There is no doubt about it; Linksys/Linksys by Cisco (now called Cisco Home) has been a top player if not the top player in the consumer wireless router product line. The hardware is solid, performance is great, and hackability for 3rd party firmware is still very much a viable option for most of their wireless routers. BUT, the one thing that has always plagued the wireless router market is its lack of ease when it comes to initial setup. To someone that is tech savvy, setting up a wireless router is relatively painless, however to someone who is not the whole process can be very overwhelming, especially when vendors are constantly adding new features. I don’t know of a single tech person who hasn’t had to setup a family member’s or friend’s wireless router. Cisco is attempting to remedy this with their Valet line. Continue reading

The Casio EX-FH20 is an exciting megazoom camera with high speed capabilities. The camera can currently be found at a considerable discount from MSRP. Today we are going to take a look at what else the EX-FH20 brings to the table. Continue reading

For the most part, Bluetooth headsets all seem to offer a similar set of features. However, Motorola’s newest headset, the H17txt brings something new to the table; the ability to read text messages to the user as soon as they are received. With more and more states restricting texting and cell phone usage while driving, it only makes sense for a feature such as text to speech to be added to a Bluetooth headset. Continue reading

The Cooler Master Storm Scout is a midsize-tower LAN/Gaming computer case with all of the associated bells and whistles. The “gaming case” identity seems to be doled out to just about any case with lights and fans nowadays, so let us try to evaluate what makes this case more suitable for these purposes. Continue reading

The Epson Stylus NX515 is an all-in-one inkjet printer with some very enticing features. The NX515 has been around for over a year, and as a result is a good way along in its product cycle. The printer still manages an impressive features list and an attractively discounted price. Will that be enough to make this a good buy? Continue reading

If you’re like me, your car is a little too old to rock an auxiliary output connection for attaching your i or Zune. Generally the only alternative to installing a new deck is to either use a cassette adapter or settle for an FM Tuner adapter. While you are sacrificing quality ,FM transmits much lower than the 256k iTunes Plus you can buy, it’s often the quickest and easiest solution. Griffin Technology iTrip Auto 2010 is Griffin’s latest FM Transmitter/Charging solution and offers some new, exciting features.

I use a laptop as my primary computer, so an external hard drive is a must-have device for me. Seagate has provided a new drive for review that offers a small size, robust USB connectivity, and a bus-powered 5400-rpm drive. Let’s find out what makes this drive more enticing than the competition. Continue reading

The Logitech Performance Mouse MX retails for $80-$110 and features Darkfield Laser Tracking, that allows you to track on nearly any surface; the new unifying receiver technology, but it is only valuable if you plan on changing your keyboard as well; as well as several completely customizable buttons, hyper-scrolling, unique recharging system, and a comfortable contour design. The only con is the price, but it is easily overcome if you are looking for a comfortable, full-featured mouse that is easy to use. Continue reading

Motorola has, for the most part, always been known for its mobile communication products. However, they recently decided to venture into the ever growing GPS navigation market. Today we will be looking at the MOTONAV TN765t. As this is Motorola’s first attempt at creating a GPS device, I am interested to see what Motorola plans to bring to the table and how they plan to differentiate themselves in an already crowded GPS market. Continue reading

Today we will be taking a look at one of Thermaltake’s newest cases, the Armor A90. While still being part of the same family as the Armor and Armor+, the appearance of the case could not be more different. Let’s see how this case stacks up. Continue reading

I purchased my first iPod in 2003. It was the first to introduce the 30-pin dock connector, and had a strange array of capacitive buttons above the wheel control. Now I’m an iPhone owner, and I still have one of the same complaints from the 3rd generation iPod: no FM tuner. Continue reading

TV tuners tend to be hit or miss. Sometimes a card or USB add-on works as advertised, smoothly and elegantly. Other times the experience is clunky, full of lag, and riddled with poor software. Elgato’s offerings are generally considered solid solutions for audio/video capture and computer-based program recording and playback. Continue reading

Hot-swap drive enclosures can add a certain level of urgency and sophistication to almost any system. The ability to whip a drive out of the system and toss in a new one at a moments notice satisfies a certain, primal urge most users have from time to time (particularly while troubleshooting). Whether it is intended to impress others, make you the hero of the day, simplify your life, or something else, few can argue with a drive bay that lets you remove a drive with ease whether the system is running or turned off. Continue reading

The Pentax X70 is an upper tier point-and-shoot camera in the fairly new “super-zoom” or “mega-zoom” category. These are single lens cameras with large optical zooms, and a form factor slightly smaller than (but very similar to) most DSLR cameras. The target audience for these cameras would be people looking to get into more advanced digital photography without spending so much on a DSLR. Continue reading

When looking for external storage, Verbatim isn’t always the first name that comes to mind. However, over the last year or so, they have really started to bolster their external storage offerings and expand out of the realm of small flash drives as well as blank optical media. Today we will be taking a look the Verbatim Pro 2-disk RAID enclosure. Continue reading

