If you find yourself running low on cash but still need a desktop computer for your home or office, the Dell Inspiron “S” series will fit the bill. We recently took a close look at the Dell Inspiron I530S-119B, a system that retains the “S” series’ slimline chassis and a …
Continue reading about In the land of far-reaching layoffs, the budget desktop is king
Do not attempt to adjust your monitor: yes, the eMachines you see to the left of this copy is just as boring as it appears. It’s a budget system that costs $380, so we’re not expecting world-class design, but eMachines doesn’t even make it pretty on the …
Continue reading about eMachines budget desktop airs some stank
(Credit: Clickfree)Forget about annoying drag-and-drop data backups and scheduled timers–the Clickfree Portable Backup Drive makes it so easy that it might convince you to start dual-saving your files. All the software you need is actually preloaded onto the drive and starts up automatically when you plug it in. From …
Continue reading about Clickfree portable drive cinches up data backup
Brace yourself for a cute overload. Hello Kitty, purveyors of all things pink and pretty, now offers this ultrathin keyboard for your typing pleasure.
I probably wouldn’t think this product worthy of a blog post if I didn’t personally know a handful of adult women who will squeal …
Continue reading about Hello Kitty keyboard costs $106; yatta! not included
Revolving dork (no really–revolving dork) Chris Maguire harbors such an intense love for the original Super Mario Land and his Asus Eee PC that he did what any of us would do: he laser-etched the entire game (as it appeared on the original Game Boy) onto the lid of the Netbook!
We’re not sure what safety precautions Mr. Maguire took before the surgery to ensure the safety of the Eee PC, but the end result is flawless. The laser cutter, courtesy of NYC Resistor in Brooklyn, rigged up the final artwork to show all the levels cascading on top of each other in several layers.
Chris provides the Mario Land etching pattern here, but recommends you try to make one yourself and set the laser in “raster mode at 70 percent speed and 40 percent power to achieve this look.”
More pictures of Chris’s masterpiece after the break.
…
Continue reading about Dork throws Netbook in front of moving laser, lives to take pictures
This iShelf design by Li Jianye takes the iTunes Cover Flow idea and brings it to real life. Think about it too hard and you might notice its small inadequacies (it can only hold five jewel cases and doesn’t rotate), but it’s the cleverly ironic idea that counts, right? Plus, you can put it on your shelf and brag to your Mac friends that you don’t need the PC version of iTunes to make you happy. The iShelf is currently still in the prototype stages of design and might never see the light of day.
More pics after the jump.
…
Continue reading about Li Jianye’s design brings Cover Flow to life
Kiss your blistered fingers and headaches goodbye–tangled cords are a problem of the past as long as you use Flexicords. If you’re someone who sets up and breaks down your television, home theater kit, laptop, or desktop computer, Flexicords’ coiled design eliminates the need to measure exactly how much cable you’ll need to hook up your gear.
The cables come curly and extend out up to 10 feet, ensuring that you have just enough slack without any excess clutter.
Flexicord offers cables for just about any application, including USB, phono jacks, S-video, networking cables, and HDMI. Once extended, the coils retain their shape thanks to a thick pipe cleaner that bends alongside the cable itself.
Finally, each wire comes with its own “recoiling tool,” aka an inanimate plastic rod that helps you coil it back up. Prices vary depending on size and maximum length, but they all generally cost around $20, with the exception of the 10-foot HDMI cable that goes for $34.
More pictures after the jump!
…
Continue reading about Flexicord cables take rattlesnake approach
These tangle-free LaCie Flat Cables must work because they managed to slip by our sticky fingers at the time of their release back in early December ‘08. LaCie makes these multicolored neon cords in a variety of interfaces, including:
- USB A to B
- USB A to Mini B
- USB A male to A female
- FireWire 400 to FireWire 400
- FireWire 400 to FireWire 800
- FireWire 800 to FireWire 800
- eSATA to eSATA
A French design firm enlisted by LaCie came up with the flat strip shape that neatly folds into a coil to prevent tangles. The Flat Cables also come with 24 labels so you’ll never wonder what plug goes with a particular device again.
As always, though, design innovation and pretty colors (see: Apple) come at a premium: would you pay 10 dollars each for these cables? Sound off in the comments section!
More pictures after the jump.
…
(Credit: USB Geek)I just can’t get behind the concept of waterproof gadgets. An iPod Shuffle that you can submerge is kinda cool, but you still need waterproof headphones. Maybe you can use it in the shower with these speakers. But do you really need a waterproof mouse?
Your wallet says no, but USB Geek says yes. This five-button USB optical mouse is made with sealed silicone, making it completely waterproof. Despite how uncomfortable you feel about mixing water and lasers, USB Geek claims the optical sensor maintains precision on any surface. So in case you misplace your waterproof mouse pad, feel free to use that sea turtle’s shell next time you’re scuba diving and simply must check out what’s new on CNET.
The mouse will also come in handy if you suffer from hyperhidrosis, no sweat. More pics after the jump.
…
Continue reading about Waterproof mouse soaks up serious sweat
Keyboards don’t typically get the attention that they deserve, but perhaps they should. According to Smartfish Technologies and a recent study by the US Department of Labor, over 28 million Americans suffer from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome or some other repetitive stress injury due to repeated use of computer keyboards. …
Originally posted at CES 2009
Continue reading about Smartfish moving keyboard leads the fight against Carpal Tunnel