What tech toys should I lust after?

Here's something truly distressing. I don't really feel like I have a need for any new tech toys. I am in a virtual panic. The things that are out there I can really use, I have. For Christmas, the wife and I finally bit the bullet on a GPS. I like to believe I have one of these in my head, but with us moving soon to NJ, I am sure it will be helpful. So this has me in virtual state of panic. Like a junkie without a dealer.

Here is the best I can do at lusting after items. Truly they seem so eccentric to me that I can't coax myself into true desire.

• Dell 30-inch LCD computer monitor - tons of pixel glory - lovely, but a little much.
• Video iPod - I think I will wait for the "full-screen" version, which I think will be out in the spring
• 1080p LCD - I don't really have a place to put it, honestly.

I am struggling to come up with other things. Leave your suggestions in comments.

The best excuse I could find for Slingbox... could be gone?

I love the concept of the Slingbox. Very cool technology. However, I have always felt that it was a technology in need of a problem.

When I discussed this with folks, the best (and really only reasonable) excuse we could come up with to own one of these was in the situation of a "displaced" fan of some form. Displaced fans in this context would be, for example, Red Sox fans living in Tempe, AZ or Twins fans in Miami. A particularly good example would be, say, a college student going to UNC from elsewhere or a traveling consultant.

Well, MLB is already trying to put the kaibash on this and pretty much take out Slingbox's raison d'etre. They haven't sued anyone yet, but you know its coming at some point.

To me, the issue is whether or not the "slingboxer" - the person watching the stream from the Slingbox - has already paid for that content. If they are a member of that household that has subscribed to cable, then its ok. If they are not a member of that household, then it seems like that house is "rebroadcasting" to me. So consultant away from home and college student - ok, distant relative that really loves the Florida Marlins - not ok. MLB has the ability on their site for them to purchase this content.

Inexpensive HDMI Switch - where was this 4 months ago!

Warning: A/V club level geekdom

I have an older Samsung 61" DLP television which only has one DVI input. I also have a killer Harmony 880 remote that my lovely wife gave me for Father's Day last year (more on the 880 in a future post). This remote is great for creating macros for switching from one activity to another. I used to have a DVDO switch to handle going from TiVo to Comcast DVR to DVD player and back. That acted up on me due to a new Comcast box so I found a person for whom it would work on Ebay.

This left me with a horrid problem, I had no way to switch video inputs directly using discrete codes (the Samsung TV was too old for that). The least expensive solution was an HDMI switch. I was able to get this switch for about $140. Since I only have two HDMI inputs though, I really only needed this. (Hat tip: Gizmodo) Where was this 4 months ago?? I hate dropping too much money because products that should exist come out 4 months too late.

What I like most about this is the "No external power needed" element. I have two full daisy-chained power strips full of plugs behind my TV - so this is a big plus. At least mine is 5 x 1 and I have room to add my Blu-ray player - once they become reasonably priced.

Yours for $99.99.