The Gadgeteer

My Gadgetry

Ruggedized Panasonic Toughbook CF-29: This is the laptop you always see in television shows about spies; 24 and the like. It’s got a titanium shell and can survive a 5-foot drop. Its best feature? The handle.

Accessories with the Toughbook: in-vehicle docking station, mobile WiFi backhauled into the SouthernLINC Wireless broadband network, and, you know, various wireless mice and thumb drives and USB hubs, etc.

Palm T|X: It’s what I do my Geocaching with. I load all my Geocaches into it so I can go paperless. But it’s also got built-in WiFi and is wonderful for keeping up with my daily grind.

Accessories: The foldable keyboard; handmade Italian leather case made by Piel Frama.

Delorme Earthmate PN20: Is it pronounced Delorm or Delor-MAY? Who cares. This little gadget is also for Geocaching, but it does so, so much more. I use it for everyday navigation and I link it up with Delorme Topo on the Toughbook for serious mapping/GPS work.

Archos 605 WiFi: This is my little dream box. Built-in WiFi, high-definition video, audio, and a 60GB HD make this little box a mainstay, everywhere I go.

Accessories: I have the DVR adapter, so I can record HD programming into it straight off the DirecTV.

iPod Mini: I got this when they first came out, and I’ve used it terribly. I listen to audiobooks with it mostly, and it’s suffered under my care. But I love my little iPod. I know it’s only a second-generation iPod, but it has outstanding battery life due to the lack of a color screen, and it’s so dependable that I can’t let go of it. Besides, you can have your fancy iTouch, my Archos makes it look like a first-generation iPod.

Blackberry 7100i: I get email from four different accounts instantaneously. Yes, I am a Crackberry addict. Although I’m not much for texting. I use the SouthernLINC Wireless network, which is regional, only available in the SE. But it’s the most robust system in the world (this is a proven fact–two days after Katrina the system was 97% online. All the other carriers were still trying to figure out where they were going to get five hundred generators. SouthernLINC has generators already installed at all their sites. Disclaimer: I am a proud employee of SouthernLINC Wireless :-) I also play that damnable BrickBreaker game like an addict.

Sirius Sportster: Some of the places I go for work don’t have radio stations, much less radio stations of quality. The backroads of west Alabama can be a barren place if you need something to listen to. But no longer! I’ve been a Sirius customer since ‘05, and I don’t plan on cutting them loose any time soon. I love being able to drive anywhere in the States and listen to exactly what I want, when I want, with no commercials interrupting the flow.

Playstation 3: I’ve owned them all; or most of them, at least. From the original Atari to the 2600, the Nintendo and Super NES, XBox, Playstation 1 & 2 and now 3. I don’t have to say much about it, because everyone knows what it is and what it does. We use it for our DVD player as well as for games. I love BluRay in full-theater surround sound.

Aiptek AHD300 1080P HD video recorder/8MP stillshot camera: This is my latest gadget. I picked it up on Black Friday at 6:00AM at a Walgreen’s near Conyers, GA for $79. It’s built like a cheap toy, but it does record really excellent video. For the price, I don’t think it can be beat. Hopefully I’ll be adding some video around here soon enough from it…

So that’s my collection. Some old, some new, some cheap and some top-of-the-line. But I’m very happy with my little collection of gadgetry. There are many other gadgets that I’ve worn out or just moved on from, but these are the ones that get the most use in my life. To carry all this stuff I, well I don’t really have a good solution yet. I don’t have a man purse (yet), although I’m not entirely opposed to one. I have a backpack and a cross-shoulder Timbuk2 messenger bag, but everything I’ve tried so far has been woefully inadequate. At this point I may just have to invest in a man purse, I guess. I’ve gotten into the habit of trying to predict which I’ll need and when and only carry a piece or two at a time. But with all the cables and cards and accessories they all require it’s a mess. Here’s a post in which there’s a photo of me wearing this bag, holding Princess Leia’s slave chain.

I am going to add one more gadget to this post, one that I love dearly but which won’t fit in any messenger bag:

1996 Triumph Sprint ST 900: I LOVE this motorcycle. The speed triple (3 cylinder) engine has a throaty growl you don’t hear out of V-Twins or Japanese 4-cycle sport bikes. It’s a sound all its own. And, as we say in the South, it will flat git it. Another lovely toy that I have been entirely too unkind to. British racing green is the only way to go, for me. This is a fine representation of what the finest British steel looks like, in my book at least. This bike has a story it would love to tell, but that would take it’s own blog post, so I’ll save it for another time.

If you notice any obvious deficiencies by all means let me know. I’d love to add to my collection.

Now, what does your collection look like?