What I saw at CES this year

Here's TechnoDad's list of winners from the annual Consumer Electronics Show. I've tried to choose items that are practical and fun:

• NuGuard GripStand 2 from NewerTech. This sturdy stand can even be used as a handle to carry your iPad 2 around. Also available for iPad.
• Escort Live. Utilizing Bluetooth, this radar detector power cord can communicate with your smart phone via an app that allows you and other drivers to instantly convey radar/laser threats.
• A new lineup of very affordable GE Digital cameras with prosumer features.
• Goal Zero's lineup of solar chargers for your gadgets.
• Tagg pet tracker prevents you from ever losing your dog using advanced GPS.
• Biscotti TV Phone. This small device (yes, it does look like a certain type of breakfast biscuit) turns your TV into a high-definition phone.
• CCrane's WiFi Radio allows you or your computer-less mom or dad to listen to their favorite Pandora or internet tunes anywhere there is WiFi.
• Sony's Vita PlayStation game device allows older kids and adults to have portable fun.

Not a pretty picture for Polaroid's tablet debut

As I watched the steady stream of CES updates flood my RSS feed last week, I went through my yearly mix of jaw-dropping enthusiasm and eye-rolling condescension. Tech bloggers who make the trek to Las Vegas love to highlight some of the ridiculous devices and gizmos that make it on to the showroom floor.

And while I understand the appeal of cheap, gimmicky gadgets that are everywhere at CES, they tend to come from the same companies that push those kinds of tacky products out year after year. It's another thing entirely for an established company to venture into cheap products.

This brings us to Polaroid. The former camera company announced its entry into the post-PC world with a lineup of tablets and e-readers. Before I go any further, there are 3 general principles I think any company should stick to when getting into the tablet business:

1. Make sure a tablet fits with your general company image and that it makes sense in your company portfolio.
2. Give yourself an advantage. It can be either be quality hardware or solid software are a must, but tablets have come a long way and you need to stay competitive.
3. Don't price yourself out of the market. Unless you're Apple, a $500 16GB tablet is a tough sell. 

Okay, back to Polaroid.

Whether or not Polaroid violated the first aforementioned principle is debatable. While I understand that Polaroid is trying to be a consumer electronics company and not a camera company, the name "Polaroid" just doesn't scream tablet computing.

That point aside, Polaroid could have made it a moot point by adhering to the second principle and delivering quality devices with a competitive edge. Unfortunately, critics across the board have said all of Polaroids new devices are underwhelming at best. Granted, the devices haven't been tested beyond the look and feel of the exterior, but that alone will enough to deter most consumers.

The question that has yet to be answered is price. Given the lack of quality here, these prices will have to be dirt cheap to give them an edge. Anything over $150 will probably be too much for consumers given the Kindle Fire is sitting at $200.

Polaroid is diving headfirst into the tablet and e-reader waters, but unfortunately for them they may be jumping in with proverbial anchors tied to its feet.