In the age of full-featured cell phones with Web-based forecast capabilities, the Oregon Scientific Meteo Weather Forecast Watch is more of a gimmick than a practical planning tool. Most of the wrist-mounted forecaster's features can be found in every digital watch. But priced at just under $50, the Meteo is far from a ripoff.

The watch displays "reasonable representations" of weather for the next 12 to 24 hours, basing results on recent barometric pressure trends. Four animated graphics represent the next day's forecast--sunny, partially cloudy, cloudy, and rainy. My watch is currently displaying the sunny graphic, and sunny conditions have been professionally forecast within the next 24 hours.

I've been wearing the Meteo for the past few days and glancing at the weather forecast every few hours. It rarely changed throughout the day, but each morning I woke up to a new weather graphic, each day accurately predicting the next day's weather. After yesterday's rain, for example, today's animated sun graphic lets me know that tomorrow I can leave the umbrella at home.

You won't be making any fashion statements wearing the jet-black Meteo, but the watch is redeemed by price, accuracy, and a slick, backlit reverse LCD. The Oregon Scientific Meteo Weather Forecast Watch is available at Weather Connection's online store for $49.95, and includes a stopwatch, digital clock with alarm and date, and water resistance up (or down, rather) to 98 feet.