Why? We’re not really sure: it’s hard to say what exactly makes touch screens so awesome. Maybe it’s because they remind us of futuristic movies and rapid-fire information transfers, a la Minority Report. Maybe it’s because they’re the catalysts for the future of streamlined, all-in-one technology. Maybe it’s because swiping your fingers across a screen is just that much more fun than punching a button on a keyboard. Whatever the reason, they’ve hit the market in a big way, and we’re not just talking about cell phones and media players! Enter: the touch screen personal computer. Here are our favorites!

Sony Vaio L Series VPCL111FX/B All-in-One Touch Screen PC

The media darling of the bunch, Sony’s VAIO L Series rises to the occasion and amply supports even the hungriest of games and applications. The PC is sleek and compact, and as an added bonus, comes with Blu-ray support so that you can enjoy all your favorite movies and shows on the crystal clear 24” touch-screen display.

MSI Wind Top AE2010 All-in-One Touch Screen PC

MSI’s Wind Top all-in-one PC features the Vista operating system and an easy and user friendly interface that allows you to sort your programs by four categories: Work, Fun, Tools, and Web, all controlled by the touch of a finger!

Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 All-in-One Touch Screen PC

Looking for a new computer to replace your current system? The Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 30113HU All-In-One PC combines the power of a traditional tower PC with modern style, clean lines and the simplicity of an all-in-one display.

HP Touchsmart IQ770 All-in-One Touch Screen PC

This stylish all-in-one is the space-saving media solution you’ve been waiting for! HP’s Touchsmart is light and sleek, ensuring a small desktop footprint and more workspace and room for the things that really matter (Pictures of the kids, hello!).

ASUS Eee Top Touchscreen All-in-One Touch Screen PC

ASUS’ Eee Top’s minimalist design and sleek form ensures a clean desktop. In addition, it’s light and compact, making it the perfect all-in-one PC!

Cybertron All-In-One Touch Screen PC

Clear your cluttered desk and command your world with a simple touch with Cybertron’s AIO system. The PC has a fast and easy startup, seamless set up, and hey – we think it looks pretty cool, too.

eMachines EZ1601-01 All-in-One Touch Screen PC

Stylish and space-saving design, a low, competitive price…eMachines’ EZ Series all-in-one has got it all! Say goodbye to crowded desks and messy wiring forever!

Fast Company: The how-to magazine that keeps managers in the know, Fast Company reports on business trends and ideas, with topics including innovation, digital media, technology, leadership, and much more.

Inc. Magazine: Inc. focuses on business resources for the entrepreneurial-minded, and is widely-known for its annual list of the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the United States: the “Inc. 500.”

Businessweek Magazine: A wealth of information specifically pertaining to the economy, Bloomberg Businessweek magazine features an in-depth perspective on financial industries, financial markets, the highs and lows, and the top individuals guiding the economy.

Forbes: For all you C-level executives out there, Forbes is a fantastic source for the latest business and financial news. The topics covered range anywhere from personal finance, and lifestyle to technology and stock markets, and each issue is geared particularly towards top decision makers.

Fortune: Famous for its thematic and well-researched lists, Fortune magazine is known particularly for its annual features ranking companies by revenue.

The Economist: The Economist makes our list for its weekly publications geared towards readers wanting just a little more from their business magazine. Although each issue digs into domestic and international issues as well as business and finance, other covered topics can range anywhere from science to breakthrough technology to the arts.

Money Magazine: The name says it all! Money magazine is your source for all things money. From evaluating and reaching personal financial goals to reviewing investments to smart money-saving tips, each issue offers innovative, no-nonsense strategies on how to make the most of your money.

If you haven’t jumped on the Bluetooth bandwagon yet, what are you waiting for? Not only is it now illegal in 5 states – California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Washington – to drive without a hands-free headset, but it’s guaranteed that other states will soon follow suit. Here are our best picks for the hands-free headsets that will make you life a little easier, and help you avoid that traffic ticket.

