What Are Your Favorite Gadgets of the 21st Century So Far?

[Jack T. Chance Really knows where his towel is! Find all posts View Profile Close Jack T. Chance]

Something I've been thinking a lot about lately is what my favorite gadgets are that have come out (or at least become popular) in the first 8 years of the 21st Century! There's LOTS of relatively new gadgets that have come into my life these last few years, and although it's now hard to imagine life without them, they haven't really been a part of my life all that long!

So, I thought it would be fun to share our favorite gadgets of this new century!

Here's my top 5...

• 5. The now indispensable USB key (sometimes called a thumb drive, or a flash drive). This small (keyring sized) device is the little computer gadget that could, finally rendering the floppy disc obsolete, by being much more portable, while containing much larger amounts of memory! You can now buy sizes as large as 16 GB at truly affordable prices! And my current main drive is a U3 Smart Drive, giving me the ability to carry a copy of Firefox with me, giving me virus protection (courtesy of Avast! Antivirus), and lots of other useful programs I can carry with me, to use on any computer! Too. Cool.
• 4. The equally indispensable MP3 player. While they've existed since the late '90s (I was selling early models when I worked for Babbage's {now called Gamestop} back in '98-'99) it was only in the 2000s that they started becoming immensely popular, and replaced the aging Discman, just as that device had replaced the Walkman before it. I am one of the last people in the country to buy an MP3 player, having just bought my first one (an 8 GB Sandisk Sansa) last year.
• 3. My Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones! Everyone talks night and day about the Bose Quiet Comfort 2 Noise-Cancelling ear cans, but $300 is a LOT of money for a set of headphones, and after reading a very informative article by the NY Times, I learned that it is no longer necessary to spend that much! The ATH-ANC7s perform JUST AS WELL as Bose's famous headphones, and if you shop around online for the best price, they can be had for nearly a 3rd the price of the Bose ones! Since I often use my MP3 player while riding in a car as a passenger when someone else is driving, these headphones are indispensable for blocking out the road noise... and the sound of whatever craptastic music the driver is listening to on the car's radio!
• 2. Bluetooth Headsets. When I'm in the car, or even just around the house, I prefer to use a hands-free headset with my cell phone (you'll understand why when you read my number 1 choice). But the problem with traditional headsets is the damned cord! It gets caught on all kinds of stuff, and is usually too short! Then, one day, some brilliant scientists in Europe created a new, short-range radio standard called Bluetooth. It took awhile to catch on, some tech magazines even sounded its death knell prematurely a few years ago, but then, almost overnight, the convenience of wireless headsets caught on with the public at large, and the rest, as they say, is history! I very quickly found myself with one main Bluetooth headset, and a couple spares, because if my battery goes dead, it sucks to have to go back to the corded model! I don't know what I'd do without this absolute MUST HAVE gadget!
• 1. MY CRACKBERRY (BlackBerry, to the uninitiated!) The ultimate smartphone... sorry, did I say smartphone? More like GENIUS phone! The best mobile email service IN THE WORLD, highly useful PDA features, mobile web browsing... this device has everything I need for on the go cyberspace action! I don't know how I ever lived before the age of the BlackBerry! It's also the world's most ADDICTIVE smartphone, hence the nickname us longtime users have affectionately given our mobile communications device of choice. Try one, and you'll understand WHY we call it a CrackBerry! But since I use a model with a full QWERTY keyboard, holding it to my ear is out of the question... it's like talking into a scientific calculator! Which is why my number 2 choice is the Bluetooth headset I ALWAYS have with me!

So, how 'bout you poozers? What gadgets do you find that you can't live without?

[Tons T Alpha-Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close Tons T]

nice list ill add IPOD in it

[methos Kyle's Backup Artist Find all posts View Profile Close methos]

so far it has to be my video card...

maybe technically got a gadget, but i certainly couldn't go back to how my graphics used to be...



for those that don't know, that's the shiny NVidia 9800 GX2...

