Entrepreneur: Essential Tech Tools For Entrepreneurs
It’s an interesting mix of products that the author says are ideal for entrepreneurs starting out on a budget. But how did he choose the Acer Aspire laptop, for example, over zillions of competitors? It’s a mystery.
“Ok, you’re finally stepping out on your own. And if you’re like most adventuresome-though-anxious entrepreneurs, you’re starting small and spending sparingly. But no matter how modest your company or your capital, you still need some essential tech tools, especially if you hope to compete in this age of wireless networks, mobile devices and next-gen displays. And while these wonder products have the potential to help you make money, they also can eat up valuable time and energy as you shop for them, install them–and learn how to use them. Oh, yes, then there are the prices. Ouch! Yet there’s never been a better time to buy all sorts of entry-level gadgets and services on a budget. Keeping value, quality, time and style in mind, we present here our Top 10 picks guaranteed to make every budding captain of industry look like a top pro from Day One. Be warned, though: None of them will slay the startup dragons you’ll face in the coming days. But this starter kit of artillery will significantly boost your odds of making it out alive.
1. Aspire TimelineX 14-inch 4820T notebook computer
(starting at $750)
It all begins with a good computer, and we have been mighty impressed with Acer’s new TimelineX series–specifically the 4820T–as the startup computing weapon of choice. Done in a handsome, small-business-ready, black-brushed aluminum, this beauty is less than 1-inch thick and weighs in at a lumbar-friendly 5 pounds–power cords and accessories included. Beyond its good looks, the TimelineX offers real productivity oomph. The Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of memory and 320GB hard drive mean that, assuming you don’t go overboard with full-motion video, the TimelineX can handle even power-hungry, graphics-intensive apps in desktop mode. You will miss the high-power performance of being fully plugged in, but this unit sports somewhere close to an eight-hour battery life in full power-saving configuration. Nifty.”