Modern keyboards (like the one on my Macbook Pro, that I am using to type this) have a moderate degree of redundant circuitry to allow for keyboard commands, but still fall short of some selective usage scenarios. I can easily press a few different keys at once (and elicit the appropriate response), but pressing four keys arranged next to each other in a square will only report the first three. Video games have emerged as the group of applications that have the fastest combinations involving the most unique keys. For these programs, users are not aware that their key-presses are going unreported, and will often assume the program or their skill is at fault. To address this problem, Microsoft has developed more advanced circuitry in their SideWinder X4 to allow for more simultaneous keys to be reported. Additionally, this technology allows for any of the QWERTY keys to be used simultaneously, and is cheaper than addressing each key with unique circuitry. Continue reading

With more and more video content being available on the internet and a lot of newer computers including HDMI ports, it goes without saying these computers will be hooked up to TVs. However, this means possibly having to use a keyboard and mouse on the couch. For the most part a mouse will work ok on the couch but there are many times it will not. This is where one of Adesso’s newest keyboards comes in. The SlimTouch Pro Touchpad Keyboard not only serves as a keyboard but also has a built in touchpad to help eliminate the need for a mouse all together. Continue reading

A keyboard and mouse are often times one of the most overlooked components of any computer system, yet they may very well be one of the most important components. After all, almost all interaction with any computer seems to be with a keyboard and mouse. Today we will be taking a look at Microsoft’s Comfort Desktop 5000, which features a wireless ergonomic keyboard and a wireless BlueTrack mouse. Continue reading

Toshiba has been producing 2.5” external hard drives for some time now, but until recently never ventured into the world of higher capacity 3.5” external hard drives. Today we will be taking a look at Toshiba’s first attempt at a 3.5” external hard drive. Continue reading

For those who spend long hours using the computer, keyboard and mouse choice can be essential to your comfort and productivity. Today we will be looking at Logitech’s MK700 keyboard and mouse combo which promises to address both concerns with features such as InCurve keys and hyper-fast scrolling. Will the MK700 deliver on these promises, or will this end up being just another case of marketing hype not living up to its claims? Continue reading

Pogoplug is a small server that effectively brings the “cloud” under your ownership. It’s a small device (a “plug” computer) that offers little more than a storage controller and network connectivity. By plugging in a hard drive to the device, and the Pogoplug to your network, your hard drive is connected to the Internet and can be accessed accordingly. Everywhere you have Internet connectivity, you have access to data stored on media connected to the Pogoplug. There is no fee for using the Pogoplug, but it is dependent on the company to connect and route traffic. Continue reading

Verbatim computer peripherals are well known, and I have used their computer mice and recordable disks for years. This will be the first hard drive from Verbatim that I have ever used, and it offers a new feature: an always-on “cholesteric” display. It’s a very small 2.5” hard drive that is USB powered and operated in a sleek package. This is nothing new, but the drive also includes a microchip that reads the partition information of the drive and displays the partition name and available space on a display. Continue reading

I am an avid iPhone 3G user, but my chief complaint about the device is the battery lifetime. All of the extra hardware that makes the iPhone great (GPS, WiFi, 3G GSM, accelerometer, digital compass, etc.) drain the non-replaceable battery within a day of charging, with moderate use. Not surprisingly, a slew of add-on products from manufacturers such as Dexim have hit the market to append the poor battery performance of the iPhone. The Dexim P-Flip offers an extended battery in the form of a foldable dock. Continue reading

As an iPhone owner, I’m familiar with the Griffin line of iPod/iPhone/Apple accessories. I’m also familiar with the shortcomings of the iPhone’s speaker, and that holding or cupping your hand around the speaker port will enhance (or at least change) the sounds coming from it. A friend of mine even suggested building a wave-guide to enhance the sound from the iPhone speaker. Griffin has done just that with its passive amplifier dock, the AirCurve. The iPhone sits in this plastic dock that has an acoustic wave-guide positioned directly under the speaker port. Modeled after the human ear canal, the waveguide amplifies and equalizes the sounds before ejecting them out the front of the device. It is completely passive and requires no batteries. Continue reading

The EnhanceTech TS800 IP is an enterprise-level solution for iSCSI attached storage. Resembling a full-size ATX case, the TS800 contains three gigabit network controllers, an onboard computer and web server, a RAID controller capable of level 6 arrays, and a hot-swap backplane with room for 8 SATA drives. The novel aspect here is the use of the iSCSI standard, essentially using an existing TCP/IP network infrastructure to pass packets of data that mimic a more traditional SAS solution. Part of this process is specialized software on the client end to attach the device as a volume. Continue reading

