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Pedometers

The latest batch of step trackers does much more than record how far you go. The classier monitors also log your speed, your heart rate, and the calories you burn with 98-percent accuracy. And though the less precise analog model below appeals to traditionalists (Scouts still hook 'em to their belts for hikes), there's no reason athletes should settle for anything less than digital.

FIRST CLASS

FitSense FS-1 Pro
It's neither pretty nor cheap, but this wirelessly connected three-piece system - a wrist-mounted computer, a chest strap, and a sensor that clips onto your shoe - does it all. Obsessive runners can check their heart rate, keep pace, track distances, and count calories while in motion. The large watch lets you chart your stats on the desktop: Simply point it at the low-frequency radioreceiver (included) that plugs into your PC's serial port, and beam over the data.

FS-1 Pro with NetLink and Heartstrap: $300.
FitSense: (800) 419 3667, www.fitsense.com.

BUSINESS CLASS

Nike SDM Triax 100
This watch-and-sensor combo works on the same principle as the FS-1: Attach the sensor to your shoe, and it delivers exercise data via RFsignal to the watch in real time. Though the Triax loses a bit of its accuracy when the wearer switches strikes (say, from walking to running), it's a lot easier on the eyes. With its silver and yellow highlights, it's one of few sport watches you'll want to wear in between workouts.

SDM Triax 100: $235. Nike: (800) 344 6453, www.nike.com.

COACH

Sportline Fitness Pedometer 360
Characteristic of electronic pedometers, which monitor body motion to determine the distance traveled, the Sportline 360 works best when clipped to your waistband and kept completely vertical - not an easy task if you're keeping a brisk pace. Enter your weight and stride length, and the unit registers mileage and calories burned (with 90 percent accuracy). The display lets you scroll through the previous seven days of data and protects against accidental resets - features that set the 360 apart from others in its class.

Fitness Pedometer 360: $40. Sportline: www.sportline.com.

Video-Editing Workstations

Just because you can use your computer to edit digital video, doesn't mean you should. The average system tends to crash - a lot and at the worst moments. Stand-alone nonlinear video editors let you work uninterrupted and render your effects faster than similarly powered desktop systems. Any model should have processing might, ample storage, and flashy extras.

FIRST CLASS

MacroSystem Casablanca Kron
Don't put your next video on Stone Age cassettes. The Kron is the only system that uses an optional internal DVD-RW burner for truly high res. Whether you add footage, build transitions, or lay-over titles, the system flies thanks to a custom OS and a 500-MHz AMD K6 processor. The box has a 40-Gbyte internal hard drive for nearly three hours of digital video. On top of that, it can work in the compressed MPEG-2 format, letting you store a day's worth of footage.

Casablanca Kron: $5,495; Pioneer A03 DVD-RW: $995. MacroSystem: (877) 554 2846, www.casablanca.tv.

BUSINESS CLASS

Edirol DV-7
Edirol, a respected name in audio editing, pays as much attention to sound as it does to video: The RV-7 packs Roland technology for tweaking things like reverb and pitch. The editor relies on a multimedia-friendly version of the Be operating system and a proprietary processor. It also has USB and FireWire ports, a 60-Gbyte hard drive, and a CD-ROM for pulling in music tracks. For an extra $325, you can get Edirol's newsroom-style controller, which includes a jog dial, T-bar control, and audio sliders.

DV-7: $5,995. Edirol: (800) 380 2580, www.edirol.com.

COACH

Applied Magic ScreenPlay
ScreenPlay comes loaded with more than 100 visual shifts and special effects (like slow motion and solarized color). Best of all, the simple, intuitive interface lets you actually find and use them all. The 60-Gbyte drive has space for up to four and a half hours of broadcast-quality video, and the Power PC processor and custom operating system are zippy. Use the CD-ROM to import TrueType fonts, soundtracks, and still images for creating fully loaded flicks.

ScreenPlay: $3,995. Applied Magic: (888) 624 4255, www.applied-magic.com.

Digital Cordless Phones

Sure, the cellular revolution has overshadowed the advances in the cordless phones. But the days of staticky conversations are over, thanks to spread spectrum digital technology. Like the latest cells, the new cordless models offer greater range, sound quality, and security. They also have more features, such as remote-control capabilities and built-in answering machines.

FIRST CLASS

Bang &Olufsen BeoCom 6000
This angular 2.4-GHz phone offers phenomenal sound quality that's rarely interrupted when used within range (164 feet from its base indoors, 984 feet outdoors). It can handle six additional handsets, which double as remotes for B&O stereos and TVs. Input new info into one, and the rest sync up. The dial lets you scroll through your programmed numbers. The only bummer: B&O's digital answering machine is sold separately - a minor inconvenience for a sexy phone.

BeoCom 6000: $475. BeoTalk 1200 answering machine:$195. Bang & Olufsen: +1 (847) 590 4900, www.bang-olufsen.com.

BUSINESS CLASS

Siemens Gigaset 4215
With its sleek design and sophisticated display, the Gigaset 4215 looks more like a cell than a cordless handset. Perfect for big backyards or neighborhood strolls, the 2.4-GHz phone roams as far as the BeoCom does, but one-ups it with a built-in digital answering machine capable of storing 33 minutes of messages. The system works with four handsets and learns four users' voices for hands-free dialing. Like the BeoCom, this baby can stash 200 names and numbers in its directory.

Gigaset 4215: $230. Siemens: (888) 777 0211, www.icm.siemens.com.

COACH

Audiovox DT951 Ci
Operating at 900 MHz doesn't mean you have to sacrifice sound quality. With this phone, you can make your point - clearly - from up to 500 feet away. The battery allows seven hours of talk and a week of standby time, similar to the pricier models. The answering machine has only 15 minutes of storage, but there are three mailboxes. The caller ID holds 50 numbers, a quarter of what the others do, but who're you kidding - do you really expect more than 50 callers?

DT951 Ci: $130. Audiovox: (800) 229 1235, www.audiovox.com.