Our hardware tech picks will keep you connected, effective and entertained.

The world is getting smaller. Technology is getting smaller. Your workday? We hope it’s getting shorter, but don’t expect that to change. Instead, use your hours on- and off-duty better with our mobile technology picks. At the end of the day, it may even seem like you have more time. Browse through this list to find devices for yourself and holiday gifts for your family. And casually leave this magazine out (in obvious places, of course) so your loved ones can do the same for you.

Compute

Your notebook computer is the centerpiece of your mobile life, letting you keep in touch with home and clients wherever business takes you. But you’ll have to balance power, price and weight to find the right machine. The biggest laptops can stay cooler and fit more components, so they run faster than the mini machines. The smallest laptops can go anywhere, but cost a premium and lack the speed of bigger models. We like laptops that split that difference, with full-sized keyboards and 12- to14- inch screens; they’re not going to outpace a desktop computer, but they’re more than enough for common office applications.

A notebook’s drives are also a point of differentiation. Look for a hard drive of at least 60GB for ample room to add applications, music and videos. The CD or DVD drive-also known as the optical drive-will also differ. If you don’t plan to install programs or play DVD movies regularly, you may be able to save weight and get a laptop with neither. You could also choose one that burns DVDs, which is great for backing up large chunks of data. We like the middle ground, a drive that plays DVDs and burns CDs. It’s impractical to make a full backup with CDs, but they give enough space for duplicating and trading files.

M4000 WideNote Sharp

$1,799
Compromise between bulky, fast notebooks and tiny, slow ones with the just right M4000. The shiny, brushed-aluminum design weighs just 3.7 pounds and is little more than an inch thick. It’s just big enough to fit a full-sized keyboard, which is something we’d never forsake. But while it’s as small as the keyboard allows, the M4000 features big power; the 1.73GHz Intel Pentium M 740 blazes through common office applications and can even power portable games, which can be a notebook’s most taxing use. (Don’t ask how we know.) The bright display measures 13.3 inches, letting you work in several open windows without sacrificing the notebook’s portability. The fastest adopted Wi-Fi standard, 802.11g, gets you online wirelessly. And the M4000’s battery life of about six hours lasts through at least a double feature on the built-in DVD player/CD burner drive.

120 Watt Notebook AC/DC Power Adapter Kensington

$129
We rarely think about power adapters. They’re a necessity included with our technology, rather than a sexy add-on. But Kensigton’s take on this product-one adapter to rule all devices-changed our attitude. This adapter works in a wall outlet, on airplanes and in cars, but the biggest twist is its interchangeable tips. By just swapping the end that plugs into a device, this adapter works with laptops, organizers, mobile phones, MP3 players, game devices and more. A handful of the most common tips are bundled with the product, and Kensington is constantly developing tips for new devices that can be bought separately for about $10 each.

PilotMouse Bluetooth Mini Kensington

$69
A laptop’s built-in trackpad or other pointing device may be sufficient for a cramped flight, but we always look forward to adding an external mouse once we land at a desk-they’re just more comfortable. The small PilotMouse Bluetooth fits easily in the corner of a laptop bag, but is big enough to feel substantial in your hand. It includes a standard complement of buttons and a scroll wheel, but its best feature is the lack of a wire or a wireless receiver; this mouse requires Bluetooth support on your notebook. Unlike traditional wireless mice that ship with a USB transmitter plug-which we’re always losing-you’ll never have to plug anything into your computer with this Bluetooth mouse. (If your PC lacks Bluetooth, you can add a USB Bluetooth adapter, but that defeats this benefit.)

WTR54GS Wireless-G Travel Router with SpeedBooster Linksys

$99
While more hotel rooms are adding Wi-Fi networks, you’re still sure to come across situations-in your room, a conference room or convention center-where you only have a wired Ethernet jack to reach the Internet. So, bring along your own Wi-Fi hotspot. The Wireless-G Travel Router works as a wireless access point, letting many wireless computers share a single Internet connection. In addition to that feature, this router also includes a wired Ethernet jack for a Wi-Fi-challenged laptop to also get online-or even share files within your private network. Best of all, this organizer-sized device supports the latest security protocols to limit wireless intruders, as well as an Internet firewall, so that your notebooks stay safe from people outside your network.