Handheld rotary tools have long been a staple for every modders toolkit. One brand of handheld rotary tool has become so popular that like Kleenex, the brand name is often used to describe all handheld rotary tools. For those who are confused, I am talking about none other than the Dremel. Not all “dremels” are created equally and today we will be taking a look at the newest member of the Dremel family, the Dremel 4000. Continue reading

I have been familiar with ThermalTake products for years, having built my first custom computer using one of their Xaser-II cases. I’m also familiar with their typical over-engineering. In the case of the Xaser-II, the front door was made of ¼-inch cold-rolled steel, and weighed close to five pounds. Throughout the years, that case has served many purposes and held together perfectly due to its stellar build quality. Up now is the BlacX Duet, an external hard drive dock for internal SATA hard drives. The “Duet” is for two drives being simultaneously accessible by eSATA and USB with this product. Continue reading

More and more laws are being enacted to require a hands-free device to be used when using a cellphone will driving. While some people do not mind a Bluetooth headset hanging from their ear, many people find this unbearable. While thre are a few other options, one popular solution is a Bluetooth speakerphone . Today we will be looking at one such product from Motorola, the T325 In-Car Speakerphone. Continue reading

The VOIIS (pronounced ‘voice’) gateway promises a wireless pathway for your music using Bluetooth. It can operate in transmission and reception mode to fit multiple situations. The device is designed to solve issues of music being stored independently of the playback device or vice-versa. Continue reading

Wacom is the undisputed leader of pressure-sensitive tablet interfaces, and they are expanding their entry-level line with the latest Bamboo tablet, the first tablet to offer multi-touch input alongside the traditional stylus. As a Mac user, I consider myself lucky to be using one of the best multi-touch trackpads available. It took a month to get used to, but my MacBook Pro trackpad seems to respond to my thoughts. I’ve discovered just how to touch the surface to elicit a response, and multi-touch gestures are seamless. It’s a real time-saver, and it’s incredibly comfortable because of its large size. The Bamboo Pen and Touch looks like a large trackpad, which could be an even better experience if implemented properly. Continue reading

The Amazon Kindle has been known as the premiere ebook reader, but can the hype, the long waiting list, and the price really be worth it? Continue reading

Laptop users are increasingly using external hard drives to tote around their digital lives. While the data on your computer is marginally secure with login passwords and perhaps even data encryption, external hard drives are easily accessible when physical access is obtained. The NexStar Vault from Vantec offers to remedy this solution with a simple hardware-based locking system to secure data, while still offering the convenience of a system without passwords or slow software-intensive encryption techniques. Continue reading

With the the recent flood of smaller, cheaper laptops and netbooks hitting the market, it only makes sense that companies would want to make mobile accessories smaller as well. Today we will be taking a look at one of Microsoft’s newest products, the Mobile Mouse 4000. Like most newer mobile mice, it sports a cropped form factor as well as a very small “nano transceiver.” Continue reading

As our digital lives grow beyond the confines of our internal hard drives, more and more we turn to external solutions to carry the weight. A simple external hard drive is a convenient choice, but offers the risk of data loss if it incurs damage. To backup data entirely, twice the space would need to be purchased; RAID solves this problem elegantly by distributing the data across multiple disks, but requires dedicated hardware to accomplish the rapid and complicated process of distributing data and parity bits across multiple disks. Storing the disks in a clean, working, and elegant system is another common problem. As a university student, I eschewed this process and settled for a pile of hard drives on top of a Tupperware bin. While functional, enterprise users will be attracted to a product such as the TowerRaid, which is decidedly less “ghetto fabulous” than my solution. Continue reading

For a long time now, Aliph’s Jawbone has been the front runner in background noise cancellation. Many have tried to beat the Jawbone only to fall short. Today we will be looking at Motorola’s newest headset, the Endeavor HX1, which takes a unique approach to background noise cancellation. While the Endeavor uses all the standard tricks, it is the first time I have seen bone conduction technology in a Bluetooth headset. Unlike the Jawbone, which places a sensor on your skin, the Endeavor’s bone conduction technology places a sensor right in the ear. Continue reading

Having owned and used Wacom tablets for years, I’m wary to try the competition. Wacom is the big name in tablet technologies, and owns patents on their various technologies to make pen-tracking and pressure-sensitivity reporting possible. Competition has been notoriously scarce, and of reliably poor quality. Wacom’s serious drawback is their price point, which can easily top $400 for a medium-sized tablet. For just this reason, I purchased the smallest tablet I could from them nearly seven years ago and have not upgraded. Recently they’ve tried to entice a more diverse audience with their Bamboo™ line, but Genius is here to challenge that dominance. The MousePen i608 offers similar functionality for a fraction of the price. If it plays as well as Wacom’s tablets, I’ll be challenging my marching orders for a future upgrade! Continue reading

