Hardware review

Fantastic four

Great gadgets to be seen with this term

Nokia 7250

The details: The Nokia 7250 comprises a radically designed keypad, an integrated camera, messaging service functionality, Java, a colour display, a stereo FM radio, and a range of flamboyant covers. Who could ask for more�? The camera is designed for the colour screen of a small handset and you can share your messages with your friends via email. Of course, you can astound and annoy BTS travellers with a vast range of polyphonic ringtones as well.

The price: 20,500 baht (minus SIM card).

Palm Tungsten W

The details: Handheld personal digital assistant (PDA) maker Palm has introduced its Tungsten W series, Palm's first PDA bundled with mobile phone capability. The company has teamed up with Digital Phone to integrate AIS's GPRS service in this series. Also built-in are a keyboard, handwriting recognition, wireless Internet access and multimedia messging service. Of course, it doesn't come cheap and employing a personal non-digital living assistant may be cheaper.

The price: 27,300 baht.

Nokia N-gage

The details: Nokia recently unveiled this handsome handset aimed squarely at the gaming market. The N-gage brings popular game titles to a high-performance 3D gaming platform that also boasts a stereo FM radio, a digital music player and recorder, multimedia messaging and full Internet and email capabilities. Of course, it's the games you're going to be interested in, and Nokia has already signed up Lara Croft and Sonic the Hedgehog.

The price: Yet to be released. Check out http://www.n-gage.com for more information.

Besta Cyberdict V

The details: Learn English the easy way and have fun while you're doing it! The Besta Cyberdict V contains 11 dictionaries, including 12 specialist dictionaries (such as engineering and medical) and a whopping 256 MB memory. In addition, the 'dictionary that's more than a dictionary' includes a graphic science and statistical calculator as well as educational games. Beat the boffins at their own game.

The price: 7,990 baht.

Vocabulary

radical (adj): new, different and likely to have a great effect
integrated (adj): in which many different parts are closely connected and work successfully together
Java (n): programming language that allows many different functions on computers and phones
flamboyant (adj): bright, colourful and noticeable
astound (v): surprise or shock somebody very much
polyphonic (n): having many tones producing almost a musical-like quality
capability (n): the ability or qualities necessary to do something
recognition (n): the act of identifying what something is
boast (v): in this usage, to have something that is impressive and that you can be proud of
specialist (ad): concerning one particular area of study
boffin (n): usually used as a negative word meaning somebody who studies too much