Computer sales may be down but savvy gear manufacturers have been looking hard at the products consumers really do use and dispose of regularly, and this season they are adding value to all sorts of otherwise familiar products.

Stay In Touch Traveler

The Blackberry, the favorite weapon of road warriors, is one example. This season, the company is offering the Blackberry Pearl, a new, lightweight and sexy multi-tasking unit designed for younger execs, women with gear phobias, and teens with a hefty allowance. The Blackberry Pearl is distinguished by its slim, light size (4.2”x 2”x 0.57”) high-style appearance (sleek, black cellphone look) and excellent color screen (240x260 resolution TFT display). Although the Pearl has the brand’s signature QWERTY keyboard designed to make writing email easier, with two letters to every key and such a tiny profile, any email other than haiku will be a laborious process. On the plus side, our techhead notes that this fine cellphone is the ideal unit for entertainment, with a superior screen, 3.5 hours battery life, 1.3 megapixel camera with built-in flash, wide range of supported audio and video formats, and standard  64 MB flash memory (expandable too).  Priced at US$349.99 and widely available from retailers.

Self-Entertained Traveler

Also for women with gear phobias or the grandmother who has everything is this year’s “ShugaNano,” (US$259) a bright colorful 4GB iPod Nano digital music player that comes with the best gift of all:  time. The Riptopia company is selling an otherwise ordinary iPod with a prestamped box into which the giftee puts up to 50 music CDs that will be automatically downloaded onto the unit and returned to sender.  Picture Christmas morning -- wrapping comes flying off, ooohhs and aaahhs over a cute pink Nano, then whammo – disappointment as Grammy tries to read the Mac instructions. Never fear, you can present the mailer, guarantee that you’ll help her select the most pleasing CDs and put them away when they come back, and voila – instant Shuganana!  As a bonus, Riptopia sends out every unit with ShugaBuds -- sexy white earpieces decorated with tiny, glittery Swarovski crystals to match your Nano which comes in pink, blue or green; limited offer available only November 1 till January 15.

Making Memories Traveler

If you use a digital camera, you can give the gift of memories to someone this holiday season. We love Shutterfly Photo Books, a wonderful way to help your family relive their favorite vacations.  These beautiful hardcover books are completely personalized, look extremely professional, and are fun to design.  Create one as a gift, or give a gift certificate so your kids, spouse or parents can create their own. Once you place your order on line, it takes about 48 hours to process in the lab, and various shipping options are available. 

Visit Shutterfly to get started.  The first step is to choose the perfect size book – options include the 12 x 12” journal memory book, 8 x 11” classic book, 8 x 8” storybook or 4 x 4” brag book.  Next, drag and drop your photographs directly from your computer photo files into the stylized page templates.  Here you can further customize the pages by enhancing your pictures and adding captions.  Finally, you can personalize your memory book or storybook with your own pictures and captions on the cover, add your title and date to the book’s spine, then wait for your personalized hardcover book to arrive in the mail.   For a great stocking stuffer, check out their personalized photo playing cards.

Hates to Get Lost Traveler

We are rapidly losing our collective ability to read a map.  Mapquest and Google Maps and a dozen other mapping programs may have made it easier to find your way (when they work), but we welcomed a chance to test drive a new mapping software program (not to be confused with a web-based approach), the DeLorme Street Atlas 2007 USA.  This three CD set is great for laptops, iPods, PDAs and GPS. I found the program a bit complex, but then I did not seek directions or guidance...  Just like a man.

DeLorme's routing is smart and the directions are actuaally very clear. Using a function called POI (points of interest), it displayed a decent array of restaurants noted along a selected route, but only three Ramada Inns, making me suspicious of a product placement agenda in play. However, when looking at a business meeting spot in Atlanta, I was able to print out a comprehensive map of the general area of my appointment, and see details of hotels and restaurants pinpointed on it.  I could then narrow my choice of accommodations and eating options for convenience, a very useful function. So, while this Street Atlas initially proved difficult to navigate, in fact, its thoroughness and practical features prevail.  I can highly recommend it, but suggest you guys read the manual and ask the program for help when lost.

Wants To Read Everything Traveler

Who says reading glasses are just for grandma?  Everyone who wears reading glasses knows that the biggest problem with needing them is they are easy to forget at home, or lose.  Pocket Peepers can help with vision loss for most people.  Each optical diopter lens is universal strength, correcting vision from +1.25 to +2.50 by adjusting the lens away from your eyes until you find the ideal focal point.  Although it does not come with a built-in light, the high quality of the lens provides a clear image.  Pocket Peepers are great gifts because they are not only stylish (Pocket Peepers Platinum Collection is decorated with Swarovski crystals, Classic Collection includes prints such as 1950s black sports cars and pink designer sunglasses) but practical -- the credit card-sized lens fits in your wallet and can help with small tasks such as reading a menu in a restaurant, or a map in a car. Prices range from $9.95 to $12.95, depending on the style you chose.  Remember, Pocket Peepers is not a common magnifier!  For a Pocket Peepers simulation or to purchase one for yourself and others, visit their site or call 866-9PEEPER.

Needs To Do Homework Traveler

Imation has created some gadgets for tech-loving teens.  First, a bit of wearable technology is available with the Flash Wristband.  This allows students to conveniently and safely carry and transfer photos, music and homework on a 256MB flash drive embedded in a rubberized wristband.  Available in blue or black, the durable wristband plugs into itself and protects the drive from getting damaged or lost.  Our teen reviewer notes: “Despite being blatantly nerdy, it is convenient enough to risk losing your dignity by wearing it." (The band can also lock securely to a bag or backpack.) Adds this teen, “Imation seems to be betting that this bracelet around the wrist will be the new pencil behind the ear.”  Available at Target stores nationwide for the suggested retail price of $24.99.

A second item, the Imation Sudoku Clip Flash Drive also combines durability and portability, and adds popular and brain-teasing Sudoku puzzles.  At 512MB, it has twice the memory capacity and is also safely encased in a durable, rubberized shell.  In addition, a genuine carabiner clip lets you attach the drive quickly and easily to backpacks, shoulder bags or belt loops.  Our teen reviewer deems it: “quite useful," and adds "the actual USB drive is very small, but is held in a rubber key chain for protection.  Sudoku and a screen saver called sea scence (suitable for younger kids) are included on a CD-ROM. The Sudoku installs in seconds, and is very detailed with multiple versions and levels, not to mention a handful of useful options.”  Available at Target stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $34.99.