Did you keep expenditures down during the holidays because of the economy? Valiantly hold off on that widescreen TV for the Super Bowl, then instantly regret it? If you’re finally ready to upgrade, try these hot products.
-By Paul Stone
Apple always makes beautiful things, but they haven’t been that green…until now. The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pros have enclosures that are recyclable, and boast mercury-free displays and arsenic-free glass. They also meet Energy Star requirements. Those enclosures are made from a single bit of aluminum, which means they’re light (5.5 and 6.6 pounds), thin (0.95 and 0.98 inches!), and durable (due to “the rigid construction of the unibody”). There are various processor and hard-drive options, and you get all the usual bells and whistles, including two USB ports (three on the 17-inch) and one FireWire port; built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet capability; the Leopard operating system and iLife; and an 8x SuperDrive. Oh, and the battery on the 17-inch model lasts eight hours on a single charge and can be charged 1,000 times…a good thing, since it’s built into the computer.
(Apple.com;starts at $2,000)
This gorgeous container is what all boring water bottles aspire to be. It’s absolutely stunning; features a swivelopen top that can’t get lost, with an opening wide enough for ice cubes and easy cleaning; and holds a generous 25 ounces of liquid refreshment. It’s also BPAfree (natch), tapered, and has an ergonomic handle. We’ll skip the New Agey optional token “stones” and their motivating messages, but a toxin-free bottle that holds two beers and is dishwasher-safe? Sold.
(KorWater.com; $30)
If you’re riding a bicycle to save the planet—or even for exercise—this iPodcompatible speaker should be right up your alley, so to speak. There are no cords to get in your way, more tha six hours’ battery life, and it’s compatible with most cellphones, MP3 players, and PDAs. This is supersmart thinking that will enable you to ride tangle free…and loud.
(MyCyFi.com; $200)
This player may not have the sexiest name, but it’ll never run out of juice. Why? You wind it up for power. One minute of turning the wheel gets you 45 minutes of music, video, photo viewing, even an LED light. You can record to it from vinyl, FM radio, line-in hi-fi, and an external microphone. It’s genius. You can even use it to charge your cellphone if the power goes out.
(EcoMediaPlayer.com; $200)
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