Sometimes, I bet you cringe when going to restaurants because of either the overzealous restaurant server or the rude waitress.  Now, you can avoid those protocol pleasantries by ordering your dinner through a tough-screen computer.  That’s right, a computer!  New e-menu computers are being offered to restaurants so patrons can see images of the food they want to eat, and then touch them to order.  After touching the food, the order is electronically processed and sent to the kitchen computer so the chef can cook it to order.  While waiting for your food, you can play video games on the computer.  Pretty cool!

Microsoft has taken this step further by releasing a computer that becomes your tabletop.  This was launched in November of 2007, and has been slow to take off.  Maybe the $5,000 - $10,000 has something to do with the slow take-off.  These Microsoft tabletops can be a good idea for restaurants also by allowing the full menu to be right on your table.  Several hundred more studies must be done before Microsoft can target the right industry groups. 

Lacie has a new Ethernet Disk Mini - Home Edition Server that is a great solution for your home.  There are home servers now costing $2,000+ that will store files, administer permissions, and backup.  For only $210, you can do the same thing with Lacie.  It has 500GB to back up music, pics, and docs. And the Home Server looks like an external hard drive instead of a big unit.

• What’s in the box?
• 500GB of storage space
• Mac/PC compatible
• HipServ software to administer folder permissions - block the kids from your folders or provide access to everyone
• DesktopMirror software that backs up and restores your computer files
• Access your files from outside your house via a homelacie.com personalized website address
• E-mail friends and family to view certain folders via a give website address.

The last feature is very cool.  How many times does a family member e-mail you a link to their pictures?  All the time I’m sure!  Now, you can provide access to a bunch of folders on your external hard drive to your buddy or parents.  Don’t worry - you can give access to just some folders for view pictures.  You can even give access to iTunes songs so you can have friends stream the music to their own computers.  This is all over the Internet.  Definitely a thumbs up on this product!

In the light of the Consumer Electronics 2008 show and the MacWorld Expo, New York Computer Help would also like to showcase some cool gadgets.  These are the gadgets that are not the productive beasts like a the MacBook Air or TouchScreen Dell Laptop; however, these are the gadgets that will breathe some life and personality to your computer environment.

Here’s our top 5 tech gadget favorites:

1. Laptop vacuum:  A mini vacuum to clean up all of your keyboard crumbs, dirt, and left-over snacks
2. Aroma diffuser:  How about a little nice aroma while you’re working.  Plug this into the USB and say “Ahhhhh.”
3. Desktop light:  Need a little light at night while at your computer.  This Homer light will give you light.
4. Procrastination protector:  If you like to play games or goof off at the office, this stealth switch allows you press it to clear your screen quickly of your unprofessional windows and another step brings it all back.
5. Cool power surge protector:  A fancy outlet strip and one all cords can fit into

The Pleo, created by Ugobe, is the newest companion robot.  It is a dinosaur that reacts to your movements and expressions.  If you hug it, it will say “Ahh” and vibrate.  If you throw it, it will cry.  If someone runs up to it quickly, it will bark like a watchdog. 

How does it work?  It actually has an operating system running in it called Life OS.  Life OS, as Windows XP and Mac OS 10.4, has been programmed to its consumers’ lifestyle.  Instead of programming Internet Explorer or Microsoft Word for productivity, Life OS is tailored for reactionary emotions, and even allows consumers to train the dinosaur how to act when given certain movements or expressions.

At $350, this robot could now be more of a reality.  This might be a good present for kids, adults, or those who just need company.  Who knows - this might replace the everyday dog or cat companion.  For those who watched iRobot, and may be cringing right now, let’s just hope there’s not a bad chip out there.

Computer hard drives are getting much larger nowadays and the current challenge is being able to back up all of your important files.  For those of you who are road warriors or on the run all the time, it is not convenient to carry large external hard drives.  So, the more portable way is to carry a sizeable USB flash drive, a.k.a jump drive, a.k.a thumb drive, and a.k.a small gizmo.  

The typical flash drives go up to 2GB, but now there is a new 8GB flash drive that is still small.  Many flash drives that get to 4GB, 6GB, or 8GB, or more start beefing up in size, but Lexar now makes a nice, portable, sleek 8GB USB flash drive that can still fit in your pocket.   Lexar makes 2 8GB models:

1. Secure II Plus - This $159.99 model contains a meter to show how much storage you’ve used.  There is even some security to block possible thieves from accessing your files.
2. Firefly - A shorter and stubbier model, at $149.99, comes in black, white, and gray.

