While the geeks maintain a relatively low profile in most companies - typically confining themselves to the IT department - a range of new products are pushing the cool factor back into technology, and into the mainstream.
According to Warren Moss, general manager of online retailer Digital Planet, gadgets are no longer mystifyingly difficult to use, and offer functionality that appeals to almost everyone. "Digital equipment today is both low cost and provides great value. Some of the new products that are entering the market have almost universal appeal for computer users," he says.
Moss points out ArcDisk, a mini external hard drive that instantly adds 40GB of storage space to any computer. "Space on hard drives is at a premium - digital content has exploded with MP3s, videos and digital photos vying for space. ArcDisk solves the problem with a matchbox-sized solution, which has the added advantage of portability. It doubles as a failsafe backup tool; anyone who has experienced the pain of lost data will appreciate this device," he enthuses.
With photography almost universally digital, Moss reckons the Sandisk Digital Photo Viewer is the modern equivalent of a photo album. "Viewing and sharing digital photos doesn`t have to take place in front of the computer. The Digital Photo Viewer is the fastest, easiest and most convenient way to view and share digital photos - insert a memory card and the slide show begins on TV," he says.
The fun factor is extended with the Laserpod, the modern answer to the lavalamp of the sixties. While the lavalamp functions with the simple principle of heating and cooling, the Laserpod uses advanced technology to generate the purest light known to man - a hi-tech conversation piece for the living room.
Of course, one of the most persistent problems for mobile computing has been the limited life of batteries - and Moss says that while battery technology has advanced somewhat, those on the move are no longer at the mercy of limited power sources. "The Voltaic backpack is a mobile power source that lets the user charge gadgets when away from a power outlet," he explains.
A standard car charger plugs into the bag to recharge most small electronic devices including cellphones, cameras, two-way radios, PDAs, even iPods - so your gadgets, which are no longer in the geek domain, are never out of action.
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