Read about Featured Gadgeteer - Ellis DeGuzman

Gadgeteer Article

August 04, 2005

Name: Ellis DeGuzman
Location: New Jersey

Gadgets are my life. It's kinda sad, actually, thinking about the things I've done for my gadgets, but I would have to say that it's all worth it :-D. How did my gadget obsession start? Well, it's a long story, but I'll tell it anyway.

It all started when I was eleven years old. I've been interested in computers for some time now - fixing and building my own. However, I was watching ZDTV one day (ah, the good ol' days), and I saw this really cool device, the Handspring Visor. I think it was on Fresh Gear, when Jim Lauderback and Sumi Das were showing the newest mobile devices. I was amazed when I saw it...it was just the thing I needed! My school district had been giving out these "planners" where the kids could write down their homework assignments, but I never liked it. However, this device that I saw, the Handspring Visor, looked like it was the ultimate device I needed to actually get organized in school. However, it was expensive - $199! I didn't have the money! But...my parents saw it as an opportunity to finally get me organized, so they thought it was worth the $199 + s/h (we ordered it straight from Handspring), and we got it.

Since that time, I've had six PDAs total - Handspring Visor 2MB, Handspring Visor Deluxe (Blue!), Palm VIIx (I won this in a contest), Handspring Visor Prism, Sony Clie NR70, and finally, my trusty palmOne Tungsten|T3. PDAs just became my life; since my first one, I couldn't stop "collecting"! I loved how they advanced, and I was amazed to see just how fast they were becoming! My T|T3 is faster than one of my computers in school!

With my "collecting", I also started getting involved in all the various Palm OS forums out there. One forum that stands out, however, would have to be PocketLoft.com, where I became Editor-In-Chief (after the former EIC resigned). I loved to stay up-to-date in the latest news with PDAs, and with that love sparked my passion for keeping others up-to-date with the news (and reviews), and helping them with whatever problem they may be having with their device. However, ever since PocketLoft closed (sadly), I moved on over to the Daily Gadget, where I am now the Technology Reporter. School has gotten to the best of me, however, and I haven't been able to keep up with all the news, but hopefully I'll get back on track soon. If you frequent these Palm OS forums, you'll probably know me as "edeab220" - my famous code-name :D. In addition, I've also become Webmaster over at PalmForums.org - another Palm OS device forum.

In addition to PDAs, cell phones are also my passion. I've only owned two (Visor Phone and a Nokia 3650), but if you talk to anyone that I am in regular contact in, you'll see just how much of a cell phone freak that I am. I can name any cell phone that you show me, along with the model number and the carrier that you're on. You may think I'm bluffing, but it's true - every cell phone that I've seen in school or at a store/mall, I've been able to name. Too bad I can't get a new cell phone - I don't have the money to get one.

This might not sound like much, but considering that all this has happened in five years (I'm 16 now), you might change your mind. What's next for me? I'm not sure yet, but I hope it's something good ;-).

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