These USB drives are the first found that are still mobile and large enough to hold your important files.

When we think of tech gadgets, we usually think of computers, equipment, or guy things.  But, what can we get for the wife or mother while keeping the gift still aesthetically appealing?  How about turning a handbag into a tech experience.  Bubble Gear’s multimedia handbag, made in Rome, has a 7-inch LCD screen that broadcasts digital photos and DVDs.  It can even play MP3’s.  You can listen to the music discreetly with headphones and a remote control. 

You can power it up wherever you are since it includes a rechargeable battery, car and home chargers.  This pink tech-fused bag is a revolutionary concept that may take off with other competitors next year.  Be one of the first to buy this unique gift!

Pure digital has produced a new device that takes high resolution pictures and videos.  The novelty with it is its small size and it has a USB interface connected to it so you can use it like an external hard drive to transfer images and videos over to your PC or Mac.  You don’t need any software.  Just take the video or picture and plug it in.

Now for the specs.  It takes up to 60 minute recording time and has up to 2GB of space.  Compatible with PCs and Macs, this may be automatically updated to YouTube directly or prepared for publishing elsewhere.  Pick orange, yellow, pink, white, or black as your camera color.  At $179.99, this gadget gets our thumbs up as a cool, portable, easily-shareable camera.

The general thought usually is that macs don’t get viruses.  Myth or truth?  Myth!  Macs can get and send viruses, but they are just less susceptible at doing so than PCs.  Why?  Mac OS 10 has some heavy security built into it that prevents many malicious code from attacking the computer.  However, the operating system does not have so much security built into it to prevent sending viruses.  Also, macs are more prone to receiving viruses from another mac than a Windows computer. 

So, if in a heavy mac environment, it makes sense to install the new Norton Antivirus 11 for Macintosh to protect the whole mac network.  The Norton Antivirus software is an automatic process where it updates and scans for viruses periodically on its own.  So, after you install it, you are in good hands.   It will block viruses and let you know if there is a potentially malicious file.  If you only have one mac, it is usually safe to assume you will be virus-free, but not 100%.

One thing to note is that you will probably need to call in a specialist, like New York Computer Help, to remove a virus.  If you are infected, it is typically through a bad code or worm and manual removal is required.  So, before you get to a precarious situation, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Dell’s Latitude XT has just reached the market.  Dell hopes to compete with Lenovo and HP in the tablet laptop market.  For those unfamiliar with the tablets, it is a touch screen laptop that you can use your finger or a laptop pen to draw, sketch, and navigate.  It allows you to write notes and convert them to Microsoft Word. 

Dell has taken over a year on experimenting the best way to design this tablet.  They’ve come up with 2 types: One has an outdoor screen which is heavier and made for those in the field.  The other has a thin LED backlight and is very light at 3.57 lbs.  The lighter, business model is thinner and easy to carry.  HP and Lenovo offers a standard plastic pen to navigate on the screen while Dell offers a ballpoint-tip pen and a felt-tip pen.  This choice can help make the computer user comfortable based on his or her preference.  The keyboard is flat and glossy, enabling it to be sturdy for wear and tear.  The power adapter is finally small and light, making it ultraportable.  The tablet can change to landscape quickly as other tablets.  It has a 12.1″ screen, 40GB or 80GB hard drive, bluetooth, wireless, Core 2 Solo 1.06GHZ processor, and 1 - 3GB RAM.

Overall, the $2,499 Dell, a partner with New York Computer Help, is now a competitor in the tablet market for its small size, light weight, and comfortable touch.

The next contender has stepped up for the iPod: the Zune 80 by Microsoft.  iRiver and other competitors have failed.  Can the Zune match up?  Let’s start with the packaging.  When opening the package for the Zune 80, it’s like opening a holiday present with wrapping paper, glossy film, and a soft, velvet bag.  The mp3 player itself is a sleek black device that is easy to walk around with. 

Now, on for the specs.  The Zune 80 has a 3.2 inch screen, FM radio, video, good audio quality, and get this: it has an unlimited music subscription service.  It also has wi-fi syncing and sharing which is not offered on the iPhone or new iPod Touch.  For the negatives, its battery life is weaker than the iPod; it requires its own computer software, and doesn’t offer TV or movie downloads.  This 80GB mp3 player is a noteworthy competitor to the iPod and may be purchased for app. $250.