I am truly one of THE most computer illiterate people on the face of the earth. I am so not a techie. My husband, luckily, lives for the latest gadget and tries to teach me how to use these so they can make my life easier. Although it rarely turns out that way, I don't usually bite, but as an online business owner and because all my of business is done electronically, it doesn't matter where I am or what time of the day it is, these three super devices have been a life and time saver. I have to admit, he was right about these 3 things (so far and I would never tell him that, so I'll share here).

Tablet

Like a smart phone, only it has more processing power. Hook up a wireless keyboard, and you've got a mini computer that you can take with you wherever you go. You can monitor databases, type up business proposals, conduct research, and much more. At first, I hated this. Now that I have played around with it for a while, I am in love.

Smart Phone

A smart phone should be a standard piece of equipment for any business owner, ha, I can say that NOW! You can use it to check e-mail, log online to check out analytics or spy on competitors, use the phone to take photos for market research, and -- of course -- make phone calls to customers and business contacts. It's like a personal assistant right in your pocket. Compared to my old outdated 90's flip phone, this LOOKS like a tiny computer, but once you learn it, you can't live without it.

Point-of-Sale Systems

I can turn my iPad into a cash register, making sales, monitoring inventory, and processing payments. This software turns my tablet into a sophisticated point-of-sale system that I can use anywhere. It's great for shows, conferences, and anything you can think of. I simply can not imagine what life was like before this thing. SO much easier than a register that you have to program and keep tape and ink in. (Going green with this one too, no paper, I send receipts via e-mail).