Dr MUKESH AGHI, CEO of Steria, believes that gadgets need to be eco-friendly. He takes care to choose only the most energy-efficient gadgets for home and office. His personal favourite is the music system, custom built to his specifications.
What is the most expensive gadget you have ever bought?
The HDR-FX 1000, which is a high-definition MiniDV (HDV) camcorder. It cost me a whopping $3,200. But it is simply the best video camera I’ve ever used. Video and audio quality are sensational and it competes with anything you see on digital TV.
What’s your most recent gadget purchase?
I have a music system custom built to my specifications. The Rotel DVD player RDV-1062 is at the heart of the system. The JC 2 preamplifier is from Parasound. It has been specifically designed for the frequencies of the acoustic guitar and other instruments. The speakers are from PSB and render a very natural, dynamic and accurate sound. The output is enhanced with a twin channel amplifier from ATI, delivering a dynamic range, tonal neutrality and wide soundstage.
Did you tweak the music system to suit your preferences?
The music system has a simplistic and straightforward design, which makes it easy to customise. However, you need to read the manual to ensure that the sound gets adapted for the room.
Do you think that the average gadget has become too complicated?
Yes it has, and the most common instance is the mobile phone. An average user does not even use half the features that it comes bundled with.
Would you be willing to pay more to buy eco-friendly or green gadgets?
I don’t mind paying extra, if that helps. The consumer electronics and IT industries need to make drastic changes to curb their greenhouse gas emissions. Both at home and in the workplace I am very conscious about using environment-friendly gadgets.
What, according to you, is the most useless gadget in the market?
It would be built-in optical drives. Although you might still need a DVD or CD drive to actually get information onto your computer but most software are now available over the Internet. You simply don’t need a drive anymore. Also, putting an optical drive in a notebook seems old fashioned now.
What was your first true gadget? Do you still own it?
The very first gadget I ever fell in love with was a tiny calculator that my father gave me when I was quite young. I still have it.