Home & portable entertainment

We live in a world where we rely more and more on digital media. We share photos with friends and family through websites like Flickr and Facebook. We discover new music via digital download. We rent movies over the Internet.

At the same time, accessing all of this digital media can be a virtual juggling act. You may forget to sync your iPod and be without new music and podcasts. E-mailing photos can be a hassle and a half -- especially if you're trying to send the latest digital captures of little Quentin to his elderly Uncle Conrad & Aunt Ginny.

With the rise of affordable, ultra compact netbook computers, many companies have struggled to differentiate their products in the market place. Current trends have placed tiny, low resolution screens, sluggish processing, and cramped keyboards into the norm of the new netbook space. Premium models have addressed these issues by offering larger screen sizes and more powerful computing at the expense of portability and a higher cost of ownership. The Toshiba mini NB205 addresses the very same issues without driving up costs and still providing a highly portable and exceptionally satisfying user experience.

The hottest gear of 2008 comes in small packages. It could be a wireless Internet browser, a digital reader, a pocket projector, or something equally buzz-worthy. Here's our list of cool products to consider when shopping for that special someone.
 

1. Net-Savvy Tablet

The Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet is a 4.8-inch touch screen (800 x 480 pixels) with Wi-Fi browser. Besides letting your fingers do the site reading, it's ideal for playing video, music, and slideshows from its embedded hard drive or streamed from a wireless network. If you love Internet radio, you can listen with the earphones or built-in speaker. If you want the ultimate wireless picture frame, just pop the kickstand. Plug the tablet into the optional Archos DVR Station, and you can schedule recordings from your cable or satellite box without paying to download content. The Archos 5 Internet Media Tablets are available in 60-, 120-, and 250 Gigabyte versions. If you prefer a 7-inch screen, there's the Archos 7 Internet Media Tablet with 160- or 320 GB of memory.

A new class of portable computers, dubbed 'netbooks,' burst onto the scene in late 2007. Taiwanese manufacturer ASUS spearheaded the netbook revolution with their playfully named, and ostensibly tiny, Eee PC.

When compared to a full fledged notebook, these computers,weighing between two and three pounds, have limited functionality. You can type up a memo, surf the web, or watch a movie – albeit on a small screen – with ease, but you wouldn't want to edit a home movie, track your finances, or rely on a netbook for any mission-critical application.

A Netbook for Me?

Early models of the Eee PC had limited storage space, underpowered processors by VIA, and were preloaded with Linux rather than Windows. These computers made up for a lack of performance and maturity with a low price-point; you can get an early model Eee PC for as little as $299.

Newer models feature higher storage capacities, more memory, faster Atom CPUs by Intel, larger screens, and the option of running Windows. They are a bit more costly, with top-end models setting you back $499, but this extra cost gets you a more robust computer. It's still not a machine you would want to use as your primary computer, but it's a nice option for commuters and travelers.