesty!

 

Fountain Pens actually used to be on the list of required school supplies in many schools. Now this was many years ago, of course but it’s true. If you’re someone who used fountain pens in school then you know how nostalgic owning one can be. Nostalgia isn’t the only nice thing about a good fountain pen. There are numerous advantages that come with using fountain pens like smooth ink flow with very little pressure. You can choose from different nib sizes for different writing styles as well, but let’s forget about all those technical advantages. The bottom line is fountain pens are stylish, plain and simple. If you have a fountain pen or may be purchasing one soon, here are a few tips on using and caring for your favorite pen.

 

 

 

GENERAL CARE AND ADVICE
• Keep your fountain pen capped when not in use to protect the nib and prevent drying.
• If your pen will not be used for several weeks, remove the cartridges and flush the front section with water.
• When traveling by plane, carry your fountain pen either completely full or completely empty. A change in cabin pressure may cause leakage if the cartridge or converter is partially full.
• If the pen does not start writing, hold pen point down for approximately one to two minutes. Gently squeeze the cartridge and draw long lines on paper.
• Never wash a fountain pen with alcohol or hot water.

CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS
• Your fountain pen should be cleaned thoroughly after every 3 to 4 cartridges or when changing ink colors.
• Before cleaning with the converter, soak the front section overnight in lukewarm (not hot) water with 2 to 3 drops of dish detergent. This will dissolve any ink crystals.
• Insert empty converter into the front section and submerge entire nib into cold water. Twist the black stem clockwise, then counterclockwise until the water is clear.
• A tissue should be placed against the nib to absorb any excess water.

USING YOUR FOUNTAIN PEN WITH CARTRIDGES

• Carefully remove the cap from the barrel with a gentle push of your thumb and forefinger.

• Unscrew the barrel from the front section.

• Insert a cartridge, smaller end first, into the front section and gently pull it back out about 1/8 of an inch and push it back in tightly. This will break any air bubbles. Gently squeeze the cartridge once or twice to start the ink flow. (Holding a tissue over the pierced hole in the center of the nib will also help to get the ink flowing.)

• Insert a spare cartridge, smaller end first, into the barrel. This will lock the cartridge in place and provide replacement ink when you need it.

USING YOUR FOUNTAIN PEN WITH BOTTLED INK

• Always use a water base ink.
• Insert the converter into the front section as you would insert a cartridge.
• Holding the middle section of the converter, twist the black stem counterclockwise.
• Dip the entire nib, up to the metal ring, into the bottled ink.
• Twist the black stem clockwise until ink fills the reservoir.
• Gently wipe any excess ink from your nib.

Attention Small Businesses! Don’t be a Victim to Counterfeits.

The United States Secret Service stated that it seized nearly $81 Million in Counterfeit US Dollars in Fiscal Year 2011-2012. – according to Kim Severson (New York Times) see full article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/us/details-of-counterfeiting-ring-unfold-in-atlanta-case.html

Small Businesses are facing an increasing threat from counterfeit money. Secret Service agents say they are seeing an increase in counterfeiting because of easy access to modern printers and desktop publishing techniques.

Don’t be a victim. Be sure you have the most up to date counterfeit protection system for your needs.

Try the Dri-Mark TRI Test UV Counterfeit Detector
This detection system provides the ultimate protection against counterfeit currency and falsified documents. This ultra-portable system has a 3-way test that authenticates currency, passports, credit cards, traveler’s checks, and drivers licenses. The UV light reveals all the correct security threads and a white fluorescent backlight reveals the watermarks.

SBM offers the latest state-of-the-art counterfeit detection technologies to help keep you and your business safe!

Helping our Local United Way

At SBM we have always had a commitment to our community. We participate in numerous fundraisers and projects that contribute to the betterment of our communities. This year we added a new program that would increase the awareness of our community’s needs. So in the second half of 2012 SBM decided to use a portion of the proceeds of our sales of our private label copy paper as our means of raising funds for all United Ways in our selling area. We designed our carton labels to show commitment to this campaign. The United Way logo is proudly displayed on each carton showing the commitment SBM has to helping our local United Ways. We then had our staff promote the paper and the campaign to our existing customers. (This paper is the same great paper we have sold for years, but with a new label.)

Our customers embraced the promotion and support of their United Way. We tallied our sales and calculated the proceeds for your United Way. It is with great pleasure that we were able to present the United Way of Whiteside County with over $870 to use on office supplies, break room, and janitorial supplies from our online ordering site at www.callsbm.com. In all SBM was able to obtain proceeds for 12 are United Ways.

Wendy Johnson (SBM President) presents Russ Siefken (Executive Director of the United Way of Whiteside County) with SBM’s United Way Paper Campaign Certificate.

 

 

Sticky Notes – Full of Heart!

I don’t know about you but my desk is littered with sticky notes, even as we speak. There is not a spot in my work area that is safe from these sticky little guys. As a matter of fact, even the notes I have for this blog post can be found sitting next to my keyboard. See pic below.

Sure, no one else can read my rushed and frazzled chicken scratch. Nor can anyone understand the method at which I make out my notes. Sounds pretty unorganized right? Not to me! I honestly don’t think I would make it through the day without the use of my sticky little friends.

As much as we use the sticky note or post-it note (call it what you want), the invention of the post-it note was actually a mistake. A man named Spencer Silver, a scientist from 3M created the adhesive backing by mistake in 1970. He was actually trying to develop a stronger adhesive but instead created a repositionable adhesive much weaker than what 3M was already manufacturing at the time. Not being able to use his newly developed adhesive, the product went on the shelf. Luckily for us he did not discard it.

Now, fast forward six years later. Another 3M scientist, Arthur Fry,  was singing in his local church choir and had a difficult time keeping his place in his hymn book. He tried using markers but they kept falling out of the book.  Frustrated, he wished he had something sticky that would stay put without ripping the pages in his book. He soon remembered his colleague’s invention a few years earlier and coated his marker’s with the light adhesive that Spencer Silver had created. The new adhesive worked wonderfully and the rest is history. 3M began distributing the Post-It note in 1980.

With 32 years under its belly, the Post-It note has become somewhat of an icon. For years people have been finding creative and unique ways to use one of the most trusted office supplies. The shapes and colors have evolved as well with hundreds of different shapes, sizes, colors and more.

This Valentine’s Day show your office co-workers some love with a fun heart-shaped Post-It note dispenser and pink post it notes. You won’t go un-noticed!