Yesterday, we received brand new computers in the Promo Marketing office. When I started here years ago, we had just upgraded to the then-new iMac G5s, and while impressive at the time they now have trouble running some of the newer software* I need for work.
So you can imagine our excitement when, unannounced, a fleet of shiny aluminum iMacs arrived on our desks. But while everyone was oohing and ahhing at the Photo Booth and the Magic Mouse, I was hard at work** on the news. And while I’m a PC man through and through, I’ve got to admit, these things are pretty. The screens are gorgeous and the operating system is slick, and it doesn’t surprise me that people become so enthralled with Apple products.
Even though I’m using this primarily for business***, it still feels like I got a new toy and I wanted to personalize it, so I turned to our search engine to check out the latest in computer accessories and peripherals. Technology is a naturally advanced and exciting area, and I found dozens of fun accessories, but these five are my picks for the best promotional computer products.
1. On-The-Air Desktop Speaker and Microphone from Leed’s
I remember when the first voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) technology came out, and the first VoIP phone I got in the late ’90s looked, well, like a phone from the late ’90s. The hardware has since come a long way, with headsets and mics you can clip to your collar, but this microphone from Leed’s adds an extra level of panache. Not only does it work well and look good on your desk, it’s the perfect microphone to use for webcasts and videos.
2. Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Speaker from MMI
No matter how advanced computers get, built-in speakers always sound muffled and tinny. Unless you’re only listening to the Windows start-up chime (fun fact: Brian Eno wrote that on, of course, a Mac), you need to use external speakers. MMI’s wireless set works with MP3 players, computers and TVs, another victim of bad factory speakers. Their 300′ range and remote control ensure your music can stay on the move with you.
3. Silly Ears Silicone Stereo Headphones from Sweda Company LLC
Or maybe you work in a cubicle and everyone around you gets really sick of hearing you play Styx all day. Sweda Company LLC’s silicone headphones are just the thing to keep your coworkers from killing you. The plush padding around the ears ensures a comfortable fit, and the white body complements most Apple products. (I was just kidding, by the way: No one could ever get sick of hearing “Lady” on repeat.)
4. Mouse Pad with Wrist Rest from Strong Leather Co.
Even though most computer mice now are optical and no longer use a rollerball, mouse pads are still important, especially if you’re working on some sort of reflective surface like glass or metal. The promotional products industry has a lock on this category, with thousands of excellent mouse pad variants to choose, but one of my favorites is this one from Strong Leather Co. It includes a wrist rest, a godsend for those of us stuck at a computer all day, and the all-leather body guarantees it will last.
5. Blooming Flower Hub from Prime Line
There is no such thing as too many USB ports, and anything that lets me plug in more peripherals is a friend of mine. Prime Line’s Blooming Flower Hub gives you four extra USB 2.0 ports for your flash drives, keyboards, webcams and whatever else you use daily, and it’s four flexible ports and 29″ cord give you a lot of leeway with your accessories.
What are your favorite promotional computer accessories? Do you have any you use daily, or that your customers love? Let me know in the comment section below.
* Video games.
** I spent 4 hours trying and failing to find a good desktop background. I’m looking either for some nice black-and-white photography from the early 20th century, or pictures of Kitt from Knight Rider.
*** Video games.
