Handsome Tech

By Reena Jana
January 27, 2011

The Cisco Valet featured on the "Nake Berkus" Show as Nate's Wireless Find

Thankfully, for all of us out there with the New Year’s resolution to de-clutter our homes or our offices (or our lives for that matter!), there are a slew of gorgeous new gadgets for 2011 that can help you us do so with style. Who ever thought high tech devices as utilitarian as a wireless router or a portable hard drive could look sleek and sexy? Or that a desktop receipt scanner could prompt some serious gotta-have-it gadget envy? Here, take a look at our picks for what we call handsome tech—new technologies that not only help make everyday life easier and neater, but also organizational devices that are as beautiful to look at as they are easy to use.

Cisco Valet

This elegant desktop gadget is not only a looker (so slender! so sleek!), but it has brains and brawn, too. A wireless hotspot that connects desktop computers, laptops, game consoles, and other devices to the Internet, This Wi-Fi hotspot was recently featured on the "Nate Berkus Show" for its clutter-free look and insanely easy setup: Instead of fiddling with countless wires and indecipherable printed directions like you have to when setting up other routers, just insert the Easy Setup Key of the wireless hotspot right into the USB port of your computer and be seamlessly guided through three painless installation steps. You can also effortlessly add additional devices; create a separate, password-protected network for guests and set parental controls. And as if the Valet alone doesn't simplify your life enough, its makers are offering the chance to win a personal assistant for 6 months through a just-launched Facebook contest.

Iomega eGo Portable External Hard Drive

This data storage device can hold more than a million digital photos, thousands of hours of music, or hundreds of videos, according to the manufacturer. It’s also designed with interior padding to help it withstand a fall from up to 84 feet. The portable external hard drive is also small enough to tuck away in a purse or in a small drawer when not in use, but the Iomega eGo's slick, jewel-toned exterior makes it lovely enough to display every day.

Neat Desk Sheet Feed Scanner

The latest desktop scanner from the Neat Company includes clever feeders that let you scan receipts, business cards and documents of different sizes all at once. The Neat Desk Scanner also includes software that can organize the scanned information into expense reports or import names and phone numbers into contact files immediately. And then you can simply toss the paper into the recycling bin rather than letting it pile up. Oh, did we mention the receipt scanner’s pretty, which will help motivate you to show if off on your desk and use it, too.

Apple Wireless Keyboard

Apple’s slim, Bluetooth-enabled wireless keyboard works with not only the desktop iMac computers, but also with the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. The Apple Wireless Keyboard transforms these small, mobile gadgets into additional desktop-like computing devices for when you’re on the road and typing in a hotel room, café, or airport lounge.

Red Limited Ed. Nintendo Wii

Sure, the Nintendo Wii System is already a super-fun gaming console, but this limited-edition red model (in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Mario Brothers game franchise) is an ultra-stylish Wii update. And now that it’s possible to stream movies from Netflix via the Nintendo Wii, it’s a multi-tasker that will allow you to get rid of your DVD player and banish discs and cases, too.

iHome multi-device Charging Station

Let’s face it—many of us carry a phone, an MP3 player, e-reader and a tablet computer. This thoughtfully designed multi-device charging station offers a tidy home for all of these must-have gadgets. Best of all, this multi-device dock provides a place where they all can re-juice, too.

3M Point and Share HD Camera and Projector

This cordless hand-held HD video recorder can also instantly project whatever you shoot onto flat surfaces up to 65 inches. There’s no need to upload the digital video to a PC or to hook the HD video camera up to a monitor (although you can). Ditch the USB cables and even the TV—this baby’s great for sharing home movies or work presentations immediately, without a ton of gear needed.

Tags: