Gadget Gifts

Get a jump on your holiday shopping with my favorite tiny tech toys.

James A. Martin

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Feature: Gadget Gift Ideas

Warning: The following public service announcement may cause disbelief, anxiety, and/or unplanned financial expenditures.

"If you haven't already done so, it's time to start your holiday shopping."

I know, it's hard for me to believe, too. But don't get all worked up about it, because I'm here to help. This week, I have gift suggestions for the gadget fan in your life (even if that gadget fan is you). I've tried all the products listed below and recommend them, though some I endorse with a few small caveats. You'll find even more gift ideas in the "Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips" section.

Next week, I'll tell you about some cool notebook accessories that make great gifts. So let's get started. With the holidays nipping at our heels, we don't have much time.

Video to Go

There's no denying the magnetic pull of a portable video player. A PVP combines video, audio, photos, and music in a handheld, hard-drive-based device that absolutely defines cool. A number of PVPs are now available, but those with the best and most consistent buzz are the Archos AV400 series models.

Unlike Windows Media Center-based PVPs, the Archos AV400 models can record directly from your TV or a commercial DVD. And you can program the PVP TiVo-style to make unattended recordings. Though they're pricey and have smallish screens (3.5 inches), the Archos PVPs are bound to set your gadget lover's pulse racing.

The 20GB AV420 retails for $550, but you can find one for less at the PC World Product Finder. The 80GB AV480 sells for $800, but our Product Finder lists it for as low as $650.

For my review of the AV420, read "Take-Out TV." You might also want to read my column on PVPs.

A Wireless PDA With Punch

Dell's high-end version of the Axim X30, with a 624-MHz Intel XScale processor, is one of my favorite traditional PDAs. (By "traditional," I mean it doesn't do phone calls.) This Pocket PC features a zippy processor, a crisp and bright display, built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networking, a voice recorder, and a Secure Digital Card slot, among other goodies. As far as PDAs go, the Axim X30 makes checking e-mail and surfing the Web wirelessly a pleasure. For PC World's review, go to: http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,118295,00.asp

At press time, the top-of-the-line Axim X30 was selling for $314. Check the latest prices and get more information at Dell's Web site.

Heads up: I didn't get the chance to test Dell's newest Axim models, the X50 series, before my deadline. I plan to weigh in on the new Pocket PC lineup in a future column. In the meantime, you can read more about them in this week's "Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips" section.

A Bluetooth Modem for PDAs

Socket Communications' Cordless 56K Modem ($149) is a cool combination of technologies old (the dial-up modem) and recent (Bluetooth connectivity). The modem is easy to use; it comes in handy when a wireless or broadband connection isn't available; and it's, well, cute. You can also jump online by pairing the modem with a Bluetooth-enabled notebook.

Go to our Product Finder for the latest prices.

A Sleek Smart Phone

Sony Ericsson's T637 smart phone combines voice, e-mail, Web surfing, and picture-taking functions in one compact, gorgeous device. My only complaint: The T637's keys are a bit too close together. Cingular/AT&T Wireless offers the phone on its GSM network. As I write this, the price is $40 for new subscribers (and free if you buy it online). For details and current pricing, go to the vendor's Web site.

Awesome IPod Speakers

The Apple IPod accessory field is getting more crowded every day. But for portable speakers, Altec Lansing has the field covered with three different models. Each one produces surprisingly rich sound in an attractive, affordable package that folds up easily for travel: The original InMotion ($150); the InMotion IM3 ($180), which boasts an updated look and a remote control; and the InMotion IMmini ($130), a smaller version designed especially for the IPod Mini. A heads up: As of this writing, none of the speaker systems was compatible with Apple's new IPod Photo.

Check our Product Finder for the latest prices on the original InMotion.

A Stocking Stuffer for Cell Phone Yakkers

Is your gadget fiend constantly running out of cell phone power? Then stuff a couple of Cellboosts in the stocking. Compact Power Systems' Cellboost is a compact and disposable battery/charger that provides about an hour of talk or standby time for those situations when the phone's main battery is kaput. Cellboost models are available for most Motorola, Nokia, LG, Samsung, Sanyo, Siemens, and Sony Ericsson wireless phones. Cost: about $10 for two, at online retailers such as Amazon.com.

Repair or Replace? Your Opinions Wanted

I've recently experienced technical difficulties with two of my favorite gadgets. My Samsung portable DVD player simply stopped working. And my Sony digital camcorder has developed what one camera store employee described as an "iris sensor malfunction." And, of course, the warranties on both products have expired.

