Tech Tools

Compiled by CIARA O'BRIEN

PeeWee Power PC, $499

It’s not quite an iPad, but the PeeWee Power PC might help save yours when it arrives.

The laptop is designed with younger users – and possibly the odd clumsy adult – in mind, and as such it is drop and spill resistant, with a sturdy plastic case. The keyboard is water resistant and has a built-in carry handle to make it more portable.

This netbook-style PC is no mere plaything, however. Under the hood, it has a 1.6Ghz Atom chip, a 30GB hard drive and two USB ports. A webcam is built in to the case and it has a two-in-one card reader for SD and MMC cards.

The laptop comes with Microsoft Windows XP Home and Microsoft Works 9 pre-installed. Other software includes painting tool ArtRage 2 and ebook reader FBReader. The battery life is a respectable four hours.

www.peeweepc.com

HTC Legend, from €49.99 on bill pay

In a market where Apple is fast becoming a contender, mobile-phone makers seem to be playing catch-up when it comes to design and usability.

HTC’s latest range of phones has closed the gap somewhat. The Legend is one of its Android handsets, with a 3.2-inch Amoled display and a compact aluminium frame. HTC has ditched the trackball in favour of an optical joystick and button. It comes with the latest version of Android, 2.1, already installed, so you can take advantage of the tweaks that have been applied to the software. HTC Sense has also been included with the phone, which helps you keep all your contacts and updates organised and integrated across your social networking sites.

The Android Market has a host of free applications to download, although paid apps are not yet available in Ireland. The Legend is a Meteor exclusive.

www.meteor.ie

Microsoft Arc keyboard, €59.99

Who says a keyboard can’t be stylish? Microsoft’s new Arc keyboard is compact, lightweight and wireless – the three things you need from technology today. It’s an odd shape and ditches the dedicated number pad that many keyboards have (but most laptops dont) to keep things streamlined. However, it keeps the keys full-size, so it’s perfect as an extra for a netbook or compact laptop.

The Arc uses 2.4GHz wireless and includes a tiny transceiver that plugs into your computer’s USB port. The transceiver can be stored in a small magnetised space on the base of the keyboard, or left in your PC.

It needs Windows XP, Vista or 7 to work properly, although there is a version for Mac’s OS X available. A battery indicator on the keyboard will alert you when the power is at a critical level. It also comes with its own protective case.

www.microsoft.com