Mobile Computing: More Great Gifts

MP3 players, digital cameras, photo printers, and a slick FM-radio gizmo.

James A. Martin

Feature: Gift Ideas for Grads and Dads (Part II)

Looking for a gift to buy a grad, a dad--or even better, yourself? Then check out the portable gadgets and accessories covered in this week's newsletter. And if you're in the mood to give someone a notebook or a PDA, take a look at last week's gift ideas.

On-the-Go Gadgets

Must-have MP3 player. Apple has made its oh-so-cool IPod portable MP3 player even cooler--and even more accessible to Windows users.

Unlike earlier models, the third-generation IPod that was released in early May can be synced to Windows computers via USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports. (The first two models could communicate with a FireWire, or IEEE 1394, port only, which is far from being widespread on notebooks.) If your computer has a USB port, you can now take advantage of this slick, beautifully designed, easy-to-use music player.

The latest IPod offers other compelling new features such as a docking cradle, and a thinner, lighter design. Most notably, you can now generate playlists on the IPod itself. Previously, you had to compile your playlists on your computer, then download them onto the IPod.

Keep in mind, though, that Apple's new online music service, designed to integrate seamlessly with IPods, is currently limited to Mac users. Apple plans to make it available to Windows users later this year.

The IPod store songs on an internal hard drive. List prices are $299 (10GB), $399 (15GB), and $499 (30GB). For the latest prices on the 30GB IPod, go to the PCWorld.com Product Finder.

For my review of the second-generation IPod, read "Mobile Computing: Cool Gifts for Mobile Mavens."

Compact digital camera. Ordinarily, I leave the digital camera coverage to Dave Johnson's excellent newsletter, Digital Focus. Nonetheless, I feel compelled to extol the virtues of the Minolta Dimage Xi as a gift. I received my Dimage Xi for Christmas last year. Since then, nearly everyone I've shown it to has bought their own (or, unfortunately, asked to borrow mine).

This 3-megapixel camera produces crisp and detailed images, yet is smaller than the average Palm PDA and only a little thicker. The camera's appeal is partly due to its small size: Measuring 3.33 inches by 2.83 inches by 0.79 inches, it slips easily into a pocket. Because of its compactness, I often take the Dimage Xi along when I wouldn't have been bothered lugging a camera.

Another cool feature: The 3X optical zoom lens is housed within the camera's small frame. Also, you can connect the camera to a TV for instant playback at parties.

There's a practical side to the Dimage Xi: Because it is so small and makes taking digital photos so easy, I often use it to record information for business purposes. For instance, when I recently tested the Hertz NeverLost in-car navigation system, I took photos of the GPS device's various on-screen menus. When I later wrote my NeverLost review for this newsletter, I referred to those pictures to refresh my memory. Without the camera, I would have had to jot notes on a scrap of paper--a tedious process, and the scrap might have gotten lost.

One caveat: The flash sometimes adds a reddish tint to skin tones. But with a good image-editing program, such as Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, you can easily reduce the red cast. From what I've seen, it's rare that an affordable digital camera doesn't come with some compromise, however slight.

You can check our Product Finder for the latest prices (around $350 to $450).

Portable photo printer. After I received my Dimage Xi, I wanted a good-quality printer for snapshots. The printer needed to be small, and I wanted the ability to pop the Dimage Xi's Secure Digital flash-memory chip into the printer and output photos without having to download them to my computer first.

Hewlett-Packard's recently released Photosmart 230 fit the bill beautifully. Its 4-by-6-inch prints look as good as those from a photo processor. (The 230 prints on 4-by-6 stock only, by the way.) The printer is easy to transport, measuring 8.8 inches by 8.1 inches by 5.3 inches. With slots for CompactFlash, MultiMediaCard, Secure Digital and other flash-memory formats, as well as its 2-inch color LCD and menu buttons, you can easily preview and print without connecting the printer to a PC. Should you choose to print from a Windows application, you can connect the Photosmart via a USB 1.1 port.

For someone who may need to print images on the go (real estate agents come to mind), or for anyone who appreciates a compact snapshot printer, the Photosmart 230 makes an excellent gift. There are two versions: the Photosmart 230, with 8MB of internal memory; and the Photosmart 230i, with 16MB of memory. Each one retails for about $200 to $250. You can use our Product Finder to find the latest prices on the Photosmart 230 and Photosmart 230i.

Affordable Gift Ideas

ITrip. When you're on the road, hunting for decent radio stations in the car can be tiresome. And you can't count on a rental car stereo to include a CD player. That's why a product like Griffin Technology's ITrip FM Transmitter, which beams tunes from an IPod to any FM radio frequency, makes a great gift.

The ITrip is sleek and white, just like the IPod, and lets you play your tunes on any FM frequency. (Most FM transmitters for portable music players make you choose from a handful of frequencies.) The ITrip uses the IPod's battery, though that could be a liability if you're on a long car trip without an IPod car adapter. Keep in mind that the current ITrip ($35) works with the first two generations of IPod only. A version that's compatible with the new models is in the works, the company says. For the latest prices, go to our Product Finder.

