Even though we are in a limited budget these days, we always find a way to keep up with the latest trend in technology. We see them as a means to make our life easier, a way to fit in with society, an indulgence to our hobbies and pleasures, or simply a reward to ourselves for our hard work.
Here are five tech gadgets that the more fortunate of us will be putting on their to-buy-lists this year.
- OLED TV
You’d think your LCD TV is the most superior of them all, but then something better comes along. Is that even possible? OLED TV is much thinner, have brighter pictures, higher contrast, and better color than seen on LCD and plasma screens. Unlike HDTV, OLED uses an organic material that emits light. Whatever that means, it better be worth the high cost. Everyone might want a piece of this, but developers are still working on bigger screens and friendlier prices. So far, the 11-inch model is on sale, and it reportedly costs $1700. The 40-inch model is said to come out soon.
- Touch Screen PC
The success of the ASUS Eee PC – a netbook computer – last year will definitely continue this year. Its lightweight feature and the relatively low price make it attractive for buyers, plus the promise that it is easy to learn, easy to work, and easy to play, thus the 3 E’s. New devices include the Eee Keyboard PC and future models to look forward to are the Eee PC laptop, Eee All-in-one touch screen desktop, and an Eee optimized Windows 7. HP and Dell also have their own version of the touch screen PC.
- 3D Satellite Navigation
Seeing your GPS in 3D sounds so fascinating that it will undoubtedly become popular in the years to come. It features high-definition 3D maps of terrain, road elevation, landmarks and buildings. In addition, it can show almost 13 miles in a single view. Driving in unfamiliar territory will be a treat when you own one of these 3D navigational systems. Nav N Go iGO8, one of the more prominent nav systems, comes with a built-in music and video player, pre-installed games, and travel guides. What more can a driver ask for?
- Palm Pre Phone
In the cell phone arena, what’s next after the iPhone and Blackberry Storm? At the start of the year, Palm introduced Pre, the new touch-screen phone that is said to rival iPhone from Apple. It features a slide-out keyboard, 8BG storage, GPS, and Wi-Fi networking. It faces tough competition in the cell phone marketplace, but it boasts of fast Web browsing and efficient multitasking. Pre is expected to be available at the first part of 2009 and we have yet to find out if it will have a favorable response with consumers.
- Nintendo DSi
Video game enthusiasts are constantly on the lookout for the new game consoles. The next on the list is Nintendo DSi, which is sure to be a hit with the young ones. Compared to the DS Lite, DSi is thinner, has a bigger screen, and includes 2 cameras. An SD card slot allows users to save their photos, music files, and downloaded games. According to a Walmart merchant: “Walmart.com has made tens of thousands of Nintendo DSi units available for preorder, giving more customers the chance to enjoy one of the most sought-after handheld consoles in history.”