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Friday
Jan062012

Calling all techies: 12 cool gadgets for you in 2012, but only if you have a lot of dough--$8,302.95 to be exact!

PC Magazine recently ran a list of must-have items for people who love the latest in high-tech gadgets.  I you have money or just like to kick the tires and dream, here's the 12-item list of things the PC Mag people think you'll want to consider...

Desktop speakers by Audioengine [$399].  It's hard to live with the sound of a laptop's built-in speakers; on the other hand, you don't always need surround-sound either.  Is it possible that $400 gets you more than what you can buy a good pair of $80 ear-buds for?  You've got to wonder.

Droid smartphone by Samsung [$299].  The problem with this particular smartphone is simple: it'll be the pick of the litter for about three weeks--then another device will come along that'll be better than it.  This begs the question: will you really be happy to spend $300 to be the coolest smartphone person for about three weeks.  If one's addicted to owning the latest phone device, it'll cost you about $5,000 a year to go on that head-trip!

A workout assistant by Motorola [$249.99].  The added benefit of needing such a device--especially one that costs $250--is pretty obvious:  for most of those who think that getting fit requires one to spend that much money...well, believe that helps to rationalize why we're ought to just postpone getting back into shape--which, in that case, obviates the need for a workout assistant!

Waterfproof, shockproof P&S camera for tough times & uses by Nikon [$379.99].  Looks like it's up for all those tough outdoor, off-road assignments you might get, but you can only acquire the camaflouge design in Europe--so you'll need to throw in a round-trip to Paris for good measure of you need the special camo motif!  

Gym-friendly Walkman by Sony [59.99].  Wow! I didn't know that you could still buy something with the name "Walkman" on it!  I guess you learn something new everyday!

Bluetooth ear piece with remote dongle for sound transmission via your computer by Jawbone [$139].  A little more pricey than you'd expect a Jawbone to be, but--apparently--if fits not just your ear, but your PC's ear as well!

Kindle Fire by Amazon [$199].  As coincidence would have it, I bought one of these just yesterday for my wife, Kathy.  But after getting it set up for her and trying it out--I'm thinking that she may need to go get one of her own!  

A players zoom by Kinect for Microsoft [$29.99].  If you don't know what this is used for, you aren't in the target market.  This is kind of sad, however--this is the cheapest item on the list!  Unless you play certain video "games" this would be a good waste of even $30.

Zenbook by Aseus [$1049].  This is not just any kind of notebook--it's got a Bang & Olufsen sound system and all-metal case!  I'll bet none of you have one of these.

Seventy inch flat screen TV by Sharp [$4,799].  No guy who's a real guy will think this an unnecessary purchase.  If fact, if you have more money to spend--there's a 80-inch model for even more!  Viewing television on one of these babies is like being in the middle of MobWives, or Two and a Half Men--or even on the field of NFL play on Sundays!  On second thought, however, buying this device might be a bad idea on account of more than just the price!

Universal remote by Logitech [$99.99].  The HarmonyLink turns your iPad or smartphone into a remote control for your new 70- or 80-inch.  If you've decided to pass on the big-screen TV, you'll find it easy to save the $100 for this!  

If none of these devices scratch where you itch--or you don't have a cool $8,000 to drop on stuff like this right now--don't worry: it's only January--there's a whole year for the marketing guys from all of these firms [and many others to boot] to snag you down the road!  You've got plenty of time to drop the hammer on this--and arguably even cooler stuff.
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Follow Keith's biz blog on Twitter for updates and see more of what he's reading about on his Facebook Page. If you are inclined, you can write him at kmurray@bryant.edu.

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