Wikipedia defines a gadget as “a device that has a specific practical purpose and function. Gadgets tend to be more unusual or cleverly designed than normal technology”, which is probably a somewhat vague definition, which doesn’t touch on any of the connotations of the word, nor explains how one man’s gadget might be another man’s everyday technology.
Gadgets are devices that enrich your life in one way or another, usually in a way that can be perceived to be more elegant than another way of solving the same problem. One example is keys with built-in lights: Strictly speaking, you could do perfectly fine without, or you could carry a torch with you, but if you live in an area with little lighting, and find yourself struggling to find the key hole to your house frequently, a key with a LED light built in has added benefit. Whilst not particularly high-tech, this could be considered a high-tech solution to a low-tech problem, and it can be argued that this device could be a gadget.
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whole article by hajejan
us a Sharp Hi8 Camcorder (VL-AH50). It had an American power supply - easily fixed with a local plug and we should be able to pick up blank cassettes easy enough. The onscreen menu makes it easy to understand all the features, but I'm interested in locating a manual, accessories, etc.
so any recommendations for digitisers/converters for connecting it to a laptop so we can save movies to DVD would be useful.