Ultra Cool Gadgets

The DriveStation TurboUSB External Hard Drives let you store, back up, and easily transport various files without taking up room on your computer’s main hard drive. Based on the SATA hard drive technology for larger capacities and with TurboUSB technology, DriveStation’s transfer rates are up to 37% greater than those of standard USB hard drives. The DriveStation is a plug-and-play, secure and reliable USB backup and storage solution.

Technical Details:
Up to 37% faster TurboUSB transfer rates via USB connector
Fast 7,200 RPM Serial ATA Hard Drive
Easy Setup, no drivers required
Pre-formatted Drive for Immediate Use
Turns On and Off Automatically With Your Computer

Customer Feedback:

1. I have owned this drive for over six months now, it is my second external drive (the other is Cavalry and I wouldn’t recommend that brand at all) The best feature included, that I think you must have with an external drive is that it powers off and on with the system automatically (Cavalry does not do this) The drive is quiet, access speed is very good (no Turbo feature installed) and the indicator lights are not glaring like so many other exernal drives are, a small green light indicates power and red for activity. I have not bought a new cord for it as the other reviewer did, mine is placed on the desk above the computer and the cord length was fine. I also did not have to reformat the drive, it was pre-formatted NTFS. I would recommend this drive highly, it runs cool and is nice enough looking to be displayed on the desktop. Mine stores all my videos and I play them directly from the drive. Go for it!

2. I purchased 2 of these drives a year ago from another retailer. I play alot of my HD movies of the drive and everything runs smoothly. The drive looks alot better than some of the other externals out there. Being a Lian Li case owner, I had to have a nice looking external for my htpc. The auto shut off feature comes in handy, because I would always forget to turn off my other external drives. My drives came formatted in FAT, but it was no big deal to reformat. With the price of internal drives dropping i’m debating on buying more or going with an internal hd and case.

o you’re catching up on a little work at your favorite outdoor café, enjoying the scents of summer. Like the mouthwatering aroma of freshly-grilled burgers. The bracing scent of newly-cut grass. But your nose twitches as the smoky odor of overheating electronics reaches it. Then your trusty laptop locks up, leaving you thoroughly in the lurch. You see, heat is your laptop’s most dangerous enemy. And our notebook cooler is the answer.

Features:
- Protect your valuable investment and reduce heat-related instability
- USB-powered cooler with pass-through connector included
- Draw power from any USB port without losing use of the USB port
- Low power consumption
- No batteries or power adapter needed
- 2 Double ball-bearing fans for reliability
- Quieter than a whisper, only 25.9 dB(A)

Technical Details:
Protect your valuable investment and reduce heat-related instability
USB-powered cooler with pass-through connector included
Draw power from any USB port without losing use of the USB port
No batteries or power adapter needed
AQ3 Antec Quality three-year warranty

Customer feedback:

1. PROS
+ The plastic body and metal top are well designed for a solid feel
+ The nice aluminum top spreads head very well and is durable
+ The USB cable is pass through with an extra USB port to connect other devices
+ The cable length is nice and short
+ There is a small compartment to tuck away the cable after use
+ The fans run VERY quietly at either high or low speeds
+ The rubber feet are solid and provide nice stability and grip
+ It now has surface holes for optional rubber pegs for more space to improve air-flow
+ After using mine for well over a year, I can vouch for the durability
+ The 3 year warrantee that comes with the product gives you some comfort in the case the product does fail

CONS
- The fans and outer holes gather dust over time; just clean it with compressed air
- The USB power cord and base connector could be more durable, so handle with care
- The unit looks like air flows through the entire top, but it only flows through the 2 fans positioned in the center; It’s more visible on the Antec Notebook Cooler (Pearl) version than the black and silver one
- The blue LED light may be too bright for some people, but it can easily be covered with electrical tape
- The cable may be too short for those without left side USB ports; purchase a USB extender cable
- The item frequently goes out of stock and has price changes
- The list price of $50 seems unreasonable

2. The cooler sits under my 43 cm (large monitor) Macintosh Powerbook. The Powerbook is often on for 8 to 10 hours a day and keeps everything very cool. The cooler powers from the left-hand USB port. The pass-through USB plug enables the USB port to be used by a printer and other peripherals. There are two fan speed settings, high and low. I only run on the low setting. A good, solid, cost-effective choice.

