Not every ultrabook was worthy of praise, but there were a few that stood out from the crowd. Some were notable for their build quality – others, for their unique design.

Dell XPS 13

Of all the ultrabooks that I was able to see and handle at CES, the Dell XPS 13 was my favorite. It is not the lightest, thinnest or quickest, but it’s the one I’d be most likely to buy with my own money.

Why? Build quality and design is one reason. Unlike many ultrabooks, the XPS 13 restricts the use of metal to the lid and some of the chassis. The underside is made of carbon fiber coated in a soft-touch material, while the interior is soft touch plastic. All of this adds up to a laptop that feels rock solid but also pleasing to handle.

Portability is another strong point. Dell’s use of high-strength materials has allowed them to reduce display bezel size and, in turn, reduce overall width and depth. Though it has a 13.3” display, the physical footprint of this laptop is closer to a 12.1” laptop. Battery life is estimated at nearly 9 hours by Dell, and while that’s likely a best-case scenario, it’s better than the life quoted by nearly every competitor.

Pricing of the XPS 13 starts at $999. Units start shipping in mid-February, but you can reserve one of the first units today.

Lenovo ThinkPad T430u

Lenovo already has an ultrabook available, but it is part of the consumer IdeaPad line. The T430u is the first ThinkPad to fit the specifications, which is news by itself in the eyes of some hardcore enthusiasts. I’m sure that some buyers will prefer the rugged, simple design of this ThinkPad to the flashier but less sturdy construction of consumer ultrabooks.

What I find most interesting, however, is inside the T430u – Nvidia discrete graphics will be optional on this laptop. This is the only ultrabook to promise a discrete graphics option so far. Ironically, the product made for work could provide better 3D gaming performance than any of its peers.

You’ll have to wait for the T430u, however. Lenovo isn’t going to offer it until Intel releases Ivy Bridge, so look for a summer release date.

HP Envy 14 Spectre

The HP Envy line has hit its stride as of late. The new Envy 15 and 17 laptops are both excellent, even when compared to the MacBook Pro, which usually stands in a class of its own. And at CES a new addition was revealed – the Envy 14 Spectre.

Besides the name, which is awesome, the Spectre offers a unique black glass lid design that sets the laptop apart from the crowd. The interior is also coated in glass, providing a slick surface for your hands to glide across. Specifications are impressive, as well – though it uses the same Core i5/i7 ULV processors as any other ultrabook, the Spectre includes a brilliant 1600×900 display, solid state drives and a battery life of up to 9.5 hours.

All of that kit is standard – but you’ll have to pay at least $1,399 for it. As with the XPS 13, retail availability is expected to be mid-February, but you can reserve one now.

Lenovo Yoga

Although most of the ultrabooks coming into production over the last year are conventional laptops, Intel and many laptop manufacturers were eager to show concepts that could be the future of the laptop.

One of these concepts is the Lenovo Yoga. At first glance, it’s a normal laptop – but bend back the display and it just keeps going. And going. And doesn’t stop until you’ve made your ultrabook into a 13.3” tablet. The Yoga is designed for Windows 8, so it would utilize the Metro UI when in tablet mode.

Lenovo wasn’t the only company to short a convertible tablet, but the Yoga’s design sets it apart from most convertibles, which usually use a single rotating hinge. The Yoga is also closer to production than many other concepts. Lenovo says it will be available in the second half of 2012.

Intel Nikiski

One of the most outlandish concepts shown at CES 2012 was made by Intel itself. It’s called Nikiski, and it has a transparent touchpad and palmrest.

The idea is that when the laptop is closed, some of the display (the portion that shows through the transparent touchpad) will still be visible. This part of the display can be used to show notifications. Like the Yoga, it’s designed with the Windows 8 Metro UI in mind.

Of course, Intel doesn’t make laptops, so this particular concept may never see the light of day. But like any good concept, the Nikiski drops a few clues about the future. It shows that touchpad surfaces using alternative technologies are possible, that ultrabooks may be squeezed into very small physical dimensions, and that Windows 8’s Metro UI is easily able to handle a display area with an unusual size.

Conclusion

Although I covered several popular ultrabooks in this article, I also left some out. The Samsung Series 5 and Series 9 did not impress me, at least not in the short time I had to play with them. I also wasn’t taken by the new Lenovo U310 or the lineup from companies like Toshiba and LG.

Do you disagree? Did you see or hear of an ultrabook that could be the best thing since sliced bread? Let us know in the comments.

Image Credit : PC Perspective

Recently, I had to purchase a laptop for a family member, who couldn’t even begin to find her way amongst all the possible options. Even for me, the selection was overwhelming. Where do you start? So imagine my joy when I found out that the makers of Geekaphone now offer a similar service for other items, such as tablets, cameras, TVs and even laptops. With Sortable, you can sort through different products according to the things you find most important, and find out what the best product is for your specific needs. You can also easily compare different items, and learn about similar items for you to consider.

Getting Started With Sortable

The first thing you have to do with Sortable, is decide what you want to buy. And this is probably the hardest decision you’re going to have to make in the whole process. On the main screen, you can also choose your maximum price, but you can always change that as you go along. Now all you have to do is click “Go”.

