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                                                  Power Tools for Time Management
                               order to use it effectively. And learning new systems can drain
                               away valuable time that might be better spent doing your job. So,
                               as discussed earlier, start by identifying the reasons you have for
                               needing the equipment and then find the make and model that
                               will allow you to meet those needs in the easiest way possible.
                                   If you use your printer largely for text documents and corre-
                               spondence, you won’t need a full-color laser printer. If you do
                               need a full-color laser printer (e.g., for proposals), you’ll want to
                               find one that doesn’t require resetting a vast number of your
                               computer’s internal configurations before each use.
                                   Complexity of operation almost always requires a propor-
                               tionate commitment of the time and effort you’ll need to invest
                               in learning how to use the product. And your own skills and tal-
                               ents should suggest the level of complexity you can manage
                               effectively without taking a six-month training course on using
                               the product.
                               Dependability
                               When buying any technological tool, dependability is a signifi-
                               cant factor. Every malfunction or breakdown wastes time. The
                               following tactics should reduce the possibility of downtime and
                               minimize the effects:


                                    Determining a Product’s User-Friendliness
                                One way to find out just how user-friendly a product might
                                be: ask the salesperson to demonstrate the product’s features for
                                you—or to allow you to try them out yourself, then and there.
                                  When you begin to shop for a product, take a list of the activities
                                you’ll need to perform with it and review each of these with the sales-
                                person. Have him or her show you the simplest way to do things on
                                the unit you’re contemplating purchasing, and then what additional fea-
                                tures might be easily incorporated to improve results.
                                  If you find yourself quickly getting lost with the salesperson’s expla-
                                nations, you may either need a better salesperson or a different prod-
                                uct. If you shop around and still can’t find someone who can explain
                                the product’s operations in terms you can understand, the problem is
                                probably with the product itself.
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