Ultra Cool Gadgets

The LaCie Rugged All-Terrain 301291 250 GB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 Portable Hard Drive, Design by Neil Poulton, is built to survive the harsh elements of the real world. This durable, portable storage drive offers 160 GB of storage along with a universal high-speed USB 2.0 connection and FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 interfaces. This high-performance drive is built with a rugged, drop-resistant aluminum alloy shell and a shock-resistant rubber bumper, making it the ultimate solution for your on-the-go data needs.
If you travel a lot with your data, the Rugged All-Terrain is the drive is for you. Perfect for users who need backup, storage and large-volume exchange for office files, photos, music and even video clips, the Rugged All-Terrain is powered by the FireWire or USB connection, which means that it uses the power of the connected computer to operate and doesn’t require an additional AC adapter or power cord.

LaCie’s Rugged All-Terrain 250 GB USB 2.0/FireWire400/FireWire800 Portable Hard Drive offers:

* Rugged drop-resistant and shock-resistant enclosure.
* FireWire 400, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 interfaces.
* 250 GB of disc space with super-fast transfer rates of up to 800 Mbits/s.
* Driver-less operation for simple set up.
* Free one-year online backup service.

Customer feedback:

1. Pros
+ Great versatility with fire-wire 400, 800, and USB 2.0
+ Fire-Wire speeds give you better response times for online data access
+ Nice size with aluminum shell and “rugged” edges that hold up regular use
+ USB or FW powered, so no A/C required, which is great for portability
+ USB power sharing option allows you to hook up a USB hub, etc.
+ Works well on Windows Vista, XP and Mac OS X and older versions too
+ You can set up your own disk encryption for security and privacy
+ Nice looks, and the brushed surface scratches much less than my WD drives
+ Other color options for your rubber bumpers are sold separately
+ Turns on and off with your computer or easily ejected via system tray
+ Easy driver-less installation really works!
+ Included backup software is less buggy than WD and may be useful for some
+ 250 GB capacity is decent for most users, but I hope a larger size is coming SOON!
+ The 2 year warrantee is good, but not as good as WD’s 3 and 5 year warrantees depending on model

Cons
- Priced higher than WD on a dollar per gigabyte basis
- Larger GB capacity drives not widely available from LaCie though they are offered by WD
- Form factor is slightly larger and thicker than the WD passport drive
- Warrantee is also shorter than WD
- The *rugged* thing may be oversold, and I don’t recommend dropping it
- Still no standard Linux drivers or software included, but there are workarounds
- Have to spend your cash to get a case that should have been included

2. I’m using this with my macbook pro. I looked around a lot because the macbook only has 2 USB ports, so I wanted something I could plug in somewhere else. The Firewire 800 is fast, and it powers the drive, so no carrying around another power pack. The drive comes with all the cables you will need firewire 800, 400, USB, and a optional power cord if you have an older laptop that might not be pushing enough amps through the USB (ie. you may have to plug 1 USB in for the data, and 1 for the power). It was plug and play for me. No installing of drivers or any other monkey biz. Just started backing up data.

The Audio Technica ATH-ANC7 headphones are lightweight, compact headphones that effectively reduce distracting background noise by up to 85% while offering the superior audio quality that has made Audio Technica a worldwide leader in electro-acoustic technology. Ideal for use with MP3, CD, DVD & in-flight entertainment systems, ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint closed-back headphones feature large-aperture 40 mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems for deeper bass, extended treble and higher fidelity. Noise-cancelling electronics are fully integrated in each earpiece, with no need for external modules. A single AAA battery powers the active noise-cancelling technology; the audio functions in passive mode even without the battery. ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint headphones fold flat for easy portability. They include a detachable cable (remove for noise-cancelling function without audio) with 3.5 mm mini-plugs, a full-size 1/4 inch adapter, a specialized airline adapter for connecting to in-flight entertainment systems, and a handy carrying case.

Technical Details

* ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint active noise-cancelling headphones effectively reduces environmental noise by up to 85% with or without audio
* Ideal for travel and use with MP3, CD, DVD and in-flight entertainment systems
* Provides superior audio quality with 40mm drivers with neodymium magnet systems in each earpiece for deeper bass, extended treble and higher fidelity
* Fully integrated active noise-cancelling technology – no external modules needed
* Includes a detachable cable (remove for noise-cancelling function without audio) with 3.5 mm mini-plugs, a full-size ¼” adapter, a specialized airline adapter for connecting to in-flight entertainment systems, and a handy carrying case

Customer feedback:

1. If you’re looking for near-audiophile balanced sound (bass, mid and high-frequencies), I think you won’t be disappointed. Great design, great noise cancelling, great battery life, detachable cord, very comfortable, and less than half the price of th QC2. They look better in real life than in the picures. High quality product, reasonable price. Highly recommended.

