By Douglas MacMillan

The Oprah Tech Effect

The power of an Oprah Winfrey endorsement is well-known in industries like publishing, where becoming a member of Oprah’s Book Club almost guarantees best-seller status, and in home furnishings, where startups and small businesses can be propelled into overnight sensations following a mention on her show or in her magazine O.

The TV host also grants her Midas touch to the tech world, discussing her fondness for devices like the Flip camera and Web sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This BusinessWeek.com slide show chronicles the difference an Oprah endorsement can make to sales of all manner of tech gadgets and services.