• Intro
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Fancy Mouse
• HD Webcam
• Rugged HDD
• Secure HDD

Peripherals, they say, are the spice of life. Well, maybe they don’t say that, but they do say it about variety, and peripherals add variety to your computing life. If you’re reading this on a stock HP desktop, clicking on links with the mouse that came with it, and trusting your data to that 512MB USB stick they gave you at work, then you should consider accessorizing.

There are lots of things out there that make your computer better, more secure, or more comfortable. Why not treat yourself or a loved one to one of them?

Keyboard

Logitech G110 keyboard: $80

Now, I haven’t used this keyboard specifically, but I did review its big brother, the G19. The essential difference is that the G110 doesn’t have the big, expensive LCD on it, which, while cool, wasn’t really adding much to what was otherwise a great keyboard. It’s comfortable, good-looking, and full of extra stuff like macro keys for games or frequently typed phrases, colored backlighting, and handy media controls. Logitech makes great keyboards, and this one is probably their best deal.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review (kind of)

Mouse

Logitech G500 Gaming Mouse: $70

Anyone who spends a lot of time with a computer likely spends a lot of time with their mouse. So why should they be stuck using whatever $5 piece of junk came with the computer, or whatever was in the impulse buy section at Radio Shack? There’s a world of mice out there for differently sized and shaped hands, and it can make a huge difference in terms of comfort and efficiency. The G500 is a great mouse with a proven and familiar shape, and at $50 (street price) it’s a bargain as well. Any gamer or big PC user will appreciate it.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Fancy Mouse

Razer Mamba: $130

The Mamba is the final word in mice at the moment. A revision of the Death Adder shape, which was popular for a reason, the Mamba adds two extra buttons and wireless operation to the mix. I found it comfortable, accurate, and extremely good-looking. If you’re willing to spend the dough, this is the best mouse you can buy.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

HD Webcam

Microsoft LifeCam Cinema: $80

Chances are if you or anyone you know has a webcam, it’s either built into your display or a cheapie one that’s no better than that. Well, a new generation of webcams is coming out that support high-def video, and the first representative is Microsoft’s LifeCam Cinema. It’s got a nice wide angle on it, has more clarity than those pinhole webcams, and the clamp it uses is really convenient. One for you and one for a kid going off to college would be a great way to stay in touch; Microsoft’s video chat software is pretty decent. You can find it for around $60, which isn’t bad at all if you use your current webcam much.

Product Page | CrunchGear Hands-On

Rugged HDD

Lacie Rugged XL 1TB: $160

Lacie’s Rugged series isn’t so much rugged as merely protected from everyday life. While your average external hard drive would probably go belly up if you spilled on it or dropped it, the Rugged XL will take a (minor) licking before rolling over. I’d be much more comfortable bringing this on a long trip than any other drive. There’s a premium for the ruggedness (street price is around $140), but whoever get this will thank you later when the dog knocks it off a table.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Secure HDD

Lenovo keypad-secured USB drive (160GB): $150

For your loved ones that are security-conscious, or simply paranoid, I recommend this great drive. Spacious it’s not, and you’re paying a lot for the gigs you’re getting, but the built-in keypad is just too cool to pass up. Not only is it very secure, but it’s also very well-designed. Since you’re actually pressing buttons, there’s no need to worry about administrating it or security software — just set it up once (keep the instructions just in case) and you’re good to go. You can also get a 320GB version for around $200.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

• Intro
• AT&T
• Sprint
• T-Mobile
• Verizon

Buying someone else a phone is risky business. Preferences vary, you’ve gotta get their carrier right… it’s a tough game. But if you’re down to make a gamble, we’re here to help. I’ve spent more time playing with new phones in the last year than anyone should ever spend with any phone ever, and have broken down my favorite offerings from each carrier by “Best Bet”, “Best Bet For Under $100″ (though it’s usually worth it to splurge), and “Best Bet for Business” for you Enterprisey folks. Tap on those little arrows down below to begin, and enjoy!

