Top Gadgets of the Decade

How did Americans ever do without them? From GPS devices, iPods, BlackBerry phones, to digital cameras and Wiis, they didn't even exist that long ago, but many Americans couldn't dream of not having them now. Some of the top gadgets for the decade will be explored, in no particular order of importance, in this article.

Remember in the old days, not that long ago, when everyone had to have a map in his car before taking a trip? For some, that may still be the case. Many others, however, would rather take one of the top gadgets of the decade with them, a portable GPS device. The voice-enabled devices can pinpoint directions and offer directions turn-by-turn, not only to a new destination, but even to the nearest gas station.

Remember in the good old days when you would listen to music on a record, 8 track or cassette tape, or even a CD? Well, maybe many people do still use CD's but others like to carry a portable iPod when they go for a walk, from which they have used to download their favorite songs from a computer. Some such devices can now hold 40,000 songs.

Why have a regular cell phone? Many would rather own a BlackBerry, which allows executives and jetsetters to access the Internet, send and receive e-mail, and take pictures. If you want to be boring, you can even use them to take and receive phone calls. The BlackBerry phone is another one of the top gadgets of the decade.

Remember the old days when you used your camera to take pictures and then took the film to your local store to have it developed? You might pay more to have it developed and get your pictures back in an hour. You might pay less and take two or three days or a week to get your pictures. Although some people may still use such cameras, how old fashioned they must seem to those who use digital cameras. It is now possible to take multitudes of pictures without changing a role of film and then e-mailing them to your e-mail account right from your digital camera on your cell phone. You also might use software to download them to your computer.

In 2006 Nintendo changed the face of playing games at home when it introduced its Wii. You can now actually exercise your arms, legs, and hands, when you are playing a game on your television, as you simulate such actions as bowling, croquet, tennis, golf, and boxing. The device has also been used to help people lose weight and teach children music.

The Tivo Digital Video Recorder allows you to record and watch television program at your leisure, without commercials.

Are you still using an old fashioned floppy disc? A USB Flash Drive, sometimes called a "Thumb Drive," which is tiny and plugs into your computer will hold much more information, and help you carry photos, documents, and more to your jobs or school.

With an iPhone you can not only look to your handheld phone to access the Internet, but also to start a car or trade stocks. How did we ever do without it?

Netbooks are smaller and cheaper than laptops and personal computers. They can be purchased for less than $300 are popular not only for their price, but also their mobility. The price of computers has come down.

Some online say this may have not been the decade of the gadget, but it was a decade at least shaped by gadgets. The top gadgets listed in this article certainly affected the lives of millions of people. Many others could have also been written about, but some of the more popular ones were in this article.

Citations: The Top Ten Gadgets of the Decade, Ki Mae Heussner, Cdn.optmd.com

Ten Gadgets that Defined the Decade, by the Engadget Staff , Engadget.com