Sunday, December 14, 1997

High tech gadgets always good gifts

By BRIAN BETHEL / Abilene Reporter-News

Ah, Christmas. A time of giving, peace and joy. And stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.

Especially, it seems, high tech stuff. Our capacity for gadgetry seems only limited by the number of folks who will drop their hard-earned cash for the latest and the coolest.

But the question arises: What do you buy your favorite technophile to express the essence of this season of warmth, hope and selfless love?

Kick back, Super Shoppers. I've got your answers.

COMPUTER STUFF

We will assume that your significant someone has the latest, greatest computer system sitting on their desk. That should be all they need, right?

Where are you from? Saturn?

One thing that holds eternally true -- when it comes to computers, you can always buy more.

PERSONAL DATA ASSISTANTS (Various manufacturers, $300-$1,000) -- A pal to your PC, PDAs are gadgets like the U.S. Robotics Palm Pilot, the NEC MobilePro 700 and the Sharp Electronics Corp.'s Mobilon that are acquiring more and more their big computer brothers' features with each incarnation.

Currently, the best run Windows CE, a stripped-down version of Windows95 that includes versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and other goodies.

You can get some work done on each of the models currently offered, but don't expect to write the Great American Novel on one. And if you don't have a full-sized PC to download your data to, then your money may be spent better elsewhere.

Still, with advanced storage options coming in the next year and continually dropping prices, there's not much these little powerhouses can't do. A PDA under the tree sounds great to me.

DIGITAL CAMERAS (Various manufacturers, average price $300-$1,300) -- Sure, you could go buy one of those $15 FunSavers, but why do that when you can get digitally enhanced photos in an instant that you can print or put on the web?

Well, cost is a factor. But digital cameras are becoming cheaper and beefing up features.

Included here because you really need a snazzy computer-printer combo to make them work, an avalanche of companies from Olympus to Panasonic is putting out models.

If you do take the digital plunge, make certain your computer can handle the connections necessary to dump images from the removable storage cards such cameras use. Also, pay special attention to the highest screen resolution each camera offers.

For general use, that old 35mm is probably still the best. But if you want to send pictures of screaming kids and vapid relatives via e-mail -- or put the clan website together -- digital is more than doable.

IBM HOME DIRECTOR (IBM, $99 for starter kit) -- Got a control freak in the house? Well, keep 'em away from the Home Director, a megalomaniac's dream come true.

A budget-priced home control system, the Director allows you to control your lights, appliances, gadgets and gizmos with almost godlike power from your personal computer.

Want the light in your den to come on at exactly 6:27 p.m. each and every night? Want that lava lamp bubbling when you get home from work? Got a yen to blend at half-past 10?

For $99, you get a home director keypad, software for your windows PC, a computer module to plug in, a remote control and of the X-10 modules that run the show. You can buy more at reasonable prices to automate more stuff.

Everything is controlled by the Home Director software, and the computer module controls your stuff even when your PC's power is off.

George Jetson would feel right at home.

IOMEGA ZIP DRIVE ($99-$199) -- Important Software Applications (see 3dfx card, below) and other computer programs take up a lot of space on your ever-shrinking hard drive. Iomega has created practically a new standard in storage with the ZIP drive.

Capable of storing a beefy 100 megabytes on each and every storage disk (they run about $49 for three), Iomega's ZIP is one of the most popular and useful of holiday gifts.

Although the ZIP drive's continued dominance is always in question as competitors finally figure out people like cheap storage options, it is still the unquestioned master of its domain.

Iomega has recently released a slightly faster version of the ZIP Drive, the ZIP Plus, which is backward compatible with the old drives. It still uses the same 100-megabyte cartridges but is more Windows95 "plug and play" friendly.

AUDIO STUFF

"SKIPLESS" PORTABLE COMPACT DISC PLAYERS (Various brands, $100-$180, depending on memory capacity) -- Improved anti-skip features stem from longer, better "memories" giving these portable powerhouses time to correct bumps and jumps before they reach your discriminating ears. That means if you use them in the car or while building your enviable physique, your CDs aren't as likely to sound like broken records. Make sure memory capacity is at least 10 seconds, otherwise you may still get that annoying skipping and distortion.

