Gillian Shaw
Sun
Sierra Wireless USB 598 modem
Sealegs, Sealegs Corp
Blumenau Model Train Set
Expedition XP308i, Samson Technologies
1. Sierra Wireless USB 598 modem, through Telus, free with two- or three-year contract rising to $200 with no contract
If you hate getting that disconnected feeling, you’ll have to cave and get one of these USB modems. When WiFi is out of range and your BlackBerry or iPhone won’t do, plug a USB modem into your laptop and you’re back in e-business. Telus, like other carriers, gives this handy gadget away free with an Internet data contract. That’s where the bills start piling up. Be careful what you sign up for, and don’t get carried away streaming video. www.sierrawireless.com
2. Sealegs, Sealegs Corp., from $39,000 US, without outboard engine, depending on location
Admittedly, this is a little on the large side for a tech toy, but with summer coming and the prospect of a machine that lets you pretend you’re James Bond, it could be the perfect Father’s Day present. This amphibious craft comes in two sizes, 6.1 and 7.1 metres. When you run out of water, the three retractable wheels roll out and you climb onto land. It zips along at 30 to 35 knots on the water, but on land 007 might have some trouble getting away from the bad guys with a top speed of 10 km/h. It also runs for a maximum of 10 minutes on land. After that, it has to cool down before you can take off again. www.sealegs.com
3. Update on Fidelity VPC (Very Personal Computer), Fidelity Electronics, $250
I wrote about this WiFi notebook with the tiny size and matching price when it was first announced. Now it’s finally ready for shipping. Preloaded and weighing 700 grams. www.fidelityvpc.com.
4. Blumenau Model Train Set, Paul Smith, £1,000
Another for the dad who has everything — a Blumenau model train set tucked into an aluminum briefcase. Just the thing to lighten up a bored board room. With a summer landscape and a route passing over mountains and winding under tunnels, the set includes a locomotive with two carriages. www.paulsmith.co.uk
5. Expedition XP308i, Samson Technologies, $680 US
A portable PA system that packs up in a single case. Dual two-way speakers, on-board mixer and 300-watt power amplifier, the entire package adds up to less than 18 kilograms. www.samsontech.com
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