Best Bet — Apple iPhone 3GS: Starting at $199.99

While the Android-vs-iPhone war might not be showing any sign of slowing, AT&T has managed to stay out of things by… not offering an Android phone. As a result, the iPhone is unarguably the safest bet here; it’s drop dead easy to use, gorgeous, and jam-packed with features.

Features:

• Screen: 3.5 inches at 480×320 resolution
• Storage: 16GB, not expandable
• Battery: 5 hours talk time
• Keyboard: Virtual
• Camera: 3-megapixel
• Dimensions: 4.5” x 2.4” x 0.48” and 4.8 ounces

Product Page | MobileCrunch Review

Best Under $100 — Apple iPhone 3G: $99.99

With the launch of the iPhone 3GS, Apple and AT&T decided to keep the one-year old iPhone 3G on the shelves at just $99 bucks. In comparison to the 3GS, you’ll be shaving 1 megapixel off the camera, video recording, voice control, and the compass. You’ll still have access to (most of) the App Store’s 100,000+ applications, though.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Best For Business – BlackBerry Bold: $199.99

The iPhone may be good for a lot of things, but typing emails isn’t one of them. If you’re blasting out more emails in a day than most people send in an entire month, then you’ll absolutely want the physical keyboard of the BlackBerry Bold.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Best Bet – HTC Hero: $179.99

When it comes to Android phones without physical keyboards, the HTC Hero shows how it’s done. The hardware is stunning, and HTC really knocked it out of the park with their custom “Sense” user interface. The Sprint Hero is a bit more expensive up front than its nearly identical cousin, the Verizon Droid Eris ($179.99 vs $99.99, respectively), but Sprint’s monthly plans are almost always easier on the wallet.

Features:

• Screen: 3.2 inches at 480×320 resolution
• Storage: 256MB, expandable via microSD
• Battery: 5 hours talk time
• Keyboard: Virtual
• Camera: 5-megapixel
• Dimensions: 4.5” x 2.2” x 0.5” and 4.5 ounces

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Best Under $100 – Palm Pixi (Sort of): $99.99

This one was a tough pick – we really like the Pixi’s hardware, but we had a lot off issues with laggy software during our review, and the lack of WiFi sucks. That said, the price might make up for it: while it’s $99 bucks through Sprint, you can get it for as cheap as $25 bucks through third party retailers. If you’re willing to splurge and drop $50-60 more and still want to stay below $99 (again through third party resellers – see Amazon), however, you’d probably be better off with the Pre.

Product Page | MobileCrunch Review

Best For Business – HTC Touch Pro2: $349.99

If you haven’t touched the keyboard on this thing, you just don’t understand. This is how keyboards on mobile handsets should be done. Windows Mobile certainly isn’t our favorite OS (and to make things worse, it’s 6.1 rather than the newer 6.5), but a lot of IT departments still prefer and/or require it.

Product Page

Best Bet – myTouch 3G: $149.99

To be honest, this one just sort of wins by default as T-Mobile doesn’t have the biggest variety of smartphones. Their best offerings are the myTouch 3G and the Motorola Cliq. The Cliq’s battery is bordering on terrible, while the myTouch battery is considerably better. It lacks the Cliq’s phyical keyboard, but we’d take the myTouch anyday.

Features:

• Screen: 3.2 inches at 480×320 resolution
• Storage: 256MB, expandable via microSD
• Battery: 7 hours talk time
• Keyboard: Virtual
• Camera: 3.2-megapixel
• Dimensions: 4.5” x 2.2” x 0.6” and 4.1 ounces

Product Page | MobileCrunch Review

Best Under $100 – Dash 3G: $99.99

Again, T-Mobile’s limited selection makes a category tough. If you’re absolutely limited at $99 bucks, the only reasonable options you’ve got are the Dash 3G and the BlackBerry 8820. Of those two, the Dash 3G wins hands down, if only because the 8820 feels damned near ancient at this point. If you’ve got the extra change to spare, however, I would absolutely recommend splurging for a G1 or a myTouch – either option really would be a massive upgrade.

