(Business 2.0) – Tough Love

I don't make a habit of roughhousing with my computer, but Panasonic's Toughbook could handle the abuse. The world's first industrial-strength tablet PC, this 4.4-pounder has a 10.4-inch color display and a 40-gigabyte hard drive sealed inside a rugged body that offers protection from drop shock, vibration, water, dust, heat, cold, and fits of personal aggression. Panasonic Toughbook 18 Tablet: $3,200; www. panasonic.com; 800-662-3537.

Close Encounters

The tight shots I get with Olympus's new 4-megapixel C-750 are so good, it's almost like owning a spy satellite. The 10x optical zoom is powerful, but the secret weapon is the 40x digital zoom. Unlike run-of-the-mill digital magnification, which often looks fuzzy and pixelated, this Olympus's extra dispersion lens actually sharpens the image. Olympus C-750 Ultra Zoom: $600; www.olympusamerica.com; 800-622-6372.

Get Lit

Next time you have to apologize for all those late nights at the office, treat your sweetie to a candlelight dinner--without the candles. Vessel's Candela lamps create gentle illumination without cords, matches, mess, or three-alarm fires. These durable plastic lights recharge on a docking station, then give off a warm glow for up to five hours. Candela Rechargeable Lamps: $70; www.designobject.com; 415-621-1397.

Wrist Pilot

Now there's no excuse for forgetting your address book. Fossil's new watch has a Palm OS PDA built right in. Though a bit on the bulky side, it can store 2 megabytes' worth of contacts, appointments, and graffitied notes, with space left over for a few applications. There's even a stylus that slips into the all-metal band. And get this: When it's not in PDA mode, it also tells time. Fossil Wrist PDA: $295; www.fossil.com; 800-449-3056.

Drive Thru

The Grill-n-Chill is the ultimate accessory for tailgate cuisine. Mounting to a standard 2-inch receiver hitch for easy transport, this field kitchen expands into a full-service sports bar, complete with a gas grill, a Coleman cooler, a 50-watt Sony stereo, fold-down trays at both ends, and extra space for storing brews and buns. And for safe driving, this party on wheels also includes a pair of turn signals. Grill-n-Chill: $2,200; www.hammacher.com; 866-426-6224.

Air Guitar

Yamaha's EZ Guitar can teach you how to master "Stairway to Heaven" during your lunch break. To practice, you strum the six metallic ridges that act like strings, while the 12 LEDs in the fretboard light up to provide cues for proper hand positioning. The wood body even contains a speaker and Flash memory, so you can play along with downloaded Midi melodies. Rock on, dude. Yamaha EZ Guitar: $300; www.yamaha.com; 714-522-9011.