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Geek Gadgets I Couldn't Do Without

January 19, 2006 -

I was waiting for someone at work today, and I got to thinking about my favorite geek gadgets. So here follows a list of my top five geek gadgets. No, I've got no PDA, and I have no cameraphone and no PSP, but I'm very happy with my gadgets.

5 - My flash card drive
When I bought my computer, it came with an internal 6-in-1 flash media reader/writer. At the time, I thought nothing of it. I only took it because it came free with the system from CyberPower. But once I realized that I no longer had to connect my digital camera to the PC via USB cable and run the proprietary software, I was overjoyed. Now I just pop out the flash memory and pop it into the flash drive, and it transfers so much more quickly than via USB. Also, when Linda's family visited, I was able to take their differently-formatted flash memory sticks and read those too. Very nice.

4 - Projection Clock
A simple thought, and I've recently seen projection clocks that are better than the one I own, but being able to lie on your back in bed in the dark and see the time on the ceiling is very convenient when you're too tired to roll over.

3 - USB Flash Keychain Drive
Mine is actually the one I got from Barenaked Ladies, but since I've had it, I've realized that it's the best way to transfer info from PC to PC. It's smaller than a CD, quicker to write, and reusable.

2 - My Garmin GPS PDA
Well, remember up above where I said I had no PDA? I was wrong. Technically, I suppose I do. But since I never use it as a PDA, I didn't even think of it. I wrote about it when I first got it, but I'm adding it here again. The thing is just so damn useful, especially when you move to a new state and don't know where anything is. The only drawback: if you allow the battery to go dead, all maps are uninstalled. Which sucks. I think the thing may not actually have any memory or storage - only RAM. But it's still incredibly useful.

1 - My MP3 Player
Linda got me the thing for Christmas of 2001, I think. I've had it for over five years, which with a tech gadget seems like forever. It's got a big clunky hard drive rather than nice compact flash memory. It takes 20-30 seconds to boot up when I turn it on. But it works, it's got 20GB of drive space, and I use it all the time. I DJ'ed my wedding from it. I use it to listen to audiobooks on my commute nearly every day. I love it.

And those are my favorite tech gadgets. What are yours?

Comments on Geek Gadgets I Couldn't Do Without
 
Comment Thu, February 2 - 7:25 PM by Michelle
I couldn't live without:
-my laptop
-TiVo
-iPod
-Projection Clocks (addicting little things)
-PDA (I use it less now, but when I want it, I'm thrilled to have it)

I think I may be able to do without my cellphone.
 
Comment Fri, January 20 - 12:55 AM by Magus2
Various computers
PSP
iRiver MP3 Player
1GB USB Flash Drive
Video Camera
Digital Camera
 
Comment Fri, January 20 - 11:13 AM by Glennator
Containing no inner basin this geek gadget lacks the capabilities to throw balls of wet wheat or the projection of the accurate time onto a ceiling. It does, however, have a thing which distinguishes time, excluding a compass in the stock and your eye being shot out. It is my car CD/MP3 player. This glorious machine of wizardy can play me around 160 songs on a single CD and will throw sound off the inner basin of your head for several hours. :-D
 
Comment Fri, January 20 - 11:40 AM by Greg
You guys friggin crack me up.
 
Comment Fri, January 20 - 12:14 PM by Ryan
I can't live without:

TiVo
iPod
Projection clock (we have one in the living room, one in the bedroom)
Indoor Plumbing


On a side note....I used to have a Nomad Jukebox....I got mine for $30 because of a typo on Kmart's website years ago. Kinda hard to jog with it, huh?
 
Comment Fri, January 20 - 12:28 PM by Greg
Ooo - I should have included the TiVo. And yeah, that mp3 player would suck for jogging. I use it mainly in the car. And Ryan, seeing the projection clock on your "things we recommend" page is part of what made me think to write this post.

Indoor plumbing?
 
Comment Thu, January 19 - 10:45 PM by Rindle
My favorite techno geek device is my bread maker.

I mean, can you believe it; you set it and then in the morning BAM, warm fresh bread. It is just like your projection clock, where as your clock throws a realistic projection of the accurate time on your ceiling so you don't have to turn your head, my bread maker throws a ball of wet wheat against the inner basin of the machine for several hours so I don't have to kneed my bread.

Unfortunately, my bread machine has no USB port - though I bet future models will.