With USB and FireWire connection interfaces, the Iomega UltraMax Desktop Hard Drive 500GB ensures that your data can be accessed no matter where you take it. This drive provides an easy way to add 500GB of storage to a computer, it supports Firewire 400 and USB 2.0, and even has a stylish look that complements a Mac. The drive is a perfect complement for Macs as it has a sleek silver design that matches the Mac style and it is HFS+ preformatted to work right out of the box. It is compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 and Time Machine. With 500GB of storage capacity, you’ll be able to save up to 2,000,000 photos, 9,250 hours of music, or 750 hours of video.

Technical Details
- Device Type - External
- Removable Storage Type - Hard Drive
- Storage Capacity - 500GB
- Storage Interface Type - USB2.0/ FireWire 400
- Rotational Speed — 7200 rpm

Customer feedback:

1. I received this hard drive about a week ago for Mac OS 10.5.2 Time Machine. The drive looks and works great. I own a Mac Pro so as you can see in the Amazon ad, this thing is like a “mini me” of the Mac Pro which I think is the coolest part of it. I have had no problems (yet) with this HD and I honestly do not see it happening.
Iomega has been around for so many years and I trust their products. There is indeed ONLY one drawback to this drive. When the drive is reading and writing, it could get a little loud. I don’t think this would justify one less star because the hard drive itself works perfectly so far. The firewire 400 speed is just fine for Time Machine once per hour.

2. I’ve had this external drive for a couple weeks now and it’s running fine. I don’t find it very loud or bothersome.

The LaCie Hard Disk 301302U 500 GB USB 2.0, Design by Neil Poulton adds a sleek, sophisticated style to your desktop while delivering high-speed performance as a hard drive. You no longer have to worry about running out of disk space for your latest music, movies, and photos. And with universal compatibility and a compact size, this portable drive lets you easily share your music, photos and video files with your friends and family.
Designed by internationally acclaimed designer Neil Poulton, the Hard Disk features sleek and sophisticated styling. The case is entirely black with a fashionable, mirror-polished finish. A cool, blue LED strip on the bottom casts an ambient glow. The ultra-minimalist look will blend perfectly into home entertainment setups and workstations.
But don’t think the design is just about looking good. Built to optimize heat dissipation so that it can operate without a fan, the drive is also designed for convenience and portability. At just 4.6 x 1.8 x 7.6 inches (WxHxD) and weighing barely two pounds, it can be easily transported into your briefcase, allowing you to shuttle files between your home and office, or move your work between your laptop and desktop with ease.

Technical Details
- 500 GB USB external hard drive with a stunning design by Neil Poulton
- Fast USB 2.0 interface offers connectivity and transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps
- Plug and Play functionality for both Macs and Windows
- Includes 1-Click Backup Software (Windows and Mac) and LaCie SilverKeeper Backup Software (Mac)
- Measures 4.6 x 1.8 x 7.6 inches (WxHxD); 2-year limited warranty

Customer feedback:

1. I was about to purchase one of the older F.A. Porsche disks when I stumbled upon this one last week. I purchased this to primarily be the Time Machine disk for my 230GB iMac (Leopard). In the spirit of a nearly all-wireless iMac, I wanted the disk to be as inconspicuous as possible. The glossy black enclosure is nearly invisible sitting under the iMac on our black desk. The only truly visible feature is the ambient blue light beneath the front, but that’s just cool. There are no markings whatsoever on the front or top of the drive.
Out of the box, the drive is easy to setup. After plugging it in, the Setup Assistant popped right up and had the drive properly formatted in just a couple of minutes. Then, Time Machine popped up automatically and presented the options to use the new disk.

2. I love this product. I just bought it a month ago. Easy to set up, it’s fast, it’s got huge storage and such a sleek design.

These elegant portable drives are simple to use, light and easy to carry, and require no power adapter — they are powered directly through the USB cable (except where the computer limits power available from the USB port). Works with Windows and Mac. Synchronize files between home and office and encrypt everything on the drive for added security. Pick from multiple colors to express your unique style.