JEEP BOOM BOXES ($179 and $399) -- Don't just drive it, play it! Designed to resemble gear carried into certain world conflicts and "police actions" of years past, Jeep-branded boom boxes feature flip-open field cases with old-fashioned toggle switches and read-out dials. While you're listening to them "in the field," enjoy mighty modern features such as a compact disc player and (on the Super Jeep box) a flip-up 4-inch LCD color Television. War is hell.

WIRELESS SPEAKERS (Recoton, $279.99) Recoton's W410 wireless portable indoor/outdoor speaker system is shielded against the elements and entirely self-contained, meaning you can take it into pool or kitchen areas without immediately fearing for your life.

The system includes connections for your stereo or television, the speaker/receiver unit, an 18-hour rechargeable battery, a battery charger/AC adapter and a transmitter.

You can buy optional add-on speaker/receiver units (W412) and batteries (W411). One transmitter can send to an unlimited number of speakers.

Go ahead. Create that wall of sound. The neighbors won't mind a bit ...

VIDEO STUFF

DVD PLAYERS (Various manufacturers, $500-$1,700) --

For sharp cinematics and stellar sound, you can't go wrong with one of the new DVD players. With an image that is two to three times sharper than a standard VCR's and true CD-quality sound, a good player can help bring the magic of movies home.

One problem, though: There are only about 400 movie titles available on DVD format discs. Although more are on the way, that's still not a wide selection.

DVD players are also just that -- players. They can't record TV programs, so don't get rid of that old stereo VCR just yet.

All major electronics companies, including Sony, Philips and Samsung offer players, so there is a good selection and a variety of features. Pick a player that appears to you, then go for it.

WEBTV PLUS (Sony, Philips, $299) -- It's the web! It's TV! It's ... WebTV!

Hysterics aside, this new version of the popular computer alternative hooks up like a video game and gives you access to the web at large.

You can set your WebTV to download information you access daily overnight, and it comes a lot closer the PC experience than previous attempts to make a consumer-level Internet box.

Add a wireless keyboard for a few dollars more, and you'll be a bonafide Netizen in no time flat. The $19.95 unlimited access service is the same rate AOL and most service providers charge.

PLAY STUFF

Although these products broadly fit in with some of the above components, they are primarily desinged to provide or enhance entertainment experiences.

SONY PLAYSTATION AND NINTENDO 64 (Both $149, plus games) -- Although at least a year old each, the PlayStation and the Nintendo 64 continue to win the hearts of gamers young and old.

Each features sophisticated graphics, stereo sound and a slew of popular titles, ranging from $35-$69 on the PlayStation, $59-79 for the Nintendo.

SAMSUNG GXE1395 GXTV ($299) -- So, you've got your video game system, thanks to my advice. Why not have a personal TV designed for playing video-game machines such as Nintendo 64, Sony PlayStation, Sega Saturn, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis and more?

With a razor-sharp, 13-inch screen, adjustable bass-reflex speakers, stereo surround sound and a 15-watt subwoofer, you'll wake the neighbors while saving the universe.

GXTV also doubles as a cable-ready 181-channel TV whenever you want to take a break from combatting the Alien Menace.

3dfx-BASED VIDEO CARDS (Various manufacturers, average price $149-$250) -- Your tech-head probably has a computer that can power a small country. But if it doesn't support the latest 3D technology, he or she won't get as much out of those Important Software Applications (games).

To remedy this oversight, pick up any one of the 3D cards using the famous 3dfx Voodoo Graphics chipset. The Diamond Multimedia Monster 3D, the Orchid Righteous 3D and the Canopus Pure 3D are cards of choice.

Before you buy, be sure to ask your computer lover if he or she already has a 3D board. If they do, and they offer to show you its capabilities, just mumble something about "mip mapping" and smile.

SIDEWINDER FORCE FEEDBACK JOYSTICK (Microsoft, $150) -- Why should you drop one-and-a-half C notes for a joystick?

Sheer coolness.

Using "force feedback" technology, Microsoft's stick gives you the sensation of driving, running or whatever your on-screen persona is doing by giving appropriate jolts and vibration in sync with the on-screen action.

The disadvantage is that older games aren't written for SideWinder support. But if you have a fast, new computer set to play games for months, then why not have a deluxe stick to give you a bit more control?

Experience shows that when Microsoft makes a product, the industry tends to accept it, albeit sometimes begrudgingly. That means, though, that going with the SideWinder is a pretty safe bet.