The Smorgasbord

This AC inverter fits in your cupholder, has a USB slot, AND a holder for your iPod or cell phone – w00t!

I’m in the car a lot – I commute over an hour to work – so having various accessories and gadgets in the gar is kind of a necessity for a geek like me. I also have two teen aged kids, and they have their own gadgets like mp3 players, cell phones, PSP’s, Nintendo DS, and who knows what else. I’ve had an AC power inverter in the car for quite some time just in case I need to plugin the laptop on the go, and it works quite well. We’ve used it on many vacations and trips too.

So when I found the “Smart AC Inverter” with the USB slot and holder I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Let me tell you about the cool geekery this thing has. First of all it’s 150 watts, and that’s enough to power most any laptop. Second it’s designed to fit in your cup holder! Third, it has a USB port for charging your iPod or any mobile device or portable music player with a USB port. Last, it has a holder to drop your iPod, cell phone, or mp3 player into while charging in ADDITION to the AC outlet! I’m sorry – this was designed by someone who knows that would be useful to people on the go! This would make an excellent gift for a commuter, road warrior, or geek on the go – especially for Dad on Father’s Day!

Click for price on the “Smart AC Inverter with USB Slot and Holder”.

Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

Monitor how much electricity you’re using the the “Kill A Watt” Electricity Usage Monitor! Meter your own electrical usage!

When you get your monthly electric bill – ever wonder what was using the most electricity? What appliance or device is costing you more money per month than any other in your house? Is it your microwave? Your fridge? The hair dryer? There’s no more guesswork, because you can track energy consumption on your own with the “Kill A Watt” gadget. I’ve seen it demonstrated on Good Morning America and other news broadcasts and talk shows, and even online in forums people talk about it calling it the “Kill-o-watt”, “killawatt reader”, killwat, kilowatt, killowatt, and more…

The bottom line is – if you want to learn how-to conserve energy just get this little gadget, let it track how much your spending by the hour, day, week, month, or entire year by measuring the electricity you use for certain devices. Just plug one thing at a time to let it capture a reading, and it will forecast your electric bill costs within 0.2% accuracy! You’ll be amazed at how much money you can save once you find out where your money is going! To Check Prices on the Kill A Watt Click Here

Here’s a video demo of how the Kill-A-Watt works:

I’ve also seen some extremely good deals both new and used Kill a Watt gadgets on eBay – here’s some auctions ending soon for you to check out:

US $16.31 (7 Bids) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 20:09:12 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $16.99 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 22:01:20 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $16.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $14.01 (4 Bids) End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 6:08:32 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $16.05 (8 Bids) End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 6:26:23 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $14.06 (5 Bids) End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 8:08:35 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $13.27 (4 Bids) End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 10:08:37 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $50.00 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 11:03:57 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $50.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $30.95 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 11:39:42 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $30.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Rent Books and Audio books with BooksFree, no late charge, free shipping, it’s basically Netflix for books!

I want to tell you about a new service I recently found, and I don’t know why somebody hadn’t started this company 5 years ago. It’s always cool when a new service comes around that uses the web. Do you have Netflix? Ever used Netflix? It’s the service where they send you DVD’s in the mail (like a rental), and when you’re done watching you slip it into a prepaid envelope and mail it back. No postage costs, quick turnaround on shipments, and you can keep an online queue of moves to be sent next. This is a great way to avoid ever going to the video store again. They also have services like Gamefly to rent video games through the mail like this, and even a few services that rent adult DVD’s this way too.

Well, it only makes sense that someone would invent the very same service for paperback and hardback books. BooksFree is a service that has over 100,000 books available from classics to recently released, and you can signup and have them sent to your home free of shipping charges just like Netflix. It’s like having your own library that you can check out what you want, when you want – without ever having to visit the library.

If you’re looking for the latest novel by Steven King, Michael Crichton, Mary Higgins Clark, or John Grisham – they have them all and more! One bonus feature is – if you’re a commuter (like me) they also have a huge stock of audio books, so if you drive a lot this service is perfect for you! I think it would also make a great gift for any reader – maybe for your Mom or Dad on Mother’s or Father’s day! You can cancel it anytime, and they have plans that start at $9.99 too. I think I’ll get as much use out of BooksFree as I do out of Netflix!

Growing fresh herbs in your kitchen is now a reality with the high-tech “AeroGarden” smart garden from AeroGrow. Every since I first saw this – I thought it was one of the coolest things ever. It’s basically a cool little container you can put on your kitchen counter with some holes for enclosed seed pods (no dirt required), built in plant grow light and canopy, built in reminders for water, and timer for lights.

The plant roots are suspended in air and bathed in nutrients and oxygenated air, they say that the plants can grow up to twice as fast in their patended system. You can grow all kinds of things with this, from fresh herbs, to cherry tomatoes, roses, and more!

