Articles written by Chad Criswell

Consumers have many options available for purchasing cheap printer ink in the form of inkjet refill kits or commercial ink cartridge refills but they do come with risks.

Dec 20, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Wireless headsets are great but the audio and recording quality often suffers when compared to wired versions. The Plantronics .Audio 995 may be an exception to the rule.

Dec 13, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Noise cancelling earbuds are popular with those who travel a lot as well as those that work and play in noisy environments. This article names the two best rated models.

Dec 6, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Is it really time to cut the cable and move to a completely wireless computing existence? Wireless USB is bringing us one step closer to it. This article tells you how.

Nov 30, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The Logitech Webcam 9000 Pro provides high quality 720p HD video with great image adjustment software, but Mac users may come up feeling cheated.

Nov 22, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Looking for a small office multifunction wireless printer? The HP OfficeJet Pro 8500 stands out among the competition but is it right for everyone?

Nov 15, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Thinking of buying a cheap, USB hard drive to use as a backup device? Take a closer look at this review of the 1.5 TB Seagate FreeAgent Desk hard drive.

Nov 9, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Having an emergency radio receiver available in times of bad weather or other crisis is a necessity that is well worth the expense. What are the best emergency radios?

Oct 31, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The new Apple Magic Mouse is a totally new idea in computer mouse design. Making use of multi-touch sensors this new Bluetooth mouse has no physical buttons at all!

Oct 25, 2009 - Chad Criswell

For composers that want to write music in an easy, clean, and fast way, Sibelius 6 is often one of the most popular choices. Is the upgrade worth the price?

Oct 18, 2009 - Chad Criswell

External drives are hot items these days and with so many brands and models to choose from which are the best external hard drives to buy?

Oct 18, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Each year Black Friday becomes more and more chaotic, but what exactly is the history of Black Friday and where did the term Black Friday come from?

Oct 11, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Want to find the best music composing software for your computer? There are several great music writing software programs, but each has its own pros and cons.

Oct 2, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Belkin takes its TuneBase line of iPhone car adaptors and updates it as the new TuneBase FM with Clear Scan technology. An iPhone FM transmitter and charger in one.

Oct 2, 2009 - Chad Criswell

For those wanting a simple yet feature rich way to set up a wireless home network the Belkin Home Base makes it easy to share printers, share files, and backup computers.

Sep 20, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Many of the completely free ebooks out there are written by unknown authors. To find more popular ebooks and audiobooks one must know the tricks of where to look.

Sep 5, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The most effective ways to prevent global warming are also some of the most simple. This list of suggestions, when done at an individual level, may help turn the tide.

Sep 5, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Has full 720p HD Video finally made it to the PC? The Microsoft LifeCam Cinema HD sports great image quality but has a few minor drawbacks.

Aug 30, 2009 - Chad Criswell

A new kind of power storage device, the ultracapacitor is poised to invade all kinds of common household electronics, but what exactly is an ultracapacitor?

Aug 17, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The Zoom H4n digital audio recorder is one of the most full featured and versatile portable audio recorders on the market.

Aug 15, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Portable USB hard drives are very insecure by their very nature. Protecting secure data on the Freecom Hard Drive Secure uses RFID Keys to lock the data from prying eyes.

Aug 12, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Imagine being able to compose a song simply by waving a hand in the air. The Beamz Interactive Music System is a unique electronic musical instrument that does just that.

Aug 2, 2009 - Chad Criswell

A comparative look at two of the best cheap netbooks available on the market, the Acer Aspire One and the Samsung NC-10 netbook computers.

Jul 26, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Large family camping tents are a must-have item for preserving family harmony and providing shelter. This buyer's guide can help a parent make the appropriate choice.

Jul 17, 2009 - Chad Criswell

There are many famous short speeches given by Americans during times of significance. Many of these short famous speech presentations were given by American presidents.

Jul 17, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Adding long range wifi antennas to existing routers is an easy thing to do, IF the user knows about the antenna connections and what router brands allow them to be used.

Jul 12, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Another in a long line of wireless mice, the Logitech V450 wireless mouse has received rave reviews from most buyers, but a small percentage has had major problems.

Jul 12, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Finding cute or designer laptop cases that fit an individuals style as well as needs is made easier with incredible designs by Melissa Beth and Theresa Kathryn.

Jul 5, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Illuminated or backlit keyboards are becoming quite popular among some niche computer user groups. The Logitech Illuminated Keyboard (LIK) is Logitech's first such device

Jun 25, 2009 - Chad Criswell

For enthusiasts that need a full featured, portable audio recorder but do not want the limitations of hand held recorders, the Tascam BB-1000CD is an excellent choice.

Jun 14, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The XFX Radeon HD4350 graphics card is priced attractively for novice computer users. This review examines whether the card's cheap price outweighs its low performance.

Jun 12, 2009 - Chad Criswell

With dozens of models on the market it is difficult to know exactly which ATI graphics card is best. This guide defines the most important parts of ATI video cards.

