What ZDNet UK's editors want for Christmas

It doesn't hurt that such a rich coalescence of different ideas results in circuitry that looks strikingly different -- a strange and intriguing mixture of abstract layouts, bursts of symmetry and exotic structure. Rich gold filigree microstrip forms almost Mayan patterns on top of crisp white ceramic substrates, while fluidly sculptured isolation shields outline symmetric blocks of occult functionality.

This is technology at the precise point it shades into Arthur C Clarke's third law and becomes indistinguishable from magic -- and like all good magic, it looks the part. But like all good science, it has the added extra that it works. And being an Agilent device -- in other words, Hewlett Packard's tradition of engineering excellence at its best -- it carries on working. No obsidian knives or nervous virgins required. It is a thundering shame that the newly revamped Museum of Modern Art in New York doesn't have an example of this device.

There are downsides. From the outside, it looks much the same as other test equipment -- with the exception that some bright spark has decided on a pastel colour scheme to differentiate the four input channels. Lemon yellow, olive and dusky blue -- yeah, just about. But pink? A pink knob on a device this uncompromisingly macho is like Schwarzenegger in suspenders: it should never, ever be allowed. And then there's the cost -- we're looking somewhere north of $120,000. But Santa doesn't count the pennies, does he? Anyway, if he wants me to redesign that global sleigh positioning system to use the new European satellites, he'd better deliver -- or someone portly will be walking back home to the North Pole next year. I trust I've made myself clear.

Agilent

Price
from $120,000

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