Windows 7 – Microsoft ended 2009 on a positive note with the release of Windows 7 which finally gave us a reason to let go of Windows XP! Many businesses have now been using XP for nearly 9 years having avoided the whole fiasco that was Windows Vista. We now see the majority of new laptops shipping with Windows 7 and can report that the transition to 7 has been smooth.

Office 2010 – Many businesses have only been using Office 2007 for a year or less so will require a good reason to to upgrade so soon. Microsoft launched Office 2010 in Beta version recently with a view to it hitting retail mid 2010. Key features to stir interest include online versions of Office applications like Word that will allow you to edit documents online without installing the software. Some will also be interested in the collaboration tools that will allow users to work on the same document simultaneously.

Exchange 2010 – The next iteration of MS Exchange will see a more consistent experience across all platforms – Outlook Web Access for example has a look, functionality and feel almost identical to the desktop version. Viewing mail based on “conversations” will also make it easier to track threads of topics in a chronological order.

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4G Wireless internet - we start to see life beyond 3G on the horizon. Plans are already underway to see Perth get the early benefits of peak speeds reaching 20Mbps.

Battery life – what every laptop user hopes for this year – a decent battery life. ASUS has recently come out suggesting that 12 hours of battery life will be fairly standard in laptops later this year.

Tablets – rumours are rife that Apple is planning on releasing a tablet later this year and a number of industry heavyweights like HP and Dell are predicting interest will be revived this year as they plan to release their own versions. With the success of keyboardless smartphones like the iPhone the tablet looks to be finally ready for market acceptance.

3D displays – the major theme at CES 2010 (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas was 3D TV – with the recent release of Avatar, 3D content is coming into mainstream. Expect some fancy 3D TVs and desktop displays and laptops to be introduced this year.

SuperSpeed USB – it’s been a decade since the release of the now ubiquitous USB 2.0. Expect computers to start shipping with SuperSpeed USB this year. Also known as USB 3.0, SuperSpeed USB offers 10 times the bandwidth of USB 2.0.

Super thin laptops – the Macbook Air started the “mine’s thinner than yours” craze – now Lenovo, Dell, Sony and nearly every other notable laptop manufacturer are competing in the super thin market. Expect some sexier laptop designs at the top end of the market.