There’s an interesting article in The New York Times today. Hotel chains have been turning to consumer electronics and computers to help draw in and satisfy increasingly tech savvy guests. Gadgets and gizmos are increasingly present in rooms, lobbies, and lounges in a growing number of hotels. Sheraton has teamed with Microsoft for their Link@Sheraton lounges where guests can perform tasks such as checking email and printing out boarding passes. Westin is placing the Nintendo Wii, with games like Wii Fit, in some of their fitness centers. Gansevoort South in Miami Beach, part of the Gansevoort Hotel Group, is working with Sony to bring Sony computers, PS3s, ebook readers, and more to a new lounge.

There’s some more interesting news in this area that I’ll be able to share soon…

PC World’s Gadget Freak column is coming to an end after a five year run. And in his farewell post, Gadget Freak columnist Dan Tynan calls out the five best gadgets he’s encountered over the course of writing the column:

The best gadgets have certain qualities in common. They solve difficult problems simply and elegantly. They’re constantly ahead of the curve, adding new features before you realize you need them. And most important, they put you in control of your own digital destiny–so that you can make the decisions about what you want to do and how you want to do it.

Dan’s top five gadgets are: Apple iPod and iPhone, TiVo, iRobot Roomba, Sonos Sound System, and Nintendo Wii.

Seems like a respectable list to me. I would probably have few different choices, but each person has their own needs. TiVo would certainly be on my list as well, and probably my iPod.