The idea of what comprises a workplace continues to evolve with the advent of the Internet, and tech is increasingly enabling telecommuters to remain productive no matter where they are on the planet. The technology must-haves in this slideshow are selected because they maximize the efforts of those who call hotel rooms, home offices, trailers and conference room floors their ‘office’ and do so without sacrificing space.
Laptops and wireless Internet are two innovations in particular that exemplify how tech can enhance productivity. No longer are worker bees (and their supervisors) solely relegated to places where they can plug in -- so long as there’s a wireless network to which they can connect. And with creations like the SolarNetOne network system, which is a small-footprint Wi-Fi and Ethernet server powered by photovoltaic solar panels, today’s telecommuters don’t even have to plug in to log on from remote locations. Imagine Skyping on the Serengeti!
Even the humble laptop has received some travel-friendly design enhancements that are perfect for telecommuters and those who are always on the go. Nimble netbooks make toting tech around easy on both wallet and shoulders, and with features like Wi-Fi, antibacterial keyboards and solar panels, it’s easy to rationalize adding a netbook to your arsenal as an auxiliary computer for travel.
Even if your telecommuting position doesn’t send you to far-flung locales, a number of miscellaneous tech must-haves can streamline your work wherever you are. From indestructible hard drives that keep your files safer than Fort Knox to inkless handheld printers, these innovations are meant to make staying connected simpler without adding too much clutter to your office area.
48 Gadgets for Telecommuters
48
Compact Computing
Space Cube PC is World's Smallest Computer
47
Pocket-Sized Netbooks
Sneak Peek at ‘Pocket Yoga' Inspires Some Serious Lenovo Lust
46
Super Solar Laptop
GPS, Sat Phone, Web Access
45
IBM Magic Book Audio Recorder With Voice Recognition
44
$500 All-in-One PC
Hybrid Dual Portable Computer
43
Solar Powered Computer Mouse
Sole Mio Is First Of Its Kind
42
Keyboardless Computers
Apple Introduces A Keyboardless MacWheel at MacWorld
41
Solar-Powered Computers
The LawnPC
40
$200 Tablet Computers
TechCrunch Creates the CrunchPad for Lightweight Study
39
Minimalist Computers
The HP LiM Demonstrates That When It Comes to PCs, Less is More
38
Virtual Hard Drives
Will Google's Cloud-Based G-Drive Make Traditional PCs Obsolete?
37
Mini Touchscreen Netbooks
Signs Point to a Mix of Macbook and iPod Touch for New Apple Computer
36
Neat Freak Netbooks
Samsung N310 is Sleek & Sanitary With Its Antibacterial Keyboard
35
Lifestyle-Friendly E-Book Readers
Kindle 2 Reads to You, Stores Photos and Surfs the Web (UPDATE)
34
Portable Internet Access
SolarNetOne is Like Having Internet in a Box
33
Computer Phone with 5" Touchscreen
32
Solar-Powered Netbooks
The iUnika Gyy is Comprised of Bioplastics & Biodegradable Materials
31
Landline Smartphones
Cloud Telecomputers Creates the Ultimate Desk Handset
30
Commuter Computer Cycles
Get Around Tech-Style With the DIY Mounted Netbook Bicycle
29
Web-Surfing Digital Cameras
The Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-G3 Features Built-In Browser (CES 2009)
28
Noisy Nimble Netbooks
Samsung N120 Offers Sweet Speaker System With SRS Sound Add-Ons
27
Sneaky Computer Shelves
The BackPack is a Hidden Organizer for Your iMac
26
Mini Wireless Printer by Zebra Technologies
25
Connected Camping
Kampgrounds of America Launch North American Wi-Fi
24
Indestructible Hard Drives
The ioSafe Storage Device is an Information Fort Knox
23
Web-Connected Home RFID Tags
Violet's Ztamps Fuse Your Online and Offline Worlds
22
Life Recorders
Would You Make Your Entire Existence Searchable?
