Don’t write off these classic brands: They innovated then, and they’re innovating now.

The tech world may have taken a beating in this recession, but its longtime stars are still alive and kicking. Hardship truly does breed inspiration, as the high-tech old guard is demonstrating by doing some of its best work ever.

This month, we review several of the industry’s most venerable brands and give you the latest news on how they continue to innovate. Don’t look now—but despite the ongoing economic catastrophe, 2009 is already shaping up to be a banner year for tech gadgets.


Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000

Then: A cool way to listen to cassette tapes
Now: A cool way to listen to MP3s

Sony keeps plugging away at the Walkman. That’s good, because Sony’s latest, the X1000, is one of the snazziest MP3 players on the market. The player includes a three-inch touchscreen that incorporates a low-power, ultra-bright organic LED (OLED) screen, the same technology behind the next generation of flat-panel televisions. Also, you no longer need to rely on noise-canceling headphones for crisp audio. In the X1000, noise cancellation is included in the player. Built-in Wi-Fi and a quick-charge mode are just icing on the cake.

Around $300 (16GB), sony.com



Nintendo DSi

Then: Game Boy leaves the computer behind.
Now: DSi leaves the cartridges behind.


The Nintendo DS series gets a second upgrade this year with the launch of the Nintendo DSi. The biggest new feature on the pocket gaming device? An integrated camera, which lets the photo-obsessed take snapshots and manipulate them with a built-in image editor on the DSi’s touchscreen. There’s also a second camera on the inside of the clamshell device, which the player can use as a sort of webcam. Another major upgrade: The introduction of a Nintendo DSi Shop, which will let players download games and other applications directly to the handheld without having to buy additional game cartridges.

$170, nintendo.com



Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds

Then: The IBM ThinkPad
Now: The Lenovo ThinkPad

In the last year, Lenovo—which bought ThinkPad, the longest-running laptop brand around, from IBM in 2005—has proved there’s plenty of room for additional innovation in the world of laptops. Note the ThinkPad W700ds: Its 17-inch LCD houses a secret second display (10.6 inches diagonally) that you can pop out on the right side of the machine to dock sidebars, chat sessions or anything else you want at the ready but don’t need front and center. The W700 series is also the first notebook computer with built-in color calibration and a Wacom pen tablet built into the palm rest: When you want to go freestyle, just pick up the stylus and scribble away on the dedicated writing area alongside the touchpad.

$5,059, thinkpad.com



JVC Everio GZ-HD300

Then: Recording directly to VHS tapes was groundbreaking.
Now: Who needs tapes?

JVC developed the very first videocassette recorder way back in 1976, and it became a leader in the VHS camcorder world shortly after that—even Marty McFly takes one of JVC’s units with him on his trip in Back to the Future. VHS may now be resting comfortably in a freshly dug grave, but JVC continues its leadership as a top-notch developer of home video gadgetry. The latest JVC Everio camcorder has no need for tape, instead storing video to a 60GB hard drive (or removable flash storage card) in full high-definition, outputting 1080p at 60 frames per second. Even better: Enhanced color resolution lets the Everio capture 100 percent of the color range that the eye can detect. Traditional camcorders can reproduce only a meager 55 percent of the human-viewable color palette.

$700, jvc.com




Casio Exilim EX-F1

Then: No need to hold the camera to your eye.
Now: The camera is faster than the eye.

The company behind the first digital camera with a “preview” LCD screen—the feature that finally made digicams superior to film cameras—continues turning out top-quality cameras for consumers of all sorts. The EX-F1 is decidedly on the high end, at nearly $1,000 for a top-of-the-line shooter that can shoot 60 six-megapixel still shots in one second and features a 1,200-frames-per-second movie mode. This, Casio claims, lets it capture action shots that the human eye can’t even perceive. A 12x optical zoom lets you get up close to the action as well. At the same time, the EX-F1 is as simple to use as your average point-and-shoot pocket camera, so you won’t need to take a special class in order to figure out how it all works. And yes, it still lets you preview pictures on the
LCD.

$999, casio.com


Logitech MX Air

Then: The mouse frees users from the keyboard.
Now: The mouse frees users from the table.

Take a look at your mouse. If it didn’t come with your computer, chances are it’s from Logitech. With its latest pointing device, Logitech hasn’t just gotten rid of the rubber ball and the cord—it’s now getting rid of the table, too. The MX Air is a rechargeable cordless mouse that you operate, as the name implies, by waving it in the air. Motion sensors turn twists of your hand and flicks of your wrist into smooth cursor movement, making this the perfect pointing device for those who prefer to use their computer on the couch or from across the room (as with an entertainment center). And when you are sitting at your desk, a standard laser sensor offers even better traditional tracking.

$135, logitech.com


Palm Pre

Then: The PalmPilot reinvents information integration.
Now: The Pre reinvents online integration.

The Palm brand fell on hard times a few years ago, as its Treo smart phones remained bulkier and less powerful than the competition—but in 2009, the company has begun roaring back. The Palm Pre was universally pronounced the best product at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show. The gorgeous phone features a multitouch screen, a slide-out physical keyboard and, most important, an incredibly intuitive and powerful operating system that integrates beautifully and automatically with online services like Facebook. Set for release this summer via Sprint.

Price not available at press time, palm.com



Motorola Renew

Then: A new concept—a location-free phone
Now: A new concept—a guilt-free phone

If anyone understands mobile phone technology, it ought to be Motorola. But in 2009, the now beleaguered company is taking a different approach by introducing a basic handset made of recycled water bottles. The Renew cell phone is decidedly basic—a tiny display, no camera, no Bluetooth—but it’s priced to move ($10 with a contract) and designed for easy recycling. Even the packaging is made from unvarnished, recycled paper. The Renew does at least feature an MP3 player (and a microSD slot secreted beneath the battery), but this isn’t a phone you’ll be using to show off pictures of the kids. Instead, it’s one you can simply feel better about. Offered via T-Mobile.

$60 (with no contract), $10 (with two-year contract), motorola.com




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CHRISTOPHER NULL is a freelance technology writer in San Francisco.