The end of 2007 is near, and the spike in technology has jumped significantly for the consumer this year. Within a year, we have witnessed a boost in availability of information. From touch screens, hand held mini-televisions, and “Facebook-to-go,” it’s pretty hard to believe that most of us lived at a time where easy bake ovens and Microsoft DOS applications reigned supreme.
Nowadays, anyone willing and able to clinch a three ounce plastic contraption crammed with chips and plasma can jam a couple gigabytes of their favorite songs and pictures in a device capable of calling family in Ireland and searching for old classmates via the internet at the same time. Is this a cultivation that we have always been ready for?
Indeed we have. The year 2007 has been a rollercoaster ride of technological triumphs and disasters, but here are a few of the top must-have gadgets, with help from www.cnet.com
The most talked about gadget of the year, hands down, is the Apple iPhone. Its catchy commercials and integrated touch screen feature has the iPhone on a pedestal and is the first of its kind in next generation cell phone technology. Its sleek and very evident body is joined together in a marriage of touch screen and Apple patented graphics that have amazed consumers months before its release date. The iPhone has topped many wish lists and other internet top lists, but even word of mouth, its praises are heard in unison.
Demetrius Blacklock, a political science major and avid iPhone owner, says, “I like the phone for the music. I can do everything from check my emails to messaging; I like to multitask.”
Witnessing the mad rush to get eager hands on the smart phone seems to never be too entertaining. The world has molded our future and present cell phone endeavors into this one super gadget. According to cnet.com, “It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough.”
Also, sitting high in the top gadget list is the Nintendo Wii. Professional gamers beware. Nintendo has always been the “sleeper” of the three mega-platforms, but this year, the Wii has surpassed its many negative predictions. The hard-core gamers have always lured towards Sony’s Playstation and Microsoft’s Xbox, but the 3 and 360’s similarities are ever so overshadowed by the uniqueness of the Wii. Wii gets many bonus points for mass appeal.
Speaking of appeal, the MacBook Pro is by far on the high-end of appeal when it comes to computer hardware. Apple has struck gold in their line of products. The saying, you get what pay for, holds to its word with this high tech release. In retrospect, $1600 is a pretty penny or two to spend on a laptop, but with two gigabytes of RAM and a dual processor, it is definitely worth it. Its stylish display makes any designer, photographer, or even avid iTunes guru a king in their right mind.
Now between spreading out the list and swaying away from computers, cell phones and video games, it’s pretty funny that most of these things are what most buyers want to attain. The most popular gadget that didn’t make any top list has to be the Blackberry phone. It is the perfect tool for its owners, and with all of its components, nothing like a mp3 player or video player is needed to enjoy its perfection.
Let’s keep our senses open for whatever is cooking up in the minds of developers and inventors. This year was definitely a huge leap and bound toward perfection in our technological advancements.