Present

We have a love/hate relationship with PowerPoint. In the right hands, it can convey additional information and effectively supplement a presentation. In the wrong hands, it just repeats a speaker’s words ad nauseam (from the Latin for “meeting sickness”). While most of the blame lies in the presentation’s creation and delivery, your tools can also improve the performance. Portable projectors have similar constraints to laptops in terms of size and value; the smallest units cost the most and may not be as full-featured as a bigger model. But as with notebooks, you can find a sweet spot for your needs.

PowerLite 755c Epson

$1699
At a little less than four pounds, the PowerLite 755c is portable enough to go anywhere. The bright image, projected at 1,024 x 768 pixels, can be thrown after a warm-up of just seven seconds. Even better, whether you want to finish for the day or just change rooms, the projector can be turned off and packed immediately, forgoing the several minute cool-down period of most projectors. While you can hook up this model directly to your laptop, the projector also includes typical RCA and S-Video inputs for DVD players and nearly any other video source. Or go wireless by connecting the included Wi-Fi card and networking with a wireless laptop. You can even skip the PC altogether; the 755c can play photos and videos directly from an attached USB drive.

AirClick USB Griffin Technology

$39
While many projectors include a remote control for your computer-including the PowerLight 755c-we like the simplicity of this stand-alone model over those button-happy designs. The AirClick includes just five buttons, more than enough to master PowerPoint or other presentation tools. Utilizing radio frequencies, this RF remote doesn’t need to be pointed at its receiver like an infrared remote. Just be within 60 feet of your laptop, and you can be confident your slides will advance. After hours, use the AirClick to control iTunes or other media applications and give it a workout at home.

Communicate

You’re not an island, and your gear shouldn’t be either. While you can find Wi-Fi for a laptop in all sorts of places-even some McDonald’s locations-we can never seem to find a hotspot when we need one. Instead, keep in touch with a phone that goes online, a PDA that makes calls and other communication tools. If you’re traveling domestically or worldwide, these devices will keep you connected. And if you don’t want to be reached, they all have an off switch.

Treo Running Windows Mobile 5.0 Palm

$TBD
At press time, Palm didn’t have an official name for its new Treo, but the biggest change speaks for itself; Palm is trading its self-titled operating system for Microsoft’s portable version of Windows. The surprising switch means that the new Treo will run all of your favorite Windows Mobile applications, including Outlook Mobile with support for Exchange Server 2003 to keep your email and calendar current from anywhere. Will Palm hardware married to Windows Mobile software be the best of both worlds? We’ll have to wait until January to judge; Verizon Wireless will be the first to launch the device then, with specific pricing and availability to be determined. For now, our BlackBerrys are getting nervous.

Prestige 2000W V2 ZyXEL
$199, monthly service extra
You may have heard about-or already use-Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to make telephone calls on top of a high-speed Internet connection. You typically use a software program on an Internet-connected computer or a hardware adapter connected to your network to place these calls. The Prestige 2000W V2 does this one better by wirelessly merging the phone and networking equipment. Using the built-in Wi-Fi support, you can connect to a wireless network and immediately make calls to regular telephones. The device, which is about the size of a large mobile phone, relies on third-party’s VoIP service, like a Nokia mobile phone uses Cingular or another provider. Most monthly plans give unlimited calls from any location worldwide to any location in the U.S. for about $25; a single international trip could offset these costs.

Mobile Traveler Bluetooth Headset Logitech

$79
A Bluetooth headset can connect to a phone, PDA or computer (that has built-in or added Bluetooth support) wirelessly, letting you talk and listen without tangles. The Mobile Traveler headset is Logitech’s latest generation product, with up to eight hours of talk time and 300 hours of standby support. The headset’s most distinct feature is its built-in windscreen, which reduces or eliminates much of the wind noise that normal headsets get. While it may not work well enough for you to claim that you’re at your desk while waterskiing, the microphone won’t pick up a car’s air-conditioning or breezes that hinder other headsets.

Stay secure

Boo! Okay, you may not scare that easily, but tech security is a real issue. So much of your life exists on your digital devices that an opportunistic officemate or long-distance hacker could do real damage if they reached your data. Your IT department has probably set up basic security measures on your laptop, like Windows XP’s built-in software firewall (it’s there by default if you have Service Pack 2). But their real security is in managing the connection to your office desk. When you roam outside your office’s hardware firewall-or if you just want better security at all times-these devices will keep you safe in any location.