Once, accessing data off of spare hard drives took more effort than it was worth. The introduction of inexpensive external enclosures made swapping hard drives much easier than opening up the computer was, but enclosures can still be a hassle for those hard drives you only need quick access to files. Like recovering files when Windows won’t boot, or grabbing a single document or picture off of an old hard drive. Enter: the hard drive dock. Hard drive docks allow hard drives to be swapped quickly and easily, without screws or tools, making them ideal for those brief times you need to use an internal drive externally. Today we will be looking at Thermaltake’s BlacX SATA hard drive dock. Continue reading

I use my laptop as a primary computer, and have become quite accustomed to using a trackpad full-time. I don’t see myself as someone who would carry a mouse with them at all times unless it was more comfortable than using the trackpad, offered more controls, used Bluetooth (which my system supports), and took commonly available batteries or could charge over USB. From the looks of things, Verbatim’s Go Bluetooth should be a contender for space in my laptop bag if it’s comfortable to use for extended periods of time. Continue reading

Just a couple months after we reviewed the Jawbone II, Aliph released the Jawbone Prime. Among the improvements is NoiseAssassin 2.0 which is supposed to work better in windy environments than the Jawbone II’s NoiseAssassin. What exactly do these improvements mean for the consumer? Let’s find out! Continue reading

The Olympus E-620 is the newest camera body using the Four-Thirds standard for digital SLR cameras. It boasts a small form-factor but packs the functionality of larger SLR cameras by utilizing a smaller sensor, and more compact lenses packed with electronics. It’s a live-view camera with an impressive tilt-swivel LCD screen for hard-to-capture moments. The small size of the body and lenses will certainly appeal to those looking for the flexibility of an SLR system without having to haul the equivalent of a cinder block around their necks. Having never used a Four-Thirds camera system, I’m excited to see what this standard can offer in terms of performance and expandability as a platform. Continue reading

I use my laptop as a primary computer, and have become quite accustomed to using a trackpad full-time. It’s become a bit of a necessity, as I don’t feel like carrying a mouse with me. Newer offerings such as the Go Nano from Verbatim are designed to walk a line between being portable and comfortable platforms. In terms of mice, I’m a fan of large platforms that support my wrist with adequate height, so carrying one around has been out of the question. Because I use a Mac, I’ve found that the trackpad is more than adequate in terms of gestured input and overall feel. Until now, I had never seriously used a portable laptop mouse as some of my colleagues do. We’ll see if I can be convinced to carry one with me! Continue reading

GPS devices are becoming increasingly more common by the day whether you’re using it for turn by turn directions in your car, or for outdoor navigation. Today we’ll be taking a look at the PND-K3 with an MSN Direct subscription from Alpine USA. The device seems from first glance to be packed with features. Continue reading

Once upon a time, if you wanted a “ultra-light” laptop, you would have to spend close to $1500. However, times sure have changed. Now netbooks which are smaller and more powerful than yesteryear’s Ultra-lights can be commonly found in the $300 – $500 range. Today we are going to take a look at Lenovo’s S10 netbook to see just how it stacks up. Continue reading

My primary digital camera is a Fujifilm FinePix S9100. I purchased this a few years ago when a digital SLR camera system was out of out of my price range, but I wanted a capable live-view camera that didn’t feel like a toy in my hands and afforded me the flexibility of manual control. It should be noted that my primary camera of choice is a Canon F-1, circa 1980. Film photography and manual focus and exposure control are my friends, but I have recognized the need for a digital solution, as not everything in my life needs to be an artistic expression. The photographs for many of my reviews have been taken with the S9100 and a Canon Speedlight.

The 1500 in this review promises grown-up features for a small form-factor camera, in a lesser but similar way to my trusty 9100. Continue reading

IcyDock makes a series of hard drive docks, enclosures, and other related pro ducts. Most of these are very nice, sturdy products. The intended purpose of this Hard Drive Converter is to literally “convert” any 2.5” SATA laptop hard drive into a 3.5” desktop drive. Continue reading

Several months after Logitech launched several mobile mice featuring nano transceivers, Microsoft is finally fighting back by introducing the Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000 with a nano transceiver, which are ideal for use with laptops and netbooks due to the small size of the transceivers. Continue reading

While being a fairly new company, QNAP has quickly established a reputation in the industry for quality NAS products. While most of their NAS solutions tend to be for use in businesses, they also have several products geared towards the home user. Today we will be talking a look at the QNAP TS-119 Turbo, which is one such product. Continue reading

I love my MacBook Pro. It has the power to perform intensive computations, but has a slim and lightweight form factor that is unparalleled. The screen is gorgeous, and the keyboard and trackpad are very comfortable. Battery life is another story, and is the only sticking point I have with the platform. I can usually get 2-3 hours of light use out of it, but no more than an hour of photo editing or audio processing. HyperMac’s external battery line promises to solve that problem if you’re willing to tote around an external battery. Continue reading