21
Wrist-Worn Computers
The Zypad WR1100 is the Ultimate Functional Geek Fashion
20
Multifunctional Mouses
Adesso's Computer Component Includes Numeric Keypad for Laptop Users
19
Webcam Backpacks
Porta2030 Streams On The Go
18
Ultimate Mobile Printer on Your Notebook Lid
Trak
17
Space Saving Office Gadgets
Vertical Hanging Printer
16
Note-Mousepads
Scratch-n-Scroll Doesn't Let You Forget Your To-Do List
15
Inkless Handheld Printers
The Mini Giant Nixes Cartridges & Ribbons Altogether
14
Wearable Computer Mice
Upcoming Microsoft Mouse
13
Green Computer Printers
The RITI Coffee Printer Produces Eco Ink From Grounds
12
Wrist Computers
Glacier Computers W200 Is Like a Windows-Running Bracelet
11
5 in 1 Webcam Memory Stick
Jack of all Trades?
10
Fire-Safe, Waterproof Hard Drives
Sentry SafetyDrill
9
Solutions for Cramped Computing
Netbooks Emerge as PC of Choice for Travelers, Business Users
8
Keyring Webcams
The Multitasking Mini Digital Camera
7
Space-Saving USBs
Logitech Unifying Wireless Receiver is the Ultimate All-in-One Connection Device
6
Collapsible Webcam
Saves Space And Shoots In Just About Any Direction
5
Internet-Enabled Cars
GM Offers Dealer-Installed Wi-Fi Option for Cadillac CTS
4
In Car WiFi
Chrysler Turns Radios into Internet Ports
3
Germ-Free PC Peripherals
Vioguard to Offer Self-Sanitizing Keyboards for Germophobes
2
3-in-1 Computer Mouse
The Canon LS-100TKM Mouse, Calculator & Numeric Keypad
1
Super Web Mobiles
LG Touch Web
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118 Apple Computer Innovations
From Desktop Beauty Pageants to Cutting Edge Concepts
46 Outrageous Computer Keyboards
Top 20 Computer Trends and Techy Innovations in 2008
35 Wee PCs
From Nifty Netbooks to Micro Mini Computers
Innovative Apple Appliances
10 Mac Products That Are Flashy, But Fake
29 Wild Workstations for Telecommuters
From Pop-Up Pods to Sleek Office Loungers
Pocket-Sized Netbooks
Sneak Peek at ‘Pocket Yoga' Inspires Some Serious Lenovo Lust
24 Computer Mouse Innovations
From Goofy Mousepads to Futuristic Mice
Maintenance-Free Cars
Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Will Last 100 Years Without Gas or Tune-Up
21 Unexpected USB Devices
From Data Storage Sunglasses to Transforming USB Toys
20 Compact Computers and Wee PCs
34 Indestructible Innovations
From Waterproof Keyboards to Eddie Van Halen's 'Wolfgang' Guitar
Pebble-Shaped Phones
The Apple Pebble Mobile is an Organic Take on the Original
20 Self-Cleaning and Antibacterial Products
Steampunked USB Drives – English Russia Turns Old Clocks into Modern Technology
English Russia Turns Old Clocks into Modern Technology
Uber Gamer Add Ons
Logitech G Series Peripherals for Awesome Advantage (CES 2009)
15 Credit Crunch Computers
From Budget-Friendly Laptops to Wee Netbooks
Nameless Netbooks
LG X120 Looking for an Identity in ‘Whatchamacallit” Contest
Cubicle Spy Cameras
Keep Track of the Office Surroundings With the WiSpi EX30
Touchscreen Tablet Netbooks
Always Innovating 'Touch Book' Features Detachable Monitor
Hardcore Home Phones
Verizon Hub Takes the Landline To New Heights
Futuristic File Folders