Product Page | MobileCrunch Review

Best For Business – BlackBerry Curve 8900: $149.99

The Curve 8900 is one of my favorite BlackBerrys of all time. The keyboard is great, the handset is beautiful, and it packs all the Enterprise features you’d expect of a BlackBerry handset. The downside? No 3G. T-Mobile’s 3G network is still fairly stunted, though, so that’s not a huge loss – but if you often find yourself out of WiFi range, know what you’re getting into.

Product Page | MobileCrunch Review

Best Bet – DROID by Motorola: $199.99

As of right this second, the Droid is the king of smartphones on Verizon. Hell, it’s one of our favorite phones on any carrier, and most certainly my top Android phone. Sure, it’s not without its quirks, but it’s one of the best implementations of Android to date. The hardware, paired with the (currently exclusive) Android 2.0, makes this an absolutely stellar buy.

Features:

• Screen: 3.7 inches at 854×480 resolution
• Storage: 512MB, expandable via microSD (16GB card included)
• Battery: 6.5 hours talk time
• Keyboard: Slide-out QWERTY
• Camera: 5-megapixel
• Dimensions: 4.56” x 2.36” x 0.54” and 5.96 ounces

Product Page | MobileCrunch Review

Best Under $100 – DROID ERIS: $99.99

Take the Moto Droid – shave off the keyboard, drop the screen resolution, add in HTC’s signature Sense UI (albeit running on Android 1.5 rather than the oh-so-glorious 2.0) and bump the price of the Droid down by $100 bucks, and you’ve got the Droid Eris. It’s ridiculously slim, and the only thing more gorgeous than the hardware is the software running on it. HTC has already openly admitted that they’re working on getting Sense to work with Android 2.0, so it’s probably safe to assume the Droid Eris will get the upgrade treatment sooner or later. Either way, it’s still a damn good buy at a cent shy of a hundred.

Product Page

BlackBerry Tour: $149.99

If you’re looking for a solid mix of an amazing keyboard and corporate friendliness on Verizon, look no further than the Tour. In fact, if you’re looking for any BlackBerry, look no further than the Tour. This is the BlackBerry I turn to when I’m in need of one. It lacks WiFi – which sucks, a lot – but everything else about this handset is absolutely top notch. The keyboard is an example for others to follow, and the build quality is simply superb.

Product Page | MobileCrunch Review

• Intro
• Amazon Kindle
• Barnes & Noble nook
• Sony Reader Daily Edition
• IREX DR800SG

We’re only about five weeks away from Christmas, so now’s as good a time as any to talk about (drum roll, please) e-books. Amazon kick-started the e-book market (with apologies to earlier e-book readers) with the introduction of the Kindle in the fall of 2007. Two years later, Barnes and Noble, IREX, and Sony announced new or updated e-book readers of their own.

The question becomes, which e-book reader is right for you? The truth is, they’re all very similar, so it should come down to what books their compatible book stores carry. Oh, and price, of course.

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Kindle: Starting at $259 (Amazon.com)

The elder statesman of the current crop of e-book readers, the Amazon Kindle is now in its second iteration (putting aside for a moment the Kindle DX, which isn’t exactly a “traditional” e-book reader, if such a thing even exists). As the name suggests, it has the full backing of Amazon—you may have heard of it—which should ensure that it’ll stick around for a while. You can find it on Amazon.

Features:

• Compatible with e-books (and magazines and newspaper) purchased from Amazon. There’s some 360,000 books available, so odds are you’ll find something you like.

• 6-inch, non-touchscreen E Ink display. Very legible, believe me.

• Free 3G wireless data access. That means you don’t have to be tethered to a computer to add new books to your device.

• It now works in more than 100 countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Australia, and Brazil.

• Holds up to 1,500 books simultaneously.