1. Bang & Olufsen EarSet 2 (Above): A name synonymous with contemporary design and clean aesthetics, Bang & Olufsen has hit it out of the park again with the EarSet 2. The lightweight headset is the pinnacle of chic design and ergonomic comfort – with a price tag to match (but hey – the best never comes cheap!).

2. Aliph Jawbone Icon: Small, simple, and shiny, Aliph’s Icon comes in second for its highly customizable design. Available in 6 different jewelery-like colors and textures, such as the rippled-gold effect on “Bombshell,” and the red, slightly star-sapphire reminiscent “Rogue,” the clever in-ear design and pretty finishes deliver the perfect combo of beauty and brains for those looking for just a bit more from their Bluetooth headsets.

3. Plantronics Discovery 975: Although probably not the best for those of you with larger fingers, the slim and simple Discovery 975 is our pick for number three. The comfortable headset is known for its superior audio quality and fantastic noise-canceling and wind-noise resistance features – perfect for you convertible drivers out there!

4. BlueAnt V1: Featuring full voice-control, the BlueAnt headset is small and lightweight. As an added bonus, the earpiece comes with a variety of accessories and attachments, making it (in our opinion) one of the better values on our list and giving you the most proverbial “bang for your buck.”

5. Bluefox Extreme BF-401: The Bluefox Extreme is our top choice for all you fitness fanatics: the headset is lightweight and features an around-the-neck design that makes talking and walking (or running) a breeze.

6. Sound ID 510: Featuring a sleek, minimalist design, the Sound ID 510 is the best headset for you iPhone users out there. Combine the Sound ID 510 with its tangential iPhone application for cool features like Personal Sound mode, Environmental mode, and even a headset locator (so…can we get this feature for our car keys?).

7. Nokia BH-905: Although Nokia’s BH-905 model deviates the most from a traditional headset design and veers alarmingly toward the look and feel of a heavier pair of true earphones, the set is lightweight and comfortable, and features fantastic noise cancellation technology.

Apparently, the way in which a job interview is conducted has dramatically changed.

I guess I’m old school, but I remember a time when an interviewee would show up 15 minutes early to fill out an application. Upon arriving, men would be professionally dressed in a suit and tie, hair looking like it actually had been washed within the last week and fingernails that didn’t look like they had just finished cleaning the inside of an Andy Gump outhouse. Women would wear skirts long enough to cover their asses and underwear, have on less makeup then a circus clown, and understood that perfume was meant to be subtle, not make them smell like a cheap Las Vegas hooker. With them, they would bring several typo free copies of their resume, a list of references, a pen and be prepared to have a comprehensible dialog about their career goals.

Obviously, the process has been slightly modified to reflect current social trends. Now, I’m lucky if someone shows up within an hour of their scheduled time, isn’t stoned or intoxicated, doesn’t have some sort of extremely contagious infectious disease and is actually wearing pants!

I’m all for improving old stale business philosophies to enhance the work environment, and have continuously augmented my approach to better relate to the newest generation of the workforce. I would consider my interviewing strategy innovative with an unparalleled ability to assess someone’s qualifications and personality to determine if they would be a good addition to our staff. I am extremely adept at detecting BS. I can glance at a resume and within seconds identify where an applicant has exaggerated the truth, bent the truth, or just completely fabricated an accomplishment or skill in a feeble attempt to make their worthless employment history seem more impressive. Additionally, I can read body language, evaluate personal hygiene and measure social skills in an instant. But most importantly, I ask really intelligent and thought provoking questions that I have continued to refine and improve over the years. Unavoidably, I still ask some of the following “standard” questions to see if a prospective employee has at least minimally prepared some stock answers:

1. Why should we hire you?
2. What is your greatest strength/weakness?
3. How much money do you need to make to be happy?
4. What accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction in your life?
5. Why did you choose this career?
6. How much does an eighth of Indica cost at a medical marijuana dispensary?