Memory - 1G GDDR3
Core Frequency - 600MHz
Memory Frequency - 2000MHz
RAMDAC - 400MHZ
Interface - PCI-Express
Memory Bus - 256-bit x2
Stream Processors - 128 x2
Max. Resolution - 2560 x 1600
SLI Ready - Yes

Output
1. Dual-Link DVI
2. HDMI

HDCP - Yes

Basically, for those that don't read tech, it's a wet dream in a box lol

The 9800GX2 has two GPUs tucked into a sleek black case with a single PCI-e 2.0 slot connector. In addition, this card features the latest 65 nm technology assuring the highest processing efficiency, lowest power consumption and the most optimal 3D gaming performance and HD Video playback. The 9800 GPUs on this card are the first to hit the market for this series. Each GPU contains 128 stream processors and boasts a 600 MHz Core Clock. The Shader Clock is rated at 1500 MHz with a Texture Fill Rate of 76.8 (billion/sec). This card comes with a whopping 1 GB (512 MB per GPU) of GDDR3 memory with a Memory Clock of 1000 MHz using a 512-bit (256-bit per GPU) Memory Interface. The memory bandwidth is 128 GB/sec.

Seriously worth shedding out the cash for, i couldn't go back to a single display now and working on two HD monitors at drool worthy resolutions for games without any lag or difference is an absolute dream...

M

[Guest Close Lundonj]

That vid card sounds pretty freakin' awesome. I may have to obtain one of those. That should be the upgrade my gaming life needs.

As to my favorite gadgets...


I-Pod - I was late to the MP3/4 game. I'm an old dude, and old school audiofile who grew up on vinyl, so it was tough to see sound quality go to Hell in the digital age. Things have improved a bunch, but have room to improve more. Whines aside, having 7,000 songs, a dozen videos, a couple movies and a couple hundred podcasts in my hand is pretty cool.

Cell Phone - I had actually ditched my original cell phone for a couple years. I initially hated the damn thing. I'm a person who has to have some chill time and the cell made it nearly impossible to disappear. At least for a while, and bosses eventually figured out it isn't nice to demand workers be available by cell phones all hours of the day. I finally got a decent little phone too. And I can turn it off as wanted. Now I hate my land line at home and prefer my cell.

DVR - How the Hell did I live this long without it? Digital video love is what I call it. Auto-record my faves, blast through commercials, as if they don't exist and never, ever have to worry about missing the start of a movie or show I want to see.

Those are my mainstays, plus my computer. Although, I am considering a laptop next, to be more mobile (work and home) with my info.

I am also trying to catch the flashdrive wave next. All the stuff that can be crammed on those things -- sounds great.



-Don

[Jack T. Chance Really knows where his towel is! Find all posts View Profile Close Jack T. Chance]

nice list :-D ill add IPOD in it :-D

Umm... that would fall under # 4 on my list!

But I refuse to buy an actual iPod, because they're too proprietary, and are too heavy-handed with the DRM crap. DRM is bad, mmm-kay.

so far it has to be my video card...

maybe technically got a gadget, but i certainly couldn't go back to how my graphics used to be...



for those that don't know, that's the shiny NVidia 9800 GX2...

Memory - 1G GDDR3
Core Frequency - 600MHz
Memory Frequency - 2000MHz
RAMDAC - 400MHZ
Interface - PCI-Express
Memory Bus - 256-bit x2
Stream Processors - 128 x2
Max. Resolution - 2560 x 1600
SLI Ready - Yes

Output
1. Dual-Link DVI
2. HDMI

HDCP - Yes

Basically, for those that don't read tech, it's a wet dream in a box lol

Damn you, methos! Now you've got me drooling over that video card! *Shakes fist in faux anger!*

I already know I need to build a new computer, now this is just one more thing on the list of must-have components for the new rig!

DVR - How the Hell did I live this long without it? Digital video love is what I call it. Auto-record my faves, blast through commercials, as if they don't exist and never, ever have to worry about missing the start of a movie or show I want to see.

That's why I still have a good, old-fashioned VCR. And when the day comes that I need to replace it, it will be with a DVD or Blu-Ray recorder. Why? Well, aside from the fact that some shows I watch (such as Lost) have a disturbing tendancy to run 2-3 minutes beyond their alloted time and Tivo/DVR do NOT record that last 2-3 minutes (I manually set the timer on my VCR to record until a few minutes past the hour because of this), there's also the fact that the big networks are now starting to prevent you from recording your favorite shows with your DVR!

That's the problem with the DVR technology: Big Brother (i.e. the TV networks) can actually get into your DVR through its internet connection, and either prevent you from recording something, or delete the recording if you managed to record it!

So, I'll stick to recording methods that I control, thankyouverymuch! Although I may eventually have a DVR, I won't be relying on it as my main recording method.

