[The iPod Touch]

Being a former owner of the first generation iPod Touch, not to mention a huge Mac geek, let me throw out some info on what you may not know about your first gen iPod Touch, or even second generation iPod Touch revamped with goodies and much, much more.

A standard and MUST for handhelds now is, of course, an Internet browser. Safari on the iPod (or iPhone) is a great development for easy browsing through wi-fi or 3G network (iPhone only). This really opened doors for the new App Store from Apple which has more than 15,000 different applications and has hit more than 1 billion downloads, costing you anywhere from zero to $3.

With the new built in speakers and microphone on the second generation iPod Touches, you can even download the Skype application and have voice conversations through your iPod Touch on wi-fi or leave yourself voice messages.

[The Nintendo DSi]

I’m very new to the handheld gaming device world, but I’m glad I started with the DSi. At a wallet biting price of $169, you can get yourself a new DSi in baby blue or black.

If you’re just finishing off that last payment for tuition like me, if you have the original (bulkier) Playstation 2, a Nintendo DS Lite, and a few controllers lying around you can own your very own DSi for $70.00 and change.

Just a word to the wise, if you’re an owner of the Nintendo handheld devices, just know that with the addition of two cameras on this baby, you’re losing your ability to play your Gameboy Advance games or Guitar Hero on the DS. The DSi only supports DS game cartridges.

Jump on board and on the Wii Shop download the Web browser and others with the free 2000 Wii points that comes with your new DSi. The Web browser does an alright job with simple pages, but with higher more complicated pages with Flash, Java and advanced HTML, don’t be too sad when your DS doesn’t want to work.

What’s great is the addition of an SD card for you to store photos and music on, or pull them off of other devices like digital camera’s and computers to use your DS. I haven’t had a chance to try them, but the speakers sound great on the DS and the photo editing software can be pretty fun.

[Going Green]

Amazon.com launched its new Kindle 2, a virtual book reader, where pages come to life on your LCD. Paper free books, go figure. There’s even an iPod Application for the Kindle, to read them on your iPod.

The only issue with this is, what do you need a unitasker for? Unless you’re a big reader who wants to save some money on books, eBooks aren’t going to be taking over newspapers, magazines and textbooks just yet. You can’t leave notes, highlight or bookmark specific pages on your Kindle either.

[The Power of the Netbook]

According to an article called “The Netbook Effect” published in Wired Magazine, the creation of the netbook, the pocket version of a laptop, was almost accidental. Basically, all the creators wanted was a super cheap laptop to appeal to the budget consumers. However, when Asustek launched the Eee PC in fall 2007, it sold out the entire 350,000-unit inventory in a few months. Eee PCs weren't bought by people in poor countries but by middle-class consumers in western Europe and the U.S., people who wanted a second laptop to carry in a handbag for peeking at YouTube or Facebook wherever they were. In the process of creating a laptop to satisfy the needs of poor people, its creators revealed something about traditional PC users. They didn't want more out of a laptop — they wanted less.

It turns out that about 95 percent of what people do on a computer can now be accomplished through a browser. Netbooks have ended the performance wars. It used to be that when you went to an electronics store to buy a computer, you picked the most powerful one you could afford. Because, who knew? Maybe someday you'd need to play a cutting-edge videogame or edit your masterpiece indie flick. But most of the time, we do almost nothing. Our most common tasks — email, Web surfing, watching streamed videos—require very little processing power.

What netbook makers have done, in effect, is turn back the clock: Their machines perform the way laptops did four years ago. And it turns out that four years ago (more or less) is plenty.  It is now reasonable to design computers that outsource the difficult work somewhere else. 

[The Big Question]

With so many things being handheld, portable and multi functional, the big question remains: Where do I throw my cash money?

The DSi is not as responsive as my iPod Touch. Loading menus, switching between items and photo editing was slower on the DSi, but it has two cameras versus none on the iPod Touch.

With the DS titles you have to spend at least $15on a new game, whereas the iTunes App Store has more affordable games, many of them free. You can’t carry your whole life on a DS, but your contacts, e-mail and calendar are easily synced to your iPod Touch. But you don’t have to carry cartridges to play games on the iPod, they’re all built in, which means you’re limited to memory.

For me, I sold my iPod Touch to get the 3rd generation iPhone coming out soon. I didn’t feel a need to have two cell phones. I also finally have the DSi to share with myself and my little brother (we returned his DS Lite for a $70 cash back at Game Stop).

So, of course, the answer is preference. Do you need a palm pilot-slash-organizer? Are you sucked into your e-mail constantly and can’t live without Internet? Do you enjoy your music library? Grab an iPod Touch or iPhone if you want everything condensed into one device.

Do you love gaming? Do you have a library of DS games? Do you have a PS3 and have a PS2 gathering dust? Upgrade yourself and save big when you get the DSi.

But don’t forget that every once in a while, you need to put all these fun “life in the palm of your hand” devices and go out and enjoy the island life.

Rafael DeAusen is a contributor for Motions magazine and runs the

Web site www.collegeguam.com.