Imagine 37 football fields of new technology. That’s what you and your fellow 153,000 attendees got at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) — gadgets for as far as the eye can see. Where’s a businessperson to start?
Right here! In a few short paragraphs and nine “best of” and round-up links, you can hop through the most useful business technology featured at last month’s CES show in Las Vegas. While officially a consumer show, this is where many manufacturers roll out new computers, smartphones, video/multimedia services, software and other hoping-to-be-hot products that can impact your business are first revealed.
If you search the CES exhibitor’s list, you’ll find a Who’s Who in technology with the exception of the industry’s top trendsetter, Apple, which doesn’t participate (although Apple add-ons and accessories vendors sure do). Microsoft won’t be participating after this year either because of new-product timing issues, so its keynote address by CEO Steve Balmer was news-free. Other vendors may follow suit — it can be hard to stand out in a sea of 3,100 vendors.
Nonetheless, some truly innovative devices for business got a lot of attention, like the MakerBot 3D Replicator, and low-cost tablets trying to slice off some market share from iPad and Kindle Fire dominated the business-related items at the show. And while now is an excellent time to look for reduced prices on 2011 tech models, watch out for counterfeits, especially if you’re buying in bulk. Reputable sellers are the way to go.
Here’s a round-up of why top tech reviewers like some products more than others:
CNET
The Best of CES Awards 2012
The Best of the Best
Wired.com
11 Must-See Ultrabooks and Tablets From CES 2012
PC Mag
5 Great Tablets at CES 2012
LAPTOP Magazine
LAPTOP Magazine Announces Winners of Best of CES 2012 Awards
Engadget
CES 2012: Smartphones Round-Up
Business 2 Community
Top 5 Gadgets from CES 2012
International Business Times
What’s the Best Gadget at CES 2012?
CES 2012: Tech takeaways and what we learned in Las Vegas
Bluetooth Special Interest Group
MOTOACTV by Motorola Crowned Best Bluetooth Device of CES 2012
2012 CES
(The show itself doles out awards for the best innovations in 32 categories. Choose from the pull-down menu.)
2012 Innovations Honorees
