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8 Must-have Gadgets for Your Business Trip

01 /09 | 8 Must-have Gadgets for your Next Business Trip The British thinker John Ruskin groused in the mid-1800s, "Modern traveling is not traveling at all; it is merely being sent to a place, and very little different from becoming a parcel." More than 100 years later, getting from point A to point B is still a cramped affair (hello, reclining airplane neighbor!). But, happily, we now live in an age of mobility and connectivity, and even as the most sophisticated gadgets get smaller and lighter, it's easier to take life with you. Here, some of the best tech to set up a seamless mobile office and enjoy the comforts of home while on the road. With this gear, perhaps old John's sour attitude would have improved.
02 /09 | Asus Eee PC T91
It's a netbook! It's a tablet! It's a touch screen! Asus's Eee PC T91 is both versatile and -- at just over 2 pounds and less than an inch thick -- mobile. The small, sleek computer boasts a 16-gig shock-proof solid-state hard drive, another 16 gigs of removable SD storage, a 1.33-GHz Intel Atom Z520 processor, and a built-in Webcam. asus.com | $500
03 /09 | NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner
Stave off entropy -- and hold tight to important info -- with the NeatReceipts mobile scanner. The lightweight, USB-powered color device scans and stores papers, receipts, and business cards, then organizes the info into your preferred format. neatco.com | $230
04 /09 | Verizon MiFi2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot
In a perfect world, we'd have Wi-Fi everywhere; until then, Verizon's MiFi2200 will do. Smaller than an iPhone and weighing just 2 ounces, the MiFi lets five devices connect to the Verizon 3G network from anywhere and juices up with four hours of battery life. verizon.com | $100 to $270, based on plan
05 /09 | Vue Personal Video Network
Pack some peace of mind -- by leaving this camera system at home. Stick up to 50 magnetic mounts anywhere within 300 feet of the base; position the tiny wireless cameras; then log on to view your live streams from around the world. With yearlong battery life and no software to install, Vue lets you effortlessly keep a virtual eye open. vuezone.com | $300
06 /09 | Zero Halliburton 21" Carbon Fiber Carry-On Case
The brawny carbon-fiber weave on this crush-proof travel case is made from the same material in a Boeing 777's wings. It's lighter than common aluminum cases and small enough to be carried aboard. zerohalliburton.com | $2,500
07 /09 | Garmin Forerunner 405CX
Don't let an unknown neighborhood keep you tethered to the hotel treadmill. Garmin's Forerunner GPS sport watch will tell you exactly how far you've run -- along with your heart rate, pace, and calories burned. Sync your data wirelessly and Training Center software will analyze them to your (healthy) heart's content. garmin.com | $370
08 /09 | Canon Pixma iP100
Roughly the size of a piece of paper itself, Canon's 4.4-pound mobile printer fits in your travel bag and is faster than most desktop printers (black-and-white clocks in at three seconds per page). Add Bluetooth ($50) and skip fussing with USB cords. usa.canon.com | $250
09 /09 | Slingbox Pro-HD
It's simple: Hook the Slingbox to your television at home, then use your laptop and a broadband connection to watch what's on your TV from anywhere in the world. With no monthly fee, high-def picture quality, and access to your cable and DVR, it's like you never left. slingmedia.com | $300

Fast Company Staff 09.30.09 6:23 PM

The British thinker John Ruskin groused in the mid-1800s, "Modern traveling is not traveling at all; it is merely being sent to a place, and very little different from becoming a parcel." More than 100 years later, getting from point A to point B is still a cramped affair (hello, reclining airplane neighbor!). But, happily, we now live in an age of mobility and connectivity, and even as the most sophisticated gadgets get smaller and lighter, it's easier to take life with you. Here, some of the best tech to set up a seamless mobile office and enjoy the comforts of home while on the road. With this gear, perhaps old John's sour attitude would have improved.

Slideshow Credits: 01 / Mary-Louise Price; 02 / Courtesy of Asus Computer International; 03 / Courtesy of Neat Co.; 04 / Courtesy of Verizon Wireless; 05 / Courtesy of Avaak Inc.; 06 / Courtesy of Zero Halliburton; 07 / Courtesy of Garmin International; 08 / Courtesy of Canon U.S.A.; 09 / Courtesy of Sling Media;