Version: 2008
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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
Dale A. Del Fierro
My age: 34
My location: San Diego, California
What I do: Sheriff's office staff

What I take on vacation
• Sega IR 7000 PDA
HP Photosmart 435
• Sony Cassette Walkman
• Headphones swiped from JetBlue 
Listen to my audiocastListen to Dale: RealAudio | WindowsMedia

My dream setup
Toshiba Satellite P15-S420
Toshiba Satellite P15-S420
Heavy as sin, but great machines otherwise


Apple iPod 40GB
Apple iPod 40GB
Love Apple--in spite of a bad experience with the Newton!


Archos AV380
Archos AV380
An interesting alternative



What the experts think
Brian Cooley Dale's an evangelist and a real tech enthusiast (notwithstanding his use of JetBlue headphones). He knows his stuff and isn't fooled by the latest, most advertised products on the market. He recalls fondly cutting his programming teeth on BASIC programs cribbed from Creative Computing magazine. A man after our own heart. We'd feel just fine giving the goods to a real techie like Dale--we know he'd put them to good use.


Why I need this makeover
Dale A. Del Fierro I'm the guy who constantly preaches to coworkers and friends the need to update and move away from low-tech solutions. How many times must I hear 'Will adding more memory to my laptop make Microsoft Windows Me more stable?' before I crawl into a fetal position and rock gently to and fro in the corner? But sadly, my own tech isn't that hot.


What the panels' eyes
CNET Five Dale obviously loves technology, yet his own equipment should be against the law. Heck, we didn't even know Sega made a PDA. Maybe JetBlue hands them out with the headphones. It would be a crime to let this sheriff's office worker-by-day and geek-by-night go on without a high-tech makeover.


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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