| Feb.
15, 2000
READERS' BEST
Cool
tools
Judging from all the people on campus sprouting cell phones, portable
music players, Palm Pilots, laptop computers and other high-tech gadgets,
it might seem that everyone is indeed rushing to prove that he who has
the most toys when he dies, wins.
Hold on a minute, though. Most of the folks we asked about high-tech
playthings actually put them to some practical use. In fact, some people
are so practical that their favorite gadgets are decidedly low-tech.
 Katie Tarbox,
College ‘04
“It has to be the Palm Pilot because it makes me look important even
though I’m really not.”
Franklin
Shen, Engineering ’03
“Remote control, because then you don’t have to get up and walk.
Do you know how far you sometimes have to sit from the TV? I even have
a computer remote, so I can change the songs on Winamp.”
Vivian Leung,
College/Wharton ’03
“I can’t decide between my cell phone and my Palm Pilot. They’re
both small enough that they fit into my purse. Little phone, little Palm
Pilot, little purse — it’s all little.”
Erin Murphy,
College ’01
“I’m a big fan of electric screwdrivers. I use them to fix little
odds and ends in my apartment. And I like the buzzing sound.”
Jesse Terry,
Engineering ’01
“The electric toothbrush.” Do you have one? “No, but I
think they’re a fabulous idea.”
Corey Brooks,
College ’03
“The incandescent lightbulb, because otherwise everything would be
dark.”
Serge Simpson,
Medicine ‘02
“My stereo; it’s what I do to relax. It’s a little bit
of an escape.”
Patty Walshaw,
College ‘01
“I use my computer for e-mail. I check it every two seconds. It’s
my link to the world.”
Mehdi El
hajoui, College/Wharton ‘03
“My MP3 player; I use it between classes to bear the noise of most
city places. It’s a good break.”
Caroline
Mair, College ‘04
“I use my blender twice a day to make smoothies with.”
Nigel Caplan,
Education Ph.D.
“My alarm clock — if I have to get up, I need it.”
Jay Wetterau,
Law ‘03
“A pacemaker. I know people who really can’t live without it.”
Kevin Chan,
Engineering ‘01
“My PC — I’m practically married to it. It’s for everything
next to breathing.”
Jae Cha,
Engineering ‘03
“My hot pot makes my life easier. I think I use it three or four
times a week to make ramen.”
Joey Bajgier,
College ‘04
“When I’m at home I play my PlayStation 2 for several, several
hours a day.”
—Kim Vinh and Sara Marcus
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