If you’re truly dumbfounded and have no idea what you’re looking for, Sortable offers a list of popular devices in each category. You can start by browsing these devices, and looking at the most popular comparisons other people have made. This should get you up to speed with the hottest trends on the market.

Finding The Right Device For You

Before you even start digging in, Sortable will recommend the best devices based only on your price range. The best device will appear on the left side of the screen, and more options will appear on the right.

As you go along, you’ll think of things that matter to you more than others, or things the device you choose must have. You can easily screen the results by almost any imaginable parameter. This includes everything from brand, network and form factor…

…to card format, display and ports. These change, of course, when searching for different products. Simply go over these criteria, choose your preferences and watch what happens to the results below.

When you find a device you’re interested in, you can get a comprehensive overview of the device’s specs, including photos, advantages, tradeoffs and reviews from Amazon.

You can also see how the device matches up to its competitors in various categories, and get an idea of what other similar devices are on the market, and what makes them better or worse than this device.

Comparing Items

If you’ve found two items you like, and would like to know which one is better for you, Sortable offers a comprehensive comparison between any two items, which includes any differences and similarities, a full specs comparison, and even a visual comparison.

To compare two items, either check the compare box when browsing items, or click the “compare” link at the top left.

Here, you can fill in any two devices. You don’t have to remember the full name, simply start typing the brand name, and Sortable will offer different models for you to choose from.

You will then get a short overview of reasons to consider each device. You can already see significant differences here which can help you choose.

If this is not enough, you can bore down into the more detailed differences, including a full specs comparison of every little aspect of the devices.

Editing Information

As you can see, there’s a huge amount of information in those specs. Naturally, some information is missing, and some information may be inaccurate. But there’s something you can do about it! When you’re viewing a item’s specs, and you find a missing piece of information or something you believe to be wrong, simply click the edit icon on the right and add or change that spec.

You don’t even have to create an account to do this, but if you do, you can keep track of your edits and become a known contributor on the site. If you choose to claim your account (personalize it, as opposed to keeping it anonymous), you can sign in with either Facebook, Google or Yahoo.

On the front page, Sortable features all the top contributors for each category (even if they are anonymous), and you can view a detailed list of their edits.

More Products

Wish you could use Sortable to find more products? Well, it seems that they’re definitely planning on it. If you want to influence what those next products will be, click the Sortable icon on any page, and choose “Vote on what’s next!”

This will direct you to Sortable’s Facebook page, where you can vote on what new products you’d like to see on Sortable. Looks like cars are leading the pack!

Bottom Line

The only thing that’s apparently missing from Sortable is a price comparison feature between different stores. The site seems to be tightly integrated with Amazon, and all buy links direct to there. But price comparison engines are a dime a dozen, and once you manage to decide what you want to buy, finding the right price should be a piece of cake. In fact, ignoring the price makes the site much more usable internationally, since prices and stores vary depending on where you are. Specs usually don’t.

What do you think of Sortable? Know of other good comparison engines we should try? Share in the comments.

Image credit: Shutterstock

But what if money wasn’t an obstacle? What would you buy then? You’d probably consider laptops that never even popped on your radar before – like the five listed here.

Sony Vaio Z

The Sony Vaio Z has always been the company’s super-high-end ultraportable. It’s basically a “halo product” that shows what Sony’s engineers are capable of when they’re given a large budget to work with.

At first glance, the hardware specs don’t seem that impressive. The Sony Vaio Z comes standard with a Core i5-2410M processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid state drive. All of that can be had for a fraction of the price. What makes the Z expensive is the fact all of this has been crammed into a chassis .66 inches thick that weighs just 2.57 pounds. And Sony did this before Intel started making a big deal about ultrabooks.

Pricing starts at $1,999, but if that isn’t expensive enough for you, Sony offers the Signature Collection. These usually offer unique styling and always offer insane hardware. One model, priced at $4,499, upgrades the Z to a 1080p display, a Core i7 dual core processor and a 512GB solid state drive.

Lenovo ThinkPad T420s

You don’t hear much coming from Lenovo about the ThinkPad T series these days. The company has been working on a lot of other new models which have taken the limelight away from this stalwart of the company’s lineup.

That’s a shame, because there’s still good laptops in the T series – and some expensive ones. The T420s, which is a thin-and-light version of the standard T420, starts at $1,149. For that you receive a Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 320GB mechanical hard drive.

But if you can spend as much as you’d like, that’s not the one you want. No, you want the T420s with the solid state drive, the Core i7 dual core processor and an optional extended life battery that can fit into the slot normally occupied by the removable optical drive. Configured like this you’re looking at a lofty $1,959 price tag – and it’s worth every penny.

Alienware M18X

When it comes to customized gaming laptops, it’s hard to beat Alienware. And when it comes to Alienware, it’s hard to beat the M18x. This is the company’s fastest, biggest and most expensive laptop.

In base guise, it’s only $1,999. You’ll want the fully upgraded model, however, that starts at $3,299 and includes dual graphics. But why stop there?

Load the M18x with an Intel Extreme Edition quad-core processor. Upgrade the dual video cards to a pair of Nvidia GTX 580Ms. Improve the solid state drive to a 512GB monster. Now you’re looking at one of the most powerful laptops ever sold, along with a price tag of $4,974.