Clearly, those questions have become completely irrelevant and archaic. Well, except for #6! By the way, I no longer ask “Tell me something about yourself that is not on your resume.” That, I had to learn the hard way. I had one guy tell me that he had irritable bowel syndrome and he would occasionally relieve himself in his pants. But the clincher was when some freak told me he enjoyed fantasizing about the beautiful bodies of young women and had an extensive photo collection of them on his home computer. And before you ask, I didn’t hire either one of them.  But I did forward the resume of the kiddy porn guy to the authorities…

I think it’s time for me update the process, shelve my interview questions and strategy, and start from scratch. How was I to know that it is now appropriate to ask someone if their mother was a prostitute or if they thought masturbating on an airplane was illegal?

The following is a new top 12 list of interview questions that I feel are more appropriate for 2010.

1. What is your favorite illegal prescription drug to use during working hours and why?
2. When considering a new job opportunity, does the company’s smoking policy and number of daily approved smoke breaks weigh heavily in your decision?
3. Do you ever find yourself loudly humming or singing along to show tunes, country music or movie themes while daydreaming at your desk?
4. What is your cocktail of choice, and how early in the day do you start consuming them?
5. How many pets do you own that you predict dying or needing constant medical attention that will cause you to take numerous personal days?
6. How many times a week do you bathe, and do you think dousing yourself with cologne or perfume is an acceptable substitute for it?
7. When you eat or drink, do you make chewing or slurping noises that could cause a nearby co-worker to inflict bodily injury to you?
8. While at work, how many hours of the day do you spend on the internet looking at porn, updating your Facebook account, streaming music, shopping, gambling and reading celebrity gossip?
9. How do you feel about using breath mints and deodorant on a regular basis?

10.  If you were shrunk to the height of a peanut and then thrown into an empty glass blender with the blades starting to move in 30 seconds… what would you do?

11.  Has normal job stress caused you to be medicated, institutionalized or incarcerated within the last 12 months?

12.  Is your mother a prostitute?…Okay, that may not be an original, but I think it’s absolutely brilliant and cant wait to use it!

The hardest part is going to be getting these questions approved by my HR department, but I’m pretty sure this will improve the process and reduce the number of bad hires. My only concern is that this line of questioning will lead to disturbing revelations about current social norms. I want to go back to a time when the worst thing I knew about an employee was that they were stealing post-its, making calls to their bookie on company time, occasionally coming in late on a Monday morning due to a severe hangover, regularly banging their supervisor in his office on their lunch breaks and frequently enjoying a two martini breakfast. Is that too much to ask?  Probably.  In the meantime, I will sadly continue to base my hiring decisions on the amount of pedophilia and crapping your pants one deems acceptable in the workplace.

Believe it or not, you can find the perfect marketing list for sale and still blow your investment away when you make this 4th direct mail marketing mistake… a mistake that leaves customers scratching their heads and wondering what to do.

What is a Call to Action?

Generally speaking, a call to action is the point in your marketing copy where you tell your reader what to do next. A call to action is essential in direct mail marketing… you are telling interested customers exactly what you want from them.

What is Your Call to Action?

Clearly, you found a marketing list for sale because you’d like to reach out to a targeted audience to increase leads and sales. You chose the right way to go about it… but having a call to action is a key element in the material sent out to that marketing list.

Do you want your target customers to call a certain number? Visit a website? Mail in a response card? Visit your location? Before writing the marketing copy to be distributed you should already know what action you expect, and then it’s as simple as how to make it happen.

What is a Good Call to Action?

Have you ever noticed that it’s much easier to give a bad example than a good example? That being said, your call to action should not be too pushy, but it also should not be too weak. Remember you are trying to compel someone to do something.

If you’ve found a targeted marketing list for sale and used effective sales copy, the call to action can be very simple. Interested customers will already be looking for that call to action, asking “What should I do now?”

A good call to action will answer that question clearly and efficiently. “Call this number” or “Return this card with your information.”

