BostonPocketPC

OK we had so many entries we had a tough time narrowing down all the entrants to just 5, so we have 9 finalists and even that was very,very hard to do and we stayed up way too late doing this, but it was worth it. We want to thank everyone that took the time to enter and we wish we could have given one or at least a prize to everyone that entered, but I don't think that many Dragon HDX's exist!

In the second stage of this contest the final winner of the grand prize package of the HP HDX Dragon will be decided by you! So if you got friends and family who want a chance to win some free gear and help you out winning yours, that is fine as long as there is just one vote per person. Finalists can vote for themselves or another finalist if they feel like it. So good luck to all the finalists and the voters!

All comments, votes and feedback will have to be in by 6PM Eastern Daylight Savings Time US May 13th 2008. The winner(s) will then be notified by email and posted here on Boston Pocket PC with their name and winning entry on May 14th 2008.

Again those that give feedback and comment (1 per person) on who should win - (by giving the Finalist# and why they should win) by sending an email with your full name to: dragoncontest@bostonpocketpc.com with the subject "And the winner is" will be entered in a random drawing for some other prizes mentioned here. To be eligible for the random drawing you have to submit the requested information.

And here our our Nine Finalists in no particular order with a randomizer (clicking on the pictures will bring up the original images. This is one long post so be prepared to scroll):

Finalist #1

Here are a few pics of my gear bag and some of the gadgets I carry in it. It is a classic old school leather saddlebag that has a "Indiana Jones" look to it according to my kids

This thing is really durable and holds all my stuff when I am out and about.

Here is a list of the items I carry in it:

HP TC4200 Tablet PC

Fujitsu U810 UMPC

Samsung i760 Windows Mobile smartphone

Black Zune 80

Canon TX-1 HD Video/Digital Camera

Garmin Nuvi 200

Verizon USB727 Aircard

Cradlepoint PHS 3G router

Black and Decker Portable Power Supply/Battery Uniden BCD396T Handheld Scanner Yaesu VX7r Handheld Ham Radio Several USB retractable cables to connect my devices/charge them.

Hopefully the pictures show everything okay, I really love this setup and get a lot of compliments on it when I am running around. I can pretty much do anything with this setup, from anywhere. Cell phone, aircard for the pcs, and when those fail I have 2 way coms with my Ham radio.

Finalist #2

I would like to introduce you to my gear bag! It’s a special Windows Live Messenger laptop bag I received as a thank you from a beta program. The bag features multiple compartments for storing my laptop, mobile devices, CDs and magazines. There is even a nice side pocket for storing my umbrella. The only thing I don’t like about it, it does not include a shoulder pad and it’s very heavy to carry around, but that’s the trade off for my daily gear. As for the gears themselves, it’s quite a simple array of tools I use to function on a daily basis. These include my 2003 Dell Latitude c840 laptop, Dell Optical Mouse, ViewSonic v37 Pocket PC 2002 Premium device, Motorola E398 Cellular phone, Motorola C350 Cellular modem for connecting to the Internet if I don’t have access at work/school or on the road and my beloved Canon PowerShot A520 Digital camera (you never know when the unexpected might happen, also used to take a picture of this entry). A few DVD movies, an array of backup CD’s and some mix music CDs I made are also included. I also carry a few technology magazines for light reading. 

My gear bag and gadgets: laptop, cellular phone, pocket pc, camera, dvds, cd’s, camera, umbrella, magazines

My laptop is the centre of my work experience; e-mail, schedules and contact information in Outlook 2003, Internet, and office productivity are all stored on it. Of course, there are the occasions for multimedia whether it’s snapping a few photos at work or school, listening to music or messing around in Adobe Audition. If I don’t have much to do or simply nothing I just pop in a DVD and watch one of my favourite movies, (I have with me now Star Wars Episode II, Spiderman and Michael Jackson’s History collection of his famous videos. When I am out on the road or at lunch, I carry my View Sonic Pocket PC V37 and my Motorola E398 cell phone. These keep me in contact with friends and my schedule under control whether its finding out my next task or next class, in addition to this they help me stay in touch with classmates, co-workers, family and friends.  That’s the gear in my ‘gear’ bag.

