Feb
28
2009
If you are in the market for a great laptop bag the Booq Mamba Saddle Bag is one you should look at. It is available in black, red, blue or brown in a fabric that is smooth and water-resistant. There is a padded adjustable shoulder strap, four outside pockets and multiple pockets inside including an adjustable laptop compartment (13 - 15 inch).
The Booq Mamba is lightweight. It holds a lot so if you are not careful it is possible to over-load it. As long as it zips I quess you are OK. The Booq Mamba is not designed to let it all hang open.
Two outside pockets have zippers and the other two are open at the top. In fact the Booq Mamba is a sort of closed system. A long heavy duty YKK zipper reaches from the bottom to the top and then down to the bottom on the other side. Once unzipped the entire bag opens up but when it is zipped the contents are all tucked safely inside. There are no flaps to pop open or to stick out.
This Booq Mamba laptop bag will work as well for women as with men.
Feb
27
2009

There is a case for most every gadget but I had not seen one for my USB Flash Drives before. Made2Go has designer USB Flash Drive cases that hook to a purse, bag or belt loop with an included Carabiner clip. Not only are they functional – they are cute as well. Maybe cute is not a good description (in case you buy one for they guy in your life). The striped one would work though.
What a great way to always know where your flash drive is. No more sinking to the bottom of the bag where they can be damaged or lost. I have lost flash drives for weeks and then found them in that deep dark corner of my bag. That is another good reason to have a bright and colorful case.
I would put the Designer USB Case in the category of “what to buy for those hard to buy for friends and relatives” assuming that they are a geek just as you are.
Feb
26
2009
Friction Dash Mounts are the most versatile GPS mounting devices available. Some are sold with brackets that either fit specific GPS models or that fit multiple models. Other Friction Mounts are sold without a bracket and you have to provide your own. Then there is a third type of Friction Mount that is sold to work with virtually any GPS model. It has a small flat disk in the center, which allows you to attach your own GPS bracket to it.
There are several benefits of Friction Dash Mounts (sometimes called Beanbag Dash Mounts) is that they do not permanently attach to your dash or windshield. California and Minnesota do not allow you to use a windshield mount.
Friction Dash Mounts do not leave sticky residue on your dash. The mount itself is weighted and has a non-slip surface so it stays put – where you put it. Jackrabbit starts and quick stops do not give your GPS wings.
Even though the Friction Dash Mount stays put it is easy to move – if you move it. If you want to hide your GPS before leaving your car there is no mount telling a want-to-be-thief that they may hit pay dirt if they break in. If you want to change vehicles just pick the entire package up and take it with you.
The most important detail is to make sure that the Friction Dash Mount you choose matches up to your GPS device. If unsure, ask questions before buying or buy one that is universal.
Feb
25
2009
GPS owners struggle between their love of driving directions with their worry of protecting their pricey gadget. Sure you can always remove it from its base and stick it into the glove compartment or underneath the seat – but what if you want to take it with you outside the vehicle?
Most GPS devices have Touchscreens and they are vulnerable to damage if simply placed in a pocket or bag. It is not expensive to purchase a special carrying case for most any GPS.
Personally I like a case that is slim with a smooth surface. A belt clip is very handy – both for hooking onto your belt or to the edge of your bag. Others may prefer a hard-sided case with a zip closure.
The choice should be made according to the way you plan to carry it. If a GPS is carried inside of a bag less is more. The thinner the case is the better. If you want to wear your GPS on your belt it is best to have a sturdy belt clip. I like the cases that not only have a clip but that also has loops that fit over a belt. If you want to carry your GPS in your hand look for one with wither a lanyard or a wrist strap.
You can have your GPS and take care of it too. Take the time to find the case that fits your needs the best. The best GPS case is the GPS case that you will always use.
Feb
24
2009
Neoprene is a great fabric for laptop sleeves just as is for deep-sea diving suits. It is very smooth to the touch while being capable of being stretched to fit the contents. Built Ny is known for their neoprene designer style laptop sleeves.
Some may think that the shapes are odd and may not understand the thinking behind them. Ingenious actually, they fit snug around smaller laptops yet they expand to fit larger laptops. The curved corners act as bumpers and the wavy sides and Gill like slits act as grippers. Unlike most other laptop sleeves a Built NY laptop sleeve is easier to hold on to and is less likely to slip out of your hands.
Another signature of Built NY Laptop Sleeves is their bright and cheerful colors and designs. Yes, you can buy them in black but why would you?
Feb
23
2009

Do you like Bling? At first I thought I did not but now that I see how fun it can be for cell phones and netbooks I may change my mind.
Bling can come to your cell phone. There are charms, stickers and cases that sparkle and shine in the light. If you saw them I think that you would like them too. Hello Kitty Cases and charms like the one pictured above are so fun!
MobileBling makes netbook skins (they call them covers) that actually have glass crystals covering them. Several designs and colors are available including animal stripes, animal spots, an alien head, skull and cross bones, checks and colors that fade into each other. If you like attention – these would get you plenty.

