New Years Resolution: Get Organized.

Christmas is over and 2009 is just about here. If you are a small business owner, chances are your New Year’s resolution is to organize and make yourself more efficient. If this is the case, here are a few tips:

1. create a temporary file system that is alway out and in use. File those receipts and that incoming mail as soon as you hit your desk.

2. make a date with your filing system every single week and never be late! I like to do my paperwork Sunday mornings.

3. stay healthy. It is easier to be organized when you are not distracted by aches and pains.

4. part of staying healthy is to be ergonomically organized. Sit on a yoga ball, get a proper keyboard, stand when talking on your wireless headset, etc.

5. Do not eat at your desk. Nothing clutters up a desk faster than food containers and crumbs.

I hope these tips help. They certainly help me to keeo my “get organized and efficient” resolution that I made a couple of years ago.

Gift ideas for teens and kids

Game Com X10 gaming headset ($39.95)

It’s the holidays and you still have time to pick up headsets to offer as gifts to the people on your shopping list.

 

Gaming headsets are a great idea for kids and teens. Whatever your price range or your precise gaming choices, the headset that you choose will greatly affect the experience of the game.

 

Gamers of all ages appreciate dynamic sound quality that our headsets deliver.

 

What do gamers look for when shopping for a headset?

•  Dynamic high-quality sound delivery
• Comfortable padding and support
• Durability

 

Consider the Game Com X10 competitively priced at $39.95. This gaming headset is specially engineering for the Xbox. As well as delivering top quality in a comfortable unit, this headset has a noise-canceling microphone for clearer speech delivery on Xbox Live.

 

If you want to kick it up, opt for the noise-canceling Plantronics Audio 550 DSP Ultimate Performance Headset and Software for only $99. Both of these featured headsets are built for comfort, sound quality, and durability. You can purchase these or shop many other models at Headset Express Canada and have them shipped to you in time for Christmas.

CS 55: Number One Selling Wireless Headset

The CS 55 Wireless Headset is, believe it or not, the number one selling headset in the world. There are a few reasons why it is the headset of choice among our clients and pretty much everyone else. To begin with, the 1.9 GHz DECT technology allows for crystal clear conversation with little to know interference, for as big of a range as 300 feet! Another great benefit of the CS 55 headset is that it is very versatile and comfortable, ergonomically speaking. There are three different ways to where the CS 55. There is also a digitally-encrypted signal for added security and an optional handset lifter, which is very cool. It allows you to answer incoming calls when you are away from your desk and computer. As an added bonus, you can also end the call without having to go back to your desk as well. A busy light will display so that, as you are walking around the hallways of your building or the kitchen  beside your home office, people will know that you are engaged in a phone call and (hopefully) not interrupt your conversation.

The CS 55 Wireless Headset is on sale at Headset Express for $319.00 right now. That is a full $100 off the original price. Just in time for the holidays!

Recall Notice: Battery for 9120 Wireless Headset

Hi everyone, I just wanted to give a quick heads up that GN Netcom has recalled the battery for the 9120 Wireless headset. Plantronics is offering a $50 rebate on their wireless headset if you trade in a GN Netcom wireless headset. Also, we at Headset Express will provide our customers with a FREE Headset Express replacement battery for your GN Netcom 9120 or we can do the trade in for you with Plantronics.

Contact us for more information!

Understanding the Differences Between 900MHz and 2.4GHz Wireless Headset Systems

A Plantronics White Paper – December, 2003

Overview

When it comes to deciding on the right communications products for business, the key to finding the ideal solution lies not in “speeds and feeds,” but rather in finding the device best suited to fit a company’s needs. In telephony, the best device is the one that most cost effectively and efficiently meets those needs.

Increasingly, companies are turning to wireless headset systems to help their employees go completely hands free, and to add new freedom to the way they currently conduct their business. The mobility afforded by wireless headsets and the ability to multi-task contribute to a much more productive workforce.

Trying to decide which wireless headset system to buy shouldn’t come down to 900MHz headsets or 2.4GHz headsets based on frequency alone, because neither frequency is necessarily better than the other. Each headset and its corresponding frequency are different, and the overall quality of a wireless product is not directly related to frequency.

Companies should decide which wireless headset system to purchase based on what they need it to accomplish for their business. The key to being able to make this educated choice lies in understanding the importance of features such as range, audio quality, talk time, comfort, security and their associated benefits….

