In this techie society keeping up with the latest and greatest gadgets is difficult; every week there is a new product. As students, we like to stay up to date but with our dwindling budgets it’s almost impossible to purchase all that’s out there. Nevertheless, here is a short list of gadget must haves that won’t break the bank.


1) The USB Aircraft Mouse ($17)

While this is not a wireless mouse, its hip design and user interface makes up for its rigidity. Besides, wireless mice are not always the best way to go… they need batteries and sometimes their response time is a bit lagged. Now a days it's cool to have a different type of computer mouse. This USB Aircraft mouse is compatible with Windows XP and Vista so it will work with most computers and it just looks cool (no word if it works on Mac). The Aircraft Mouse is available in black or white and features two buttons, a scroll wheel and LED lights in red and blue. Size: 149 x 109 x 30 mm. This is not exactly a gaming mouse, however, if you're just looking for a peripheral that will simply look good for office work, then 800 DPI are more than enough.

Features:
• Cool aircraft design
• Resolution: 800dpi
• Plug and play
• USB interface
• LED light up when it is plug into USB port
• Support Windows 2000/XP/VISTA
• Dimension: 155 x 115 x 35mm (approx.)
• Weight: 90g

You can find the USB Aircraft Mouse at brando.com


2) Rapid Charger with One-Touch Discharge Battery Charger. ($39.04)

Keeping your batteries full of life whenever you need them is a must.
According to a study done by the California Integrated Waste Management Board in 2008, the average person uses 14.7 batteries per year. With the average household being 2.5 people. If the initial purchase is 4 rechargeable batteries, the initial outlay for the rechargeable batteries and charger is $51.99: 4 batteries at $3 each, and $39.99 for the charger.

For non-rechargeable batteries, you spend $56 per year, assuming each battery is a $1.50 each, and this cost could be higher in some cases. Rechargeable batteries accept approximately 100 recharges, or approximately 2-3 years. In the first year of use you would save $14. Granted most people wouldn't recharge their batteries 100 times, because as we all know the more times you recharge a battery, the less usage time it has BUT for the sake of the argument... this charger can save you some cash.
Now check out for yourself why the Rapid Charger is such a remarkable product!

This marvelously compact, brilliantly designed product features a bright, eye-catching LCD display that reveals all the performance data you need to know at a glance. This Rapid Charger energizes AA or AAA NiMH rechargeable batteries with amazing speed.

What is NiMH, you ask?

NiMH stands for Nickel-Metal Hydride, the materials used in some battery packs. Unlike NiCad batteries, NiMH batteries do not use heavy metals that may have toxic effects. In addition, they can store up to 50% more power than NiCad batteries and do not suffer from memory effects.

As anyone who has endured long charging waits before being able to enable their digital equipment, a quick-charging device such as this Rapid Charger is a necessity. And one touch is all it takes to discharge! Nothing could be easier. With this little charger you get the rapid charge you need for all your digital devices.

Specifications:

• Chemistry: NiMH
• Capacity: 2500 mAh

For use with the following:
• Digital Cameras
• CD Players
• MP3 Players
• Portable Radios and all other electronic equipment using AA batteries
• Charge Time: Approximately 2 Hours (for 2 - 2000mAh Batteries)
• LCD Charging/Discharging Indicator
• Includes 4 - AA rechargeable Batteries

You can find the Rapid Charger at jumbomarketplace.com


3) Mini Bluetooth Keyboard ($39)

If you are into playing video games online this is the keyboard for you. This Bluetooth keyboard enables you to easily have text conversations with your online friends, instead of using the time consuming controller options.

This Mini Keyboard is a Bluetooth enabled keyboard. Its portable and tiny design can be used for travel, school, or any other working environment with a Bluetooth enabled interface. This new wireless Mini Bluetooth Keyboard perfectly combines compactness and functionality.The device supports technology Bluetooth version 2.0 and can be connected to any compatible handheld computer, the smart phone or even game console PS3.