Useful Tip: Use more than one call to action. The first call to action will work on consumers who are already sold, and any subsequent calls to action should also offer additional incentive and information for consumers who are not sold yet, but interested.

Stay tuned for part five of our series and learn how to avoid another costly Direct Mail Marketing mistake!

I’m currently sitting on a flight back to LAX from Chicago after a successful business trip. I’m exhausted, trying to relax and have tried everything possible to prevent the Tard sitting next to me from talking to me. Nothing has worked, so my last resort is putting in my headphones to my iPod and pulling out my laptop in the hopes that it will finally shut him up and direct his foul breath in another direction. I know the economy is in the toilet but if the airlines want to improve the experience of their first class passengers they should considered dropping the moist towels and warm chocolate chip cookies in favor of shots of wintergreen Listerine and clinical strength Rightguard.

As I sit here, I can’t stop thinking about all the ridiculous clichés that are used so frequently in business. Unless you just fell off a turnip truck or possibly one taco short of a combination plate, you know exactly what I am talking about and how annoying it can be. There are times when some of them can be useful because they give you precise words to describe things that would be difficult to communicate otherwise. On the other hand, the large majority of clichés exist for one reason: to hide the truth. Most of the time we are lying, confusing or just plain avoiding the issues or questions being asked. During a meeting, it can be extremely difficult to keep the interest and attention of your clients but it doesn’t make you sound more intelligent to use some inappropriate maxim that has no actual relevance to the topic.

This rant is most likely going to get some of you all bent out of shape and your panties in a wad but I really don’t give a crap! You’re probably sitting there thinking don’t throw rocks if you live in a glass house but the only glass my house has are some suitably placed windows that are used when necessary! Maybe it’s time you think outside of the box and realize that the overuse of clichés has reached epidemic proportions! I know with most of you, I’m just beating a dead horse but I don’t care because I have an axe to grind!

Excessive use of clichés is NOT a win-win situation; you just end up sounding like a babbling imbecile! One of my least favorite phrases is “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side”. I don’t give a rat’s ass about grass…or it being greener! If you’re going to take another job it better be for more money, better perks and benefits, and less stress! And maybe if you gave your current job 110% you would get some of the low hanging fruit and be rolling in the dough!

Here are my bottom 5 most despised clichés:

1. Patience is a virtue: No its not! Isn’t that ass backwards? It’s being passive and waiting around for something to happen instead of actually getting off your lazy ass and MAKING it happen! Maybe you should stop putting off until tomorrow what you can do today or keep your nose to the grindstone. Just be careful not to get too close or you will have bloody mess and need a plastic surgeon to perform an emergency rhinoplasty.  
2. Bang for your buck: If you really want ‘bang” for your buck you shouldn’t be in a sales meeting with clients. You should be at the Spearmint Rhino in Las Vegas negotiating the price of a full nude lap dance with Cherri the exotic dancer.
3. All the bells and whistle: The only time I’m going to want bells and whistles is if I am organizing a marching band for Mardi Gras or if I need to get someone’s attention because I fell to the bottom of a deep well.
4. The whole kit and caboodle. Who the hell are these guys…and why do I want them thrown in the package if it is going to cost more money?
5. Looking for a needle in a haystack. Ok, I admit it would be very difficult to find a needle in a haystack…but who on earth has ever tried? How about saying something original like “Looking for an intelligent, beautiful woman in Los Angeles who hates shopping and enjoys sex multiple times per day.”

Don’t misinterpret what I am saying. Occasionally, there is a time and place for clichés. I have some favorites that I insert almost every opportunity I get and they usually seem to include animals for some reason. It never gets old saying “putting lipstick on a pig” referring to the “800 pound gorilla” and anything that involves “a pink elephant”. However, you will never catch me saying “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” because I don’t know who the hell the gander is!  Lastly, I’m not blowing smoke up your ass when I say my favorite cliché of all time is “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.” The only part I don’t get is…isn’t it enough that I know I’m going to hell…why does it have to be in a hand basket?

