Menu

List

20+ Great Geeky Posters For Your Office [PICS]

Posters are a great way to cheer up your work space, whether your home office, the walls of your cubicle or even your swanky corner suite.

We’ve got a great selection of geeky posters and prints from classic Apple advertising to curious Android typographical illustrations.

Take a look through the image gallery, click through on the blue title text for more info on each image, and let us know in the comments which posters you’d pick for your office.

1. xkcd Map of Online Communities




” src=”http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/online_communities.jpg”>

xkcd’s “Map of Online Communities” is a fascinating snapshot of 2010’s web world.

Cost: $15

2. eBoy Cities Posters

” src=”http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/poster-rahmen.jpg”>

We’re big fans of the eBoy group’s pixel art. They’ve created a whole collectible series of city posters that includes North American locations as well as London, Paris, Tokyo and Berlin.

Cost: $27

3. Periodic Table of Typefaces

” src=”http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/typeface.jpg”>

The “Periodic Table of Typefaces” is a witty take on font classification. Also available: “So You Need a Typeface” flowchart and “Typefaces of the World.”

Cost: From $16

4. VectorSetPosters

As well as digital tools for designers, these VectorSets are available as prints. With tons of different sets, you could create a really striking grouping.

Cost: From $24.49

5. Andy Versus

” src=”http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/android.jpg”>

One of a set of Android-themed illustrations, this poster depicts a little green bot fending off attack from a rather familiar figure…

Cost: $15

6. Nintendo Evolution

” src=”http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/evolution0.jpg”>

This simple Etsy print would be a great pic for a Nintendo fan.

Cost: From $8.50

7. Susan Kare Apple Prints

” src=”http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/smiling-computer-detail.jpg”>

Former Apple designer Susan Kare offers limited edition prints of her classic icons.

Cost: From $89

8. The Oatmeal Grammar Pack

” src=”http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/apostrophe_thumb_large.jpg”>

The Oatmeal’s “Grammar Pack” includes four great comics: “how to use an apostrophe,” “how to use a semicolon,” “10 words you need to stop misspelling,” and “when to use i.e. in a sentence.” We can’t think of a better set of rules to stick on your wall, especially if you work with words.

Cost: $32

9. Retro Videogame Propaganda Posters

” src=”http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/retro_videogame.jpg”>

Frogger, Dig Dug, Tron, Joust, Donkey Kong all get propaganda posters in this rad, retro set.

Cost: $49.99

10. Typography Deconstructed

” src=”http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/typedecon.jpg”>

More fun for font fans, this gorgeous graphic deconstructs typography, and would look great in your design department.

Cost: From $35

11. Fail Whale

” src=”http://8.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/failwhale.jpg”>

If you’re a fan of Yiying Lu’s “Fail Whale,” then this three-foot wide version should bring a smile to your face.

Cost: $49.99

12. eBoy FooBar Poster

” src=”http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/foobar.jpg”>

Grab a slice of web history with this now classic depiction of Web 2.0 circa 2006. It’ll be a collector’s item one day…

Cost: $27

13. Google Doodles

” src=”http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/dna0.jpg”>

Everyone loves Google Doodles. Sadly, Google’s online store offers just seven designs in print. Collect the lot and hope for more in the near future.

Cost: From $4.75 each

14. Evolution of the Geek

” src=”http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/geek.jpg”>

Flowtown had a hit with its great “Evolution of the Geek” infographic. Now you can buy the poster version.

Cost: $19.99

15. Typographic Maps

” src=”http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/nyc.jpg”>

There’s a whole set of typography-themed maps that accurately depict the features of major U.S. cities using nothing but type.

Cost: From $30

16. Susan Kare Facebook Prints

” src=”http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/party.jpg”>

As well as Apple-themed prints, some of Kare’s contemporary Facebook icons are also available as limited edition prints.

Cost: From $89

17. Visual Aid Posters

” src=”http://9.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/visual.jpg”>

We adore Visual Aid’s huge collection of geeky prints. They offer graphical explanations of a huge range of topics including color theory, types of hats, The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones, table settings, flight times and much, much more.

Cost: From £4 (approx $6.50)

18. Mac Reference Posters

” src=”http://4.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/mactrack.jpg”>

This excellent Etsy poster offers you a field guide to Mac trackpad gestures. Also available is an OS X button legend and a quick reference for shortcuts.

