Recently rolled out in front of the world’s media, Virgin Galactic’s EVE is the mothership which will ferry SpaceShipTwo and astronaut-customers into sub-orbital space for $200k.

Hot on the heels of Dell’s Studio Hybrid, Shuttle’s SLK4800 ($300) steps up from the value K4500 ($200) with the addition of an optical drive and dual VGA/DVI outputs. Standard: Linux; Vista +$180.

Deal: Amazon has a 40% off sale for select Blu-ray movies. Titles include Cars, Apocalypto, Pirates of the Caribbean (all three films) and The Prestige. Psst: free shipping on orders over 25 bucks.

If thoughts of rampaging robots, fiery meteors and ginormous hands of death don’t get you excited, we can’t save you. EA has fresh screens for their upcoming (9/08) Wii-only SimCity Creator.

Samsung’s flagship Series 9 LCD HDTVs feature “art inspired” Touch of Color accents; ToC is hit-or-miss for most folks. Available: 46″ and 55″ models; LED backlighting; 120Hz technology.

Now available: the latest iteration of T-Mobile’s chat-friendly Sidekick. The 2008 version gives you more features (2.0 MP camera, higher resolution screen) for less ($150 w/contract, smaller size).

From status symbol to pariah, SUVs aren’t on many shopping lists lately. Bargain hunters, however, may find a deal with many used crossovers (Benz, BMW) dropping up to 30% in the last 6 months.

The possibilities are endless: a fake shark fin, beginner’s swim class at the local YMCA … all jokes aside, Sea-Doo’s Seascooters are ideal for divers with a max depth of 50m and speed of 3.3 mph.

Normally sedate tea time turns swanky: Sorapot’s curved stainless steel frame forms both handle and spout, with a clear pyrex cylinder to keep an eye on your tea. Available brushed or mirror polished.

Photographer Troy Paiva’s book, Night Vision: The Art of Urban Exploration, is a must read. Using a technique called light painting, he mixes flashlight with moonlight to produce otherworldly photos.

Nvidia’s GeForce 9500 targets the sub-$100 video card market and competes with ATI’s Radeon HD 3850. Not for serious gamers, but it’s a good mainstream card with low power use and noise.

Brand and logo snobs need not apply: Generic Man’s shoes are simple and refined. They’re not cheap, but high quality construction and timeless looks ensure they’ll outlast any fad.

Netgear’s Wireless-N Upgrade Kit features an access point that plugs into your existing 802.11g/b router or gateway. Also included: a Wireless-N USB adapter which is 802.11g backwards compatible.

To be auctioned Aug. 1 for a cool $170k, this is the TIE Fighter that bumped off Darth Vader in Star Wars IV: A New Hope. Cheaper: C3PO’s shoes, Cantina alien head and Imperial officer costume.

Dell’s new Studio Hybrid is 80% smaller and draws 70% less power than standard desktops. Available in six colors and bamboo, it features an HDMI port, 8-in-1 media card reader and optional Blu-ray.

It’s got 700 hp, goes 0-60 in 4 seconds, and still has space for luggage. The best news? This British-made sports car (available in 2010) is all electric and goes 200 miles on a 10 minute charge.