If you’d like to tip the system over $5,000, just for kicks, pick the dual layer Blu-Ray drive.

Panasonic Toughbook C1

What? Panasonic makes laptops?

Yes, they do. But you won’t usually see them in stores because they’re not built for the average consumer. Panasonic calls its laptops Toughbooks, and they’re specifically geared for users who need a laptop that can survive extreme environments.

The C1 is the company’s most accessible model, and one of the few a consumer could potentially find a use for. It’s a 12.1” convertible tablet weighs 3.28 pounds. Most models are powered by Core i5 processors and an optional solid state drive.

Specifications aren’t what this laptop is about, however. It’s about features like hot-swappable twin battery design. It’s about resistance to falls up to 30 feet. It’s about the weird but effective ergonomic strap that can be attached to the bottom, making the laptop easier to hold with one hand.

Price? It can vary a bit because Panasonic does not sell laptops directly but instead relies on third-party resellers. Typically you’ll have to pay $2,500 for a base model and over $3,000 for one with all the goodies.

Dell Precision M6600

Deciding which mobile workstation would make this list was a tough call. They’re all expensive, they’re all nice, and they’re all way more than your average person would ever need.

Ultimately, I decided on the M6600. Why? Three hard drives. If you have money to burn you can buy a Dell Precision M6600 with 1.5 terabytes of solid state storage. That will set you back $3,670 for the drives alone.

The other options are nothing to laugh at. Dell’s UltraSharp 1080p mobile displays are available, and they’re beautiful. You can also pick Nvidia Quadro 5010M graphics and quad-core Intel Extreme Edition processors. It’s not hard to price a M6600 over ten grand if you want all the goodies.

Conclusion

This list isn’t about expense just for the sake of it. It is about dream machines – computers that are absurdly powerful, rugged, beautiful or all three, but also priced well outside the average person’s budget. If you have a suggestion that you think would fit this list, let us know in the comments.

This year’s CES lacked huge new product announcements, yet there were still several technologies demonstrated that look set to change the mobile landscape over the next few years.

Intel’s Smartphone Reference Design

Intel has been attempting to find a place in smartphones, tablets and other small devices for years. The original Atom was in fact aimed at what the company called MIDS – mobile Internet devices. But it turned out that the original Atom drew more power than other solutions, so it ended up in netbooks. Since then, Intel has struggled in this space, but this CES they introduced something new that could change their fortunes. It’s a reference phone design based off an Intel Atom processor that is fully functional and runs Android x86.

This may not seem like an important event, but it is. Previously, Intel was placing the burden of product design largely on its partners. By developing a reference design, Intel is showing hardware manufacturers how to use its latest Atom processors to develop a competitive phone that can run today’s most popular smartphone OS.

And if that wasn’t enough to prove that Intel is finally able to be serious about entering the smartphone market, the company announced two important long-term partnerships. One is with Lenovo, which has already developed an x86 smartphone and is looking to launch it in China this February. The other is with Motorola, which should be launching x86 phones in the fall of 2012.

If Intel and its partners hit their targets we’ll be seeing ARM and x86 designs side-by-side during CES 2013.

Windows 8

This CES there were no major announcements surrounding Windows 8, but there were a number of important steps made towards launch. Intel showed ultrabooks with Windows 8, Nvidia showed a development platform with Tegra 3 running Windows 8, and Microsoft showed numerous demos of Windows 8 features in action.

It’s clear that the hardware manufacturers are excited about Windows 8. And why shouldn’t they be? The new operating system will begin an inevitable integration between mobile devices and more traditional PCs. Apple has already started down this road, but if Windows 8 is released when expected, Microsoft will easily take the lead.

Intel has already hinted at the innovation that Windows 8 could allow. Their ultrabook press conference included a number of convertible tablet designs. The best, in my opinion, is a laptop with a sliding display hinge that can easily be converted between a normal laptop and a tablet PC. We’ve seen such devices before, but they’ve never had the OS to go with the hardware. That will change by the end of 2012.

Qi Wireless Power

Wireless communications revolutionized technology. Yet when it comes time to power our devices, we have to turn back to old-fashioned cords.

The Wireless Power Consortium is trying to banish the cord forever by putting forward a wireless power standard called Qi Wireless Power. With Qi, it’s possible to charge a phone simply by placing it on a Qi compatible charging station. Such a station could be placed in your car, your nightstand, your desk – or all of the above.

That’s just the start. Currently the standard only calls for charging within an extremely short distance (5mm) but the hope is for that to be expanded. We’ll still probably see distances measure in millimeters, but it could at least be enough to charge a phone by throwing it in a cupholder or dash slot.

Obviously, wireless charging is convenient, but it’s equally important because of what it means for smartphone design. If smartphones didn’t need to have a port for charging, they could do away with ports entirely, relying on Bluetooth and WiFi entirely. This would allow for more design versatility. And if you can easily charge your phone without a cord, the battery won’t need to be as large. This also would increase design versatility.

Qi Wireless is still far from mainstream, but it’s an important step forward. Just like wireless communications, wireless power can’t become common without standards that everyone can agree on. I’m convinced that this technology – be it this standard, or another like it – will become an important part of mobile devices over the next few years.