Wireless network adapter. Many notebooks released before the last six months or so don't include integrated Wi-Fi networking (much less 802.11g or other specifications). But it's easy and affordable to add wireless Internet access via a notebook's PC Card slot. Adapter cards for 802.11b networking cost $40 to $120 or so, depending on the make and model. A networking-specialist friend of mine recommends adapters from Cisco Systems, Intel, and Orinoco. His favorite is Cisco's Aironet 350, for its range and 128-bit encryption. For the latest prices ($115 to $130), go to our Product Finder.

Keep in mind that adapters for the newer, faster, and unratified-at-press-time 802.11g wireless specification are now available, too. Generally speaking, unofficial 802.11g PC Card adapters cost about $30 more than 802.11b models. At this point, most Wi-Fi hot spots (such as those at Starbucks locations) use the 802.11b standard. (802.11g networking adapters are compatible with 802.11b, however.) The upshot: Spending the extra money probably isn't worth it if you're buying the adapter for a wireless newbie.

Wireless surfing. If you're going to give your grad/dad/whomever a wireless network PC Card adapter, consider throwing in some wireless Internet access, too. For $50, you can buy 300 minutes of wireless access from T-Mobile, which provides Wi-Fi networking at Starbucks and other locations nationwide. For more information or to sign up, go to the T-Mobile HotSpot site.

NOTEBOOKS & ACCESSORIES

News: Tablet PC From Motion Computing

Health-care workers have been the biggest buyers of Tablet PCs so far, according to Motion Computing, with colleges and universities showing increased interest. With these and other users in mind, the Texas-based company has announced the M1300 Tablet PC, which comes equipped with Intel's new Centrino architecture. The M1300 offers an ultralow-voltage version of the Pentium M processor running at 900 MHz, Intel's 855 chip set, and Intel's Pro Wireless 802.11b wireless networking chip (the three parts of the Centrino architecture), plus a 20GB hard drive, 256MB of memory, and three USB 2.0 ports. The Tablet PC is available from Dell, Gateway, and other online resellers. Pricing wasn't available at press time.

News: Low-Price ThinkPads

IBM's latest notebook is a desktop replacement costing less than $1000. The ThinkPad G40 line features screens of up to 15 inches; a wedge-shaped design with a roomier, more ergonomic keyboard; and Intel Pentium or Celeron desktop processors. The G40 is heavier than other ThinkPads, weighing almost 8 pounds, and has a somewhat limited battery life of between 2 and 3.5 hours, depending on the model. Dual-band 802.11a and 802.11b wireless support is included in some models. Prices begin at $949.

Review: Evo Packs in Memory, but Performance Isn't Memorable

HP's new Compaq Evo N800w is designed to be a portable workstation capable of handling demanding applications. Most noteworthy is the copious 2GB of system memory in the top-of-the-line configuration--that's more than twice the amount most other notebooks offer. The Evo N800w includes 802.11b Wi-Fi antennas and a radio card inside an optional, proprietary Compaq MultiPort module. The module, which attaches to the lid, allows you to easily switch to other wireless technologies down the road. The downside: The unit we tested was a disappointing performer and is expensive at $3354.

HANDHELDS

News: Outlook Experience on a Palm

DataViz recently announced a program for Palm OS users who prefer Microsoft Outlook to Palm's desktop application. Beyond Contacts ($50) is a Palm OS application that automatically syncs your Outlook data to a Palm OS device. That's nothing new: Upon installation, the Palm desktop application gives you the option of syncing with Outlook. The difference with Beyond Contacts, according to DataViz, is that it provides Outlook-like integration with its calendar, e-mail, contact, and other utilities. For instance, you can quickly create an e-mail from within a contact record or create a contact when you're using the calendar, the company says.

News: The Palm OS Era for HandEra Is Over

HandEra recently announced it is discontinuing sales of its Palm OS-based TRGpro and HandEra 330. The reason is "cost increases associated with licensing the OS," the company says. The HandEra 330 had its fans at PCWorld.com. Wrote reviewer Richard Baguley: "The HandEra 330 is a terrific alternative to a standard Palm. It has a bigger available screen and more expansion options." The company's Web site has a bit more information, in the form of a press release.

WIRELESS

News: Microsoft's OS for Cars Gets a Tune-Up

Microsoft Windows Automotive 4.2, an update to the company's operating system for Web-based automobile gadgets, now includes support for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networking. The OS upgrade should allow car makers to add cool voice and data services, such as the ability to send e-mail and upload data from your handheld as you approach your car. But at the moment, car makers such as Volvo are primarily testing such car-tech concepts, with mainstream offerings expected to be, in the words of a Honda spokesperson, "a long way away."

News: Sprint Gets the Bluetooth Bug

Sprint is the first U.S. CDMA cell-phone carrier to offer the Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications' T608 mobile phone equipped with integrated Bluetooth capability. The phone uses Bluetooth technology to wirelessly communicate with other Bluetooth-equipped devices, such as a wireless headset.

Most carriers use the GSM standard, but a few U.S. carriers such as Sprint rely on the competing CDMA technology for their wireless network backbone. GSM offers international roaming, but CDMA is said to provide tighter communications security.

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.

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