Tuesday, November 17, 2009

help me choose

This year I am participating in a workshop/committee type of forum in which we are (everynow and then) rewarded with techie swag (of sorts). I need help here choosing among the possibilities. I don't think I want either headset, and don't think the microphone is for me (tho I could maybe give it to MP2 or MP1?); so that otherwise leaves the tablet, the keyboard, webcam or hard-drive. I work on PC laptops at home and at work and each of those has a webcam (and one is a tablet....). Hmmm. What would you pick and why? I've copied and pasted the options from the workshop wiki (no photos--sorry).
***The Plantronics .Audio 750 DSP headset employs DSP technology for unmatched audio quality for rich stereo music, DVDs, gaming, and Internet calling. Use an analog connection into your PC or the USB sound card. The QuickAdjust microphone minimizes background noise for callers, while the lightweight, adjustable headset is comfortable for hours.
***Thanks to its 40-foot roaming range, the wireless .Audio 995 Stereo Headset lets you take full advantage of your PC's Internet calling and audio capabilities in full-range stereo without being tethered to your desk. Not only does this headset offer superb audio performance, it also lets you control your iTunes or Windows Media Player directly from the headset with its convenient on-ear controls. And with its soft cushioned earpads and lightweight design, you can rock out, watch DVDs, play games, and more in all-day comfort.
***Webcam--Carl Zeiss lens and Logitech's RightLight technology combine to deliver superior image quality, especially in low light; 2-megapixel sensor lets you shoot video up to 1,600x1,200 resolution; included QuickCam software is polished and easy to use; flexible stand works equally well on top of a monitor or a laptop or resting on a desk.
***Hard Drive --The My Passport Essential is only small in size. The 250GB capacity lets you carry all of your important files with you and gives you room for music, movies and video too. The glossy black case adds a bit of elegance to your system. The USB-powered harddrive means you don't have to worry about carrying a power cord. The 128-bit encryption protects the data from your Windows machine in case the drive is lost or stolen. The included Google software gives you advanced search and management capabilities to make data management a snap. Get all your work done on the road then sync all the changes to your home or office system.
***Tablet--Bamboo Pen & Touch combines the benefits of Multi-Touch with the comfort and precision of Wacom's ergonomically-designed pen. The result: a powerful new way to work with your computer. With Multi-Touch, you use simple hand gestures and finger taps on the tablet's surface. And because the active area is larger than traditional mobile devices and laptop trackpads, it's comfortable and natural to use. Easily move around your desktop, scroll through documents, navigate the web, zoom in and out of photos, and rotate images.
***Wireless Keyboard and Mouse --This ultrathin entertainment desktop set with rechargeable mouse delivers on/off desk top-notch performance with virtually no interference—from up to 30 feet away.
***USB Microphone--Finally, a USB mic that’s not only easy to use, but sounds as good on your desktop as it does in a professional recording studio. Meet the Snowball, the world’s first professional USB mic. The Snowball is a direct plug n’ play mic that connects to either a Mac or PC – no additional software is needed. With its dual capsule design and unique three-pattern switch (cardioid, cardioid with -10dB pad and omni), the Snowball can handle everything from soft vocals to the loudest garage band — and it’s ideal for podcasting.

5 comments:

academic poser said...

Hard Drive --The My Passport Essential. You could take documents and work with you without always having to take your laptop.
Unless you really like the tablet and want to have that capability on your other computer.

Anonymous said...

Sorry this comes a few days late. I agree with AP on the hard drive.

MP1 said...

what did you decide on?? Too many options...I don't know what I would pick!

auto ethnographer said...

Thanks for the recommendations everyone. I asked for the external hard-drive. MP2 didn't want the mic (the only person I thought might have some use for it!), but JUST yesterday I was walking out to my car with a colleague from another department. Somehow, the business of grading large class paper came up and he told me he has a colleague who records her remarks for each student's papers then sends them as an mp3 file. Pretty cool!

MP1 said...

Um. An mp3 of my teacher's remarks is the absolute last thing I would ever want. horrible.