Last week Plextor made things a bit easier for HD movie buffs lacking a Blu-ray drive on their laptops with their new PX-B120U external Blu-ray/DVD/CD drive. Now it’s not the most compact external optical drive on the market, and the top-load design makes it look like a relic from the 90’s, but what sets this drive apart is the fact that it can be powered by a single USB connection. So if you intend to use it when traveling, you can leave the AC adapter at home.

The drive comes bundled with Cyberlink’s Blu-ray and DVD software, and since the decoding is handled by your computer, you’ll need to ensure you have a system capable of HD playback before being able to enjoy Blu-ray content. It also has a reasonable MSRP of just $99.99, and can be used in conjunction with the company’s upcoming PlexMedia media player, turning it into a home theater Blu-ray player as well.

[ PR - Plextor Announces the New PX-B120U USB-Powered External BD ROM ] VIA [ GadgetReview ]

Like concerts, rhythm games such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band are best enjoyed with a group of people, so if you often find yourself traveling to a friends house with your faux guitar in tow, this collapsible alternative from NEXiLUX should help you look a bit less conspicuous enroute. The neck collapses into itself but also breaks away from the body leaving you with 2 pieces that should be pretty easy to stash in a backpack, and it looks like it provides all the functionality of the guitars included with either game, including a touch sensitive strip on the neck for use with Guitar Hero World Tour. It’s also compatible with the Wii and the PS3/PS2 though for some reason not the Xbox 360. ~$60-70, though I’m having a hard time find a retailer who still has them in stock which tells me it’s either really popular or really crappy.

[ NEXiLUX Portable Gaming Guitar ] VIA [ DCEmu ]

It’s hard for even IT professionals to get excited about a wireless router, since arguably they all tend to offer similar functionality. You plug in your modem, configure a few security settings, and you can then enjoy the internet without any wires. But believe it or not, Cisco’s Linksys E-Series and Valet wireless routers, which are now available in Canada, have a lot to get excited about, particularly if you serve as your family’s primary source of tech support. Both the Linksys and Valet routers provide the same level of configurability you’re used to, but thanks to the included Cisco Connect software, even consumers without a background in IT should have no trouble setting them up or connecting their PCs.

In fact the Valet routers in particular are designed to be as consumer-friendly as possible. They don’t even feature the term ‘router’ anywhere on the packaging, and come with an Easy Setup USB flash drive that makes configuring the router and your PCs almost as easy as plug-and-play. But besides ease-of-use, both routers also offer some unique consumer oriented features I really like such as the ability to setup up a guest network with a unique password and custom limitations (time limits, blocking nefarious sites etc.) so visiting friends don’t have access to your primary network. I’ll actually be posting a review of a couple of these new routers next week (hopefully) so stay tuned if you’re in the market for a new one, since they’re definitely worth considering from what I’ve seen.

[ Cisco Valet & Linksys E-Series Routers ]

Canadian pricing details and additional product information is included after the jump for my peers ‘up north.’

Cisco Valet Pricing and Availability

Linksys AE1000 High-Performance Wireless-N USB Adapter (MSRP: $59.99)
* Provides Wireless-N capability to Windows desktop computers and laptops
* Selectable dual-band wireless-N,connects to either a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wireless network
* Includes USB extension cable and adapter base for improved wireless connectivity – ideal for hard-to-reach USB ports
* Helps avoid wireless freeloaders and Internet threats using customizable security settings, including WPA/WPA2 Personal and WPA/WPA2 Enterprise.

This post is syndicated with permission from GamerFront.net

When it comes to your PC, looks aren’t everything. I believe the old phrase is “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Despite this, most gamers like to have a case that can turn heads, or at least cock a few eyebrows. Well that was exactly what case maker NZXT was going for when designing their latest chassis, dubbed the Phantom.

It’s easy to look at pictures of a new case and tell that it’s going to look pretty good. But honestly you just never know if it’s going to stack up when the box shows up at your door. Or maybe it looks good, but the materials used are flimsy and the inside is poorly designed. Well you needn’t worry here, as we were fortunate enough to have one of these land on our doorstep not too long ago, and we’ve had a chance to look it over, install components and use it as a primary case for a bit. So does it stack up? Keep reading for our verdict.

