Oh! Gizmo

By Luke Anderson

When you take your laptop somewhere, you will most likely store it in some kind of bag or case. This is only logical, since you’ll not only want to protect your hardware, but you’ll also need an easy way to carry it, along with the power cord and any peripherals you need as well. If you’re going to carry around something as bulky as a laptop case, why not get one that’s going to serve an extra function?

This Napbook seems like the perfect case for on-the-go people that might need to catch a quick nap here or there. Essentially what you’ve got is a small pillow that also happens to serve as a laptop case. When you need a few minutes of shut-eye, just plop your head down and you’ll be snoozing in no time. These are currently only sold in a remote Apple Store in Iceland. The good news is that the designer is already working on getting his bags mass-produced so that the rest of us can purchase them.

VIA [ Crave ]

By Luke Anderson

If you have an older laptop, there’s a good chance that you can’t take advantage of newer add-on cards. Since the introduction of the ExpressCard slot, many manufacturers have been focusing on creating products that fit the newer standard. Since many people still have only a CardBus slot, this ExpressAdapt adapter will likely come in handy.

This is a simple adapter, meaning that it won’t need any additional software or drivers. The $45 adapter is a bit steep, and depending on what type of card you’re adding, may not be worth it. If you’re using it to add something like a wireless adapter to your notebook, you may as well just save up your money for a newer laptop, as you’ll probably be sinking nearly $100 into an aging computer.

[ Synchrotech ] VIA [ Ubergizmo ]

By Luke Anderson

When I use my laptop, I rarely plug in a mouse, as I can generally get by with just the touchpad. However, if I know that I’m going to be working with some mouse-intensive applications like Photoshop for a bit, I’ll generally use a mouse to make my life easier. Some people prefer to never have to use a touchpad at all, and always keep a mouse with them. So for those people, here is an interesting device from Logitech.

If for some reason you like to carry your laptop around without a case or sleeve, then you’ll love this mouse. It features a clip which mounts (aka sticks) to the lid of your notebook that allows you to attach the mouse to. I’m sure that it will be great if you’re dragging your laptop all over the office, but once you go to put it away in your laptop case, then the clip is pretty useless.

Aside from the clip, it’s a pretty basic wireless mouse from Logitech. It has a tiny 2.4GHz wireless receiver that can stay inserted in your laptop without sticking out very far. If carrying around your laptop without a case is your thing, and you hate touchpads, this might just be worth the price of around $95.

[ Logitech ] VIA [ Hexus ]

By Luke Anderson

When you go shopping for a GPS, what are the features you look for? Maybe you want a bigger screen, Bluetooth capabilities, or one that is really cute. Okay, so I doubt that many of you are looking for a “cute” GPS, but if you are, few are going to top this robotic teddy bear.

While not the most practical GPS out there, this bear will provide directions by speaking aloud and point its arms to indicate which way to turn. Don’t try getting behind the wheel drunk, because this little guy won’t bear (sorry, couldn’t resist the obvious pun) it, thanks to the alcohol detection unit in his neck. Sure, without a display this won’t be of interest for most people, but it’s still interesting to see what people come up with.

[ iXs Research ] VIA [ Dvice ]

By Luke Anderson

If you’re looking for an ultraportable laptop, you have plenty of options to choose from. The latest of those being the Wind from MSI. It packs a 1.6GHz Atom CPU, 80GB of storage 1GB of RAM, a 10-inch (1024×600) display and Windows XP Home. All for just $499.

I have to say that this looks mighty tempting. I’ve been looking for something a little more portable than the laptop I have now, and this one seems to fit just about everything I need. It also includes features like 802.11b/g, Bluetooth and a webcam. Battery life is expected to be right around 5.5 hours.

You’ll be able to get your hands on one starting June 16th directly from MSI. Also, if Linux is your thing, you can wait until July and get one without the Windows tax for $399.

VIA [ MSI ]

By Luke Anderson

I swear that some people spend more time typing on cell phones than they do on their computers. That would certainly explain why I-O Data has created this tiny Bluetooth 2.0 keyboard designed specifically for mobile phones.

I honestly can’t see how something this small would be very benificial to someone. It will cost a whopping $153 when it hits stores (in Japan) next month, so why not put that money towards a phone with a full QWERTY keyboard. With such small keys, you’d probably be better off.

VIA [ CrunchGear ]

By Luke Anderson

Two-in-one (or more) convergence devices are always hit-or-miss. Some things just don’t need to be combined into a single product. I mean, you wouldn’t want your toaster to also work as a measuring cup, would you? Here’s a flash drive from Asus that also functions as a wireless mouse. While it’s not nearly as bad as my toaster idea (patent pending) I just don’t see this as being something I would want to use for even a short amount of time.

As a flash drive, it looks bulkier than most, and I likely wouldn’t want to carry it in my pocket. As a mouse, my hand starts cramping up at the mere though of using something that tiny. I think I’ll have to pass on this one. If you’re interested, you’ll be sad to hear that pricing and availability aren’t currently known.

[ Asus ] VIA [ EverythingUSB ]

By Luke Anderson

I’ve never really had a bike that was worth a lot of money. Sure, they were nice enough for me to not be embarrassed when I rode them around, but nothing fancy. Plus my hometown was rather small, and rarely did you hear of anyone’s bike getting stolen, so I never bothered to lock mine up when I rode it around. However, these days I live in a much different place, and I’d definitely lock a bike up anywhere I went. If I had my choice, I’d probably use a pair of these Bike Cuffs.

As you may have noticed, these look a rather lot like handcuffs with a bike chain between them. They are made from hardened laminated steel and feature a drill-proof locking system. Aside from looking cool and being quite secure, these would likely be easier to carry around then some of the other secure solutions I’ve seen. They’re a bit pricey (more expensive than any bike I’ve owned) at around $160.

[ Firebox ] VIA [ Red Ferret ]

By Luke Anderson

When I travel, I tend to pack as lightly as possible. However, being a geek doesn’t make that very easy. In order to cut down on the amount of clutter in my gadget bag, I usually forgo the inclusion of my external hard drive. My laptop hard drive is usually large enough to accommodate most of my files, and I’m afraid that as hard as I am on my gadgets, I’ll end up killing an external drive (I’ve done it before). If you’re worried about protecting your data when you’re away from home, the StoreJet 25 might put your mind at ease.

The new drive from Transcend features an extra-rugged silicone case that stands up to US military drop-test standards by utilizing a two-stage anti-shock technology. The drive will come in capacities of up to 250GB, which is about as large as you’d expect for a 2.5-inch drive. The highest capacity will set you back $176.99.

[ Transcend ] VIA [ UberGizmo ]