Features:

• Bluetooth V2.0
• 83 keys
• Connect button to connect bluetooth in your PC and Playstation 3
• Slim body that save working place
• On/Off button at the back
• Operating distance: 15 meters
• Powered by 2pcs AAA batteries (Not included)
• Dimension: 140 x 70 x 12mm (approx.)
• Weight: 66g



You can find the Mini Bluetooth Keyboard at gadget4all.com


4) USB Flash Drive Wrist Band ($16)


Flash drives are useful to transport digital information from one device to another, especially for students. You may have written documents on a computer that is not connected to a printer so getting it from a PC to a printer dock can be a headache, this stylish little flash drive not only facilitates this problem but with it’s conventional transport ability, it is easy to carry around and find with ease.

The USB Flash Drive Wrist Band is a fashionable and stylish mass storage device. It is shockproof and moisture proof fashion gadget that you can wear wherever you go. With its seemingly weightless feature your data will come along with you even to the beach. Just plug it into any USB port, and your computer will automatically detect and configure your files without
restarting the computer.

Features:

• 512MB flash memory
• Mobile data storage and exchange
• Easy to view, edit, and copy files
• Made of flexible rubber, soft and comfortable
• Shockproof and moisture proof
• Small, light, portable
• Convenient for data-carrying
• Low power consumption
• High durability

Colors:

• Red
• Yellow
• Blue
• Green
• Orange
• Purple

You can find the Wrist Band USB flashdrive on GraphicIce.com

5) Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000 ($34.40)

Webcams are everywhere. Many PCs (and all Mac laptops) have them built in, and the prices for those sold separately have bottomed out. Microsoft's LifeCam VX-1000 sells for just $20. But you get what you pay for, so if you want a Microsoft model, skip that stinker and get the LifeCam VX-5000 for under $40. This premium model offers digital pan, tilt, and zoom, and its 640-by-480 resolution yields video quality just a little lower than that of a standard-def DVD.

Anyone shopping for a webcam probably has an older laptop with a thicker screen and wants to place the webcam on a desk or clamp it to an LCD screen. The VX-5000 looks good, thanks to a subtle color ring (it comes in blue, green, or red) around the casing. It has a cool bendable hinge that folds easily and clips onto your laptop screen or desktop monitor.

Once you find a place for it on your desk, you can simply plug in the USB cable and start using the VX-5000 with Windows Live Messenger. While Live Messenger is not as popular as AIM, most people at least have this app installed.

The 1.3-megapixel, 640-by-480 sensor on the VX-5000 is not going to set the world on fire with its stunning quality, but Microsoft has added a few tricks to improve the feed. One result is that the VX-5000's image looks about twice as bright as that of the LifeCam VX-7000, a poor performer when it comes down to actually seeing the person during a video chat.
Calls using Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger are consistently crisp and bright no matter what the lighting conditions. Low-light performance is critical, since most webcam users don't have a lamp pointing at their face at all times. The camera lets you control lens position by making slight pans to the left or right, 3X zooms (enough to go from a shoulder view to a headshot), and up-and-down tilts. We're not talking camcorder-level controls here, but they're enough to let you reposition the webcam for a more centered view without having to get up from your chair and make manual adjustments. These digital adjustments use the camera driver, so you can access them from Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, or whatever webcam tool you use.

Audio quality for video chats are just passable. As long as you're sitting at your computer, your buddies can at least hear you talking. Because of the small microphone, if you move too far from the webcam, the audio goes silent faster than with other webcams, and it just doesn't pick up very well from even a few feet away. You're better off having a separate microphone hooked up.

Features:

• World Class VGA Optics - see more clearly with 2x the light collection than regular VGA optics
• Superior Low-light Performance - auto-adjusts for low-light conditions
• Bend, fold & shape the flexible base for the best angle on laptop screens, flat panels & traditional monitors
• Video Effects
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• 3X Digital Zoom
• Built-in microphone
• Weight: 0.3 Kg

You can find the LifeCam VX-5000 on Amazon.com


Elizabeth Gutierrez- Rainbow Connection Staff Writer