Better technology tools: hardware and software to enhance productivity.

One of the keys to running a successful business is maintaining an advantage over your competitors. In today's information age, that advantage can be as simple as having the right software or hardware to make your company run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Here are some tools to help keep your business one step ahead of the competition.

HARDWARE Communications-ready Notebooks

The series C and series M lines both come with a built-in infrared wireless communications port and a 28.8 fax/modem. The M series is also network- and multimedia-ready, including a built-in LAN port and stereo speakers. Both product lines include a Pentium processor, and offer productivity and messaging solutions such as WinFax lite and Lotus Organizer. Consumers also have a choice of either Windows 95 or Windows for Workgroups. This PC also comes bundled with Netscape Navigator and free trials for AOL, Compuserve and Prodigy. Prices start at $2,199 for the series C model and reach $2,499 for the series M model.

Hitachi PC Corp.; 408-321-5000

Scanner Keyboard

The Scanner Keyboard offers small office and home office business a space-saving device to scan important images and documents. It integrates document management software and optical character recognition to give your PC the ability to edit, file and fax documents. The device plugs directly into the PC's serial port. The Scanner Keyboard, which retails for $349, is sold with everything needed to get underway. It's compatible with 486-based PCs or higher running Windows 3.1/95 or Windows for Workgroups.

Compaq Computer Corp.; 800-888-5858

HP CopyJet Color Printer/Copier

The new HP CopyJet by Hewlett-Packard is the first two-in-one color printer/copier ever on the market. The CopyJet integrates color inkjet printing with digital color copying to offer business an affordable machine that can do the work of both a printer and a copier. The CopyJet has a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch), producing clear pictures that are great for desktop publishing, and 600 x 300 dpi for text. It's capable of making 1 ppm (pages per minute) for full color copies, 1.5 ppm for full color documents and 3 ppm for documents with both text and color graphics. The CopyJet copies pages up to 8.5 x 14 inches. It operates on Windows and DOS PC workgroups and includes a print-server card for easy networking in PC, Mac or PC/Mac environments.

Retail Price: $1,799

Hewlett Packard; 800-752-0900

SOFTWARE QuickBooks Pro 4.0 Software

QuickBooks Pro is a one-stop accounting solution for small business. This program streamlines invoicing by automatically filling in the details, adding taxes and calculating totals. It also tracks customer payments and facilitates quick bill payments with a few short steps. The customized reports and graphs give you a precise picture of your finances and trends, including printable payroll forms and liability reports. Most of the features can be completed with a click on the customized icon bar. For businesses that track time and projects, QuickBooks Pro prepares customized estimates, tracks employee time sheets and produces estimated vs. actual cost analysis. The software comes with custom documentation to help make QuickBooks Pro work as hard as possible for your business. It's available for Windows and Macintosh, and retails for $189.

Intuit Inc.; 800-624-8742

Touch N'Go

Touch N'Go, which retails for $99.95, is an employee-tracking software for networked small and mid-size businesses with up to 20 users. It can trace employee whereabouts at the touch of a button. Status indicators show if each employee is in, out or in the office but not available. It works with any Windows environment and operates on all major PC network operating systems. A demo copy can be downloaded from the World Wide Web at (http://touchngo. com).

Touch N'Go Systems Inc.; 800-691-6333

GreenForm for Windows

GreenForm will help you save money and maybe even a few trees by reducing the amount of paper your business uses. This Windows-only program is a forms automation package that lets you convert any scanned or faxed form into a reusable data entry template. It also allows you to scan hand-completed forms directly into your computer, combining data collection and entry in one process, and more. GreenForm for Windows, which retails for $49.95, supports over 80 scanners and all fax/modems.

Its requirements include 386-based or higher CPU, Windows 3.1 or higher, VGA monitor, DOS 3.0 or higher, Windows-compatible fax board, fax/modem software, flatbed or sheetfed scanner.

GreenSoft Corp.; 805-388-1700

Contract Manager

Contract Manager software provides easy access to every supplier and contract in your company, keeping you in control of deliverables, key dates, payment rights and obligations in any contract, with any supplier. The Event Alert feature prevents you from having contracts automatically renewed without your prior knowledge. The pop-up screen reminds you daily about pending deliverables, payments and key dates before it's too late to act. The software allows you to find specific information with the aid of a simple query, such as, "How many active contracts does my company have that are more than $100,000 per year?" Contract Manager puts at your fingertips pertinent information regarding time, money, quality, rights and obligations regarding any contract. Available for Windows 3.1 or higher.

Prices vary between $2,500 to $4,990 per user in networked environments.

ICN Inc.; 407-740-0700

Janna Contact Personal

Designed specifically for Windows 95, Janna Contact Personal is a multimedia contact management database program that gives small business users fast access to contact information, documents and schedules. With a mouse click, users can bring up an information log that details all communications between the user and each contact, including letters, faxes, e-mail, voice notes, video clips and more. The program, which retails for $49, also includes object-linked embedding to enable the user to view and edit all types of documents.

Janna Systems Inc.; 800 268-6107