Essential Gear Guide » Computer Peripherals

Oriental Rug Mousepad- do you have a rug addiction?

craig — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:00:00 +0000

These things are flying off the shelves!

From the Red Persian Group of Oriental MouseRugs (Asian Collection) comes a new addition to your addiction. Specifically made for your computer mouse, this miniature rug features .75 millimeter long fibers (over 7 million on each rug) that create a beautiful and intricate pattern that’s soft to the touch. These things aren’t stamped with ink, they’re made with real dyed yarn. The tiny fibers allow for precise tracking (whether your mouse is optical or ball), and will actually hold your mouse in place on uneven surfaces.

Dude, that rug really ties the room together.

* These may only be 7"x10", but they’re gateway RUGS! Before you know it they’ll by lying on the living room floor or under the table, you’ll be spending all your money on RUGS, maybe even matching coasters!

Don’t be fooled by cheap knock-offs that illegally trade under the MouseRug name; be sure your MouseRug is authentic. The tedious design procedure and Lextra® production process creates an authentic feel that can’t be faked.

Be sure to view all the MouseRug options including the stiff MouseBlade version for uneven work areas, as well as the CoasterRugs and BookRugs.

Natural Rubber Base: made in the U.S.A. (rubber comes from trees in southeast Asia).
Fringed ends: custom produced in the U.S.A. (same company makes fringe for well-known producers of full size rugs).

*MouseRugs are faithful reproductions of actual full-size antique rugs and blankets.

HACKED! Flash Drive- for the professional look

craig — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:00:05 +0000

[Get It $50]

If people don’t already look at you strangely, they will when you pop a squat at Starbucks with a half eaten flash drive sticking off your laptop. Hacked! is a 2GB storage drive meant to look like a torn USB cable. Maybe it’s the kid in me, but I feel that flash drives should be unique and this one designed by Windell Oskay for Friend and Friends certainly fits the bill.

Optimus Maximus- what does your keyboard do?

craig — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:11:37 +0000

Get it $1600.00]

The Optimus Maximus computer keyboard from Art Lebedev Studio is not only the most optimal keyboard on the planet, it’s also a fearless 3rd Century Roman gladiator capable of defeating evil and delivering Rome back to the people!

The Maximus comes with a hefty price tag because anyone willing to drop over $500 is probably willing to drop $1600; and because each key is the equivalent of a tiny computer screen. In addition to controlling key functions, you can actually control key images. Switch between a Japanese, Greek, Russian, or any other keyboard with the click of a button; literally it only takes seconds. If you’re a gamer you can customize and save a special layout for each game. Work more efficiently with programs and software (like Photoshop). The keys can even work together to show moving graphics! And to think I was impressed with the simple things like Shift and knowing when the Caps or Number Locks were on.

Each of the 113 Optimus Maximus keys is a miniature Organic LED screen, fully programmable to show any image you desire. For the gaming community this is an amazing breakthrough. Keys can be set to game-specific function such as weapon selection. Quickly changing between weapons can be the difference between being a loser and being a loser that just won a computer game!

The big question is how well does this thing work? The answer is VERY WELL. I set the Maximus up to my work computer and used it for two weeks. The only thing I can say is “awesome”. The software uploaded automatically and was super user friendly. The larger sized keys took about 5 minutes to get used to and were as smooth as a baby’s bottom (a baby with weird button shaped warts everywhere).

One of the only features that I could consider as a negative would be the length of the keyboard. If you have a slide out keyboard holder mounted to the underside of your desk, it might take up all the space, leaving the mouse to fend for itself on the desktop. Also, it’s not wireless and it needs DC power, but for me that’s a positive; every time I try to program my wireless keyboard my mouse stops working and visa versa. Plus, I only use my keyboard in one place, which is right in front of my computer. Having wireless really serves no purpose for me.
The LED’s turn off when the keyboard has been lying dormant for a while, but just touch a key and the board comes back to life.

Until the Optimus Tactus actually comes out, the Maximus is the best thing going.

Specifications

Keyboard dimensions
length: 537 mm (21.1?)
width: 173 mm (6.8?)
height: 38 mm (1.5?)
key: 20.2

SideWinder X8 Gaming Mouse-who’s side are you on?

craig — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:32:31 +0000

[Get It $71]

Introducing the ultimate wireless gaming mouse. The worlds most advanced wireless tracking technology comes together with a 2.4GHz connection and a crazy 4000dpi (dots per inch) to form the SideWinder™ X8 Mouse from Microsoft. The new BlueTrack™ Technology delivers the best frame rate (13,000 frames per second) and the fastest speed and acceleration on the market(120"/sec max speed with 75g max acc.). With 30 hours of "active gaming" on a single charge, most gamers will only have to take 2 intermissions. Actually, you won’t have to wait for your mouse to charge at all, because the X8 has a play-and-charge cable that allows you to charge while you play.

