Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt HD-PATU3
Price: $233
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.buffalo-technology.com
Buffalo
MiniStation Thunderbolt HD-PATU3
The Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt
HD-PATU3 is a sturdy and portable hard drive that’s attractively designed. It
also comes with a USB 3.0 connection, so even if you’re on a computer that
doesn’t have Thunderbolt, you’re still going to see the benefit of a faster
connection. It only comes with one Thunderbolt port, however, so if you’re
daisy chaining Thunderbolt devices, this will have to sit at the end. USB 3.0
and Thunderbolt cables are included, which is a nice touch that not all manufacturers
think of.
Of course, what really matters is the speed
at which the Buffalo MiniStation Thunderbolt HD-PATU3 transfer data. In our
real world tests we sent a 1.36GB file in just 36 seconds. It’s impressive, but
doesn’t blow USB 3.0 out of the water, despite the thunderbolt drive’s
potential. This is mainly due to the fact that the Buffalo MiniStation
Thunderbolt HD-PATU3 contains a mechanical hard drive, so no matter how fast
the connection is, it’s still being held back by the spinning disk. There’s an
SSD version of the HD-PATU3 available, which is faster but more expensive and
with a smaller capacity.
Logitech t400 Zone Touch Mouse
Price: $48
Ratings: 3/5
Web: www.logitech.com
Logitech
t400 Zone Touch Mouse
The Logitech t400 Zone Touch Mouse is
another entry in Logitech’s range of peripheral designed to make the switch to
Windows 8 more palatable for those of us without touch-enabled devices. As the
‘Zone’ name suggests, rather than the whole face of the mouse being
touch-responsive (as it is with Logitech’s sleek M600 rodent), only a small
part of the t400 Zone Touch Mouse responds to gesture. This helps prevent some
of the problems we’ve experiences with the Logitech M600, where the mouse
scrolls or flips through documents when we accidentally brush a hand over the
top surface.
The touch-sensitive part of the t400 is
confined to the middle button, and it’s nice and responsive, letting you scroll
both horizontally and vertically. Clicking the middle button brings up Windows
8’s start screen, which is a nice touch. The t400 won’t win any design awards,
but it’s an improvement on previous touch-enabled mice. It isn’t a real
substitute for a touchscreen, though.
SoundBlaster Tactic 3D Rage
Price: $80
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.creative.com
SoundBlaster
Tactic 3D Rage
The SoundBlaster Tactic3D Rage is the
latest gaming headset from Creative, and it’s sturdily designed and comfortable
to wear. The cushioned cups feel fine even when the headset is worn for long
periods, and they do a good job of noise insulation, so you can block out the
world and avoid disturbing others.
Sound quality is very good, with a rich and
full sound even at the default settings. The SoundBlaster Tactic3D software is
included too, and enables you to adjust the equalizer settings, add effects and
alter the surround sound levels in one convenient place. The Tactic3D software
also lets you change the color of the pulsating LEDs in each ear cup, which is a
nice but ultimately pointless feature.
The microphone is good quality and the arm
is easily adjustable, but the mic’s foam covering often fell off. The headset
also has no automatic power-saving feature, so if you close down your PC the
headset can remain on, draining the battery. Overall though, this is a solid
headset that comes with some of Creative’s best innovations.
Microsoft Sculpt Comfort Keyboard
Price: $90
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.microsoft.com
Microsoft
Sculpt Comfort Keyboard
If you do a lot of typing or gaming then
you can do yourself a lot of good by getting an ergonomic keyboard. These are
keyboards specially designed to reduce stress on your hands when typing, making
for a more comfortable experience and reduced risk of RSI. Microsoft has a long
and distinguished history of creating ergonomic peripherals, and the new Sculpt
Comfort Keyboard continues this legacy. The curved design keeps keys close to
your fingers while typing, and the padded wrist support makes it comfortable to
use.
This keyboard has been released to coincide
with Windows 8, so along with a redesigned Windows logo on the Windows key,
some function (or ‘F’) keys double up as shortcuts for Windows 8-specific tools
and charms. These keys can be toggled by pressing a switch, and when used with
Windows 8, they make the new operating system a lot easier to navigate. The
keyboard is wireless and comes with a split spacebar, which is designed to
improve typing efficiency, though we didn’t notice much real difference.
Overall this is an excellent ergonomic keyboard that makes typing a pleasure.
Logitech t650 Wireless Rechargeable
Touchpad
Price: $98
Ratings: 4/5
Web: www.logitech.com
Logitech
t650 Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad
It’s no secret that Windows 8 is an
operating system that’s geared towards touchscreen devices. This means you’re
going to be missing out on quite a few of the operating system’s new features
and shortcuts if you don’t have a touch-enabled PC. Logitech’s t650 Wireless
Rechargeable Touchpad is a solution to this, as it allows you to perform
Windows 8 gestures no matter what your hardware is. Connecting it up to a PC is
perfectly simple, and it comes with a Logitech Unifying USB dongle, which lets
you connect up to six compatible Logitech devices, such as the Logitech t400
Zone Touch Mouse, to a single dongle.
The glass top makes scrolling through
Windows 8’s Start screen nice and smooth, and the touchpad is pretty fast and
responsive. Gestures such as flicking from the right-hand side of the screen to
bring up the Charms Bar work well, though tapping to select and app or file
wasn’t always accurate. Overall this is a fine peripheral to connect to your PC
if you’re having trouble adjusting to Windows 8.
