Home Office: More Hot Gifts for a Cool Home Office

Cell phone accessories, camera add-ons, dopey holiday cards.

Steve Bass

According to my Republican friends (both of them), the economy's strong and will remain so--provided we all keep shopping. So to help you do your part I've crammed this newsletter with ideas for holiday shopping. You'll find gadgets, gizmos, and other cool stuff. And because my editor always interferes with the fun, you might even find a couple of things to boost your home-office productivity. BTW, if you missed my last compilation, you can find it online.

Stepping Out of the House? Read This

Mobile Phone Charger. You're traveling and have no choice but to schlep your notebook and AC adapter. But if you're also taking your mobile phone, here's something smart: a device that lets you charge your phone right from your notebook's USB port. Just connect the cable and you're recharging. The Cellular Phone USB Charger runs about $14, and you can find the model you need with the PC World.com Product Finder.

Phone Headset. When I tool down the highway, I like keeping both hands on the wheel. But I also like multitasking, so it's hard to stay off the phone. I've tried those little ersatz earbud headsets; I hate the things. The most comfortable option I've tried (and the only one I'll use) is a Plantronics M175 one-touch-volume-and-mute, over-the-head headset. Fair warning: The headset runs about $24, but your mobile phone may need a $10 adapter as well (mine did). Check out our Product Finder for the lowest price.

Smile for the Birdie

High-End SLR Camera. Are you feeling flush? Got a couple of grand in the coffers? Then you may want to focus on a digital Single Lens Reflex camera. My buddy Don, a professional photographer, finally rolled over to digital and he loves it; in fact, he's using one that we reviewed. Read our review of the Nikon D100 and other cameras in "High-End: Digital SLRs--The Other Option." (BTW, I took a chance and passed this blurb along to my wife, Judy. "Gift guide," I said to her, "look it over." She had a hearty laugh.)

Media Reader. Let's say you're back from a day of shooting hundreds of digital photos. (Hey, there's no costly film--you can click to your heart's content.) Instead of futzing with attaching the camera to your PC, treat yourself to a very cool 8-in-1 Media Reader & Writer from Belkin. The gizmo's small, about the size of a mouse, and cheap, about $35. It reads and writes to eight memory devices, including CompactFlash I and II, SmartMedia, IBM Microdrive, and Memory Stick. Go to our Product Finder to read the specs and find a good price.

Photo Printer. Just as cool as using the Belkin reader is simply sticking your memory card into the Epson Stylus Photo USB 825 printer, which can handle CompactFlash I, MemoryStick, SmartMedia, Secure Digital, and MultiMedia Card. I've been playing with a loaner for a few weeks and I like the way it prints photos: The colors are vivid and the resolution's a sharp 5760 by 720 dots per inch. I've seen this printer for a little over $150. If you like gizmos, you'll want to add a $79 preview monitor so you can see what your photos looks like before printing them. Pricing and full specs are at our Product Finder.

If you want something cheaper, check out our review of the $99 Epson Stylus Photo 820.

Got Cards?

If you're interested in doing your own greeting cards, take a look at Picturebuzz.com. This neat site offers publishing software that works through your browser and lets you print using your own printer. The software's surprisingly powerful. Among other things, it lets you create calendars, greeting cards, T-shirts, business cards, and labels. There's a five-day free trial and then an annual cost of $13.

I have another cool photo service for you to check out. The folks at Image-Edit and Art digitally retouch your photos, fixing things you wouldn't want to try in PhotoShop. For instance, they can completely remove people from a shot, change the background, or even pluck stray hairs and retouch eyebrows. Prices vary depending on the service; many are around $25. If nothing else, it's a kick poking around the site and seeing what it offers.

Dig This: My editor insists I provide cutesy holiday things (and no, I haven't found anything for Hanukkah or Kwanzaa). So here's "FunE-Cards: Christmas Set," a nauseatingly adorable program for creating greeting cards. Don't send me one. Thanks.

Dig This: Try your hand at Anarkroids and watch your deadline turn into mush. [With thanks to Chris.] Then visit the Anark Gallery and kill some more time.

Hey, It's for You

Does this sound familiar? Your phone line is tied up downloading a swimsuit calendar you don't want your spouse to see--and your boss is getting a busy signal. With Catch-A-Call, you needn't worry. If someone calls you, the $50 gizmo lets you know by ringing and flashing a light. Then just pick up the phone and start talking while your Internet connection is put on hold. The catch? You'll need the phone company's Call Waiting service. And be quick--you have around 30 seconds to hang up or you'll lose your Internet access. (If it is the boss, just keep talking--you can get back online later.) The Catch-A-Call runs just under $50.

Dig This: Nope, I'm not finished with this dopey, endearing holiday stuff. Here's a lovable Christmas Trivia Screen Saver, recommended by my editor (and I imagine he's busying himself reading the trivia right now).

Do Me a Favor

I'm collecting annoyances (aka kvetches), things about your PC that just drive you crazy. If you have one, send it to kvetch@pcworld.com.

And if you have a funny, snide, or time-wasting "Dig This," pop the link in an e-mail and post it to me at digthis@pcworld.com.

I'm still not finished with gifts, gizmos, and gadgets. Tune in next week for more things I can't live without.

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