More essential gadgets for road warriors

Technology to keep productive on the move

Michelle Mastin August 18, 2011

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No matter where your business responsibilities take you, you can always be ready for work or play. Stay connected, productive, charged up and entertained with these tools. Because there are so many useful gadgets to make business travelling easier, more productive or more fun, we couldn't fit them all into our previous slideshow. Here are some additional options to help you make the most of your travels.

1. Have the Internet wherever you go

Wi-Fi may be available in a lot of places, but it's not everywhere. A fast, stable and reliable mobile hotspot is an essential tool for staying connected. The Verizon 4G hotspot from Samsung finished on top in our tests and we featured it, but having options is desirable, and the Novatel MiFi remains a solid choice.

2. Present from anywhere

Having a projector of your own that works well with your laptop can save time and hassle when you want to set up a presentation at a remote location. Small projectors can be fun for watching movies back at the hotel, too.

If you value portability most, consider the Optima PK 102, which is about as big as a deck of cards. With 4GB of storage and built-in presentation software, it can function as a standalone projector for even fairly large presentations. It's bright enough for dim rooms and medium distances, but when we used it to project at distances of more than 6 feet from the screen or wall, it produced weak images.

3. Mouse around without giving up a USB port

Save a USB port by connecting your mouse over Wi-Fi. No need to mess with hassles of Bluetooth pairing, the HP Wi-Fi mouse will push the cursor around your screen over a wireless network. It has plenty of extra programmable buttons and comfortable, easy-to-grip rubber sides. This mouse also promises nine months of battery life, nearly twice the duration that Bluetooth mice offer.

4. Present with lasers

What's a presentation without a laser pointer to drive your point home? The Kensington Wireless Presenter with Laser Pointer gets strong reviews from users who give lots of presentations. Thanks to its good ergonomic design, the device fits easily in your hand, with all the controls in one place.

5. Never get lost

Getting where you need to be in an unfamiliar city is much less of a problem than it used to be now that GPS seems to be built into everything. But your phone has only so much battery life, and you don't want to kill it halfway through the day. The TomTom XXL 550-TM stores much of its information locally, reducing your data transfer expenses. It also has a 5 inch screen, larger than the screens on most phones. And the 550-TM will keep you up-to-date with live traffic and map updates for the life of the device.

6. Charge all those USB gadgets

Many small gadgets charge via USB port. So, what do you do with a bazillion USB-based gadgets when your laptop only has two USB ports and you don't want to tie it to all those gadgets anyway? Just plug in the Kensington 4-Port USB Charger for Mobile Devices, and you're good to charge four USB gadgets. Beware though: Kensington's device doesn't supply enough juice to charge an iPad or larger gadgets.

7. Plug into a smarter headset

Though Bluetooth headsets have become less common, you may still need one at times. The Plantronics Voyager Pro has a strong set of features that make it worth hanging off your ear. This headset comes with a suite of software for integrating with your PC. It works with programs such as Skype and Microsoft Lync, as well as in tandem with cellphones. A sensor on the headset can tell your software to change your status from "offline" to "available" whenever you place it in your ear.

8. Plug your ears to block out the world

In our tests of the Logitech UE 500vi, the earbuds delivered crisp audio with good midrange sound. The treble and especially bass tones were less prevalent, but overall performance was strong. The buds also feature a microphone with on-cord controls for phone calls. A choice of five sizes of ear cushions ensures a snug fit for optimum noise isolation.

9. Block out the world without sticking things in your ears

If you're not comfortable sticking buds in your ears to block out noise, and you don't want to carry bulky over-the-ear cans, the Sennheiser PXC 310 may be just right. They rank among the most comfortable on-ear headphones I've tried, delivering rich sound with good balance across the full range of sound. Even after several hours, my ears didn't feel squished and the active noise cancellation feature didn't build up too much pressure. The headphones also fold down into a reasonably small package for stowing in a bag.

10. Know who's calling

Some people pull out their phone to check the time, but if you have a Bluetooth watch with Caller ID display, you can check the phone from your watch. With the watch vibrating on your wrist, you're unlikely to miss a call, and when you see who's calling you can mute it right from the watch. Full-on watch phones may not have caught on yet, but this is a step in the right direction.

11. Give your phone a boost

If you're nearing the end of the day with a dying phone and no outlet is nearby, the Kensington pocket battery can save you. With micro and mini-USB ports built in, the battery can add 3.5 hours of talk time to practically any smartphone. It's small and light enough that you'll hardly notice it in your bag until you really need it.

12. Always have a charging option

When you need a mix of regular power outlets and USB ports, this Monster Outlets to Go USB power strip is the perfect companion. I've made many friends at airports while sharing a power outlet as we waited to board a plane. Regrettably, the USB ports on this strip aren't strong enough to charge an iPad or other large gadget, but they should top off your phone just fine.

13. Charge your iPad in the bag

The two USB chargers mentioned so far don't generate enough juice to charge an iPad, so you may want to turn to the Spark Tablet Case to keep your iPad or other tablet running off the power of the sun. With its streamlined design, you can even throw this charger into a larger bag when you don't need it to be out in the open, soaking up rays. The solar panel charges an internal battery that can hold more than an iPad's worth of charge. Voltaic Systems estimates that one hour of exposure to direct sunlight can give the Spark Tablet Case energy to support an extra hour of video playback.

14. Carry it all in comfort

There are so many bags to choose from, that it's hard to recommend just one. Frequent fliers are all too familiar with the security line dance of taking off shoes and jackets, emptying pockets and pulling out the liquids and laptops. A TSA-approved travel bag with a fold-out laptop component can eliminate one of those steps. I've witnessed more than a few laptops left at the X-ray station when a harried business traveller runs off too quickly. Keeping the laptop attached to the main bag will help ensure that you have everything with you as you rush off to the gate.

More essential gadgets for road warriors

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