Tough times demand resilient technology. With the GoBook Max by Itronix, your stock options may be underwater, but your laptop can still get wet -- or hit the wall. To meet the stringent requirements of its "ultra-rugged" certification, Itronix dropped its GoBook Max 54 times with the power on, and it still kept working. All this toughness comes at a price though: $5,995 (http://www.itronix.com).
Phone, PDA, pager: Who can manage them all? You can, by carrying the new Sanyo SCP-6000 handset (available with Sprint wireless service only). Priced at $299.99, this device is only 0.39-inches thick and light as a feather. With the right cables and software, it will sync with your Palm for a one-shot answer to all your wireless, calendar, and memo needs. Our favorite feature? The old-fashioned telephone and "cock-a-doodle-doo" rooster rings on the Sounds menu (http://www.sanyousa.com).
Want to stay in touch on the road, but stay safe too? Then a hands-free telephone accessory like the EarBoom Winder from Jabra rings true. The retractable winding device hooks onto a waistband or a belt and keeps hands-free appliances easily accessible and its cords untangled. The EarBoom Winder retails for $34.99 (http://www.jabra.com).
Why isn't this man smiling? The T:Nine X by K2 is designed for the serious female skier. It is engineered to support the female build, not fight it. Made from spruce cores rather than fir, the T:Nine X is lighter than comparable models and features a softer-flexing ski. The fact that women have a lower center of gravity than men was built into the construction: The bindings are mounted higher on the ski. The T:Nine X retails for $625 (http://www.k2women.com).
For skiers born to push limits (especially those who flirt with avalanches), the German-made ABS Model Plus Backpack is a smart companion. With a firm tug on the pack's chest chord, air bags instantly inflate into two bulky, orange wings that float a troubled skier to the surface. The pack costs $740 and weighs about 6.7 pounds, including the nitrogen tank that inflates the air bags (http://www.abs-lawinenairbag.de).
Burton Snowboards, the company that changed the face of so many mountains, has introduced its next big thing: the Junkyard Snowdeck , a snowboard-and-skateboard combination. (Think snowboard without bindings or skateboard without wheels.) The Snowdeck retails for $149.95 (http://www.burton.com).
The best thing about a hard day on the slopes? Après-ski. For certified ski bums -- or folks who want to look the part -- we recommend the Primo Moc Gore-Tex by Merrell. Tough, stylish, and super comfy, this leather slip-on is the perfect after-sport snowshoe. The Gore Tex-lined interior gives tired feet the right amount of love -- soft but not squishy. Its sturdy frame hugs the foot like a broken-in baseball glove. The Primo Moc retails for $110 (http://www.merrellboot.com).
Email
Digg
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Buzz Up!
LinkedIn
