Best Review

This Rosewill case comes with two gigantic 230mm fans. This is a case for large components and massive cooling potential. An in your face front grill, red LED, optional white case, and over the top styling make this case hard to miss. How is it technically? It comes with advanced cable design, screwless installation of drives, fan speed controller built in, and room for even the largest components. It’s at the higher end in price, but you can’t miss this one.

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This is the perfect solution for someone looking for a small case. Although Micro and Mini ATX only, this case packs a punch by being SSD and SLI ready along with watercooling compatibility. It is made with high end components and features a clean side window to show off your cable management skills. It is no budget case, so be sure to check out the price below.

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The best HTPC case or home theater case, and one of the only mini/micro ATX cases with water cooling support. The Cooler Master Elite 130 can handle GPUs up to 343mm long, has SSD mounting, a 120mm fan, and will fit standard ATX PS2 power supplies. On top of that it has USB 3.0 front panel access and stylish design. Short of the somewhat difficult cable management that exists with all cases this size, there is nothing bad to say. Make sure to click the link for pricing and availability.

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Sentey makes incredible value cases. You get all the perks of a normal high end case with most of their models, but they use more plastic parts. So the build quality is a bit lower. That makes it perfect for people who don’t move the computer around. Why invest in high end gear if it’s just going to sit? Building is a breeze. There is excellent cable management and the case comes with some fans. Not bad for being so cheap.

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Corsair is about to dominate the list, starting with number six. Corsair makes some of the best and highest quality build cases out there. This case is particularly unique because if it’s cubic shape and maximum airflow. If you have large components and need good airflow, this is your case. This case does come at a high price, so hit the link to get the latest pricing. The case comes with 3 installed 140mm fans, air filters, a large side window, watercooling support, tool-less design and more.

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Our second Corsair case, the Carbide 300R, comes in at number 5. This high quality case is a more traditional style than number 6, and can hold even longer graphics cards. It comes at a more friendly price (check the link). All the bells and whistles are included at that price, from cable management to air filters to extreme cooling potential. The only downside to this incredible case is that it has something of a plain look, but for those who don’t need LEDs and just want performance this case is for you.

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The Corsair 200R is essentially the same as the 300R ranked below it, with the exception that it is lighter and more portable. You only need a 300R if your components are too big for the 200R or you really want the little extra airflow. For most people, however, spending a little less money for the same quality and a smaller build makes a lot of sense. Expect great cooling, ease of build, and features with this excellent case.

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Stop and pay attention, this case costs over $200 but you need to check it out anyway. We aren’t trying to tell you any case is worth that kind of cheese, but for the love of the game look at this thing. It’s awesome. Three 200mm fans are fit in to this modular monstrosity. That’s enough airflow to lift your grandma’s bustle. Did we mention the looks? Look at it, then move on to something less expensive.

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A few years ago Rosewill was in the market as a cheap and relatively generic OEM. Now look at them. LOOK AT THIS CASE. Get your tongue back in and read: This is one of the highest build quality cases we have ever seen. It looks incredible. A few minor faults though; it requires a slim optical drive, it will not work with water cooling, and it is super expensive. Ok with that? Then check out some more pics and get the latest price.

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NZXT is on fire. This case is stunning. A clean and simple seamless design with no tacky blue LED lighting or dysfunctional add ons. This is the future of case design, and our top rated case. Amazing cooling performance, removed optical drive bays for space management, incredible cable management — the list goes on. Check out all the pictures, this case will make you drool.

We think this massive, high-resolution, LED-backlit display with 2560×1440 pixels provides a brilliant viewing experience. It comes with six ports: 3 USB 2.0, FireWire 800 port, Gigabit Ethernet port, and Thunderbolt port. The Thunderbolt also includes a MagSafe connector that powers and charges your MacBook or MacBook Air at the drop of a hat. We really liked that you can also stay in touch with friends and family easily using the FaceTime HD camera and built-in high-quality sound. The features are pretty incredible, but the price comes at a premium so we kept this beauty at number 10.

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This AOC is the best portable LED monitor on the market. It requires USB 3.0, but it’s perfect for travelers that need a little extra real estate to get things done. Our favorite use is to throw a movie on the screen while working off of a laptop. The colors are brilliant and it is very easy to use. We really enjoyed the slim design and functional flip stand. If you want a portable monitor, this is it.

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This monitor was built for gaming and streaming content. In an instant you can hook up a smartphone, Roku box, or any streaming device and watch Netflix, movies, or anything else. The ultra thin bezel makes it an ideal candidate for multiple monitor gaming setups. Gaming is also optimized with ultra low response times and high refresh rates. We think BenQs high end monitors like this are vastly underrated, and thusly offer amazing value. Comparable monitors from bigger brands cost way more for the same image quality.

