Tech Tips for Small Business

A vital part of starting up any enterprise is selecting the right technology to manage an efficient, organized and well-run business. It is among the first steps to success.

For a small business, the appropriate technology is as necessary and important as snow is for skiing, says entrepreneur Brad Feld, who started his first company 22 years ago while in college and subsequently sold it for millions.

That business, he says, built software systems for small businesses.

"At the time, businesses were just starting to experience the personal computer revolution, while today, computers and software are deeply entrenched in all aspects of business," Feld says. "From communication to sales management to promotion to customer service to business management -- computers and software are now a critical aspect of everyone's daily function as a businessperson."

"Ignore them at your own peril," he warns.

According to Feld, here are five of the most essential tech tools an entrepreneur should consider investing in when starting a small business.

1. T-Mobile Dash

The T-Mobile Dash, an integrated phone, personal digital assistant, email and Web device, is "critically important" for any small business manager or entrepreneur, Feld says. "You want to be connected everywhere, all the time."

He even likes it better than Research In Motion's (RIMM Quote) BlackBerry, especially on Cingular's (T Quote) Edge or Verizon's (VZ Quote) EVDO networks, he says.

The Dash, which Feld uses himself, "has spectacular integration with Microsoft (MSFT Quote) Exchange, which is a requirement for me," he says.

Plus, it has an "excellent form factor and great battery life," Feld adds. The keyboard, he says, is decent as well.

Before the Dash, Feld says, he used T-Mobile's Sidekick, which he calls "outstanding in all respects, except for its sync with Exchange."

With a $50 mail-in rebate, the T-Mobile Dash retails for about $200.

2. Lenovo ThinkPad X60 With Vista

Feld calls the Lenovo X60 a "smoking-hot, amazing laptop." The most important aspect of it, he says, is its built-in adapter for EVDO connectivity.

On top of its fixed wireless broadband, the laptop comes equipped with the latest Intel (INTC Quote) Core Duo processors, weighs about 3.8 pounds, has a 12.1-inch display and has an estimated 7.5-hour battery life.

"I just flew from Denver to Boston and still have plenty of battery life left," Feld says. "Plus, I can connect to the Internet anywhere, anytime."