The Future Is Bright. The Future Is Promising. The Future Is, uh, Lame?

Don't get me wrong here. The new Blue Tooth-powered Virtual Laser Keyboard is a stab in the right direction. But just like its distant cousin, the Blue Tooth Headset, the Virtual Laser Keyboard prompts a very serious question: should the latest and greatest in consumer technology make me feel, well, embarrassed for those that use it?

I know that most technophiles will be purchasing this product regardless of better judgment. But for those fence sitters who are unfamiliar with names like William Gibson, KW Jeter and Ken MacLeod, or the countless Sci-Fi TV and film series that permeate our culture, I ask you to picture yourself using this newfangled Virtual Laser Keyboard before actually buying.

Manufacturers like Apple are right to place so much importance on the appearance of their products. More and more consumer electronics are being marketed as fashion accessories, with style and appearance taking a slight edge over function.

So where does this leave the fashionably faux-pas Virtual Laser Keyboard? Good question. For now, back in TV and movies, and if not there, at least somewhere in private. I doubt I can cull enough deceased family-dog memories to keep myself from laughing at public use of this product. A lightsaber replica out in the open at least carries the illusion of irony, or maybe even innocence.

But with the Virtual Laser Keyboard that takes itself so seriously, there is no redemption, other than a swift hawking on eBay or Amazon.

You're much better off sticking with a more traditional computer setup.You can check out rankings of the best computers here at TopTenREVIEWS.

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