1. Pebble Beach – Pebble Beach, CA

For the Impossible-to-Impress Client

The game of golf is at its best at Pebble Beach! Always the name synonymous with high-end golf, the Northern California course is sure to impress even the pickiest of clients. Each of Pebble Beach’s four courses offer a dizzying array of breathtaking ocean views, brand-new course enhancements to challenge every level of play, and a truly once in a lifetime experience. If the promise of playing Pebble Beach in itself isn’t enough to inspire crippling envy, take the tried-and-true approach and name drop: the course will play host the U.S. Open for its fifth time in June, 2010.

2. Augusta National – Augusta, GA

For a Celebration

Seal that big deal? Close on that important account? It’s time to celebrate! Augusta National tops our list as the absolute best golf course to take a business partner or anyone you’re celebrating with! Most people know Augusta as the site of the Masters tournament each spring, but there is an additional something about the course that strikes a deep chord in those who visit. Augusta’s natural beauty and sense of history moves those who visit in a profound way, and the deep-set sense of tradition provides the perfect ambiance for anyone looking to create memories, found a life-long tradition, or commemorate a special occasion.

3. TPC Scottsdale – Scottsdale, AZ

For the “Wild-card”Client

Set like a vibrant jewel deep in the Sonoran Desert and surrounded by the soaring peaks of the Mcdowell Mountains, TPC Scottsdale has much, much more to offer than simple aesthetics. We’ve dubbed Scottsdale’s premier PGA Tour Facility as the perfect place to bring that wild-card client. (You know the one we’re talking about: those “good old boys” who are looking for a rowdy time and a little more entertainment that the average wine-and-dine). But if you’re not a strip-club type of businessperson and wish to retain some semblance of dignity while still letting loose, here is your perfect out! The boisterous fans in the stadium seating surrounding the short par-3 are guaranteed to heckle and yell, creating the party-like atmosphere that sets TPC’s Stadium Course apart from any other golf course in the country.

4. Kapalua Resort – Maui, HI

For Relaxation

As it says on Kapalua’s website, “the sensation of striking a dew-kissed drive into the morning Kapalua Resort sun is, to the avid golfer, discovering golf nirvana.” We couldn’t agree more! Revel in the natural beauty of the course while enjoying Hawaii’s perfect weather and the courses’ panoramic views. The Maui-based course has been recognized as number one in Hawaii for Best Golf by Travel + Leisure Gold Magazine and it perennially hosts the PGA Tour’s Season Opening SBS Championship, guaranteeing a world-class golfing experience in a beautiful, scenic setting. Perfect for relaxation!

5. Torrey Pines – San Diego, CA

For the Historian

Torrey Pines. The name itself inspires thoughts of California’s towering, craggy cliffs and the nearly indescribable views off San Diego’s renowned coastlines, not to mention the wild beauty of the indigenous trees that inspired the famous course’s name. We chose the Southern California course for the historians among us, because Tiger’s last major US Open win before “the incident” occurred here, and the possibility of walking in the famous golfer’s footsteps is nothing if not a conversation piece! Additionally, the La Jolla course is a well-known PGA Tour stop, and hosts the Buick Invitational every Feburary.

6. Wisconsin Kohler – Kohler, WI

For the Old-Schoolers

Wisconsin Kohler made our list for its inherent beauty and natural ability to exude a chic, backwoods class that simply begs to be catered to. Besides the fact that Kohler’s four championship golf courses are all ranked among the leading courses in the country, Kohler, Wisconsin in itself is a destination worth visiting. The resort boasts world-class accommodations with small village charm and old-world elegance; think rich leather and mahogany, port and a classy cigar.

7. TPC Saw Grass – Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

For the Competitors

Created to challenge the best golfers in the world, TPC Saw Grass will inspire the competitor in any player! We chose the Ponte Vedra course specifically for its island green signature 17^th hole, a challenging island shot that will spark up friendly competition, whomever you happen to play with. The perfect course on which to let that on-the-fence client beat you, or to impress you friends, TPC Saw Grass made our number seven for the heavy competitors out there – happy playing!

