What Bad Boy Santino Rice Wants for Christmas

Much has been said about Project Runway's Season 2 bad-boy designer Santino Rice, but the truth is the man knows how to grab our attention. Whether he's stealing the spotlight from past Project Runway contestants (Heidi Klum still says he was her favorite), judging beauties at the Miss Universe pageant, or designing one-of-a-kind pieces for celebs, Santino continues to be a force to be reckoned with. I recently caught up with Santino, and was extremely impressed with his gadget-filled life and Christmas list below. Check it out along with his must-have gizmos and favorite online hangouts.

What are three gadgets you love or can't live without?

The number one thing I can't live without is the Altec Lansing iMV712. It allows you to dock your video iPod and watch movies on an enhanced, larger screen. It also has an incredible sound system for just listening to your iTune selections. A must-have when I'm designing in the studio!

Second, my Canon PowerShot G7. The best digital camera I've ever owned, I go nowhere without it! Great compact design but features a load of options and 10.0 megapixels. This camera has taken my love of photography to a whole new level.

Last but not least, my Seagate FreeAgent Pro 750GB. This external hard drive enables me to safely and easily store and back up thousands of images, contacts, and music. The FreeAgent Pro takes the fear out of organizing my virtual world!

What's the most expensive gadget your own?

My 17-inch MacBook Pro. Well worth every penny!

What gadgets are on your Christmas list?

• The Solio solar charger: This device would charge all of my gadgets, iPods, and cell phones with solar power! When will we take this technology and change our planet’s future?
• The Mio Digiwalker C520 GPS: Whether L.A. or NYC, this portable navigational device will show me how to get to my next appointment while on the go.
• Sirius Stiletto 2: Satellite radio in your pocket, and better still - Howard Stern in your ear! I'm not ashamed to say I miss the guy, and this little gadget lets you listen in style with features galore.
• Rane's Serato Scratch Live: Their technology enables you to manipulate and mix any digital music from your Mac or hard drive, with the help of your Technic 1200s or CD players.
• Canon PowerShot TX1: I've had my eye on this compact digital camcorder for a while.
• Booq's Folee XL System with Vyper XL laptop bag.

Mac or PC?

Mac of course! The first computer I ever learned to use was a Macintosh, back in 1984! Apple has continued to make groundbreakingly beautiful technology and cater to the artist in everyone. Substance and style at its best. The Mac Store has been a major motivator for me to work harder, so I can make more money, so I can by more Mac!

Where do you spend most of your time online

Gmail.com and Hotmail.com host all of my e-mail addresses personal and fan-mail from Santinorice.com and MySpace.com. Myspace is great for discovering new music. I rarely have a chance to watch TV, so YouTube.com is where I catch up on any missed pop culture as well as vintage gems that I always seem to find. Showstudio.com is a favorite fashion site that I always remember to check in on, as well as Style.com. Iqons.com has become something I've been getting into more and more. The site is like Myspace for serious lovers of fashion. Great networking possibilities and excellent content.

How do you personalize your gadgets?

I personalize my gadgets internally, with photos and such. The design of my gadgets is as important as what they do for me, so if I had to cover anything with bling to make it cool, it's most likely far from it.

Do you download music or buy CDs?

Both buy and download, and I still buy vinyl records as well. Music is music no matter what format I hear it on. I download quite a bit from iTunes and MySpace. I get so much inspiration from music, I can't get enough!

Do you prefer to send text messages or make phone calls?

Both, there's a time and place for each. Text messages are really convenient, though. It's great to be able to just condense what you're trying to say in a couple of sentences.

Geekiest thing about you.

I was a huge Star Wars fan as a kid. I loved Battlestar Galactica too. I read a lot of comic books. I use to love all of the colored lucite Dungeons and Dragons dice and painting the tiny pewter figurines, but sadly I wasn't so into spending Saturday mornings playing the real game. I can, however, appreciate the experience of playing World of Warcraft on The Alienware Aurora ALX gaming system! Alas, being addicted to fashion is a full-time addiction!

What are you currently working on?

I keep busy designing custom gowns and creating one-of-a-kind pieces for clients all over the United States. I've also collaborated on some design projects that will debut next year. Keeping my business small and exclusive allows me the freedom to create without limitations and present my clients with my best work. Technology, and more specifically my presence on the web, has enabled me to conduct business all over the world.