wishlist

This page is for those awkward times when etiquette demands that you buy a relative stranger a gift and that stranger is me. It is also a list of things I'm shopping for or planning to buy.

preferences

I like small, light things which go along with my dream to be able to carry everything I need on my back.

I take care of my things so I like things that last. Rubber, soft touch handles, etc., are not that—they age quicker, are fragile, and are harder to keep clean.

I like interchangeable parts, standard size batteries, etc.

"Pound for pound, food contains about 100-fold more energy than batteries."
—Larry Rome

I like power sources that work whenever I do so hand crank, shake, etc. is good. Solar is also good, but less so.

the list

My parents have been getting me things off this list and it's been working so well that I've decided to try adding less expensive things more appropriate for less bloody relationships ;)

Adesso PS/2 to USB Adapter. Price: 12.99 + 12.46 S/H USD (to my address) from Adesso or 13.91 + unknown S/H from Amazon.com. For the Logitech MouseMan that Mitch gave me.

Akro-Mils Small Storage Case. Price: 4.28 to 1.99 USD + assorted S/H depending on where you get them from. These cases have channels in the lid for the separators so small parts don't migrate. I can use more than one so there's no need to worry about duplicating someone else.

Kill A Watt Price: about 30 USD + Shipping from ThinkGeek or 22 USD from Amazon. Measures electricity usage of something plugged into it.

I rarely read a book twice and I really dislike the local library so the mere loan of a book is a perfectly valid, if unconventional, present. It may actually be more valuable than the gift of a book since I don't have to spend the resources to store and get rid of it.

Books I'd currently like to read are:

someday / maybe list

Don't get me anything on this list. At least not without checking with me first :)

USB Rechargeable Battery. Why I want this? I have an FM transmitter that eats AAA batteries. Why is it not on the serious list? USBCells aren't available in AAA size yet. The Gadgeteer has a review.

Toshiba Portege R500. Price: about 2000 USD. Why do I want this? Three words: sunlight readable screen. Why is it not on the serious list? I have a working iBook; if you're going to spend two thousand on me, there's things I'd like more; and I don't know how well it runs Linux. In any case, the reviews conclude that the laptop produces too much heat and the screen has viewing angle problems, but it does work in sunlight which is major yes.

[seth w. klein] [no IE]