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The ASUS Professional Graphics Monitor is an IPS monitor pre-calibrated to deliver excellent color display and 100% standard RGB color reproduction. It has a 16:10 aspect ratio, 1920 x 1200 IPS LED-backlit panel with 178 degree wide-view angle. It features four USB 3.0 ports for enhanced productivity and additional connectivity options like DisplayPort and HDMI. We really notice the professional color calibration on the IPS and true 100% sRGB tuning. This is a dream monitor for photography and video editors.

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This LCD-Lit Acer monitor sports a super-slim profile with an X-shaped stand that fits nicely in spaces of any size. It showcases a 23-inch widescreen LCD screen with impressive 1920×1080 pixel resolution, that allows you to enjoy 16:9 high-definition digital content without image distortion. With a remarkable 100million-to-1 contrast ration, you are ensured a crystal-clear viewing experience, while rapid 5ms response time keeps moving images sharp and blur free. Bring entertainment home with this Acer.

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With the Dell UltraSharp Monitor, you can view vivid imagery from almost any angle. It has an impressive 16.7 million color display with crystal-clear, true-to-life images thanks to its 1920×1080 pixel resolution. Users can also easily adjust the monitor height, choose between landscape and portrait orientation, as well as tilt the panel up to 4 degrees forward, and 21 degrees backwards. We think is the perfect monitor for an every day user who wants 24″ of real estate to work with.

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The computer monitor, for the environmentally conscious – the ViewSonic LED Monitor. It features a mercury-free LED backlight widescreen display with up to 50 percent energy savings compared to traditional LCD backlit monitors. It also has an automatic aspect ratio adjustment that allows inputs from 4:3 signals to be accurately represented in the center without stretching. If you’re thinking longer term investment – look no further – this ViewSonic comes with a 3 year limited warranty, an industry best pixel performance policy, and Windows 7 certification.

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This 20-inch ViewSonic features an LED backlight, providing energy savings up to 35 percent along with it’s smaller screen size. If you do not need a big screen, you can help the environment by using less power with this ViewSonic Go Green monitor. This is the most environmentally safe monitor thanks to low power consumption and mercury free construction.

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The best gaming monitors are 144hz to avoid blurred rendering of high speed gaming content, and this Asus monitor handles that with ease. With incredible colors and the lowest possible response time, there is not a better gaming monitor out there. AMD users have access to display port and Nvidia gets access to DVI and 3D vision capability. Serious gamers will invest in this monitor to get the most out of their hardware.

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Looking for a serious business monitor★ Then meet the ASUS 23.6-inch high-definition LED-lit LCD monitor. These monitors are VESA compatible for those wanting to mount on a wall, and they deliver full high-definition quality visuals. And because it is LED backlit, displays are brighter and clearer than before. With an ultra-fast 2ms response time, users are guaranteed to enjoy smooth motion playback for videos and movies. They are EPEAT Gold and ENERGY STAR certified to reduce environmental impact and save on energy costs. And should your unit need servicing, it comes included with advanced sway replacement service so you don’t have to stop working.

This Kingston is the cheapest drive on our list, and there is good reason for it. It’s slower than other SSDs because it uses an older controller and doesn’t take advantage of modern SSD caching technologies. All the same, it is easily ten times faster than a standard hard disk drive. If you want a cheap entry level drive to replace the dreadfully slow 5400rpmer that came with your laptop then here you are. It doesn’t get cheaper than this, but if you want a 20% boost in performance check out number 9 on our list. It will cost a few dollars more. Want a near two fold increase in performance for just ten cents more per gigabyte★ Check out the Samsung 840 EVO at number 2 in our list. Want the cheapest SSD possible★ OK, this is it.

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This is probably the very best value on the list at an absolutely tiny 45 cents per gigabyte of space at a respectable 500MB/s read/write max. Basically this is the same as the Intel 530 series at 33% less of a cost. However, you also get less warranty and possibly a less reliable drive. Since this drive is far less proven than on the market regarding stability than Intel’s mainstream level drives we keep it somewhat low on the list. Still, it’s an absolutely great entry level drive for non mission critical systems. If you just want a spare drive to sync with your cloud service, or use as a backup then you can not go wrong with this one.

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This is a pretty great performer at a decent price. While its performance is pretty close to top notch, its price is currently not at part with other great performers and there is the issue of the proprietary controller which could use a little field testing in the world. Otherwise it has great modern memory and low power consumption making it pretty nice for laptops. Application load times seem to be a sweet spot with this drive, which is an important benchmark for most. However, because of its unknown long term reliability and its cost we kept it at seven on our list.

