Fetish
Info Imp
When I travel, I usually spend an hour or two copying files from my desktop machine to my laptop. I always forget at least one important file. With the Datasonix Pereos, I can stop fretting. This hand-held storage device runs on two AA batteries and plugs right into the computer's parallel port. I can dump the entire contents of my 600 MByte hard disk (1.25 GBytes of compressible data) onto a single postage-stamp-size digital tape cassette in just six seconds, stash the Pereos in my briefcase, and travel with confidence. Pereos: US$595. Datasonix Corp.: (800) 328 2779, +1 (303) 545 9500.
The Star-Off Machine
Dr. Seuss's Sneeches with "stars upon thars" would love the Redfield Infrared Coagulator, a tattoo-removal device to make Sylvester McMonkey McBean proud. Up till now, erasing a tattoo often resulted in a scar that looked even worse than the original offender. The Coagulator uses infrared energy to penetrate the skin and remove pigment from the top 0.75 mm of tissue. It doubles as a handy hemorrhoid zapper, too! What's next - a piercing hole eliminator? Infrared Coagulator Dermatology System: US$3,615. Redfield Corp.: (800) 678 4472, +1 (201) 391 0494.
Pressure Drop
The last person you can trust (other than politicians, preachers, and used car dealers, of course) is the TV meteorologist. That's why I have my own BA-212, a digital barometer that predicts the next day's weather conditions with 75- to 80-percent accuracy. The barometer also has an alarm that sounds when a storm is about to hit, giving you time to run down to the bomb shelter and start eating Spam until it blows over. BA-212: US$89.95. Oregon Scientific Inc.: (800) 869 7779, +1 (503) 639 8883.
Dial and Swipe
PhonePlus is smart enough to know you can send more than a conversation over the line. The built-in keyboard and digital display are handy for taking notes and entering names and numbers into the speed-dial database. The most interesting feature is a magnetic-strip-card reader with custom software to enable shopping, ATM transactions, paying bills, and transferring funds from home. If QVC's smart, it'll give this thing away. PhonePlus: US$199. US Order: +1 (703) 834 9480.
Get Real
Sound Retrieval System technology restores the proper frequencies and proportions of direct and indirect sound waves in recordings to re-create the experience of a live performance. NuReality has incorporated the technology into small devices that connect to the audio output of PCs, videogames, and stereo systems. The result is richer, deeper sound for your games and CD-ROMs. With the Vivid 3D there is never a fight over the audio sweet spot, because you get the full effect of 3-D sound from every part of the room. Vivid 3D series: approximately US$79-$149. NuReality: (800) 501 8086, +1 (714) 442 1080.
Home Office Hub
The AST Advantage! Adventure 4000 series will have callers believing your back room is a big company. This 486 computer acts as a full-time receptionist by answering the phone and taking messages. Techno-sadists will have fun sending callers into voicemail hell with its 99 mailboxes. Frequent travelers will like the ability to call their Adventure to retrieve and forward faxes. There's even a speech-to-text function for obtaining phone numbers and addresses remotely. Advantage! Adventure 4000: approximately US$2,000. AST Research Inc.: (800) 876 4278, +1 (714) 727 4141.
Court Radio
Don't you hate it when you've got to get to work but your favorite celebrity is facing a jury on national TV? Don't despair! The Telemate will keep you dialed in. It combines a miniature radio transmitter with a special TV tuner that isolates the sound portion of TV broadcast signals. Just place it near any standard FM radio and use the digital tuner to catch the audio portion of your favorite TV show. Telemate: US$59.95. Econologic Technologies Inc.: +1 (415) 843 6800.
Edited by David Jacobs
