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IRIS Card Pro
Despite the computer age, business cards are still the usual way most people exchange contact details with each other. If you’re job hunting you’ll probably have countless cards already from various potential contacts and employers – but keeping them organised is another matter.
The IRIS Card Pro business card scanner is a great solution, bridging old-style cards with modern technology to offer the best of both worlds. The very compact device scans one card at a time, converts the information to editable text and then puts the whole lot into a fully searchable card album on your computer.
You can also import, export or synchronise the information to work with other computer programs and address books.
The gadget can cope with almost any card – whatever shape, colour or design – although the text recognition system can make the occasional mistake so you may need to make corrections manually.
The scanner is USB powered, so there’s no separate bulky power supply to get in the way, and both the hardware and software are very easy to use even for non-techies.

Verdict: Genuinely useful
Price: £94.95 from www.expansys.com
Contact: www.irislink.com


Zip-Linq Deluxe Road Warrior Kit
Most of us end up carting around a laptop computer a lot of the time – but as well as the computer you also need a tangle of wires to make it all work.
That’s where the Zip-Linq Road Warrior 2 comes in – it’s a neatly packaged kit with all the most used bits and bobs you’re likely to need, the only real omission being a modem lead.
The kit contains a miniature wireless mouse, an Ethernet cable and adapter to connect to other networks, two USB 2.0 cables with different connectors, three USB adapters of different sizes, a microphone and earphone set and a USB-powered lamp.
While you can buy all the bits separately, the beauty of this kit is its neatness and simplicity. Also all the cables have a retractable action, which means they automatically coil up so there’s no rat’s nest.
You may not need all of the bits – such as the USB lamp – but this kit is a great way to streamline down your laptop wires.

Verdict: Neat and versatile
Price: £34.99 from www.widget.co.uk
Contact: www.ziplinq.co.uk


Kondor VisorLite
Driving while on your mobile phone is not only extremely dangerous but also illegal, and you’ll get a nasty fine if caught.
Wired hands-free earphones and wireless BlueTooth headsets are one way of using your phone legally while driving, but it gets annoying having something stuck in your ear all the time.
That’s where the Supertooth VisorLite can help – it’s a fully portable hands-free BlueTooth speaker and microphone system that simply clips onto your car’s sun visor to both make and receive calls seamlessly.
Once it’s paired with your BlueTooth-equipped mobile, all sound comes out of the VisorLite’s speaker while its flip-out microphone picks up your voice. You simply press the green button to start or answer a call and the red button to end it.
Sound quality is very good considering the compact-size of the device, and it’s perfectly possible to hold a conversation even at motorway speeds. There’s volume up and down buttons and the VisorLite supports voice recognition for dialling if your phone has the facility.

Verdict: Easy to use, effective
Price: £45.95 from www.blueunplugged.com
Contact: www.kondor.co.uk


Pakuma Akara K1
Laptops are almost an essential accessory now, but lugging them around all day can be tedious and gruelling if you’ve not got the right bag.
The Akara K1 goes a long way to remedy this thanks to its rugged design, comfortable straps and padding, and generous load space. It’s superior to cheaper laptop rucksacks which are often uncomfortable to wear for extended periods and can be flimsy or even fall apart after a few months of heavy use.
It can take laptops up to 17 inches in size in a special compartment and the high degree of padding should ensure the computer is safe from any knocks and bangs.
We love the style and design of the K1 – it doesn’t shout ‘I’ve got a laptop inside’ to thieves the way lots of other models do – in fact it looks like the sort of thing you’d take on a hike rather than a commute.
The only minor gripe is the lack of separate interior compartments – some other bags have more.

Verdict: Perfect for the urban jungle
Price: £40.77 from www.idealcomputing.co.uk
Contact: www.pakuma.co.uk

All prices are correct at the time of going to press. While we’ve searched extensively to find the best deals, you should check the internet and stockists yourself.

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