| Choosing a gadget can be a complicated task. | | | | qualities of robots. Robots that mow the |
| There are a huge number of gadget retailers, | | | | lawn and clean the house are now a reality. |
| both online and off, and they offer a numbing | | | | In the future, more tasks will be assigned to |
| array of items. If you're looking to buy | | | | robotic helpers. |
| someone a gadget, a lot of your decision will | | | | |
| depend on how much money you plan on | | | | Cameras and Camcorders - Sony Handycam has a |
| spending. There are gadgets for every | | | | very hot offering right now with it's MiniDV |
| budget, and for every season. | | | | Digital Video Recorders. The units have |
| | | | excellent picture quality and shoot straight |
| Here's a few gadgets that may be of interest: | | | | to mini-DVDs, which should play anywhere. |
| | | | For the price, the HandyCam MiniDV has a rich |
| Smartphones: Smartphones are just that, | | | | feature set, which allows for flicker-free |
| phones with a whole lot of additional smart | | | | filming. You can't beat a camcorder for |
| features. SmartPhones are a new generation | | | | capturing precious moments. |
| of handheld devices which allow you to make | | | | |
| cellular and data calls with ease. More | | | | Tablet PCs and PDAs - Although feeling |
| powerful than some PDAs, SmartPhones threaten | | | | pressure from the UMPCs and SmartPhones, PDAs |
| the entire PDA business. The Palm Treo is a | | | | and Tablet PCs are still a popular item. |
| notable brand. | | | | |
| | | | Blackberry and Palms are still extremely |
| UMPCs - Ultra Mobile Personal Computers, also | | | | popular PDAs, and Blackberry has over 2 |
| known as the Origami Form factor are geared | | | | million people using its' commercial email |
| for the market between PDAs and Laptops. | | | | service. Tablet PCs carry a hefty price-tag, |
| Smaller than laptops, they boast of longer | | | | but have excellent features like hand-writing |
| lasting battery life and more software. In | | | | recognition. In fact, use of the stylus is |
| fact, one of the main selling points of UMPCs | | | | natural, and anyone with an artistic bent |
| is the fact they run Windows Tablet OS and | | | | would seemingly love this device. |
| are compatible with Office. Microsoft and | | | | |
| Intel championed the UMPC form factor | | | | Any of the above items would make an |
| initially to be offered in the $500-$1000 | | | | excellent gift for a gadget enthusiast. The |
| price range. The reality is, the units will | | | | main thing to do is consider the person's |
| be closer to $1200. Samsung is the first OEM | | | | lifestyle before making a purchase. Since |
| to market with its'innovative Q1 UMPC. They | | | | almost all gadgets carry relatively high |
| plan on offering it for sale in the US and | | | | price tags, it's worth finding out for sure |
| most of the world in May 2006. | | | | what the person wants, or you run the risk of |
| | | | making an expensive mistake. Check all |
| Robots - Domesticated robots like the Roomba | | | | gadgets for the presence of extras, such as |
| are quite a sensation. People are definitely | | | | service plans, that aren't included in the |
| interested in the potential time saving | | | | purchase price. |