This Geek's Christmas Tech Toy Wishlist
| Published 12/10/04
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Last spring, I purchased a FujiFilm digital camera -- a purchase I have been happy with but for one exception. Like most digital cameras, my FujiFilm A310 shipped with a free 16mb XD memory card. I've been known to drag my laptop around while on photo assignments so that I can transfer the photos after I fill up the card. I can get about 20 3mp pictures on the card before it's full, which is quite pathetic. With a card that's 32 times bigger, I'll be able to take 32 times the pictures. Unfortunately, a bigger card will constitute the need for a card reader, as the USB in the camera is entirely too slow – transferring 640 pictures would take an hour. For more about digital imaging, see my earlier articles Thrifty Digital part 1, part 2, and part 3. Logitech Wireless Optical Mouse for Notebooks After my mouse troubles during my dual booting reformat, I decided I needed a better mouse than the one-button apple freebee I'd been using. This Logitech mouse is made especially for notebook computers. It uses a receiver smaller than a standard flash memory drive that plugs into any USB 2.0 port. To make it further laptop-ready, the mouse is wireless and optical so that it will run on any flat surface with no need for a mouse pad. It uses two AA batteries, however with some nickel-metal hydrides and a charger (familiar to those of you with digital cameras), you can use the mouse forever without worrying about buying new batteries. And as an added bonus, the mouse comes in red, black, silver or blue. I personally picked blue to match the aforementioned dual booting laptop. Plextor ConvertX Digital Video Converter I've had a Sony Digital Video Camera for years. The camera uses a media that is no longer used for anything, a mini-disc format that was quickly replaced by digital 8 and a number of other media that was faster with more capacity. In addition to the discs that are no longer in production, the camera is equipped with a special Ethernet port specifically for sending data between two computers. Unfortunately, this port does not work and Sony tech support refuses to acknowledge it. Hence my need for a new toy that captures video from a television, which is precisely what this device does. I can hook up my DV camera to the television as if I were going to record my masterpieces onto VHS tape (ah, the good old days), and then use this piece of hardware to capture the data and convert it to something my computer and its video software (Avid Xpress Pro) can understand. 512mb DDR SO DIMM RAM for Toshiba Notebook To run the above video software Avid Xpress Pro, I need much more computer. More RAM is one step along the road to a faster laptop. Currently, I can run the software as long as I close every single program (AIM included) and prepare to work very, very slowly. Xpress Pro is fantastic software though, if you can get past the price (about $1,700). Avid products are used to produce a multitude of professional digital video projects, including Shrek, Master and Commander and my own production, Stuff out my Window. Apple iMac G5 Hey, I can dream, right? See my article about the new G5 for more information. |
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