Product Page

Barnes & Noble nook

Barnes & Noble nook: $259 (BarnesandNoble.com)

Yes, the nook is written in all lowercase letters, so accept no substitutes. It, along with the Kindle, is destined to become one of the two biggest e-book readers available. It’s backed by the enormity of Barnes & Noble, and all that that entails, has a color scroll bar at the bottom (color = huge when it comes to e-books), and seems to do just about everything right… It’ll be available in a few days (currently scheduled for a November 30 release) from the Barnes & Noble Web site and brick-and-mortar stores.

• 6-inch E Ink display, with color touchscreen navigation bar along the bottom. Note that the screen itself isn’t in color, just that navigation bar.

• Free 3G and Wi-Fi.

• Works with the Barnes & Noble e-book store, which has “thousands” of books.

• Enough storage space to hold around 1,500 books, plus a microSD card slot in case you need more space.

Product Page

Sony Reader Daily Edition

Sony Reader Daily Edition: $399.99 (SonyStyle.com)

Sony has been in the e-book business for a while now, but the Daily, as it’s called when brevity is an issue, is the company’s latest attempt to make these things finally “click.” As of this writing (November 19, 2009) it’s not actually available yet, but Sony says it will ship in time for Christmas. (It’s available for pre-order right now.) The following is based on what Sony has already publicly announced.

• Compatible with more than 40,000 books from places like the New York Public Library and overdrive.com. (Interestingly, not all of Sony’s partners have been revealed yet.)

• 7-inch, touchscreen E Ink display.

• Free 3G wireless data access. Again, no having to be tethered to a computer to download new content.

• Supports a whole host of file formats, including Adobe PDFs (hello, alt.binaries.books!), Microsoft Word documents, and MP3/AAC audio.

• Thanks to the touchscreen, you can take notes on it like you would a regular notebook. Might be handy.

Product Page

IREX DR800SG

IREX DR800SG: $399.99 (IREXReader.com)

This little guy was the first e-book reader announced to include support for the Barnes & Noble e-book store. It has the biggest screen of the lot, and manages to check all the right boxes. Its name is woeful. Like the Sony Daily, it’s not available yet, but will be at Best Buy and online in a few weeks.

• 8.1-inch, touchscreen E-Ink display (but it uses a stylus, so…)

• Compatible with the Barnes & Noble e-book store, along with Newspaper Direct and LibreDigital.

• Free 3G wireless, plus Wi-Fi.

• Unique navigation via left-hand side bar.

• If you want to support the future, IREX has already said that it’s working on a full-color e-book reader that it intends to launch next year. It’s the only manufacturer to commit to releasing a color reader just yet.

Product Page

• Intro
• Stylophone
• Ghostbusters
• Genesis Portable
• Eyeclops
• Zippity
• Ball and Cage

The problem with creating a category for toys on CrunchGear is that almost everything we review is a toy – it’s fun, cool, and great to play with for at least a day or two until our attention is inevitably drawn to something else. That said, here are some gift ideas for the toy lover in your life.

Stylophone

Stylophone Beatbox: $25.50 (100Milligrams.com)

I’m sorry I’m going to thrust this upon you but this is a really cool way to make music. Seriously. You slide the little stylus all over the pad to create different beats and the resulting cacophony can even sound somewhat professional. If the kids don’t want to learn violin, this is the next best thing.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Ghostbusters

Ghostbusters Action Figures: $19.99 (ThinkGeek.com)

These make for a great stocking stuffer and they’ll make the kids aware of films from the era before computer-generated video.

Product Page

Genesis Portable

Sega Genesis Portable: $69.99 (InnexInc.com)

Kids asking for a console? Don’t give them the satisfaction. Make them earn it. But don’t be completely cruel. Give them something like the Sega Genesis Portable Handheld. It includes great games like Sonic & Knuckles and will make them hunger for the New Super Mario Brothers even more.