Conclusion

CES 2012 didn’t include many finished products based off new hardware, but we did see a lot of new platforms that are starting to translate into products and will continue to advance over the coming year. I think CES 2013 will more than make up for any feelings of disappointment surrounding this year’s convention.

Image Credit: PC Perspective

So, would you spend your money on these peripherals?

USB Tie Fan Cooler….Thing

Feel like you’re tied to your desk all day and looking for the ultimate way to cool off? Look no further, all you need is the USB tie cooler from Thanko. Somewhat resembling the collar-bombs worn by imprisoned schoolchildren in the 2002 film Battle Royale, the fan clips to your neck and is then covered up with the included silk tie.

Of course, it’s USB powered – so it’s completely useless (yet still too embarassing to take off) unless you’re near a computer. Once you finally do get to your desk, find a spare USB port (by removing non-essentials like mice and keyboards) and you’ll be the coolest cat in the office.

That is until you suddenly get up to tell Brenda you need that report by 5, tearing your laptop off the table, showering your co-workers with coffee and publicly revealing the secret to your body temperature regulation. Still, at least you won’t be hot under the collar?

Chicken’s Foot 2GB USB Stick

There are a lot of overpriced USB sticks on the market in all kinds of novelty shapes, capacities and sizes but most of them have a valid use – removable storage – that makes up for it. I am actually having trouble with this particular USB flash drive however, as it appears to be in the shape of a chicken’s foot.

This of course means that the bloody thing will never fit comfortably in your pocket, and might also have trouble fitting into computers mounted on a flat surface (I do believe the toes would get in the way).

This rather small 2GB capacity appendage will sit on your desk for hours without falling over – though you’re probably better off spending the $30 on more space, rather than novelty form factor.

USB Mini UV Toothbrush Sanitiser

Nothing says “pearly whites” like a sterile toothbrush (I guess?) and now you can sterilise yours right at your desk! Excited? Well hold on junior, because there might just be a teency weency issue with aforementioned USB toothbrush sanitiser… and that’ll be the USB part.

Who keeps their toothbrush at their desk? Moreover, who would take it out and actually sanitise it using this bloody thing? If toothbrush sanitation is high on your list of priorities then I don’t think a mini USB toothbrush sanitiser is going to cut it – you’ll want the real deal.

Thus I conclude there’s probably not much of a market for semi-dedicated toothbrush sanitisers who stow their oral cleaning contraptions in the office. Next.

USB Flower Pot Speaker

Introducing the USB Flower Pot Speaker – because there’s simply too much space on your desk! Or should that be Flower Pod Speaker, as the manufacturers have cleverly coined it? Regardless, not only does it require full use of a USB port for power but it also isn’t a real flower pot (which is a real shame).

Don’t try to water, plant or re-pot your new musical chum for he’s a static, lifeless plastic disappointment who produces no more than 2W RMS at the best of times. Maybe spend the money on some real speakers and a real plant instead…

USB Eye Massager

Unfortunately this isn’t a case of affixing the wrong photograph to the wrong product description, but a genuine product that is designed with an eye massage in mind. If you’ve not already peeked at the image below then now is the time – just look at it…

Eye massager? Really? Not torture device? Not “turn it round and make rude symbols at your boss” getting-fired device? I’m supposed to put this in my eyes? According to the manufacturer:

USB Eye Massager is the latest-designed health care Product specially for the Person which long time use their eyes, Such as the Computer operator.

I suppose that clears it up, then!

Conclusion

It’s not too late for new year resolutions, and here’s an easy one we can all stick to : in addition to the products on this list, don’t buy cheap useless USB crap. It might seem like a funny gift and even provide 5 minutes of laughter but will ultimately end up in a landfill as wasted money, time, energy and resources.

If you have any of your favourite crap USB gadgets then list them below, I’m dying to see what you’ve found…

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Today we’ll be taking a look at some of the 2012 rumored releases. If you’ve got any of your own predictions to make, then don’t forget to share them in the comments section at the foot of the article.

iPad 3

Whilst the iPhone has broken its traditional release cycle for the first time, rumors about an updated iPad coming sometime in spring 2011 are rife amongst speculators. Unlike the last refresh that saw mostly under-the-bonnet changes in the form of the A5 chip, the iPad 3 is rumored to be one Apple’s most exciting updates, with differences you can see.

According to the rumor mill, Apple is reportedly equipping the iPad 3 with a Retina display which will provide a similar quality viewing experience as seen on the iPhone 4 and 4S. The new display would apparently see the resolution jump to 2048×1536 from the current 1024×768.

There is also speculation surrounding a new A6 chip to power the new tablet, which would make sense based on the last update. It is also possible that a near-field communications (NFC) chip finds its way into the new model, though Apple has avoided the technology thus far.

Lytro Cameras

Photography revolution or software gimmick? At least, that’s what I thought when I saw Lytro’s website which claims that a new way of taking pictures will arrive in 2012. Instead of a regular camera sensor (which records all light rays but apparently “none of the subtleties”), Lytro cameras use a light-field sensor to capture the colour, intensity and vector direction of rays of light.

By replacing standard camera components with software and a revolutionary new kind of sensor, Lytro cameras provide some incredible advancements. What about focusing a picture once you’ve already taken it? Switching between 2D and 3D versions of an image? All possible, according to Lytro.

