Last Gadget Standing: Top 10 Gadgets at CES '08

Wed Jan 9, 2008 7:49AM EST

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Never mind the gadgets, we're having a hard time standing now that we've been at CES for a few days, but we need your opinions. Yahoo! Tech is holding the Last Gadget Standing competition at this year's CES. Last Gadget is in its seventh year, and we're convinced that the attendees always pick the winners.

We've selected 10 great products from the thousands on the show floor. The companies behind the products each have just four minutes to appeal to the live audience, making the case as to why their technology will survive and become part of the digital landscape. My colleagues Ben Patterson, Dory Devlin, Chris Null, and Gina Hughes have all conferred and narrowed the list of entries to 10 select gadgets.

But it wouldn't be legit if you (the most in-touch readers we know) didn't have your say online. So here are the finalists, all winners in their own right. You tell us which one you think will stand the test of time.

Eye-Fi is a specially designed low-power wireless chip with a 2GB memory card. When installed in just about any of today's digital cameras, it automatically transfers photos from the camera to a Mac or PC or any of the popular photo-sharing sites and social networks.

Asus Eee PC 4G is a computer that costs only $399, has a tiny 7-inch screen, runs Linux, and comes with a suite of great software applications.

The LG Voyager is proving to be the iPhone for non-iPhone buyers. It has a touch screen and beneath the flip is a QWERTY keyboard for easy typing.

Dash Express is an Internet-connected GPS device that gives real-time traffic conditions based on data transmitted from other Dash users. Users can also get up-to-the minute notifications via Yahoo! Local about everything from movies to gas prices.

Sansa TakeTV offers a simple and less expensive way to move downloaded TV programs around the house. Using a cradle with standard RCA and S-Video plugs, your TV media is stored on the USB memory stick.

iRobot's iLooj is a robotic gutter cleaner that will clean a stretch of gutter (60 feet) in 10 minutes.

Toshiba's TDP-EW25U is a wireless DLP projector that can produce an image that casts 41 feet or 1.6 feet, create a 60-inch picture even when it's positioned 2.4 feet away, and accommodates high-definition video.

Electric~Spin's Golf LaunchPad Tour lets you play the course as your favorite star. Use our own clubs and take a swing at a very realistic simulation.

The Fujitsu u810, as our Endgadget friends say, is something to drool about. Lightweight and full featured.

The Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard is a keyboard that fits in the palm of your hands, letting you connect PC to TV with minimal fuss.

Stay tuned. There'll be a winner by noon PST tomorrow. You've all had lots to say about each of the individual products, now look at the gestalt. May the best gadget win!

Update:

This year's votes are in! Click here to see the winner of the Last Gadget Standing competition.

Top 5 Posts

Comments on Last Gadget Standing: Top 10 Gadgets at CES '08

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  • 6 Posted by magpagbst on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    i want something that will allow me to establish ONE discreet home theater system (multi-zone; hi-def video (1080p); at least 5.1 channel zones; controls lights, thermostat, shading, etc; and is infinitely expandable via components) . . . that is wireless . . . i think belkin is coming up with something later this year . . . it'll probably be zigby based . . . but as for this list . . . the wireless toshiba projector is pretty cool . . . but i wonder about how the keystone correction comes into play . . .

  • 7 Posted by taficke on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    Id say the LG Voyager takes home the gold. And the EEE PC is a good runner up.

  • 8 Posted by dskow on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I thought I heard something about a mobile phone that had a DLP projector in the top. It projected onto a wall for showing your pictures and stuff. Not sure why that did not make the list.

  • 9 Posted by btwitchy102 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    The LG Voyager most definitely. It has been called the "IPhone Killer." How can you beat that? Plus the reliability and quality of the network.

  • 10 Posted by solopassenger on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why is that CES more than always seems to FAIL at unveiling any new great gadget or technology that captures the public eye and makes people really oh and ah. I mean really. Look at all the buzz the iphone got from its totally new user interface as how a phone could and should operate, its attempt at an all in one device, and even its wonderful aesthetics. I have not yet seen one device at CES that even gets half the buzz as the iphone did. For crying out loud Walt Mossberg was on Charlie Rose discussing the iphone. Some of it is marketing, sure. But come on! The Motorola Rokr? Looks the same as every other phone or the worlds largest plasma t.v. Wow! I'll go out and buy one right now!! Real affordable. CES is boring and a sad excuse for manufactures to show off the not so greatest, no real use, and not so tangible tech.

  • 11 Posted by quibelez_de_saporan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:24PM EDT Report Abuse

    If I could ask one of these as a present, it would definitely be the LG Voyager... :) I'm not saying the iPhone is not nice, but nowhere THAT nice as it's hyped, sorry...

  • 12 Posted by mehrabiwhs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    Golf Launch Pad is amazing and should have been first...you have to try it to believe it.

  • 15 Posted by mary_b98201 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    Friend had nothing but trouble with voyager, returned for NV

  • 16 Posted by reupped96 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I see nothing here to cause me to part with a dollar!!

  • 17 Posted by lmwalsh2112 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 6:55PM EDT Report Abuse

    You think these gadgets are cool? Check out some of the great gear that makes watching football FAN-tastic by the boys over at Baseline magazine (http://www.baselinemag.com/slideshow_viewer/0,1205,l=&s=2100&a=223209&po=1,00.asp?p=y).

  • 18 Posted by jamesketron on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:28PM EDT Report Abuse

    These are interesting gadgets, but I'm not going to waste my money on any of this nonsense. People will use these things a few times, then lose interest when some other useless piece of trash comes out. So, what's the point? P.S. I like cheese too.

  • 19 Posted by dabraves13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:33PM EDT Report Abuse

    These are boring choices!! I wouldn't pick any of them - go with the iPhone. I love it!!

  • 20 Posted by mystguy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's be helpful to have the suggested retail price on each product to judge fairly. A product may sound good but be overpriced. But I'd have to say that multi-purposed mini-sized tablet computers like the Asus Eee PC and the Fujitsu u810 is where it's at. I'll give my vote to the Asus Eee because of the value. Something like this can revolutionize education. Lightweight, small footprint, ultra-portable and plenty of power make it easy to carry your books, music, homework, contacts, a full functioned calculator, word processing, spreadsheets, and wireless Internet access (does it have a wireless card?) with you everywhere is a recipe for success.

  • 21 Posted by pletokz on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:14PM EDT Report Abuse

    I choose for ASUS Eee PC. Others are expensive stuff, ASUS proves they can make an affordable gadget, very useful to those who cannot afford to buy expensive gadgets

  • 22 Posted by jogp98 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:38PM EDT Report Abuse

    I received an Eye-Fi for Xmas. Range is better than some of the posts indicate. It works well but I agree it needs the capability to work at any hot spot on-demand. It would also be nice it if could transfer videos since most cameras shoot video clips today. It would be great at a live event like a church youth gathering. Roving photographers could send photos to the video operator and display them in almost real time. Kids love to see themselves up on the big screen. Instead of a solution looking for a problem to solve, this one may actually be the reverse!!

  • 24 Posted by sc2415 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    what's the deal with the shape? i have a BMW Z4. how is that supposed to fit on my dash? i guess it's only for SUV drivers.

  • 25 Posted by amir_nathoo on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would say the Asus Eee PC is the best item out there. The trend for small computer laptops is strong and we'll see more of these in the near future, starting at Mac World. I own an iPhone and have looked at the LG Voyager. The iPhone is simply the best as far as the interface goes.

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