Cost: $20

19. Why Working at Home is Both Awesome and Horrible

” src=”http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/working_home_poster_large0.jpg”>

More from The Oatmeal with this hilarious comic that explains why working at home is both awesome and horrible. It’s an absolute must for any telecommuter.

Cost: $11.95

20. iA Web Trend Map

” src=”http://6.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/posters/wtm5-3.jpg”>

iA has mapped the 140 most influential people on Twitter, when they started tweeting and what they first said. Fascinating.

Cost: $59.50

21. Apple’s “Think Different” Posters

Finally, you can still get hold of Apple’s iconic “Think Different” posters on sites like eBay. Some are more rare than others, but just imagine how great the whole set would look framed on your office wall.

Cost: Varies

More About: accessories, android, apple, art, gallery, geek, Google, infographics, List, office, office accessories, posters, typography

For more Dev & Design coverage:Follow Mashable Dev & Design on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Dev & Design channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad



5 More Handy Web Apps to Save You Time at Work


This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Web apps are a friend to all who mash the keyboard from nine to five. They live in the cloud, are accessible from any Internet connection and are great for chopping those mundane work tasks off at the knees.

We’ve previously highlighted a batch of web apps that reduce the headaches and keystrokes associated with common tech chores, and after receiving some great feedback from readers, we thought it only right to hunt down a few more worthy bookmarkables.

See below for five more picks, and remember to leave your own time-saving web ditties in the comments.

1. PrintFriendly
” src=”http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/5-more-handy-web-apps-to-save-you-time-at-work/vector-magic-640.jpg”/abrbrpImagine this crazy scenario: The boss needs you to print up event flyers, but all she has is a tiny 100 pixel logo from the corporate website. (I warned you this was going to get emcrazy/em.)br br Resizing this graphic with standard imaging software will render it pixelated and unprofessional. What you need is a vector asset — a mathematical representation of the logo that a graphic designer would use to scale the image at any size without sacrificing quality.br br Vector Magic is a remarkable little app that translates standard web images (JPG, GIF, PNG, etc.) into scalable vector art. We gave it a shot with Mashable’s logo, and the results were impressive and crisp. Mileage may vary depending on the complexity of the image, but even small, multicolored icons made great vectors in our testing. Photographs might get dicey, but it’s worth a shot.br br Vector Magic packs a bit too much power to be totally free, but you get the first two vectors on the house, and a basic account is only $7.95 per month for unlimited use — well worth it, especially if you’re making a lot of PowerPoint presentations or websites./p brh43. a href=”http://dummyimage.com/”Dummy Image/a/h4 br a href=”http://mashable.com/2011/06/22/web-apps-office-work/#175533-Dummy-Image”img width=”400″ style=”border:none” title=”3. ” src=”http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/5-more-handy-web-apps-to-save-you-time-at-work/dummy-image-640.jpg”/abrbrpSpeaking of images, are you ever building a presentation or website and find yourself in need of a visual placeholder? You you’ve got a killer stock handshake photo coming, but right now you’re just getting your layout down, and the measurements need to be precise.br br You could fire up ol’ MS Paint, slice out a 600 by 300 pixel box, color it red, save it to your computer, open PowerPoint, import the image, what did I name the image?, I swear I just saved the image, is it in My Pictures?, I can’t find the image, seriously where is this thing, restart MS Paint, emad infinitum/em.br br emOr/em, you could snag Dummy Image from your bookmarks bar, type in your dimensions and drag the graphic onto your slide.br br I think we’re done here./p brh44. a href=”http://simplynoise.com/”SimplyNoise/a/h4 br a href=”http://mashable.com/2011/06/22/web-apps-office-work/#175554-SimplyNoise”img width=”400″ style=”border:none” title=”4.

Let’s face it: Your coworkers are annoying and their incessant chatter makes it hard to focus on anything but cat pictures. Sure, Keith from accounting is a nice guy, but enough about Idol already, you’re a grown man for God’s sake.

