Hardware & Gadgets

Articles, reviews and how-to guides for Windows-optimized hardware, gadgets and devices

The Nokia Lumia 620 Review - Cute, Affordable & Surprisingly Good

The Nokia Lumia 620 is one of Nokia's low-end smartphones with Windows Phone 8. Its main competitor is the HTC 8S which managed to get a head start in terms of availability to market. But how does the Nokia Lumia 620 fare against the HTC 8S? Is it a better choice? Let's find out from this detailed review & comparison.

The Samsung Ativ S Review - The Most Balanced Windows Phone 8 Device

Everyone is talking about the Nokia Lumia 920 but very few know and talk about the Samsung Ativ S - the first Windows Phone 8 device offered by Samsung. After using it for a month, I have plenty of positive things to say about it and I consider it the most underrated high-end phone with Windows Phone 8. Here’s why:

Reviewing the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000

As I’ve mentioned before (bet I’ve put you to sleep with it, too) :) I love Microsoft Natural ergonomic keyboards. As someone who types both fast and frequently, having an ergonomic keyboard has made a major difference for me over the years. They do take some getting used to, and after you get used to it, typing on a straight keyboard can feel somewhat strange, but I’ve long been convinced that the learning curve is worth it. Thus, I was very pleased to get the opportunity to review the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000, which pairs a wireless version of the Microsoft Natural keyboard with an ergonomically designed Microsoft wireless mouse. Is this newer version an improvement on the keyboards and input devices I’ve been using? Let me tell you what I found.

A Windows Phone Fan Reviewing the Nokia Lumia 920

Our readers know that I love the Windows Phone operating system. I have had the chance to test quite a few phones so far and I was very keen to get my hands on the Nokia Lumia 920. Finally, I got my chance to use it for a couple of weeks and now I am ready to share my conclusions. Is this phone as good as some reviewers said? Is it worth the title of the best Windows Phone 8 device on the market? Let’s find out from this review.

The Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard Review - Is it a Good Keyboard?

I have been a major fan of Microsoft’s ergonomic keyboards ever since I saw the first generation Natural Keyboard in 1994. Since I type a lot, and usually at about 110 words a minute, having the ergonomic shape made a lot of difference for me. But I know that the full ergonomic shape is not for everyone, and there is a definite learning curve when you first try one out. Microsoft has other ergonomic keyboards, and it looked to me as if the Sculpt Touch Keyboard would be a perfect model for someone who wants a more hand-friendly layout but doesn’t want to go all the way to the Natural keyboard series. So I was very interested to try it out and see if what I thought was correct.

The Microsoft Sculpt Touch Mouse Review - A Great Scrolling Experience

Reading about the Microsoft Sculpt Touch Mouse and its specifications made me really curious. At least in theory, it seemed to offer everything I wanted from a good mouse. The Sculpt Touch Mouse has a smooth metallic strip in its center and that strip can be used for up and down and side to side scrolling, plus it comes configured as not one but three useful buttons—page up, page down, and whatever you want the middle click to be. This looked like the ultimate scrolling mouse and I was eager to take a look at it. Let’s see what I have learned after using it for a couple of days.

A Real Life Review of the HTC 8S with Windows Phone 8

Windows Phone 8 has been on the market for some time now and an array of smartphones using this platform are available almost anywhere in the world. The first low priced smartphone that got out was HTC 8S. Luckily we got our hands on it and, after almost a month of using it and testing it, it was time to review it and take a detailed look at its strengths and weaknesses. If you plan to buy this phone, or maybe you just want to know more about it, this real life review will help you get a good picture of what it has to offer. Let’s begin!

The Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse Review - Is it Worth Buying?

I’ve never been a fan of trackpads. I wanted to find a good mouse to attach to my netbook so I could turn off the trackpad and type in peace. I’ve been experimenting with Microsoft mice (is the plural of a computer mouse "mice" or "mouses" or what?) and this is the first of a series of articles about the quest for the perfect mouse. First, I decided to try the Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse, which looked like it would be a good, compact companion for the netbook and also a good all purpose mouse for my desktop PC and Mac Mini. Did it live up to my expectations? Let’s find out.

A User's Review of the HTC 8X with Windows Phone 8

If you are interested in the Windows Phone platform, we definitely recommend that you buy a Windows Phone 8 device. But which device should you get? HTC 8X is one of the first Windows Phone 8 smartphones that were launched globally. It looks good, it feels good to hold in your hand and it is available almost everywhere. But, is it worth buying? Let’s find out from this detailed review, based on one month of using this smartphone everyday, as my main phone.

Reviewing the Belkin AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Router

Have you noticed that many AC routers have been launched on the market in the last few months? What does AC stand for? It turns out it is the latest wireless networking standard. It is supposed to be the successor of the 802.11n standard and provide theoretical transfer speeds up to 500 Mbit/s. That’s quite fast for wireless but are these AC routers any good? To start answering the question, we tested the first AC router we could get our hands on: the Belkin AC 1000 DB. Let’s find out what it offers, how it works and if it is worth your money.

Reviewing the ASUS RT-N56U - Is it Really the Fastest Wireless Router?

Lately, I have been searching for a really good wireless N router, able to provide both good speed and coverage, while battling successfully with all the other wireless networks available in my area. I did a bit of research and I have learned that many people were talking about ASUS RT-N56U and how fast it is. While hype is a good thing to have for a product, it doesn’t mean it is always deserved. Is the ASUS RT-N56U truly one of the fastest routers you can find?

Reviewing the LifeCam Studio - Microsoft’s Top HD Webcam

Recently I have found myself in need of an HD webcam. I did a bit of research, found a few models and ended up picking the Microsoft LifeCam Studio due to the unrivaled driver support offered by Microsoft for its devices. But was I wrong to choose this webcam? Does it really deliver HD quality? Does it work well? Let’s find out from this review.

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