Read the full article: Understanding the Differences Between 900MHz and 2.4GHz Wireless Headset Systems  

Plantronics Headsets: Analogue vs. USB

Plantronics headsets are some of the most popular computer microphones on the market today. Whether you intend to record your voice for web audio, participate in chatting, send your voice over IP, or use speech recognition software, Plantronics has an appropriate headset. Plantronics headsets can be broken down into two main categories: analog headsets and USB headsets. Their most popular models are the Plantronics Audio 90 analog microphone and the Plantronics DSP 500 USB headset. 

Analog Plantronics Headsets 

The top analog mic is the Plantronics Audio 90 Multimedia Stereo PC headset. The Audio 90 has large, comfortable ear cones, and therefore good bass response in the headphones. But what really matters for web audio is the microphone’s ability to capture your voice accurately. The frequency response of the mic is 100 Hz to 8 Hz. That’s more limiting than a “pro microphone” response of 50 Hz to 18 kHz, but what do you expect for less than $40 US? This range is adequate for most voice work that you would do with your computer, including voice over IP, chat, recorded messages, and speech recognition.…

To read this full article, click here.

Office Ergonomics Tip of the Week

According to the BC Health Guide, hearing problems can often be caused at work. As part of a healthy and ergonomically correct office place, noise issues should be carefully considered.

Here is what The BC Health Guide website has to say on the subject:

Noise problems

Noise can produce tension and stress and interfere with your ability to concentrate, and it can damage your hearing.

• Common office noise sources may include:
  • Computer or other video display terminals.
  • Telephones and fax machines.
  • High-speed printers or copy machines.
  • Conversations or human voices.
  • Walking traffic on hard-surfaced floors.
  • High-density office space (many people working in close proximity, which leads to more voices and foot traffic around work areas).
  • Noise outside the building that comes through office windows.
• Even low-level noise can reduce your productivity and increase stress levels, leading to problems with muscles and joints.
• High-level noise is regulated by Canadian federal and provincial governments, as this type of noise can lead to significant hearing loss.

Solutions. You and your company can reduce your risk for hearing loss or other problems associated with noise levels with:

• Earplugs, to reduce background noise.
• Acoustic ceiling tiles, to absorb some noise.
• Relocation of noisy equipment.
• Efficient building design; for example, conference rooms can be designed into building layouts as they help reduce noise (because they are often empty).
• Window glass, to block out excessive noise.
• Carpets, to help absorb foot-traffic and conversational noise.
• Noise-reducing partitions, to reduce noise around workstations.

Headset Express would like to add that a good quality noise reduction headset can also make an obvious difference to the quality of your workday. A good quality office headset does not need to be expensive nor complicated to use. Contact us today and we will help you pick out a high quality, inexpensive headset to reduce stress, strain, and exasperation.

Office Ergonomics of the Week

Instead of an office ergonomics tip this week, I am providing a link to a handy ergonomics booklet in PDF format, courtesy of the Workers Compensation Board of Alberta.

According to the WCB Alberta, the purpose of this little book is to:

• Create a better understanding of ergonomic principles.
• Identify symptoms and causes of discomfort.
• Guide employees through an evaluation and adjustment of their workstation.
• Outline exercises designed to reduce the risk of injury.

I appreciate any feedback as to the value of this booklet so please feel free to leave a comment.

Happy Labour Day Canada!!! Cartoon

Happy Labour Day Canada!

Happy Labour Day Canada

From all of us Wireless headset junkies at Headset Express!

Image Source: http://www.claybennett.com/images/archivetoons/labor_day_2001.jpg

Why Choose the Wireless CS 55 Headset

Among other things, my last post pondered the key reasons people choose wireless headsets. 

After writing that entry, I was reminded of a recent conversation I had with one of my favourite customers. We were discussing his CS 55 wireless headset. He told me that one of the reasons he chose the CS 55 headset because of the handset lifter, which is an option that allows you to answer the phone from anywhere in the office. The main reason that he chose the CS 55 headset, though, was actually the incredibly long continuous talk time. Believe it or not, the CS 55 headset offers 10 full hours of continuous talk time.

There are lots of other benefits to this particular wireless headset, including an incredibly comfortable earpiece, those were simpy the key benefits for him.

Visit Headset Express for more reasons to choose the CS 55 wireless headset.