Posted on: Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Tech Toys
Sharper images
Kodak's latest digital camera can produce sharp-looking 8-by-10 prints thanks to its 2.1-megapixel resolution. Priced at $299, the EasyShare LS420 features a metallic body, weighs just
5› ounces, and sports an optical viewfinder and a 1.6-inch built-in color display. Other features include a 3X digital zoom, 8 megabytes of internal memory, a SecureDigital/MultiMediaCard expansion slot, a rechargeable battery, and video and sound recording modes. Images can be transferred to Windows or Macintosh computers through the included camera dock that hooks up to a Universal Serial Bus port.
High-quality prints
Epson plans to release a photo printer for picky picture-takers. Its Stylus Photo 2200 uses seven-color UltraChrome inks that reproduce a broader color range and last longer than standard ones. The result? Professional quality prints with a top resolution of 2,880-by-1,440 dots per inch. With the help of the fast-drying ink, the printer can produce an
8-by-10 photo in about 4 minutes, which is three times faster than the previous model, the Stylus Photo 2000P. The new printer, which is due in stores in July, will cost just under $700. It connects to Windows and Macintosh computers via parallel, USB 2.0 and IEEE-1394 (FireWire) ports.
Speedy cell phone
Gotta-have-it-now folks will want to check out the Verizon Wireless VX1 phone from LG Mobile Phones. With an Express Network subscription, Verizon says the phone can be used as a modem to access e-mail, corporate networks or the Internet with data transmission speeds averaging 40-to-60 kilobits per second (kbps) and sometimes as fast as 144 kbps. The VX1 costs about $200 with a two-year-service commitment. The Mobile Office Kit, which is required to use the phone as a modem on the Express Network, costs $80 ($60 with a rebate through May 31). ExpressNet wireless data service plans start at $30.
User-friendly Linux
SuSE has updated its popular distribution of the Linux operating system to version 8. The new release is the first Linux package to include KDE 3.0, a graphical user interface and desktop manager that resembles Windows XP or Mac OS X. SuSE Linux 8 also includes a new installation program that shortens the time it takes to install the system. To make Linux more useful and fun for nontechnical users, SuSE has packed its distribution with consumer-friendly features, including two office suites, a variety of games, programs for listening to MP3 tunes, and even software for capturing and editing digital video. The software comes in two versions — Personal ($39.99) and Professional ($79.99).
Best of both worlds
If you can't decide between a new digital camcorder and a digital still camera, consider getting both gadgets with Panasonic's PV-VM202 MultiCam.
What distinguishes this $2,200 model from other digital camcorders that can record video and still images is a detachable 1-megapixel digital camera that can capture still pictures and MPEG-4 video and sound on its own.
This model sports a 1.3-megapixel image sensor, 3-inch liquid crystal display, a color optical viewfinder, a Leica Dicomar lens, a 10X optical zoom, a 200X digital zoom, digital image stabilization, and manual and auto focus modes.
