Latest gadgets come in different sizes
The latest tech gadgets may come in a variety of sizes, but they can do some pretty neat things. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Kevin Pereira about the latest in cameras, projectors and kid computers.
Kevin Pereira of G4-TV's "Attack of the Show" in the Marketplace studios. (G4 TV / Marketplace)
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TEXT OF INTERVIEW
Kai Ryssdal: Granted, now is probably *not the time a lot of people are going to rush out and buy the latest gadget or gizmo. But recessions are often a time of great innovation. And there are some nifty new tech creations out there. Kevin Pereira's here again us from G4 television. Welcome back Kevin.
KEVIN PEREIRA: Pleasure to be back, sir.
RYSSDAL: I was actually gonna say it's been a long time since you've been on, but frankly it's been me that's been gone.
PEREIRA: I've been working while you've been away...
RYSSDAL: That's right.
PEREIRA: I've been bringing the gadgets, but it's good to have you back because I have something exciting stuff for you.
RYSSDAL: Alright, well give it up. What's item one today?
PEREIRA: Item one is something that I think I'm going to have to sell you on because you're already looking at it a little confused and concerned. This is the Samsung MPB200 projector. And for those who can't see -- which is everybody at home -- I'm holding something about the size of a deck of cards.
RYSSDAL: Yeah, a projector as in a "projector projector."
PEREIRA: Yes, as in something you might have to lug around in a briefcase and hookup to do a presentation and this is using Texas Instruments' Pico technology, which basically means they've miniaturized a projector.
RYSSDAL: Alright, so just for the record. I'm shining it on a wall, maybe eight feet away, it's a clear, crisp image, it looks great, it's a fun little toy... Sell me it, baby, cause I don't know what I would use this for in my everyday life.
PEREIRA: What really interests me about this technology is look, I don't give presentations at all. I haven't had to actually do the elevator pitch for a movie or a series in this town, believe it or not. But in the near future we're going to see this Pico projector technology built in cell phones and that is when you're going to see it take off. I saw this at CES a few years ago...
RYSSDAL: The Consumer Electronics Show...
PEREIRA: Yes, and I said if I have a piece of media and I want to share it with my friends, we all have to huddle around this screen...
RYSSDAL: Oh, good point.
PEREIRA: ...like hobos around a flaming barrel if you will. And now we hit a button and we project it up to 50 inches.
RYSSDAL: Give me the consumer details. How much is it going to cost and readily available right now?
PEREIRA: It will be readily available, the problem is right now there is no price announced. I'm going to guesstimate, you're going to see this around three to four hundred bucks.
RYSSDAL: This may actually may well be the first time you ever sold me on something.
PEREIRA: Alright. Is there a ribbon or a prize or...?
RYSSDAL: No, but we'll have you back. What else do you have?
PEREIRA: I just wanted to bring you this interesting camera. This is a Sony Cyber-shot. I know you love sliding things and opening them and hearing them click.
[sound of clicking]
RYSSDAL: Alright, well that's a fairly standard click.
PEREIRA: I figured you'd be sold right there. But this Cyber-shot, it looks like any old Sony camera. This is a DSC-G3 Wi-Fi camera. So it's got a 3.5 inch touch screen on the back...
RYSSDAL: Touch screen, really nice.
PEREIRA: What separates this from the other back of cameras is the Wi-Fi connectivity.
RYSSDAL: Wi-Fi. So I can actually just upload it to Flickr or whatever?
PEREIRA: Correct. You can upload directly to sites like YouTube, Dailymotion, Photobucket, Shutterfly, Flickr, etc. So that means not just your photos, but the videos you take with your camera as well. You can literally snap a video, hit a button, and boom it's on YouTube.
RYSSDAL: Last, but certainly not least, what looks like a little kids computer. I mean, like a toy.
PEREIRA: It is a kids computer actually. This is a new initiative by Intel. It's called the classmate PC. And I want to point out right off the bat that Intel is powering these PCs in terms of design only. They've come up with a design and they said, look, we want to make a laptop that's functional for kids 5-14 was sort of their target.
[computer sound]
RYSSDAL: Sorry.
PEREIRA: Oh, Windows. But they wanted to make a computer that could be used for kids in that range and now manufacturers -- independent manufacturers -- are actually creating the laptops themselves.
RYSSDAL: Did you actually say 500 bucks?
PEREIRA: These are 4-500 bucks. Yeah, normally they've got webcams, gobs of RAM, at least 60 gigs of storage. But look, I mean we say $400-500 as a kids computer, but the netbook market for these business professionals that don't want to carry around a full-size laptop, but don't want to rely on their cell phone, I think this thing is perfect.
RYSSDAL: This is kind of amazing. I think this is two out of three now that you've sold me on cause I've got to get my ten year old a computer at some point, and I think $500 is a nice price for it.
PEREIRA: So the only one we failed on was the Sony camera.
RYSSDAL: I'm a DSLR.
PEREIRA: To be honest, that's the same kind of thing we said when we reviewed it on our show. But I wanted to bring it to you and least show that Wi-Fi is getting crammed into every device now. Look for it in your Sonicare toothbrush very soon.
RYSSDAL: Absolutely. Kevin Pereira from G4 television. "Attack of the Show" is his show. Kevin, thanks a lot.
PEREIRA: Always a pleasure.
Comments
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From Scottsdale, AZ, 02/19/2009
$400-$500 is too much for the classmate PC when much better Netbooks are selling for $250.
Kevin, You should know better.
From Port Washington, NY, 02/18/2009
I enjoyed the story and heard it while I was in my car; I wanted to learn more about the products so I went to this site to get the exact names. You successfully conveyed how these mobile wi fi video cameras now make the possibility of no private places or spaces where ever some one has one of these devices. Within seconds, any event now can be on the web for all to see; so much for privacy. JD Salinger and Thomas Pynchon would have been ruined as would St. Paul the Hermit.
From Miami, FL, 02/17/2009
One of the more vapid and insipid stories I've heard on your broadcast,and because I was not sure, visited and read your website to confirm.
What nonsensical blather about products without substance that no one needs.
Have you ever gathered about a barrel w/ Hobos?
Have you ever looked at the nonsense posted to public websites? Why ever do you want to facilitate and promulgate this stupidity?...maybe to make a buck?...fill up airtime?,...You are part of the problem: few scruples, less morals, sense of humor lacking in irony.
I am disappointed in your editing. But hey, everyone has off days.
Try to keep them few.
Sincerely,
JRL
02/17/2009
I wish you had put up photos of these items that were talked about, or linked to more information about them.
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