I was thinking about buying a wireless gyration mouse for my notebook from Newegg or CompUSA.

I primarily use my notebook while sitting on the couch, unlike many notebook users who call the porcelain throne their primary use space (that’s my Dragon magazine time). I find it extremely uncomfortable to type on the keyboard while the notebook sits on the TV dinner tray, so I prefer to sit it on my lap. I also don’t like the touchpad at all, prefering a mouse to be connected to the notebook. Well, with the notebook on my lap, I usually have to stretch to reach for the mouse or sometimes contort my arm to reach the mouse (which is what I’m doing now… the mouse is actually *behind* me as I type this entry).

I’ve looked into trays (like the Laptop Desk 2.0) that I could sit on my lap which include a built-in mouse pad. There are two problems with that: 1) they are too expensive for what they do, and 2) they look stupid.

I like the idea of moving the cursor on-screen by moving my hand through the air. I wouldn’t have to stretch or contort my arms any more, and it would make a neat toy to show off. This is a definitely a nice to have and is no where near the top of my list of things to buy. $80 for a mouse, no matter how cool, is rough. I’ll get it eventually though.

Our contract with AT&Tingular has been up for over half a year now. As much as I abhor signing contracts of any type, it looks like I’ll be signing over two more years of my life.

I initially started looking a new phones because of the rumor I heard about Cingular forcing their AT&T customers to buy new phones by the end of the summer of 2005. The all knowing internet tells me that there is no truth to that rumor, as I can’t find any evidence that supports it.

I recently become one of Microsoft’s mindless drones, sometime between declaring that Windows Mobile is superior to Palm and putting down $50 on the Xbox 360. For that reason, I’m looking at the Windows Mobile-based Audiovox SMT5600. This phone would replace my Motorola MPX200.

Nad is looking at the Motorola Razr V3. I find this funny because there are three things she hates more than anything else when it comes to cell phones:

1. Motorola
2. Flip phones
3. Camera phones

To her, the only device more horrible than this would be a Playstation that plays Nintendo games. However, she is still looking at this device as a decent replacement to her Siemens SL56.

For lack of a better term, I daydream about buying various tech gadgets. If I were not married, I would probably be pretty irresponsible and buy every last thing that came to mind. However, marriage has given me some sense of level-headedness (if that’s even a word), allowing me to be more responsible about how I spend money.

My blog entires under the Wishlist category will be about the things that I want to buy, even if I don’t have the money to do so (which is usually the case).

I want to get into the MP3 playing scene, mainly because I ride the train to work in the morning. I don’t bring my Nintendo DS with me any more b/c the case adds extra bulk to my rather small lunch bag. It is also one extra thing I have to pay attention to (someone could swipe it if I am not paying enough attention).

I do, and I don’t, want to buy an MP3 player. There are way too many choices, and I have a hard time taking anyone’s positive or negative criticisms seriously with this type of device. I know iPod, Dell DJ, Pogo Ripdrive and Zen Micro owners, and each love their device, and most state the other players are garbage by comparison.

I’m really attracted to the Zen Micro’s tiny little form factor and its purdy blue glow, but paying about $229 for a 5GB player seems crazy, since the Dell Pocket DJ 5GB can be had for $189. I really like the iRiver H10, but it is also pretty expensive.

I should note that I am interested in Napster To Go, since I have a very small CD collection (under 20 discs), and I see great value in that service.

My price range would be $100 - $200. I’d go for the $150 Shuffle 1GB, but then I think “Why not spend $40 more and get the Pocket DJ for the extra 4 gigs?”, since I am not concerned with rattling the thing around or working out with it. That falls into my price range, but then I think “Why not spend $50 more and get the DJ 20 for the extra 15 gigs?”. That takes me right out of my $200 limit. I just couldn’t bring myself to drop so much on a MP3 player, but at the same time I can’t screw myself out of so much extra storage just to save $50.

This pattern of thought throws me into an infinite loop, and I end up getting nothing. However, I may have found a condtion that will allow that loop to end.

Dell offers a firmware update for my PDA. Amongst other things, it adds Windows Media Player 10. Posters on the Aximsite forum have been able to get Napster To Go to work with their Axims, all because of WMP10 (which is Play For Sure aka Janus compatible).

What this means is that I can drop $80-$120 on a 1GB card, which should fit over 200 tracks. Since I will only listen to these on the train and at my desk, battery life is of minimal concern to me. I have a few MP3s on my Axim, and they play well without skipping or any sort of sound distortion.

I have to take into account the fact that if I ever decide to start working out (fat chance… har har, see the double meaning behind that statement?), I don’t want to have my PDA jumping around.

I probably won’t buy the MP3 player or the 1GB card - there are better ways to put my money to use.