I'm really bad with forgetting what I've bought at the grocery store, or even the titles of Mary Higgins Clark's novels I own (29 to date). That's why I love gadgets that do all of the thinking for me. The IntelliScanner Collector Barcode Reader lets you scan all of your items--groceries, wine, books, CDs, etc.--so that you know what you have/don't have. As long as the item has a barcode, you can scan it. Then, you can create a customized shopping or tracking list with the software provided.

There are 2 variations of the IntelliScanner Collector. The first is the Tethered USB Scanner ($179, $249 bundle). It's white, and lets you scan at your desk while connected to your computer utilizing its Plug-and-play USB 1.1 technology.

The second is the Portable Scanner (NEW!) ($279, $349 bundle) with a built-in memory chip. You can use it anywhere--your house, office, store--and you don't have to be connected to the computer. Then when you're ready to download your items, connect it to your computer. The Portable Scanner gives you 2 options. Choose from the detachable serial interface (for Windows PCs; requires one free serial port) or the Bluetooth interface (for Macs and PCs equipped with Bluetooth wireless technology). It requires 3 AAA batteries.

Both IntelliScanners work with Windows 2000/XP and Mac OS X 10.3 or later.

The following software is available for the IntelliScanner:

* Media Collector 2.0 - media organization software
* Kitchen Companion (NEW!)- track groceries, build shopping lists
* Wine Collector - cellar and wine management system
* Home Assets 2.0 - personal asset tracking software
* Auction Automator - sell items on Amazon.com, and more