Sponsor's Message

Remember that new website I mentioned a few weeks back? Well the schedule for that project has been somewhat compressed because I've just found out that I'll be heading to the UK to take part in three days of filming with RDF in May. As a result, I'm currently working my backside off trying to get that new site finished and debugged before then.

I'll be working hard to clear the email backlog shortly though (I promise).

Today I have a question for readers: where do you buy your little electronic trinkets?

I'm talking about cool toys like LED flashlights, wireless TV cameras and those little radio controlled midget racing cars that were promoted so heavily by spammers around Christmas time.

There seem to be an ever-growing number of these really neat toys being produced now but you simply don't see them for sale at sensible prices on the shelves of New Zealand's retailers.

Readers Say (updated irregularly) Geek stuff... - Vincent geek toys... - Don geek toys... - azza Geek stuff... - Ian From Yesterday... Cost of Wireless IP... - Mark WiFi... - Dave Bluetooth + WiFi +... - David WiFi etc... - Cliff Wifi Networks... - Kriss WiFi VOIP... - Andy WIFI networks... - PaulW Have Your Say

Given that devices such as white LED flashlights are incredibly efficient, robust and compact, why are so few people I talk to even aware that they exist. And why doesn't The Warehouse, or any of the other mainstream retail outlets I've visited, bother to stock them?

Could this be a looming opportunity for some tech-savvy entrepreneur to step in and create the geek-equivalent of The Warehouse? Cheap tech-toys from the Big [choose your color] barn?

When searching for electronic gadgetry, lots of people think that Dick Smith is the only option -- but surely there are alternatives. And hopefully, these alternatives don't charge like a wounded bull (as DSE so often does).

I know that Auckland has Surplustronics where things like rechargeable batteries and some components are sold at reasonable prices and there's a plethora of "surplus" and used bits and pieces -- but are there other options?

You could, of course, buy your geek-stuff over the Net using such sources as eBay -- but this is not without its risks. Just check out the unhappy customers who got swindled by a seller of wireless cameras on eBay recently.

Perhaps NZ's population is just too small to support a specialty chain of Geek Stores or the bulk importation of Geek toys.

Come on, fess up. Where do you buy your Geek stuff?

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