It’s an HP iPaq 210 Enterprise Handheld. A mini-mini computer! I love it!

The hardest part about being a technology researcher and writer is seeing ALL these delicious gadgets. I DO SO want to try them out! I love this thing!

It’s a PDA, or Personal Digital Assistant. Kind of like a mini “home away from home” gadget. I like those. I am joined at the hip to the Internet (it’s my career). When I travel or am away from the computer, I have to be able to check in on my email and assignments. I have my iPod (which I adore), and I can connect to wireless hotspots, where available. I have no desire to find a replacement for my iPod just yet. I’m very happy with it. But I think eventually I will upgrade to something more. The iPaq is nice because it’s Windows-based (has Windows Mail, Windows Mobile Office Outlook, MSN Messenger, etc). And it takes an SD card for adding more memory (something the iPod seriously lacks). If I ever want to upgrade to something like an iPaq, I can give my iPod away to one of the kids (oh wouldn’t they love that! They love my iPod!) and get an iPaq and claim in for my business. That’s the nice thing about being self-employed– you can get gadgets and claim them for the business. Tax deductible.

Buy.com has the best price I’ve seen on these babies– under $400. That’s still a very very pretty penny. Not in my immediate future, that’s for sure. But it’s nice to know that there’s something out there waiting for me. See more deals and super sale at Buy.com. They are magnificent!

Your Tiny Home Away From Home

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Basically, a powerline switch allows you to extend your Internet connection using your home’s electrical system. I had heard of this technology last year, and I figured it would be a while before it was really stable enough for me to consider. But there’s been a lot of progress in a year’s time. A tech dude from Netgear went to the Buy.com headquarters and made a very informative video about the Netgear XAV2001 Powerline Switch. This looks so amazing!!

OK, OK, I know some of you are totally uninterested in technology– but before your eyes glaze over, I want you to remember back when there was dialup and you had to learn about that, and then there was cable and DSL, and you had to learn about that…. so let me give a few gory details about this gadget. This just may be how we connect the Internet in the days to come.

• There are two powerline switches per box. One plugs into an electrical outlet and connects to your router. The outher powerline switch plugs into your electrical outlet somewhere else in the home (like the upstairs game room). The switch has a small port for an Ethernet cable. You connect your computer (or HDTV or Playstation or Xbox or Wii or print server or storage server!) into the powerline switch using the Ethernet cable. Voila, instant Internet.
• The powerline switch is geared to lessen the load on wireless. If you have a lot of people on wireless connection at once, you know how slow things get. The powerline uses the internal electrical system of your home to connect to the Internet router. The powerline switch is also terrific for providing Internet access to rooms that have spotty wireless coverage (or no coverage).
• Buy.com has the best price (of course!). I have seen this Netgear powerline switch for $100 or more everywhere else. Buy.com has a sale for $70 and free shipping.
• Netgear’s switch has a security feature– press a button on both switches, and it instantly encrypts all data streaming through the network.
• Data are fast– rates up to 85 Mbps, which is faster than 802.11g wireless.
• The powerline 4-port switch will connect up to 4 devices at a time.
• The switch works on standard 240volt electrical service. No special electrical receptacles required.

So I wonder, am I wasting my time and money, wiring all this Ethernet cabling?! Technology sometimes develops too quickly. I haven’t even gotten the NEW stuff in yet, and already there’s something newer. Whew, it just blows my mind.

Powerline Technology Just Totally Blows My Mind

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The Verilux Sanitizing Pocket Wand goes where you do to disinfect and sanitize with UV-C light. This handy UV-C sanitizer folds into itself to become its own carry case- so even on the move, you can protect yourself from harmful germs that are the cause of colds, infections, asthma and allergic reactions. The Pocket Wand is the most convenient way to deliver powerful UV-C disinfecting and sanitizing when you need it most- traveling! Verilux UVC Sanitizing Pocket Wand with CleanWave Technology!

I think that means that it uses UV rays to kill germs.

COOL!

It’s a pretty penny– almost $75 right now– but prices are always flexible at Buy.com because they are always having some sale every day, every week. This would make a very cool gift for the traveler (or school teacher or day care worker). I’m interested in the technology behind it, too. Is this why hanging clothes out on the clothesline in the sun helps to kill germs? I always assumed it was the sunshine that killed the germs, never thinking what “exact” rays they were composed of that did all the disinfecting. ?? This is a really neat gadget! I think it would be cool to have a petri dish with some germs in it, then wave the Pocket Wand over it, and then look through a microscope to see if the germs were really killed. I’d be tempted to get it, just to find out and watch it happen.

A Nifty Santizing Gadget

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Yep, I’ve managed to keep my kids away from the excessive electronica of our day for this long, but I’ve got a few sons who are suddenly into music. And cameras. And stereos. All we have around here is ONE CD player and one old cassette player (and I still have my old record player, by the way!). But problem is, we don’t buy CDs or cassettes anymore. Everything is moving to mp3 and digital files, and now that the boys like their music…. I guess I’m going to have to adapt. I am very comforted that they like good music, though– Hillsong, Kutless, Newsboys, Andres Segovia, etc. So while I do have to get them mp3 players, at least I don’t have to stomach the fingernails-on-chalkboard screeches of Metallica or anything. Whew!

So. MP3 player. Gosh, where do I begin?! They are expensive! $350 for an mp3 player, for a TEENAGER? That’s crazy! I don’t even have electricity in my upstairs bathroom! NO WAY am I getting an iPod or iPhone, NO WAY.

Ah, but looky here– an iPhone imposter! It’s at Buy.com and it’s very, very slick! It’s the V-Touch 8GB MP3/MP4 2.8″ Touch Screen, and it has a camera and earbuds, too. On sale right now for under $50, with free shipping. I love it, because it does everything a cell phone does except make and receive calls! (My sons have no need for a cell phone, but they like to play with mine because of all the features it has). The V-Touch has got a webcam, a digital camera, plays music and videos, has a voice recorder, an e-book function (very nice!), has a calendar, and more. I think this is perfect for kids, and not *too* expensive, either. It sure beats the $350 price tag for those other players. It’s on sale right now at Buy.com, along with sales on loads and loads of other stuff. I also use Buy.com for my household needs, such as small appliances and parts, garden supplies, etc. I love Buy.com! And I think my kids will love Buy.com, too. This gadget is definitely going on the Wish List!

You Know They’re Getting Older When…

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Here’s a banana boat Salt & Pepper shaker set! I absolutely love this! I want one! I love quirky things like this.

And this is just beautiful– it’s another Salt & Pepper shaker, as birds of paradise. This wouldn’t last too long on my crazy dinner table (where dishes and food are frequently flying around), but it would make a really unique gift. Love it!

This, my dear friends, is a toilet brush! LOL!!!

And here’s a bird of paradise milk jug– wow!

You can see loads and loads more creative stuff at the website– the Alessi line is really neat- very unique stuff. I saw a cute bird soy sauce container, pepper mills, pencil sharpeners, etc. All very quality stuff sold at the prestigious Lumens.com website. The wall sconces there are really nice– if you’re looking for classy lighting fixtures, check them out. I’m shopping around for some fixtures and the stuff there caught my eye. They also have clocks, all sorts of lamps, lights, doorbells, and ceiling fans, and more. A GREAT site!

Gobs of Gorgeous Gadgets!

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