And what’s more you can try out the technology right now, on their website. They sound amazing, look like fun and for $399 for a base model won’t exactly break the bank. How Lytro camera’s stack up in the real world will remain to be seen, however!

New MacBook Pro & iPhone

My, aren’t Apple supposed to be busy this year? As well as a new iPad, both the iPhone and MacBook Pro are apparently due for an update. Laptop buyers who find themselves disappointed with sub-par screen resolutions will hopefully jump for joy at the thought of a Retina display Macbook Pro (though I’m sure the price will make that eye-candy a little harder to swallow).

Another feisty rumor doing the rounds is talk of an ultra-thin Macbook Pro, much like Apple’s current MacBook Air models which are growing in popularity. Apple did tweak the MacBook Pro specs this year, so a form-factor and display refresh isn’t out of the question.

As for the iPhone 5 – if it should arrive this year (potentially in the fall) then the two things that continually pop up are a redesign surrounding a larger screen and NFC. I’d put money on NFC, though I’m not sure about a larger display…

Smarter Smart TVs

Both Apple and Sony are doing enough to prop this one up, but it was Steve Jobs’ autobiographer that really fed the rumor mill. Before his untimely death, Steve was obsessed with the notion of a smart TV that was incredibly simple to use. We’ve all heard of Apple TV, but the idea of a self-contained TV unit with integrated Apple TV is a new one.

Add Siri to the mix, the ability to control the unit using an iDevice and AirPlay and you’ve got an exciting product that’s bound to break the bank. Sony have also started developing next-gen TV concepts which appear to mirror Apple’s current model of easily shareable media between various devices (that’s your PS3, Sony Ericsson smartphone and so on).

Windows Phone 7 Meets Nokia

Nokia, who are previously responsible for Symbian, will this year take to the market and attempt to shift their new range of Windows Phone 7-powered business phones. In case you’ve forgotten, Nokia used to be the final word in smartphones and for a lot of people, mobile phones in general – remember the 3210?

The company had a good thing, but unfortunately the market slipped through their fingers due to software stagnation and newer, more exciting products from rival companies. Now they’re back, and it’s time to see what they’ve got.

Windows Phone 7 isn’t a bad platform, but it does need work. If Nokia can get the hardware right whilst Microsoft continue to improve the software then we could see a new era of powerful smartphones and a real alternative to iOS and Android.

PlayStation Vita

It’s already out in Japan, and come February Sony’s new handheld console is expected to be released in Europe and North America. Featuring a design similar to the original PSP, dual analog sticks, a 5-inch OLED touchscreen and backwards compatability with it’s younger brother, the Vita is a portable force to be reckoned with.

Main rivals include just about every iOS device (iPod Touch, iPhone and so on) and other powerful smartphones, which have already found their ways into our pockets. It remains to be seen whether consumers will be prepared to purchase a whole new system or are content with scaled-down smartphone titles. Surely we’ll have an answer later this year.

Kinect for Windows

Well it’s about time! Long after the Kinect was originally “hacked” to allow third-party compatibility, Microsoft announced that Kinect for Windows was indeed on the way. This means we’ll see officially licensed games taking advantage of Kinect, potentially providing new ways of interacting with games that won’t be seen on the Xbox 360.

This also means Microsoft will probably write Kinect control functionality into Windows 8 (and lets face it, Metro is perfect for this), though this has already been successfully tackled by the community.

Conclusion

There will of course be plenty more exciting developments in 2012, especially once notoriously secretive companies like Apple lay down the hard facts. Windows 8 will be another big arrival that is currently seeing mixed responses, with some loving Metro and others complaining that Windows 8 isn’t the leap they were expecting.

Share your predictions, anticipations and other 2012 rumors in the comments.

Intro image: Shutterstock

I can’t promise that you’ll make a full-blown Hollywood film that is on par with Miracle on 34th Street, but I can give you a few items that you can put on your last-minute shopping list or even your own wish list. Here are a couple of tools to get the filmmaker in your life started right.

Canon EOS 60D

DSLR video is the way to go these days, and if you’re wanting something that provides cinematic quality on the (relative) cheap, I recommend the Canon EOS 60D. Retailing at $1,072 (with the 18-135mm lens), you can grab one from B&H Photo Video. Being a 60D user, I can vouch for it, and the only issue that some may have with it is the fact this camera’s image sensor is cropped. However, I say that’s no problem. This camera has a flip-out viewfinder that’s perfect for those oddly-angled shots.

With only a week until Christmas, you may be hesitant about being able to pick up this camera, but fear not, for this camera is surprisingly at many local Best Buys! However, if you are wanting a nice starter DSLR, you could go with the Canon Rebel T3i, which retails for $756 at Best Buy during this holiday season (normally $900).

The 60D’s older brothers – the 7D and the 5D – do not have the cropped image sensors. Granted, I’m a big proponent of the flip-out viewing screen (which offers a feature called Live View), and furthermore, the 60D allows audio control for whatever microphone you decide to plug into it.

Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder

The Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder is a field audio recorder retailing at $300 that comes with two onboard condensor microphones that can pick up sound at either 90° or 120° angles. This is my personal pick (and the personal pick of many others) when it comes to audio for video. Besides the onboard microphones, the Zoom offers two inputs for XLR microphones as well as a 3.55mm jack input. Pop on a splitter and extension cable on the 3.55mm output, plug in the other end of the cable to your camera, and you’re set.

