This new model from RIM demonstrates that the smartphone company is starting to find its way with touchscreen devices. It looks at first like a slightly outsized version of the Bold models that have been around for a couple of years, with the familiar, easy-to-use QWERTY keyboard, but the screen now responds to touch. The phone retains Blackberry’s excellent OS, and its Documents to Go function, which allows users to edit and upload Word, Excel and PDF files on the fly, is of particular use for communicators.

 
Blackberry Playbook

Blackberry’s take on the tablet is extremely compact – under 20cm long, and 13cm high – making it one of the more portable options in the marketplace. Downloading the Blackberry Bridge app makes sharing between your phone and tablet seamless, and the quality of Apps on offer is gradually catching up with rivals. We were also particularly impressed with the touch-sensitive borders, which make swiping between functions simple and removes the need for a clunky menu key.

 

Like the award winning Eee Pad Transformer, the Slider stands out from the other tablets in that it allows efficient typing. It looks as slick as any touchscreen tablet andthe extra thickness is well worth it for the sliding keypad which makes it the most work oriented tablet on offer. The generous screen and the brilliant touch control give a smooth experience. One slight drawback to the dual typing systems is that it’s heavier than other options, but it’s still a great option if you’d prefer not to carry a laptop around.

What do you do when you turn up to a presentation to discover that there are too many people to fit around your iPad screen? Almost small enough to fit in a pocket and easily compact enough to fit in a handbag, the 3M MP180 is your friend in an emergency. WiFi enabled, and with a built in web browser and cables galore, just plug it into an iPad, iPhone or laptop and project for an hour onto a wall or ceiling.

 

Running on Mango, the HTC Titan feels intuitive for Microsoft users and features an extended office hub. It has one of the best battery lives yet, to keep you tweeting throughout day-long conferences and when you’re on the move. At 131.5mm x 70.7mm, it’s pretty big, but that’s what you buy into with a name like Titan. It also has one of the best smartphone screens around.

 

This refinement of the original iPad does not fail to impress. Aesthetically, it isn’t that different apart from a few finishing touches; it is slimmer and more nimble with curved corners. However, it is quicker than its predecessor, due to the dual core processor, so the OS is significantly quicker. With a front facing camera for conference calls, and a much improved battery life, (despite being 80g lighter than the original, it can keep going for over 10 hours) it’s a must-have for Apple disciples.