Top Travel Gadgets for Business Travellers

There was a time when business travel gadgets were as ‘hi-tech’ as a portable alarm clock and a travel sized hairdryer, but times have certainly changed.   These days’ corporate travellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to the pick of gadgets designed to ease the stresses and strains of modern travel.

Corporate Traveller picks out the top gadgets for business travellers starting with an item that no self-respecting traveller should ever leave at home – the universal adaptor. Having one adaptor that works in just about every country imaginable is first prize if you want to use your laptop, cell phone or digital camera abroad.

If you want to enjoy the use of your iPod and other electronic devices you should consider bringing an electronic adaptor as well. A universal adaptor gives you the power while the electronic adaptor gives travellers a range of options from USB ports to various cell phone charger plugs. Which is ideal as the hotel concierge cannot be expected to have every make and model of cell phone charger available at all times.

With e-books outstripping regular hard covers on order at Amazon it’s no surprise that e-ink technology makes it to this list. The Kindle Wireless Reading Device is available for order through Amazon, can store up to 1500 e-books and has a battery life of approximately two weeks (depending on your usage). And it weigh’s practically nothing. Kindle allows instant access to Amazon.com. You can download and read newspapers, subscribe to magazines and play MP3’s or audio books.

It is wireless, requires no set up, no cables, no software to install and no computer is needed. If you’re an Apple fan then the iPad is the way to go. It has multiple uses (email, messaging, games, movies, music) but is more costly.

And what about something straight off the pages of a science fiction novel? The Laser Projection Keyboard is about the size of a cell phone yet it is capable of projecting a full size keyboard. This virtual keyboard projects a QWERTY keyboard onto your work surface, and connects to your PC (or
PDA and Smartphone) without requiring any drivers. Add in built-in Bluetooth capability and the fact that it is compatible with Windows Mobile/2000/XP and your Blackberry and you have the next generation portable keyboard at your fingertips.

Other gadgets that make the business of travelling for business easier include noise cancelling headphones, lightweight laptops and a pocket toothbrush (brush and toothpaste all in one). The headphones are excellent for suppressing the engine noise on the plane without having to push the volume up to ear-splitting levels, while the pocket toothbrush makes freshening up discreet and easy.

Now if only we could perfect time travel!