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While this is the best overall performance drive on our list, it is so expensive that we couldn’t rank it very high. So who is this drive for★ Video editors, software developers, and people who use workstations that frequently move tons of data. This is not going to make a huge difference for gamers, everyday users, basic office work, and etc. It is extremely fast, uses Intel’s third generation controllers, and costs a ton of money. If you have the money and have to have the fastest, then go for it. Otherwise you can get a much better deal with the OCZ Vector, Samsung 840 EVO, or Sandisk Extreme II (our top 3).

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The M550 is a higher performing successor to the M500, using Marvell’s relatively new 88SS9189 controller as opposed to the M500’s 88SS9187. This pretty simple upgrade is essentially going to boost sequential read speeds by about 50MB/s and and sequential writes by about 100MB/s. That’s a pretty decent gain for a small price increment. Still the M550 is an average performer at best, and really should be considered a great mainstream drive and not much more. It has an average 3 year warranty, slightly better than average speeds, and a great price which is what keeps it on our top 10 list.

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Although not the fastest drive on the market, Intel’s new SSDs are near perfect for professional workstations or offices because of their focus on reliability and the leading five year warranty. It uses the always reliable Sandforce 2281 controller and modern 20nm NAND memory. It has higher read performance than write performance, so it works great for most office applications. While there are faster and cheaper SSDs on the market, we believe this is the best option for professional use because of its warranty and proven hardware. It also comes with a free mounting kit for desktops, and uses very little power making it also ideal for laptops.

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Getting in to the top 4 our list really begins to focus on speed, and we start that focus with the OCZ Vector 150. This incredibly fast drive uses OCZ’s very own controller named Barefoot 3. This controller is not only meant to provide blazing fast speed, it also is meant to keep the drive running for a very long time. The controller will actually monitor bad flash memory within the drive and stop using it over time. Along with low heat 19nm NAND and the custom chipset, you are looking at 90,000 IOPS for both random reads and writes. In every day terms, this translates in to 500 MB/s read/write times with both compressible and non-compressible data.

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Sandisk’s Extreme series SSDs exist to satisfy one type of customer, those interested in speed. SanDisk, who has long manufactured great flash memory, is well positioned to offer fast speed at a low price since they do not have to buy memory chips from another manufacturer. They use Marvel’s newest controller, the 88SS9187-BLD2. This controller matched with their own 19nm MLC flash storage combines to create explosive benchmarks including a 570.5MB/s speed index. While the price on this drive is slightly high, if you are out to get the fastest mid-range solution on the SSD market, this is your drive.

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This drive just can not be beat for price to performance ratio. It performs nearly at the same level as the 840 pro but costs close to half as much. In some benchmarks it even performs better. While it can not claim the same market proven reliability, it certainly can give massive performance gains to just about any computer. This disk features a second level cache to speed up communications between it’s controller and the memory. The only other SSD to do this currently is the Sandisk Extreme II and III series. This SSD is the clear winner of best bang for your buck regarding speed.

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The all around best SSD on the market is the Samsung 850 Pro series. This series still offers more speed and reliability than any other mid-range SSD. Since Samsung makes their own components (memory and chips) they can afford to put higher end products in their SSD. For example, this SSD uses Samsung’s own tri-core chip to move your data around their own 21nm flash memory. Another reason we rank this as the best SSD is because it is market proven. For over a year this model has exhibited incredibly low failure rates and as further proof of it’s reliability Samsung has hardly released any firmware updates for the drive showing that the software was written properly from the start. This is the ultimate SSD for those who want near perfect, headache free, performance.

The Innovera mouse pad with a gel wrist pad is ideal for graphic designers and gamers, or any constant mouse users looking for a little extra comfort. It has rubber backing to keep the mouse pad from moving around the desktop, while the elevated wrist gel pad offers soft support without hindering wrist movement. It measures at 10″x9″ and is compatible with most mice, including laser.

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Meet Razer’s first gaming grade mouse pad. The paper thin desktop skin features multi-use adhesive giving users the ability to attach and remove it on any surface, allowing it to be taken wherever, whenever. It measures around 13x10x0.1 inches.

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Looking for maximum mouse pad space★ Think Razer Goliathus Extended Mouse Mat. It features slick cloth weave for more speed and control, while its anti-fraying stitched frame offers great durability. Pixel-precise targeting and tracking make it compatible with all gaming-grade mice, and its rubber base grips to any smooth surface. Available in four mat sizes, users can go small for space-challenged desktops, mid-sized, large-sized, and desktop length for keyboard placement and maximum mousing space.

