Sensible traveler Destinations Where they went Travel gear
Gadgets on the go
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff, 11/24/02
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Sensible traveler Destinations Where they went Travel gear
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Lapworks' new laptop desk is perfect for those who travel frequently with notebook computers. It spans the entire lap so you can sit comfortable and have plenty of room, even for the larger, older computer models. Fold it over to incline the keyboard or elevate your screen. It's thin and light, and fits inside a standard computer bag, right alongside your computer. The rubber surface keeps things from sliding. The desk costs $29.95 and is available online at www.lapworksinc.com/laptopdesk2f.html or by calling 877-527-9675.
Getting the word
Perlez-vous Francais? Spechen sie Deutsch? Do you speak English? Lingo's talking translator does. It translates more than 60,000 words and 1,300 common phrases into and out of 10 languages (English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean), converts currency, and keeps time in 200 cities. The translations are made in writing and phonetically "spoken" out loud, because being able to read a street sign in a foreign country is important, but correct pronunciation and inflection are key to making sure you understand what's really going on. The Lingo translator comes with an earphone, carrying pouch, and batteries, weighs about 5 ounces, and is only 5 inches tall, 3 inches wide, and a half-inch thick. Its four-line LCD screen is backlit and easy to read, and the gadget's database function lets it multitask for you, storing addresses, phone numbers, appointments, and memos. It costs about $159 and is available through Magellan's catalog (800-962-4943) and online at www.magellans.com, www.technoscout.com, www.123language.com, and www.christinecolumbus.com/.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight
While you can't magically create more legroom in coach, Dreamsack's new Airline Comfort Set can make those long flights a little more comfortable. The lightweight silk blankets and soft silk eyeshades are much more luxurious than the standard airline issue, and you can cover those small complimentary pillows with a matching silk pillowcase. The blanket has a clever pouch at the bottom to keep your feet cozy, and all three items roll up and store inside a drawstring bag. The set comes in dark blue and lilac and coast $55. It's available online at www.dreamsacks.com or by telephone at 800-670-7661.