Ever since the mobile phone boom that started in the mid-90s, there’s been an explosion of gadgets around. All sorts of cellular phones are now available — Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, etc. — and at really affordable prices, too. And thanks to the abundance of free Wifi zones in Davao City, a marked increase in the number of laptop / notebook users is clearly evident in coffee shops, hotels, and other public places.

In the gaming console scene, we see the Nintendo Wii, PSP, and who knows what else is out there? And digital cameras, as well, have made a big presence lately. When before cameras were the purview of professionals and hobbyists, now it’s very common to see ordinary people toting digicams of all shapes and sizes.

One indication that we are now a gadget-crazy population is the proliferation of tech magazines that have come out. Or, publications that aren’t focused on technology but have sections dedicated to gadgets. And these are glossy, high-quality magazines — all the more to entice potential buyers.

The driving factors here, I believe, are the Internet and price cuts. The first is responsible for making information available more readily and to a broader audience, and this has made more people want more technology products.

Price cuts are probably a direct result of this growth in demand. In the late 90s, mid-range mobile phones cost upwards of P30,000. Today, that’s the price of high-end phones.

Speaking of low prices, we probably have CD-R King to thank for driving rates down. This chain of gadget stores is probably responsible for bringing technology to the masses. People from various walks of life can buy computer accessories, cell phone chargers, and a myriad other products that were previously available only to the wealthy.

Myself, I own a mobile phone, plus another one that I receive for trial purposes, a notebook computer, a digicam, and a PDA that I don’t use anymore. What about you?

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