Tech check
Everything you need, at home and away
Words by Anthony Teasdale
Bughouse Album Side Table
If you’re a man of a certain age, it’s highly likely that despite your impressive bank of MP3s you occasionally yearn for the days of the vinyl record. While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever get the turntable out again, you can comfort yourself with this quirky side table from American furniture manufacturers Bughouse. Looking like it’s been made by sticking lots of your favourite record covers together, the table is actually constructed from sturdy birch plywood, which means you can rest your coffee on it without worrying if you’ve melted your treasured copy of Dark Side of the Moon.Whether your partner is so keen on it is another matter. 
$495, www.bughouse.com
Rosendahl Watch
This updated version of the 1980s classic ticks all the right retro boxes with its large LCD display, rubber strap and stainless steel case. It also comes with stopwatch, countdown and alarm. However, in these days of Wi-fikettles and internet ironing boards you’re not buying the piece for its technological features. You’re buying it because when you were six years old, this was perhaps the coolest watch in the universe. £349, www.panik-design.com
Sony W995
Like every other mobile phone maker, Sony is desperately trying to come up with new models to challenge the iPhone. The W995 is their latest attempt. Styled as an entertainment device, it packs a lot into its sleek body. For a start there’s an 8.1MP camera, which shoots both excellent daytime stills and decent quality video. If you want to be connected the net, the phone boasts Wi-fiand a super-fast 3G connection, which can be used to watch BBC iPlayer on the go. Add to this GPS, radio, 3.5mm headphone socket and a Walkman with enough space for 2,000 tracks and you’ve got a serious contender to the iPhone. However, issues with its poor camera flash and an occasionally clunky interface make this a recommended rather than essential purchase. £Depends on contract, www.sonyericsson.com
Alessi Espresso Travel
When you’re working away a lot of the things that you take for granted in life – such as being able to make a decent cup of coffee in your own kitchen – go out of the window. This is why the Alessi Espresso Travel is so, so cool. Coming in a dinky carrying case, the set boasts an Alessi 9090 espresso maker (the first product to be given a permanent place in Moma’s design collection), two small cups and saucers, a pair of spoons and a pot of Illy coffee. Just plug it in and get your hit – no matter where you are. The sort of product that people in the 1960s thought we’d be using all the time in the 21st century. £185, www.madeindesign.co.uk
FIVE FACTS ABOUT…
The Asus Eee PC 1008HA SeaShell
- The new netbook is only 2.5cm thick and weighs in at 1.1kg.
– It runs on an Intel N280 Atom processor, ideal for full-on web browsing sessions.
– The device also has two USBs, 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, Wi-fiand Bluetooth. Not bad for such a tiny machine.
– Sadly, it doesn’t come with 3G which means you’ll need to use a dongle to get on the net if you’re not in a Wi-fiarea.
– Comes with Windows XP Home.
£379, http://uk.asus.com