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Compatible with optical, laser, and ball mice, this SteelSeries Professional Gaming mouse pad was engineered for even the most hardcore gamers who demand precision, accuracy, and stability. Its finely textured surface consists of tens of thousands of light reflecting microscopic points to enhance tracking capabilities, while a rubber base keeps the mousepad steady on a desktop at all times.

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For those seeking a simple no garnish mouse pad without giving up durability, the Fellowes Mouse Pad offers just that. Its durable polyester construction extends its lifeline while protecting desktops from scratches. Measuring at 9.5x8x0.2 inches, its thin design offers better mouse mobility as opposed to thicker pads.

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Providing all-day comfort support, the Innovera gel mouse pad with wrist rest has a softer and smoother fabric than other gel rests. Its surface is stain and water resistant, and wipes clean easily. It also has nonskid rubber backing to keep the rest from slipping on surfaces.

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The portable Logitech retractable mouse pad is designed to protect your lap from notebook heat, even after extended laptop use. The retractable mouse pad lets you use your mouse when a desktop surface is unavailable. With an anti-slip surface that is thin and light, users can easily take it on the go and expect their notebook to stay firmly in place during use.

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Slightly smaller than its 9HD cousin, the SteelSeries 4HD professional gaming mouse pad has a fiber polished aluminum and anodized oxide coating for an amazing ly responsive and precise performance. Its surface is extremely durable and resistant to water and most stains, while a no-slip backing provides steady support.

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For those gamers who prefer cloth surfaces, the SteelSeries QcK heavy gaming mouse pad is made of high quality cloth material, and an optimized texture which guarantees both smoothness and glide performance, with a specially designed non-slip rubber base for extended use. Its heavy thickness reduces problems from uneven surfaces, which also makes it suitable for LAN-Events.

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Measuring in at 13.4 x 16.8 x 0.2 inches, the Razer Goliathus Omega mouse pad consists of advanced cloth weave surface for unrestrained speed and effortless control. Its optimized for all mouse sensitivity setting and sensor types, and has an anti-fraying stitched frame for extended durability.

There is so much to love about the Sculpt system by Microsoft, especially if you are a long time user of split style ergonomic keyboards. This wireless modern rendition of the Microsoft Natural 4000 series is a fresh update and keeps hands and wrists comfortable. We highly recommend it if you are in to the style, but sadly compared to the old 4000 series there are some annoyances including a very awkward mouse and the standard six key arrangement of Insert to Page Down is moved around.

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This is the only mobile bluetooth keyboard on our list because we just didn’t see the point of including any others. Anker is a fantastic brand which we have recommended in numerous other categories. Their slim bluetooth keyboard is available in black and white and works with nearly all popular tablets; this includes the iPad 2 all the way up until modern Galaxy tabs. We love this keyboard and its battery life.

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This is a long shot and should really just be used in a pinch or to impress friends, but we wanted to include simply because it is cool modern tech. The projection based keyboard tracks your movement across the image of a keyboard it projects on to your surface. While this does work well for slow moving hands, once you start hitting over 60wpm you will start having inaccuracy as well. Otherwise this is a nifty travel device and can be used to impress your friends.

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We are only including this one gaming keyboard on our list because we plan to release another top ten dedicated to gaming keyboards. Until then, we find this will cover the needs of the vast majority of gamers. The Cooler Master Storm Devastator is an extremely affordable keyboard and mouse combo with great looking blue backlight. It’s ergonomic for long gaming sessions. The keyboard is not a true mechanical, but instead something of a hybrid that still provides decent tactile feedback.

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We love how this solar powered keyboard by Logitech looks and feels. It’s sort of like the Casio calculator of the 1980s matched with sleek modern goodness. On a functional level, the solar power is great. Replacing batteries is such a pain in the rear for keyboards. To never have to do it is a luxury. The keys are also somehow curved on this keyboard making it a pleasure to type on.

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Here is another wireless Logitech keyboard that we love to use. This is the K360, and it is quite glossy indeed. At a very budget friendly price this will look good on just about any desk. The range on this keyboard is also fantastic if you want to take it with you as you leave the room. In other words, it doubles as a gigantic remote for your computer’s volume. Overall, we just really like the design and the price.

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Amazon is serious about establishing their brand of consumer electronics. The AmazonBasics keyboard is just awesome. It has the same, if not better, build quality of the Logitech K360 we were just playing with but it comes in at half the price. Sure it doesn’t have wireless, but the keys are more tactile and properly spread. You never have to deal with battery replacements and it has all the hotkeys you need for volume, calculator, and more.