Marketing List Provider ListGiant.com Releases Version 2.0 Adding Key New Features

List Giant.com  adds New Movers Database and new sales and marketing tools to its Web Portal Version 2.0 Release

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif, – ListGiant.com™, a Gold Coast Partners company, the market leader for mailing lists and telemarketing lists for small and medium businesses has launched version 2.0 of  ListGiant (http://www.listgiant.com) web portal. The subscribers of the ListGiant service can now order new marketing lists and a variety of mission critical business tools and services with this new version.

The United States New Movers database is the newest addition to an already stellar lineup provided by ListGiant which already includes Business, Consumer, and Mortgage databases. The New Movers database has roughly have 350,000 new records weekly where these moving Americans are compiled from a variety of quality sources including new phone connects and consumer product subscriptions.

In addition to the new database, ListGiant version 2.0 offers subscribers the ability to shop for and test a variety of powerful direct marketing solutions. For example, subscribers of the ListGiant service will be able to create point and click postcards, utilize auto-dialing software, and online marketing services. These new capabilities will enable business owners and marketing personnel direct access to a variety of marketing tools in one place, and at substantial discounts, e.g., special price discounts of up to 40% for these additional tools and services.

Giovanni Barile, CEO of ListGiant.com, said that we are simply responding to the voice of our customers. All enhancements to the system are derived from client requests, and implemented to maximize the benefits for our subscribers.

ListGiant.com customers report that the use of the sales and marketing system enables them to fight off the tough economic climate that businesses have faced in recent years with the user friendly tool that maximizes their productivity. Version 2.0 will not only help businesses continue this trend, but intensify it with the new tools and services the portal offers.

When did everyone become so incredibly hyper sensitive? It’s gotten to the point where I can’t even give an employee a stern look, let alone raise my voice without the likelihood of their eyes swelling up and a pathetic salty discharge rolling down their little pink cheek. And as if that isn’t bad enough, the more hilarious part is that it’s usually followed up by a written complaint submitted to HR and ultimately ends with being “unfriended’ by them on Facebook. Boo hoo! Did Baby Boomers raise a generation of emotionally handicapped crybabies or has our society produced a workforce of over medicated, unstable pill poppers? This is business… it’s not personal!

Nowadays, everything in business has to be done so politically correct to prevent the possibility of offending someone. Before I address any group of employees, I now have to ask if anyone will be traumatized by the use of a few derogatory words that may be used to emphasize an important point or topic. Apparently, using occasional four letter words as adjectives can cause an employee to experience overwhelming job stress from being subjected to a hostile work environment. That stress can manifest itself into an anxiety disorder that developed from the psychological abuse and cause them to file for disability and be prescribed medication. I’m not ‘old school’, but the amount of necessary documentation to cover your ass has reached epidemic proportions. Verbal warnings, written warnings, performance evaluations, records of disciplinary actions, exit paperwork…what happened to the good ol’ days when you could actually just fire someone for being an idiot or having a bad attitude?

In addition to being extremely careful when speaking to an employee, even further precautions are necessary when you communicate through any type of written correspondence. I am so sick and tired of using multiple exclamation points, typing words in all caps, and inserting smiley face emoticons in every email I send to an employee in an effort to make sure I don’t inadvertently offend them.  There needs to be font attributes that can actually capture the true essence of the emotion and voice inclination that is attempted to be expressed. No one cares about Bold, Italic or Underlined font characteristics, drop them and give me a version of Word, Outlook, BBM and text that incorporates “Happy”, “Pissed off “,and “Sarcastic” font choices. This would eliminate so many misinterpreted emails, texts and instant messages, and the best part is I would never have to insert another “lol” or “ha ha” again!