Finalist #3

Thanks in advance for a great opportunity! Even the chance to day dream about owning this amazing piece of hardware is worth it!

Oh and that pic of that handsome bloke is me when I was on vacation! :D

My Gear consists of:

1. HP Pavilion dv6000 series laptop upgraded to include 4GB RAM and Windows Vista 64 bit!
2. Microsoft Zune 30GB hacked to include a 100Gb HDD
3. 160GB Encrypted Backup HDD which holds my Norton Ghost Backups and other important files!
4. O2 XDA Atom with custom WM6 ROM which helps me access email and keeps me connected while on the road and helps organize my day!
5. Sony PSP for the usual Gaming fix! :D
6. A USB Converter charger which charges both the Zune as well as the O2 Atom. It saves me space as I just have to carry their respective cables!
7. Panasonic Noise Isolation earphones which help immensely while traveling. Has separate converter for use on the O2 Atom as well!
8. Canon S5 IS which I used to take the pics! I love this camera because it gives me so much more control than a regular point and shoot camera. It is coupled with 4 Panasonic AA 2700mAh batteries with a Panasonic quick portable charger!
9. And finally a Samsonite laptop bag which serves as the "base station" for all my stuff. I love this bag because its got all the various compartments that I need as well as gives a lot of protection to my laptop!

Finalist #4

Here is my gear bag:

The bag is 12 inches high by 9 inches deep and 15 inches wide and was intended to hold four Plano [TM] compartment boxes. When Filled with my gear, the bag weighs is 14 pounds.

This picture shows the bag's general layout. It has two outside mesh pockets where I store photo albums, notebook, and a drogue chute. The lower compartment, accessed through a zip-open front flap, holds two Flowform kites, a frilly tail, the radio transmitter, and a Plano box containing camera cradle and small parts. The top-loading upper compartment contains the rest of the gear shown below.

Contents of the Bag

This set of components is a very workable collection for my aerial work. Having the gear in a compact set makes it easy to take the gear along and thus I am taking more aerial photographs.The bag fits in the diminutive trunk of my Volkswagen and is light enough to carry for a distance. The only addition I'd like to make is a dog stake but at this point there isn't enough room.

Contents of My Gear Bag:

1) Sutton Flowform 16 kite

2) Sutton Flowform 30 kite

3) the empty Cabela Gear Bag

4) a 9" Halo reel with 1500' of 100# kiteline. The bag also holds a second 9" Halo reel with 750' of 200# kiteline (not shown.)

5) A drogue to stabilize the Flowforms in light wind

6) A 30-foot-long 'fuzzy' tail to stabilize the Flowforms in heavier winds.

7) a notebook for keeping random notes and insightful musings

8) two photo albums holding images to show to passerby

9) a mesh bag to organize small parts

10) a climber's strap and carabiner for tying the kite off to secure objects

1) four homemade 'hangups' to attach Picavet suspension to kiteline (requires two)

12) large o-rings (muffler hangers) and sticks used to dampen vibrations on the kiteline in heavy winds

13) my current miniature Picavet suspension rig(stored in ziplock bag)

14) eight film canisters taped together to store film

- typically four rolls of 100 ASA and four rolls of 400 ASA

15) plastic Planto [TM] parts box holds lens brush, batteries, electrical tape, sewing kit,and camera cradle

16) the glove, essential for handling kiteline

17) a Davis Turbometer anemometer (with case) to measure ground level wind velocities

18) Airtronics four-channel radio transmitter

19) camera cradle with Yashica T4 camera and radio receiver(not shown) a small charger for the radio batteries - used for out-of-town trips

I hope I can win HP HDX Dragon

Finalist #5

Here is what I have in my gear bag:

First, I sport a Red Wegner SwissGear Maxxum Laptop backpack, it is by far the best backpack/gear bag I have ever owned.  It holds my normal gear, as well as any additional stuff I need for special projects.  Aside from a monitor, I can carry my entire mobile office in it, with room the spare, and yet it isn’t so big that it’s annoying to carry, and the extra padding makes it a cakewalk to carry across my work’s large campus.  This is very nice, since I have to hoof it a few blocks from the parking lot to the office.

