Timbuk2 laptop bags are stylin’–I know–I just got one for a gift. The company sells laptop bags, backpacks, totes and messenger bags that are rugged enough for serious transport while still looking trendy and fashionable. The company offers some limited edition bags too for those who have to have something totally unique on their arm.
Ready to be “wowed”? PicLens gives you some serious power over the photo search. This program can be downloaded for free and enables you to quickly (and oh so very smoothly) fly through photos on the web at lightspeed. You’ll feel like the coolest person around when you scroll through images, browsing them as fast as you like. The program works with a number of photo sites (such as Flickr and Photobucket), social networking sites (such as MySpace and Facebook) and image searches on Google, Yahoo, Ask, AOL and Live Images. It works on PC or Mac computers, but you’ll need Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox to use it. Watch the demo on the site to see just how amazing this is–you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into the future….
Do you use WordPress? Go to the site and download a plug in that will enable you to add full-screen slideshow capability to your blog. Is that cool or what?
(And yes–I have a pretty amazing technology source–keep checking in for more….)
The Leatherman Skeletool is an amazing pocket-sized tool I find myself needing more often than not. The knife is especially handy for fast-stripping plastic wrap and packaging of replacement SD cards and tapes when I’m out in the field shooting pictures and video. The Skeletool also has pliers and a wire cutter, bottle opener, a universal bit driver, and much more. The belt clip makes this easy to find on those field assignments, and when I am setting up a gallery to hang my photos for an art showing or installation, I’ve found a Leatherman quite indispensible.
A lot of people associate Leatherman prodcuts with building and construction needs, but as an around-the-house all-purpose tool, they can’t be beat. Especially when you’re a non-handyman type like me.
Buy the Leatherman Skeletool for $79.85
Once upon a time I worked as an editor in an office that used these Office Star 5500 chairs. I was skeptical at first–that mesh back didn’t look sturdy enough at first glance…but I’m happy to say I was wrong about this office chair. I spent many months in one of these and would be happy to spend many more–I just wish quality office furniture wasn’t as pricey as buying a decent printer! The fact you can write these purchases off is a major saving grace when it comes to pimping out your home office.
I’m very tempted to replace my not-so-old current model in favor of this one, for several reasons. The one-touch seat height adjustment is a plus, and the adjustable tilt and lumbar support are good, too. I have a big carpet remnant underneath my desk and the oversized wheels on the Office Star 5500 come in handy for use on non-tiled or hardwood surfaces.
Buy the Office Star 5500 Office Chair for $145.00
Ever hear that horror story about the guy who was working on his MacBook Pro in bed? Apparently the Mac got so hot that it ignited the mattress!
Whether or not it actually happened, it does make you think about all that heat…laptops do get awfully warm on the legs at times. This laptop desk by Offi is great for writing in bed, on a rug by the television, even in a beanbag chair. It keeps the machine–and the heat– off your body and provides a nice, stable platform for typing.
That arm on the side is great for a cup of coffee or tea, and the whole thing can also double as a handy breakfast-in-bed tray. We love any design created for the insomniac writer who doesn’t want to leave the comfort of the bed. Keep this and your laptop in your snooze room and you’ll always be able to send out a quick query from that warm bed.
Buy the Offi Laptop Desk for $189.00
The Zoom H4 is a Freelance-Zone favorite. This is recorder is an affordable broadcast-quality unit that can record every format from .wav to MP3 in all sizes and quality settings. Need a mono 44.1 .wav track? Easy. How about an ultra-high quality MP3 audio file? 24 bit/96khz? YES.
Whether you just need audio to reference for a written article or need to get soundbites for FM, podcasting, film, or television, the Zoom H4 is the unit for you. It has built-in high-quality mics and pre-amps, and you can use any combination of mics you own with the handy XLR/unbalanced TRS inputs at the bottom of the unit. You can get 380 minutes of CD-quality recording time or more than 30 hours of record time in MP3 format with the included two-gigabyte SD card.
The Sony stereo headphones that come with the Zoom H4 are comfortable, and great for field recording, podcasting, radio shows, anything a writer could possibly need headphones for. If you’re looking for a great combination of recorder and headphones, look no further. This is the one.
Buy the Zoom H4 complete with Sony Headphones and two-gig SD card for $379.00