First Glance

When your friends walk into the room that houses your computer for the first time, chances are it’s the first thing the look at. Usually the case speaks volumes about the person’s computing habits, and of what lies within. The Phantom is not a flashy case by any means. You won’t find a lot of unnecessary lights, windows or trim here. Rather, it has a sleek shine and interesting angles. You will see one soft blue light coming from the top, but it isn’t overbearing. It can even be turned off by pressing an easily-accessible button located on the rear of the case. Single blue LEDs are also seen for the power, hard drive status and fan control.

The case is also massive. It stands at roughly 24.5in x 8.7in x 21.2in. (LxWxH). So you know just from looking at it that there is room for pretty much anything you’d want to pack in there. Overall, I’d say that the case doesn’t cry out “look at me, look at me!” Instead, it draws you in with its sleek design and begs you to look under the hood.

Closer Look

On the top of the case you will find your usual power and reset buttons mounted flush. Behind them are a series of connectors, including two USB ports, an eSATA port and two audio jacks. You’ll also find five slider switches, each marked by a symbol and a blue LED. The sliders allow you to adjust the speed of the 5 included fans. The symbols of course tell you which slider goes to the right fan.

There’s not a lot to see on the bottom, except for a set of long, rubber-coated feet to keep the machine stable, and a vent for your power supply. The front has a door that opens to reveal five external drive bays. You can see that the mesh plates covering each of these can be easily removed, as they are held in place with a slider-latch. One finger is all it takes to remove them.

Inside you will see the fans mentioned above. On top is a large 200mm, which features a set of four soft blue LEDs. The front of the case houses a 140mm, while the rear is a 120mm. Two more 120mm fans are located on the side panel, which are situated directly over the drive bays. Speaking of drive bays, you will see the 5 external 5.25” bays and 7 internal 3.5” ones, which can be made to accommodate 2.5” SSDs.

Also seen on the inside are several holes used for cable management. These are covered with rubber flaps that will hold your cables in place without simply looking like large gaping holes in the case. There is, however, a large open rectangle where the CPU portion of the motherboard will sit. This is to make changing out CPU brackets a breeze, as you will not be required to remove the entire motherboard to do so.

Installation

If you purchase a good case, it should be able to outlast the hardware that goes in it. This means that you’ll want the installation and removal of parts to go as smoothly as possible. The case is mostly a screwless design, it should be a snap to swap out components.

Surprisingly, this case is probably the easiest I’ve ever worked with when it comes to installation. Part of this is due to the sheer size of the case. You have about 14” x 16” x 8” (LxHxD) of open space to work with. There is plenty of room for your hands to fit in there while trying to run cables and position hardware. Even with an extra-long graphics card there was still space to spare.

The screwless design of the optical bays is the best I’ve ever used. The entire process of removing the front plate, inserting the drive and securing it takes about 5 seconds. The front plate is held in place by a slider latch, which is removed without the need to take off the entire front of the case. Inside there is a clip which you pull back while inserting the drive, and push back into place to secure the drive. That part is a little hard to describe, so I’ve included the promotional video from NZXT below. It will give you a better idea of how easy the installation is. (Optical drive installation is at around the 56 second mark.)

The hard drives are almost as easy to install. Each sits on a bracket plate, which snaps to the drive without the need for any screws at all. Slide the drive into the desired location and you’re finished. You’ll still need screws for the motherboard, power supply and graphics card, though the last two use thumbscrews, so you’ll still not have to mess with any tools for them.

I’m a stickler for cable management, and once again this case didn’t disappoint. The open space and included cable management holes made things a breeze. One surprise I hadn’t anticipated was actually behind the other side panel. They actually gave you extra space back there to accommodate any cables you might be running. Usually it’s a strain to get the main 24-pin motherboard connecter to run through cable management holes on other cases. (Yes, I’m that anal about running cables inside of a case.) However there was no trouble whatsoever with the Phantom. There’s an inch of extra space, so there was no difficulty when trying to put the side panel back on.