Ideal For
- Storing or backing up your digital music, videos and photos.
- Carrying important files and e-mail between work and home or on the road and keeping them in sync.
- Sharing large files between office and home, between PC and Mac.

Technical Details
- Box Contents - My Passport Essential 320GB Portable USB Hard Drive, USB 2.0 cable, Quick Install guide
- 320GB Hard Drive Capacity
- Installation is a snap because you don’t really install this drive; you just plug it in and it’s ready to use. There is no CD to install; the included software loads from the drive the first time you plug it in
- Powered by the USB bus. No separate power supply is needed
- This ultra-portable drive fits easily in your pocket or purse, weighs only a few ounces, and holds tons of valuable data

Customer feedback:

1. Pros
+ Great capacity options at good prices available in this line of products
+ Nice portable form factor that easily connects via USB
+ USB powered, no A/C required, which is great for portability
+ Works well on Windows Vista, XP and Mac OS X
+ Easy to set up disk encryption for security and privacy
+ Nice looks, and cool color options for those that care about that
+ Turns on and off with your computer or easily ejected via system tray
+ Easy plug-and-play installation
+ Integrates nicely with my growing stable of WD MyBook drives
+ Included software may be useful for some novices
+ Drives are sufficiently durable holding up to normal use over time
+ 320 GB capacity is just about right for most users

Cons
- Somewhat slow file transfer speeds for larger backups
- Included software not useful for power users
- Shiny body attracts scratch, fingerprints and dust
- Only USB, so look to the LaCie 250 GB Rugged Hard Disk if you need fire-wire ports too
- Only up to 320 GB right now, so look to the LaCie 500 GB Rugged Hard Disk with FireWire and USB if you need more capacity in a portable drive
- Have to spend your cash to get a case that should have been included

2. The Western Digital Passport reduced my 388 CD rack to a pocket-sized miracle. Likewise, all the photos, lesson plans, and Power-Point presentations that were cluttering my computer are now on my Passport.
Here’s the low-down. I was a bit worried that I might have difficultly setting-up this little guy. My fears were alleviated in about 15 seconds. About a month ago, I downgraded from Vista to XP and had NO PROBLEMS with the installation of this product … whatsoever (seems some people who run Vista have been having some trouble). It could not have been easier. (Thank you Western Digital!)
Now, the pre-installed software is REALLLLLY bad (that part is true). Western Digital should rethink this approach since nearly everyone removes it (and it deters some people from even purchasing their products). Minus one-star for being SERIOUSLY annoying!!
As mentioned by other reviewers, the product is whisper-quiet. And, while some folks found that they need an USB Power Adapter Y Cable, I did not. I have a two-year old Alien Area 51 m5550 and experienced no problems with power (regarding this product). I would advise that you purchase the Passport without the substitute cable and give it a try before you invest the extra cash.

When its time to back up and protect your digital content–photos, music, documents, and more–it doesn’t get much easier than the Seagate Free Agent Desktop USB Portable Hard Drive. Simply plug it in to any power source, connect the USB cable to any computer, and you’re ready to go. This hip-looking hard drive takes up less room on your desk than an ordinary stapler, giving you more space for your other desktop items.
Computers come and go, but your content should always be nearby. With up to 1000 glorious gigabytes, the Free Agent external hard drive is the best place to gather and access all of your important photos, movies, music, games and documents. Simply plug in the power and the USB cable and you’re ready to go. The Seagate Free Agent is big enough to store a huge portion of your digital content in a safe and secure environment, but small enough to let you take that content with you wherever you go. In other words, having the Seagate Free Agent is like having your entire computer with you at all times, but in a package that’s a small fraction of the space and weight of your computer.

