Hardware for Writers
Aside from the Kindle Reader, voice recorders rank high in importance to writers, either for interviews, dictation or personal notes-on-the-fly.
Western Digital My Passport Essential 320 GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive WDME3200TN (Midnight Black)Kindle: Amazon's Original Wireless Reading Device (1st generation)Olympus WS-300M 256 MB Digital Voice Recorder and Music Player
Western Digital My Passport Essential 320 G...

As of late November 2008, this item is on sale at a 1/3 discount -- a great value for portable hard disk of this size. Invalu...
Kindle: Amazon's Original Wireless Reading ...

Of course one first needs to buy the Kindle itself. Seems expensive, but you'll get your money back in savings on Kindle book...
Olympus WS-300M 256 MB Digital Voice Record...

Most popular and highly rated at Amazon, perhaps due to music playback capability.
Olympus VN2100PC Digital Voice RecorderOlympus VN-4100PC Digital Voice RecorderOlympus VN3100PC Digital Voice Recorder
Olympus VN2100PC Digital Voice Recorder

Most highly rated by Amazon buyers of the VN-series.
Olympus VN-4100PC Digital Voice Recorder
Olympus VN3100PC Digital Voice Recorder

This is the recorder I've been using; it works well for me. Not as popular, however, as other models.
Olympus ME-15 MicrophoneOlympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device
Olympus ME-15 Microphone
$21.99
Lapel mic's really improve audio quality, especially useful if you do podcasts of your interviews.
Olympus TP-7 Telephone Recording Device
$14.95
Consider getting this if you do lots of landline telephone interviews.