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My corporate office is a thousand miles away. Well, to be slightly more accurate, it’s 742.5 miles away from my home office. In a recent visit to HQ, I made a discovery that proved life-changing. My discovery was the Keurig coffee maker.

One of my challenges in working from home is that I have a tough time figuring out what to do about the coffee situation. If I brew a POT of coffee, one of two things happens – I either drink it all and get the jitters, or don’t and watch most of it get cold and go wasted. I can think of things I enjoy more than having to empty out a cold coffee pot, wash it out, and empty and wash the filterless filter the next morning. Did I mention that I’m not a morning person?

The solution? A single-serve coffee maker. I hadn’t heard of Keurig until I encountered the B2003 at my corporate offices. I kept sneaking out of our “all-hands” meeting to try another variety of coffee or tea. The office model was plumbed right in just like a refrigerator water filter, and there was a wide variety of coffee and tea available. At any rate, I started feeling sorry for myself a little. Sometimes working from a home office doesn’t give you some of the luxuries of an office building. The camaraderie of an “in person” work environment. A Starbucks on the way in. A water cooler, or people to tell bad jokes to around that water cooler.

So when I got home, I surfed the web and found out that there are a variety of single-serve coffee makers for home available from a variety of companies. I sent out an email to a few people that are gadget freaks, and asked them about some of the models. I did research on the Internet, and called a variety of the companies. I decided to go with Keurig and in the two months I haven’t regretted it for a minute.

I ordered a B-60 “Special Edition”, and at $199.00, I thought it was a great deal. With a 48 oz reservoir, it makes five 9 oz cups of coffee without having to refill it. The water heats up really quickly once you do refill it, and it’s ready to go.

It’s also a hit with everyone who’s visited. The fact is that people have different tastes in hot beverages. With this, when entertaining, we have satisfied coffee drinkers (decaf, dark roast, French roast, full body, etc), tea drinkers, and used the hot water function to make a great cup of hot chocolate – just the right temperature.

The process works with “K-Cups” which hold the coffee or tea, and look a little like oversized creamer cups. You open a small compartment on the top of the brewer, put the cup in the receptacle, close the door, push a button, and within seconds, you have a freshly brewed cup of coffee. I can’t honestly tell the difference between this and my $3 cup of coffee from the overpriced café down the street. Apparently the pressure and heat allow for the “perfect cup”, and it doesn’t leave a mess either – you just remove the cup after you’re done and discard it. The process pokes a hole at the top of the cup, and one at the bottom. You have to be a little careful when removing the used cup, as about every 10th time, it does drip a little, but it’s just a drip.

I can’t find anything wrong with this, and it’s quickly become an indispensable part of my home office routine. It’s a huge timesaver in the morning as well, and I don’t have to negotiate with my wife over the merits of a dark Columbian versus French vanilla or hazelnut.

At any rate, I highly recommend that you check it out. You can buy it (and K-Cups) direct from the manufacturer at http://www.keurig.com/, and check out the coffee and tea varieties and manufacturers here.

Or just drop by. I’ll brew you a cup while you check mine out.

Grade: A

Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition Awarded Best Xbox 360 Game at Leipzig Games Convention

SUNNYVALE, Calif ¾ Sept 12, 2006 — Capcom^®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that its epic sci-fi action shooter exclusive for the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition, has again received top honors when it was recently awarded Best Xbox 360 Game at this year’s Leipzig Games Convention held on August 24-27. Voted upon by a panel of distinguished judges consisting of influential journalists, Lost Planet surpassed the other nominations with the enormous interest generated by the debut of its multiplayer modes at the show.

Leipzig Games Convention was chosen by Capcom as the perfect venue to debut Lost Planet’s multiplayer mode and many gamers from across Germany eagerly waited to experience the intense and frenetic combat the game has to offer.

“With more than 180,000 people in attendance, the Leipzig Games Convention provided a great opportunity for gamers to experience Lost Planet’s gripping single player campaign and multiplayer modes,” Charles Bellfield, vice president, marketing, Capcom Entertainment, Inc. “We are extremely pleased to have won the Best Xbox 360 Game award as it is a testament to its unrivalled gameplay experience.”

In Lost Planet, human snow pirates navigate VS (Vital Suits) through unforgiving arctic environments, fighting against the indigenous Akrid creatures for the precious thermal energy they need to survive. For one such pilot named Wayne, death almost seemed imminent until he was fortunately rescued. However, he can only remember a few fragments of his past including the slaying of his father by these enigmatic menaces. Yet under the shroud of ice, a devious plot has been set into motion by the Neo Venus Construction Corporation (NEVEC). What really happened to Wayne and how will his destiny become intertwined with NEVEC’s plans? Encounter valuable allies and dangerous enemies on Wayne’s search for the truth when Lost Planet is released in January 2007.

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment. The company develops its products for all popular game systems, PC and wireless devices. Founded in 1983, the company has created world renowned franchises including Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Devil May Cry, Onimusha and the newly released Dead Rising. Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, the company maintains operations in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany, Tokyo and Hong Kong. More information about Capcom and its products can be found on the company’s web site at www.capcom.com.