Whether you’re starting out in business or an established entrepreneur, having the right technology gear can seriously boost your productivity.
Greek orator, Antiphon, once wrote that “the most costly outlay is time” and those words still resonate in business circles today.
According to Statista, global spending on devices such as PCs, tablets, mobile phones and printers will be over $680 billion in 2020. That figure highlights just how much tech gadgets have become an integral part of the working environment.
The marketplace is saturated with products designed to help you save time, meaning it can be difficult to determine the right ones to buy. Read on as we look at some of the best tech gear for entrepreneurs in 2019.
For a laptop rivalry you need look no further than the battle between the Dell XPS 13 and Apple’s MacBook Pro.
Both machines are at the forefront of the Ultrabook category, but with the XPS 13 being more competitively priced if offers entrepreneurs better value.
Photo: Dell - XPS 13
The entry-level machine gives you an 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of 2,133MHz DDR3 memory, a 128GB PCIe SSD and a 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) InfinityEdge display.
At the top end of the scale you could turbo-charge your XPS 13 with an 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 2TB PCIe SSD.
A stunning 4K (3,840 x 2,160) touch display inside a choice of three different chassis colours offers a computing experience that is difficult to match.
Dell has also vastly improved the camera on the XPS 13, introducing a new 2.25mm webcam that has been restored to its correct position above the display.
There is no right or wrong answer to the XPS 13 versus MacBook Pro debate, but current prices tip the scales in favour of the Dell machine.
Sound quality and noise cancelling are excellent, while a new and improved lightweight design make them more comfortable to wear than previous versions.
The headband now fits far more snuggly to your head and softer ear pads make them much kinder to your ears.
Sony has also changed from Micro-USB to USB-C charging and introduced a new 10-minute charge feature that will give you five hours of use.
Photo: Sony
The headphones feature a new HD noise cancelling processor which helps to suppress ambient noise interference by up to four times better than previously.
They also boast adaptive sound control, which automatically adjusts noise cancelling and ambient sound based on your current activity.
However, the best feature is Quick Attention, which allows you to talk to people without removing your headphones – just place your hand over the right ear cup to instantly reduce the music volume.
With atmospheric pressure optimisation automatically adjusting noise cancellation levels when you’re in an aeroplane, the Sony WH-1000XM3 are a set of headphones not to be missed.
With the added attraction that prices will drop when the new version is out, the Galaxy Note 9 is a solid choice for entrepreneurs.
The big screen phone contains plenty of exciting features, including a stylus with Bluetooth connectivity that you can use to control your playlist and take pictures.
The S Pen also allows you write notes while the screen is off, turn your notes into animated GIFs and translate languages by highlighting text.
The Note 9 has 6.4 inch display that uses a Super AMOLED panel with quad-HD resolution that offers a hugely satisfying live-streaming experience.
Photo: Samsung
Samsung has boosted the rear 12-megapixel dual-lens camera by adding an artificial intelligence feature that instantly recognises 20 different scenes, making it much easier to take quality images.
The Note 9 has a Snapdragon 845 processor, up to 8GB of RAM and a massive 512GB of storage, making it the perfect choice for business use.
If having the latest gadget is your thing then the Note 10 may be worth the wait, but the Note 9 is a solid alternative that remains one of the best smartphones in the world.
The Ovis Suitcase uses complex algorithms and self-driving technology to follow at its owner’s side, ensuring that leaving your luggage at an airport or hotel becomes a thing of the past.
The suitcase features computer vision technology that identifies obstacles and rapidly works out the best way to circumnavigate around them.
If you encounter an escalator or stairs, simply place your hand on the handle to turn the Ovis back into a manual suitcase.
Photo: Ovis.forwardx.com
If the Ovis ends up more than 6.5 feet away from you, a smart band notifies immediately notifies you that you are in danger of losing your companion.
There is also a handy GPS tracking module that allows you to locate the suitcase if you leave it behind in a hotel, car or somewhere else.
“We’ve pioneered several different technologies - most importantly unparalleled computer vision - to create the world’s smartest suitcase,” said Nicolas Chee, founder and CEO of ForwardX.
“However, it’s the underlying technology - the AI (artificial intelligence) brain we’ve developed - that allows us to develop AI-powered robotic applications for an unlimited number of consumer and industrial uses.”
Read next: Will People Soon be Able to Use Smartphones through Brain Directly?
Greek orator, Antiphon, once wrote that “the most costly outlay is time” and those words still resonate in business circles today.
According to Statista, global spending on devices such as PCs, tablets, mobile phones and printers will be over $680 billion in 2020. That figure highlights just how much tech gadgets have become an integral part of the working environment.
