Archive for the "Gift Guide - Peripherals/Accessories" Category
by Greg Kumparak on December 21, 2008

Short version: Don’t buy it at the MSRP of 70 bucks, but for around $40 bucks around the internets, it’s a great alternative to Apple’s own dock. You lose the audio line-out, but you gain an extra USB 2.0 port and a 6-in-1 card reader.

by John Biggs on December 19, 2008

Welcome to CrunchGear’s Gala Best of 2008 Awards featuring the Best Gear, Gadgets, and Software of 2008. Best of all, we tallied your responses and collated them in the People’s Choice awards. Now that I’m wearing my tux, let’s get right to the awards.

Review: Official PS3 Bluetooth Headset
31 Comments
by Arun Venkatesan on December 16, 2008

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This is the Official PS3 Bluetooth headset that was released with SOCOM: Confrontation earlier this fall. It is made specifically for the PS3 but also works on any other Bluetooth device. Voice quality is great and battery life, build quality and ease of use are good, making this a formidable headset. Click on for the entire review.

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Review: Microsoft Bluetrack mini
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by Devin Coldewey on December 15, 2008

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I’ll keep this short, since the mouse is small. Not as small as this one, but small nonetheless. Check out what’s nice and what’s not about this little traveller.

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Review: Samsung CLP-315 color laser printer
17 Comments
by John Biggs on December 12, 2008

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Ask any geek of a certain age and predilection what they dreamt of back in high school and they’ll say, in order, a date to the prom and a color laser printer. Now that everyone with $100 and a pulse can get a fairly nice inkjet printer, Samsung is offering the CLP-315, a $184 color laser printer that is about as big as a standard all-in-one printer but with the added benefit of printing at high speeds and in vibrant color.

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Review: Targus USB Hub for Mac
2 Comments
by Peter Ha on December 12, 2008

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Yeah, I know, it’s a USB hub. But this little guy from Targus is pretty neat. It’s geared towards the Mac crowd with its color scheme, but that shouldn’t deter Windows or Linux folk.
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Review: Logitech QuickCam Vision Pro
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by John Biggs on December 10, 2008

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Quick Version: The QuickCam Vision Pro from Logitech is perhaps the easiest-to-use webcam I have seen in a while. There is no software required to run it, so you simply plug it in via the 6-ft USB cable, and you’re good to go. It works automatically with MSN Messenger, Yahoo, Skype, and other applications.
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Review: Xbox 360 VGA HD AV cable, Viewsonic VX2240w LCD monitor
10 Comments
by Peter Ha on December 10, 2008

I know, I know. The VGA HD AV cable has been out for three years, but I was in between TVs and only had a monitor to game on. I’ll keep this review short and sweet.
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Review: Logitech Illuminated Keyboard
2 Comments
by Rick Barr on December 10, 2008

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Quick Version: The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard sports a sleek design combined with a number of functional enhancements that make it a cut above most others. While the illuminated keys are the main feature, the first thing you’ll notice upon removing it from the box is how extremely slim the keyboard is. It’s a good 75% slimmer than your traditional keyboard, and has a modern shape and style to it that will make it nice to look at and to use.

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Review: Fastmac TruePower U-Charge universal charger
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by Peter Ha on December 9, 2008

If you have multiple batteries for your (post-1997) Apple laptop and prefer not to tote around multiple power adapters then Fastmac may have a solution for you. The U-Charge is a lightweight, cost effective, and compact charger for iBooks, PowerBooks, MacBooks and MacBook Pros, with a nice little bonus feature: it can charge a battery without the help of a laptop. No more swapping batteries just to keep them all juiced up!
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Review: Beats Tour by Dr. Dre from Monster Cable
1 Comment
by Peter Ha on December 9, 2008

Monster Cable’s second foray into the in-ear monitor area is much, much better than their first go-around with the Turbines. Knowing that Monster Cable loves to gouge folks on overpriced cables, one has wonder if their headphones are overpriced as well? Perhaps, but it depends on who you’re asking.
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Review: IOGEAR 3-Port USB 2.0 Mobile Hub
2 Comments
by Doug Aamoth on December 8, 2008

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Short Version: It’s small, it’s inexpensive, and it pulls double duty as a three-port hub and mini-USB device charger all in one.

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Review: Targus Chill Mat for Mac
by Peter Ha on December 8, 2008

Have a case of the Mac Sweats? Embarrassed by the wet stains on your lap after hours of using your MacBook? Targus has what you’re looking for, friend.
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Review: Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5
7 Comments
by Peter Ha on December 8, 2008

Having recently been exposed to all sorts of high-end in-ear monitors from the likes of Shure and Etymotic, my ears are quite sensitive to craptacular headphones and low grade MP3s. The recently announced Super.Fi 5s from Ultimate Ears have been my weapon of choice the last two weeks in a variety of environments that include the streets of Manhattan, on multiple planes, working out and around the house. Audio quality is superb and the novice might not be able to tell the difference between these and let’s say, the Super.Fi 5 Pros, but there is one distinctive difference. Would it deter me from recommending these $170 in-ears? Not at all. Read More

Review: Logitech V550 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for notebooks
1 Comment
by Rick Barr on December 5, 2008

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Quick Version: The V550 Nano from Logitech is by no means the first cordless mouse to be produced, nor will it be the last. But it is one of the better ones that have come out in recent years.
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Review: SimpleTech Signature 500GB external HDD
4 Comments
by Devin Coldewey on December 4, 2008


This will be a quick one! What we have here is a dead-simple, compact 500GB external USB hard drive. To be honest there’s very little else to add. That won’t stop me from making you click through to hear about it, though.
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A trio of iPhone/iPod chargers for your perusal
9 Comments
by Doug Aamoth on December 4, 2008

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Quick Version: We take a look at three different iPhone/iPod chargers from Kensington, RichardSolo, and i.Sound, weighing the pros and cons of each.

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Review: Kensington ShareCentral 1 USB switch
2 Comments
by Doug Aamoth on December 4, 2008

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Short Version: Kensington’s “ShareCentral 1” provides an easy, hassle-free way to share a USB device between two computers. At $39.99, it’s not too expensive, either.

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Review: Griffin AirCurve
2 Comments
by Jeremy Kriegel on November 26, 2008

Short Version: An iPod amp that sounds great – until you try to use it.
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Review: Kensington Slimblade Bluetooth Presenter Mouse
by Jeremy Kriegel on November 25, 2008


Short Version: Presenter mice are a dime a dozen but this one costs $50 for one and is worth the investment.
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