Technical Details

- 500 GB external hard drive connects to your computer via USB cable
- 7200 RPM spindle speed for high-speed performance and fast read times
- Footprint is no bigger than a stapler; Just plug it in and you’re ready to go
Backup CDs, DVDs or store files and programs for on-the-go
- Includes external drive, USB 2.0 cable, AC power adapter, and quick start guide

Customer feedback:

1. If your sole purpose is to offload archives, then this is a great product. Most people don’t think twice of backing up their existing data. Also, each version of windows comes with a backup program which originated from the Veritas Brand of Software. You can easily set the Free Agent Hardware and make it an active drive, then setup the Backup Software within MS 2000, XP, or Vista.
I’ve read reviews that seem to point out the burden of USB2 write speed. It makes no difference if the interface is Firewire or USB if the intent is to just backup data. If it takes a few extra seconds or minutes, no big deal. Either way the data will get to the disk and you can rest peacefully.

2. Love everything about this product! It came quickly and it is excellent! Brand new and works great!

Billed as the easiest way to upgrade from basic built-in PC sound to home-theater audio, Creative’s USB SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit external sound card is an affordable stand-alone audio interface for your PC that hooks up to your computer via a single, simple USB 1.1 connection (cable supplied). The card offers analog inputs for a microphone and an audio component (CD player, DVD player, etc.) and outputs including optical and coaxial digital-audio jacks and a trio of minijack analog audio outs that you can use with 5.1-channel surround-sound speaker systems. Your music and games will never be the same.
Now you can create MP3s from your CDs easier than ever and digitize your old cassettes and LP records, cleaning up the sound as you do so using Creative’s supplied software. (Be aware, however, that LP record playback requires, in addition to a turntable and cartridge, an outboard phono stage or an integrated amplifier equipped with a phono preamplifier; the USB SoundBlaster Live! accepts only line-level analog inputs.)

Technical Details

* High-resolution stand-alone sound card with abundant inputs and outputs
* Simple hookup via USB 1.1 port; no power supply required
* The perfect tool to help you put your LPs and cassettes on CD, create MP3s, and organize music
* Audio enhancements include bass boost, smart volume management, a multi-band graphic equalizer, and audio clean-up (hiss and click removal)
* Encodes and decodes audio at up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution; offers 5.1-channel output for use with 5.1 speaker systems

Customer feedback:

1. When I ordered this external sound card, I was skeptical, but when I received this card,hooked it up,it sounded fantastic. I had realtek onboard sound. I disabled it in the device manager tab, before i downloaded the drivers for the sound blaster live card, and without any problems. I’m running windows XP, with service pack 2. There is a big difference, no hiss, or distortion,and you can turn the speakers up louder, without sacraficing clarity. I would not hesitate to buy this card, even though you can’t get updated drivers, the ones that come with the CD is just fine, and they are certified by Microsoft.

2. An outstanding and innovative product. What’s cool about this product is that you can place it anywhere near your computer, allowing you to have all your sound ports/jacks and volume controls within quick and easy reach: With its microphone port, in/out line ports, speaker ports, and multiple other ports, you can connect just about any type of audio device directly to the SoundBlaster External Card. The multiple media software applications that are included free (on one CD) is alone worth the price you pay for the sound card. With the SoundBlaster External hardware and the included recording software, you can record anything (CDs, casettes, old vinyl records, your own live voice and music) and easily convert it to a digital audio file. From there you can use the editing software to clean-up and enhance your recording. Once you have saved your sound file, here are some ideas for you: email the sound file, or convert the file to an mp3 for use on a portable music player, or burn the file onto a CD: All of these you can do with the SoundBlaster External Sound Card. And, oh yes, the SoundBlaster External will make your computer sound absolutely great!

Why settle for basic, built-in sound? Your music and movies deserve Xtreme Fidelity. Simply connect the Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 sound card to your PC or notebook and turn your downloaded music into your own personal concert. Adding the USB Sound Blaster X-Fi Surround 5.1 sound card is the easiest way to make your music and movies sound their best. X-Fi Technology restores details and vibrance your music and movies lost during compression, making them richer and fuller, and expands stereo into surround sound with headphones or speakers. Plus it includes PowerDVD software via free download for the ultimate PC movie entertainment experience.

