Peripherals Reviews

Clickfree C2 227 (250GB)

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:13:20 GMT

This backup drive and its bundled software are both supremely easy to use. It's a superb backup solution if you're willing to pay the high cost per gigabyte.

Logitech Z520

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:27:14 GMT

This two-piece speaker set delivers airy sound and cut-above audio quality for basic desktop-bound music listening and movie watching, but we'd look for them on sale.

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:21:58 GMT

Some of the Pulse Smartpen’s newest features are a bit underdeveloped, but this digital note-taking device is still by far the best we've ever seen.

Interead Cool-er

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:25:59 GMT

This e-book reader's Apple-like design and colorful shell can't save it from feeling flimsy for a $250 device. It supports PDFs, but not as well as Foxit's eSlick does.

Foxit eSlick

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:51:49 GMT

Foxit's eSlick handles PDFs better than any other e-book reader, but it's missing many features found on competing readers. Sony's and Amazon's devices are better values.

Sony PRS-700BC Reader Digital Book

Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:43:24 GMT

Sony's touch-screen e-book reader is good with PDFs and simple to navigate, but its screen is hard to read in direct sunlight. At $299, Amazon's Kindle 2 remains a slightly better deal for don't need native PDF support.

Amazon Kindle 2

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:24:12 GMT

With a recent price drop to $299, the Kindle 2 is a smart e-book choice for those who prefer wireless access to books and periodicals over PDF support. But despite its 2GB of internal storage, we still wish it had an SD-card slot.

Adesso Wireless SlimTouch Ergo Keyboard (WKB-4100UB)

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:22:29 GMT

Good for mouse-free Windows Media Center use, this wireless PC keyboard has a built-in touch pad and lots of hotkeys. But we'd wait for it to go on sale.

Amazon Kindle DX

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:39:20 GMT

The Kindle DX's 9.7-inch screen offers the best reading experience on an e-book device yet, but hardware-design issues persist, and its PDF support is far from perfect.

Clickfree Traveler (32GB)

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:46:55 GMT

The handsome, credit-card-size Clickfree Traveler offers the easiest file-backup solution we’ve ever seen. It's best for those trafficking in small data files.

BenQ Joybee GP1 Mini Projector

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:04:04 GMT

The Joybee GP1’s small size and bulb-free LED lamp make it a wow-inducing projector. But a big power brick, a too-short video cable, and problems with video playback via USB keep it just shy of greatness.

SanDisk Ultra Backup (32GB)

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:35:00 GMT

With its backup button and slick software, SanDisk's premium-price USB flash drive is handy for protecting your data.

Microsoft SideWinder X8 Mouse

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:19:27 GMT

This highly programmable gaming mouse gets it almost all right—which it needs to, considering the high price.

Altec Lansing Expressionist Classic (FX2020)

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:29:28 GMT

The Altec Lansing Expressionist Classic PC speakers pump out adequate sound, but their real appeal centers on their design.

Logitech G13 Advanced Gameboard

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:42:58 GMT

The Logitech G13 is an extremely comfortable, very customizable gaming keyboard, though its function and price lend appeal to a very niche market of gamers.

Kodak EasyShare W1020 Digital Picture Frame

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:43:56 GMT

On paper, the W1020’s features are impressive, but actually using features other than simple slide shows isn’t all that intuitive. Navigating the device with the Quick Touch Border controls isn’t fun. And the frame’s 16-to-9 aspect ratio is fine for video content but not great for photos.

Microsoft Explorer Mouse

Thu, 29 Jan 2009 03:43:11 GMT

Microsoft's new BlueTrack-based Explorer Mouse allows for excellent control on every kind of desk—and almost everywhere else.

Nvidia GeForce 3D Vision

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 22:46:02 GMT

Nvidia's GeForce 3D Vision makes your 3D games look truly cinematic with astonishingly little setup, but you'll have to purchase a cutting-edge monitor.

Patriot Xporter XT Boost

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:47:05 GMT

With well-above-average read and write speeds and a rock-bottom cost per gigabyte, Patriot’s Xporter XT Boost is a great flash drive, particularly for those seeking capacities higher than 8GB.

NEC NP61

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:38:11 GMT

For the technically challenged, there’s no easier projector to use than the light, bright NEC NP61.