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Floppy disks are so 1999. The modern accessory is a USB Flash Drive. For one thing, it’s got space. You can fit a hundred Word documents, photos, and a bunch of email on a little keychain. For another thing, it’s solid. If you open up a floppy disk you’ll see that your data is written on what looks like electrical tape. I can’t open a Flash Drive, which makes it inherently more reliable. And they’re cheap. Expect to pay 2,000 – 3,000 for 128MB. Kingston is a good brand, and Crescat Mall (Computer City) and Unity Plaza (2nd Floor) are good places to look.

Upgrade: Laks Memory Music Watch – a Flash Drive/MP3 Player built into a manly watch. Available at www.thinkgeek.com for Rs 18,900 plus shipping.

Alternative: Batteryless, bulbless flashlight. When you shake it for 30 seconds a magnet moves through a coil to generate 5 minutes of bright LED light. Useful for the sketchy electricity of Sri Lanka. Available at www.thinkgeek.com for Rs 2,500 plus shipping.

By next Christmas everyone will be talking about WiFi, but for now you can try a wireless keyboard and mouse. It’s two less annoying tangles on your desk, and strangely impressive to guests. I used to sit on the couch and type, but it’s fun on a desk too. If you’re showing a friend some photos and they want to point something out you can just hand them the mouse. PC Partner (Unity Plaza) has the Logitech Freedom for Rs. 6,000.

Upgrade: Logitech MX – Rs. 14,500. Sexier and the mouse recharges its own batteries.
Alternative Surround Sound Computer Speakers – Rs. 5,750 at MAC Computers (Unity Plaza)

With (admitedly illegal) software like DVD X-Copy Xpress you can copy a DVD in about 30 minutes. What’s easier and perhaps more useful is making DVDs of home movies and backing up the photos and docs you care about. If your computer crashes it’s not going to rise from the dead on Easter. Best backup your data. A good Imation burner is available at PanAudio (near Kollupitiya Junction) for 12,500. You can get a younger brother/child to install it, or PanAudio will do it for you.

Upgrade: External DVD burners are available for about Rs 20,000 to 30,000, but they’re rarely in stock.

Alternative: Genius Tablet and Input Pen – 10,500 @ IT Land (Unity Plaza)

This is the Sony-Ericsson Z200 – the iPod of cell phones. It’s not a camera, it’s not a Nintendo, and it’s not a computer. It doesn’t make video calls or butter toast. The Z200 makes phone calls. It tells time with a handy clock on the cover. It stores your appointments. It looks good. Available at Crescat Mall and Abans. Try and get the white model, not the one with an orange clock. Unless you like that.

Upgrade: Nokia 7610- Rs. 55,500. Comes with camera, web, and email functions.
Alternative Wireless Internet Router- Rs. 16,000. This is the future of the Internet, wireless and painless.

This is the Portable Sony Playstation – the PSP. Judging by the previews the quality is extraordinary and 100s of games are already on board … (being edited now) They got Gran Turismo 4 on the portable and I’m still playing Gran Turismo 1 on the original Playstation. So it’s hot. If this thing was popular in SL my cousin Eran wouldn’t love me anymore, but neither Sri Lanka or America will have the PSP this season. Of course, you can always talk to your Japan connect: PlayAsia or Lik-Sang . You should really pre-order, and by pre-order I mean 10 days ago. It’s actually pretty cheap – 20,000 Rs or 27,000 Rs with games loaded.

Upgrade: Not possible.
Alternative: Minolta Dimage Compact Camera – Rs. 37,000 @ LEEDS (Majestic City)