We kindly recommend SimplyNoise, a white noise generator you can fire up with one click, should the office get rowdy during crunch time. In actuality, the app can generate three different kinds of static noise: white, pink and brown. If you’re looking for warmer, less grating frequencies (like those found in a waterfall or an ocean), go with brown. The app even remembers your volume preferences.

Headphones sold separately.

5. ShowMeWhatsWrong.com

5 More Handy Web Apps to Save You Time at Work


This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

Web apps are a friend to all who mash the keyboard from nine to five. They live in the cloud, are accessible from any Internet connection and are great for chopping those mundane work tasks off at the knees.

We’ve previously highlighted a batch of web apps that reduce the headaches and keystrokes associated with common tech chores, and after receiving some great feedback from readers, we thought it only right to hunt down a few more worthy bookmarkables.

See below for five more picks, and remember to leave your own time-saving web ditties in the comments.

1. PrintFriendly
” src=”http://5.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/5-more-handy-web-apps-to-save-you-time-at-work/vector-magic-640.jpg”/abrbrpImagine this crazy scenario: The boss needs you to print up event flyers, but all she has is a tiny 100 pixel logo from the corporate website. (I warned you this was going to get emcrazy/em.)br br Resizing this graphic with standard imaging software will render it pixelated and unprofessional. What you need is a vector asset — a mathematical representation of the logo that a graphic designer would use to scale the image at any size without sacrificing quality.br br Vector Magic is a remarkable little app that translates standard web images (JPG, GIF, PNG, etc.) into scalable vector art. We gave it a shot with Mashable’s logo, and the results were impressive and crisp. Mileage may vary depending on the complexity of the image, but even small, multicolored icons made great vectors in our testing. Photographs might get dicey, but it’s worth a shot.br br Vector Magic packs a bit too much power to be totally free, but you get the first two vectors on the house, and a basic account is only $7.95 per month for unlimited use — well worth it, especially if you’re making a lot of PowerPoint presentations or websites./p brh43. a href=”http://dummyimage.com/”Dummy Image/a/h4 br a href=”http://mashable.com/2011/06/22/web-apps-office-work/#175533-Dummy-Image”img width=”400″ style=”border:none” title=”3. ” src=”http://7.mshcdn.com/wp-content/gallery/5-more-handy-web-apps-to-save-you-time-at-work/dummy-image-640.jpg”/abrbrpSpeaking of images, are you ever building a presentation or website and find yourself in need of a visual placeholder? You you’ve got a killer stock handshake photo coming, but right now you’re just getting your layout down, and the measurements need to be precise.br br You could fire up ol’ MS Paint, slice out a 600 by 300 pixel box, color it red, save it to your computer, open PowerPoint, import the image, what did I name the image?, I swear I just saved the image, is it in My Pictures?, I can’t find the image, seriously where is this thing, restart MS Paint, emad infinitum/em.br br emOr/em, you could snag Dummy Image from your bookmarks bar, type in your dimensions and drag the graphic onto your slide.br br I think we’re done here./p brh44. a href=”http://simplynoise.com/”SimplyNoise/a/h4 br a href=”http://mashable.com/2011/06/22/web-apps-office-work/#175554-SimplyNoise”img width=”400″ style=”border:none” title=”4.

Let’s face it: Your coworkers are annoying and their incessant chatter makes it hard to focus on anything but cat pictures. Sure, Keith from accounting is a nice guy, but enough about Idol already, you’re a grown man for God’s sake.

We kindly recommend SimplyNoise, a white noise generator you can fire up with one click, should the office get rowdy during crunch time. In actuality, the app can generate three different kinds of static noise: white, pink and brown. If you’re looking for warmer, less grating frequencies (like those found in a waterfall or an ocean), go with brown. The app even remembers your volume preferences.

Headphones sold separately.

5. ShowMeWhatsWrong.com

4 Ways To Nurture Your Child’s Entrepreneurial Spirit

Jim Aberman is founder and CEO of Jim Aberman Marketing Company and the father of Rich Aberman, entrepreneur and founder of WePay.

You can read about young entrepreneurs starting new companies or raising millions of dollars in venture capital on a daily basis. For parents who dream about their kids becoming entrepreneurs, these articles reinforce the stereotype of ambitious dropouts and instant dot-com millionaires. While the promise of fame and fortune is alluring, the question remains, “Can a parent raise a child to be an entrepreneur, and why would they even want to?”