Jun 7, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Providing an instant broadband connection to the Internet from anywhere it can get a signal, the Novatel MiFi Hotspot Router is convenient but the service is very pricey.

May 31, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The Zoom H2 Handy Recorder is intended for musicians but its features and adaptable microphone design make it appropriate for almost any audio recording use.

May 22, 2009 - Chad Criswell

In terms of sales the Promethean ActivBoard is one of the most popular Interactive Whiteboards available, but do its features make it worth the high price tag?

May 17, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The peace of mind of being able to track the location of something valuable cannot be understated. The Zoombak Personal Locator can help for half the cost of Lojack.

May 6, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Backing up is important, and anything that makes the process easier almost becomes indispensable. The Seagate Replica Backup Drive may be one of those products.

May 4, 2009 - Chad Criswell

SATA hard drives are fast, robust data storage devices. Unlike other obsolete technologies, SATA drives also provide other features that home users can benefit from.

May 3, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Rather than buying a new router many users can benefit from some simple changes or upgrades that can greatly boost the signal of a wireless router.

Apr 26, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Although fairly inexpensive, headset mounted computer microphones are not the best choice for every application. This article gives and overview of the various options.

Apr 19, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The quality of the webcam's image during a videoconferencing call on Skype is often very poor. Here is how to improve webcam image quality without spending a dime.

Apr 12, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Using the wrong kind of ergonomic computer mouse can hasten the onset of carpal tunnel syndrome. This guide describes and lists the various kinds of ergonomic mice.

Apr 4, 2009 - Chad Criswell

For home or studio use, the Samson StudioDock 4i active reference studio monitors bring studio quality sound reproduction to any system they are connected to.

Mar 28, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Once upon a time 3D technology was just a fad but not any longer. A new slew of 3D monitors and 3D displays will be showing up in stores and are intended for home use.

Mar 16, 2009 - Chad Criswell

By simply upgrading a computer with more memory or a new graphics card a user can greatly increase the performance and usability of their computer system.

Mar 8, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Free ringback tones (also known as answer tones) from providers such as Verizon, Alltel, and Cingular are hard to find but with a little digging they can still be found.

Mar 6, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Ringback tones go by many different names depending on the cellular carrier, but they are growing in popularity despite additional monthly service charges.

Feb 28, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Using a TV as a computer monitor is very easy to do either with add on computer accessories or with equipment already built into the computer itself.

Feb 27, 2009 - Chad Criswell

World of Warcraft is one of the most popular video games on the market with millions of users. Ideazon's custom Warcraft keyboards can help make the game easier to play.

Feb 23, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Finding free, public Wi-Fi is easy with one of these useful gadgets or Wi-Fi detecting software tools.

Feb 14, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Compared to USB, External SATA (eSATA) hard drives provide additional speed for high bandwidth applications. That performance comes at a slight premium in cost however.

Feb 8, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The new Grand HD Cinema adapter from Grandtec allows a computer to connect to an HDMI television via a USB port instead of an internal expansion card.

Feb 3, 2009 - Chad Criswell

In the past, true fireproof and waterproof computer hard drives were reserved for high end installations. Now these disaster proof drives are available to home consumers.

Jan 30, 2009 - Chad Criswell

The Dogpile search engine is one of the oldest and most useful search engines on the Internet, but who created Dogpile and why is it such as useful search tool?

Jan 22, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Music composition and notation software can be very expensive. This article describes several high quality music notation programs that can do the same job for free.

Jan 12, 2009 - Chad Criswell

USB and PCI based TV tuner cards are cheap and inexpensive ways to turn a computer into a media center but each type of tuner card has it's own best use.

Jan 10, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Sharing a printer between multiple computers has never been easier. Many of the more advanced models provide additional benefits such as Internet firewalls.

Jan 4, 2009 - Chad Criswell

Laptops sitting on a person's lap can generate a lot of uncomfortable heat, and a series of stylish new laptop pillows from Intellgent Forms break with traditional ideas.

Dec 27, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Although it has been a long time coming, wireless USB devices and wireless USB hubs are now entering the market. Is this convenience worth the upgrade?

Dec 13, 2008 - Chad Criswell

USB and Firewire hard drive enclosures are very popular these days. What exactly are these enclosures and which type should a user purchase?

Dec 7, 2008 - Chad Criswell

The Seagate Free Agent Go USB portable hard drives are stylish and convenient to use, but do they really offer anything exceptional to the buyer?

Nov 30, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Most Interactive Whiteboards have the same basic features. A new portable IWB named Onfinity sports some innovations that may be worth a closer look.

Nov 24, 2008 - Chad Criswell

This list of fun USB powered gifts for computer geeks has something for every price range and for almost every taste.

Nov 24, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Find out how to clean a computer keyboard in three easy steps.

