It’s true! While a good computer is vital to keep telecommunication, freelance, and other home-based work operating as smoothly as possible, the simple fact remains that the computer is merely just a starting point. What you really want
to focus on after purchasing a computer is what you plug into it, as well as what you load onto it; in other words, software and hardware. Think of the actual computer as a foundation in which to build off of, and trust me, you are going to want a sturdy foundation for any type of work from home. The minute something goes wrong could mean the difference between keeping a gig or job, and losing it.
Starting with software, with a bit of research, you will find that there are a number of programs that appear on most home-office computers. First and foremost, you may want to consider investing in the latest Microsoft Office program, featuring such programs as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint among others. Almost every job you come across when working from home will require you to send over typed documents as an email attachment. That is where Microsoft Word comes in handy considering it is so widely used and recognized in countries the world over.
Aside from Microsoft Office, you will also want to look into a decent bookkeeping and tax software program; especially if you are new to working from home. For some people, working from home means being classified as an independent contractor, bringing about a new world of diverse tax stipulations to cope with. However, a good tax/accounting program can not only help you efile your tax return when the tax man comes knocking, but it can also help you visualize where you can cut costs and streamline your home-office operations to perform at a more optimally. Even better is the fact that several accounting programs work in conjunction with Microsoft Excel—one of the Microsoft Office programs mentioned above—which can help formulate various forms and spreadsheets for business, as well as personal use.
Depending on what you will be doing as far as work, most work-from-home setups will involve visiting numerous different websites. As we have all probably experienced at one point or another, the more sites that we visit, the more susceptible our computers become to hackers, viruses, and other malicious threats. Therefore, it should go without saying that you will need a decent antivirus and internet-security package. Luckily, these programs are quite easy to acquire from most computer supply stores, as well as major department stores (Wal-Mart, Target, etc.). The last thing you need is to be heavily engaged in a project with the deadline approaching right around the corner, and then all of a sudden your computer crashes, never to return the same again.
While the software mentioned above will make working from home operate much more efficiently, software is not the only thing you need; there are a few important pieces of hardware you will need too. Think of hardware as the tangible products you use in conjunction with your computer, usually plugging into the machine itself. The obvious components include a monitor, a printer, and input devices such as a keyboard and mouse; however, the actual components you may need will depend upon the job you are doing. For instance, if you are a freelance graphic artist, then you may need a virtual tablet in which to sketch on. Or, perhaps you are acting as a customer service rep, in which case you may need a dedicated phone line completely separate from your standard home phone line, and quite possible a toll-free number.
Consider everything you have read above simply as an outline, something to simply base your work-from-home endeavor upon. By no means should are you limited by this information. Some folks find themselves needing, or perhaps even just wanting, two monitors in order to see an immense amount of information more clearly. Others may find that they would like to download their favorite game to play in their downtime or on their lunch break. Just keep in mind that you need to have the basics down first—essential hardware and software—and then go from there.
Leave a Reply