Geek gadgets

[Andre' Kesteloot]

GEEK GADGETS
by Dave Murphy, member@itrain.org

This article isn't news by any means. It's a reprint of an
article I wrote
yesterday for a column I keep in a business newspaper. I
don't make this
list to advertise the products, just to be specific in
noting these
specific items are my recommendations.

Everybody wants technology toys (at least all the men in the
audience do!).
This year will be a bonanza for high-tech gizmos that will
make your head
spin. Here’s my list of favorite items, none of which will
break your bankroll.

1. Olympus D-490 Digital Zoom Camera
With new QuickTime movie features, convenient options and
zoom
capabilities, the D-490 Zoom is boldly going into the
photographic future.
The D-490 Zoom makes the leap to a 2.11 megapixel
point-and-shoot digital
camera and features a high-quality 3X optical zoom lens
designed for
digital photography along with the ever-popular 2X digital
telephoto.

The combination provides you with a pocket camera having a
35mm equivalent
zoom range of 35 to 105mm and 210mm digital. With the
QuickTime movie mode
you can now film mini motion pictures with your D-490 Zoom
camera.

2. Handspring Visor Prism Handheld Computer
Now you can add color to your life. The Handspring Visor
Prism is first
infinitely expandable full-color handheld computer. It
displays over 65,000
vibrant colors so everything is crisper, brighter and easier
to read. And,
with the Springboard expansion slot, you can snap in a
digital camera or a
global positioning system and instantly view full-color
pictures, maps and
more.

3. Nokia 8260 Mobile Phone
With the latest in style and design, the Nokia 8260 mobile
phone has
striking good looks and an impressive list of features. This
is the mobile
phone to supercharge your mobile lifestyle. It’s small
enough to fit in the
palm of your hand, and the battery lasts for eight days! All
told, it
weighs 3.4oz. which is light enough to carry around a shirt
pocket.

4. Yamaha CRW2100EZ CD-RW Burner
This 16x speed CD burner will make short work of your
computer data backups
or music files. With an 8MB data buffer, this is currently
the fastest
stock burner on the market--this baby is the one to have! It
requires a
standard E-IDE connection, and will work on any standard PC.
(There’s also
a SCSI version if you’re a Mac aficionado.)

5. Epson Stylus Color Printer
You need any one of the Epson Stylus color printers. They’re
all great.
Beware though, the ink cost per page runs about $0.02 to
$0.12. So, a pile
of high-res photos or brochures will run through some ink.
There’s a brisk
after-market distribution of ink cartridges for the 1440dpi
printers that
will cut up to 70% off your ink cost. The 2880dpi model
printers only
accept full-price Epson-brand ink. Color printers and the
ink they consume
are kind of like hamsters and their accessories. The
printers are cheap
because the manufacturer plans to make money on all the ink
you’re sure to
use. Look for printers that use less-expensive ink!

6. Targus Stowaway Portable Keyboard
Don’t get a Handspring Visor or any PalmOS handheld computer
without also
picking up the Stowaway folding keyboard to go with it. With
a 4-fold
mechanism, this baby ties up smaller than the handheld
computer! Full-size
keys let even calloused paws of the toughest construction
worker get in
there track expenses and keep the appointment calendar
filled.

7. Audiovox FRS Walkie-Talkies
Running about the same size as the Nokia 8260 digital cell
phone, these
Family Radio Service (FRS) handhelds fit into your shirt
pocket and give
unlimited free calls within about a 2-mile range. Use ’em at
the store, the
amusement park, anywhere you want to stay in touch. I use
them around the
office and take ’em home when working in the attic or out in
the yard.

8. Garmin International eTrex Handheld GPS
Truly a small wonder, the eTrex takes the best features of a
12-parallel
channel GPS receiver and put them into a 6oz. package that’s
only four
inches high. The unit easily fits in the palm of your hand.
Besides its
small size, mariners and outdoorsmen will likely notice the
sleek design of
the eTrex. All buttons are located on either side of the
unit, allowing for
simple, one-handed operation that won't obstruct your view
of the display.

Thanks to its bright yellow case, the eTrex will be hard to
misplace and
easy to find in any boat or backpack. The eTrex is
completely waterproof so
it can take an accidental splash or dunk in the water and
still continue to
perform. The eTrex will store up to 500 user waypoints with
graphic icons
and boasts Garmin's exclusive TracBack feature that will
reverse your track
log and help you navigate your way back home. In addition,
the eTrex uses
animated graphics that will help you identify your marked
waypoints quickly
and easily.

8. Sony MZ-R90 MD Walkman
Sony's stylish MZ-R90 MD Walkman Player Recorder is the
world's smallest
and lightest recording MD Walkman. Featuring long playback
and recording
times, the MZ-R90 was created for movers and shakers, like
you. Now you can
take your favorite tracks to the office with you. The
recordable minidisks
look like tiny CDs, and they hold hours of music: best of
all, they’re
reusable!

9. Logitech QuickCam Pro 3000 Computer Camera
The newly designed camera features a high-resolution 640 x
480 (VGA) CCD
sensor. Its built-in microphone allows users to make live
video calls and
send video email with streaming audio.

Experience increased web activity performance with reduced
upload times for
web cams, as well as a simplified sign-up procedure for
SpotLife personal
video broadcasting. You’ll easily find your way among
numerous activities
within the application, including video email, live video
web broadcasts,
and video conferencing.

I thought it would be tough to come up with a half dozen or
so geek toys.
But then I hit on the idea to just look around the office. I
just reported
on stuff I either already have or have put on my wish list.

Call for Comments
What do you think? Leave your comments on the message
center:
http://itrain.org/msg/