The Best External Hard Drives Of 2012

Western-Digital-My-Book-Studio

External hard drives allow you to add terabytes of storage to your computer for a few hundred dollars. External drives connect to PCs and Macs via their external connectors. Almost every computer has a USB 2.0 port, so it’s the most common type of connection currently. Here’s the speed of other interfaces (from slowest to fastest): FireWire 400,… [Continue Reading]

The Best Smartphone and Tablet Chargers Of 2012

powergen-usb-charger

Today, we use smartphones and tablet computers wherever we go. However, batteries life tends to be a constant issue. That’s why carrying a spare charger in your daypack or purse makes a lot of sense. In most cases, you just need a bit of spare power to make a call or access the internet.

The Best LED Reading Lamps

B00198RKF0

The small size and directional light output of LEDs make them ideal for personal reading lights, and they are energy efficient too. Here are some of the best LED reading lamps:

The Best Stereo Amplifiers Of 2012

marantz_pm6004_amplifier

This year, we found that Onkyo and Harmon Kardon are the brands that produced the best budget stereo amplifiers. Above the $500 level, your best bet is a amplifier like the Marantz PM6004 Integrated Amplifier. It received What Hi-Fi’s Product Of the Year in 2011. See also our master list of American-made amplifiers and audio products on Reactual.… [Continue Reading]

The Best LED Camping Lanterns Of 2012

coleman-quad-lantern-200x200

LED Lanterns are perhaps the most useful portable lights — they can be used as camp lights, work lights, or emergency lights. The LEDs inside aren’t susceptible to shocks, and they burn for decades.