Version: 2008
  • On CHOW: Are five meats enough for pizza?
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CNET'S VACATION GEAR MAKEOVER: Let our editors redo your travel tech Back to intro
Meet the contestants Click below for each contestant's profile
Nathan AndersonCrystal BeanDominique ChirinciucDale Del Fierro Jason Esters
Heather McGinnisBrad RapleAdam ShieldsDwayne WilsonHarold Woodman

Sponsored by Canon
Contestant file
Nathan Anderson
My age: 27
My location: Wheaton, Illinois
What I do: Writer

What I take on vacation
• Compaq Contura running Windows 3.1
• Portable CD player
• Walkman
• Radio Shack electronic chess game 
Listen to my audiocastListen to Nathan: RealAudio | WindowsMedia

My dream setup
Apple iPod 40GB
Apple iPod 40GB
Music is central to my life.


Canon Powershot S50 with 512MB CompactFlash card
Canon Powershot S50 with 512MB CompactFlash card
I like to take lots of snaps while on vacation.


IBM ThinkPad X40
IBM ThinkPad X40
The laptop is for the hotel room, for evenings, and for airplane rides.


Treo 600
Treo 600
It can play MP3s, snap photos, and track every last vacation detail.



What the experts think
Brian Cooley Nate knows what he wants, and he's chosen some highly rated products. The only things missing: a standard RCA-to-minijack or minijack-to-minijack cable so that he can convert all those old cassettes to digital audio files on his new iPod, and a decent removable storage solution. For someone who has "overwritten two days of work by copying files in the wrong direction," it should be at the top of his list. It wouldn't kill him to watch a little less Star Wars, either.

Why I need this makeover
Nathan Anderson Last week, I pulled out my laptop and booted Windows 3.1, and a middle-school-aged boy started giggling behind my back. I turned around and told him to go away. He popped his iPod earbuds in and went back to his music, but not before snickering when I pulled out my Walkman. Like Princess Leia beseeching Obi-Wan Kenobi, I am begging you: save me from the gadget wasteland. Rest assured, I will use any new gear and use it hard.


What the panels' eyes
CNET Five The kid was right. Nate, you should be ashamed of that notebook (we use the term loosely). And don't even get us started on that electronic Radio Shack chess game. Nate clearly needs a makeover--and at warp speed.


See the finalists
Nathan Anderson Crystal Bean Dominique Chirinciuc Dale Del Fierro  Jason Esters
Heather McGinnis Brad Raple Adam Shields Dwayne Wilson Harold Woodman
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