Technical Details

* X-Fi Crystalizer technology restores the detail and vibrance to your compressed music and movies. All the highs and lows are intelligently enhanced so you¿ll hear everything in crystal clarity.
* Slip on your headphones and X-Fi CMSS-3D technology moves the sound away from your ears and into the space around you. You’ll feel like you’re sitting with your favorite band or in the best seat in the movie theater.
* Expand your stereo music and movies into surround sound with X-Fi CMSS-3D technology. Voices are centered in front of you. Ambient sound appears all around you… just like a live performance.
* Realistic sound effects in games Bullets whiz past your head. Explosions shake the room. Take your games to the next level with EAX ADVANCED HD sound effects.
* Cinematic surround sound from DVD movies Watch your DVDs in cinematic surround sound with PowerDVD software featuring DTS and Dolby Digital -EX decoding (free download with purchase).

Customer feedback:

Using a notebook is kind of hard to have 5.1 sound, this device allows it. Now I can see movies and connect it to powered speakers to have a Home Theater using my notebook.

Charge your iPod when it’s not connected to a computer with this USB adapter and a dock connector to USB cable. Use this compact, convenient USB-based adapter to charge your iPod at home, on the road, or whenever your iPod is not connected to a computer. Simply plug the adapter into a wall outlet and connect to your iPod for recharging. Its universal design means that it works around the world, with the help of Apple World Travel Adapter Kit (sold separately).

Technical Details

* Compatibility: iPod nano 1G, 2G, 3G; iPod 3G, 4G, 5G, 5.5G, 6G; iPod shuffle 1G, 2G; iPhone; iPod touch
* Convenient USB-based adapter to charge your iPod whenever your iPod is not connected to a computer
* Simply plug the adapter into a wall outlet and connect to your iPod for recharging
* Universal design means that it works around the world (with optional Apple World Travel Adapter Kit)
* Retractable plug

Customer feedback:

1. First of all, the price is justified by the fact that you get another USB cord with it. At first I thought ‘hey, what do I need another USB cord for?’…Well, it does come in handy because I just keep one of them hooked to my computer all the time and I take the other one with me for convenient, away from computer, charging. That way the one is always where I need it when I want to download more music and the other one is always ready for charging away from my computer. I got a full charge in less than 2 hours with the adapter. I love the fold-away plug and it comes in a nice, tidy box that you can just keep the plug and the usb cord in so that everything is together and easy to find, or to pack in your travel bag.

2. Pros:
-The best out there. Works excellent. We use it for all our Ipods including the shuffles. Fast charging,
-Includes an extra USB cable for your Ipod.
-Compact & Tiny. The dimension (6″H x 5″W) shown is for the packaging, the adapter is actually just a couple of inches square.
-Retractable prongs makes it easy for storage or slip it into your pocket
-Made by Apple. Best match for your Ipods.
-So cute and pretty. Even the packaging (We tend hold on the boxes too long before throwing them away because they look so nice)

Cruzer Micro now ships with U3 smart technology. Co-Invented by SanDisk, U3 technology gives you the ability to carry your files AND your software on a secure USB drive. You can have your wallpaper, preferences, favorites, profiles, and more - everything you need for a familiar computing experience on any PC, wherever you go.
Includes Skype exclusively on all Cruzer Micro and Cruzer Titanium USB flash drives. Make voice and video calls from PC to PC anywhere in the world. Cruzer Micro allows you to easily carry and transfer key documents, pictures, music and video clips from one computer to another. The new retractable USB port eliminates the need for caps and protects your USB connector.

Features

* 4 GB capacity
* Retractable USB connector
* Brilliant amber LED
* U3 smart enabled
* Loaded with the following U3 programs: CruzerSync synchronization software, SignupShield password manager, SKYPE, and AVAST antivirus software
* Dimensions: 7.94mm x 20.6mm x 57.15mm (D x W x L)
* Hi-Speed USB 2.0 certified (backwards compatible with all USB 1.1 ports)
* Compatible with Windows 2000, SP4 and XP*
* Certified Windows 2000 and XP

Customer feedback:

SanDisk makes a great product, every time. I use nothing but SanDisk for my flash drive/memory card needs because quite frankly, other companies don’t make reliable products. The software issues with this device are not even a problem if you simply UNINSTALL the U3 software. Once you do that, it’s treated as a mass storage device just like anything else. There is no law written down that you need to use software on a device just because it came with it. Using the Windows explorer to manage your files is easier and more effective anyway.