January 08, 10 by Daniel Foster
Even owners of high-end DSLRs know that at least some post-processing is needed to get a perfect image. That’s where Adobe Lightroom 2 [$256.80] comes in. Available for both Windows and Mac OS X, the software provides all the tools necessary for veterans and newbies alike to create professional-looking images.
There is a learning curve behind Lightroom, but once you get the hang of it and learn how post-processing works, your images will be that much better. Take a look at some photos I’ve processed in Adobe Lightroom 2 here.
Buy | Amazon.com [$256.80]
January 05, 10 by Daniel Foster
The Acer Aspire Revo AR1600-U910H PC [$199.99] is a nettop designed for less intensive tasks like web browsing and document editing. Inside the machine is a 1.6GHz Intel Atom 230 processor, 1 GB of RAM, a 160 GB hard drive, NVIDIA ION LE graphics, and Windows XP.
Add a monitor and you’ve got a great computer for the kids, kitchen, or even the garage. Many techies also use the AspireRevo as an HTPC or storage server. The computer is about the size of a book and produces very little heat, so it will fit fine in any room.
Buy | Amazon.com [$199.99]
January 05, 10 by Daniel Foster
The Samsung LinkStick wireless LAN adapter WIS09ABGN [$71.99] provides Wireless-G or Wireless-N Internet to any ‘09 Samsung TV or Blu-Ray player through USB. Unfortunately for Samsung owners, it’s the only way to add wireless connectivity to your device. That being said, it is easy to set up.
When hooked up to a Blu-Ray player, the Link Stick can stream Netflix movies, avoiding the need to buy a third party accessory like the Roku player. On your TV, it will let you access Internet@TV and InfoLink. These services allow you access sites like Flickr, weather, and news free of charge from your living room.
Buy | Amazon.com [$71.99]
January 05, 10 by Daniel Foster
Need more juice for your gear? The eneloop Power Pack Kit [$33.00] by Sanyo is a very cheap and energy-efficient rechargeable battery system. Eneloop works with any device, and one AA battery has the same power as 1,000 alkaline batteries!
The kit comes with 8 AA and 2 AAA batteries. An adapter is included to convert them to C or D batteries if needed. While a little expensive up front, the eneloops provide power for much longer and are much more durable than the typical rechargeable battery.
Buy | Amazon.com [$33.00]
January 04, 10 by Daniel Foster
The P3 Kill a Watt P4400 [$23.29] is a neat little gadget that lets you track the electricity usage of any device. Plug it into an outlet, and it will tell you how much electricity is being used in kilo-watt hours, expected cost monthly or yearly cost, and wattage being used. The Kill a Watt also measures the quality of the power flowing into your home and out of outlets.
Note that you do not have to buy one of these for everything in your home. If you want to see why your electric bill is so high and cut down on usage, just plug the P4400 into each of your electrical devices for a few minutes and note the cost/usage. You’d be surprised how much electricity seemingly power-efficient items use!
Buy | Amazon.com [$23.29]
January 02, 10 by Daniel Foster
The Linksys WRT54GL router [$49.99] is the device of choice for home networking. Featuring a Wireless-G access point and built-in switch for Ethernet devices, the WRT54GL is well known for its low price and reliability. Besides allowing you to share an Internet connection between multiple computers, it also has a firewall to boost security.
What really sets this wireless router apart from the crowd is its compatibility with dd-wrt, a custom Linux firmware that adds functionality only found in routers five times the price. Some of the advanced features it makes available include overclocking, IPv6, and a number of administrative services.
Even without the dd-wrt upgrade, the WRT54GL Linksys still blows all other routers in its price range out of the water. It’s a great investment for any home or small business.
Buy | Amazon.com [$49.99]
January 01, 10 by Daniel Foster
Whether you just bought a Canon DSLR or received one as a gift, chances are good you don’t have much money left over from the holidays for lenses. Unfortunately, the stock glass that come with these cameras can only go so far. To get the most out of your new DSLR, you need to upgrade the lens. In the spirit of post-holiday penny pinching, here are five amazing Canon EOS-mount lenses that will improve your shooting experience without burning a hole in your pocket.
Note to Nikon users: Don’t fret, your guide will be posted next week.
Read the rest of this entry »
January 01, 10 by Daniel Foster
The BeerTender from Heineken and Krups [$99] is a home beer-tap system intended for use with the 5L Heineken DraughtKeg. It keeps beer at the proper temperature and lets you draught it just like they do that the bar! The BeerTender keeps brew fresh for 30 days and holds in all the carbonation. An LCD that indicates temperature and volume is also present. You really can’t go wrong with this gadget.
Buy | Amazon.com [$99]
January 01, 10 by Daniel Foster
The Canon G11 PowerShot [$441.98] is the best camera money can buy short of one of those hulky DSLRs. Forget about the Kodak crap you saw at Wal-Mart. Featuring a 10 MP sensor, 5x zoom wide angle lens, and a 2.8-inch flip-out LCD, it’s hard to go wrong with this bad boy.
The Canon G11 is unique in that it offers many features commonly found on an SLR but in a much smaller package. This includes the option for fully manual controls, a DIGIC 4 image processor, RAW shooting, and a very durable outer casing. This is a PowerShot camera I would have no problem stuffing in a bag or dropping on the beach. While the price might be difficult for some to swallow, it’s still a great buy for the money.
Buy | Amazon.com [$441.98]