While the quality of Microsoft software offerings is debatable, Microsoft’s hardware offerings are usually top notch. Today we are going to look at Microsoft’s newest wireless desktop set, the Wireless Desktop 3000. Upon first glance, the Wireless Desktop 3000 appears to be like most other Microsoft desktop sets. However, it is one of the first to include a BlueTrack mouse. Continue reading

Over the years, I’ve owned a number of WACOM tablets. It started with a relatively inexpensive Graphire 2 (small) USB tablet, and I still use it to this day. I take it to classes and use it as a lightweight note-taking tool, but its lack of extra features beyond pressure sensitivities keeps me from using it for extended Photoshop use. I have recently reviewed the Intuos 3, which offered a number of additional control surfaces alongside the tablet area. The Intuos 4 is the next progression in WACOM’s line, offering a number of advancements in its extraneous controls, and an upgrade to the main tablet sensitivity. Let’s take a look! Continue reading

As an iPhone user, I love the functionality, the convenience, the form factor, the App Store… but the battery life? not so much. I use my iPhone to death on a daily basis, and as such I have to charge it every day if not more than once. Fastmac was kind enough to send over the iV extended iPhone battery that should amend the iPhone’s most serious drawbacks. Continue reading

Logitech is constantly attempting to up the bar in terms of quality and features added for gaming keyboards. This one is no exception, not in the least bit, but comes with a steep price tag. When asked if I’d be willing to review Logitech’s new G19 keyboard I jumped at the opportunity. I was not too familiar with the keyboard; in fact the only feature I was aware of at that time was the inclusion of a color LCD display in the middle. But after researching the new features, I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on this baby! Continue reading

Kodak has recently limited its camera offerings to Point-and-Shoot digital cameras, and has presented its products as being easy to use. Their latest offering is the EasyShare Z915, and promises a large optical zoom in a relatively small body. The last Kodak product I used was positive slide film, so I went into this having never used an EasyShare camera before. Continue reading

A couple months ago, I reviewed BlueAnt’s V1 voice controlled Bluetooth headset and while the hardware end of the V1 was good, I found the voice interface to be rather useless. Today we will be taking a look at BlueAnt’s newest voice controlled headset, the Q1. While the specs are fairly similar to the V1, the Q1 sports a new look, a couple new features, and hopefully a much improved voice control interface. Continue reading

Big C makes a series o f high end digital microscopes for hobby or professional use. They call the standard microscope series “Dino-Lite”. There are many models available, with different resolutions, zoom levels, and functions; some are UV or IR, and there are models available with a metal shell instead of plastic. In this review I cover two microscopes, and an adjustable stand. Continue reading

I was curious to see just how much fun these things can be. I’ve seen them on thinkgeek, woot, and in numerous catalogues before and have always been curious. After putting it through a comprehensive characterization process, I think it might be on my Christmas list! Continue reading

I’m a fan of cloth mousepads. They’ve always held up for years, worked best with mechanical mice, and have never let me down. I have one mousepad signed by Leo Laporte and Patrick Norton (Honk if you remember TechTV) that I regularly use, and has not faded. I’ve since stopped using a mousepad with my ownership of optical and laser-based mice, but I still miss the ever-present rubber-backed cloth on my desk. The Zowie Gear Mousepad presents itself as a cloth mousepad that has caught up with the times. It’s waterproof, durable, large in size, and will present the hardwearing feel of cloth once more. Continue reading

When Other World Computing sent me the Voyager Q Hard Drive Dock, I had (and still do) some reservations about the safety of a having an internal hard drive running in such an open environment. The dock poses as a desktop solution to hot-pluggable, external storage at internal storage prices. We’ll be looking at its performance across the wide array of interfaces it offers, and its functionality as a whole. Continue reading

Watches have been around for centuries. Today, with the surge of portable electronics featuring timekeeping functions, is there still a need for a quality wristwatch? We will be looking at the Casio MTG-1000 from the G-Shock line to see if it is worth your time. Continue reading

The Microsoft Sidewinder X8 presents itself as Microsoft’s new flagship gaming mouse. Having been a Logitech user for years, I am eager to try the X8, and to see how the BlueTrack technology performs. Continue reading

RiData released a line of SSD drives called the Ultra-S Plus. This series of drives was announced at CES this year, (how did I miss that booth?) and they claim it is much faster than many of the other MLC drives available today. Continue reading

Having a great system is vital to gaming. However, having a great case to house all those components can be just as important to the LAN party scene. The weight, size, and construction of the case and even more important, the look, are the integral parts of a system that will be hauled around to LAN parties. Cooler Master’s recently launched Sniper computer chassis is part of the new CM Storm product line and was designed with these concerns in mind. Continue reading

With the introduction of the Original Jawbone, Aliph revolutionized the Bluetooth headset industry. Before the introduction of the Original Jawbone, little emphasis was placed on noise cancellation. The Original Jawbone was very successful but the only real problem was its size. Aliph claims the New Jawbone improves upon the Original Jawbone while being roughly half the size. Continue reading

Lately, external hard drive docks have become a popular accessory, specifically the open form factor ones that allow quick swapping of the media in the dock. The Kingwin EZ-Dock is a medium to low cost option with all of the features of the more expensive models. Continue reading

Bluetooth wireless mouse and keyboard combinations are becoming ever more popular for the average user primarily due to the lack of cords. However, due to the latency time required to transmit keystrokes and mouse movements/clicks these devices have been a tough sell for the hardcore or even casual gamer. There is also the worry about batteries running dry right in the middle of an important project with no replacements in sight.

