In the fickle world of the tech enthusiast, where favourite gadgets come and go, the test of time is the only sure way for a device to prove its mettle. So we asked real gadget lovers to show us the products they can't live without.
Name
Michael John
Occupation
Freelance illustrator
Location
London, England
WHY I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MY
Motorola V3
Why did you buy it?
I know a lot of criticism has been levelled at the V3 for its shoddy interface, but for me a phone needs to do two things: make calls and store phone numbers. There's no other mobile phone that looks as good as the V3, and being a graphic artist, this is usually my biggest consideration. All the other mobiles I looked at just seemed ugly in comparison.
What does it do for you?
It makes me feel like I'm in the movie Tron -- the old Disney film that was the first feature to use computer animation. The guys who worked on that movie were using some really primative technology to create some really stunning effects. I've always been a fan of Tron and the V3 really evokes the retro-neon style that the movie had.
Would you recommend it to others? Why?
If you're the kind of person that wants to browse the web, swap MP3s and track your current position on GPRS then the V3 is not for you. I'm not into ring tones or games or disco lights on my phone. I'm not of the Hello Kitty breed of mobile users. For me the V3 is ideal: it's slim and it looks like a prop from Star Wars.
Name
Michael John
What I do
Freelance illustrator
Where I live
London, England
Outside Interests
Mountain biking, short filmmaking, swimming, go-karting
If you could design and create your ultimate product, what would it be?
A safe, nuclear powered car with zero emissions
What tech insider secret do you find most useful?
How to go downhill on a mountain bike very, very fast
Do you have three you can't live without? Click here
