The top business picks from CES 2009

DisplayLink
DisplayLink is a USB display technology and not one specific product, so it is a bit of a strange fit for this list. However, since it offers important benefits for IT departments, we had to include it. DisplayLink was on show at last year's CES, and it has made a lot of progress in one year.

The technology, which allows a computer to connect to up to six displays over USB, is now embedded in many LCD displays and USB-based docking stations from big vendors such as Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba. This can allow IT departments to standardise docking stations across the enterprise, so they don't have to switch every time a user gets a new laptop. It also simplifies docking for users, so they only have to plug in one USB connector to get all their peripherals, plus multiple monitors. For those who need more than two monitors, DisplayLink allows you to do it without buying extra graphics cards.

The technology is even embedded in several projectors now, so connecting a laptop to a conference-room projector — a common problem that results in a lot of IT calls — can be as easy as plugging in a USB cable.