The boss’ job is to maximize the performance of all personnel. There is a lot time spent on positive motivation and expressions of appreciation, but occasionally it means disciplining someone for failure to do their job correctly. Your boss is not your parent, your spouse, or your best friend, and there’s going to be times when you do things that are inappropriate for which you’re going to be reprimanded. You’re not always going to agree with him and you may not always like his decisions, but try not to be so grossly emotional. Save your tears, moans and whiny little outbursts for the time your girlfriend dumps you, Fluffy get hits by a car, or The Bachelor picks the wrong girl. And when that happens, do your employer a favor and make sure you are fully stocked up on your illegal prescription of Xanax before coming in to work.

1. BlackBerry Tour

When it comes to business, there is no comparison: BlackBerry has hit it out of the park with the Tour! The user-friendly handset might have a slower CPU than others out there on the market, but the myriad office applications available more than make up for a couple seconds in lag time. The Tour is one of the strongest smartphone offerings from Verizon, and when it comes to security, let’s just say that BlackBerry has it on lockdown: President Obama is a devoted “Crackberry” addict, and if it’s good enough for the President of the United States, it’s good enough for me!

2. Apple iPhone 3GS

As a member of the iPhone nation, I have to say, Apple’s innovative digital darling will always make my top lists! But what can we say about iPhone that hasn’t already been said? The sleek, stylish handset is easy to use and comes with great business benefits right out of the box, such as secure push email, visual voicemail, and up-to-the-second calendar software. With improved battery life and a faster run-time than its predecessor, the iPhone 3GS leaves communication-junkies panting. As an added benefit, as the commercials say, if the phone doesn’t come with it there’s probably an App. out there to accomplish whatever needs to be done!

3. Palm Pre Plus

I’d have to say that out of our seven smartphones, the Palm Pre Plus is definitely one of the more beautiful phones. The Pre Plus sports a very streamlined look and feel, and fits easily and comfortably into your palm (Well we know where they got the name!). With more memory than the original Palm Pre and great features like the “Deck of Cards” feature which allows seamless switching from application to application, the Pre Plus exudes definite business appeal.

4. HTC Nexus One by Google

Google’s Nexus One, the newest gadget sprung from Google’s mobile ventures, shines for small businesses. The handpiece is easy-to-use and straight forward, and for added business functionality, the so-dubbed “superphone” works with Microsoft Office documents and can sync with Exchange Server messaging. As an added bonus, users can install Mobile Defense, which enables tracking and remote backup and data-wipe.

5. Samsung Instinct

The Instinct is great for the traveling executive! Samsung’s newest smartphone is extremely user-friendly and easy to navigate, and with its slick, streamlined design that harks back to Apple’s groundbreaking iPhone, it has enough style and chic flair to have even the pickiest of phone critics drooling. It boasts a large, clear screen with great resolution and the GPS is unparalleled in the navigation sphere. Other added bonuses are voice recognition software and Live Search, a GPS related feature that searches and pulls up a directory-format list of the nearest locations of whatever you’ve searched, whether it be cheap gas, pizza places, or the nearest dry cleaner!

6. T-Mobile MyTouch 3G

With three Android phones on our list, I think it’s safe to say that the Android invasion is fully underway! The MyTouch is perhaps the most customizable of our top 7 with its sleek, eye-catching design and glossy skin available in white, black, or “merlot” (don’t you just love that!). The touch-screen smartphone operates on Google’s Android system, providing users with over 5000 downloadable application a lá Apple’s App Store, and all the other Google services and goodies built in, from Gmail email and calendar syncing to Google Maps!

7. Motorola Droid

The Motorola Droid has a distinctive physical design that is slightly heavier than many of the other smartphones on the market, but what the phone may have in added bulk, it makes up for tenfold in cool features such as voice recognition search, the always-appreciated ability to run multiple apps simultaneously (for those multi-taskers out there), and a blazing fast processor. The Droid’s massive screen makes web-surfing a breeze, and as with the other Android smartphones on our list, the Droid runs off the Android platform and comes pre-loaded with all of Google’s greatest built-in-goodies!