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2001 Gadgets

Toys to drool over (if you're a geek)

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Geek Gadgets

by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

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.

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References

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http://itrain.org/itinfo/2001/it010105a.html
updated January 5, 2001