Ergonomically, this mouse doesn’t go overboard, it brings design back to the comfortable shape that has always worked. The thumb buttons are squares, which is way better than the original circular buttons, but the damn things are vertically aligned which is contrary to every other mouse you’ve ever used. The top and bottom design is supposed to make locating side buttons easier while reducing unintentional activation, but I would still rather see horizontally aligned buttons, it’s just easier.

The X8 offers other smart features to enhance the gaming experience, including an LCD screen on the mouse to quickly view dpi settings and macro-recording icons, and a Quick Launch button that provides one-touch access to Microsoft’s PC gaming features. The scroll wheel tilts left and right which is nice especially since they can be programmed alone with five other buttons.

2.4 GHz Wireless connection: Reliable wireless connection built for lag-free play.

BlueTrack Technology: World’s most advanced tracking technology for gaming with image processing of 13,000 frames per second.

Play and Charge: Up to 30 hours of active gaming on a single charge, or use the play-and-charge cable for non-stop action.

Twelve Buttons – Seven are programmable: Customize the five programmable main buttons, plus left/right tilt wheel—seven programmable buttons— to customize your gaming experience.

Scroll Wheel with Tilt: Better feel and response with detents for precise control.

Full-Speed USB Reporting: Full-speed, 500 Hz USB reporting is built for lag-free play.

Engineered for Speed: Shape designed for quick, balanced, precision gaming action.

Vertical side buttons: Don’t make mistakes. The top/bottom design makes locating the side buttons easier and reduces the inadvertent actuation risk.

LCD Display: Quickly view DPI settings and macro-recording.

Quick Launch Button: One-touch access to Microsoft PC Gaming features.

DPI Switching: Instantly switch sensitivity between high, medium, and low with one click.

Replaceable Mouse Feet: Choice of three different materials for glide preference.

Macro Record: Easily record macros while in game with the dedicated button.

3-Year Limited Warranty
Limited Warranty and License Agreement available here.

KEYCARBON – What have you been typing?

admin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:40:25 +0000

[Get It $147]

The KeyCarbon USB is an excellent way to exacerbate the trust issues between you and your spouse. This miniature device is used to record typing from a USB keyboard. Reminiscent of a normal thumb drive, this little adaptor can be hooked up in seconds to any PC or Macintosh computer. All you have to do is unplug the USB keyboard from the computer and plug the KeyCarbon back into the computer with the keyboard cord attached; and no, the computer doesn’t need to be turned on. What’s more, is that when you install the KeyCarbon with the computer off, the system tray will not display any new found hardware; perfect for you sneaky paranoid stalkers.
*A little extra money will buy higher capacity, encryption, and a date/time stamp; all models come with an optional white case.

Once the KeyCarbon is plugged in, it will record all key strokes on any USB keyboard until the key stroke log is full. At this point either the oldest key strokes are discarded, or the recording halts. You can choose which option you prefer under options of the configuration menu.

The key strokes can be retrieved on any operating system of any computer, using a standard text editor such as Microsoft Word or Notebook, you just type in a secret code and your KeyCarbon options will appear.
The KeyCarbon USB won’t work with the built-in keyboard of a laptop, but KeyCarbon does make products for the laptop as well as other key stoke recording equipment for internal use on a desktop. This can prove handy if your system crashes while your working on an important document.

One option I would have liked to see is control over the non-printable keystrokes such as Alt, Ctrl, F1, etc. These non-printable characters are converted into a series of printable characters such as or . This is all fine and dandy, but when it comes to which denotes the backspace button, which I happen to use a few thousand times per day, the key stoke log can become fairly cumbersome. Of course, if just the backspace was discarded, the log would be even more difficult to decipher, as all the mistyped keys would be visible with no reference to the backspace button; at least the space button is displayed as an empty space and not .

If your keyboard has a PS/2 connector opposed to the USB you should look into the KeyKatcher.

Doggy Mouse- surf the Internet doggy style

admin — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 19:00:07 +0000

[Get It $35]

If you know someone that’s a dog lover, you’ve just stumbled upon the perfect gift. The Doggy Mouse by Pat Says Now is a computer mouse fashioned to look like the head of a cute little puppy. The ears act as the right and left clickers with a scroll wheel in the middle. Why should the mouse have exclusive rights to controlling your curser? Fight the rodent monopoly on graphical user interface pointing devices by diversifying onto other species; if not for yourself, do it for capitalism.

