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I recently spent a week at the Oregon coast, sitting in front of a laptop, working on a book. In the middle of the first day, I realized I was missing a critical office supply — my Swingline stapler — and I really needed to staple some print-outs together. The only stapler available in the remote coastal town was a pathetic plastic mini-stapler which could only handle ten sheets at a time. This got me thinking: what’s my minimum required set of office supplies to do meaningful work? If I was stranded on a desert island with some writing to do, what would I need?
I believe that in order to write a book, I need: a laptop, a laser printer (double-sided printing preferred), 8.5″x11″ printer paper, a stapler, a decent pen (I like the gel pens), a decent chair to sit in, and a flat surface. I have tried writing without the printer and paper, but I just don’t notice the same things reading from the screen that I do reading paper.
What’s your minimum required set of office supplies?
1 Computer w/ neccesary apps & a lot of processing power.
1 Coffee cup and access to free office coffee.
posted by Jason! on 6-22-2007 at 8:39 am
Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee, strong and black.
posted by Sid Morrison on 6-22-2007 at 8:43 am
Coffee, sticky notes and my iPod.
posted by Beth on 6-22-2007 at 9:16 am
1. Black pen
2. highlighter (any color)
3. wire-bound, multi-sectioned, college
ruled notebook
4. temperate climate
posted by Bassman on 6-22-2007 at 9:24 am
1. Black pen
2. highlighter (any color)
3. wire-bound, multi-sectioned, college
ruled notebook
4. temperate climate
posted by Bassman on 6-22-2007 at 9:24 am
If you were stranded on a desert island, I’m not sure what good that printer and paper would do you. Perhaps a manual typewriter would do you better!
And seriously, you essential includes double-sided printing? Sounds like a pretty high maintenance desert island lifestyle. :)
posted by CharlesV on 6-22-2007 at 9:40 am
Doh, a minimum set of supplies? I’m an office supply junky, so this is hard!
I’m going to eschew the coffee and tech items, since those are a given. So far as actual supplies go:
1. Good pen
2. Highlighter
3. Blank paper, lined and unlined
4. Stapler/paper clips/binder clips (any one will do)
5. Multi-pocket document organizer
posted by Tina P on 6-22-2007 at 9:43 am
Well, if I was on the island from LOST, I’d have my very own Apple IIe, AC power, all kinds of stuff…. :)
posted by Higgins on 6-22-2007 at 9:57 am
The only 2 things I would add to the list above are a calculator, and mental_floss (of course!)
posted by Johnny Cat on 6-22-2007 at 11:17 am
Granted, I spend a lot of time reviewing files, but I think the critical thing missing from all of these lists is Post-It flags. Lots of yellow ones, mostly.
posted by Jeremy on 6-22-2007 at 11:31 am
Do you like the yellow ones because you have a hard time differentiating between the red and green, Jeremy?
posted by Amanda on 6-22-2007 at 1:15 pm
wow… good one Amanda… great comeback of the previous days post in the reply…. office supplies i would need are:
Computer, pens, drafting supplies(im an architect), red pen/markers, and a lot of coffee/energy drinks!
posted by Xavier on 6-22-2007 at 1:20 pm
I would have to have my laptop and a good wifi connection.
I’ve always wanted a cave with wifi. *sigh*
posted by Tru on 6-22-2007 at 1:25 pm
Fountain pen
Schaeffer blue-black ink
Journal
Dictionary
Highlighter
8.5x 11 paper
Colored Folders
White Out
posted by Allison on 6-22-2007 at 2:55 pm
Laptop w/ good wifi & aps, printer & paper
COFFEE
Pilot Precise V5 extra fine in black
those lined post-its
paperclips
posted by SuperEmi on 6-22-2007 at 2:57 pm
Laptop w/ good wifi & aps, printer & paper
COFFEE
Pilot Precise V5 extra fine in black
those lined post-its
paperclips
posted by SuperEmi on 6-22-2007 at 2:57 pm
Laptop
Mechanical Pencil and Lead refills
Large eraser
Post-its any size and color
Highlighter (many colors)
Paperclips
also might be nice to have:
SortKwik and Hand sanitizer
10-key number pad and wireless mouse
posted by priscilla on 6-22-2007 at 3:14 pm
post-its (the teeny tiny ones)
Pilot precise v7 in blue
small notebook
paper clips (w/ the vinyl covering)
i pod
posted by Jessica on 6-22-2007 at 10:22 pm
Reams of yellow legal pads
Unlimited supply of #2 pencils w/sharpener (a Swiss Army knife is fine)
Copies of the OED, Roget’s Thesaurus, and Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations,
Vodka
MREs (taste better than C-rats)
Two hot & cold running redheads
(I run a strange office, as you may have determined…)
posted by Doc on 6-23-2007 at 8:14 am
laptop
ten key
ipod
sort kwik
an array of hi lighters (i can’t live without them)
my fave pen
glasses
paper- lots of paper
and hand lotion- i just can’t work with dry skin, it drives me nuts
posted by Lee_Lee on 6-25-2007 at 1:55 pm
Flylady.com has a great idea. Office in a Bag! I didn’t buy her bag but went to Staples for my own zipper case. Has a place for files, envelopes, checkbooks, stamps, calculator etc. We recently moved and it got me through when my stuff was (still is) all packed. It also means I can sit down anywhere to pay bills and work on correspondence. I love it.
posted by Katie on 6-28-2007 at 1:18 pm
computer
printer
white paper
yellow blank index cards
pen
posted by Seth on 7-2-2007 at 4:40 pm