betterFAM
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CREATE
Taking YouTube by storm
with the next hilarious
webisode doesn't require
expensive or bulky
equipment. The sleek 4GB
Flip Ultra ($150) captures
2 hours of high-quality
video and fits in a pocket.
Upgrade to HD for $200;
theflip.com.
Back in the day, a clever college-bound kid could pack
everything he needed in a Volkswagen Bug: TV, stereo, phone,
typewriter, a battered dictionary, and torn jeans. The jeans have
stayed the same, but the rest of it all packs into a laptop smaller
than the dictionary. Add a few accessories and your student will
be a multimedia mogul,
by
C h r is t in a t y n a n -w o o d
photos
k r it s a d a
PARTY
When the situation calls for loudspeakers,
plug these JBL Duet II speakers ($100 at
Best Buy and the Apple Store) into the
headset port on the laptop, dial up
iTunes, and rock the dorm;
jbl.com.
LAPTOP
Start with a reasonably priced and
capable laptop like this HP Pavilion
dv6t (starting at $649). It features a
16-inch HD screen, Intel processor end
graphics card, and 160GB hard drive.
Built-in Wi-Fi, DVD drive, and media
software turn it into a TV, music
player, and video editing lab;
shopping
PHONE
Put a telephone on that
laptop by going to
skypt
.com.
Pay $3 a month for
unlimited calling in the U.S.
and Canada and $30 a
year for a phone number.
Add the Jabra GN1900
USB ($69) headset for
phone privacy or when
playing games or listening
to music;
jabm.com.
SAFETY
Back up important files on
the laptop with the credit
card-size ClickFree Traveler
(starting at $80 for 16GB).
Just plug in the integral
USB cable and it works
automatically—no manual,
software, or installation
required;
clickfree.com.
MOBILITY
Portable USB flash drives are
easily damaged or misplaced.
LaCie solves both problems with
the stylish and sturdy iamaKey. It
holds 4 MB ($27) or 8 GB ($37);
l3de.com.
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SEPTEMBER 2009 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