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The Logitech Wireless WAVE is something of a classic keyboard. It has survived the test of time, and even now makes our fresh top ten list. It’s simply one of the most comfortable keyboards out there. We tested the combo kit here that also comes with a cheap mouse, but the star of the show is the keyboard. Battery life is incredible, comfort is great, and it’s hard to beat Logitech’s legendary warranty support should you ever have an issue.

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Of course the most comfortable keyboard is still, the reigning champion, Microsoft Natural 4000. If you have never used a split keyboard then your wrists don’t know what they are missing, which is essentially a world of no pain. There is no need to get freaked out by the design, your hands and brain will adapt and thank you. If you use keyboards for prolonged periods of time, do yourself a favor and at least try one of these out at a Best Buy. Then pick it up on Amazon for a third of the price once you are convinced.

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When balancing price, features, and comfort there is no better keyboard than the Logitech Wireless K400. It simply has it all, and although it is not the best at anything it is great at everything. The battery life is great, the wireless range is great, the comfort is as good as a non-split keyboard can be, and you will find yourself using the touchpad all the time. The only tiny downside is that this is not for prolonged use (ie. 8 hours per day), in that case you need number 2 on our list.

Kicking off our list is the ASUS Transformer book. We liked the detachable 10 inch screen, so it can be a laptop or tablet. The long battery life is a nice plus, too. It comes with 2 gig of RAM and a USB port, plus it comes in several color options. With the keyboard attached in laptop mode, it can get a little top heavy, so just be aware not to tilt it back too far to avoid tipping. Overall, for the price, we found this to be a nice little find.

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Next up is the Toshiba Satellite. With this laptop you get 6 gig of RAM, a 750 gig hard drive, and a 15.6 inch touchscreen. First off, we liked its versatility. There are multiple USB ports, an SD card slot, CD drive and both HDMI and VGA outputs. But to be fair, we also liked its sleek, white look. However, the touch screen is very sensitive. Almost too much so, for some. It’s great for photos, but it can be frustrating with spreadsheets.

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At number 8 is the Samsung ATIV Book 9. There’s a lot to like here, a nice big 15.6 inch screen, with excellent touchscreen feel, 8 gigs of RAM, an Intel processor, multiple USB ports, the works. We especially liked the long battery life. They tout an 8.8 hour life, but we never made it quite that far. Still, we like that it’s slim and lightweight. Do know, however, that some folks have had issues with the trackpad, and while we really like this one, at $1300, it’s definitely on the high-end price wise.

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Next at number 7, dude, you’re getting a Dell. It’s the i737 Notebook Convertible. The 13 inch touchscreen rotates around so it can be used as a tablet, as well. There’s plenty of power, with 8 gigs of RAM and a 500 gig hard drive. It has USB and HDMI inputs, too. We really liked the backlit display and the plastic rubber hybrid feel especially, but wished it had longer battery life. Though it’s a little heavy as a tablet, the versatility is really nice.

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Our number 6 touchscreen laptop is the HP Envy. While this one is only a laptop, the screen doesn’t detach, we liked a lot about this computer. Lots of memory, lots of ports, a big 15 inch screen where the touchscreen response is great, and we loved the sound from the built in Beats Audio. Now, this one is definitely on the heftier side, as laptops go, at about 6 pounds. So keep that in mind if you carry yours around a lot. Overall though, this is a solid choice.

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At number 5 is the Acer C720P Chromebook. While this one has a bit smaller screen, only 11.6 inches, and some of the limitations that come with a Chromebook as opposed to a traditional laptop, such as the cloud based storage and web based apps, we liked the tradeoff for a lighter weight and fast speeds. It starts up in a blink, has a nice battery life, and at under $300 makes it a really affordable option for kids and students.

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Next is the Lenova IdeaPad Chromebook. It has an 11.6 inch screen, 2 gigs of RAM and a touchscreen that can rotate from a laptop to a stand to use like a tablet. While it’s not exactly convertible, as the screen doesn’t detach, and has less memory than some others on our list, the flexibility and performance at this price, under $300, and this light, under 3 pounds, that’s what bumped it up on our list. It would make a nice option for carrying around to class every day.

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Number 3 on our list, it’s the Asus Flip. The biggest feature here being the ability to flip the laptop 360 degrees into a tablet. Additionally, there’s lots of memory here, 8 gigs of RAM and a terabyte of hard drive, plenty of ports and input, and a nice responsive touchscreen. That screen can be tough to see outdoors or at some angles, and it’s good to know that there’s no CD or DVD player, but nothing too disappointing here.

