December 2004 Gadget Roundup
- Sharper Image e-Vac Robot Vacuum
- JaceTech DDP-1500 WiFi-Enabled PMP
- Logitech Harmony 680 Universal Media Center Remote
- HP z500 Series Digital Entertainment Center PC
- HP x5400 Media Center Extender
- Niveus Denali Hi-Def Media Center 2005 Edition PC
- Philips Streamium TV
- MSN TV 2
- Sony Monster VAIO Type X
- Digital Cube i-Station PMP1000
Home entertainment takes the spotlight in this edition. Microsoft and partners have been busy releasing Windows Media Center Edition 2005 PCs, Windows Media Center Extenders, Windows Media Player 10, and compatible PlaysforSure devices. With so much coming out this holiday season for PC enthusiasts, it will be difficult to decide what to buy first.
Sharper Image e-Vac Robot Vacuum
Sharper Image appears to be diving headfirst into the robot vacuum-cleaner craze. One of the first sellers of the now popular Roomba, Sharper Image has decided to create their own machine called the e-Vac (doesn't stand for evacuation). The handsomely designed $199.95 vacuum (see Figure 1) is capable of cleaning both hardwood floors and low-pile carpet. And, like its competitors, the machine is equipped with an intelligent robo-navigation software brain and sensors to efficiently clean rooms and gently work around furniture.
Feature highlights:
Weighs only seven pounds
5.5-inch profile
Integrated carrying handle
Rechargeable (NiMH) battery (six-hour charge lasts about 45 minutes)
Can be manually navigated using its included radio frequency remote
Removable dustbin tray and washable filter