PC with a gamer146;s look

The Alienware Area-51 7500 is the kind of computer that kicks sand in the face of wimpier PC8217;s. Based on Intel8217;s latest processor and motherboard 8211; code-named Conroe for those who are keeping track 8211; the 7500 has a processor speed of about 3 gigahertz, which means you8217;ll be able to play blindingly fast games of Solitaire. Hard-core gamers and rocket scientists will also be well served by the 75008217;s high-powered innards. The Conroe chip, formally known as the Intel Pentium Core 2 Duo Extreme Edition, consists of two processors running in parallel for increased performance. The PC supports a dual graphics card setup in which each nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX card handles half of the full screen. For the average computer user, the 7500 would be overkill, but this machine isn8217;t for the average computer user, as the 5,000 price tag indicates. The stylized case and glowing water-cooling system might also offer hints. This computer, which takes up to 4 gigabytes of RAM, can be custom-ordered at alienware.com. While there is no stock configuration, Alienware, which is now owned by Dell, offers two 150-gigabyte hard drives and a high-speed DVD/CD burner. Flying saucer and death ray are apparently extra.

Nike-nano combination to improve communication

While the marriage of iPods and shoes might seem strange to some, die-hard runners and fans of 8220;Get Smart8221; will be happy to know that their iPod Nano music player can now do more than just pump out the tunes: it can also talk to your Nikes. The NikeiPod, a partnership between Nike and Apple, consists of an attachment for the Nano and a sensor that fits into specially designed Nike shoes, sold separately. The sensor wirelessly transmits speed and stride length to the Nano attachment, which plugs into the bottom of the player. Using special software, the Nano then becomes a training partner, providing time, distance and speed information on its color screen or via voice prompts piped through the headphones. Once you reach home, the NikeiPod can connect to your PC or Mac and upload data about your run. The kit, available online for 30, works best with the Nike line of shoes, which cost about 100. The shoes have a small hole in the instep that cushions the sensor. The sensor itself weighs less than an ounce, so you won8217;t notice it during your wind sprints.

A new tech twist on existing tools

Innovative high quality tools make their way to the market so often and it8217;s good to know how they can make your home improvement process much easier.