The centerpiece of my gear is my Toshiba M400 Tablet PC, with Centrino Duo 1.8gHz processor, 2gb of RAM, Dual Layer DVD-R, 80gb hard drive, and a not-so-impressive 12” display that boasts resolutions up to 1024x768.  I am a major tablet pc fanatic, and love using a pen on my machine.  The one good thing about its small size is that it’s easy to lug around and write on.

My other gear includes:

· Logitech VX Nano Mouse

· 8gb iPod Touch with Griffin case, charger, and sync cable

· Motorola V3 Razr (Unlocked European Version from TigerDirect)

· 1gb Memorex Flash Drive

· 2gb SanDisk Cruzer Micro Flashdrive

· 4gb SanDisk Cruzer Micro Flashdrive

· 8gb Sandisk CF card

· External FireWire Enclosure for Seagate 120gb hard drive

· Sharp VL-Z1 MiniDV camera that I use as a webcam

· Holux Bluetooth GPS receiver

· Cheap GE headset for Skype

· Philips Earbuds with ear clips

· Philips Headphones with ear clips

· Cheap Card reader

· 2 6’ USB extension cables

· Retractable USB A/B cable

· Retractable FireWire 4pin/4pin cable

· 2 USB to Mini-USB cables

· FireWire Cable (4pin to 6pin)

· Short stereo connector cable

· Ancient PC microphone

· Belkin combination laptop lock

· Swiss+Tech Micro-Tech 6 in 1 tool

· Antistatic wristband

· Lens cleaner with microfiber rag in premium vinyl case

· Bandanna

· Assorted Pilot pens and blue Sharpies

· Spray Listerine – I recommend this to everyone, bad breath sucks!

· Advil in a travel tube

· Elmer’s Glue – don’t ask.

· Keys to my wife’s minivan

· Toshiba Portfolio for the M400 tablet, for important meetings.

· Wrist rest for Tablet PC when in Laptop Mode

· Flavor packets for 16.9oz bottles – office water is nasty, and I like to reuse bottles to save landfill space.

What’s Missing: PS2 EyeToy (my other webcam), Sierra Wireless VOQ Smartphone, Mini Maglite (my son stole it)

Finalist #6

I've annotated my picture of my gear bag and (most) of its contents.

Finalist #7

My gear bag is actually anything but. Not finding the style and features that I was looking for in a good gear bag, I checked some of the other bag solutions at my local Target. Eventually I settled on the weirdest gear bag I know: a diaper bag by Eddie Bauer.  In fact, I loved that bag so much that I eventually bought a second similar one that I could use for different types of gear.

As a teacher, I often need to be able to transport all of my portable gear on a regular basis.  This can make for a pretty hefty bag.  However, diaper bags are made to carry a lot of stuff (just ask your wife).  The great thing about this bag too is that it looks nothing like a diaper bag. Take a look at the pictures.  The gear list below is all of the gear that you might find in my bag on any given day.  Sometimes more, most often a little less. I interchange the bags depending on what gear I need for that day, whether it be my Infocus projector or student papers.

Gear list:

1. Laptop (Compaq Presario) with power, to be replaced with HP TC1100 Tablet PC when it arrives in the mail on Monday
2. Projector (Infocus IN24+) with power & cables
3. MP3 Player (iPod 30gb 5th Gen) with earbuds & cable
4. Port. Hard Drive (WD Passport, 60gb) with cable
5. Cell Phone (Palm Treo 700wx) with cable
6. Space Navigator
7. Webcam (either Logitech Quickcam for Notebooks Pro or Logitech Quickcam Ultra Vison SE)
8. Digital Camera (Kodak Easy Share 4.0mp)
9. SD Cards (1gb SD and 1gb MicroSD, both SanDisk)
10. USB Drives (2x 256mb and 1x 2gb, all SanDisk)
11. Wallet
12. Lesson plan books x2 (paper still works best)
13. Half notebook
14. Men's Journal magazine
15. LED book lamp bought at Costco
16. Bible (was my Mom's, has her name etched on the front)
17. West Wing DVD (for class & pleasure... I teach gov't)
18. Highlighter
19. Gel pens
20. Titanium reading glasses
21. Small clear gear bag

So that's my bag.  The small clear gear bag is actually a dirty diaper holder (never used), instead it holds all of my cords and stuff.  All of my gear fits comfortably in the green bag but most days I only have 3/4 of the gear.  I don't need the projector everyday. I don't know which one is my favorite as I love them both.