Currently, I'm awaiting repair estimates. But I can't help but wonder: Generally speaking, does it make better financial sense in the long run to repair a broken portable gadget or replace it?

What's your opinion on that? Has your PDA, smart phone, or other portable gadget developed a serious problem? If it did so after its warranty expired, did you have it repaired? If not, did you buy a replacement instead?

Please send me details. Tell me the malfunctioning product's name and model, the problem it developed, what the repair estimates or final costs were, and where it was repaired. (For instance, did you take it to a Radio Shack?) Also, in hindsight, do you feel you did the right thing repairing or replacing the device? I'll share your stories in an upcoming column. And as always, I'll be eternally grateful for your help.

Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

PDA Reviews: The Tungsten T5 and the Axim X50v

PalmOne's Tungsten T5 ($400) and Dell's Axim X50v ($499) are among the latest PDAs to hit the market. Each of them offers a little something extra, says PC World's PDA pundit, Yardena Arar.

The Tungsten T5's big selling point is its 256MB of memory--the most we've seen on a PDA so far. Best of all, the memory is nonvolatile: If the PDA loses its charge, you won't lose your data. The PDA can act as a USB drive, too.

The Axim X50v excels in multimedia. As one of the first mainstream PDAs with a dedicated graphics processor and Windows Media Player Mobile 10, Dell's new PDA is destined to hit the holiday wish lists of gamers and multimedia fans. The X50v delivers top performance, expansion, and connectivity in a sleek package, further bolstering Dell's growing reputation for offering the most PDA bang for the buck.

For more details, read "First Look: Axim X50v Versus Tungsten T5."

Gadget News: Apple's Photo IPod

Apple's latest IPod sports a 220-by-176-pixel color screen that displays photos in 65,536 colors. The IPod Photo is available in 40GB ($499) or 60GB ($599) storage capacities. You can view 25 color photo thumbnails at once and scroll through photos just as you do your playlists. If you use Windows, you can synchronize photo albums created in Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Photoshop Album, or your "My Pictures" folder with the IPod Photo. An included AV cable connects the IPod Photo directly to a TV or video projector. The device formats the photos depending on whether your video monitor uses the conventional 4:3 aspect ratio or the 16:9 format of newer wide-screen displays.

Gadget News: Gateway's Photo/MP3 Player

Not to be outdone by Apple, Gateway has also announced an MP3 player that can display digital photos. The Gateway MP3 Photo Jukebox ($250) features a 1.6-inch color LCD that displays digital photos stored on a 4GB hard drive. Unlike the IPod Photo, Gateway's gadget has a USB 2.0 port that allows the MP3 player to store images transferred from digital cameras. The player supports Microsoft's Windows Media Player 10 secure music format, so you can download files from Napster, Musicmatch, MusicNow, and other services that use the Windows Media Player 10 format to distribute media files with digital rights management.

Gadget News: First Audio Player With 100GB of Storage

Digital Mind's Xclef 500 has a 40GB, 60GB, 80GB, or 100GB hard drive built in--the latter offering the most storage of any digital music player, the company claims. (Not even many notebooks have 100GB hard drives yet.) The Xclef 500 connects to your computer via USB 2.0 and accepts input from a built-in mic, line-in audio connector, and S/PDIF optical mini plug. The device also supports MP3 encoding, voice recording, FM radio, recording capability, and more, according to the company.

Accessory Review: Take Your IPod Underwater

Here's a gift idea that might surprise you: the LiliPod ($40), a hard-shell, waterproof case for IPods. Pop the top; drop in your IPod; connect some waterproof earplugs; clip the LiliPod to your bathing suit; and you're soon freestyling to your favorite tunes.

Despite my apprehension of testing the LiliPod with my own IPod, I found not one drop of water on my MP3 player after a lap-swimming session. Read "IPod Anywhere" for more about the LiliPod, and for reviews of other IPod accessories that I tested.

Hands On: Ogo to Go

And finally, one more gadget gift idea, this one from Cingular/AT&T Wireless.

The wireless carrier's Ogo, a dedicated e-mail/IM/SMS device, costs only $99. Unlimited e-mail is only $18 per month. You can check e-mail from AOL, MSN, Yahoo and other ISP's POP3 services. The Ogo's stylish clamshell case opens to reveal a small QWERTY keyboard, a navigation pad, and a low-end color screen, reports PC World's Steve "Plugged In" Fox.

Read Steve's latest buzzworthy product reports in "100GB Laptops and Other Tech Toys."

Suggestion Box

Is there a particularly cool mobile computing product or service I've missed? Got a spare story idea in your back pocket? Tell me about it.