The marketplace is saturated with products designed to help you save time, meaning it can be difficult to determine the right ones to buy. Read on as we look at some of the best tech gear for entrepreneurs in 2019.
Dell XPS 13 takes on the MacBook
In the world of sports there are many massive rivalries – Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in the NFL and Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in MLB being two noteworthy examples.For a laptop rivalry you need look no further than the battle between the Dell XPS 13 and Apple’s MacBook Pro.
Both machines are at the forefront of the Ultrabook category, but with the XPS 13 being more competitively priced if offers entrepreneurs better value.
Photo: Dell - XPS 13
The entry-level machine gives you an 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of 2,133MHz DDR3 memory, a 128GB PCIe SSD and a 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) InfinityEdge display.
At the top end of the scale you could turbo-charge your XPS 13 with an 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU, 16GB of RAM and a 2TB PCIe SSD.
A stunning 4K (3,840 x 2,160) touch display inside a choice of three different chassis colours offers a computing experience that is difficult to match.
Dell has also vastly improved the camera on the XPS 13, introducing a new 2.25mm webcam that has been restored to its correct position above the display.
There is no right or wrong answer to the XPS 13 versus MacBook Pro debate, but current prices tip the scales in favour of the Dell machine.
Sony WH-1000XM3 leading the headphones battle
There are a staggering amount of headphones to choose from, but the Sony WH-1000XM3 have been receiving some of the best headphones reviews in 2019.Sound quality and noise cancelling are excellent, while a new and improved lightweight design make them more comfortable to wear than previous versions.
The headband now fits far more snuggly to your head and softer ear pads make them much kinder to your ears.
Sony has also changed from Micro-USB to USB-C charging and introduced a new 10-minute charge feature that will give you five hours of use.
Photo: Sony
The headphones feature a new HD noise cancelling processor which helps to suppress ambient noise interference by up to four times better than previously.
They also boast adaptive sound control, which automatically adjusts noise cancelling and ambient sound based on your current activity.
However, the best feature is Quick Attention, which allows you to talk to people without removing your headphones – just place your hand over the right ear cup to instantly reduce the music volume.
With atmospheric pressure optimisation automatically adjusting noise cancellation levels when you’re in an aeroplane, the Sony WH-1000XM3 are a set of headphones not to be missed.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is simply a smart phone
The Samsung Galaxy Note 10 is set to hit the market in 2019, but it will have to be pretty special to top its hugely popular predecessor.With the added attraction that prices will drop when the new version is out, the Galaxy Note 9 is a solid choice for entrepreneurs.
The big screen phone contains plenty of exciting features, including a stylus with Bluetooth connectivity that you can use to control your playlist and take pictures.
The S Pen also allows you write notes while the screen is off, turn your notes into animated GIFs and translate languages by highlighting text.
The Note 9 has 6.4 inch display that uses a Super AMOLED panel with quad-HD resolution that offers a hugely satisfying live-streaming experience.
Photo: Samsung
Samsung has boosted the rear 12-megapixel dual-lens camera by adding an artificial intelligence feature that instantly recognises 20 different scenes, making it much easier to take quality images.
The Note 9 has a Snapdragon 845 processor, up to 8GB of RAM and a massive 512GB of storage, making it the perfect choice for business use.
If having the latest gadget is your thing then the Note 10 may be worth the wait, but the Note 9 is a solid alternative that remains one of the best smartphones in the world.
Ovis Suitcase stays right by your side
Travelling around for business can be a stressful affair, but ForwardX Robotics have come up with an innovative way to resolve one of the biggest issues.The Ovis Suitcase uses complex algorithms and self-driving technology to follow at its owner’s side, ensuring that leaving your luggage at an airport or hotel becomes a thing of the past.
The suitcase features computer vision technology that identifies obstacles and rapidly works out the best way to circumnavigate around them.
If you encounter an escalator or stairs, simply place your hand on the handle to turn the Ovis back into a manual suitcase.
Photo: Ovis.forwardx.com
If the Ovis ends up more than 6.5 feet away from you, a smart band notifies immediately notifies you that you are in danger of losing your companion.
There is also a handy GPS tracking module that allows you to locate the suitcase if you leave it behind in a hotel, car or somewhere else.
“We’ve pioneered several different technologies - most importantly unparalleled computer vision - to create the world’s smartest suitcase,” said Nicolas Chee, founder and CEO of ForwardX.
“However, it’s the underlying technology - the AI (artificial intelligence) brain we’ve developed - that allows us to develop AI-powered robotic applications for an unlimited number of consumer and industrial uses.”
Read next: Will People Soon be Able to Use Smartphones through Brain Directly?