These have personally been major fears of mine and the main reason why I’ve steered clear of wireless keyboards and mice (especially while gaming). But when asked whether or not I’d be interested in reviewing such a product, I figured I’d give it a chance. Continue reading

If you have ever researched cameras or photography on the Internet in the past few years, you have probably seen or heard of Joby’s Gorillapod. If you didn’t look much further into it though, you likely ignored it all, thinking “what could be so special about a tripod?” Well, before I actually got to try the product firsthand, I thought the same thing. Continue reading

Solid state drives, or SSDs are becoming ever more popular as their cost decreases and their capacity increases. These drives have many advantages over modern hard disk drives, however, their perceived high prices and slower speeds have prevented them from being adopted up to this point. The Cavalry Pelican SSD is one of these drives that is capable of effecting a swift and necessary reversal of this misconception. Continue reading

For the longest time, portable flash drives have been tied to the USB interface, despite faster interfaces for external devices being available. Perhaps this is because of the popularity and proven history of the USB interface. However, a small and rather unknown company by the name of Kanguru set out to change things up and introduced the eFlash, a flash drive which can be used with either USB or eSATA interfaces . Kanguru claims the drive is over twice as fast when using eSATA instead of USB 2.0 Continue reading

SATA docks are everywhere. Every company has their own version of essentially the same thing. But today we have something a little different, the Dual Hdd Dock from Cavalry. This drive can accommodate not only one, but two SATA drives at once, and connects them to your computer with the ubiquitous USB 2.0 interface. Continue reading

The Brother HL-2170W presents itself as an ideal printer for a family or small workgroup. The printer is packed with features such as an internal print server and wifi connectivity. I tested the HL-2170W alongside another (relatively) inexpensive laser printer from HP, the P1006. Continue reading

For some time now I’ve seen “retro” handsets offering the comfort of an analogue telephone for cell phones and computers. Some are wired with 3.5mm input and outputs, USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, or 2.5mm mobile phone plugs. YUBZ has sent MaximumCPU.net their YUBZ Talk (wired) and YUBZ Talk Bluetooth (wireless) handsets for review. Continue reading

ATP’s ToughDrive combines the utility of a regular USB Flash Drive with the durability of a rock. The drive claims to be rugged, waterproof, resistant to extreme, temperature, and shock proof. But in today’s world of Internet reviews and commentary, you can’t just slap a picture of a tank on the package and get away with it unless you have a serious product to offer. Continue reading

Anyone who’s had to keep the vast array of firewall, antivirus, and other security-related software up to date on a PC knows what a royal pain it can be. New versions, definition files, and an ever expanding array of malicious software (and even normal software) conspire to bring the whole house of cards down.

The Yoggie Gatekeeper Pico aims to simplify all these functions by taking them out of the system’s hands and onto a small USB device not much bigger than many flash drives. The device actually contains its own onboard processor, memory, and hardened linux system – in essence, it’s a small computer designed to sit between your computer and the wild frontier of public networks.

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The ATP Earth Drive is a “green” option in the realm of previously environmentally harmful computer accessories. It wasn’t too long ago that nearly every component of computers was fulled with toxins that could potentially hurt the planet if not disposed of properly. This USB flash drive compensates for these with a biodegradable PLA (a kind of plastic that can be made from corn) plastic casing, and a very small form factor. The components of the flash media are completely encapsulated, like one of the coin-sized flash drives or a micro SD card, so the flash drive is water and dust-proof, and it is resistant to some physical trauma. ATP also donates a portion of all EarthDrive sales to American Forests, which plants trees. Continue reading

Wacom is the single largest graphics editing tablet manufacturer, and is solely trusted by digital imaging professionals. Their latest offering in the Intuos line represents a balance between advanced tablet functionality and a reasonable price point. Their Bamboo products are targeted at an entry-level audience, picking up where the Graphire tablets left off. Between the Graphire and Cintiq (tablet integrated displays) categories lies the Intuos. The unit for review is a 6×8 inch model with the grip pen and mouse.

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Cooler Master has long been known for computer cases in the computer enthusiast world. Their cases offer impeccable styling without compromising functionality or cooling. Today, we take a look at one of Cooler Master’s flagship cases — the Cosmos S. Based on the design of the original Cosmos, the Cosmos S is constructed out of aluminum, rather than steel, and features improved cooling and other additions.

