Mr. Gadget's Favorite Holiday Picks

The latest in cell phones, CD players, cameras, camcorders, DVD players, computers, you name it. Steve Kruschen (aka Mr. Gadget) offers advice on what to get the hi-tech enthusiast in your house.

Here are his recommendations.

• Tiny (but not too small) two-ounce, user interface with computer-like icons on a bright color screen
• Outstanding battery life (up to 7 hours of talk time)
  
• Games, organizer, text-based mobile Internet, snap-on color camera, built-in Bluetooth wireless communication can be used with special wireless headset (expensive at about $200, but very cool)
• For communicating with nearby computer such as Apple's iBook via $50 adapter to synchronize appointments and address book and to dial the phone through the computer. For use on Cingular and AT&T for their mMode service), with prices ranging from $100 or less to $200 (depending upon plan and carrier) and may include the CommuniCam camera.

• Text-based Internet browsing, black-and-white screen.
• Five-hour talk time, built-in voice dialing, and built-in speakerphone, which is the feature Mr. Gadget likes best. No straining to hold the phone to the ear when writing notes or waiting on hold.
• The phone will be about $150 exclusively for Cingular Wireless. Introduction is slated for the week of Dec. 16, 2002.

• The big black-and-white screen pivots up and over the QWERTY keyboard that lives beneath it.
• Equipped for high-speed data services, cruise the Internet with text and graphics, use the built-in software for AOL Instant Messenger (extra monthly cost of about $5), send and receive real e-mail, use the address book, notepad and more.
• A real and functional conversation piece, and comes with plug-in camera. About $200 including rebate, only for T-Mobile.

The Sidewinder - A new and inexpensive stocking-stuffer discovery is the Sidewinder, advertised as the world's smallest, lightest, and most powerful portable cell-phone charger.

• Innovative design that really works in a little two-ounce device the user can always keep handy in the car, pocket or purse. When the phone is almost out of juice and the charger is not available, plug in the Sidewinder, turn the crank (for both right-and left-handed users) at moderate speed for two minutes and get six minutes of talk time.
• Works with many of the popular phones (all without batteries). Includes a built-in powerful LED flashlight - 30 seconds of cranking yields five minutes of light. Other accessories are promised. $25 delivered.

Audiovox An excellent example of how things have improved is from Audiovox, a technology leader in the two-way radio category. The Audiovox GMRS7000CH is the only two-way GMRS radio on the market that provides consumers up to seven miles of range.

• Sold with a desktop charger, it's ideal for families to keep in touch, as well as skiers, camper and adventure sports enthusiasts. Best price found was $60 each through amazon.com.
• The GMRS7000CH is commonly available for a suggested retail price of only $99 each. To find out more, call 1-800-229-1235.

• The D-E350 Psyc CD Walkman player is available in red, blue and gold liquid jewel tones. The D-E330 model comes in pink, blue and green sugar-and-spice pastels.
• Both full-featured Psyc CD Walkman stereos have a new compact design and incorporate CD-R/RW playback (for playing MP3 music CDs created on the computer), along with skip-free ESPMax electronic skip protection, which reduces skipping during many active uses.
• Great for the beach, the colorful Walkman players' heat-resistant lids help protect them in hot climates.
• Extended battery life provides up to 33 hours of playback on two "AA" batteries. To enhance the listening experience, the D-E350 and D-E330 models come supplied with Street Style headphones.

• The "new" iPod is now compatible with both Macs and Windows-based PCs. While the original could hold 1,000 songs on its 5GB hard drive, the new models can store up to 4,000 songs on up to a 20GB little hard drive.
• New software allows the iPod to synchronize contacts and appointments with the computer and access the information on its crisp, clear, easy-to-read backlit display. Music and important info in the palm of your hand.
• The 10-hour battery life has been retained in the new products.
• In addition to storing music, appointments and contacts, the iPod also does a superb job storing files and applications because, after all, it is a portable hard drive connected via super-fast FireWire. FireWire is fast enough to transfer an entire CD in less than 15 seconds, and 1,000 songs transfer in less than 10 minutes.
• For more details, call 1-800-MY-APPLE (1-800-692-7753). The 5GB model sells for $299, the 10GB model is $399 and the 20GB model retails for $499. iPod is also compatible with audio books from audible.com, as recommended by Mr. Gadget. The iPod will not disappoint the recipient.