Here, check out a little of their official 10 minute “infomercial” -

I kind of think that this would be one of the coolest and “best Mother’s Day gifts” you could give, because it’s not only unique, but more than likely will get used for a very, very long time! You can check out the official AeroGarden web site here

If you want to try to get a deal or sale on an AeroGarde, another place you can try is eBay, and I’ve listed the latest auctions for AeroGarden’s on eBay now below…

US $7.00 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 22:04:01 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $7.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $25.00 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 22:04:59 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $25.00 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $105.25 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 22:09:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $105.25 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $9.50 (4 Bids) End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 8:41:36 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $24.01 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 9:17:50 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $24.01 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $19.75 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 9:37:52 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.75 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $19.95 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 13:15:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $19.95 End Date: Friday Jul-30-2010 13:26:37 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $19.95 Buy it now | Add to watch list

Looking for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? I think I found it for you…technology has finally advanced to the point where you can carry pictures of your loved ones on your keychain. The 1.4 inch Screen shows pictures one at a time or in slideshow mode, and it can show up to 56 jpg pics at 125×125 size. It has a rechargeable battery, USB device cable, and even photo editing software on mini-CD. This is perfect for grandma, or your mom- you could just load it with pics, wrap it up, and then give it to her on Mother’s day for the best gift ever!

Extended Description – “Digital Picture Frames” Keep your favorite photos close at hand with the TAO digital photo key chain. Using the included USB cable, load the Tao frame with as many as 56 JPEG photos each measuring 125 x 125 pixels. It weighs Keep your favorite photos close at hand with the TAO digital photo key chain. Using the included USB cable, load the Tao frame with as many as 56 JPEG photos each measuring 125 x 125 pixels. It weighs just 2 ounces, and its rechargeable battery provides up to 2 1/2 hours of image viewing between charges. Preload it with images and give to a friend or family member. They’ll love it! Includes AC charger, USB device cable and photo editing software on a MiniCD.

Click Here to get order details for “Digital Picture Keychain”

US $0.01 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:32:24 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:52:22 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:53:49 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $8.99 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 20:40:48 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $8.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 21:48:18 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $0.99 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 21:54:06 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $0.01 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 22:04:53 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $0.01 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 22:04:58 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

I’ve found a secret cache of cool computer gadgets I’ll be posting over the next few months. For the first installment I want to highlight something really cool that I wish I had about a thousand times. This is an “IDE to USB Converter Cable”, and you can take an internal hard drive, hook it up, and plug it in your USB port just like it was a flash drive. This isn’t a SATA converter cable (but they have those too), but I have to say I still have a half dozen old ATA IDE hard drives lying around from 6GB to 200GB. If I have to transfer buku files from my laptop to my pc – this is exactly what I need! External hard drive full? Flash drive too small? This converter cable will save your butt! If you get fired from your job and need to get some files off your PC at work, just slip this cable and an old hard drive in your briefcase or bag and you’re good to go!

This post of part of The Smorgasbord Tech Reviews series!

Now you can access or test an internal ATA/ATAPI (IDE) drive without the hassle of connecting it to a motherboard. Just attach the Easy IDE converter and you’ll have fast USB 2.0 access to hard drives, CD burners, DVD drives and more. Great for technicians. Includes 3-foot USB cable, AC adapter and 40- to 44-pin adapter for 2.5 drives. The IDE to USB converter would make a great gift for any geek on Father’s day, Christmas, birthday, or any time! You don’t have to be a computer tech to get use out of this thing, I think that we all have some used hard drives sitting around somewhere that we could easily temporarily use for data transfers with this cable.
Click to check prices.

You might even find a great deal on a “IDE to USB converter Cable” on eBay right now:

US $9.99 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:19:44 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $7.83 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:25:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $7.83 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $17.63 (0 Bid) End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:34:42 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $9.79 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:57:39 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.79 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $9.89 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 19:58:52 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.89 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $9.89 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 20:08:19 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $9.89 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $10.99 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 20:24:28 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $10.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

US $11.99 End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 20:29:10 PDT Buy It Now for only: US $11.99 Buy it now | Add to watch list

This All-in-one Car Adapter is an FM Transmitter that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter, and it has a usb port and or sd slot in the back. Just plug in your flash drive, and voila – you’re listening to your mp3′s in the car! Some even have an input jack for mp3 player’s or cell phones! Pure Genius! Some of these come with play controls on the top and even include a wireless remote. The average cost is about $29.99 or less. Can you beat that? Every geek has a spare USB stick or SD card lying around. That’s the price you pay for a good car charger, and for about the same price you can get an car 12 volt adaptor that allows you to connect any device with an output jack, any sd flash memory card, or any usb stick or key – AND transmit them through your FM car stereo.

This post of part of The Smorgasbord Tech Reviews series!

For me, I always thought this thing was the coolest device because I carry my music and files to work on a USB key. Who needs an iPod when I have this thing? I keep some music on my phones SD card as well, and now I can connect either my phone (or the card) right in my car. If my son is in the car – we can connect his iPod to it, and if we’re on a long trip, we can connect the laptop if we want. You have all the options you want with one of these little devices. If you have trouble finding a good gift for that geek in your life – this would make an awesome gift idea for any geek, or for any gadget or music lover for that matter. Do you have a gadget that you love like this? Please share with us and add a comment below now!