The Zoom H4n offers very easy to use basic audio monitoring, and it stores everything on a nice SD card in case you opt to not plug it into your camera. Despite its inputs and 4-track recording mode, the onboard mics do an excellent job of picking up sound within themselves! Furthermore, if you put on a windscreen, it picks up some of the highest quality outside sound on even the windiest of days.

Other Stuff

The above items are really just two samples of the many types of products out there, but these are my recommendations for a really basic – but decent – video set-up. You probably won’t be able to purchase them both at once, but I encourage you to build on them over time. For instance, you can’t just buy the DSLR – you’ll need extra lenses, tripods, and cases. Heck, you may find an even better DSLR! (They do exist.) As for the Zoom, you may want to buy extra mics to use with it.

However, in addition to these items, you’ll probably need some other stuff for lighting. For that, I recommend some cheap worklights. They are really effective! Furthermore, you may not be able to grab the 60D or the Zoom right away, and that’s just fine. With that in mind, I recommend these cheaper consumer cameras (some currently on holiday deals) from B&H Photo Video:

• Canon Vixia HF R20 – $259
• JVC GZ-HM30 HD Everio Camcorder – $179
• Panasonic HDC-SD80 High Definition Camcorder (Black) – $219
• Sony HDR-CX110 HD Handycam Camcorder – $379
• Samsung HMX-Q10 HD Camcorder – $194

Conclusion

Keep in mind that with any of these products, you will need to factor in the costs of memory cards, tripods, bags, extended warranties, cleaning kits, etc. Also, it never really matters as to what kind of gear you get for making videos – what matters is how you use it.

What other cameras do you recommend for holiday filmmaking? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

We all know Christmas isn’t just about giving and receiving gifts, but finding that unique present you know that special someone is going to love makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. Here are some far-out unique gadget gift ideas that even the nerdiest of nerds should love!

Pandora Handheld

Here’s a unique gift, though I’ve got a bit of a confession to make before everyone rushes out and buys one. At present the Pandora is in the pre-order stage, and probably won’t be shipping till January, possibly February.

Never mind, because if you think someone would love a tiny, handheld Linux PC that tears through games it’ll be worth the wait – because that’s exactly what the Pandora is. Using an open, community-developed distributon of Linux, the Pandora has been built with 43-key QWERTY keyboard, Nintendo DS-style game controls and a resistive touchscreen (complete with stylus) to boot.

The unit itself is similar in design to Nintendo’s handheld, except it functions as a fully operable PC and is the perfect platform for emulation. I’ve personally wanted one of these since watching Stuart Ashen’s review (YouTube video, below) in which he puts it through its paces, playing all manner of arcade and console classics with a battery life that outshines the 3DS.

The Pandora comes with nearly everything you could ever want from such a machine including an SD card slot, USB 2.0 and serious grunt under the hood (full technical specifications can be found here). The lucky recipient might have to wait a bit, but your €375 (or €445 for EU customers, inc 19% VAT) will be well spent when the beast arrives.

Wicked Lasers

Pretty much the closest thing you can get to a real-life Lightsaber, Wicked Lasers are a company that specialize in creating unbelievably powerful (and legal) lasers. I’m honestly not that sure what you’d use the products supplied by Wicked Lasers for, but you can’t argue that it’s not a unique gift.

The most powerful model, the Spyder III Arctic, is recognised as the most powerful handheld laser in the world. It takes a rechargeable battery, has 9 modes of operation and can quite literally burn through most combustible material – all for US$299.

Be warned – these are not toys. They are highly dangerous and could cause serious injury to eyes or skin if misused. They sure do look fun, though…

Note: These products are illegal in some countries, so if you’re seriously thinking of dropping $300 on a laser at least check you won’t go to jail first.

Starter Kit for Arduino

Are you looking for a gift for someone who likes to tinker with electronics? Does this person have a drawer full of cables, circuit boards and books on programming? Then an Arduino Starter Kit might just make their Christmas wish-list this year, and doesn’t cost the earth either.

James jumped at the chance to write this MakeUseOf article all about Arduino, explaining the general aim of the project and roughly what’s achievable. Put simply, Arduino is a somewhat-revolutionary device that can be programmed to do all sorts of different things.

Both software and hardware is open source, and the programming aspect has been simplified so that anyone with a passing interest can have a go. If you do end up buying that special someone an Arduino Starter Kit then don’t forget to check back in at MakeUseOf where we’ll have a series of guides and tutorials online soon.

Maschine

The first of two musical gift solutions, Maschine is a dedicated hardware groove sequencer that interfaces with your PC for an old-meets-new approach to building complex beats and rhythms. Those of you with an iPhone might have noticed iMaschine, an app that aims to bring Maschine-like qualities to iOS, but for those who are serious about music an app just can’t compare to a physical pad.

Developed by Native Instruments, the company who bought you Traktor and Komplete, the Maschine has multiple uses including groove sequencing, sampling and even performing live. The unit itself is compatible with both Windows and OS X machines and comes with more than 6GB of samples to get started.

