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Episode 50: Buying a Computer
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Intel's rollout of its Core 2 Duo and Core 2 Extreme processors spurs a discussion of buying a computer, where the Gurus of Cool offer tips for your next Mac or PC purchase. They also talk about monitors, moving from an old computer to a new one, and smack down another rip-roaring rapid-fire roundup of cool products they've seen during the week..
Features by the Gurus of Cool
Kimono Cases
In Japan, the kimono has been a traditional garb worn by men, women, and children. The finely woven fabric looks fantastic and great care is taken in its creation. The word kimono translates to “something worn”, and that is exactly the case with the iPod Kimono Case.
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Dell Precision Workstation 390: Core 2 Extreme Debut
by Charlie White
Intel today introduces its Core 2 line of processors formerly known as Conroe, and coinciding with that, Dell launches its Precision 390 Workstations equipped with these just-shipped dual-core chips. The company sent a Core 2 Extreme-equipped workstation to our Midwest Test Facility for review, and at first glance, the machine looked just like the Precision 380 we tested over a year ago. But when we put the machine on our test bench and ran a few benchmarks, we discovered that the difference between this workstation and its predecessor goes all the way down to the Core. Read More »
JLab Audio B-Flex Hi-Fi Stereo USB Speaker
by Charlie White
JLab Audio is a new company that just appeared on the market this month, and we first took a look at the company's MiniBlaster portable speaker system for iPod nano. The company also offers the B-Flex Hi-Fi Stereo USB Speaker ($39.95), a small yet powerful USB speaker system that plugs into a USB port on any PC or Mac. It's available in either black or white, and claims to deliver crystal-clear sound in a small package. We plugged the B-Flex speaker into a few different notebooks and took a close listen to its sound. Read More >>
Rapid-Fire Roundup® of Cool Products
Cooper Cooler
I hate it when I come home from the store and want to drink a glass of soda, but it tastes awful at room temperature. The Cooper Cooler rapidly chills beverages in minutes instead of hours in the fridge. From 77 to 33 in less than five minutes.
Honda MiniJet
Honda has been working on its MiniJet for 20 years, and finally you can order one starting this Fall for around $3 million. It'll go 43,000 feet high at 450mph, and can take you and your five closest friends a couple of thousand miles in style.
SolarSafe
Like to be out in the sun, but keep forgetting when it is time to reapply the sunscreen? The SolarSafe wristband lets you know by changing color as your sunscreen wears off. $16 is a small price to pay to prevent sunburn or worse.
Samsung 4GB Flash Disk
Samsung has started production of a special 4GB solid-state disk that will be mounted on motherboards of desktop computers. The extremely fast solid-state disk will contain the data that you use the most, making everything run faster. Expect them to be standard equipment on most computers within a year.
Kimono Case
Lavish your iPod with fine fabric and leather remniscent of fine Japanese Kimonos. This case is very well designed for the iPod Nano and 5th Gen iPods.
Walit Illuminating Wallet
This illuminating wallet has an electroluminescent strip inside, lighting up when you open it. It's just what you need to keep you from handing over a $100 bill when you want to give somebody a One. Could pay for itself with one use. It's about $28.
Magnetic Knife Holder
A knife block is keen, but it takes up so much space on the counter. The Magnetic Knife Holder takes the knives off the counter and hangs them on the wall with a set of four magnets. Just make sure you grab the handle and not the blade by mistake.
Microsoft Comfort Mouse 3000
The Microsoft Comfort Mouse costs about $17 but is worth its weight in gold. It has a great gel scroll wheel, a button that's perfectly located on the side, and infrared precision. Equally good for a right- or left-handers, it fits perfectly in any hand.
Belkin WiFi phone for Skype
This phone won’t be out until August 31st, but the Belkin WiFi phone for Skype lets you make calls for free using the Skype service using any free WiFi hotspot. $180.
Bathroom LED Tiles
These great-looking floor tiles have embedded LED lights in each one to illuminate your path at night. Plus, they make your bathroom the epitome of coolness. They can be installed on floors, walls or ceilings, and are available in blue, yellow or white. They're part of a whole line of ceramics from Steuler Tile of Germany containing cool-burning and long-lasting LED lights.
Show Links
Coolermaster Notebook Pal (Not Recommended)
Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP 24-inch Widescreen LCD
uConnect Skype Phone Converter
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