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Product of the Year

T-Mobile Sidekick ($300)

Manufacturers have been attempting to cram the Internet into our shirt pockets for ages--usually with underpowered, overpriced devices. This year, however, multiple lilliputian-but-functional Net machines beckon. Our favorite? The new color version of T-Mobile's fun, innovative Sidekick. This "hiptop" is the first wireless gadget that feels capable of putting the Web in your pocket. Its swiveling design sports both a shrunken QWERTY keyboard and a sharp color screen. On-board software includes a usable browser, e-mail, AOL Instant Messenger, and more. The unexpectedly reasonable price: $300 for the device and as little as $40 per month for voice/data service.

Speaking of voice, the Sidekick has, alas, a mediocre phone. But hey, we're data people. And if you're still unready to go unwired, take heart: Next year's contenders are sure to make even this breakthrough device look a tad retro.

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