So, for the first time in over a decade I'm wearing a digital watch today. It feels a little strange not having the hands and needing to work out the time... and that extra thrill of knowing that this watch is accurate and the day is right!

This is no ordinary watch that just tells the time, oh no... that would never be enough to get me to put my real watch on the shelf even for a day!

This is an MSNDirect powered watch feeding news, weather and traffic reports to my wrist (as well as syncing to my calendar and letting people send me alerts from Windows Live Messenger).

Now this watch isn't exactly cutting edge but it got some nice reviews when it was new - there are some much nicer models available now.

It's fairly comfortable (though my wrist is probably as thin as you'd want to use this with) and it's fun having the data on your wrist. Downside is that it's got a fairly unusual charger connection so it's one more hunk of junk to lug around when traveling (apparently there is a USB charger but I can't find anything about it)

I'm not totally convinced of the value of a one-way device... you'd end up needing to carry a PDA or smartphone to push information back (new appointments etc) and it would be nice to be able to sync contact info to the device as well (though I guess there's a limit to the internal memory!)

I'm going to have a hunt around and see what third party apps exist beyond the MSNDirect services (PopLogix have a couple, I wonder if there are more). SpotStop looks like a good place to hang out for some info.

Many years ago I had a BeoSystem 9500. Of all the music systems I've had over the years it's my favorite even today. In fact I'm wondering if the power supply is dual voltage and if it's worth shipping out from the UK!

It had a couple of features that are strangely topical now which is what's brought it to mind for me recently.

Funnily enough as a style statement it shows a common theme to my watch, my pen and even my dream toaster!

So, why was the BeoCentre so far ahead of it's time?

Well, first off the inductive interface... simply bringing your finger close to the black glass and hovering over the red indicator lights would perform the relevant action. Does that remind you of any of the "cutting edge" mobile entertainment devices on the market today?

The second very cool feature was the 2 way infra-red remote control. It allowed the media center to talk back to the remote control to confirm actions or provide information.

SideShow, the new connected without wires information display technology from Microsoft is incredibly cool and is empowering a whole new range of devices - including Media Center remote controls... bringing the ideas into the 21st century.

In the early 1990s I worked for a company which empitomised the start-up "family" culture. We went through some very tought times. And we had some pretty amazing times. But the tough times came first. Those of us who made it through the hard start-up period before we really found our feet felt a certain bond - which has left friendships to this day. That bond was really epitomised for me by a simple pen that we got after surving a really tough period and coming out on top. It was a Mont Blanc Meisterstück Le Grand with the company logo printed on it
.

Time has passed and the logo is so worn away it's more a trick of the mind than a trick of the light that lets me see it, but that pen still holds a huge significance for me (I've not signed a significant document without it). Every time I pick it up and feel the weight I'm reminded of how much fun we had there.

But all things must change, and while the Mont Blanc will never be displaced in my mind it's been joined by a new stable mate. This time from Caran d'Arche - a Ecridor Retro Rhodium. This one is a gift from a client who over the last few years has become a very good friend (no-one in their right mind would keep going back to this project - it's insane! But more fun the working in a chocolate factory!)

In the same way that I find it incredibly hard now to choose between my Mont Blanc and Rado watches it's going to be hard to seperate these two pens emotionally as well as practically. As writing instruments thay are both amazing. As objects they both display a simplicity and beauty that reflect the subtle understatement I think is so much more important than pretentious displays of wealth or fashion..

I don't write much as I use the computer too much (I'm not sure if that's cause or effect - my hand-writing is terrible - even my daughter is a critic!) but when I have to set pen to paper if I can't reach for one of these I may well just have to hold off making my mark....

And no matter which I reach for they've already got great memories attached. 

In the early 1990s I worked for a company which empitomised the start-up "family" culture. We went through some very tought times. And we had some pretty amazing times. But the tough times came first. Those of us who made it through the hard start-up period before we really found our feet felt a certain bond - which has left friendships to this day. That bond was really epitomised for me by a simple pen that we got after surving a really tough period and coming out on top. It was a Mont Blanc Meisterstück Le Grand with the company logo printed on it
.

Time has passed and the logo is so worn away it's more a trick of the mind than a trick of the light that lets me see it, but that pen still holds a huge significance for me (I've not signed a significant document without it). Every time I pick it up and feel the weight I'm reminded of how much fun we had there.

But all things must change, and while the Mont Blanc will never be displaced in my mind it's been joined by a new stable mate. This time from Caran d'Arche - a Ecridor Retro Rhodium. This one is a gift from a client who over the last few years has become a very good friend (no-one in their right mind would keep going back to this project - it's insane! But more fun the working in a chocolate factory!)

In the same way that I find it incredibly hard now to choose between my Mont Blanc and Rado watches it's going to be hard to seperate these two pens emotionally as well as practically. As writing instruments thay are both amazing. As objects they both display a simplicity and beauty that reflect the subtle understatement I think is so much more important than pretentious displays of wealth or fashion..

I don't write much as I use the computer too much (I'm not sure if that's cause or effect - my hand-writing is terrible - even my daughter is a critic!) but when I have to set pen to paper if I can't reach for one of these I may well just have to hold off making my mark....

And no matter which I reach for they've already got great memories attached. 

I've got my favourite watch back! For the last ten years I've not been parted from my Rado Ceramica Jubilé for more than a few hours while it gets a new battery, but recently the clasp suffered from wear and tear and stopped holding the strap shut.

Unlike my recent saga trying to get a new battery for my 18 month old Sony Vaio VGN-T27GP it turned out that a replacement, upgraded bracelet was available (it's assembled as a single unit to bind the ceramic of the strap to the metal of the buckle) but would have to come from Rado in Switzerland. This was going to take about a month.

As going even a few days without a watch was going to be hard, and as I had a business trip to make where I wanted to make a good impression the search was on! Luckily Mont Blanc have a very different watch - the Summit - with a very similar ethos.

Both of these time pieces have an ageless quality about them. They are simple, discrete and tasteful which to me is much more important than something brash that shouts about how much it costs or how cool and uber-hip it is.

The Rado, apart from it's little stay at the jewellers, has been a faithful companion for a decade. Hopefully these two will see me through every occasion for at least that long again.

I've got my favourite watch back! For the last ten years I've not been parted from my Rado Ceramica Jubilé for more than a few hours while it gets a new battery, but recently the clasp suffered from wear and tear and stopped holding the strap shut.

Unlike my recent saga trying to get a new battery for my 18 month old Sony Vaio VGN-T27GP it turned out that a replacement, upgraded bracelet was available (it's assembled as a single unit to bind the ceramic of the strap to the metal of the buckle) but would have to come from Rado in Switzerland. This was going to take about a month.

As going even a few days without a watch was going to be hard, and as I had a business trip to make where I wanted to make a good impression the search was on! Luckily Mont Blanc have a very different watch - the Summit - with a very similar ethos.

Both of these time pieces have an ageless quality about them. They are simple, discrete and tasteful which to me is much more important than something brash that shouts about how much it costs or how cool and uber-hip it is.

The Rado, apart from it's little stay at the jewellers, has been a faithful companion for a decade. Hopefully these two will see me through every occasion for at least that long again.