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Next up it’s the Dell Inspiron 2 in 1 Convertible Touchscreen Laptop. We ranked this one high for its combo of excellent performance and low price. There’s 4 gigs of RAM, a nice long nearly 8 hour battery life, it runs quietly, has nice touchscreen feel, an Intel Pentium processor, and high quality sound system. That and the fact that it completely converts to tablet mode and sells for less than $350, what’s not to like★

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And finally, capping off our list is the Acer Aspire Switch 10. We loved that this one also converts to a tablet with a keyboard that detaches, or can be attached at several angles for full range of display. It has plenty of memory and processing speed, lots of battery life, USB port and SD card reader. While we miss a CD/DVD drive, and this device is pretty small, it does keep it light. And at under $250, you’ll be hard pressed to find more at this price point.

The Asus Chromebook is 13.3 inches and weighs in around 3 pounds making it perfect for travel. It has the largest touchpad in its class and is enhanced with the Trusted Platform Module hardware security keeping your personal information and data safe whether you are at home or traveling. It is easy to set up and once it is, runs “super-fast.” You get 100 GB of Google Drive storage for 2 years, free. There is a built-in webcam and the keyboard is not backlit. Its processor is the Celeron 2.16 GHz.

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The Acer c720 Chromebook’s screen is 11.6 in and weighs under 3 pounds. It has an Intel Celeron processor with Haswell micro-architecture. It boots in less than 7 seconds, has an anti-glare HD screen and an average 8.5 hour battery life. It updates itself automatically and has Intel HD graphics. Skype is not available on this machine, but Google hangouts is which will work great with its built-in webcam. You get 100 GB of Google Drive storage free for 2 years.

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The Toshiba Chromebook 2 has a 13.3 inch, high resolution IPS screen. Its processor is Intel Celeron, has a 9 hour battery life, weighs under 3 pounds and is fan-less. Along with this amazing Chromebook you get 1 terabyte of Google Drive storage for free, 12 free gogo in-air internet passes and a complimentary 60-day unlimited music pass on Google play music. Some reviewers noted that while this Chromebook has one of, if not the best screen its processor is slower than its competitors.

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The Acer c720p is almost identical to the c720 model except that it is touch screen. Reviewers noted that the touch screen is responsive and natural, but unlike an iPad you can’t use the “pinch” motion to zoom. This Chromebook is responsive even with multiple tabs open. The app store is large and is filled with apps that allow you to use certain programs offline. Skype is not available. As a warning, if you are buying this computer refurbished to save on some money, the free cloud storage is not available.

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The Super Google Chromebook Pixel has dual core processing and functions at 1.8 GHz processor speed. Its screen is just under 13 inches with a resolution of 2560×1700 pixels. It has a 2-in-1 media reader which supports secure digital and multimedia card formats. The Chrome OS keyboard is backlit and you get 1 terabyte of Google Drive memory for 3 years for free. It has an industrial design that is made from anodized aluminum. This is the most expensive Chromebook on our list costing about the same as a laptop.

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The Samsung Chromebook 2 has an Intel Celeron processor and a 16 GB hard drive with a 2 GB SDRAM. It comes equipped with USB ports and a HDMI port as well. It comes with100 GB of free storage for two years on Google Drive. The Wi-Fi speed is 3 times faster than the standard 802.11n. It has a HD screen that is non-glare and is lightweight. It comes with AirDroid Premium, Wunderlist Pro and Little Bridge software. Its look is clean and sharp with a textured- leather on the cover.

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The HP Chromebook 14 is stellar. One of its differentiating features is that some models come with free T-Mobile Wi-Fi for as long as you own your computer. It operates on the NVIDIA Tegra K1 Processor and has a 16 GB solid-state drive. It weighs 3.5 pounds, has 3 USB ports, a HDMI port and 8 hours of battery life. This is another Chromebook that is fan-less. Its touchpad has pinpoint control. The webcam does not have top-of-the-line quality but most Chromebooks webcams don’t. It does not have an SD port either.

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The Lenovo IdeaPad N20P has an 11.6 inch touch screen with the Intel Celeron N2830 Dual Core processor. The screen is hinged but it does not rotate around to lay flat and dual as a tablet. It has on average 8 hours of battery life with good speakers for a Chromebook. The keyboard is quiet and when you lift the screen, it powers itself on. One of the coolest things is that you can use Chrome Remote to remote into your Mac Mini (need Wi-Fi) which can turn this into a small Macbook as well.