Feb
22
2009
Burning CD-DVD media is nothing new but you may not be familiar with LightScribe technology. If you are tired of paper labels that curl and hang up inside of your burner then you will be interested in reading on.
External burners from LG, HP, Lenovo, LaCie and Apricorn to name a few, offers LightScribe Technology.
LightScribe allows you to literally burn an image or text into the surface of a CD or DVD disc. Once you burn data onto the disc you simply turn the disc over and etch the label onto the other side. Each LightScribe media disc has a special layer that allows the enabled burner’s laser to print the label directly into the surface of the disc.
It is easy to verify that your CD-DVD burner is LightScribe capable. Typically you will see an identifying logo on the drive itself. If not there may be a label attached to the drive or to the computer itself (if the drive is built-in). A third way to tell is the red circle of the special sensor. With the drive open you will clearly see it.
LightScribe software can be in the form of a free download, an included disc with your burner or can be purchased separately.
There are a few limitations of LightScribe technology that includes:
• The images and text are in black only. The discs themselves come in gold, yellow, orange, green, red, and blue.
• You must have a LightScribe enabled drive and media to use LightScribe technology
Overall, LightScribe Technology makes for interesting and professional looking CD and DVD discs. Whether for personal use or for business use it is an interesting concept.
Feb
21
2009
You have found the perfect laptop! Now – how are you going to protect it?

Unless you plan to leave it sitting on your desk and do not plan to travel with it you need to find a laptop bag of the appropriate size, shape and style. Considerations are:
· What size laptop do you own?
· How many peripherals do you plan to carry on a daily basis?
· What is your bag style?
If you own a laptop that measures from 12” to 17” this bag could be for you. If you do not intend to carry a lot of extra items besides your laptop this bag could be for you. If you like a back pack this bag could be for you.
Built NY has so many really cool laptop bags and sleeves that it would be impossible to show them all to you at once. Did you know that they also have a backpack? Well, they do. It is slim, it is lightweight and it is unique. Like their other bags it is designed to hug your laptop and to give you a way to transport it safely. A couple of pockets are there to give you space for a few items but don’t expect to pack them full.
One of the coolest features of this Built NY Back Pack is that it can be worn under a jacket. In case you would rather not advertise that you are carrying a laptop it is perfect. Then again, if you want to show how stylish you are – wear it on the outside of your clothing. The sternum strap holds the backpack close to your body so it stays safe and secure. Speaking of the secure fit – it is important to mention that this Built NY Back Pack is available in two sizes – medium and large.
Amazon.com offers several styles and colors of this bag. It is available on other sites as well. I can just imagine how great it would be for a bike commuter or for anyone on the go.
Feb
20
2009
Sony laptops are all feature packed and some are on the high end of all laptops. The Vaio TT Series fits this description and is only 11.1” weighing in at 2.87 pounds.
It is amazing how much is packed into such a small package. The Vaio TT Series is slightly larger than the smallest Netbook – yet decked out as much as any high end laptop. The processor is a peppy 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Up to 4GB DDR3 SDRAM is included to speed them up even more. Windows Vista is loaded on most models but Windows XP is available as a downgrade (huh?) on some models.
Hard drives up to 320GB and an SSD up to 256GB is enough room to store even the largest music, photo or video collection. If you need more storage space there are integrated slots for Memory Stick Pro media, SD memory cards, Compact Flash memory cards and an ExpressCard.
The battery life is amazing. A standard battery lasts from 4.5 to 7.5 hours and a large capacity battery can last from 6.5 to 12 hours. Actually battery life will depend on usage.
The screen has XBRITE technology and a 16:9 aspect ratio. Watching a movie in Widescreen mode will not have black lines at the sides. An option between an integrated CD-RW/DVD drive and a Blu-ray Disk is offered on particular Vaio TT models.
Features that do not always turn your head are still special for the size and weight of the Vaio TT. The QWERTY keyboard is full size with 82 keys, there is a built in MOTION EYE webcam and an electro-static touch pad. A Biometric fingerprint sensor keeps your data secure.
The Vaio TT Series is colorful. Red, White, Champaign Gold, Black and Carbon Fiber Black rounds out the choices. Personally I like the Black Carbon Fiber because it is strong and lightweight.
If there is a downside to the Sony Vaio TT Series laptops it is the price. Make no mistake – these are high-end laptops aimed at business travelers. Expect to pay $2,000 to $4,500 for the Blu-ray and SSD models.
Feb
19
2009

The ultra-portable Sony Vaio Z Series is one of the nicest laptops on the market today. It is great for the road warrior as well as the office worker. Students would love this laptop due to the entertainment value alone.
Look at these specs and drool:
· Size is small – 13.1”
· Weight is light – 3.42 pounds
· Powerful – 2.53GHZ Intel Core 2 Duo
· Fast – 4GB RAM
· Hard drive – 320GB
· SSD – 256GB
· OS Options – Windows XP (some configurations) or Windows Vista
· Expansion slots – Memory Stick Pro, SD memory card or ExpressCard
· Shock resistant – G-Sensor technology
· Dual Graphics System
· Battery Life – 6 hours with standard battery, up to 9 hours with large capacity battery
· XBRITE backlit LCD with 1600 x 900 resolution
· Blu-ray on some models
· Video Cam – MOTION EYE
· Touch Pad
· QWERTY Keyboard – full size 82 key
· Connectivity – Fast Ethernet, Modem, Wireless LAN and WAN, Bluetooth
The Sony Vaio Z Series has a black carbon fiber exterior. My Sony Vaio TX Series laptop has this same exterior and it is beautiful. No fingerprints due to the matte finish.
It is difficult to find any downsides to this laptop. There are several configurations available so there is at least one to fit your wants and needs. Expect to pay $1500 to $3500 for yours.