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The hawking home automation system is another option in the increasingly popular world of Internet-enabled home remote systems. One great thing about this system is that there is no required software to install. I did the entire setup process on a Linux computer with Firefox 3 and it worked great. This means that the Hawking HomeRemote Pro system will work with any computer, as long as it has a modern web browser and an Internet connection. There may possibly be issues with strongly firewalled home networks, or homes that do not have a router, but a conventional network setup will not cause any problems.

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BlueAnt’s newest headset, the V1, is a pretty unique Bluetooth headset. The feature set is almost exactly the same as BlueAnt’s z9i Bluetooth headset with one major difference. The V1 is the only Bluetooth headset I could find that allows the headset to almost completely be controlled by voice commands.

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USB flash drives have become amazingly cheap these days – much like the floppy disk of old (anyone remember those?), it’s become the default method for transferring data between computers. However, because of their small size and their prevalence, they are very often lost, stolen, or broken. Despite this, most people don’t give any thought to securing the data they store on them – we either assume we’ll always have them on our person or in our control. Even if we use disk encryption (such as PGP or TrueCrypt), that is much better suited for use on a single dedicated system as opposed to something you can use easily on multiple machines.

Enter the IronKey. While most USB drives do allow for, and work well with disk encryption, the IronKey is intended to be an answer to many portable security issues users might have. The IronKey protects against hostile networks, and includes utilities for storing passwords, and clean browsing software. In effect, the IronKey is your very own bastion of portable security, meant to survive whatever you throw at it and keep your data out of prying hands without too much interference.

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When asked what first comes to mind when one hears the name “Microsoft,” one’s first thought is often of their operating system or software, and rarely “an excellent piece of hardware”. However, Microsoft does still have some often overlooked areas of expertise. Today we will be taking a look at Microsoft’s newest keyboard and mouse combo, the Wireless Laser Desktop 6000.

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I have had mixed results with Bluetooth headsets. My biggest complaint has always been that the microphones picked up all but the quietest of background noises. The z9i from BlueAnt claims to reduce the amount of background noise that is transmitted. To complete this task, the z9i uses a combination of two microphones and BlueAnt’s Voice Isolation Technology. Sounds good in theory but does the z9i live up to BlueAnt’s claims?

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The computer mouse has evolved greatly over the years. First there was the mechanical mouse, then the optical mouse, followed by the laser mouse. Well the mouse has once again evolved with the introduction of Microsoft’s Explorer Mouse with BlueTrack technology. BlueTrack is billed as the ultimate mouse tracking technology because it can be used on surfaces that optical and laser mice could not handle. Is this in fact the case or is it all a bunch of hot air?

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Laws requiring cell phones to be used in conjunction with a hands free device while driving are becoming increasingly popular, so many people are forced to use a Bluetooth device or similar. However, Bluetooth headsets are not for everyone. The BlueAnt Supertooth 3 fits into this niche perfectly. This Bluetooth car kit can be clipped to the visor or mounted any number of other places, so those who prefer not to have a headset on their ear can still enjoy it.

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Kolobags (based in LA, California) produces and sells many different styles of designer laptop bags. While many of the upper end bags they sell may be expensive, they do have bags for every price range, and all of them are very unique. The bag I got to review was the Shoreline Greensmart Laptop Jacket 15.4”, in black and green.

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Product: Kingston 2GB DataTraveler Secure – Privacy Edition
MSRP: $133.00
Supplier: Kingston
Author: Clint
Date: 1/26/2007

Security is an ever increasing concern for both small and large companies as well as consumers. It seems like we cannot go a day without hearing about a new security breach or someone’s identity being stolen. Flash drives can be extremely convenient and boost productivity. However… Continue reading

Product: Kingston 1GB U3 DataTraveler
Supplier: Kingston
MSRP: $27.00
Author: Clint
Date: 1/17/07

USB flash drives have been around for quite some time now. However, up until recently, there really wasn’t an easy way to install software to your flash drive so it was truly portable. Many programs require registry keys to work correctly or store their info in variety of different locations. This is… Continue reading

Product: ICY DOCK MB722 Internal SATA Hard Drive Enclosure
MSRP: $48.99
Supplier: ICY DOCK
Author: Nick
Date: August 21, 2006

A little while ago we took a look at the ICY DOCK MB122, which was an excellent product.  Today we take a look at the ICY DOCK MB722, which contains many of the features of the MB122 plus a few extra.

