Other Tech

I usually get the gadget I review for this column about 3 to 4 weeks before I have to write it up. That's a relatively short time to really get to know a product, so I like to live with some of them beyond the deadline. Here are a few things that have truly stood the test of time.

I remember the first video camera I bought back in the '80s. It was about 2 feet long, I had to perch it on my shoulder, and it shot grainy VHS footage. Suffice it to say that consumer camcorders have come a very long way since then. The HITACHI DZHS500A DVD/HDD hybrid camcorder ($600, hitachi.us/tv) is an amazing little unit, even in the current flooded market.

Whenever I'm going to a big event that I want to document for all posterity - like my sons' concerts or championship football games - I find myself staring at my arsenal of weapons. For these events, a really good video camera is a must. I already have several on hand, so I usually take the one that has a good zoom and takes high-quality video.

If you travel a lot like I do, you probably lug along a laptop or a personal DVD player. The Myvu Crystal is much lighter and less bulky. Screen angle and glare are no longer issues - and best of all, you don't have to worry about other people seeing what you're watching.

Hey, everybody. As I write this, I'm getting ready to go on vacation with my next gadget, an HD camcorder that I'll tell you all about in October. Until then, I wanted to use this month's space to update you on the next step in my home theater plans.

My biggest issue when I pack for travel is what book(s) to bring. Should it be a hardcover (awfully heavy in my carry-on), or a couple of paperbacks? Sometimes I choose a book based on its size rather than if I think I'll like it. It looks like SONY has solved that problem for me with the PRS-505 portable reader system, a.k.a.

The first thing I noticed about the new Blackberry Bold ($300 with a 2-year AT&T contract and rebate; blackberry.com, att.com) when I took it out of the box was how good-looking it is.