Techno-savvy mamas

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After the birth of her first child in the winter of 2004, Sharlene Goldstein bought a cellphone. "I wanted it for emergency purposes," she explains. "If I was out on a long walk or driving to Montreal from Toronto to visit family, I'd have the phone to call for help." A year and a half later, Goldstein purchased a digital camera -- right after her second daughter was born. "We had lost our first camera and our daughters were growing up before our eyes. With the new camera we took 300 pictures in the first two weeks!"

Tech gadgets, from the more traditional personal computer and DVD player to cutting edge satellite navigation system and personal organizer, are topping moms' list of wants. According to a study by the Consumer Electronics Association, 64 per cent of women said they preferred a digital camera to half-carat diamond stud earrings. Tech gadgets aren't just about fun and games; many make life easier for Mom, and for the whole family.

Here are five gadgets to keep in mind:

Portable DVD player
Banish the "are we there yet?" nagging with a portable DVD player for each child. "It's the perfect tool for travel," says Heather Buksh, spokesperson for Best Buy Canada. "They can set the player on their lap, plug in headphones for individual viewing and not disrupt everyone else in the vehicle. You can also have a few kids watching together."
Top pick: Sony 7000, which comes with a charging cradle, speakers and a seven-inch screen. $299.99.

Satellite radio
Road trips just got a whole lot hipper with subscription-based radio. You can travel from coast to coast without any interruption in service and stations are commercial-free, explains Buksh. Best of all is the variety of stations: Canada's two providers, SIRIUS Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio, boast over 100 stations.
Top pick: Delphi MyFi Portable Satellite Radio, which comes with a car kit, home kit and earphones for portable and personal use. $349.99.

Smart phone
Cellphone and PDA (personal digital assistant) collide in the new generation of business tools. While features vary, most smart phones allow you to check e-mail in real time, take pictures, record video, listen to music, play games and, of course, make phone calls. They're powered by Windows Mobile and are Bluetooth enabled. A boon for any mom, but especially one who works from home -- no one will know you're replying to e-mail from the park.
Top pick: Motorola Q. Pricing depends on your service contract: $249 with three years from Telus or two years from Fido. It's $599.99 for the phone without a contract.

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