Tech the halls: before hitting the online shopping malls, check out these cutting-edge stocking stuffers - Holiday Gift Guide

Black Enterprise, Dec, 2003 by Sonya A. Donaldson

ILLUSTRATION BY CECIL G. RICE

These days, technology is as much a fashion statement as it is a means of getting business done. If you don't believe this, consider a tool like the cell phone, which has evolved from resembling a weighty shoebox to a device that weighs mere ounces and fits in the palm of your hand. Sure, Michael Douglas was cool in Wall Street when he sported that brick of a cell phone while strolling on the beach. It was state of the art in 1987; but would you really be caught dead with it now?

The question now for technology is not whether a product is a tool or toy (it can unapologetically be both), but whether it also ups your cool quotient. In other words, these gift guide products are not Gordon Gekko's toys.

pentax optio S4

How does Pentax pack 4 megapixels into such a tiny form? Good question. The 3.5-ounce S4 actually fits inside an Altoids tin (go ahead, try it) and features a sliding lens system that allows the lens to move up and flush with the camera body--all at a reasonable price. (www.pentax.com; $399.99 at Amazon)

siemens SL56

You'll be hard-pressed to find a reason not to like the Siemens SL56 cell phone. With its formed egg shape, platinum-pearl titanium case, and slider design, the mobile device answers the chicken/egg conundrum. It's definitely the egg. (www.my-siemens.com;$249.99)

apple power mac G5

Have you been naughty or nice? When it comes to the Power Mac G5, it really doesn't matter. You deserve one. We could give you a laundry list of the specs for the "world's fastest personal computer"--64-hit desktop processor, optimized Velocity Engine, but why bother? The G5 is fast and furious and runs on Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar. (www.apple .com; starting at $1,999)

sony clie PEG-UX50

Sony calls its new CLIE PEG-UX50, but we like to think of it as something more than just a personal entertainment communicator. With built-in wireless capability (Wi-Fi and Bluetooth), a built-in digital camera (for pictures and video), and an LCD screen with a flip and rotate design, the Palm-based device offers more than its bland moniker indicates. (www.sonystyle.com; $699.99)

palm tungsten T3

Is the new Palm Tungsten this season's new Terminator? It just could be. Like its shape-shifting counterpart in the film, the handheld features a new stretch display that lets you switch from the standard portrait view to landscape--with 50% more viewing area in the 320x480 display. Now you can view Excel documents with ease. And with the increasingly popular Bluetooth built in, you can connect wirelessly. (www.palmOne.com; $399)

canon optura 20

Your budding film director will appreciate the Canon 0ptura 20. Packed with sophisticated features that will let anyone feed their inner Spike Lee, the camcorder offers 16x optical and 320x digital zoom, color viewfinder and 3.5-inch LCD screen, motion JPEG movie, simultaneous photo recording, and FireWire capability. Don't forget to try those special effects for a truly cinematic experience. (www.canonusa.com;$1,299)

archos AV120

Do you sense a theme here? It's a digital world now, and what better tool to prove that than the AV120? The MP4 video player and recorder also features a 20GB USB 2.0 hard disk--no computer required. (www.archos.com;$439.95)

panasonic SV-AV100 sd

Want to really be the envy of your friends? Pull out this pocket-size video camera and start rolling. The device features 10x digital zoom and delivers images so sharp you'll have to see it to believe it. It also features a rotating LCD monitor (180 degrees) and rotating lens, so you can be in the picture, too. (www.panasonic.com/d-snap;$999.95)

iomega super dvd-rw

Want to send mom a DVD of junior's first Christmas? DVD or CD, however you slice it (or burn it), lomega's new king of all backup media, should be under your holiday tree. The all-format USB 2.0 lets you create DVD+RWs, DVD-RWs, DVD-RAMs, CD-RWs more quickly and easily, so you can save and share data or multimedia files.(www.iomega.com;$329.93)

canon i9OOD

You got the digital camera you wanted, but how do you make sure you get quality prints for your photo album? Canon's i900D lets you print high-resolution 4x6, 5x7, and 8.5xll images at up to 4800x1200 dpi from your PC or directly from your camera. (www.canonusa.com;$249.99)

rim blackberry 7210

Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices have been the staple of business professionals for years. But they've never really wowed the consumer crowd--until now. Phone, e-mail, SMS, and browser are just a few of the features rolled into the BlackBerry 7210 for GSM/GPRS (for the laymen, a global wireless voice and data network standard). The lightweight device is perfect for those who travel frequently. And if you're headed overseas, don't worry. GSM/GPRS means you won't have to leave your BlackBerry behind. (www.blackberry.net; $449.99 at AT&T Wireless)

fujifilm finepix S5000

Sometimes, less is more. And with Fujifilm's Finepix S5000, this is definitely the case. The 3.1 megapixel digital camera features 10x optical/2.2x digital zoom, video and voice memo recording, and continuous shooting modes, proving you don't need 6 megapixels to snap away like the pros. (www.fujifilm.com;$499.95 at Buy.com)