This is the fifth entry in our $600 gadget contest and Erik has done us proud by including both a promotion picture and a review, nice one Erik now over to the review.

For the $1400 price tag, I just could not say “No.” to this great HDTV Monitor. True, it does not have an HDTV tuner included, but as I haven’t used my regular TV antennae in over 8 years, I figured it was a moot point. It worked great right out of the box, and at just under 60 lbs, it was easy to transport from my work (where it was delivered) to my home, and just as easy to place on top of my 4 foot high entertainment center.

It comes with a plethora of inputs (1xVGA, 1x Composite video, 1x S-video, 2x Component video, 2x DVI-HDCP, 2x RCA Phono, and 1x Mini stereo audio 3.5mm) so it was easy to connect my different peripherals. I currently have my HDTV cable box, pc, dvd/vcr and ps2 connected, all with their own dedicated connection, although with the input/output connectors located on the middle back section facing right and left makes it very easy to switch things around. I have mine mounted on the included stand, but the connection setup makes it very easy to wall-mount and still be able to easily reach your connectors.
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The mailbox is overflowing with the first two entries in our $600 gadget competition.

First off we have Jeff (pictured above) with his CG promotional photo, errrr thanks Jeff.

Another CG regular, Arthur has sent us his review of his antique favourite gadget the TI-84 Plus Silver Edition Read the rest of this entry »

I recently received the proporta gadget bag for review, I’m generally not a fan of “man bags” but this one had gadgets in mind so had to give it a go.

The bag is designed especially for gadgets and as such is heavily padded for protection. For a size comparison I pictured it alongside a classic DVD.
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We’ve received quite a few cool gadgets to review this year (most of which we’ll be giving away (to be announced shortly)). One gadget that I’ve been playing with for the last few months is the SanDisk Cruzer Titanium 2GB USB Flash Drive (apologises to Jamie for the excessive time this review has taken).

The Cruzer Titanium is one tough flash drive, it boasts the ability to withstand 2,000 lbs of crush force (which we put to the test with the help of a friends’ grossly over-sized MPV). One of the weak points on many similar sticks is the USB connector, the Cruzer avoids this problem by having the connector slide in and out of the casing (this even protects it from manic drivers who are on a USB destroying rampage). Read the rest of this entry »

The iDJ is a compact mixing console with 2 built-in iPod docks. Mixing directly from your iPods gives you the ability to utilize thousands tracks from your iTunes collection at your next party or event. If you need to pull audio from additional sources, you’ll be happy to know that the iDJ has two additional turntables or MP3/CD players inputs. I can see how this would come in handy at an event like a wedding where someone ends up handing the DJ a CD at the last minute.

The iDJ Mixer is both Firewire and USB2.0 compatible, so you can use 3rd Generation iPods (iPod mini, iPod photo) or newer generation models as well.

After reading through the specs, I noticed you can take things a step further and connect via S-Video. Greg from getusb.info thinks this feature “makes the iDJ a good video mixer for schools, churches or corporate applications where you have multiple people presenting and don’t want to fumble around with PC connections and projectors.”

The iDJ Mixer also features headphone pre-cuing, separate channel three-band EQ and an industry-standard Kensington security slot. The security slot enables you to lock down the iDJ to a table in case you need to walk away for a few minutes for a cigarette or quick bathroom break.

Technical Details

• Voltage: 110
• Length: 18.5 inches;Height: 5.75 inches;Width: 14.0 inches
• Weight: 7.0 pounds
• Inputs – 2 iPod, 2 Line (CD/MP3), 2 Phono (Turntable), & 1 Microphone
• Outputs – Master RCA, Record RCA, S-Video, Headphone (1/8 & 1/4)
• Compatible with 3rd & 4th generation iPods, iPod Minis, & iPod Photo
• Compatible with Firewire & USB 2.0 iPod connectors

The iDJ can be purchased either from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk

BeSocial: getusb.info | methodshop

I had a power cut recently and it’s at times like that when you realise how much you rely on light just being there when you need it. You can’t even read a book when it’s pitch black outside and you’re out of candles. So being the geek that I am, I decided to use this an an opportunity to buy a new gadget. When the power came back I did some digging around to find the current state of the art in flashlight technology – see what I ended up with after the jump…
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So everyone has one, some call it a purse, some call it a satchel, just just call it, “My darn bag.”

Either way, you’ve got one. You use your bag on the go. Most of all, you’ve got a bag filled with stuff you think is useful enough that if it all went down, you’d be the one swinging from the trees, able to make fire, and live high off the hog while the rest of us can barely remember how to talk.

To add a layer of transparency to this, I’ve started with my own daily dragger. Here is the list of what I keep in there and why. I can’t wait to hear what everyone else is lugging around, it’s always been a mystery to me.

First off, I’ve got a bag I’ve had for years here from Dana Gleason the former owner/creator of Dana Design bags from Bozeman Montana. Now he’s got a new company Mystery Ranch. It’s the best bag you’ll ever own, (I’ve got a Dana Backpack still as well, they’re bulletproof man!) Plus Dana himself is one heck of a guy, irrepressible and will always stand out in a crowd, (he’s about 6′5″ with a flaming red beard) you can’t miss him! They just make the best bags, period.

Now on to the internal goodies!

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Sometimes it’s not just about what should you bring, but how in the hell you get there. If you’re like me (a guy) you can proabably make it from Point A to Point B in record time. The problem is, Point B is not actually your destination, but somewhere a mile or two from it. Now, I’ve been wanting a GPS for years but was concerned my wife thought it too expensive of a “toy.” So I did the next best thing… I bought her one for Christmas. (Kind of like Homer buying Marge a bowling ball) And the funny thing is, she has this amazing internal compass. She hardly ever needs the GPS, so it usually resides with me.

The Garmin Garmin Nuvi 360 does everything you want and more. The Bluetooth technology links seamlessly with your cell phone for handsfree conversations. Map and audio directions put you exactly where you want to go. It can also find restaurants by genre and distance, as well as lodging and gas stations. Did I mention it’s also an MP3 player? One of the coolest features is the optional up to date traffic reports. It automatically processes the information on your route, and takes you around the problem. Now, onto the city guide… not in your car, on foot. Once you’ve decided on your restaurant, museum, or Broadway Show, it’ll take you to the front door.

I’ve been using it for a little over a month and it works flawlessly. The touchscreen makes inputting destinations a snap. Due to the small size and many functions, I don’t ever see myself having to buy my wife another one… till next year.

BeSocial: amazon reviews | whatshouldibring