When it comes down to it, I have to be honest with myself. I can be a pure brat when it comes to things I want. My parents raised me well and always encouraged me to try new things. My love of tech came from learning various things while hanging out with my dad. My first was gimmie. It probably should have been followed by now.

When it comes to gadgets, I have this weird feeling in me that I have to have it now. Various gadgets get announced, or I’ll see something at a conference like CES and I’m like a kid in the candy store. Just a few steps before tantrum phase. Usually I can withhold my wants until release day. Lately, I’ve been good at waiting a month or two outside of release day. But this year has been SO HARD.

This year I haven’t had much disposable income. Much of what I have is going to GamingAngels, or various convention trips where I’m speaking. The price increase of health care hit my paycheck pretty hard since I didn’t get a raise last year. I now have to be careful what I spend my money on. Matt also wants us to work on savings which is a great idea, just not good for someone that is yearning to buy gadgets.

The two gadgets that are haunting me are the PS Vita and the new iPad. With the iPad, I waited patiently from iteration to iteration…saying okay when it has a camera that will be good. Okay, when it has the super amazing OH-MY-GOD screen that will do it. Now I’m tired of waiting. But the cost is what is holding me back. Those suckers are super expensive. Matt and I want to pull the trigger on it, but we go back and forth about the timing. When is the right time for us to buy. Let’s just say that is pure torture. I can almost feel it in my hands. The weird thing is…I already have buyers guilt. The iPad is so expensive that my mind floods with all the things we need or how long that money could buy us food for. When did thinking responsibly enter this conversation?

The other gadget I want is a PS Vita. God I want one badly. I played the heck out of my PSP. Granted, I don’t have the time to play a PS Vita right now. But I’m hoping after con season that I do. That is when I will jump to make the purchase. Hopefully with a slew of hot games announced for the holidays, the PS Vita will be my most treasured gaming device.

Beyond that, I’m on the look out for a better smart phone. A better handheld video camera (we use the Kodak Zi8 for GamingAngels and they don’t make them anymore), and I’m sure there is more if I sat to think about it. But I don’t want to get depressed. It was hard enough getting headphones to review that specifically said they could work with the PS Vita. /sigh. Few things in life bring me more joy than playing with a new gadget. There’s something about getting to experience the innovation and interpret what its potential. I also want to be someone who talks and writes about gadgets that are useful in my life. Hard to do when you can’t afford them. lol

I guess for now….I’ll be left wanting.