2. The headset itself is a thing of beauty … flat black with gray lettering and highlights. Both the external microphones and the power-on switch for the noise cancelling are located in positions similar to that for the Bose, and they look equally cool in the ATs. This headset is more sturdy, however, and constructed a little differently than the Bose. In the Bose set, there are two separate steel bands attached to the earcups that adjust by pushing into, and out of, the padded part that sits on top of your head. The ATs use a single steel band, padded at the top, and the headset adjusts by pushing the earcups up or down on this single band … probably a more durable design than that used in the Bose … far less likely to fracture at the plastic adjustment fittings, like my Bose did.
Like the Bose, the earcups on the AT swivel to allow the headset to lay flat in the case. The main cable for the ATs is also detachable, like the Bose (so you can use the headset for quiet/noise-cancelling only), but there is no switch built into the AT cable (as there is with the Bose) that allows you to adjust between “hi” and “lo” input levels.

Like its wired sibling, the Apple Wireless Keyboard features a low-profile anodized aluminum frame that complements any Mac. It connects using Bluetooth wireless technology, giving you the freedom to work or play up close or across the room. Sleek and compact, it has low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel and function keys for one-touch access to Mac features. Intelligent power management conserves battery life by automatically powering down the keyboard when you’re not using it and turning it on the instant you start typing.

System Requirements

* Mac computer with Bluetooth wireless technology
* Mac OS X v10.4.10 or later
* Keyboard software update
* Existing keyboard and mouse for initial setup
* Three AA batteries (included)

Customer feedback:

1. The wafer-thin Apple Wireless Keyboard is aesthetically perfect and eminently usable, though it has a few minor flaws. Visually, it exhibits a poetic, tasteful minimalism. It is surprisingly thin, and its unitary construction and brushed metallic finish project an air of solidity. Unlike other keyboards, the Apple Wireless Keyboard does not try to impress with garish, shameless decoration. Rather, its unadorned, utilitarian exterior suggests that this is a serious keyboard, for serious-minded people.
The feel and sound of the Apple Wireless Keyboard match its visual perfection. When pressed, the keys hit bottom with a satisfying finality (I have always detested those keyboards whose keys gently ease into the ‘pressed’ position without any tactile feedback). Typing on this keyboard produces a gentle clicking sound. It is not a grating, full-blown clatter, but more of a muted staccato. The Apple keyboard is excellent from a functional standpoint as well. It does not exhibit the lag that can be so aggravating when typing on RF keyboards. It maintains a strong, persistent Bluetooth connection, and has a long battery life.

2. After a four week wait, I received my Apple wireless bluetooth keyboard (shipped direct from China) a couple of days ago. Without a doubt, it has already become one of my all-time favorite Mac accessories in 20 years of Apple use. Even if you’ve seen photos and read stats about its dimensions, that won’t prepare you for how compact the keyboard is in person. It is spectacularly thin and minimalistic: if a keyboard could be called “beautiful,” then this one is without a doubt a beauty.
Not only does it save an enormous amount of desk real estate, it manages to make the previous Apple keyboards (once upon a time fairly sleek-looking in comparison to other keyboards on the market) look dowdy, bulky and hopelessly outdated. Much has been made of the lack of a numerical keypad: I see this is as a plus, allowing the keyboard to be highly portable and super small. If you truly need a numerical keypad, the wired version of this keyboard has one.

See it, shoot it, share it – capture life’s unforgettable moments in high-definition clarity and share them online with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and easily captures video in 720p high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature high quality HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable that provides true 720p output to an HDTV.
Catch the perfect snowboarding stunt, your baby’s first steps or your kid’s graduation, share it online and save it for a lifetime with Creative’s Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. The thin, lightweight Vado HD is small enough to fit easily in a pocket, purse or the palm of your hand, and it captures video in 720P high-definition quality with just the touch of a button. Sharing videos online is simple with built-in software that helps you post videos to YouTube, Photobucket or Box.net. The Vado HD is the only pocket video cam to feature true HDMI connectivity and an included HDMI cable for a superior viewing experience on an HDTV. Take the Vado HD Pocket Video Cam with you everywhere you go and never miss a moment.

Technical Details

* High definition 720P pocket video camcorder with 8 GB of video storage capacity
* Fits easily in your pocket purse or the palm of your hand
* One touch recording with a spacious 2 inch display
* Record up to two hours of HD video footage or up to four hours of video at VGA resolution
* Connect your Vado HD to any HDTV with included HDMI cable

Customer feedback:

1. Here are things that I like about the Vado
- Three different setting for picture quality. The truth is that not everything needs to be recorded in HD. In fact, if you are uploading to YouTube HD movies can take forever. The Mino HD only has one capture setting.
- I like the flexible USB connection
- Large screen for a small hand-held camcorder – probably about 50% bigger than the Mino HD
- Removable battery – I am not sure what you are supposed to do when the battery dies on the Mino HD
- Wider angle of video capture – the Vado allows you to record a much larger area when compared to the Mino HD.
- Comes with HD cables for connection to your television.
- Windows based software is intuitive and easy to use.

2. I love my new Vado video camera. It fits well in my pocket, the battery lasts a long time, the two hours of recording time is more than enough for my use.