Computers, Laptops & Tablets

I’m a real PC geek at heart who’s built a couple of my own rigs over the years, and this month, I got to dream up my own ultimate PC multimedia setup to share with Plug-In Blog readers.

The Seagate Wireless Plus hard drive collected Best of CES hardware at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show and it’s easy to see why. Plenty of storage (2TB or enough for up to 1,000 movies), USB 3.0 speed and a compact size are all good to haves. But the Plus in this case is actually two pluses: Wi-Fi access (with its own Wi-Fi network) and a built-in battery for up to 10 hours of completely wire-free use. If you travel and wish you could take your media with you, the Seagate Wireless Plus hard drive may just be the perfect solution.

With gamers spending so much time, money, and attention in fine-tuning the details of their gaming rig, they deserve a monitor that can keep up and really showcase that graphical performance. That monitor is finally here with the Acer XB270HU high performance 27” IPS gaming monitor.

It’s a network attached storage (NAS) device with a bountiful list of features on offer, but are they features you need in your digital life?

I had the chance to use a Surface Pro 3 at a launch event, but I haven’t spent any extended time with any of Microsoft’s tablets since a Surface 2 back in 2013. Microsoft recently sent me a new Surface 3 to try out for a long term review and I came away impressed with how these devices are evolving. And the experience got even better once I’d updated the loaner to Windows 10.

This is a question many parents are bound to be asking as back to school fever ramps up. I’m in a pretty decent position to weigh in on the question. One of my kids spent the previous school year using a laptop in class; another brought a tablet to school every day. Your mileage is going to vary depending on age and courses, but after a full year of using both high tech options I can say that for many students a tablet is definitely just as good as a laptop—even better in some ways—but you need to make sure it’s properly accessorized to make the most of it.

Windows 10 introduces a new era of continuity for your user experience between all of your devices with its new ‘Continuum’ functionality. Whether you’re using a desktop, notebook, tablet or hybrid device, Continuum helps you get the most out of your experience across all sorts of device types and interfaces all with a familiar, powerful and dynamic personal interface designed to help you do great things.

You might be surprised just how much difference the right monitor can make but the combination of a curved screen, thin bezel and integrated speakers makes the Samsung SD590C curved 27″ monitor one you’ll definitely want to take a look at.

When a PC is fresh out of the box, it’s a thing of beauty. But then you have to set it up, get online, back up your data, worry about someone else stealing your data, keep the software up to date … well let’s face it: ownership is a lot of work. That’s where a Geek Squad Membership comes in. A low monthly fee gets you exclusive access to first class technical support that takes the hard work off your shoulders so you can enjoy actually using your device, plus exclusive benefits.

A few years ago, you couldn’t have paid me to switch to a tablet that cost less than $150. However, one of the great things about technology is the trickle down effect and that has changed the tablet game. Just like you can now buy an entry level car with tech that used to be exclusive to premium vehicles–like anti-lock brakes or a Bluetooth capable sound system—many entry level tablets now offer features that used to set the more expensive models apart. I just wrapped up a few days using the Insignia 8-inch Windows 8 tablet and came away impressed. This device is proof that an entry level tablet is more than capable of filling many peoples’ casual tablet needs without spending a fortune.