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LAPDOG OFFERS SOME NEW TRICKS

If you consider yourself to be a mobile warrior armed with portable computer, PDA, cell phone and the like, you're probably looking for a better way to carry it all around. Check out the Lapdog from Shaun Jackson Design. When closed, it looks like one of those nice upscale fabric briefcases with zippered pockets, straps and handle. But the Lapdog opens to reveal a well thought out array of ergonomically placed holding pockets and surfaces. The portable computer sits squarely in the middle and on your lap. Flaps drape down on both the left and right sides of your legs. The pockets and accessory bags are completely accessible and are positioned easily within arm's reach while in the sitting position. There's room for your cell phone, pens, paper, disks, CDs, removable media of all kinds and lots more. A roll up protective inner cloth mesh becomes a wrist rest. Opening and closing the Lapdog can be done in seconds. The closed Lapdog stands 10.5 inches high and is 4.5 inches thick. $99.95.

(888) 662-4300 www.sjdesign.com

Mouse doesn't forget

If you're looking for a really cool mouse, check out the Memory reader/writer optical mouse from Sony, model MSAC-US5. This USB mouse operates as a high quality optical mouse that uses light to track its movement instead of a mechanical ball. The ambidextrous mouse sports two buttons and a scrolling wheel. what makes this mouse unique is to be found on the front of the mouse. A small slot accommodates any Sony Memory Stick flash memory card. Insert the Memory Stick into the slot and data on the Memory Stick can be sent to the computer and uploaded from the computer to the Memory Stick. Included CD software makes this mouse compatible with Windows 98 or later as well as Macintosh computers. $89.95.

www.sony.com

Pen and paper to PC

I've seen several products that let you transfer information as it's being written on ordinary paper directly into a computer. Most of these use some sort of pressure sensitive pad on which you place a sheet of paper. But one of the coolest transcription systems I've yet seen will be coming from a company called Digital Ink. The n-scribe is a remarkable piece of technology. Comprised of a silver toned pen and matching holder, n-scribe is a wireless, electronic pen that lets you capture your handwriting in digital format, in real time, without the use of special papers and pads. The pen looks, feels and writes like a regular ball-point pen and wirelessly connects you to all of your electronic communications devices. The pen is also a traditional ink writing instrument so you see what you are writing on the paper. The main silver-toned holder unit clips on to the top of any page on which you intend to write. It even has a small hole in which you can place its companion pen and thus acts as an attractive modern-looking desk pen holder. As you write, an infrared beam tracks the pen's movement and stores everything in its memory. Whatever is written is then captured and stored as a digital image in the n-scribe holder. When completed, you can instantly download the jpeg and pdf images to your computer for additional processing. According to Digital Ink, n-scribe will be available in the 4th quarter of 2001, and will initially retail for about $300, with a target price of $100.

www.n-scribe.com