Mac's Gadget Page


The Chinsomboon Family website www.chinsomboon.com OR looking for a party? .. in the market for Boston/Cambridge real estate?

My friends ask me these questions all the time, so instead of saying it so many times, I just refer them all here. This page is of those cool gadgets and services that I have (and a few that I'm looking to get next), and related links:

(why is this site called September2.net? Because my birthday is on this day LOL. See other events and birthdays on this day)

[hardware] [Palm software] [other services] [avoidances] [cool websites]

Hardware

Handspring Treo 600 phone/PDA from Sprint PCS (I upgraded from the great Treo 300)

Sprint PCS service has greatly improved over the years as has their customer service. Their customer service uses automated assistants now and so that frees up the live operators to actually talk to you when you need them. I've tried the other services, and they have you waiting on hold. Plus coverage is awesome now! Specs here

It's got the blackberry type of keyboard so I use it to check email when I'm away. I use Eudora on it and it can also do multiple email accounts and reply back to them using that account, which is actually better than the blackberry. Then there's the combo Palm and phone -- just awesome.

Now you can use just one device—instead of many—to get it all done. The Treo 600 seamlessly combines a full-featured mobile phone and Palm OS organizer with wireless applications like email, text messaging, web browsing and even a digital camera**. And you get it all in one device that's so small it fits right in your pocket.

See this website for tips on using this phone, www.treocentral.com, from the Handspring website.

www.sprintpcs.com

 

 

Garmin StreetPilot GPS

Introducing the next generation in the Garmin StreetPilot range. The new StreetPilot 2610 features a touch screen and remote control, making it one of the most easy-going navigators on the market. It automatically performs route calculations providing you with turn-by-turn directions and voice prompts. The StreetPilot’s bright color display automatically adjusts to outside light conditions using a built-in sensor. Data entry is made quick and simple through the touch screen display; use the alphanumeric remote control to look up points of interest and addresses in seconds!

Downloadable map detail is provided using the included MapSource City Navigator CD-ROM. Maps are selected by the user and transferred directly to the unit through a USB connection and onto a standard CompactFlash memory card. The StreetPilot 2610’s innovative, feature-rich design makes for the ultimate portable, autonavigation solution. These products are powered using the external speaker with 12/24-volt adapter cable or A/C power adapter (both are included in the purchase).

I bought it online at www.gpscity.com for $750 or so. Best price I've found. And there are vidoes of how it's used there. I compared it side-by-side with the Magellan RoadMate and this one won hands-down.

Details

Casio Exilim EX-S3

4 types, see best prices here: http://shopper.cnet.com/shopping/search/results/1,10214,0-1257,00.html?tag=top&qt=exilim&cn=&ca=1257

Casio homepage on the product

I literally carry it in my wallet because it's so thin and small. Uses removable SD media. And has a flash -- very key!

 

Minolta Dimage X camera: click here for specs (I had this camera for a while and then lost it -- I still like it though)

My criteria for selecting this was ultimate portability, and the fact that the camera has instant startup so that I don't miss a great shot. The flash is low-lux, but hey, do you really need that much flash for closeups? This baby literally fits in my back pocket and I never leave home without it!

You can buy it here

And be sure to buy an extra battery or two, NP200 is the model of the battery

Sony PlayStation 2

This is definitely the greatest game machine. Plus, what really makes it great are all the great titles that it has going for it -- the most of any system. It rocks!

You can find cheat codes all over the Net, just search for them.

www.playstation.com

 

Sony U101: click here for specs

Sony has created the world's leading always-carry subnotebook. The 1.9 pound Sony Vaio U101 has an exhaustive list of features and capabilities, and a truly intangible coolness factor.

Other Services

www.paytrust.com Online bill management. This is cool! I can be anywhere and still get all my bills, with emailed reminders. Great for folks that travel a lot.  
The best way to send and receive money online.

Palm Software titles

Action Names Datebook With Action Names Datebook,All your commitments including phone calls, meetings and todos are shown in a single organized agenda view. See your commitments for the day, week or split day view. Screen shot
Launch'Em The long-awaited successor to LaunchPad, a replacement for the built-in Applications screen with tabs for categories Screen shot
CIC WordComplete Shortens text entry time and improves recognition accuracy by offering a pop-up list of words once you have entered a few letters of a word.
Magic Text Allows you to easily manipulate text on your Palm organizer by adding multi-tap and drag-and-drop capabilities and provides a system-wide contextual menu for easy access to useful operations such as Copy/Cut/Paste, Email Lookup, initiate a HotSync, check the Date and Time, and more. Screen shot
Mirror Ever notice how shiny your Palm screen is? With this application, your device makes a great mirror in an emergency. It's also great for watching over your shoulder when you are using your Palm. The number one freeware application at Handango since May 1999. Screen shot
Memo Plus Give your memo pad a whole new look, and make it work harder for you. Winner of the top PalmPilot application of 1998 from PC Magazine and ZDNet, Memo PLUS packs features that will make you more productive. Screen shot

ToDo Plus

Give your task list a whole new look, and make it work harder for you. ToDo PLUS gives you powerful task management features, which is why ToDo PLUS was voted the #1 product for a PDA by the Shareware Industry Awards in 1999! Screen shot
Vindigo Vindigo transforms Palm OS devices into personal navigators. With Vindigo, you'll be armed with a comprehensive listing of Boston restaurants, shops, clubs, bars, and movies -- the most local listings ever available on a connected organizer. All major cities, including Boston, New York, etc. Screen shot
AvantGo Mobile news on the go. This is an additional place where I get my WSJ headlines, Hoovers IPO news, Bloomberg stock portfolio quotes, and my Red Herring headlines and VC deal flow.
iRogue for Palm Rogue is old, for a computer game. I used to play it as NetHack and Moira on UNIX and my PC back in college. When I found this, I got all "misty-eyed and nostalgic." These games are text-based and have a familiar premise: wander around in a dungeon, collect treasure, deal with bad-tempered monsters, try to finish a quest. And, best of all, it's FREE, just like the original UNIX version. [iRogue]
Albums To Go AlbumToGo is an interactive photo album that lets you view photographs on your Palm. These images can be viewed one picture at a time, or as a slide show. The package includes a desktop component that converts .jpg image files to a Palm-compatible format. FREEware

Cool Websites that I like

www.weather.com

www.cnbc.com

www.shopper.com

www.ebates.com (before shopping, sign in here first and get a rebate)

 

Avoid These

Palm V dual action stylus (pen and pointer): click here for specs (I used it for several months, but found that the cap that is friction based, became loose and so stopped working. I imagine it's an engineered flaw that is in every unit. I called Palm to see if they could replace it and they noted that accessories are not covered under any warranty. Ick! For a $40 product, I would've expected better). Instead try these Pentopia styli, excellent!

Phone/Palm links:
    Syncing your Palm with a mobile phone:
        http://users.zipworld.com.au/~rmills/IR2.htm            
        http://freespace.virgin.net/paul.fidler/new-web/palm2phone.html 

Copyright © 2002 chinsomboon.com. All rights reserved. omac@alum.mit.edu or omac@chinsomboon.com