A few years ago, you wouldn’t go anywhere without lugging around a hefty laptop. It was the only way that you could work digitally outside the office. These days you don’t always need one to stay plugged into your business.
Here are our top five picks for professional managers…
1. Apple iPad 2, from £399
Since the launch of the original Apple iPad, a new range of tablet computers threaten the very future of the Windows PC. But why? The multi-million selling iPad 2 doesn’t have a physical keyboard and it doesn’t run the Windows operating system. What it does have is a 10-hour battery life, 3G/Wi-Fi connectivity, a 9.7-inch touchscreen, no tedious boot-up time (it switches on instantly) and a range of apps that can keep you productive and connected to your business. Rival hardware like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Blackberry PlayBook try to out-iPad Apple’s tablet – but ultimately fail.
PM Rating 5/5
2. Motorola ATRIX, from £Free with contract
http://www.motorola.com/atrix
Why didn’t we choose the slick HTC Sensation, fantastic Samsung Galaxy S II or enduringly popular iPhone 4? Simple. None of those phones can be plugged into a laptop dock that transforms this Android handset into a full-blown computer with an 11.6-inch screen, physical Qwerty keyboard and a seven-hour battery life. This means all of your data is in one place, be it in computer or phone mode. And as a smartphone, the ATRIX is no slouch. Its 1GHz dual-core processor beats the iPhone 4′s single-core chip; while its qHD (480 x 960 pixel) display bests the 480 x 800 pixel resolution on the Galaxy S II.
PM Rating 5/5
3. MiLi Power Pico Projector, from £149
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/10359479.html
Despite huge leaps in technology, you often can’t escape from traditional face-to-face meetings, tea, biscuits, and the need to share information easily – usually by displaying it on the wall. Need a projector? The pocket-sized MiLi Power Pico Projector can be plugged into an iPhone to project a screen up to 70 inches in diameter. It includes a stand, built-in speakers and runs using the iPhone’s battery – no mains cable required.
PM Rating 4/5
4. Aliph Jawbone ERA, from £99
http://www.amazon.co.uk
Jawbone modestly touts its new ERA Bluetooth headset as “simply the best headset on the planet”. And we’re inclined to agree. This is a serious bit of hardware. The headline act is its NoiseAssassin 3.0 noise- and wind-cancellation technology, which was originally developed for tank commanders and helicopter jocks. Add to this HD-quality sound and built-in motion-sensing tech and the ERA is the best hands-free mobile solution you can buy.
PM Rating 5/5
5. Apple MacBook Air, from £849
http://www.apple.com/uk/macbookair/
Here we are at our final recommendation and still not a Windows PC in sight. So what’s so great about the MacBook Air? True, the debut model was underpowered and overpriced. But the latest incarnation of Apple’s ultra-slim laptop features a potent Intel Core i5 processor, up to 4GB of memory, 64GB/128GB/256GB Flash storage options and either an 11.6-inch or 13.3-inch LED-backlit display. Did we mention that it’s less than ¾ inch thick at its fattest point and weighs less than three pounds? Well we have now.