Prep your PC and printer for the school year!

Portable notebook PCs make it easy to work anywhere.

If your computer is out of date or your family is outgrowing your current setup, this is a great time to upgrade or add equipment.

• Customize: If you’re purchasing a new computer for the new school year, learn all the ways you can custom design your HP desktop PC with the right processor, software, monitor, and memory capacity to fit your family.
• For the whole family: If you’re setting up a single workspace the entire family will use, consider an HP desktop PC. With Windows Vista Basic, Intel technology, and tons of space for photos, videos, music, and other applications, a desktop PC from HP is a perfect computer for a family to share.
• Add a notebook: If a single desktop computer simply won’t accommodate the whole family, consider equipping your home with an HP notebook PC. Because notebooks are so portable and compact, they save space and grant your children—and you—the flexibility to work from any room in (or out of) the house.
• Go wireless: If you have a notebook PC or multiple computers, consider setting up a wireless network in your home. When you go wireless, it’s easy to print documents from any computer, anywhere in the house.
• Keep an eye on your kids’ computing: Before the school year starts, choose what activities are on and off-limits, and talk to your kids about their Internet usage. Many operating systems, such as Windows Vista Home Basic come with parental controls that allow you to manage your family’s use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities. The Parental Controls for Windows Vista can be found in the User Accounts and Family Safety Control Panel applet.

With printing, scanning, and copying capabilities, an HP All-in-One is a great piece of equipment for any active family.

With school presentations and projects on the horizon, the new school year is the perfect time to asses your family’s printing power and update equipment as needed.

• Multitask: Equip a common workspace with an HP All-in-One. With printing, scanning, and copying capabilities, HP’s All-in-Ones can increase opportunities for creativity with homework and will help keep your family organized. And wireless printers, such as the HP Photosmart C8180, allow you to print from anywhere in the house. Check out the wireless buying guide for even more wireless printing options.
• Add a printer: If you print lots of documents or have a home office separate from your family workspace, an additional printer, such as the HP Deskjet D2530, can save you time and hassle. Check out HP’s selection of affordable single function inkjets to find one that works for you.
• Stock up: Don’t forget to have plenty of HP ink, toner, and paper on hand, so you’ll be prepared to print school papers and projects all year long.

Encourage positive study habits with a kid-friendly workspace equipped with essentials from HP.

Even before school starts, you can set the stage for success by creating an organized, constructive environment in your home. Check out these tips and printable projects to help you and your kids gear up for the new school year.

• Create a space: Designating a specific, clutter-free workspace can work wonders for your kids’ homework habits. Have your children hang up their favorite artwork, pictures, and other functional crafts—like the HP Activity Center’s Back-to-school course schedules—to  personalize the space and make it their own.
• Create calendars: A family calendar of events is essential for keeping track of multiple schedules and activities. Personalize printable calendars from the HP Activity Center, such as the Modern date-keeper photo calendar or Graffiti-cool yearly photo calendar, with your own photos and important dates. Or use a digital calendar, such as Microsoft Office Outlook, on your family’s PC to easily update appointments and events.

• Label: Labeling your children’s belongings is a simple way to prevent mix-ups at school. Kung Fu Panda shrinkable backpack tags will kick things up and be a great activity for you and you kids to do together.
• Keep learning: Check out the HP Activity Center for even more tools to keep your kids learning all year long such as Math tables and Black history flash cards.