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The Acer Chromebook 13 has a 13.3 inch screen with about an 8 hour battery life with use. The screen resolution is 1920×1080 pixels and is anti-reflective which means you can use this inside and outside. Its processor is 2.1 GHz Tegra processor, is fan-less and has HDMI and USB ports. One customer complaint is the online text is small, but you are able to fix that with zoom. It comes with free 100 GB of storage on Google Drive for 2 years. This computer has a white matte finish which some reviewers love, while others were hesitant about it getting dirty.

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The Dell Chromebook 11 impressed ‘The Verge’ and it is no surprise why. Dell is targeting the education market with their first Chromebook. Its screen is 11.6 inches and there are multiple ways to connect online (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile broadband). It is equipped with the current Intel processor, has USB ports and a HDMI port. Some downsides, there is no backlight on the keyboard and the fan turns on and off a lot which is noticeable in a quiet setting. This Chromebook is a fierce competitor with both its look and its function.

This would be the budget option for gamers. We fought between this and the Roxio Game Capture HD PRO, and the reason we settled on Diamond’s GC1000 for entry-level/value is because it has better software. The software Roxio has made is just horrible and outdated. That said, the Diamond is no gem. It has issues as well. What it is a great hardware for capturing nearly any input via pass through and USB. It can record at 1080p. It DOES NOT work for Mac users. The capture software is clunky, but at least functional. No HDMI cables included. If you are willing to put a little work in and you have a PC, this will be great because of it’s low cost. If you want better software with great features and higher quality hardware for another $50, read on.

• Low price
• Composite, USB, and Component cables included
• No power supply required

• Mediocore software
• Difficult setup
• No Mac/OSX support

This is an absolutely excellent option if you prefer Hauppauge’s software. No power brick required, and no computer required! You record directly to a USB thumb drive. There is no limit on what size thumb drive you get, so go big if you buy this. We highly, highly recommend you get the SanDisk Cruzer Fit 64GB as it is extremely small and reliable. You don’t want a long USB drive sticking out of the Rocket. It will get dislodged and you may risk losing recordings. So get this SanDisk if you want to buy the Rocket. The downsides of the Rocket are that it is expensive and you have to pay for a thumb drive if you don’t already have one, making it even more expensive. Otherwise this is an absolutely brilliant choice. Since you don’t need special software, there is less setup and pain. Just hook it up and start recording.

• No computer required
• Record directly to USB drive
• No power supply required

• Expensive
• Requires USB drive

This is another expensive but great option for recording with out a PC. This time, instead of a USB drive, you are recording to an SD card. However, you also have the option to record via USB to PC. So it is more versatile than the PVR Rocket. As a nice bonus you also get a three month subscription to XSplit Broadcaster, which is amazing ly good software for streaming to services such as Twitch. Otherwise this is a relatively typical capture card with H264, 1080p, low latency pass-thru HDMI, and high compatibility with nearly all consoles. You can record audio via the 3.5mm plug and optionally put it in a separate file or include it in the final video file. Unfortunately this one is difficult to setup with the PS3 and the USB/HDMI cables it comes with are extremely short and you will probably need to buy new ones. We think, for the price, you can do better.

• FREE 3mos premium xsplit broadcaster
• Record directly to SD card
• No computer required

• Power supply required
• Expensive
• Requires purchase of SD card

*** MAC USERS READ THIS ***
The HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition by Hauppauge is an excellent choice for portable recording but it does not come with native Mac support. You will need to buy it as add on software for $29.95 from hdpvrcapture.com. Yes this is ridiculous. The other option is to buy the HD PVR 2 Gaming Edition Plus for an additional $20 which will also give you 5.1 channel sound recordings.
Moving on to the majority of our game capture audience (PC/Xbox/PS), there is no big downside to this capturer. In fact, it’s a strong competitor the the number one option in our list. Some claim it has better color quality, but we couldn’t find any solid evidence of that. The performance is identical, so is the codec used. The big difference between this and our number one option is that the Hauppauge requires you to use a power brick. You may think this is not a big deal, but it’s annoying. We promise. It’s an extra item to pack, and extra cord to run to a surge protector, and an extra item in your way. Otherwise, short of it’s lack of native Mac support and requirement of a power cord, this is a good pass through portable game capture card.

• High quality captures
• Includes 9′ USB cable, and 6′ video cables
• Easy to use

• Power supply required
• Computer required
• Mac edition requires extra software

So here is the deal. The Elgato fits in your pocket. It will not break the bank, costing less than $200. It has probably the most ridiculously easy setup and software that we have ever seen. It comes with excellent low power chipsets that make it so you do not have to carry with or buy a power adapter for it. Think LAN party here people, do you really want another power brick and to have to ask the guy next to you if you can use his surge protector★ Performance is brilliant and the H264 10bit color captures with built in anti-aliasing are crisp and beautiful. Streaming to Twitch, YouTube, or even Ustream is incredibly easy.
In our opinion there is just no other reason to get a different capture card. This is it.

