Techtalk
words by Camilla Chafer
best 5 travel gadgets
1. Asus Eee PC
The original Asus Eee has firmly made its mark as an ultra portable laptop perfect for travellers. Yes, the screen is a mite small at 17.7cm and the keyboard is better suited for people with smaller hands, but it does have everything a traveller needs. A Linux-based operating system makes powering up fast and software is in groups such as ‘work’ or ‘play’. There’s a webcam, speakers and mic for keeping in touch, with Skype pre-installed and it comes in a variety of cute colours. The small hard drive means you may want to get a USB stick to store extra info. Newer models have XP installed and larger screens.
From around €228, http://eeepc.asus.com
2. Flip Video Ultra camcorder
New from the US is the simple to use Flip Video Ultra camcorder. Unusually it has just one function – it’s purely for shooting video clips. The point and shoot minicam is operated with a one-touch button and is ready to record within seconds, so you’ll be able to catch amazing scenes quickly and easily. A 2GB memory stores 60 minutes of footage and it has inbuilt software and a USB arm for easy transfer of your files to your PC.
€107, www.play.com
3. Samsung i100 camera
This is not just an ordinary digital camera; it also has a ‘World Tour Guide’ function covering 2,600 regions in 30 countries with information on the many attractions wherever you might find yourself. The 10.2megapixel is great quality plus there is 3x optical zoom for crisper distance shots. It has lots of little extras, too, such as red-eye reduction, image stabilisation and an on-screen photo help guide for troubleshooting. It’s also a Portable Media Player (PMP) that plays videos on the 7.6cm screen and MP3s using Samsung Convert software. €190, www.samsungcamera.com
4. Solio Hybrid 1000 charger
How many chargers do you take away and how many times have you searched for a power socket? That’s not a problem with the Solio Hybrid 1000 charger. Attach it to your car window while you’re out and about or leave at your home for it to absorb sunlight which can be stored in its internal battery for up to a year. A number of adaptable tips are included for charging mobile phones, games consoles, iPods, digital cameras and many more.
€125, www.solio.com
5. iPod Nano
No need to travel with an MP3 player, portable video player and a host of audio books, as the iPod Nano does it all. The 8GB version comes in lots of colours and the 5cm screen is fine for viewing the up to eight hours of video it stores. It also holds 2,000 songs – should be enough to tide you over.
€163, www.apple.com
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