10 Must Have Office Products

Let's face it. The admin's work is never finished and having the right tools to perform tasks effectively is constantly sought out. Every item from a pen to a high-performance copy machine makes a difference in the level of efficiency that a task or project can be completed. Have you ever found yourself at the edge of a deadline only to find that you were without the proper supplies or machinery to get the job done?

Here's a tip: When ordering office supplies and equipment, make sure the product specifications meet the needs of your office usage and double check it when you receive them before you stock them. Be sure to return products that don't do what they say they will do.

A little planning goes a long way; make sure you know the functions and features of all office equipment to ensure that a project can be handled properly. And always be on the look out for new and improved products that will make your job easier.

Here are ten office picks that'll have you whistling while you work and help motivate you to accomplish tasks of all sizes:

1) Uni-ball Grip 0.7 Pen. There's nothing worse than a new pen that doesn't write or the ink skips all over the place. This pen's roller ball flows smoothly and delivers ink evenly with the comfort of a rubber grip. It comes in fine point, micro point, black, blue, and red. About $18.00 per dozen.

2) Uni-ball Signo 0.7 Gel Grip. Want extra smooth glide? This pen is the one for you. Especially recommended for writing little side notes in red so that it stands out from pre-printed black text. Users can enjoy clean and even flowing lines, and the strong tips can withstand all the heavy handed writing you can offer. Priced at $2.50 each.

3) Bic Wite-Out Correction Pen. Shake, squeeze, and dab on the text you want to delete. This pen corrects mistakes with less hassle than the old liquid form that gets all clumpy and sticky. And it dries fast. Its distant cousin, correction tape, can also be a little messy and tacky looking. About $2.29 each.

4) For the post-it note lover in you, Super Sticky Post-it Notes are perfect for hard-to-stick surfaces and they stick just about anywhere. You can use them on walls, dashboards and computer monitors - especially ideal for large projects that require organization of multiple documents. $11.99 for a pack of 6.

5) Swingline Commercial 3-Hole Electric Paper Punch. If your office likes to keep records in 3-ring notebooks, this product would be super handy. It will be more cost-effective than buying three-hole punched paper. And printers with the three-hole punch feature can be too expensive. About $130.00.

6) Need a lamp that provides task lighting, looks fashionably cool, and takes up very little space on your desk? The IKEA Aläng Table Lamp has a matching floor lamp available in a white or brown woven shade. This handsome nickel-plated couple will spruce up any office, both affordably priced at a total of $70.00.

7) Dell Photo All-In-One Printer 926 is the perfect peripheral pal. Scans, prints, and produces copies in black and white and color. It also prints photos - this is everything you need right at your desk. Priced at about $70.00 wholesale and $100.00 retail. With purchase of a computer, Dell has been throwing it in the deal for about $40.00.

8) Jettra Mid-Back Mesh Chair. Herman Miller-like style? Sort of. Although a true comparison would be like apples to oranges, the sleek look and comfort without the fancy price sure is reminiscent of the same design. This Office Depot brand at $200 offers lumbar support, tilt controls, a heavy duty base and frame, and comfortable mesh material. Not bad for the price. If your budget can handle it, the cheapest Herman Miller is going to start at $500.

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9) Epson Stylus R2400 Photo Printer produces stunning black and white or color prints that last up to 200 years, according to the manufacturer's product description. It offers three levels of black-light-black, light-light black, and black inks. The printing speed is about 1.47 minutes for an 11" x 14" photo at a resolution of 5,760 x 1,440 optimized dpi.

10) Canon PIXMA iP6600D delivers detailed prints that are consistently crisp at a speed of 1.8 minutes for an 8.5" x 11" photo. You will enjoy the high performance of this products inkjet nozzle technology which produces precision ink droplets as little as 1 picoliter, giving you an eye-popping 9600 x 2400 dpi resolution.

Both photo printers have a one-year warranty on parts and labor. The Epson prints faster than the Canon. And while they both produce nice, crisp photos, the Canon has a higher DPI resolution. The Epson is priced at $700. The Canon costs about $200 - $300. The Epson's professional level ink set, the 8-color Epson UltraChrome K3 inks with three black inks, would probably explain the price difference - this printer ensures a wider color gamut and thus more suitable for professional photography. For everyday office use, the Canon is probably the best choice.

What office products make your day-to-day life easier?