Product Page (available for purchase at Buy.com) | CrunchGear Review

Eyeclops

Jakks Pacific EyeClops Night Vison 2.0 Binoculars: $69.99 (Jakks.com)

One of my favorite toys of the season. This amazing night vision kit makes it fun to run around in the dark – especially for the kid wearing the night vision goggles. Recreate your favorite scenes from G-Force and Silence of the Lambs.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Zippity

Zippity from Leapfrog: $69.99 (Leapfrog.com)

Kids too young for games? Give them this massive joystick/footpad combination and let them lead Winnie the Pooh, Diego, and other characters down the primrose path to fun.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Ball and Cage

Homemade Ball and Cage: Free (GVSU.edu)

Trust me: the kids will think you’re a freak but when they’re thirty or so they’ll pull this out and think of you.

Product Page

• Intro
• Sleek
• Radius
• Logitech
• Altec Lansing
• Roxy

So you’ve taken the plunge and bought (or are going to buy) a sweet new personal media player. iPod, Zune, Walkman or other, they’re all capable of holding all your favorite music. But what’s the point if it sounds like garbage on that chintzy pair of included earbuds? Every pair of white headphones you see represents someone who cares more about the look than the sound. Is that you? Didn’t think so.

Now, you don’t have to drop a ton of money to get great sound, but if you’re game, then there are vast and beautiful sonic realms just waiting for you to visit. I’ve had my eyes opened in the last few years as I’ve become… well, I wouldn’t call myself an audiophile, but I’m certainly enjoying my music more than ever these days. Here are a few pairs we’ve liked, from surround-sound to in-ear, and from budget to luxury.

Sleek

Sleek Audio SA6: $249

My new “reference” pair of headphones, this excellent in-ear pair not only sounds great, but is customizable with different tips which change the sound. Sure, you can EQ your songs and albums individually, but being able to blow up the bass or extend the treble in the hardware is fun and can really bring new life to your music. Aside from that aspect, the SA6es, I felt, added power to almost every song I played. I’m not sure how, but there you have it. It’s a lot of money for a pair of headphones, but if you (or a loved one) spend a lot of time using the ones you’ve got, it may just be worth the investment.

If you’re not sure, Sleek is just now starting to ship a cheaper ($80) customizable pair, though we haven’t had a chance to put them through their paces yet.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Radius

Radius Atomic Bass: $35

Looking for a good pair of in-ears to replace those stock headphones, but don’t want to spend a bundle? Peter loved the Atomic Bass in-ears from Radius, which completely block out external sound and have a great low end. For subway riding, jogging, or editing video in a crowded cafe, these are a good bet. For $40 you’re not going to get crystal-clear quality, but you’re going to be getting a lot more than with those tinny things that came with the Walkman.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Logitech

Logitech G35 7.1 Surround-Sound headphones: $120

Know someone who enjoys playing games or watching movies on your computer? A good pair of surround-sound headphones can be a game-changer. Most modern games support surround sound, and the G35s use Dolby’s virtual surround technology to make even plain stereo sound bigger. I found that with movies and shows it could be hit or miss, but whether they were providing “true” surround sound or not, there was always power and detail. For games I soon came to find them indispensable. As a bonus, they’re closed-type headphones, meaning they’re great for college dorm rooms where speakers or open headphones (like the similarly good Megalodons) can disturb roommates.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Altec Lansing

Altec Lansing Backbeat 903: $99

Wireless headphones used to be big chunky affairs with huge IR or RF bases. These Altec Lansings, however, pair via Bluetooth and in addition to sounding good, have integrated phone control buttons and a microphone. If your (or a loved one’s) phone has a weird headphone jack (likely), these are a great alternative. And of course they’re a good option for jogging or going to the gym with, since there’s 100% less cord to worry about.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

Roxy

JBL Roxy reference 430: $70

Teens are hard to please when it comes to fashion, much less on audio quality, so these JBL Roxy on-ears came as somewhat of a surprise. All the young ladies who saw them pronounced them cute, and the sound was impressive both to our seasoned reviewer and the teens who gave them a try. There are two color choices that both look ridiculous to me, so they must be cute.

