FROM LEFT: Sony Bravia VE5 television; Kindle; Microsoft Arc Mouse.
Style iss important. If it weren’t, there wouldn’t be a network named for it, we’d never opt for the “extras” when buying a car, and we’d leave the house every morning without a second thought to wardrobe decisions. Yet many people don’t seem to take into account good looks when buying electronics. They settle for, say, the phone that comes free with their plan and miss the opportunity to add a little elegance to their lives. Here, five gadgets that hit the mark.
MIRROR/IMAGE
Most televisions are already pretty well designed. But when they’re turned off, there’s not much use for them. Pantel’s new TVs (from $1,200 for a 20-inch set) provide more than just an HD LCD picture: They also serve as mirrors. When they’re off, they look more like a design element than the culprit responsible for nearly ruining your relationship every football season. Plus they’re waterproof, which means that if you really wanted to, you could replace your bathroom mirror with a TV (but do you really want to shave while staring at Al Roker?). Visit panteltv.com.
MOUSE-PROUD
Little effort’s been put into creating a “stylish” computer mouse, and for good reason: It’s covered by a hand for most of the day. But the sleek design of Microsoft’s Arc mouse ($60) will make you feel guilty for hiding it. The Arc fits comfortably in your hand and looks like a glossy warped credit card. It’s hinged near the middle, so you can fold it and easily pack it away if you’re using it with a laptop. And since it’s wireless, you can use it up to 30 feet away from your computer— very handy if you’re giving a presentation (or want to spook your office mates). Available at microsoft.com/hardware.
PROPER CHANNELS
Many new televisions this year are going green by cutting back on their power consumption, and they’re all designed to look great in your living room. But the new Sony Bravia VE5 series sets itself apart by going a step further: It turns itself off when you’re not watching. Thanks to a presence sensor in the set, after a designated amount of time during which no movement in the room is detected, the TV automatically shuts down. So if you leave or fall asleep, no energy is wasted (at least not on your TV). Launching in June, the LCD units will be available in 40-, 46-, and 52-inch versions. Now if they could only make a set that would automatically power off when you flip to Two and a Half Men. Just to do you a favor. Call 877-865- SONY or visit sonystyle.com.
SO, DEAR READER
There are many good things about the Amazon Kindle and Sony eReader electronic readers: They let you tote hundreds of books or magazines with you in one compact device; they’re completely searchable; and they make you feel good for not wasting paper. But there’s a downside: They’re both exceptionally unattractive. Thankfully, that problem will be solved with the introduction of the Plastic Logic Reader (price unavailable at press time). Thinner and lighter than its peers (i.e., about the size and weight of a pad of paper), it looks more like the futuristic device it is than a clunky 1985 calculator. Plus, unlike Sony and Amazon’s models, the Plastic Logic Reader can reproduce graphics and images. And there’s still no need to interact with a librarian or paperboy. Available at plasticlogic.com.