Finalist #8

Being a girl-techgeek is harder than being a guy-geek.  We are expected to adhere to certain "standards" which involve not only carrying our own gadgets and tech toys, but also the rest of the girl stuff we carry.  Then, we have to not look geeky in the process, so we can avoid the fashion police coming to take our stuff away.  Unfortunately, I still run from the fashion police...I still haven't found a gear bag that fits their definition of fashion.

Another thing about being a girl-geek is that you always end up carrying stuff for the family too.  My husband's sunglasses, or dog treats when we take the dogs out and about.  So it's a new adventure everyday!

So I carry two bags - a purse and a gear bag that changes depending on the mood and how big my lunch is.

Here's my daily gear list:

- The new HP 2133 Mini Note in its homemade slip case

- A non-digital steno pad for those times when you just don't need to fire up a tech device to take notes

- Samsung Blackjack  and its USB cord for tethering to the Mini (Because I can't get Bluetooth PAN to work on it...yet!)

- Plantronics bluetooth headset

- 1 tube Loreal lipstick that hardly ever gets used, 1 tube lip gloss that never gets used

- GPS puck for use with Telenav and the Blackjack

- miscellaneous ATM receipts, dry cleaning tickets, and other paper flotsam

- a 30GB 5G iPod

- an iTalk attachment for voice recording to the iPod

- travel tube of ibuprofen

- Bose earbuds

- a Levenger Circa notebook/agenda

- Canon Powershot A560 digital camera (not shown in the pics because it was being used)

- A paperback book (because you don't always need to read digitally)

- a yellow umbrella

- car keys

- sunglasses

- XM radio and remote (an older Delphi SkiFi model.  The DH got the sexy newer model.)

- 15 ink pens

- a portable tea tin and a few packets of Splenda (Hot Cinnamon Sunset)

- A WD 250GB hard drive (contains mostly videos - to play on the HP Mini Note)

- a collection of Coke Reward Points

Thanks for sponsoring this contest!  Good luck with all the entries you're probably getting!

Finalist#9

My Gear

I travel too much and NEED my gadgets.  Games are a must (as you will be able to tell from some of my gear) 

Gear bag SQUEEZED closed             Dear god its busted open!!!

So my gear bag contains the following:

The Gear Bag:  The bag is a Kensington Contour.  Not too shabby.  Normal over the shoulder bought because it’s the only bag that could hold my 9300 with the 17” screen ;)

All my gear in its glory (keep it clean)

Separate Gear Focus :) For fun

Devices:

1. Cingular 8525

2. PBZ (30gb Brown Zune)

3. G-Sat GPS Receiver

4. PSP  (original version)

5. Saitek Pro Gamer (a must for travel gaming)

6. Bose QC2 (just awesome for plane rides)

7. Dell Inspiron 9300 (2gb ram, 128mb ati x300, 80gb hdd, dual layer dvd burner J) ß Work laptop but games ok

8. Jabra BT800 BlueTooth Headset

9. Microsoft Sidewinder Gaming Mouse (AWESOME by the way.  Just awesome)

Storage

1. 8 gb PNY thumb drive

2. 160gb USB 2.0 external Maxtor drive

3. 1gb MVP Thumb Drive in a nice leather case

4. 2gb Memory Stick Pro Duo (for PSP stuff ;)

5. 8gb Memory Stick Pro Duo (for PSP stuff ;)

Energy Drink  - Monster Energy (always) (not shown in picture ;))

And that’s about it!  Damn I carry too much stuff. 

Good Luck to all of our finalists (and voters) and let the voting begin!!!!