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Serious Gadgets of the Year
Gadgetry is not only about fun devices, writes ARTHUR GOLDSTUCK as he picks the best business gadgets of 2018.
So many gadgets are sold to us on the basis that they will improve our lives and make us more productive, it’s amazing that we still use them mostly for fun. But there is a serious side to gadgetry, and many cutting-edge devices are aimed solely at making our working lives more efficient.
As 2019 dawns, it’s an ideal time to review the devices that are intended to make our offices and homes both more productive and efficient. With that in mind, this is my pick of the serious gadgets for 2018:
Best computer: Apple Mac Mini
After five years of no updates, the Mac Mini has been refreshed with seriously impressive specs for a computer the size of a hardcover book. The real magic lurks in the back, with four Thunderbolt 3 ports, which can transfer data at up to 8 times faster than a USB 3 drive. They can also power – and output – to two 4K displays simultaneously. The Mini can also use external graphics, which transform it into a graphics demon.
Best mini-computer: Cloudgate X
The Cloudgate X is an office powerhouse the size of a sandwich. Powered by an Intel Quad-Core Apollo Lake chip, Windows 10 and a solid state hard drive (translation: “fast”), the X connects to any standard monitor, keyboard and mouse. It also offers ample connectivity options. In the typical business environment, it won’t buckle under Microsoft Office and accounting applications.
Best business tablet: iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
Apple’s latest flagship tablet for professional users, the iPad Pro, has been redesigned to fit more screen onto the same-sized tablet, while increasing performance by up to 90% over the previous generation. Apple claimed in October 2018 that the iPad Pro was faster than 92% of conventional laptops on the market. With iOS apps becoming increasingly more capable of desktop functions, combining the latest Pro with the “clip-on” wirelessly charging Apple Pencil and keyboard folio case gives the traditional desktop computer a run for its money.
Best monitor: Samsung CHG90 49-inch Ultra-wide Screen
Geared towards both gaming and productivity, Samsung’s CHG90 49-inch 32:9 Screen is aimed at the computing-intensive user. The curved display provides an immersive experience by surrounding one’s peripheral vision with display. A word of warning: it’s a serious monitor that demands serious space.
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