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November 8, 2007 |
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Make every device wireless
Belkin Network USB Hub
Wi-Fi networks are great but most
devices in your home or office can’t connect wirelessly. Until now. This unit makes any device—a printer, external hard drive, card readers, etc.—accessible from a Wi-Fi-enabled computer.
So if you want a printer for your home or small office, you can pay a premium for a networkable unit or spend $129.99 on this Belkin hub and make a basic printer and all your other devices network aware.
www.belkin.com |
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Make a robot dinosaur. Then a spider, then a crocodile
Lego Creator Monster Dino
If you have someone on your list who likes puzzles and/or robotics, pick up this new Lego kit. It makes sounds, moves and has a remote control—it’s pretty cool. And it can be made into three different animals.
But, with 792 mainly very small pieces, make sure the recipient has time to devote to the project. US$89.99.
www.lego.com |
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Yes, it’s a full-on notebook
Toshiba Portégé R500
It’s always a little tough to judge the size of devices from the photos so think of the R500 this way: imagine a really slim and light notebook, subtract 50 per cent from your guess and you’ve got the R500.
Toshiba bills this as the “world’s thinnest notebook with an integrated optical drive” and if you pick one up you’ll believe it. Last year there were notebooks this small and light but they did not have an onboard CD or DVD drive.
There are a bunch of tech specs for this unit—12.1-inch screen, 9.7-hour battery, Intel Core2 Duo processors, etc.—but really, the point here is the size. Price ranges from $2,499 to $3,299.
www.toshiba.ca |
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Get where you’re going
TomTom GO 910
GPS navigation devices have been available for a while, so one would expect vendors to start hanging some bells and whistles off the basic “Turn left here” functionality. And that’s what TomTom has done. The 910 offers a 20GB hard drive loaded with maps of Canada, the U.S. and Europe; it can make hands-free phone calls when linked to a Bluetooth cellphone; and it plays MP3s or displays photos loaded on the hard drive. If that’s not enough, for a fee you can download John Cleese’s voice to read out your directions.
And that “turn left here” stuff? The 910 does a good job of that as well. Lists for $599.95.
www.tomtom.com |
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Not quite Rosie but…
iRobot Roomba 560
The Jetsons had Rosie the robot maid. iRobot can’t offer full maid service but the Roomba will vacuum your floors and carpets.
The 560 offers a number of improvements over its predecessors, including a better sensing system for detecting walls or obstacles, a built-in voice tutorial for new users, a bigger dustbin and Virtual Wall Lighthouses, small towers that orient Roomba using radio frequency communications and guide it through the home.
The 560 will roll around your home at its scheduled cleaning time and then automatically return to its charging base. It retails for US$359, with other 500-series models starting at US$299.
www.irobot.com |
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Notebook to desktop
Logitech Alto keyboard
Despite the name “laptop” most portable computers actually sit on desks. Enter the Alto, Logitech’s take on improving the desktop experience.
The Alto combines a keyboard, notebook stand and USB hub into one stylish foldable unit. Open it, prop your notebook onto it and plug in the USB cable and the notebook effectively becomes a desktop PC. The Alto works well for mid- to large-sized notebooks; for smaller units with 12-inch screens the display may sit too low. Also, because the keyboard is attached it cannot be placed at a lower, more ergonomic level. That said, many buyers will appreciate the Alto’s look and ease of use. $129.95.
www.logitech.com |
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Shake this phone
Sony Ericsson 580i
Sony Ericsson doesn’t want you to carry a phone and an iPod, and the Walkman 580i is its latest shot at getting you to ditch Apple. It comes with 2GB or 4GB of storage, has an attractive small-and- sleek slider design, and supports e-mail, data storage and syncing with a PC.
But you’re here for music. The phone operates as a capable MP3 player but with one interesting addition: you can skip to the next song by holding the Walkman button and giving the phone a quick shake. The 580i starts at $149 from Rogers.
www.sonyericsson.com |
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Watch me control this iPod
Timex Ironman iControl Watch
This product is just smart: if you listen to your iPod while exercising or working around the house, you can leave it in a pocket or its case and control basic functions from the watch. A small dongle plugs into the iPod and handles communication with the iControl, letting you pause playback, adjust the volume or skip tracks forward or backwards.
There is also an onboard training log, two interval timers for speed and endurance training and a 50-lap memory chronograph. It retails for $150.
www.timex.ca |
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Notebook directions
Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator
With a standalone GPS device you’re paying for three components: the GPS receiver, the maps and a small computer to make it all run. But if you typically drive with a notebook you can eliminate one of those components and save some money.
Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 with GPS Locator lists for $129.95, or only $49.95 for the maps without the GPS doodad. The full package gives you a fuel consumption manager, colour-coded route maps, spoken directions and a listing of 1.6 million points of interest, including gas stations, AT Ms, hotels, restaurants and national parks.
www.microsoft.com |
Small gifts
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Click for the right monitor
Belkin Flip
On your desk you have a desktop PC and a notebook, and one nice big LCD monitor. Now add a Belkin Flip. The small button and a few included cables let you hook both computers to the monitor, a keyboard and mouse and then click between the two PCs. $55.
www.belkin.com |
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Have PC will chat
Vonage V-Phone
You think your cellphone is small? Check out the V-Phone. Yes, it requires an Internet-connected computer but once plugged in it gives you full access to your Vonage IP telephony service. The hardware is $39.99 with different rate plans. $19.99, for example, will get 500 minutes a month.
www.vonage.ca |
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Data to go
Memorex TravelDrive
The name says it all: you need your data with you, or you need to back up a computer, and you want a solution you can carry with you. The TravelDrive slides into a pocket yet stores up to 160GB. Units start at $120.
www.memorex.com |
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Homework with sound
Five Star Sound binder
This is either ingenious and convenient or silly and annoying. Your call. It’s a normal binder except that it has built-in speakers and a connection for an MP3 player. There are also speaker-equipped backpacks and desk cases. They start at $24.99 at Staples.
www.meadfivestar.com |
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