Packaging:

The packaging of… Continue reading

Product: ICY DOCK MB122 Internal SATA Hard Drive Enclosure
MSRP: $50
Supplier: ICY DOCK
Author: Nick
Date:

Internal hard drive enclosures are a must-have for anyone who frequently swaps out hard drive or requires hot-swappable hard drives.  They also allow for added storage capacity when all of the 3.5” bays in a case are used.  Today we are going to take a look at ICY… Continue reading

Product: VIZO Paragon 2.5” External Hard Drive Enclosure
MSRP: $30 – $40
Supplier: VIZO
Author: Sam
Date:August 9, 2006

Let’s face it; hard drive enclosures represent one sector of the computer industry in which innovative products are few and far between. The Vizo Paragon 2.5” HDD enclosure is not one of those products, but it looks nice and is manufactured to the highest quality standards.

Packaging… Continue reading

Product: Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000
MSRP: $64.99     Find Lowest Price @ PriceGrabber
Supplier: Microsoft
Author: Nick
Date: July 7, 2006

For several years now, Microsoft has successfully established its name in the peripheral industry.  However, most of their keyboards and mice are not targeted towards gamers.  Today we will take a look at Microsoft’s Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000.  This keyboard is… Continue reading

Product: Bluetake iPhono Plus Bluetooth Headset
MSRP: $100
Supplier: Bluetake
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)
Date: May 25, 2006

Bluetake has put themselves out for making fine Bluetooth products, and they continue to expand their line with the iPhono. Previous wireless headphones have been plagued with the same problems of early wireless keyboards: low battery life, poor quality, and signal issues. Bluetake’s iPhono Plus is the… Continue reading

Product: Logitech G15 Keyboard
MSRP: $100    Find Lowest Price @ PriceGrabber
Supplier: Logitech
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)
Date: 5/11/06

You’ve probably heard, or at least seen this keyboard before—it’s hard to miss. Coming from the well established Logitech, this board is their top-of-the-line peripheral targeted to the gamer with everything. With features that include an LCD display and eighteen extra macro… Continue reading

Product: Cooler Master Centurion 534
MSRP: $65
Supplier: Cooler Master
Author: Nick
Date: May 1, 2006

For the last couple of years, the Centurion line of cases has offered a great deal of bang for the buck.  The Centurion 5 is one of the few cases below $50 that offer most of the features that many of the $100+ cases offer.  Cooler Master recently released… Continue reading

Product: TG3 Deck Legend Keyboard
MSRP: $150
Supplier: TG3 Electronics
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)
Date: April 29, 2006

Sure glowing keyboards are great to look at, but it means nothing if they can’t perform. Since users spend far more time on the keyboard than the mouse, quality is a must. Having the right board can not only affect your words per minute or frag-rate… Continue reading

Product: Thermalright HR-01 Heatpipe with Optional Fan Duct
MSRP: Heatpipe – $49.95, Fan Duct – $7
Supplier: Thermalright
Author: Dan (Tytanium)

Thermalright has an excellent track record of air cooling products. Beginning with the SLK-948 and 947U for AMD Socket A and Intel Socket 478, made out of solid copper, they established a large fan base in the enthusiast market, competing against the high… Continue reading

Product: Cooler Master Ammo 533
MSRP: $74.99
Supplier: Cooler Master
Author: Nick

Over the years, Cooler Master has released several cases that were well received by computers enthusiasts every where.  Their cases have been both innovative and unique.  Today we will look at Cooler Master’s Ammo 533 case, which will hopefully be no exception.

Specifications:

Dimensions
(L)485 x (W)215 x… Continue reading

Product: Steelpad
MSRP: $39.99
Supplier: Soft Trading
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)

A quality mouse pad is a wonderful thing. It improves your mouse abilities, lessens the strain on your wrists, and looks hardcore when you take it to a LAN. Pair this with a gaming mouse, and you can see a real difference in your gaming performance. Today we have the Steelpad S&S, the latest… Continue reading

Product: Func Industries sUrface1030 Archetype
MSRP: $24.99
Supplier: Func Industries
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)
The original sUrface1030 put Func Industries on the map, providing a quality surface superior to the competition. With the addition of the sUrface1030 Archetype to its arsenal, Func hopes to provide an even better surface for all to experience. At 30 dollars it provides two surfaces, loads of extras, and 20% more… Continue reading

Product: Razer Copperhead Gaming Mouse
MSRP: $79.99
Supplier: Razer
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)

Razer has safely established their reputation with gamers from the beginning. From the Boomslang with a ball mechanism, to the recent Diamondback, Razer’s products have set standards in performance and quality. Now, jumping into a new technology, Razer will have to establish itself as a power player with laser mice. Logitech has… Continue reading

Product: BLUETAKE BT510 Bluetooth Mouse and BT009Si Bluetooth USB Adapter
MSRP: $54 for the mouse and $29 for the USB adapter
Supplier: BLUETAKE
Author: Bill (tomalakborg)

Introduction-

For the mobile computer user, nothing is worse than bringing cables into your wireless world. A wireless mouse is an ideal accessory for those computing on the road. Bluetake’s BT510 promises to be a… Continue reading