Laptop Gear | Gear Diary

News & Features January 13, 2015

The Waterfield Bolt Briefcase Is All Business and All Waterfield

We love Waterfield products and look to them to protect our gear when we go on the road. We also love seeing the company come up with new ways to bring their great aesthetic and device protection together. That’s certainly the case with the new Waterfield Bolt Briefcase. It’s the Waterfield bag for the man, or woman, who means business. The Bolt Briefcase comes in two sizes. The large version holds up to a 17″ laptop, comes in black ballistic nylon for $279 and weighs 2.95 pounds. The small version can handle up to a 13″ laptop, comes in tan…

Reviews December 7, 2014

The AKiTio Thunder2 Quad Is a Powerhouse Thunderbolt Hard Drive Enclosure

The AKiTio Thunder2 Quad is a 4-bay external hard drive enclosure with dual Thunderbolt ports that is able to transfer data up to 20 Gbps or 1,375 MB/s. It has a large handle on top as well as a carrying bag for easy transport. This sturdy hard drive enclosure, perfect for professionals, retails for $499 with no storage included.

Reviews November 25, 2014

Epson Expression Photo XP-860 All-in-One Printer Is Small and Social

This holiday season, you will be using your phone, tablet, and (shockingly) your camera to take dozens if not hundreds of photos. Some will go up on Facebook or Instagram, but many will sit on the device waiting. Well, with the Epson Expression Photo XP-860 Small-in-One All-in-One Printer the wait is over. Use it to print pictures now and your memoirs later. This printer looks similar to the Epson All-In-One we reviewed last year. It is but the updates Epson packed into this next-generation printer are impressive. That is especially the case with its ability to let you print wirelessly…

Reviews November 17, 2014

Jabra EVOLVE 80 Headset Is All Work and All Play

There are more knowledge workers than ever trying to be productive in ever-smaller spaces. Distractions are everywhere, and their impact is tremendous. The new Jabra EVOLVE line of headsets was designed for just this scenario. We were sent a pair of the Jabra EVOLVE 80 Headset for review, and we are truly impressed with what the company has done here.

Outdoors, Reviews, Travel October 15, 2014

Altego Lunar Mirror Messenger Bag Totes the Load

When selecting a messenger bag, especially to actually use on a bicycle like they were originally intended for, balance is everything. It’s important to maintain a proper balance between being big enough to hold your stuff and not too bulky to ride with. And the actual balance of the payload is critical. The Altego Lunar Mirror Messenger has it all!

Reviews, Travel October 11, 2014

Lumsing 5 Port USB Travel Charger Review

Can you ever have too many USB ports available? That’s a silly question; of course you can’t, and that applies whether you are at home, at work, or traveling. So here’s something that’ll help take some of the burden off of your laptop’s ports, allowing you to travel with just one power source: the Lumsing 5 Port USB Travel Charger. Measuring approximately 5.3″ long x 2.75″ wide x 1.25″ thick, the Lumsing charger is compact enough to fit into a pocket in your laptop bag, gear bag, larger purse, or briefcase, but it is powerful enough that it can charge up to five devices at once using USB…

Reviews September 20, 2014

AKiTiO Neutrino Thunderbolt Edition 512GB SSD Portable Drive Review

If you have a lot of data that needs regular backup, then once you’ve experienced Thunderbolt, nothing else will ever seem fast enough again, not even USB 3.0. I’ve been using the AKiTiO Neutrino Thunderbolt Edition 512GB Solid State Drive (SSD) Portable Drive for the past few weeks, and it’s a good thing it’s a keeper, because I’ve become spoiled.

Reviews July 20, 2014

IOGEAR Wireless Mobile and PC to HDTV With WiDi and Miracast Review

Apple TV lets you access iTunes or view content from a Mac or iOS device on the big screen. The same holds true for Google Chromecast and Amazon Fire TV. Unfortunately, each only works with devices in that company’s ecosystem. Looking for something more platform agnostic? Check out the IOGEAR Wireless Mobile and PC to HDTV With WiDi and Miracast.

Reviews June 27, 2014

The 128GB SanDisk MicroSDXC Is a Tiny Powerhouse

One thing that most Android phones get right, and that Apple (and many Windows Phones) still hasn’t, is the ability to add extended memory. The largest amount of memory any mobile phone can be purchased with is 64GB. Thanks to the 128GB SanDisk MicroSDXC I recently received and added to my Sony Xperia Z2, I now have 130.57GB. WHOA!