Those of you who have been busily tapping out beats on your iPhone can finally put them to use on your computer, tweaking and continuing your work at your desk. There’s a lot of fun to be had with a Maschine, though it doesn’t come cheap at US$669 for the full version. Check out the video below to really see what the professionals can do with this expensive but awesome box of fun.

KORG Monotron & microKORG

Two analogue synthesizer solutions – one for the hobbyist, one for the musician. I actually bought the original Monotron a few months ago and can testify that it’s a fantastic palm-sized synthesizer that can be used to generate some bone-shaking noises whilst retaining pocket-sized portability. What’s more these little babies are cheap, and the basic model will only set you back about US$60.

Two more Monotron models have been released, the Duo and Delay, and you can check out the differences between them here. All models feature standard 3.5mm connections that handle both input and output and are the perfect introduction to the world of analogue synthesizers – though I’d recommend using a stylus (not supplied) for accuracy.

The microKORG is a completely different kettle of fish, providing far more functionality thanks to a 37-key mini keyboard, programmable presets, a microphone complete with vocoder, effects and delays for anyone with an interest in warm, fuzzy analogue synth. As you’d expect the microKORG costs considerably more, but at around US$400 it’s not a bad deal and should provide hours and hours of fun.

Conclusion

Hopefully these rather unique and unusual gifts will give you some ideas whilst shopping around for gifts this holiday season. If you’ve got any similar ideas that might help fellow shoppers out then don’t hesitate in adding them in the comments selection below.

Will you be buying any of the items on this list this year? Any unique gadgets that caught your eye? What on earth would you use a high-powered laser for? Confess, below.

Image Credit: Intro (Shutterstock), Pandora Handheld, Arctic S3 Laser, KORG Synthesizers

Who cares about those? They’re not thin, they don’t run apps (usually), and they’re made by companies like HP, which as a brand, is every bit as interesting as Tupperware.

Yet most people with a computer need to at least have a printer, and there have been advancements in printer technology over the past few years. You don’t need to put up with a lazy old printer that constantly jams. There are better options available.

Best Cheap InkJet Printer: HP Deskjet 3050

Looking for a basic InkJet printer that’s cheap, yet capable of printing text and photos at an adequate level of quality? You’ll probably want to pick up the HP Deskjet 3050, which can be had for as little as $35.

For that, you receive a printer that includes Wi-Fi support and a scanner. Make no mistake – this is not a particularly quick printer, nor is it capable of providing great quality. You are getting what you pay for. But if you only need a printer for occasional, simple printing tasks like a document or a family photo that will be posted on the refrigerator rather than framed, this is an inexpensive solution.

Best Cheap Laser Printer: Brother HL2270DW

Though most consumers prefer inkjets, laser has its place, particularly among home office users. They’re quicker and usually less expensive to operate, which translates to a printer ideal for churning out pages in mass quantities.

Enter the Brother HL2270DW. This $89.99 printer can churn out almost 20 pages per minute, which is much quicker than your average consumer inkjet. It also includes wireless connectivity and can print 1,000 pages on the default toner cartridge before needing replacement.

The downside? It’s monochrome. That’s not at all unusual among laser printers and it underlines what this printer is built for.

Best Overall All-In-One Printer (Print & Scan): Canon Pixma MG6120

This one was a bit of a tough call. Choices like the Epson Workforce 845 and more expensive Canon Pixma MG8120 are solid, but flooding in Thailand has cut off supply of some printers, causing rising prices and limited availability.

So we come to the Pixma MG6120. This all-in-one printer inkjet offers just about everything you could desire. It has duplex printing, a 3-inch LCD with touch input, a scan resolution of 4800×4800 dpi, and Wi-Fi connectivity with support for printing from mobile devices. Considering the price of about $115 on Amazon, this is an impressive array of features.

The only problem is one typical of inkjet printers – ink costs. If you print frequently, this will become an expensive printer quickly. But there’s no inkjet printer for which that isn’t true, and laser all-in-ones aren’t great solutions for many users because of lower image quality and higher pricing for similar features.

Best Overall Laser Printer: Dell 1355cn

It should be noted that the subtext of this recommendation is “for consumers”.  There are plenty of color laser printers available, but many of them are gigantic, expensive machines really intended for a business rather than a home office.

The Dell 1355cn is recommended because it’s an exception. Starting at $199.99, and small enough to fit on a (large) desk, this laser printer provides all the benefits of its kind. It is quick to print, offers relatively low cost-per-page, and can handle large projects with ease thanks to an expanse paper tray and recommended duty cycle of up to 30,000 pages per month.

There are some downsides. The $199.99 version doesn’t offer Wi-Fi printing, and while a scanner is included, it’s nothing special (equivalent to the much less expensive Pixma MG6120). Still, these aren’t bad sacrifices to make, as the alternative is to deal with the high cost of an inkjet or throw down $400-$800 for a high-end laser printer.

Best Stand-Alone Scanner: Epson Perfection V300

Yes, independent scanners still exist. The inclusion of scanners on most modern printers has nearly driven stand-alone scanners to extinction, but there are still some available.

Of these, the best is probably the Epson Perfection V300. This quick but simple scanner offers a resolution of 4800×9600 dpi and can easily turn documents into PDF files. It also includes the ability to scan 35mm negatives, which is a cool (albeit niche) feature.

