Laptop Bag: The Crumpler Luncheon
For the unadventurous travelers in your life who don't relish the joys and terrors of getting lost, consider Garmin's Quest 2 global positioning system (GPS) unit. This handy little navigation aide, which ranges in price from $520 to $750, comes preloaded with road maps of all of the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Laptop bags prompted hearty discussion among the Gift Guide crew, with some editors going so far as to call the category boring. But that notion was promptly quashed when three of us spoke up for Crumpler's line of computer bags.
Our favorite? The Luncheon. There's much to love about this bag: nifty vertical styling; a choice of bright (but not too) colors; ample internal space with pockets enough for an MP3 player, a few files, and yes, a safely padded 15-inch laptop. At $95, there are lesser-priced bags. There are also lesser bags. Rose Circeo more info>
Honorable Mention: Delapod
For the stylish pocketbook crowd, the Delapod line from Delacrew Designs features a clear window for easy access to MP3 player controls. A headset access hole guides the earbud cable neatly, tangle-free, out of the bag. Prices range from $49 for the Jocee purse to $92 for the CarryPak, which, at 15 inches, can accommodate most laptops.
Rose Circeo more info>
Personal GPS Device: Garmin Quest 2
Courtesy of Garmin.
Click image for photo gallery.
It's got lots of useful features, including the ability to save up to 50 routes, and an extra 140MB of memory for uploading points of interest like favorite truck stops and bookstores. The backlit LCD ensures that you don't have to squint at the screen after dark, and voice prompts mean you don't have to take your eyes off the road (making the local highway patrol a lot happier). And because it's so small, you can take it with you when you leave the car, and be reasonably sure you'll be able to find your way back.
Finally, the Quest 2 is waterproof, so it's safe if you accidentally take it out in the rain. We can't, however, guarantee that it's coffee-proof, so be careful on those long late-night drives. Barbara Krasnoff more info>
Discover the benefits of scalable backbone and network services for application and cloud providers.
Network automation is gaining momentum. Here's how you can drive this powerful technology to its full potential.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
