Netbook Accessories, Gadgets, Other Stuff

Novatel Wireless 2352 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot

On 29 January 2010 1 Comment

It’s easy enough for one device to get online via 3G, but about when there are two or three? That’s the problem that gadgets like the Novatel Wireless 2352 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot are designed to solve. In short, the Novatel Wireless 2352 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is a battery-powered 3G modem that other devices connect to via Wi-Fi — which makes it ideal for areas where there’s no

Seagate Replica portable backup drive

On 25 September 2009

Backups may be boring, but an up-to-date copy of your laptop’s hard disk can be a real asset if something goes wrong with the original. Even if you’re not too bothered about losing your documents, it’s quicker to restore a system from a back-up than it is to reinstall Windows and all your applications — and that’s assuming you still have access to all the original install CDs. The

Sony PRS-505 Reader

On 23 September 2008 3 Comments

Electronic books (or electronic book readers, to be pedantic) with displays indistinguishable from the printed page have long been a pipe dream, but technology is now at the point where such gadgets are not only possible, but also affordable. Sony first dabbled with the e-ink screens necessary for such a device back in 2004, with the Japan-only LIBRIe, and then launched the much improved PRS-500 Reader

Celio Redfly Mobile Companion C8

On 13 August 2008

If you’re on the lookout for a small, light, inexpensive laptop and are happy to sacrifice a few non-essential features for the sake of portability, then you certainly have plenty of choice at the moment. New netbooks are appearing on a regular basis, which means that even if there aren’t any models that take your fancy at the moment, there’s bound to be something to catch your eye

Asus Xonar U1 USB Audio Station

On 04 August 2008

If a review of the Asus Xonar U1 USB Audio Station isn’t quite what you expected to see after searching for “big knobs for laptops”, then we’re sorry to have misled you with this Google-baiting sentence. The Xonar is indeed a big knob for laptops, but it’s one that plugs into a USB port to upgrade its onboard audio, rather than, er, any other kind for purposes we can’t

Creative Vado Pocket Video Cam

On 02 July 2008 3 Comments

Clearly looking to cash in on the craze for the Flip in the US, Creative’s take on the pocket-size digital video camera is essentially a carbon copy of its equally low-cost counterpart. With a resolution of a mere 640 x 480, the Creative Vado won’t be winning any awards for picture quality, but like the Flip, this isn’t a video camera for budding film-makers. The idea is that the

Apple Time Capsule

On 30 June 2008

Spending time making something you hope you’ll never need is a pretty pointless activity, which is probably why so few people bother backing up their computer. Dedicating time each day or week solely to copying files from one computer to another is indeed a chore, but it’s also an unnecessary one – as evidenced by the wholly automatic (not to mention wireless) operation of the Apple

Prop-Forward laptop stand

On 23 June 2008 1 Comment

An external mouse and keyboard can work ergonomic wonders for a desk-bound laptop, but you’ll still be left looking down at the screen. If you’d like to avoid a stiff neck, one solution is a laptop stand, but while most simply angle the laptop just a little and leave it hogging valuable desk space, the Prop-Forward takes a different tack altogether. It might be little more than a bent

Canon PowerShot A590 IS

On 04 June 2008 1 Comment

Why is it that nearly all cameras designed for photography enthusiasts are bulky and expensive? There are surprisingly few compact cameras that include full manual controls and even fewer still that cost under £150. The A590 IS is one those few. While Canon’s Ixus range gets all the groupies, the PowerShots are designed to appeal to people who care more about the look of their photos than

Vodafone Mobile Connect & T-Mobile USB Stick III 7.2Mbit/s mobile broadband modems

On 23 April 2008 5 Comments

It’s only been a couple of weeks since we last looked at mobile broadband deals , but a few providers have already changed their tariffs in the meantime. O2 has finally introduced two consumer-friendly deals (more details in the original feature), and both Vodafone and T-Mobile have rolled out new modems in readiness for their 7.2Mbit s HSDPA services. So, we’ve taken a look at both. The tariffs