Super Gadget Bowl 2004

(CBS)  Some people may think gadget-collectors do not care about the "other" sports. Well, this is completely untrue. I, for one, am excited to learn that the World Series of football is upon us this weekend. Ok, many of us would admit they can't remember the name of the Southern team playing in the Super Bowl this Sunday. But I gather the New England Patriots are going to be there and, like most red-blooded Americans, I'm making special preparations to watch America's favorite pastime. (Can you see why I was frequently beaten up as a kid?)

As a tech-freak, how could I miss a star-studded event with the fireworks and some commercials, shown in HDTV, in 1080i no less? This is the chance I can roll out the portable grill or sit in my massaging lounge chair with the built-in fridge and phone system, wielding an omnipotent remote control, watching the new DISH Network HDTV satellite system they installed for $1,000 bucks. Or, I can go to the game, and watch the action with binoculars that actually record key plays and turn on my heated jacket if the winter-chill threatens my sporting enjoyment. (I am told that the event does take place in a moveable-domed stadium in Texas and that a heated jacket is not de rigueur, but we gadget folks don't take chances with our comforts.) Even if you actually do love the game (and aren't using this as a convenient way to get the kids to leave you alone) here's some super gadgets you'll love to be sporting for the Super Bowl.

Dish Network HDTV and PVR
If you want hi-def TV, try and find a better deal than this: a big, beautiful 34" HDTV monitor, a 250 gigabyte personal video recorder (model 921) and about 500 channels of just about everything from everywhere, all for about $1,599 (but you can get a system for less than $1,000 if you choose the still respectable model 811). Thanks to this great deal from Dish Network, you really can have it all in your living room … or bedroom … or anywhere. The monitor is one of the sharpest-looking units we've seen in a while. It delivers a great picture, especially on DISH Network's many hi-def channels. Once we got it installed, we were watching one channel, recording another on the personal video recorder feature, and marveling at it all.

The Ultimate Recliner
OK, that's not its real name, but darn it, that's what we call it. Its full name is "Deluxe Leather Rocker Recliner With Fridge, Phone and Massage." Available through Walmart.com (the website only, not the stores), this is simply the best place to park your carcass to enjoy anything. The chair is puffy and comfortable with sleepably soft leather. Under the left armrest is a refrigerator that can keep cool a handful of bottles or cans. Under the right armrest, the massager controls (very comfy, thank you), a speakerphone with bonus flip handset, and place for your remote control. The only thing we didn't like was the flip phone, but the speakerphone was perfect. If there's a better chair for watching television or a favorite movie… or just doing nothing… we haven't seen it and bet it doesn't exist. This may be the best $688 you spend on your own leisure.

Met5 Heated Jacket
Two rechargable lithium-ion batteries help power this jacket to help you power through the coldest football game. With just a push of a soft button woven into the jacket, you can fire up heaters that will warm your body up to 114 wonderful degrees. I tried this on during some of the coldest, snowiest days New York City has seen in years, and I didn't feel a thing. It's not cheap, but if the $599 Frontgate is charging is the price to fight off just about every chill from now until May, count us in.

Kameleon Remote Control
Toss your old remotes and pick up this bright blue baby. It's a universal remote that can accommodate connections to eight devices, from your CD player to your satellite or cable TV. It can even learn functions from other remotes, so you can lose the others for good and not have to find them again. The folks at Frontgate sell this one for $99.

Universal Touchscreen Remote Control
Not to be outdone, Hammacher Schlemmer is offering a $179
uremote that can connect up to 15 devices. It's shorter and wider than the Kameleon remote, and looks a lot like a PDA. We like the compact size, and the fact that we have room to add even more remote-controlled devices to this remote. You know, in case we buy more stuff.

Picture-Taking Binoculars
Also from Hammacher Schlemmer, and also user friendly and fun. Now, you can not only put yourself in the game, thanks to these 8X binoculars, but you can capture the action with 2.0 megapixel digital photos and video clips. This is a great idea for the parents of sports-playing kids. (That's not a slight to those who prefer theater or the arts, but these ain't opera glasses, folks.) They're as compact as any good binocs we've seen, and the added camera and LCD screen make taking and sharing up-close-and-personal pics a lot of fun. $199.

Coleman Road Trip Grill
If you're going to the game… any game… you'll want something to eat. And no tailgate would be complete without a grill, but which one should you bring? This baby has all you need, and it couldn't be more portable. The grill features 285 square inches of red-hot real estate, open-flame cooking and detachable side tables. It heats up in a flash and sets up and breaks down even faster. We love it.

All-in-all, between the HDTV and DISH TV service, a nice place to sit, great stuff to eat, and enough remote controls to order around a brownstone full of gadgets, we know who will win on Sunday. We will.
By Daniel Dubno and Bob Bicknell