Reviews June 13, 2014

Leef Copper Edition Surge 64GB USB Flash Drive Review

I love my 15″ MacBook Pro retina, but I still kick myself for settling on the 500GB model when I should have waited and bought the 750GB version. Now the MBPr is available with 1TB, but I’m not ready to upgrade. External memory is my best option, so I’ve been trying the Leef Copper Edition Surge 64GB USB Flash Drive.

News & Features May 22, 2014

Carry It All in Style with the booq Boa Flow Laptop Backpack

If you are in the market for a backpack that offers style, comfort, protection and flexibility, the booq Boa Flow Laptop Backpack is for you. It lets you carry and protect your laptop, DSLR, headphones and more. The flexible design and its great looks will immediately make it your favorite backpack ever. It may be perfect for my upcoming trip.

Reviews May 13, 2014

PNY Turbo 128 GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive Review

When it comes to flash memory, I’ve always believed that you get what you pay for. Saving five bucks isn’t worth it if you end up with a slow and balky dud. So when I heard that the PNY Turbo 128 GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive was available for under $50, I was skeptical to say the least.

Crowdfunding, Gear Bits April 25, 2014

Dart Laptop Adaptor Gets Kickstarted

You take your laptop on the go and even though battery life has improved the need for carrying a charger is still a constant if you plan to be out for more than a few hours. Thankfully a new Kickstarter project that will have you covered. The Dart Laptop Adaptor is being advertised as, “the world’s smallest laptop charger.”

Reviews March 25, 2014

Use an 11″ MacBook air? Check out the booq Viper hardcase 11

If you have an 11″ MacBook air or Chromebook, you likely take it with you more often than not. That means you need a way to keep it safe and protected. The MBA is, after all, a pricey laptop.The booq Viper hardcase case 11 is a refined but inexpensive way to protect your air; it is just $45!

Reviews March 22, 2014

Toshiba TransMemory Pro 128GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive

When I think back on how much I spent on small amounts of slow flash storage just a few years ago, I cannot help but shake my head. Who could have imagined there would be flash drives offering 128GB of USB 3.0 storage? That, however, is exactly what you get with the new Toshiba TransMemory Pro USB 3.0 Flash Drive.

Reviews March 13, 2014

Karma Makes WiFi Sharing Simple

Our readers understand the importance of connectivity, because having access to the Internet has become a huge part of our lives; that’s why we pay a fortune for mobile data plans, and then we pay even more to connect additional devices. Karma Wi-Fi takes a different approach that is less expensive and surprisingly social.

Reviews March 10, 2014

Seagate Backup Plus Fast Portable Drive Lets You Take 4TB On the Go

I love my 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display. Judie loves her 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina display, too. We both hate the fact that the drive capacity is just 500GB. It is a constant frustration. Seagate’s new 4TB Backup Plus Fast Portable Drive is an amazing way to take 4TB with you; I wish I got this years ago.

Reviews March 2, 2014

Epson Stylus Photo R2000 Inkjet Printer – Professional Printing Results at Home!

If any old picture is worth a thousand words, how much would a big, bright, crisp picture be worth? That’s the question raised by the Epson Stylus Photo R2000 printer. 13″ wide, it serves up images that pop off the page; while my other printers max out at 8 1/2″X11″, this printer can handle 13″X19″ printer paper with stunning results.

Reviews February 20, 2014

The STM Blazer Small Laptop Sleeve Adds Little Weight but Plenty of Protection

Your laptop is likely one of the most expensive pieces of gear you own. You want to protect it on the go but don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy laptop bag. That’s where the STM Blazer Small Laptop Sleeve comes in. This thin, light sleeve fits laptops up to 13″ and can be a stand-alone gear bag.

Gear Bits February 11, 2014

WaterField Designs Unveils Rough Rider Rugged Leather Messenger Bag

WaterField Designs just introduced their new $335 Rough Rider Leather Messenger Bag. A throwback to the Old West with distinctly modern functionality it’s unique strap system keeps bag contents compressed so the bag looks slim and neat. Clean lines, scratch-free pockets for digital devices and secure front snaps add to the Rough Rider’s appeal. Check it out!

Reviews January 30, 2014

Gate 8 Luggage Should Be Your New Travel Buddy

Beginning in mid-December, I spent four weeks traveling non-stop. It began with a trip to Israel and ended with two days in Detroit. I wish I had the Gate 8 Trifold Cabin Bag at the time. The $200 garment bag keeps clothes and toiletries organized and your laptop and tablet safe; it will make your next trip far less stressful.