Emergency Gadgets Reviewed

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Posted by ScuttleMonkey on Wednesday September 21, 2005 @05:42AM from the powerless-to-resist dept.

Carl Bialik writes "When power lines go down, hand-cranked radios and standalone cellphone chargers could come in handy. Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg reviews emergency gadgets, including a $50 radio that picks up TV audio and gets 35 minutes of power from a 30-second crank. Of course, Mossberg also offers the caveat that these gadgets could be rendered useless 'should the communications infrastructure itself go down.'"

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Useful emergency gadget by Silverlancer · 2005-09-21 05:43 · Score: 4, Funny

Fire extinguisher. You know, for when the servers catch fire during the slashdotting.
My Mossberg emergency item... by east+coast · 2005-09-21 05:44 · Score: 5, Funny

It doesn't have a handcrank but it has a pump and a trigger.

--
Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
1. Re:My Mossberg emergency item... by TykeClone · 2005-09-21 05:50 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  And a point & click interface!
  
  --
  A fine is a tax you pay for doing wrong and a tax is a fine you pay for doing all right.
2. Re:My Mossberg emergency item... by Ruprecht+the+Monkeyb · 2005-09-21 06:08 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  If it just goes 'click', you've got a problem...
That's revolutionary! by garcia · 2005-09-21 05:44 · Score: 5, Funny

After thirty seconds of cranking I'm usually asleep for thirty-five minutes!

Sorry, I couldn't resist ;)
Of course! by CorruptMayor · 2005-09-21 05:45 · Score: 4, Funny

Compact Power Systems also introduced a product called the iRecharge, a rechargeable portable battery that fits snugly around your iPod, iPod mini or iPod shuffle giving the iPod and iPod mini 12 hours of extra play time and the iPod shuffle 40 extra hours.

I mean, in an emergency, I want my iPod recharged!
Anyone? by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-21 05:46 · Score: 4, Funny

Anyone have a hand-crankable EMP?
The least problem by salzbrot · 2005-09-21 05:49 · Score: 5, Funny

[...]these gadgets could be rendered useless 'should the communications infrastructure itself go down.'

If you can no longer get shortwave signals on your radio because the communications infrastructure itself went down, listening to the latest news is the least of your problems. You should be looking for the stone ax and the closest cave to move into.
1. Re:The least problem by Hoi+Polloi · 2005-09-21 06:22 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  If it got that bad I'd also suggest getting yourself a bright red mohawk, some leather biker gear, and then forming a gang of post-apocalyptic outlaws.
  
  --
  It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
Does it get cable? by jnadke · 2005-09-21 05:50 · Score: 4, Funny

Sweet, now I can listen to the Playboy channel when the Apocalypse comes. Nothin better than a little porn to calm those nerves.
iRecharge? by brunes69 · 2005-09-21 05:50 · Score: 4, Funny

Compact Power Systems also introduced a product called the iRecharge, a rechargeable portable battery that fits snugly around your iPod, iPod mini or iPod shuffle giving the iPod and iPod mini 12 hours of extra play time and the iPod shuffle 40 extra hours. It has an on/off switch, so you can charge your iPod as needed, as well as a charge-level indicator that glows to tell you how much juice is left.
My house is destroyed, I have no food and water, but thank god I can still listen to U2 - Vertigo!
sounds like me by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-21 05:50 · Score: 5, Funny

I can get 35 minutes of pleasure from a 30 second crank.
Re:Limited Usefulness Lifespan by Chairboy · 2005-09-21 06:11 · Score: 5, Funny

Breaking news: Some of the other emergency supplies you purchase (food, medicine, batteries) may also become unusable sometime in the future because of a limited shelflife.

Because of this, I recommend holding off on purchases of emergency supplies until a few days before the emergency happens, that way freshness and technological protocol compliance can be assured. Alternately, don't schedule any emergencies until after a digital television compliant emergency radio is available for purchase.

(PS, the radio also picks up... radio.)