Triyi Yeh's Apple 'Mac Folder' is the Next MacBook Air
Transformer Laptops
MacBook Touch by Tommaso Gecchelin is a Notebook, Tablet & Desktop
Keyboardless Computers
Apple Introduces A Keyboardless MacWheel at MacWorld
DIY Laptop Stands
Recycled Cardboard Is Fast, Fun & Cheap for Computer Geeks
Peelable Flash Drives
The USB Banana Charger is a Cute Way to Sweeten Your Desk
Crystal Computer Accessories
Award Winning Glitzy Swarovski Mouse
Photographing Ads With Mobile Phones
Sony Ericsson C905 Cyber-Shot Campaign
Overly Girlie Phones
Dinstinctly Feminine Landline Phones To Make Any Man Cringe
High-End Compact Cameras
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Digital Camera
Electric Cadillacs
GM Releases Cadillac Converj Details (UPDATE)
Nifty Nano-Netbooks
Bite-Sized Asus Eee Seashell Returns To Original Netbook Flavour
15 Gnarly Netbooks
From Mini Touchscreen PCs to Tiny Kid-Friendly Laptops
High Heel Phones
Pretty in Pink Landlines
Super Sticky Camera Pods
The Monsterpod Adheres to Any Surface
Mini Touchscreen Netbooks
Signs Point to a Mix of Macbook and iPod Touch for New Apple Computer
TouchScreen PCs
HP TouchSmart IQ500 Series
Spy Camera Clothing
Thanko Button Makes You as Sexy & Skilled as James Bond
Incredibly Close Cameras
The Avatar Digital Binocular's 40x Zoom is Right in Your Face
Celebratory Branding Changes
6 Google Birthday Logos
Neat Freak Netbooks
Samsung N310 is Sleek & Sanitary With Its Antibacterial Keyboard
Apple Netbooks
If It's Real, The iPod Touch HD Will Have a Much Bigger Screen
Eco USB Paper
Boardy is Completely Recyclable Computer Equipment
Dual Handset Landlines
Double the Receivers, Double the Fun
Dishwasher-Safe Gadgets
Seal Shield Keyboards, Mice and Remotes Are Goof-Proof (CES 2009)
Portable Internet Access
SolarNetOne is Like Having Internet in a Box
Google Goes Retro
Celebrating With Oldest Ever Index
Scented USB Drives
Jean Paul Gaultier's 'Le Male' Key Makes Your Workstation Smell Nice
Celestial Landlines
OREFON Cordless Phone is Out of This World
Tech-Savvy Hotel Amenities
The Algonquin Provides Free Favorite Book on Kindle
E-Book Ubiquity
Between Amazon Kindle and iPhone E-Books, is a Revolution Upon Us?
$10,000 USBs
Mnemosyne is a Pricey Memory Storage Powerhouse
Eco-Friendly Mobile Coolers
Solar-Powered Fridges on Camels
Just-A-Box Computers
The Pano Has No CPU, No Memory and No Software
Prodigious Camera Phones
LG Viewty Smart Revolutionizes Phone Photography
Solar-Powered Fridges
Emily Cummins Develops Portable Cooler for Developing Countries
Noisy Nimble Netbooks
Samsung N120 Offers Sweet Speaker System With SRS Sound Add-Ons
Landline Phone Revivals
Retro PC Plug-Ins
Incognito Clocks
The Spy Camera Video Watch Captures Your Secrets
Methanol Powered Laptops
PolyFuel Lenovo T40 ThinkPad
iPhone Laptops
Olo Computers And Apple Partnership
Denim Netbooks
Levis Helps Launch the Limited Edition LG X120 Notebook
Custom Computer Mice
Rock Your Logitech G9 Controller
Guinness Printers
OnLatte Printers Find New Foam to Decorate
Networking Mousepads
Twitter & Facebook Mousepads for Social Media Geeks
Web-Based Business Moves
Palm Says Adios to Phone OS in Favor of New Web OS
