Gadgets, gizmos & girls

Women are being wooed by the makers of tech toys like never before. And why not, since a study by the Consumer Electronics Association has found that across the world, women outstripped men in terms of buying gadgets in 2008—accounting for $55 billion (Rs 2.7 lakh crore) of the $96 billion (Rs 4.7 lakh crore) spent on electronics gear during the year.

So who are the big players taking this trend forward in 2009?
HP Technology meets fashion: The firm has partnered with designer Vivienne Tam to create a notebook for women that has an embroidered case and is approximately clutch purse-sized with a 10-inch widescreen. The price for India is yet to be announced.

Dell thinks Pink: Dell XPSTM M1530 and M1330 laptops are now available in pink after their internal research showed that women like to carry colourful laptops and technology products as way of expressing themselves.

Samsung

Samsung “Le Fleur”: Samsung has come up with —E500 and the E570 phones—both of which are clamshells (flip phones).

VistaQuest: VistaQuest has a new keychain camera for women. It is predictably pink.

—Tejaswi Shekhawat