Last week, printer and office tool behemoth Xerox announced the release of five new next generation multifunction units and printers. Ranging in price and type and all allowing "color printing for the price of black and white," they include the Phaser 8860 and 8860MFP, Phaser 6180MFP, and WorkCentre 7232 and 7242.

The 8860's solid ink technology uses crayon-like ink sticks that last longer and produce more pages of color--up to 14,000, at $216 for a box of six black sticks and $72 for six color sticks. "We improved these inks down to the molecular level," says Jim Rise, vice president and general manager of Xerox's Solid Ink Products Business Unit. "Plus, we invented a brand new manufacturing process that lets more ink in a stick, as well as twice as much ink in the same sized package." The longer-lasting, cartridge-free ink has less packaging and allows for a 90 percent reduction of waste over the lifetime of the printer, he adds.

While the Phaser products are designed for businesses with higher color print volumes, the WorkCentre printers are entry-level, multifunction products for SMBs that rely on black-and-white printing, but that want to implement color, explains Rise. They use a high-efficiency, dual-beam laser technology.

Ordering for the WorkCentre 7242 begins in November, and in January for the 7232. Both the Phaser 6180MFP and 8860 are available now, and the 8860MFP will be available in November.--Lindsay Holloway

They're called the consumer group most motivated to vote with their dollars, and advertisers are catching on. According to this MediaPost article, a Harris Interactive survey found that about 70 percent of gay men and lesbians say they've switched products after finding out a company had offensive policies against the gay community. Even if a company doesn't actually offend, 24 percent reported switching brands simply to support another brand that supports GLBT causes. "As a group, gay and lesbian consumers hold greater brand loyalty than do their straight counterparts," stated the Gay Press Report.

Think hiring a driver means a flashy black Town Car and a hefty price tag? Avis Rent A Car is setting out to challenge that notion by offering chauffeurs to customers in the top 10 business markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington D.C. Avis supplies the car, and WeDriveU, a San Mateo, California-based firm, provides the drivers at $35 an hour for at least three hours. Drivers can pick up the car for you and pick you up straight from baggage claim--all for less than hiring a limo service. And, for $10.95 per day, you can rent a Wi-Fi connection and work from the backseat while your driver shuttles you around town.