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Gotta get geek
Techie gadgets never had it so good
BY KATE COHEN

The age of high-tech gadgetry has spawned an ongoing cycle of need: needing the latest gear to make our lives easier, then needing the accessories that maximize the potential of our new toy, be it a cell phone, personal data assistant (PDA), or pocket PC. Whether these add-ons are wholly necessary is debatable, but when the techno-trendy are shelling out up to $500 for the latest Handspring Treo phone/PDA, perhaps it’s a good idea for them at least to protect their investment.

PDAs have been around long enough that most designer-accessory makers are producing high-end cases that fit many devices, the most common of which are made by Palm and Handspring. Palm.com sells leather cases by Coach ($78–$118) and Dooney & Bourke ($44.95– $99.95). The Coach store sells the same Palm cases in more color varieties, along with the signature "C" case ($78) in embossed leather or jacquard fabric with leather trim. Not to be outdone by her competitors, Kate Spade makes a "Noel" zip-around nylon case ($90) in tan and black, and the "Kady leather" case ($155) in four colors.

Also essential to the PDA experience is the stylus, and although little can improve the one that slides neatly into the side of the device, Cross has managed to create a slim Micro pen ($13), available at Staples, that actually fits most PDA brands. Cross also makes more conventional multi-function pens designed to be kind to the display screen. Palm sells these Cross Matrix ($70–$80) and Morph ($55) models, which are designed for comfort and durability.

Once an emblem of ’80s surf cool, Body Glove has captured a fairly sizable hold on the market for digital-tool sport cases. Its neoprene PDA cases ($17.99–$24.99) are easy to find at Target, Staples, or online at Amazon.com and Palm.com. Body Glove also makes a "cell suit" ($16.60–$35.99) for cell phones of all sizes, available at Staples and Bodyglove.com. On the higher end, Coach sells leather or fabric cases ($68) to fit a variety of phone models, as does Dooney & Bourke ($55–$65).

Owners of Nokia phones are probably already aware that they can dress up their phones any way they please; with that in mind, it’s worth a trip to Target’s extensive aisle of phone face plates ($10.99–$17.99). Here, a plain phone can quickly become a fashion accessory, decorated with cherries, leopard print, or flames (to name a few); many prints are also available in a matching case ($9.99). And style doesn’t have to stop with the cell phone; Palm.com sells similarly colorful face plates for its m100 series ($9.99). Being a geek has never been so fun.

Where to find it:

• Amazon, www.amazon.com.

• Body Glove, www.bodyglove.com.

• Coach, various locations; www.coach.com.

• Dooney & Bourke, www.dooneyandbourke.com.

• Kate Spade, 117 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 262-2632; www.katespade.com.

• Palm, www.palm.com.

• Staples, various locations; www.staples.com.

• Target, various locations; www.target.com.



Issue Date: March 6 - 13, 2003


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