Apple made a lot of noise back when the iMac was first introduced by stripping the floppy drive and legacy connections out of the system. Ultrabooks are doing the same today, dropping older ports and ancient optical drive technology. Sure, it means that you’ll need to get creative if you’re installing older software, but companies are adapting. You can buy Microsoft Office license codes directly from Staples.ca or in-store in over 300 locations across Canada, and install them from downloads from Microsoft’s site without ever needing a DVD. As more software moves in this direction we can finally say a fond farewell to optical disks; they’re still handy if you want to back up, but their time has come and gone.

Ultrabooks are also ditching older hard drive technology too. By switching to SSDs or Solid State Drives, they’re getting rid of excess weight (SSDs are lighter), enhancing reliability (there aren’t any moving parts in an SSD), and better on battery (no moving parts means less energy used, which means better battery life)!

These two elements, weight and battery life, are incredibly important for mobility, but Ultrabooks take it even further. They’re thin; every Ultrabook has to be no more than 2cm thick. They have to come out of hibernation fast: Intel has mandated that they have to wake up in under seven seconds. With technology like Instant-On, they can–it gives each Ultrabook that tablet-like fast wake-up speed. And every ultrabook features fast wireless networking–both 802.11N (or better!) Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Many new units are featuring low-power-consumption Bluetooth 4.0 to pair with smartphones, letting them share 3G/4G connections.

Add all of that up, and an Ultrabook is going to be the best option for travelers looking for a portable computer experience.

Picking the right projector can be easy, if you keep your needs in mind. Here are the top three things you should look for when you’re getting into a data projector for home or work.

Size and Weight

Weight and size are a two key things to think about when you’re looking at a new projector. Traditional models are a little phonebook-like, square and thick. They great thing is that they tend to have lots of connections, and most of all: they can be less expensive.

Getting into something thinner like the Casio XJ-A235U Portable Projector means you might spend a little more, but it’s easier on your shoulder if you have to carry it around. If you’re installing a projector into a single location, size and weight may not be important, but if you’re carrying it with you, you’ll find that lighter is better!

Noise

All projectors generate heat; it’s a by-product of having hot lamps or LEDs that give you great picture quality and rich colours. Heat means the projector needs some form of active cooling to keep it at a reasonable operating temperature, and that means fans.

Bigger fans are, interestingly enough, quieter than smaller fans. They can rotate slower and move the same amount of air as smaller fans that have to move faster–and the faster a fan is, the noisier it is. Look for the operating sound level, it’ll be measure in dB. The lower that number is the better. Decibels are measured logarithmically, so even a small change can mean a drastic difference in volume!

Some smaller projectors will also use heat sinks to vent hot air; this can be a great way of cooling thinner devices without the use of noisy fans.

Brightness

Projectors are all about light, so the brighter the better. Light is measured in lumens, and this one is easy to understand: the higher the number is, the better. A projector of 2000 lumens or more will give you a usable picture in most conditions, with great results in a darkened room.

LED-based projectors offer brighter picture and more colour depth, so you’ll get more realistic images and crisper text. LED does cost a bit more, but they’re also more energy efficient, cooler, and lighter, making them a great choice for a projection device!

If you haven’t entered already, it’s easy! Just go to Staples.ca/GoEco and Enter to Win! You can score additional entries by selecting the right answer in our weekly Staples GoEco question, and by sharing the contest with friends and family through Twitter and Facebook

Also up for grabs: A Toshiba Z830 Ultrabook! This ultra-slim, ultra-fast, ultra-long-life Ultrabook is perfect for staying productive on-the-go, and it has incredibly low power consumption, making it the perfect choice for making your work just a little green.

Also on the table: our third prize is an Epson WP-4540 All-in-on multifunction. This device has super-fast print speeds, an amazing eco mode for low ink consumption, and features a built-in duplexer, letting it print on both sides of the page easily. It’ll make your projects look good, save you money on ink, and it’s great for the environment too. We think that’s a real win.

Last but not least, we’re giving out thirty six Bamboo USB keys throughout the contest. These handy devices can help you save paper by giving you a space to put your documents on the go so they’re always with you.

Check out Staples.ca/GoEco for more details, and Enter to Win today!

We’re encouraged to bring our own beer to parties, wine to restaurants and now many companies are considering letting employees bring their own devices to work.

The “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) trend has employers and employees alike buzzing about the freedom to choose the smartphone they are most comfortable with, but the same level of uptake isn’t there when it comes to computers.

According to a recent survey of over 1,000 SMB owners and employees, BYO “C” (bring your own computer) isn’t a popular choice for Canadian SMBs, with 78 per cent of SMB owners and managers indicating that they have no intention of adopting a BYOC policy in the near future. SMB employees aren’t asking for it either – 71 per cent of those surveyed said no factors would entice them to bring their personal computer to work.

Why are people shying from BYOC? Perceived work-life balance is at the core, with 63 per cent saying a desire to keep their professional and personal lives separate would prevent them from wanting to use a personal computer at work.

Some other notable statistics the survey revealed:

• 89 per cent of Canadians have a personal computer in addition to a work computer
• Only 15 per cent of SMB owners and managers currently allow employees to bring their own computers to work
• Canadians overwhelmingly believe that providing a PC is the responsibility of the business – only five per cent of respondents who own personal computers said they would want to bring it to work to conduct business activities.

Before jumping on the latest BYOC trend, make sure to evaluate the needs of your company to determine if the policy would benefit your employees and your business. Below are a few key areas to consider:

• Data security: 43 per cent of SMB employees said they wouldn’t want to use a personal computer at work because they don’t want to deal with the security risk of having corporate data on a personal PC, and 71 per cent of SMB owners and managers said they would not allow employees to use their own computers at work, noting security concerns
• Employee preference: 36 per cent of SMB employees noted they want separate computers because they don’t want to be responsible for security and maintenance
• HR/legal issues: 48 per cent of respondents cited legal and HR issues associated with using a personal computer at work.