Gooey Germ-Fighters
‘Cyber Clean' is Like the Lovechild of Silly Putty and Mr. Clean
Self-Portrait Cameras
Samsung ST500 & ST550's Front Screen Makes Self-Shots Simple
Solar-Powered Water Purifiers
Swedish 'Solvatten' Ensures Sipping Safety
Matrimonial Memory Storage
Split Stick Double-Sided USBs for His and Hers Data
The Rise of Open Source
Washington, DC Switches to Google Docs, Sorry Microsoft
Wrist-Worn Computers
The Zypad WR1100 is the Ultimate Functional Geek Fashion
Computers as Plant Pots
Dell's Eco-Friendly O Project
Creative Camophones
Fun Designs That Actually Make Landlines Look Cool Again
Hello Kitty Printers
The Canon Selphy CP770
Touch-Screen Slider Pianos
The iPiano Concept is a Dream For Apple Addicts
Faux Security Camera Lamps
Spoticam Watches You While You Work
Cannibalistic Computers
Sony Vaio LT Ad
Kid-Friendly Netbooks
Dell Releases Latitude 2100 for the K-12 Crowd
5 MM Thin Mice
The G4 Slim Mouse is World's Thinnest
Sleek Surveillance Detection
WiFi-N-Spy Finder Protects You From Hidden Cameras
Revamped E-Book Readers
Leaked Images of the Slimmed-Down Amazon Kindle 2
Exclusive Horror E-Books
Stephen King Agrees to Write Amazon Kindle-Only Novel
$99 iPhones
Apple's Prices Drop From Lower to Lowest for Savvy Shoppers
Green Computer Printers
The RITI Coffee Printer Produces Eco Ink From Grounds
Tiny Computer Triplets
HP Launches Three New Mini Netbooks
French Fry Phones
A Side Order Landline for Conversational Munchies
Grass Powered Cars
Is 'Miscanthus X Giganteus' A Miracle Crop?
DIY Toothbrush Holders
Make Your Own Bathroom Accessories From an Old Mouse
Real Weapons as Computer Gadgets
Grenade Mouse
Customizable Computer Peripherals
Fatal1ty Mouse Lets You Adjust Weight Distribution
Retro USB Replicas
The Cassette Tape USB Hub Mixes the Past with the Present
Super-Sized iPods
Apple Thinks Bigger is Better for MP3 Players
Laser Pen Mice
Elecom's Scope Node Wireless Mouse With Stationary Sensibility
Convertable Computer Components
The Trypticon Transforming Laser Mouse is a Programmer's Dream
Dual-Screen Netbooks
The Sharp Mebius PC-NJ70A Has an LCD Screen In Its Trackpad
SMS Via Email
Google Now Lets You Send Text Messages in GMail Chat
Space-Saving USBs
Logitech Unifying Wireless Receiver is the Ultimate All-in-One Connection Device
3D Scanner-Copiers
NextEngine Creates Plastic Prototypes From Any Item
Mobile Technology for Landlines
Ringboxx Personalized Ringtones
Computer-Branded Cell Phones
Is a Microsoft Smartphone Just Talk, Or is Bill Gates On the Line?
Mouse Pads Mousetraps
The Laptop Finger Trap
Stop-and-Shoot Smartphones
LG's Louvre is Like a Digital Camera That Makes Calls
Free Nation-Wide Wireless Internet
FCC Approves Bandwidth Auction
Toys Made of Grass
The Muwi Lawnmower Makes Lawn Frisbees
Portable Photo Printers
Canon Selphy ES3 and ES30
Mice for Ultra Mobile Notebook Users
The Logitech V550
Porky Computer Peripherals
The Piggy USB Mouse
Face Recognition Campaigns
Lenovo Computer Ad Places Your Head in the Password Field
Real Life as a Movie
Volkswagen Rearview Camera Ad Avoids Dangerous Situation
Multi-Function Mousepads
4 Port USB, Speakers and Mic Pad