• High quality captures
• Easy to use software
• Buffering technology allows you to recapture unrecorded moments
• High quality voice over recording
• Stream to Twitch, YouTube, and Ustream
• No power supply required

• Computer required
• Expensive

First up is the Eco-Friendly and we think it is a great messenger style bag with a spacious interior and various pockets for other accessories. It’s great for large laptops measuring 17.3″ and it is also padded for damage protection. We like that it has a handy pockets for papers, electronic cords, a slot for our cell phone and writing utensils. The shoulder strap is adjustable and when fully extended measures 53″ making it ideal for tall people. The only thing we can pass on is the oddly placed handle that makes for awkward handling.

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What we love about the Snugg Laptop bag is every pocket is internal with a zipper close, making it a great on-the-go or travel piece. It offers a large interior for notebooks up to 15″ and two smaller pockets for an iPad, Kindle and paper notepad. If you’re looking to stay organized this is a top contender because there are sleeves for electronic cords, writing tools, passports and a cell phone. It is a high quality piece design wise and the PU leather looks really nice – but we could definitely go without the blood red interior.

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If you’re like us and you don’t care for the Snugg’s bright red interior, we highly suggest you try the Samsonite classic. The Samsonite costs nearly the same, is protected by zippers and offers plenty of storage space – but we like this one a little more because it can fit larger laptops, (though advertised for 15″ laptops, we found our 17″ PC to fit like a glove) and it has a swivel shoulder strap for easy mobility. The coolest feature here is the SmartPocket that slides over upright luggage handles making it ideal for business travel.

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We suggest the Targus CitySmart laptop bag if you’re wanting to cut down on bulk for easy laptop portability. It has a great padded laptop compartment that accommodates sizes up to 16″, and a large exterior for document. We like its back Velcro pocket that makes for quick tablet, cell phone or car key access. We give it extra points for being water resistant, and having a comfortable swivel shoulder strap. It’s a great choice especially for those constantly on the run.

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Whether you’re taking your laptop to work or through airport security, you are going to want the Case Logic laptop bag. We love that it is TSA compliant, thanks to its special laptop compartment that unfolds to be x-rayed without removing it from the case. Its greatest aspect are the endless pockets – it has a pocket for an iPad or Kindle, a place for important folders and documents, slots for passports, boarding passes, cell phones, electronic cords, business cards, a newspaper and wallet. It’s a great piece to keep you organized for when you’re constantly on the move.

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If you’re looking for a durable and low capacity laptop bag, the Samsonite Classic 15.6″ bag is a great choice. Sometimes you don’t need a massive laptop bag with extra space and we like that the Samsonite offers just enough room for accessories, while still remaining compact. Not only that, but it makes for faster and easier access. We like that it is padded head to toe so we don’t have to worry how our laptop is holding up, and it offers both a shoulder strap and wrapped handles for carrying comfort.

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This Case Logic laptop bag is smaller than our number 6 spot because it offers less pockets, but it is still a highly efficient piece. Its one large interior pocket has plenty of room for a 16″ laptop and a 10″ tablet, and it has an organization pocket that is great for papers, electronic cords, and personal items like a passport or cell phone. We love that it easily fits over an upright luggage handle for travel, and it has a cool zipper pocket on the back to keep your cell phone close to your side.

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Leather strapped bags usually make us nervous since they don’t tend to hold up well, but alas, the Gootium laptop bag has proved us wrong. It not only looks great, but the quality is top notch and all zippers and magnets work as they should. What we really love about the bag is the silk lined interior that makes the bag very lightweight Keep in mind that it’s on the smaller scale and it best for laptops measuring 14.5″. If you’re looking for a business and casual friendly laptop bag, this is a solid choice.

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We really love the 16″ Case Logic laptop bag for several reasons. First, it’s slim and compact for those who don’t need extra bulk, the front pocket doesn’t become deformed even when you pack it with accessories and electrical cords, and it has a convenient special pocket for USB drives. The handles and shoulder strap are comfortable, and it has a luggage strap for traveling. It’s simple, low costing and protects our laptop as it should.

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AmazonBasics has made the perfect laptop bag that is lightweight, constructed well and offers just enough protection to minimize bulk. We also appreciate that they have made this bag in various sizes to accommodate laptops measuring from 7″ to 17.3″, and it has a really nice accessory pouch that is great for cords, mice and writing tools. Padding here is minimal, so if you want super plush protection you won’t find it. But you will find ease of use and comfort, whether you’re using the handles or shoulder strap.