Loot to kick off the new year

Just like the title says: New Year goodies!

Pictured above from left are:

• M-Audio Audiophile 192 This supersedes the Audiophile 2496. It’s cheaper than the Delta 1010LT because it has less inputs/outputs, but it has a higher resolution (192KHz) than even the current top end Delta 1010 (which still tops out at 96KHz)
• M-Audio Keystation 49e I always wanted a MIDI controller to make plotting notes easier when sequencing. While I’m not really a keyboard player, I really think that being able to “play” with two hands is much more useful than one – especially when you start recording piano tracks… just imagine how you’re supposed to pull that off in one go when using say, a two-octave controller.
• ColorVision Spyder2 Express Finally, my own monitor calibrator. With the bonus fact that the Pro version is only different because of the software – meaning it uses the same colorimeter ahem-ahem.
• Firefly complete season DVD set (gift) From Pia, one of the best sci-fi series out there – I like it better than Star Wars and/or Star-Trek
• Vaultz personal lock box (gift)
• Suction-mounted ball grip vice (bequeathed to me) From cousin Bing. He has a bad-ass toolshed with lots of err… tools (among other things). I’ve always wanted one of these ever since I saw one being used on an episode of Systm. It’s very useful for that “third-arm” a person needs when soldering stuff.
• Kenneth Cole Reaction leather messenger/computer bag Got it from a Nordstrom clearance sale. 200 dollars down to 80 for a classy leather mesenger/computer bag = good buy.

Goodies that have separate pictures are the following (click on the links for the pictures):

• Marware Protection Pack (gift) A gift from my sister. Now I know I have posts going on about about making my own DIY ¹ Do It Yourself protectors, but if someone’s going to give me commercial-grade, high quality products, then I’m sure as hell not going to turn them down. Besides, once, this is worn-out, I’m definitely scanning this protector and using the dimensions to make a clear decorative vinyl version of it 🙂
• Speck hardshell clear case for my MacBook Pro I was surprised to see that the new version has already been released. Last time I checked the Speck website, the hardshell they carried was only compatible with the first generation MBPs. This new version is more generic in design – hence can fit on both C2D ² Core2 Duo and non C2Ds
• Travel Easy Universal Travel Adaptor Got this from the plane – a replacement for my old universal adaptor, which is white and bulky.
• Wacom Intuos₃ 4×5 graphic tablet (gift) Was sent to the Philippines by my boss while I was in the US. Much better than the Graphire I currently have. Here’s a comparison shot of the two.

Other goodies [that don’t have pictures] are the following:

• ALDO bracelet Pia and I saw in this first in Bellview Square during our second day in Seattle. Of course, being a responsible consumer, I didn’t buy it just yet so I could think about it first – I bought a week later upon returning there. I’m don’t think Aldo is even a designer brand, but they surely make nice accessories and shoes – and 15 bucks for a bracelet that looks much better than my Phillip Charriol, it was a no brainer.
• SwissTech tool pack (gift) Hard to describe this, so I suggest you check out their site for the product info. Suffice to say the pack includes the following products:
• Bodygard 5-in-1 Emergency tool
• Micro-Tech 6-in-1 w/ Micro light
• Utili-Key 6-in-1
• 2GB Sandisk Cruzer Micro USB flash drive (gift) Black, U3 enabled
• Targus TGR-CRD25 25-in-1 multi-card reader (gift) Extremely compact; the reader itself is a bit bigger than a CF card. Very portable 🙂

Only two items left to buy: Frontier Design’s AlphaTrack, and the Apple Mobile Phone that’s coming out. Unfortunately the former’s sales representative had just emailed me saying that the AlphaTrack won’t hit the shelves by January – so I guess I’ll have to find a way to get after I return home.