Virgin's Nifty New Gadgets

Richard Branson has made a fortune attaching his company's name to everything from music stores (Virgin Megastores) to airlines (Virgin Atlantic) to bridal wear (Virgin Brides). Now he's tackling consumer electronics with Virgin Pulse, a series of sleek, low-cost gadgets. The $449 portable TV/DVD player (above) features a 10in. flat screen. An optional car adapter and carrying case let you watch movies on those long road trips. There's also a $50 pair of two-way radios (left) and a compact AM/FM radio with TV tuner for $35. Cordless phones, CD and MP3 players, and a CD clock radio round out the line. Our verdict: we liked the devices' silver color and their thin, clean designs but found the controls on some of the gadgets to be a bit awkward to maneuver. Overall, it's a good Virgin effort.