• 3.1 megapixels for prints up to 11" x 14", 3X optical zoom (the better way to zoom) plus 3.3X digital zoom, multizone autofocus, bright indoor/outdoor LCD, continuous video with audio recording, auto picture rotation (take the picture with the camera turned for a portrait shot and the LCD screen shows the reviewed shot correctly oriented for viewing) and more.
• With just about the easiest computer connectivity and software for Macs and PCs, it's an unbeatable package.
• With the optional $80 docking station, push one button to transfer photos to the computer and then organize and e-mail anywhere. It's a terrific camera in every respect.

Simplicity is what you get in the $50 Vivitar Vivicam 10. Fixed Focus (no zoom), flash, 640 x 480 resolution, and not much else. Available at retailers including Kmart, Wal*Mart and Target.

For as little as $140 through online retailers, Mr. Gadget found this full-featured Fujifilm Zoom Date 125EZ 35mm Camera. Auto-everything, with date imprinting, 3.3X zoom, Fuji's Sure Loading System (Easy loading with pre-winding), and more. It's a great camera, easy to use and sure to please. At most retailers selling 35mm camera equipment and at online retailers.

• This is the preferred method with the least quality loss from the transfer, much better than using a computer-based DVD burner, and much easier to accomplish.
• Plug in the video source, be it a conventional VHS VCR or the latest digital video camcorder, insert the blank DVD (about $3 - 5) and make a direct recording in real time, with excellent quality at the "2-hour" speed.
• Perform simple editing cutting out mistakes in the original as the DVD is made. Use high-quality blank media such as the Verbatim brand and those homemade DVDs can last up to 100 years. Pioneer uses the DVD-R format, which is generally regarded as the most compatible with other consumer DVD players.
• Once transferred to DVD using this method, the videos can even be brought in to the computer, cleverly edited, music added, titled with menus created and then put back on DVD with no further loss. The DVR-7000 is also a top-flight DVD player.

They require no power supply or special software to use with Macs or Windows PCs running XP. Plug it in and it works, the computer treating is as if it is just another connected hard drive.

They're great for moving data between computers, for temporary data backup and lots more. Store reports, music, video clips, and any other data. They make great gifts because they never wear out.

Prices start as little as $30 for 16MB, with the $70, 64MB capacity the most popular. Reliable product providers include USBDrive usbdrive.com, Iomega (www.iomega.com and Lexar Media.

The newest models are featuring the faster transfer rates of Hi-Speed USB, the next generation of the USB technology that is totally backward compatible with the original USB, known as USB 1.1. The current speed champ seems to be the Lexar Media Jump Drive 2.0 Pro, compatible with the USB 2.0 specification, it supports read speeds up to 6MB/sec and write speeds up to 4.5MB/sec. That's fast enough to stream video. Mr. Gadget says these are among his favorite, useful products for home and when he travels, and for student use.

• The first (and currently the only) computer to use the new Microsoft Windows XP Media Edition operating system, the HP Media Center PC starts with a super fast Pentium 4 PC, with loads of RAM, a huge hard drive, DVD burner AND CD burner, TV tuner, outstanding Klipsch audio system, and a TV-like remote control.
• Add the special software and now, through the easy-to-use onscreen interface accessible from the remote control, watch, record, and pause live TV choosing programming from an on-line guide customized for your area and your TV service provider.
• Load tons of digital audio from CDs or from the Internet and organize it under a simple interface. Transfer digital videos from a digital camcorder to the computer, edit and create DVDs. Load digital photos similarly and easily organize them, display them in one-button slide shows with the digital music playing underneath.
• Watch DVD movies. Listen to CDs. The HP Media Center PC really does have it all, and it's a pretty good gaming machine, too.