Final Thoughts

The Phantom has it everywhere that counts. It’s sleek design is attractive without being overbearing. Installing components is a quick and painless task, and the solid steel construction ensures that this case is going to last much longer than the parts you put in it. Unless you have a limited amount of space to put your computer, this case is not going to disappoint.

You can pick from three different color schemes, which are black, red and white. The mesh grills located on the top and sides are all going to be black, regardless of what color you pick for the rest of the case. Ours was solid black, which is usually what I prefer in a case. It does look great, but I think the contrast of red/black and white/black will really make it stand out (in a very good way).

The last thing I’ll touch on is the price. The Phantom will set you back $140 when it launches in September. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a full-tower case of this quality for a price like that. Whether you have a lot of hardware to install, or just like having that extra room inside, this is going to be the perfect case for you.

[ NZXT ] VIA [ GamerFront ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Still sitting on the fence about e-readers? It’s an understandable position to be in, as there are a number of pros and cons for the devices. However, if price has been stopping you from getting a Kindle, then you might be ready to take that leap. Amazon has announced the latest in their lineup, which is smaller and cheaper.

The new Wi-Fi only model is 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than its predecessor. In addition to having a new body, the device even has an updated e-ink screen, which boasts better contrast fore easier reading. Of course the best feature is no doubt the $139 price. If you’ve been holding out for a better deal, you won’t do much better than this.

[ Amazon ] VIA [ Ars ]

I’m all for taking care of one’s toys, but even I have to wonder if these MouseGuards from Moshi are a bit overkill. They’re a form-fitting thin film that not only protects the surface of the mouse from everyday wear and tear, but they also apparently have a bit more texture than the Magic Mouse’s glossy surface, providing more of a tactile feel. With a price tag of $69 Apple’s mouse is definitely something you don’t want to have to replace often, but I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you’re willing to spend an extra $15 for a MouseGuard to keep it looking as good as new.

[ Moshi MouseGuards ] VIA [ The Gadgeteer ]

If you don’t have the skills to build your own Mini Weapons Of Mass Destruction, the Rubber Bandit Pen will at least give you a fighting chance when the next office supply war erupts. For the most part it looks like your standard ballpoint pen, but a set of strategically placed notches on the tip and retract/extend button lets you easily load and fire elastics. And I’m sure you’ll soon be seeing it next to peanut butter on the list of things your child isn’t allowed to bring to school anymore. $4.99 from Perpetual Kid.

[ Rubber Bandit Pen ]

I can’t attest to the sound quality of these Panasonic RP-HJE 130 earbuds, but even I’ll admit that this brilliant packaging, designed by Berlin-based Scholz & Friends, would make them hard to pass up. It’s another case where a simple visual idea can outdo even the most elaborately designed graphics, and the fact that they’ve incorporated and displayed the actual product is worth a couple of bonus points as well.

[ COLORIBUS - Panasonic Earphones: The Earphones Note ] VIA [ Scary Ideas ]

In case you’ve started a collection, in addition to the Yoda, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and C-3PO ‘Back Buddy’ backpacks that are all currently available, you’ll soon be able to add the pawn of the Star Wars universe to your wearable posse. The Stormtrooper Back Buddy is now available for pre-order from Urban Collector for $36.99, though you’ll have to wait until October for it to arrive. But it should be just in time for it to serve as the laziest Hallowe’en costume ever.

[ Urban Collector - Star Wars Stormtrooper Back Buddy ] VIA [ Fashionably Geek ]

As if a claw hammer wasn’t already enough of a multi-tasker with its ability to drive in and rip out nails, the Wise Hammer takes things one step further with a stud sensor built into the base of the handle. A simple green LED lets you know when a stud is detected, and a small marking nub allows you to mark its location on the wall so you know exactly where to drive your nail. $29.99 available on the Wise Hammer website.

[ Wise Hammer ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]