I am also trying to catch the flashdrive wave next. All the stuff that can be crammed on those things -- sounds great.



-Don

It is, and you don't have to buy a U3 Smart Drive to get that functionality. There's now freeware available that you can download and install on any flash drive of your choosing!

As soon as I find where I put the issue of Maximum PC that talks about that freeware, I'll post a link to the website.

[Guest Close Lundonj]

Well, CBS is silly if they think that is a good idea. Besides, I don't watch anything on that channel worth recording right now anyway.

My DVR can record early or late (I can set it from 1-2 minutes early to 15 if need be, same at the end of the show too).

In the end, customer demand should will out on most of this stuff, if TV wants to make money. Broadcast TV is almost done anyway. All they have are live sports and reality shows now -- all the best stuff is on pay channels, like Sopranos, Dexter, mini-series like John Adams, much better than the networks.

The early Blu-Ray DVD players are pretty limited now anyway, if they are allowed to design a decent BR recorder, I'll be there. Until then, I'm pretty happy with my DVR.



-Don

[Tazer That Evil, Yellow Bastiche Find all posts View Profile Close Tazer]

Yo.

I tend to keep low-tech whenever possible since I dont believe a high reliance on technology is a good thing, and that being the case Im *real damned happy* with my Leatherman™ Super tool.

http://www.leatherman.com/products/t...00/default.asp

its like my AmEx -card, cuz I dont go anywhere w/o it.




Tazer

[Jack T. Chance Really knows where his towel is! Find all posts View Profile Close Jack T. Chance]

Yo.

I tend to keep low-tech whenever possible since I dont believe a high reliance on technology is a good thing, and that being the case Im *real damned happy* with my Leatherman™ Super tool.

http://www.leatherman.com/products/t...00/default.asp

its like my AmEx -card, cuz I dont go anywhere w/o it.




Tazer

Considering that the Leatherman™ tools and other pocket survival tools have been around since AT LEAST the 1980s, they hardly count as 21st Century gadgets, now, do they?

BTW, although I only carry it when I know I'll NEED it, I prefer my SOG Paratool to the Leatherman™ line. Back in the early '90s, during the brief period when I sold knives at a knife shop, I had too many customers tell me that they'd managed to break the pliers and other tools on their Leatherman™ tools. Add to that the fact that the SOG Paratool's patented plier head design allows one-handed opening, and allows the plier head to be set at an angle, a feature no other PST has, and my choice was an easy one.

[Tazer That Evil, Yellow Bastiche Find all posts View Profile Close Tazer]

Yo.

Considering that the Leatherman™ tools and other pocket survival tools have been around since AT LEAST the 1980s, they hardly count as 21st Century gadgets, now, do they?

yeah, but the Super Tool -model was so awesome that it deserves to me listed.

BTW, although I only carry it when I know I'll NEED it, I prefer my SOG Paratool to the Leatherman™ line. Back in the early '90s, during the brief period when I sold knives at a knife shop, I had too many customers tell me that they'd managed to break the pliers and other tools on their Leatherman™ tools. Add to that the fact that the SOG Paratool's patented plier head design allows one-handed opening, and allows the plier head to be set at an angle, a feature no other PST has, and my choice was an easy one.

well thats fair enuff, but I note that U didnt mention exactly wat those other ppl were doing when they broke their tools, so I dont know if its fair to say the SOG -items would fare better.........




Tazer

[The_Mad_Dragon Captain Pervert Find all posts View Profile Close The_Mad_Dragon]

Those who live by the X-box 360, shall die byu the 360.

It is a fate I am content with.


(You know he has one installed.)

[Tazer That Evil, Yellow Bastiche Find all posts View Profile Close Tazer]

Yo.

I lulz!!




Tazer

[Jack T. Chance Really knows where his towel is! Find all posts View Profile Close Jack T. Chance]

well thats fair enuff, but I note that U didnt mention exactly wat those other ppl were doing when they broke their tools, so I dont know if its fair to say the SOG -items would fare better.........

Well, I no longer remember what they were doing, either. You're talking about a job I had all the way back in like 1992!

[lanternut Alpha-Lantern Find all posts View Profile Close lanternut]

Those who live by the X-box 360, shall die by the 360.

It is a fate I am content with.


(You know he has one installed.)

Yeah, that (Damn, you Call of Duty 4)

and you can steal my car just leave my video ipod!