Product Page | CrunchGear Review

• Intro
• Flip Mino
• Creative Vado
• Kodak Zx1
• Sony Webbie HD
• Insignia
• Compare

Pocket-sized camcorders continue to grow in popularity thanks to falling prices, shrinking form factors, and enhanced video quality. While there are plenty on the market to choose from right now, this guide will focus on models selling for less than $150. That seems to be a good price ceiling that allows you to get plenty of features without spending too much.

Flip Mino

Flip Mino: $149.99 (TheFlip.com)

Flip’s line of compact digital camcorders arguably broadened the mass appeal of such devices thanks to simplified controls, pocket-friendly form factors and, perhaps above all, easy-to-use built-in software and streamlined YouTube uploading. While many of its competitors now offer similar features at lower price points, Flip cameras are still wildly popular.

Features:

• Storage: 2GB (not expandable)
• Resolution: 640×480
• LCD Size: 1.5 inches
• Zoom: 2x digital
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion (not replaceable)
• TV Output: Composite AV

PROS: Stylish, customizable, super easy to use, tiny form factor, built-in software

CONS: Expensive, no way to add storage, no way to replace battery

Product Page

Creative Vado

Creative Vado: $99.99 (Creative.com)

Taking its cues from the aforementioned Flip Mino, the Creative Vado matches it almost spec for spec while featuring a larger LCD and smaller price tag. Sure, it may not come in as many colors and designs but if you’re looking for Flip’s portability and ease of use at a much lower price, the Vado is a good place to start.

Features:

• Storage: 2GB (not expandable)
• Resolution: 640×480
• LCD Size: 2 inches
• Zoom: 2x digital
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion (replaceable)
• TV Output: Composite AV

PROS: Flip Mino features for $50 less, replaceable battery, relatively big 2-inch LCD

CONS: No way to add storage, bland color options

Product Page

Kodak Zx1

Kodak Zx1: $149.95 (Kodak.com)

Kodak’s newest addition to the world of pocket camcorders is the Zx1, capable of recording 720p video at up to 60 frames per second. The camcorder comes with two AA rechargeable batteries, which means it can use standard AA batteries in a pinch. You can even purchase Kodak’s rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack to use instead.

Features:

• Storage: 128MB (expandable via SD/SDHC)
• Resolution: 1280×720
• LCD Size: 2 inches
• Zoom: 2x digital
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion (replaceable)
• TV Output: Composite AV and HDMI

PROS: 60 FPS HD video on the cheap, multiple battery options, dual video outputs

CONS: Not much built-in storage, ships with nickel-metal hydride batteries

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Sony Webbie HD

Sony Webbie HD: $149.99 (SonyStyle.com)

Sony’s Webbie HD pocket camcorder features a cool swiveling lens, individual movie and still photo buttons, and more-than-720p-but-not-quite-1080p resolution. Initially priced at $169.99, the Webbie HD line has now been discounted to $149.99 for the holidays.

Features:

• Storage: None (expandable via Sony Memory Stick PRO/PRO Duo)
• Resolution: 1440×1080
• LCD Size: 1.8 inches
• Zoom: 4x digital
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion (replaceable)
• TV Output: Composite AV and Component AV

PROS: Swivel lens for self portraits, separate still photo and video recording buttons

CONS: No built-in storage, uses proprietary Memory Stick format, odd resolution

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Insignia

Insignia NS-DV1080P: $149.99 (InsigniaProducts.com)

Best Buy’s house-brand, Insignia, has managed to put together a portable camcorder that shoots full 1080p video and sports a big 3-inch flip-out LCD – all for $149.99. You also get a front-mounted video light, although I can’t make any claims as to how useful it actually is.

Features:

• Storage: 90MB (expandable via SD/SDHC)
• Resolution: 1920×1080
• LCD Size: 3 inches
• Zoom: 4x digital (in 720p mode)
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion (replaceable)
• TV Output: HDMI

PROS: Full 1080p HD video for $149.99, big LCD screen, video light

CONS: 4x digital zoom only works at 720p resolution

Product Page