USB GIZMOS

AeroCool AeroBase UFO Gaming Pad

How to describe this gadget? It's a mouse pad that looks like a flying saucer, it connects to your PC via USB, and it has 11 blue LEDs around its perimeter that flash in fifteen different sequences. Why, I'm not exactly sure. But I do know that the lights can sense your cell phone, and flash faster when you have an incoming call. Again, I'm not sure why, but that's not the point of these USB gizmos. All I know is that it looks really cool!

Model: AeroBase UFO Manufacturer: AeroCool (www.aerocool.us) Price: $18

USB Café Pad

The USB Cafe[as] Pad isn't a mouse pad it's a drink warmer. Just plug it into your PC's USB port, sit your coffee mug on top, flip the switch, and your hot beverage will stay relatively hot. Oh, I suppose you could use it as a mouse pad but things would heat up pretty quickly!

Model: Café Pad Distributor: USB Geek.com (www.usbgeek.com) Price: $15

USB Alarm Clock

Finally, a somewhat practical USB gadget. The USB Alarm Clock is a small analog clock that you can set as a desktop alarm. The neat part is that the alarm can be programmed from any sound file stored on your PC's hard disk including MP3 and WMA music files!

Model: USB Alarm Clock Manufacturer: Elecom Distributor: JBOX (www.jbox.com) Price: $48

USB Massage Ball

This gizmo is the cure for all those tiring late-night sessions in front of the PC. When your muscles get tired, massage them with this USB-powered massage ball. One touch of the one-off button and you're holding a vibrating rubber ball in your hand, which you can use to massage any body part you so desire. For what it's worth, you can also order this gadget with a USB-to-car adapter, so you can make your massages mobile.

Model: USB Massage Ball Distributors: Everything USB (www.everythingusb.com) and USB Geek.com (www.usbgeek.com) Price: $14

USB Mini-Aquarium

What you have here is a miniature fake aquarium, complete with fake fish, powered from your computer's USB port. The USB powers the aquarium's high-intensity blue LED light, as well as the small motor used to generate the small water current. The aquarium comes with the plexiglass tank, two "fish," and a USB cable. Just add water to the tank, attach it to your computer via USB, and watch the fake fish swim around. It's just kitschy enough to be cool.

Model: USB Mini-Aquarium Distributor: USB Geek.com (www.usbgeek.com) Price: $19

USB Mini Vacuum

The USB Mini Vacuum is a small handheld vac sized just right for cleaning your computer keyboard and the front of your system unit. It comes with a fairly long coiled cord, so you have a little bit of flexibility. The USB connection provides adequate power for sucking dust off the keys. Don't laugh at this one just take a look at your keyboard and see how much dust you have building up at the corners. Why not use USB power to clean things up a bit?

Model: USB Vacuum Cleaner Distributor: Everything USB (www.everythingusb.com) and USB Geek.com (www.usbgeek.com) Price: $12

USB Christmas Tree

The perfect gadget for the holidays, this festive little gizmo is just what it says a USB-powered Christmas tree. It stands a little over 5'' tall, is lit by a series of miniature LEDs, and cycles through six different colors. Ho ho ho!

Model: USB Christmas Tree Distributors: Everything USB (www.everythingusb.com) and USB Geek.com (www.usbgeek.com) Price: $17

Griffin PowerMate USB Controller

Griffin's PowerMate is easy to describe it's a big knob for your PC. So why do you need a big knob? (No snickers, please.) Well, you can program the PowerMate to control just about anything you want on you computer volume, window scrolling, video editing functions, and so on. It looks cool, it feels cool, and it actually does something useful which is more than you can say for most USB gadgets.

Model: PowerMate Manufacturer: Griffin Technology (www.griffintechnology.com) Price: $45