For more information on technology solutions for small and medium-sized business, visit www.hp.ca/smb.

There are several software solutions that you’ve got at your disposal as part of the software solutions from Intuit. The TurboTax series family of software can cover you for standard, complicated, and even home and business returns to make things easy for just about every one.

Intuit also has their Free Tax Advice service available all the way up to May 4^th, 2011, by phone or live chat online, answering questions (restrictions apply) related to 2011 personal tax returns. That’s handy, even for filers who leave things… a little late.

So there you have it: you’ve got until midnight tonight to E-FILE without penalties, so don’t be late! If you don’t have a copy of TurboTax already, get down to your local Staples store and pick one up. You’ve got some work to do tonight!

For those of you who HAVE filed on time: well done! Great news: we get to do it all over again next year. Have we mentioned that NOW is a good time to start getting organized?

If you haven’t entered already, it’s easy! Just go to Staples.ca/GoEco and Enter to Win! You can score additional entries by selecting the right answer in our weekly Staples GoEco question, and by sharing the contest with friends and family through Twitter and Facebook

Also up for grabs: A Toshiba Z830 Ultrabook! This ultra-slim, ultra-fast, ultra-long-life Ultrabook is perfect for staying productive on-the-go, and it has incredibly low power consumption, making it the perfect choice for making your work just a little green.

Also on the table: our third prize is an Epson WP-4540 All-in-on multifunction. This device has super-fast print speeds, an amazing eco mode for low ink consumption, and features a built-in duplexer, letting it print on both sides of the page easily. It’ll make your projects look good, save you money on ink, and it’s great for the environment too. We think that’s a real win.

Last but not least, we’re giving out thirty six Bamboo USB keys throughout the contest. These handy devices can help you save paper by giving you a space to put your documents on the go so they’re always with you.

Check out Staples.ca/GoEco for more details, and Enter to Win today!

Check out this cool trailer for a trailer as Nadine Sykora gives us the scoop on what the Windows 7 Hook Me Up trailer is, and where you can check it out! It’s rolling to Staples stores all across Canada on a cross-country tour to show you exactly why Windows 7 is driving the coolest and most fun PCs you get today.

There are a ton of great prizes, and some neat things that you’ll really want to see, so you can get started (if you’re in the area) by visiting the Langley store this Thursday, or by checking out the scheduled stops around the country if you’re in other locales.

Green initiatives are an everyday part of what goes on in every Staples store: we’re doing our part to recycle waste internally, as well as offering recycling programs for everything from ink cartridges to electronics in stores all across Canada. Did you know that we’ve recycled millions of ink cartridges since we started our program only a few years ago? We’re aiming for five million cartridges recycled next, so bring yours in the next time you’re replacing your printer ink!

Conserving energy is something else we take seriously, by actively tackling it at every store. By centrally controlling the lights in our stores, we can cut energy consumption by reducing light levels at key times. We don’t need to worry about someone forgetting to turn out the lights: in our case there’s an app for that!

So those are just some of the things going on at Staples. You might have seen our Go Eco contest–it’s still running, and it’s a great way to win some neat eco-friendly prizes. We’re giving away a Toyota Prius C, the latest generation of Toyota’s famously green hybrid vehicle, as well as a power-sipping Ultrabook laptop from Toshiba, and a super-economical all-in-one from Epson.

It’s the first day after Earth Day, and with so many great options on how to make your life a little greener, we want to know what you’re doing in that space? Tell us in the comments below!

If you think slouching is the answer: think again. By slouching you’re stretching your spinal ligaments and straining your back; over time that damage can become permanent.

So what do you do? Sit properly! Here are some tips, from the ground up, on how to take a better seat.

Make sure your desk is at the right height.

You can do this by:

• Ensuring you have enough thigh room–sit comfortably at your desk and slide your fingers under your leg at the leading edge of your chair. If you can’t fit your fingers in, you’ll either need to prop your feet up on a foot rest, or lower your chair. If you’re tall and there’s too much room, you may need to raise your desk to get that finger-depth height.
• Your feet should be flat on the ground or on a foot rest. No dangling!
• Check your elbows–your arms should be at a 90º angle when your hands are rested on your keyboard/mouse/laptop.

 Support yourself.

• Sit comfortably against the back of the chair, with enough cushion to arch your back slightly so you won’t slouch. Take frequent breaks to check your posture.
• Get things at the right eye level; if you use a monitor, you’ll want your vision to naturally rest in the middle of the screen. You can generally do this by aligning the top of your monitor with your forehead.

Any static posture isn’t good for you, so take short breaks. Stretch every half hour, or go for a short walk to relax and be more productive. If you’re currently “enjoying” an ancient chair, you can check out the savings on these overstocked chairs until next week!

Like us and share the contest on Facebook and you’ll get an extra entry. You can re-share and tweet the contest every week on Twitter and Facebook for an extra chance to win–the more social you are, the better your chances. We’ve also go seven eco-questions you can answer that will give ANOTHER chance to win.

On top of the Prius c, we’re also giving away a Toshiba Satellite Z830 Ultrabook laptop. Ultrabooks are famous for their energy efficiency and long battery life, as well as being easy on your personal energy: they’re super-light, so they’re easy to carry. Our third prize is an Epson WorkForce Pro SP-4540–an eco-friendly multifunction that gets more out of your cartridges (which we can recycle!), two sided printing, and a cost per page that’s up to 50% lower than colour laser printers!

We’re collecting entries for these three prizes all the way through the contest, so enter often for more chances to win!