I think the answer is no. By definition, the path to becoming a “professional” is more structured than the path to becoming an “entrepreneur.” If you want to become a doctor, for example, you get into a good college, do well in school, ace your MCAT and write a great application. If you want to become an investment banker, you work hard in college, attain a great internship and ace your interview. Since there are no structured paths to becoming an entrepreneur, it’s hard to set your child on the right path. I believe, however, that there are qualities and characteristics that you can instill in your child over the course of his or her youth that will help prepare him or her for the risky, emotionally draining, economically irrational and statistically doomed decision to become an Internet entrepreneur.

My son, Rich Aberman, was recently listed as one of Businessweek’s Best Young Tech Entrepreneurs Under 30. When he told me three years ago that he was going to drop out of law school to found an online payments business — WePay — I thought he was joking. And, at first, I was very against the decision. However, I believe that I prepared Rich for the challenges he has faced by nurturing and guiding him so he could reach his full potential. I think some children are born with the natural desire to venture off the beaten path and to build things from scratch, but it is up to the parents to nurture and reinforce those tendencies, while simultaneously providing the parental guidance that all children need.

The following are a few guidelines that worked for me.

1. Let Her Discover Her Passions

Parents often have their child’s day scheduled down to the minute with classes, sports and other activities. It’s important to give kids the opportunity and responsibility to choose what they want to do and explore their passions. When Rich was growing up, he was on the debate team and the math team. When he told me he was quitting the debate team to focus on math, I was upset. I thought he was doing a great job managing both, and I wanted him to stay well-rounded. In retrospect, I realize that passionate focus was a key element in the success of his entrepreneurial endeavors.

2. Challenge Him

As parents, we have the responsibility to challenge our kids to reach their full potential. When Rich first entered high school, I set up meetings with the principal and the head guidance counselor to introduce him to the valedictorians and leading students in each class to help mentor him. It was probably pretty awkward for him, and I’m sure I came off looking like that crazy over-involved parent. But I wanted to make it clear to him that he had a responsibility to be an over-achiever, since we both knew he was capable of it.

3. Lead by Example

I started and ran my own business and thought it was very important that Rich see what it was like firsthand. I took him on business trips with me and introduced him to other successful entrepreneurs who shared their own experiences with him. But I never shielded him from the challenges and anxiety that come along with starting from scratch and building something new. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I originally wanted him to become a “professional” rather than an entrepreneur.

4. Don’t Rule by Fear

I was never punitive. Sure, point out what is wrong but encourage positive achievements. Entrepreneurs need to believe they can do anything, and obviously, they cannot be risk averse — that’s what lawyers and accountants are for.

Great entrepeneurs are not born out of a desire to make money or to be famous. They simply can’t imagine doing anything else. Building something new is the only thing that can make them happy. As parents, it’s up to us to be realistic about the challenges of entrepreneurship, allow our children to follow their passions and adequately prepare them for living up to their full potential.

Image courtesy of iStockphoto, monkeybusinessimages

More About: entrepreneurs, jobs, List, Lists, parenting, startups

For more Startups coverage:

Is it possible? AT&T drops lower in customer satisfaction survey

It's a bit of a surprise. AT&T has dropped below Sprint in consumer ratings, at least according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index, as reported by the Associated Press. Both T-Mobile and AT&T are ranked at the bottom, which makes you wonder about the wisdom of the announced sale of T-Mobile to AT&T. Think of the fun customers will have as the two worst companies on the list merge accounting systems and networks. Consumer Reports also ranks AT&T the worst of the cellular carriers.

Sprint and Verizon both get a score of 72 in the survey, which was done by polling 8,000 households in the first quarter of the year. AT&T is at the bottom with a score of 66, down 3 points from last year. T-Mobile scores a 70, also down 3 from a year ago.

At first glance I would have thought there would be some improvement in the AT&T score. We've been reporting on problems for years, and AT&T says it has spent millions in upgrades and says it has been trying to fill in the coverage gaps. What's your experience? Is AT&T getting better or worse, and if you made the jump to Verizon, are you happier?

Is it possible? AT&T drops lower in customer satisfaction survey originally appeared on TUAW on Thu, 19 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Source | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Load More