Sun
Palm Treo 700wx, $400 with a three-year contract with Bell Mobility, or $200 when a voice plan and minimum $60-a-month e-mail & Internet data feature.
This smartphone from Palm uses Microsoft’s Windows Mobile operating system and Bell’s high-speed network and is aimed at the mobile workforce, especially those who really need something fully integrated with Microsoft offerings. Also includes a 1.3-megapixel camera, integrated Bluetooth 1.2 for communicating with headsets, car kits, computers and printers, and an expansion slot for more memory.
PANASONIC LUMIX FX07, LIMITED EDITION DIGITAL CAMERA, ABOUT $550.
Every so often we like to tease you with products that are only available in Japan or Korea. Not that this model of the Lumix FX07 is any different inside, or in its photographic capabilities, but, hey, it sure is dramatic on the outside — with a number of different exterior looks available in editions of 500 in the Japanese marketplace. Sure, the FX07 comes in different colours in North America, but nothing like this. And, just to make it even more worth having, it comes in a paulownia wood box, so that the person you give it to (likely yourself) will feel all that much more special.
SAMSUNG HL-S5679W LED LIGHT-SOURCED, REAR-PROJECTION DLP HIGH DEFINITION TV, $4,300.
If you’re at all up to date, you’re going to be using LED lights on the tree this Christmas, and so why not be the first to use them to provide the illumination for your HDTV? Red, green and blue high-powered LEDs sequentially fire to produce, according to Samsung, smooth, stable colour. And since DLPs need to have a lamp replacement, another advantage is that the LED light engine provides longer life. Oh, and in case you even knew there was mercury in this kind of TV set, this one is mercury-free.
THERMOHAWK TOUCHLESS INFRARED THERMOMETER IN 200, 400 AND 400L MODELS, $40, $50 AND $90 US RESPECTIVELY.
You might well ask yourself “just what the heck am I going to do with an infrared thermometer?” Well, if you like to modify your computer with a special case, or you’re the kind of person who fools with the innards of computers, then this will identify hotspots on cases and on motherboards. There’s no contact needed. Just point the ThermoHAWK at the spot you want to measure and press the test button. You can find this device online at places like ThinkGeek.com and FusionTank.com.
© The Vancouver Sun 2006