As part of our services, Flat Creek evaluates and purchases equipment for our clients. They rely on us to select quality products that will stand up to anything they can throw at it. What good is a $1,200 color laser printer if the output isn’t quality?

But selecting the right product isn’t rocket science. It really just takes some time - and that’s something very few of our clients have. But if you do have the time, here are some great resources to help you evaluate office technology products:

PC World - This page has a list of lists where they have evaluated computers, computer accessories, and home entertainment components. While the ranking system can be misleading, it’s nice to see what professionals think about a product before you go to Sams Club or Costco to buy it.

CNet - Similar to PC World, CNet provides professional reviews of products and gives a ranking or “Editor’s Choice” award to the best in class. Their site is more user-friendly than PC World, plus you get the added bonus of user reviews, which gives a more diversified perspective on your purchase decision.

Amazon - The traditional online bookseller has always made user feedback a centerpiece of its business model, and fortunately this has stayed true as they expanded to other product lines, such as electronics. While an Amazon.com product review is rare, the extensive user reviews can be very insightful.

Hopefully these sites will help you make better product decisions just as they have worked for us. But even if you decide on a product based on these reviews, there are still a lot of unanswered questions. How will it fit with what you already have? When you start putting pieces together, will they work? What’s the best way to buy and setup several units for a whole office? How long does it take to set up?

Well, in that case, I’d hope you’ll just contact us.