Only The Best Earn
PET Seal of Approval

Reviews by Tim Boxer

Rebeka and Johnathan are delighted with the Prima Pappa High Chair

Prima Pappa Wins
PET Seal of Approval

T seven months, Johnathan is the youngest PET member, so I assigned him the task to evaluate the Prima Pappa High Chair. A charter member of our Product Evaluation Team (PET), he was most vocal in insisting that we award Peg Perego our PET Seal of Approval for this multifunctional high chair.

Even his mother Rebeka approved. She loved every feature, including the fact that it comes with a double tray. Take the top tray away and there is another to hold the baby secure.

The high chair, made in Italy, is made of lightweight aluminum which folds neatly for storage or travel.

It’s adjustable to seven different heights from dinner table to play table. The seat can be positioned in four ways – for eating, playing, relaxing or resting. The upholstery on the back and the bucket seat is washable.

It has a five-point restraint belt with adjustable shoulder straps and harness loop to keep Johnathan safe in place. When he sits in the bucket seat, he’s not going anywhere.

See more at www.perego.com. Order at www.barebabies.com for $179.95.

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It’s A Snap To Snare Sharp Shots

AY that three times fast and you’ve proven you’re ready to upgrade to the Nikon Coolpix 5700. It is a great picture-taking machine. It is so versatile, I took it everywhere in all kinds of situations. It fits in the hand like a glove. A stylish glove, I might add, with its all-black professional look.

This 5-megapixel digital camera captures images as close as 1.2 inches. The remarkable 8X optical zoom lens gives you a focal length range of 35-250mm (35mm equivalent).

For fast action, especially for sports, you can set the camera for continuous high speed three-frames-per-second shooting.

The camera’s quick review feature allows you to see instantly what you shot, giving you time to decide whether to erase and try again or keep the image.

The Nikon Coolpix 5700 also records up to one minute of full-motion video with sound.

For software Nikon give you a nice bonus to help optimize your workflow. You get Nikon View 5, which lets you transfer your images from the camera to your computer (via USB 1.1 or a CompactFlash card reader).

Nikon View 5 also lets you rename your images, organize them in files, and view them as a slide show on your computer.

In addition Nikon gives you a suite of software from ArcSoft so you can edit, retouch or apply special effects, including making panoramic photos.

The camera may seem expensive but it is powerful and well worth $1200.

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Showing Your Digitals on TV

NCE you have transferred your digital pictures to your computer, you can show them to your family and friends one by one on the monitor, or you can screen your display to a roomful of fans on your TV.

You can do just that with Ulead DVD PictureShow 2 Digital Camera Suite.

This software suite enables you to enhance and organize your digital photos. You can add titles, music and narration.

Then you burn your creation onto a CD or DVD. Now you’re ready to present your slide show on a TV using a DVD player.

Digital Camera Suite includes Photo Explorer 8.0 for acquiring and organizing digital media files as well as tools for designing disc labels.

This is an ideal digital media management and photo sharing suite.

It is priced at $49.95, with the electronic version at $44.95 from www.ulead.com.

Based in Taiwan, Ulead is a leading developer of innovative video, imaging and graphics software for desktop, server, mobile and Internet platforms.

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Talk To Me

AM getting less exercise these days. Previously if I wanted to tell Nina something, I would run up the stairs from my office and then run back down. Since getting Radio Shack’s 2-Channel FM Wireless Intercom System, I don’t have to shout upstairs or run up and down anymore.

The box includes two stations. It was surprisingly easy to get started. I put one station on my desk and plugged it into an outlet. The other I placed upstairs near the television – Nina’s favorite spot – and plugged it into an outlet there.

No installation, no wiring. Just plug the cord into an AC outlet. It’s that easy!

Now when I need to talk to her when she’s upstairs, I press “call” to alert her and then the “talk” button. A “lock” button allows you talk hands free.

You can mount the stations on the wall or leave it on the desk or table.

This system is also suitable to monitor a sickroom or nursery. You press “lock” on the station in the room you want to monitor, and you can hear any sound wherever you have the second station.

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Getting Organized The Easy Way

T $99.99 the Palm Zire Handheld Organizer available at Radio Shack is a best buy. The size of a deck of cards, holding 2MB of data, it helps you keep track of thousands of addresses and years of appointments.

It contains a To Do List, Memo Pad, Expenses, Calculator and Games.

With the touch of a button you can enter data from your PC via HotSync cable. Or write on the monochrome screen in your own handwriting.

Includes CD-ROM of Palm Desktop software for Windows and Mac, plus Pocket Mirror by Chapura for Microsoft Outlook.

Comes with rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, charger and power adapter. Weighs just 3.9 ounces.

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Out of the Box Games

URN off that TV and gather around the card table. Out of the Box Publishing of Madison, Wisconsin, has a slew of interesting board and card games that will engage and intrigue your party pals. See them at www.otb-games.com.

Apples to Apples is a fun card game for ages 12 and up. You need 4 to 10 players.

Select the card in your hand that you feel is most like the card played by the judge. If the judge picks your card, you win the round.

Each round is filled with surprising comparisons from a wide range of people, places, things and events. The game lasts half an hour.

All you need is five minutes to learn the game. The box consists of 324 Red Apple cards, 108 Green Apple cards, card tray and rule book.

Priced at $19.95.

Apples to Apples Junior is the version to get for the younger set, 7-year-olds and up. It requires 4-10 players. This game of funny comparisons is priced at $16.95.

My Word! is wordplay geared to the 12 and over player. It takes 2-6 players. Deal the letter cards on the table. First person to call out a word using at least three cards wins those cards. If you like word games and party games, get My Word! at $9.95.

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