Gary Dell'Abate

The first thing I noticed about the new Blackberry Bold ($300 with a 2-year AT&T contract and rebate; blackberry.com, att.com) when I took it out of the box was how good-looking it is.

I usually get the gadget I review for this column about 3 to 4 weeks before I have to write it up. That's a relatively short time to really get to know a product, so I like to live with some of them beyond the deadline. Here are a few things that have truly stood the test of time.

If you travel a lot like I do, you probably lug along a laptop or a personal DVD player. The Myvu Crystal is much lighter and less bulky. Screen angle and glare are no longer issues - and best of all, you don't have to worry about other people seeing what you're watching.

There are lots of products that play iPods through speakers, but I haven't seen anything quite like GEORGE, from the folks at Chestnut Hill Sound ($499; chillsound.com). It's a tabletop system that not only plays your iPod but also sports an AM/FM radio and an alarm clock.