Korg Mini-Controller

If you like to use your computer to make music, this seems like a cool idea. And this Korg controller is available many places. A midi controller is essentially a keyboard (as in piano keyboard, not a computer keyboard) that allows you to input to your computer. Many music-writing software programs allow a midi controller to input sounds. I've wanted one for years, and the price has finally gotten low enough.

But it took me all of twenty minutes to know this would not do the the job. The key action is too clumsy to feel like a piano. The time lag between key press and the note playing on the computer was 3-5 seconds. This was a total deal-breaker for me.

Gadget Girl says: It goes. Try the Aiwas LPK instead
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Earbuds with bling

Crystal Earbuds - Headphones that sparkle, like Gadget Girl! Seriously, these are cute for girls of all ages who like a little bling. PBteen has a set for $20, and Neiman-Marcus ups the ante with retractable cord for $40. I got my pink pair from Amazon for $20.

I love the sparkle, and the retractable cord keeps me from spending the best year of my life untangling earbuds so that I can listen to music. I'm waiting for phone and portable audio designers to finally come up with a good place to stash the earphones. Until then the wind-up cord gets me part of the way.

Crystal Speakers for portable audio

Once you are rocking the crystal earbuds, the next obvious addition is speakers to match.   Though not the slimmest alternative, these pink sparkly speakers will make a statement.

At $20, they make a nice stocking stuffer for the girly girl on your list.  I may have to get multiples to keep them from fighting over them.

Nextbook Android Tablet

My quest for an affordable tablet has begun. Today's review is for the Nextbook Next2.

The Nextbook Next2 is available from HSN at a very reasonable $199. Though advertised as a tablet, it really is basically a Borders-branded ebook reader. Some Android apps are available through the market, but not all Android apps.

Especially not the Kindle app.

That alone was a deal-breaker for me. Beside this very big drawback of reduced access to the Android apps, the device itself has some problems. For me, the touchscreen isn't responsive enough. Anytime I am scrolling through a list, it seems the scrolling doesn't move at all - or not without multiple attempts. The buttons are slow, but fairly consistent.

The screen is criap and easy to read, and the device is light and convenient. If you want an Borders only ebook reader and a browser, and a few app like email, calculator, YouTube, etc., it does the job. It just doesn't provide enough functionality for me to either replace one of my current devices, or bother to carry it.

It frustrates me to have a deliberately crippled device. I wouldn't accept a Windows device that only allowed me to install and load a subset of Windows programs. As time goes on this may change, or not. Without control over the apps, the likelihood of going out-of-date increases.

Gadget Girsl says: It goes as fast as I can pack it up.

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