Marc Saltzman
Sun
Do your computer speakers sound like tin cans? Are your online chats limited to text? Does your mouse still have a ball?
If the answer is “yes” to any of these questions, read on. Upgrading your accessories is a great way to add some spice and longevity to your desktop or laptop computer, especially for those who rely on their PC for entertainment.
Style meets substance: Don’t mouse around with the accessory you touch the most. If you’re in the market for a new mouse, Microsoft’s brand-new Arc Mouse ($69.95; microsoft.ca) fuses fashion with function — its radical design looks as good as it feels. The aptly-named wireless peripheral features a unique crescent-moon shape that folds to reduce its size by half, which is ideal for taking it on the road for use with your laptop (on a related note, a tiny micro transceiver snaps into the bottom of the mouse for safekeeping, when not in use). Available in black or red.
Light up my life: You finally got the kids to bed, turned down the house lights and poured yourself a tea. Time to check your e-mail messages, Facebook friends and favourite websites. Keep this soothing ambience after a long day — yet still see what you’re typing — with the Logitech Illuminated Keyboard ($89.99; logitech.com). This ultra-thin (9.3 mm) and comfortable keyboard offers bright, laser-etched backlit keys that illuminate through the transparent frame.
On with the show: Unlike your land line or mobile phone, a webcam offers a number of advantages while you’re talking to friends and family around the world: There are no long-distance charges; you can see who you’re talking to; and if desired, you can share files in real-time, such as photos, during conversations. The thin Microsoft LifeCam Show ($99.99; microsoft.ca) offers incredible 2.0-megapixel video quality (and 8.0-megapixels for still photos), and features an integrated noise-cancelling microphone.
Work hard, play hard: Whether you’re toiling over spreadsheets or blasting aliens, Samsung’s SyncMaster 2693HM monitor ($599.99; samsung.ca) is a huge 26-inch high-definition (1920 x 1200 pixels) computer monitor perfect for work or play. For a productivity boost, this widescreen display offers more real-estate to see more information on a given document, spreadsheet or website or to view multiple windows at once. When it’s time to relax, however, this monitor also includes an HDMI jack (perfect for a Blu-ray machine, HD cable/satellite box or high-def gaming console) and integrated speakers.
Sounding off: Whether you’re into music, video games or movies, treat yourself and your ears to a great-sounding computer setup. Consider the Bose Companion 5 Series speakers ($499.99; bose.ca), a high-end 2.1 solution (including booming subwoofer) that sounds like a 5.1 system thanks to the hideaway Acoustimass module to deliver a surround sound experience. Included with these clear-sounding and well-balanced computer speakers are desktop stands, cables and a wired control pod that puts volume and mute functionality at an arm’s reach (and includes a port to easily connect a portable MP3 player).
A hard drive is good to find: Now that your computer has evolved into a hub for your digital photo collection, MP3 music library and camcorder footage, it’s time to invest in an external hard drive to hold it all. Why not pick a solution that really stands out? Simply plug in the one-terabyte LaCie Golden Disk ($299.99; lacie.ca) drive into a USB port to transfer files over for safekeeping or portability. This driver-free, fan-less and hybrid Windows/Mac peripheral was designed by Ora-Ito (www.ora-ito.com) and includes software to automate your back-ups, if desired. If you’re concerned this isn’t enough space for you, consider a one-TB drive can store about 4,000,000 photos, over 18,500 hours of music or 1,500 hours of video.