For most consumers, the scanner on an all-in-one printer will work just as well, but the Epson Perfection V300 does provide a high optical resolution for just $75, which is much less than the typical all-in-one offering similar scanner quality.

Conclusion

When considering these recommendations, keep in mind that printer and scanner products often exist in families. For example, if you can’t find an Epson Perfection V300 at your local store, an Epson Perfection V330 is almost identical (a few meager extras are thrown in) and will probably cost only a little extra.

If I were to just pick one product out of all of these for your average home user, it’d be the Canon Pixma MG6120. Though ink costs can be high, it offers a lot of features at a low price and has excellent print quality.

Do you agree or disagree with the selections here? Let us know in the comments.

In its most basic form, the mouse is a rather simple piece of equipment. It has a sensor for determining position, and two or three buttons. Your typical Windows desktop PC doesn’t ship with a mouse more complex than this.

You might be taken by surprise, then, by the complexity available in the modern mouse. Once you start looking at options over $40 you begin to run in to fancy sensors and built-in memory. Is all of this stuff useful, or just a way to charge you more? Let’s find out.

Sensible Sensor Technology

I remember my first mouse. It had a little ball inside, along with some rollers, and the mouse position was determined by mechanical movement of the ball and the rollers. I always despised it, because the rollers would pick up dirt, and stop rolling smoothly.

Today, old-fashioned mechanical sensors have been replaced by optical technology. This consists of a LED that shines downwards (usually at an angle) and a video sensor that captures images of the surface lit by the LED. A processor then uses the image data to calculate how far the mouse has moved. Optical is the most common sensor type today, and it has the benefits of reasonable accuracy at a low price.

However, optical can be easily tripped up by strange textures or surface irregularities, which means a smooth surface like a mouse pad still works best. In response companies offer mice that use laser technology. The basic concepts are the same as optical technology but laser is more powerful, which increases the accuracy of imaging. Laser mice have higher maximum sensitivity and can be used on most surfaces, so you can throw out your mouse pad.  Also, laser mice are usually infrared, so there’s no glow.

In the past few years, new lasers and sensors have allowed for the use of laser mice on transparent surfaces. In slang these are sometimes called glaser mice (because they have laser, and work on glass), but there’s no official term, so you’ll have to keep an eye out for products advertising this capability.

In addition, Logitech has begun to use a proprietary technology called ‘Dark Field’ which uses two infrared lasers and advanced image processing to allow for mouse use on virtually any surface. I own a Logitech Anywhere MX mouse that uses Dark Field, and it does indeed seem to work on anything large enough to place a mouse on. However, they can be a bit pricey.

There are also some with motion sensors that don’t have to be on a surface at all. I’ve used these before and found them great for their purpose (presentations), but they’re not a good choice for your standard desktop.

What’s The Big Deal About DPI?

As you begin to look at high-end laser mice, you’ll start to see them advertising their maximum DPI. Unfortunately, they don’t usually explain the importance of it.

DPI stands for dots per inch, and it expresses how far the mouse cursor can possibly move in response to a given physical movement of the mouse. The higher this number, the more sensitive a mouse cursor will be.  This is advertised as beneficial because it allows the use to theoretically move the mouse more quickly and accurately.  Note that a “dot” is usually just a “pixel.” I’m not sure why the term used is not PPI – maybe it’s because that would conjure images of urinals.

Critics have noted that a high DPI may not be useful, and I generally am inclined to agree. Mice with an absurdly high DPI rating often have several sensitivity levels built in to a hardware button because the highest sensitivity is too twitchy to be practical. Only hardcore gamers (who practice enough to use the sensitivity as an advantage) and people with multiple high-resolution displays (who’d like to move across them in one quick motion) should care to look for high DPI. And even for these users, there are limits, though each user will have to determine what they are for themselves.

Wireless vs. Wired

Many of today’s mice are wireless, but not all of them, including some pricey options. Given how easy wireless is to implement, you may wonder why some are available without.

It’s because wireless is not 100% reliable. There can be occasional degradation in connectivity. Personally, I won’t play games on a wireless mouse, because I’ve too often had one cut out for a few seconds in the middle of a multiplayer session.

In addition, there’s the battery issue. Some people don’t want to hassle with a battery, in which case wired works better.

So Many Buttons!

Technically, all a Windows mouse really needs is a left mouse button, and a right one. Yet many modern mice come with a plethora of options. Are they actually useful?

That depends, but at the very least, having back/forward buttons on the side of a mouse can be useful for web browsing. I also recommend a scroll wheel with button functionality (this can be bound to open links in a new tab). So now we’re up to five buttons, and I think that’s about right for the average user.

Of course, you can go for even more, and again gamers are the most likely to use this extra functionality. Mice like the Razer Naga can be useful for MMOs. But if you don’t have a specific purpose in mind for the extra buttons, they’re probably not necessary.

Conclusion

A modern mouse can still be a simple device. If you just want two buttons and maybe a scroll wheel, a $10 or $20 option will do just fine.

But don’t discount the more expensive and advanced options. Having used laser mice, I’d never willingly go back to optical, because I like how well it works on irregular surfaces and I like the enhanced sensitivity.

Do you have some buying advice or an opinion on the latest and greatest mice? Let us know in the comments.

Image Credit: Hardforum