SecuriKey Professional Edition Griffin Technologies

$129
Your laptop’s login screen requires a password to gain access, but your password alone may not give enough protection to keep thieves out. Prevent someone who has guessed or learned your password from logging in with two-factor authorization; you need to plug in the USB SecuriKey before typing the password. And if you want to momentarily walk away from your computer, just unplug the SecuriKey, and all access will be blocked. Because this method won’t prevent someone from stealing your computer and removing its drive, we also recommend that you use encryption software to completely foil intruders. But for keeping your system locked from opportunistic visitors-when you’re not concerned about the laptop being stolen-the SecuriKey does the job.

ZyWALL P1 ZyXEL

$244
Your office has likely spent thousands of dollars on hardware firewalls to thwart attackers from crawling up the Internet connection and rummaging through your files. But the moment you connect offsite, you lose all of that protection. If you’re using a wired connection-which is inherently more secure than wireless-carry this portable hardware firewall for protection. The ZyWALL P1 doesn’t need any software installation. Instead, you connect it through Ethernet between your PC and the Internet, and it blocks suspicious activity on its own. About the size of a paperback book, it can travel easily with you, always keeping a watchful eye on your security. If you want to make a wireless connection, you can still put the ZyWALL P1 upstream of your portable wireless router; the firewall won’t affect the security of the wireless connection, but it will still block Internet attacks.

Entertain

You can ask your IT department to purchase nearly any product with a little creativity. “Sure, that portable media player can play 10,000 songs, but I would use it mostly as a backup drive.” Failing that, buy yourself a present; these are some fun products for home and road life.

Zen Vision Creative

$399
You have MP3s, videos and photos to access. While your laptop can easily handle these files, it’s just not fun to be tethered to a four-pound computer; the half-pound, palm-sized Zen Vision plays these media files anywhere. The 30GB hard drive means that it can store thousands of MP3s and photos, as well as dozens of hours of video, at the same time. Its 640 x 480 display carries the same amount of detail as a standard TV in its 3.7-inch screen, so videos that you upload from your computer look great. And the CompactFlash slot is invaluable to photographers; transfer just-shot photos by plugging in the camera’s CompactFlash memory card. That way, you can pack the Zen Vision with a camera, move files over when the card is full, and then shoot more pictures.

iPod nano Apple

$199 or $249
At about the size of a business card and weighing 1.5 ounces, the iPod nano is the latest must-have music player for the fashion-conscious. Even at this size, the nano includes the same features as the bigger iPods, like a bright color screen, scrolling-wheel interface and the ability to display photos. However, its waifish size sacrifices storage space; the nano comes in 4GB and 2GB sizes to play approximately 1,000 or 500 songs. (The big iPods can hold tens of thousands.) For the most distinct nano in your boardroom, check out ColorWare (www.colorwarepc.com). While Apple will sell you one in white or black, ColorWare will permanently dye the plastic of your iPod-or sell you a new one-in one of two dozen hues for $65 more.

PowerShot SD550 Canon

$499
Get outside. See the world. While you have a lot to accomplish in the workday, take a break to document your travels. The metallic SD550 shoots detailed photos with its 7.1 megapixel sensor and 3x optical zoom. (The zoom can also be multiplied by 4 when the digital zoom is activated.) But the best camera in the world won’t do any good unless you use it-this small camera can go anywhere and be ready on a moment’s notice. Look through the optical viewfinder, or compose and review photos at arm’s-reach with the bold, 2.5-inch LCD. All digital cameras have a slight delay between pushing the shutter and shooting the photo, but the SD550’s latest chips continue to reduce that gap; you won’t complain about missing fast-moving images anymore.

SELPHY CP710 Canon

$149
Any hotel business center will produce your black-and-white text documents on its laser printers. But good luck sending them photos of your kids or your shots from playing tourist that day. Pack your own 4x6 photo printer on your trips, and you’ll be able to print high-quality snapshots anywhere. The SELPHY CP710 is your portable darkroom; just plug a camera directly into the printer or stick its flash-memory card into the slot, and see a glossy photo in just under a minute. (Or print from a connected PC if you prefer.) The CP710 includes a 1.5-inch LCD to browse photos and can even be run off a battery ($80 extra) for on-the-road prints.

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zack stern is a San Francisco-based freelance technology writer and editor.