02/ 02/ 2007
Clean as a Mouse
Germaphobes now have one less thing to disinfect on their desktops. The Germ-Free Wireless Laser Mouse features a special titanium dioxide and silver coating that protects against 99 percent of bacteria and germs on the mouse's surface. A germ's worst nightmare, this mouse is also a powerhouse, providing 30 times more tracking power than an optical mouse. It works on almost any surface and has wireless capabilities from up to 6 feet away.
Cost: $40
Buy: www.iogear.com
A Place to Recharge
How many times have you been stuck without your cell phone or PDA charger? Make charging your portable electronic devices a daily habit with the Charging Valet from Brookstone. A hidden six-outlet power strip lets you conveniently hide cables while charging up to six devices at once, including cell phones, MP3 players, digital cameras and PDAs. The attractive design and cushioned compartments will keep your devices safe, stylish—and charged.
Cost: $75
Buy: www.brookstone.com
Ready to Ride
Throw it in your laptop bag, use it outside or even drop it off your desk a few times. The LaCie Rugged All-Terrain Hard Drive, with a scratch-protected aluminum shell and shock-resistant rubber bumper, can withstand it all. Quiet but rugged, this plug-and-play hard drive is compatible with USB or Firewire and can hold up to 160GB of data.
Cost: $250
Buy: www.lacie.com
Energy Saver
The Optima PowerEase Reduced Effort stapler from Swingline conserves your energy for more important tasks. This stapler's patented design reduces operating force by up to 70 percent compared to other staplers. Whether you're stapling two or 25 sheets (the stapler's capacity), it's guaranteed to be jam-free every time.
Cost: $35
Buy: www.acco.com/swingline
Don't Lose That Number
Think you'd be lost if all the phone numbers (and other important info) in your cell phone were lost forever? The SIM Card + Multi-Card Reader from iMono takes your worries away. Supporting 14 card formats, the device helps you back up your phone's SIM card, which securely stores your cell phone's subscription information, saved telephone numbers, preferences, text messages and other information. It even lets you manage the card's data right from your desktop.
Cost: $19
Buy: www.usbgeek.com
Watch This
Forget Bluetooth headsets. You can be just as connected—and more stylish—with the Fossil Caller ID watch with Bluetooth technology. It notifies you when your phone rings with a discreet vibrating sensation and displays the caller's name and number on the bright digital display. You can even mute your phone's ringer or reject a call right from your wrist.
Cost: $250
Buy: www.fossil.com
Scan and Save
Eliminate desk disorder by storing all your paper documents on your computer with the Neatreceipts Scanalizer. At 10 inches long, the scanner/software package reads information from receipts, bills, business cards and taxes and conveniently converts them into spreadsheet, PDF, Outlook or Excel format for storage on your computer. With the data entered on your computer, you can then organize documents by date or expenses.
Cost: $230
Buy: www.neatreceipts.com
Weathering the Storm
Rain jacket: check. Umbrella: check. Waterproof paper: check. Thanks to Rite in the Rain's all-weather writing paper, nothing can stop you from visiting an outdoor worksite—no matter what the weather's like. Available in loose copier paper, journal-style bound books or even custom-made products for your business, this waterproof paper keeps your data from getting caught in the rain—even when you do.
Cost: From $3
Buy: www.riteintherain.com
Find Freedom
Your USB ports are about to get lonely. With the Belkin CableFree USB Hub, you can keep your USB devices stationary even if you want to roam the room. Perfect for conference and meeting rooms at the office, the Hub also works wonders for desktop computer users reluctant to run long cables to their peripherals.
Cost: $130
Buy: www.belkin.com
