Perfect Presents For Any Professional (Part 1 of 2)

From the Nov. 2008 Issue

It’s beginning to look a lot like … well, you know. Whether or not snow falls in your area around this time of year, there’s no escaping the fact that the holidays are rushing upon us fast. And while many people lament the commercialization of the season, I look at it as a great time to play with the latest tech gadgets and other novel items for the business professional.

As of the mail date of this issue (November 26), you have about a month left to find the right gifts for those special people in your life, plus those “other ones,” like in-laws, coworkers, clients and the rest of your list. And don’t forget to put your own name on that list!

So here’s my annual collection of things I think are pretty cool and mostly geared toward business professionals, although a couple might just be fun. And if you still find yourself stumped for ideas, check out part two of this column in the January issue or online; it will be available around Dec. 20 for you last-minute types.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Cell phones? Puh-lease. Check out this Trio.
Business professionals rely on smart phones these days to keep up with work projects, e-mail, surfing the Internet, texting, IM and, well, phone calls. And the latest generation of Windows Mobile 6.1 smart phones lets users do all of these things in style. Take Samsung’s BlackJack II, now in various colors and offering faster 3G downloads, a large display and a more stylish look. There’s also the HTC Touch Diamond, with its 3-D interface; it’s a giant leap forward in combining tech ingenuity with intuitive usability. And don’t forget about the MOTO Q Global, one of the first devices to feature Windows Mobile 6.1, boasting worldwide capabilities and Motorola’s patented CrystalTalk technology for clear calls, GPS support and 3G speed for fast downloads and file transfers. (www.WindowsMobile.com)

An Impressive Storm
The BlackBerry brand has become almost synonymous with work-oriented, e-mail enabled smart phones. But the winds of change have ushered in the sleek new BlackBerry Storm, which features a unique “clickable” touch-screen interface that includes a full HTML web browser that can be used for portrait or landscape viewing and features scroll, pan and zoom functions. Plus, it has integrated GPS and offers full e-mail and calendar synchronization. (www.verizonwireless.com/storm)

Cutting Through the Noise
Featuring the new Noise Blackout technology, the new Jabra BT530 Bluetooth 2.0 wireless phone headset virtually eliminates background noise without compromising voice quality, and offers intelligent volume control. Plus, the tiny earpiece is lightweight and designed for all-day comfort, with a rechargeable battery that can last nearly six hours … so you can Jabra, or jabber, all through the day. (www.Jabra.com)

Breathtaking Bluetooth Brute
With this beast of a Bluetooth mobile phone headset, you can wander as far as 328 feet away from your phone while talking, making it great when roaming around the office or the home. The Dragon V2 can also be used with computer-based Skype phone calls simultaneously to working with the mobile phone, with users able to simply switch between modes with the touch of a button. But wait! There’s more! Believe it or not, the Dragon even doubles as a two-way walkie-talkie type radio, letting users communicate with other Dragon headset wearers over a 250,000 square foot area. (www.CallPod.com)