With so many applications and mobile devices, it can be confusing to know which ones you really need for your business and personal life. From desktops, to laptops to the palm of your hand, the keyword is mobility. Electronic gadgets are not only becoming smaller and lighter, there are so many to choose from. Instead of one large inconvenient, bulky device, three mobile devices are commonly used for different purposes–the laptop computer, smartphone and tablet.

For your business needs you should have a laptop. It’s portable enough to be carried anywhere and has the most power for browsing the Internet or using software applications. Compared to the smartphone and tablet, a laptop has the fastest processor and also the largest capacity of internal memory. Think of it as a mini PC with a slightly smaller screen, generally around 14 inches. Instead of a mouse, the laptop has a touchpad. Also built-in are internal speakers and a microphone. With a battery life of three to five hours, it does not need to be plugged in all the time.

The one thing the laptop computer does not do is act as a mobile phone. For this reason, you may need a second mobile device—a smartphone. Just like your cell phone, the smartphone’s main function is making and receiving phone calls. It has a touch screen keyboard which may not be ideal for business applications but convenient for sending text or email messages. In addition to its features of messaging, contacts, calendar, camera and other applications, you can keep it in synch with other email servers. The processors are fast and internal memory is large. Think of it as a cell phone with a display screen of around 3.5”.

When you need a break and want to watch a movie or read a book, a tablet is the third mobile device you will find useful. Compared to the briefcase appearance of the laptop computer, the tablet is more compact and resembles a slate. With its virtual touch screen keyboard, it is not meant for business applications, but more for your leisure. It is similar to a large smartphone but with less features than a laptop computer. The tablet is an enriched multimedia device for audio and video files on a screen of about ten inches.

Bulky computing devices are out and mobile devices in quantity are in. Depending on your lifestyle, you may need three mobile devices: a laptop for your business needs, a smartphone to give you more flexibility than your cell phone, and a tablet for your reading and multimedia leisure.