Fully equipped: the mobile professional

Charles McLellan ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 26 Nov 2007

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As our working lives become ever less office-bound, so it becomes increasingly important to choose the right mobile products. After all, you don't put up with an uncomfortable desk or chair in the office, so why should you accept an overweight notebook, a brick-like mobile phone, or a carry bag that leaves your shoulder hurting? Yet all too often, we end up with mobile gear that's distinctly suboptimal.

In this Buyer's Guide, we present our recommendations for the best of today's mobile technology, grouped into various product categories. What you select will vary according to what you do: if you require no-compromise productivity on the road, for example, you'll need a well-featured 'thin-and-light' notebook; as portability becomes more important, you'll consider ultraportable notebooks, ultra-mobile PCs, handhelds and finally smartphones. Many people will mix and match devices, teaming a notebook with a handheld or a smartphone, for example.

There's plenty of ancillary kit to consider, too. Security is obviously vital, especially if you're carrying significant amounts of confidential data on a notebook. And if your notebook doesn't include it, you'll probably want an external 3G modem for wide-area internet connectivity. Many peripherals are available in mobile form, including printers, scanners, external hard disks and more. Again, you won't necessarily need all of this kit, but this guide will give you an idea of what's available. And do let us know if we've missed any of your favourite categories or products.

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