About.com Computer Peripherals

Creative's Inspire T6100 5.1 Surround Sound Brings Compact Convenience to Quality Audio

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 07:46:24 +0000

Creative's T6100 5.1 surround sound audio system is stylish, compact, and delivers efficient, quality audio with a small speaker footprint and an impressive design.

The Creative Inspire T6100 is cheap and effective, and delivers a full 5.1 surround sound speaker set at a great price. The sound quality is decent, and certainly passable for casual users. Meanwhile, it's a great system if you have a small working space or cluttered desktop.

Read the full review of the Creative Inspire T6100 here.

Creative's Inspire T6100 5.1 Surround Sound Brings Compact Convenience to Quality Audio originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at 07:46:24.

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Logitech's G51 5.1 Surround Sound System Isn't Just for Gamers

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:52:55 +0000

The Logitech G51 5.1 surround sound system is a premium surround sound system for your PC, marketed to gamers, but just as effective for the rest of us. It has a wide variety of independent audio controls for maximum customization at the touch of a button, and a quality subwoofer and satellite speakers.

One of the main features that sets the G51 apart from its competitors is a downward-firing subwoofer, rather than a side-firing. This makes it unparalleled in its price range in the area of thunderous bass reproduction, rumbling the floorboards at every opportunity.

Check out the full review of the Logitech G51 5.1 Surround Sound audio system here.

Logitech's G51 5.1 Surround Sound System Isn't Just for Gamers originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Monday, April 20th, 2009 at 07:52:55.

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How to Test and Adjust Your PC Sound System

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:05:53 +0000

After you buy a set of expensive PC speakers -- whether they're 2.1 or 5.1 surround sound speakers -- you need to ensure that you're getting the best possible performance out of your audio system.

How do you do that? Simple. First, you need to be aware of what you're testing, adjusting and calibrating. And then you need to find some quality source material to test with. For many, this can simply be a dynamic CD or other audio track, but there is actually special software available to help you test, set up, and adjust the various settings for your PC speaker system.

Check out the full run down on what you need to be aware of when setting up, adjusting, and testing your PC audio system, surround sound or otherwise, here.

How to Test and Adjust Your PC Sound System originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 09:05:53.

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Kensington Unveils Slick New Trackball Mouse

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:16:55 +0000

Remember those giant trackball mice that resembled a cue ball on a stand? Turns out they're not so forgotten as once thought. Kensington has a new trackball mouse, called the SlimBlade, that is super sleek, featuring a glossy red trackball nestled in an extra-thin silver encasement.

For my money, it's the most attractive looking trackball I've ever seen -- though that admittedly isn't saying much when it comes to the awkward looking accessories. It comes with four buttons and a software package that lets you know on-screen what mode you're using the mouse in. Choose between media control, view control, and cursor modes.

Visit Kensington's SlimBlade trackball mouse's very own website for the full skinny on making the old new again (not to mention to take a look at the beautiful thing).

Kensington Unveils Slick New Trackball Mouse originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 12:16:55.

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Blingy USB Mice - Now In Pink Leopard Print!

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:12:49 +0000

I can't testify to how comfortable it is to rest your paw on a bedazzled mouse, but I can't imagine it being a great experience. If you're more curious than I am, however, you'll probably want to check out the hot new Bling Bling USB Optical mouse set at Gadget4All.

There's really nothing to add about these mice other than the fact that they exist. It's one of those things that seem to be perfect for a 13 year-old who will promptly find it massively un-cool in a year or two. But really, who needs to keep the same mouse for longer than that? So have a blast, and follow your heart.

Just try to have a spare around when you have guests over.

Blingy USB Mice - Now In Pink Leopard Print! originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 at 09:12:49.

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Take a Refresher Course Before You Buy With These Buying Guides

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:01:12 +0000

Spring always feels like a time to buy things to me. Maybe it's the nice weather, the nature blooming, and the sense of new beginnings, but it definitely seems like a good time to do some upgrading yourself. Some people clean -- others supercharge their PCs.

Whether you're upgrading your video card for this summer's coming video game releases, or finally ready to add a web cam to your PC, these handy buying guides will help you wade through the mind-numbing specifications muck and make the really important decisions about what to buy:

Take a Refresher Course Before You Buy With These Buying Guides originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Monday, April 6th, 2009 at 08:01:12.

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Altec Lansing Shows Off With Simplicity

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 08:37:00 +0000

There are plenty of peripherals out there that try to attract you with unique, or even odd-looking designs. But they often come with little increased performance and a lot of extra price.

Enter Altec Lansing, and in particular their VS4221 2.1 set, which I reviewed recently. The speakers are simple, yet unique in their height, making them versatile in both decor and performance. Sometimes you just have to let the sound speak for itself, and that's something Altec Lansing is happy to do.

Check out the full review of the Altec Lansing VS4221 2.1 speaker system here.

Altec Lansing Shows Off With Simplicity originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at 08:37:00.

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Dell's Massive S2409 LCD Monitor Delivers Massive Performance

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:28:28 +0000

You may think that 24 inches is more than you need in a widescreen LCD monitor, but Dell's huge S2409 high definition display will probably make you think twice.

The S2409 delivers crisp, clear images with vibrant colors and little motion blur. That's performance that is sure to satisfy any gamer or movie watcher. PC monitors are notoriously behind HDTVs in terms of response time, which directly effects motion blur and action quality, and maybe it's the fact that the S2409 is basically a TV anyway that led them to make it so effective during quick moving scenes. After all, the larger the screen, the more noticeable motion blur is.

Check out the full review of the Dell S2409 24-inch widescreen LCD monitor here.

Dell's Massive S2409 LCD Monitor Delivers Massive Performance originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Wednesday, April 1st, 2009 at 10:28:28.

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What is the Point of a High Definition PC Monitor?

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:10:31 +0000

HDTV has swept the nation, bringing High Definition sports, movies, and even sitcoms into the homes of millions of largely satisfied viewers. But it's less clear why you would need an HD display for your computer.

In reality, there are just as many reasons, if not more, why you would want to enhance your computing experience with a high definition, widescreen LCD display monitor. The same reasons as HDTV apply -- you get an immeasurably better picture when watching movies, sports, and other HD video, but you will also get an amazing gaming experience where there wasn't one before. HD video games are rising just as quickly as HD movies, and if you don't have a high definition screen, you're missing a lot of the action.

Check out this beginner's primer to high definition monitors and display screens for your computer for more information.

What is the Point of a High Definition PC Monitor? originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Monday, March 30th, 2009 at 09:10:31.

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Evergreen Introduces Ultra-small USB Mouse

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:10:33 +0000

If you were born with pencil-shaped fingers and generally don't see the point in the large, obstructive buttons that the rest of us use, you'll probably be excited to hear that a company called Evergreen has decided to market a keychain-sized USB mouse, containing 4 buttons and a scroll ball which is, literally, the size of a pea.

While many would avoid even trying to use such a device, many others are likely to attempt it, then accidentally crush it. Still, if you spend a lot of time traveling between PC's that inexplicably have no mouse, this portable wunderkind might be just the solution you've been dreaming of.

If you live in Japan, you can buy it here.

Evergreen Introduces Ultra-small USB Mouse originally appeared on About.com Computer Peripherals on Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 09:10:33.

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