Office supplies are in abundance when it comes to most projects. You may not realize how many different objects you use to create and present your work. In addition to presenting your work, there's always the concern for keeping it protected from wear, tear and spills. Whether you're making an important presentation at work or your final thesis requires a snazzy display, rest assured that Consumer Guide has the equipment to promote and protect your valuable work.


Laser Pointers

A laser pointer has become a must-have piece of equipment for those giving AV presentations to clients. Laser pointers are great for highlighting areas on the screen during presentations, even when you're far away from the screen. Many pointers are small and fit in your hand--often shaped like a pen--making them handy to use.

Most laser pointers for presentations use either green or red laser light. Red laser pointers are more common because they're easier for manufacturers to construct and require fewer components. Red laser pointers typically cost less than green laser pointers, but green laser pointers are more powerful and are easier to see because they use a longer wavelength. If you can afford the green, it will give you better performance. The green laser also will "stand out," because so few people have them, which might give your presentation a nice boost. A few laser pointers now offer blue laser light, but they typically are the most expensive option.

One of our favorite laser pointers is the VMP-2800 from ACCO Brands, because it offers a red laser pointer, an LED light, a ballpoint pen and a stylus all in one. The Victorinox 59593 Swiss Army 2GB laser pointer works along with your PC or notebook by attaching to the USB. This allows you control of your presentation files while walking the room or handling other presentation objects.

Kingwin Inc. IR300
Kingwin Inc. IR300


Projector Screens

Using a very expensive, high-quality AV projector can give your presentation a much-needed boost, thanks to great image and sound quality. Projecting that high-quality image onto a poor-quality screen or onto the wall, though, often negates the benefits of the expensive projector.

When selecting a projector screen, consider the size of your typical audience. If you often make presentations to small groups in small rooms, you can save money with a smaller projection screen. You'll also want to pay attention to the size of the screen when closed, especially if you must carry the screen to various locations or travel with it. Also consider the aspect ratio of your presentations when selecting a screen; some presentations need a 16:9 HDTV screen, for example. For a high-quality HDTV format screen, try the Da-Lite Cinema Contour. Cinema Contour HDTV-format screens range in size from 37.5-by-67 inches to 108-by-192 inches.

If your presentation size will vary, you may want to select a square screen that offers versatility, such as the Draper Cineperm projection screen, which offers square screen sizes ranging from 46-140 inches.


Battery Backup/UPS

An uninterruptible power supply (UPS)--sometimes called a battery backup--can protect your computer and other office equipment from power surges, brownouts and blackouts. The battery backup/UPS typically isn't designed to allow you to run your equipment for hours when the electrical power supply fails; instead, it lets you to safely shutdown your office equipment and computer when the electrical power supply isn't steady.

In most cases, more expensive battery backup/UPS units offer constant protection against all electrical problems. Less expensive units work well most of the time but, depending on the length of and type of electrical problems, sometimes cannot provide the perfect protection of larger, more expensive units.

One good all-around unit is the APC Smart-UPS 750VA, which provides more than 100 minutes of run time at 50 watts. For a less expensive option, try the Belkin Battery Backup with Surge Protection 375VA, which offers very good surge protection features.

Fellowes Cosmic CL-125

Fellowes Cosmic CL-125


Laminating Machines

Laminating machines are handy for protecting documents with a coating that preserves them. Laminating machines vary widely in the size of documents they can laminate and the technology they use. If you nearly always will only laminate letter-sized documents, you can save some money by purchasing a medium-sized machine. Wide-mouth laminating machines can cost $1,000 or more. Some laminating machines can only accept documents smaller than letter-size documents, meaning they might not be as versatile as a larger unit, but they're often the least expensive option.

Laminating machines make use of hot or cold technology. Heated laminators can make use of more types of laminating materials than cold laminators, so they'll give you more flexibility in creating laminates. However, heated laminators typically cost more than cold laminators.

One high-performance cold laminating machine is the LS1000 from 3M. It offers 12-inch width in laminates. For a small, portable laminator, try the Fellowes Cosmic CL-125, which offers both cold and hot technology settings.