From playing games on a Commodore PC to syncing gadgets seamlessly, Rajiv Mehta, CEO of Puma (India), has graduated his gadgetry with time. The longest he has taken to master a gadget has been two days, and now he’s itching to get his hands on the Nintendo Wii.
Which of your gadgets are you most proud of?
My Yamaha RX-V663 A/V receiver, which packs a lot of punch. It syncs with the Xbox 360, the iPod Nano, the set-top box and the DVD player seamlessly, with the projector resting high up on the ceiling. It supports all HD audio formats, HDMI video up conversion and even has Bluetooth to stream songs from my mobile directly to the speakers.
What was your first gadget?
It was the Commodore 64, better known as the C64. I owned it from 1985 till about 1988. As a PC, the primary job that it did was allow me to play games on it. Today it is extinct, but some computer hobbyists may still have it.
Have you ever fixed a broken gadget yourself?
Being electronics students, we had hardwired two old Nokias to act as walkie-talkies way back in 1996, but that was more tinkering than repairing… but honestly, we think we repaired them, as they performed better as walkie-talkies.
Is there any gadget that you like to show off?
It’s a string of gadgets really. My home theatre system with the InFocus projector, the Paradigm speakers, the Infinity sub, the Yamaha receiver, connected to a 120-inch flat screen.
What is the longest time you have spent mastering a gadget?
Two days to get my head around the home theatre system.
What would be the perfect geeky gift for you?
I’d love to be gifted a Nintendo Wii.
Is there any technology that holds you in its awe?
The Radio Frequency Identification technology — it would do wonders for retail. If only it was affordable.
What’s your most stylish gadget?
It’s in my car — a Pioneer AVP 7050 car stereo system. It has a graphic display and Bluetooth to get my phone on the speakers.
If you could, what dream gadget would you build?
A motorised lounge chair with built in massager, TV screen and gaming console, which can also transport you from place A to B.