Darth Vader Mimobot- now in 8GB!

admin — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:14:42 +0000

[Get It $150]

BACK IN BLACK!
Kicking off the new 8GB MIMOBOT capacity is the return of the jedi, or former jedi rather; Darth Vader. Because Mimoco will be celebrating the 31st anniversary of the release of Star Wars: A New Hope, there will only be 31 of these 8GB Darth Vaders available for purchase!
When we told you about Boba Fett (part of the Star Wars Mimobot Series 2), all the S.W. first Series Vaders were long past sold out. This will be your LAST CHANCE to get the only 8GB versions of the Dark Lord ever made.

Darth Vader was both the first character from the Star Wars mimobot Series released and the first to reach sold out status. With 3,500 Vaders released, you were lucky if you got one, and there’s only going to be 31 (not 3100) of the 8GB Darth Vader Mimobots available; good luck.

Star Wars mimobot Series comes preloaded with exclusive Star Wars content, ranging from all six full-length theatrical trailers to wallpapers, icons, and avatars, to the mimobot soundByte™ program. Now when you plug your Darth Vader into your computer, you can hear what the Dark Lord of the Sith has to say. Ships on 5/27/08

Optimus Tactus Keyboard-why not?

admin — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 16:00:37 +0000

[More Info]

The Optimus Tactus was the keyboard that Maximus Meridius used in the movie Gladiator. Ok, maybe not, but it sounds like he should have.
I guess if you’re going to use a touch screen keyboard this would be it. Oh, except for the fact that it’s only a concept at the moment. According to the Art Lebedev Studio, here’s the plan: any part of the keyboard surface can be programmed to perform any function or display any image. Optimus Tactus does not have physical keys, which means there are no restrictions on their shape or size. As per the image above, there is a video mode as well as a typing mode (shown below).
Initially this keyboard could prove costly to the consumer, considering it’s a full length touch-display. The big question is, would you really use it? There’s no question that it’s uber cool and could be extremely useful on specialized tasks, but I’m not sure I’d like typing on a smooth surface; my fingers need a little somethin-somethin to know their doing a good job.
By the time this thing gets to market, Apple will probably have created a shape-morphing tactile multi-display video membrane touch screen, that walks the dog on it’s spare time; or they’ll at least have the patent for one.

Cyber Tablet M14

admin — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:38:17 +0000

[Get It $250]

Great for graphic artists, animators, architects, engineers, web designers, and people who love to draw. If you’re looking for a tablet, the Cyber Tablet M14 by Adesso is one of the best in its class.
Be prepared for a learning curve if you’ve never worked with a tablet before, but once you get the hang of it you’ll find that it’s as easy as riding a bike or folding a shirt.

Note: the Cyber Tablet does not double as a boomerang, frisbee, or any other flying object. If fact, it will probably break if you throw it through the air.

The M14 features powerful pressure sensitivity, with the aide of 4000 lpi (lines per inch) hardware resolution and 1024 lop (level of pressure) pen sensitivity, to accomplish the most sophisticated computer-aided design tasks.

The tablet is able to support a 12″ x 7.25″ or 9.5″ x 7.25″ selectable writing area that allows you to draw naturally and write freehand graphics or text as comfortable as on a real pad of paper. Works with your PC or Mac.

Boba Fett flash drive

admin — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:00:52 +0000

[Get It $50]

The Boba Fett USB Designer Flash Drive is one of the four characters from the new Star Wars mimobot Series 2 line. The success of the SW Series 1 flash drives gave rise to these new collectibles. So, like every other good Star Wars collecting fiend, you’ll have to immediately put your imaginary girlfriend on hold and order two of every Star Wars mimobot (one to store in the box and the second to hold while you masturbate).
Mimoco, the Boston based designer/consumer electronics brand is the world’s only character-based USB flash drive producer and has only created a limited number of these collector flash drives; so if you don’t want to miss out, you’ll have to order soon.

As with all mimobots, each character in the Star Wars mimobot Series 2 comes preloaded with a desktop personalization suite that includes exclusive digital content such as wallpapers, screensavers, icons , avatars, and the mimobot soundByteT application that plays actual sounds from the Star Wars saga.
You can also add a protoHoodieT Keychain Accessory for half price when you purchase your mimobot! Comes in 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB.