Lapinator Plus - Lap Desk Extra Wide - (Black) - Extra Wide

I use my laptop almost daily and needed a way to keep it off of my lap. As many people don't know, a laptop is not really made to be used on you lap but on any desk or table. It's supposed to be a portable computer. Your laptop can overheat if it cannot "breathe" properly. That being said, I needed a way to use my laptop on my lap. I love the Lapinator. It keeps the heat of the computer away from my legs and puts the computer keyboard at a more comfortable angle. It's lightweight and thin enought to slide into my computer bag.

HP Pavilion DV6626US 15.4" Entertainment Notebook PC

Having been a long time HP user, I researched other laptop brands but was lured right back in with (initially) this dv6660se's sleek appearance. The powerbook-esque keyboard and subtle design patterns on the glossy packaging is a joy to look at everyday. Easy to use, and even the built in software isn't as useless as stock programs usually are.

PROS: design, 2GB RAM, 250GB, Vista home premium (mine was 32-bit unlike above comment).
-Comes with 12-cell battery which is bulky but lasts at least 4 hours watching movies and listening to music. The battery also raises the laptop off the table, which helps with cooling.
-Roxio software for CD/DVD burning is sufficient, and its LightScribe software is easy to use.
-I wasn't too impressed with the LightScribe function as it prints light-medium gray text/images onto the CD - a little too light for my taste. But the technology is supposed to replace chemical damage your CDs would otherwise get from stickers and writing.
-I thought 14 inches would suffice, but 15.4 inches really make a difference in organizing my desktop and music folders, navigating through Excel spreadsheets, and obviously watching movies.

CONS: no bluetooth (I didn't think I'd need it but found it would've been helpful for a wireless mouse or keyboard, etc), and a little heavy for everyday portability. Although Home Premium is equipped for TV recording, you need to buy a separate TV tuner for that to happen.

OVERALL: GREAT product for its price, especially if you can find it on sale like I did. It is in no way a high end laptop but pretty darn good for everyday use. On a scale of 1-10, 1 being a lay user and 10 being very tech savvy, this would be perfect for up to 8.5

Canon PowerShot A570IS 7.1MP Digital Camera

I've owned the Canon A20 and the A70 so it was a natural to upgrade to the A570IS. Just back from a fall trip to New England and the camera performed great. We got a set of 2650 mAh rechargeable batteries and they last for days in this camera. The pictures are rich in color and the movies with sound are excellent. The the large LCD screen, image stabilization, night and kids and pets modes make the camera very easy to use. The Canon software and cable make uploading the pictures to a PC the easiest I've ever experienced. By getting a new lens adapter for under $20 I was able to use the wide angle lens from my A70. This camera is a great buy.