Q: Why does Direct Connections art department want you to provide logos and artwork in a 'vectored' format?

A: Our art department requests that clients produce what is known as 'vector' or native Illustrator art for a number of reasons. In the end, vector art will produce the best quality.

In preparing a job for printing, we oftentimes need to change colors, separate those colors or resize logos. With vector art - found in such programs as Adobe Illustrator and Freehand - the lines are smooth and clean. The files can be easily edited.

Formats like JPEG, TIFF and GIF are known as 'raster' art. Art prepared in programs such as Corel Draw, Microsoft Publisher and Adobe Photoshop is also not recommended.

Raster art is made up of pixels. Such files render logos with rough edges. In Direct Connections printing process this produces an inferior image.

Q: So just what is Bluetooth, anyway?

A: Technically speaking, Bluetooth is a secure, low-cost, globally available short range radio frequency. However, practically speaking, Bluetooth allows PDAs, mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers and digital cameras to connect and exchange information with one another.

Currently, Bluetooth has a relatively short range of about 30 feet. There is, however, work going on to increase the distance. And now, a potentially worthless tidbit of trivia. Do you know where the Bluetooth name came from? Well Bluetooth is actually the name of a famous Danish King who united ancient warring Scandinavian tribes. Hence the relationship to "uniting communication" technology.

Q: How fast do flash drives transfer data?

A: Direct Connections USB 2.0 flash drives copy data at the rate of 480 megabits per second. In other words, the entire contents of an old floppy disk is copied in a mere two seconds!

Q: Why should my clients use High-Tech promotional products?

A: Well it's quite simple. Do you want them to go "wow," or "oh!" Tech products often go to work immediately. Items like Flash Drives or a USB Hub are products your client drops into someone's hand and it just might make part of their workday go a little easier. People will remember that gesture.

Direct Connections technology products definitely produce that "wow," factor.

Q: What are the hot trends in Hi-Tech promotional products?

A: Just like the weather, these trends change almost daily. Some clients think mini optical mice are the hottest thing they've seen in years. Others tell us that is old news.

Direct Connections helps solve this dilemma with our years of experience working with manufacturers and tapping into our vast sourcing network.

We'll be a step ahead of the rest when it comes to finding the newest and hottest tech products.

Q: I am concerned that what I buy for my client might quickly become obsolete?

A: The best way to answer that concern is to rely on a supplier who knows what they are doing. Direct Connections spends countless hours both traveling the world, or working with our sourcing experts trying to find the most innovative products available. Seeing trends, knowing when trends start dying off is important to the distributor. Their buyer doesn't want to buy something that's going to be obsolete in 6 months. Our top selling products, flash drives, mice, hubs - things that have been used for the last three years - are still not obsolete.