Nov 13, 2008 - Chad Criswell

First came rubber ball mice, optical mice, and laser mice, each generation improving on the last. Now the Microsoft Explorer Mouse claims to be the next big thing.

Nov 13, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Factory refurbished notebook computers are often much cheaper than new, sealed laptops, but buying refurbished may not be the best bet for everyone.

Nov 9, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Laptop backpacks are no longer just for use by students. Travelers, businessmen, and many others can benefit from the many laptop backpacks on the market today.

Nov 1, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Blow a horn, bang a drum, and jam on a guitar all with no experience necessary. Wii Music delivers as fun, creative family entertainment.

Oct 22, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Disposing of old laptop computers is a complex process that is not always environmentally friendly. This article discusses how to safely recycle laptops and their parts.

Oct 17, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Imation is set to release a new, highly anticipated wireless USB backup drive that promises to change the way users back up their laptop and desktop computers.

Oct 11, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Tired of plugging in the camera to transfer photos to a computer? The new Eye-Fi SD Card from SanDisk transfers photos from camera to computer via Wi-Fi! Here's how.

Oct 7, 2008 - Chad Criswell

SmartBoards and Interactive White Boards (IWB's) from Smart Technologies, Promethean, and other vendors are proving their worth in classrooms and board rooms everywhere.

Sep 30, 2008 - Chad Criswell

If a computer seems slow or sluggish when running on Vista using the Ready Boost utility could speed things up significantly.

Sep 20, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Buying computer, DVI, or other electronics cables in a chain store can add hundreds to the cost of new equipment. Save tons of money on computer cables with these tips.

Sep 14, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Solid State Drives are making a big splash in the technology media these days. Touted as the next generation of computer storage there are still some problems to fix.

Aug 31, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Many people are interested in finding a way to unlock their new iPhone. Unlocking is not something to take on lightly and it is definitely not for the casual user.

Aug 23, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Keyboards are more than just data entry devices and wireless keyboards from Logitech have recently taken center stage in both desktop and laptop replacement applications.

Aug 23, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Online strategy games that are beautiful to look at and also fun to play are few and far between. This article profiles two of the best, Fall of Rome and Eve Online.

Aug 21, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Do cable subscribers need to buy a new digital cable converter box to be ready for the transition on February 19th? This article attempts to provde a final answer.

Aug 14, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Buying a new video card can bring new life to an old computer but most laptops can't be upgraded. Recent advances have made external GPU's a powerful new option.

Aug 14, 2008 - Chad Criswell

USB and Firewire hard drive enclosures are very popular these days. What exactly are these enclosures and which type should a user purchase?

Aug 8, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Features such as the number and type of inputs and outputs on a computer monitor can have a large effect on price, value, and overall satisfaction.

Aug 8, 2008 - Chad Criswell

All SATA Hard Drives have a long list of performance specifications but many people buy based on price and capacity alone. This article discusses other important factors.

Jul 29, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Wading through dozens of Intel processor model numbers and clock speeds can be a confusing process. This guide discusses the Intel CPU naming system and how it works.

Jul 20, 2008 - Chad Criswell

While CD and DVD discs provide bountiful amounts of storage space but holographic data storage is no longer a fantasy. Terabyte size holographic discs are coming!

Jul 8, 2008 - Chad Criswell

The act of modifying a computer case in an artistic way is often referred to as case modding. Custom computer cases are big business and show off a user's creativity.

Jul 1, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Holding a poker party is always more fun for everyone if the host has the proper equipment on hand to make things more realistic. Check out these poker accessory ideas.

Jun 26, 2008 - Chad Criswell

For photo enthusiasts wide format photo printers are a necessity. Wide format printers are more expensive than their smaller siblings and provide many more features.

Jun 23, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Computer errors are more than annoying. A Blue Screen of Death at an inopportune moment can make a user lose hours of work and information. Here's how to fix them.

Jun 14, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Draft-N (the latest version of the 802.11 Wi-Fi standard) was supposed to be a panacea that promised faster speeds and greater range. Does it live up to the hype?

Jun 8, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Most computer users are familiar with software firewalls such as those built into Windows or sold by other companies, but the best PC firewalls are often hardware based.

Jun 1, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Before throwing out or donating an old computer the best thing to do is to clean the hard drive of all data. Wiping a hard drive is easy to do with the right software.

May 23, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Finding the best in new computer gadgets can be a fun diversion for those that are willing to do a little digging. The best gadgets are often found in strange places.

May 17, 2008 - Chad Criswell

For computer users without access to cable or DSL Internet access, setting up and using a wireless modem can allow for near broadband connection speeds in rural areas.

May 11, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Using these tips a user can quickly find the best free PC games for their home computer.

May 3, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Finding a cheap computer monitor is easy but finding one that balances price with the features a buyer needs is much more complicated.

Apr 30, 2008 - Chad Criswell

A new hard drive can be a great way to improve computer performance but copying data from hard drive to hard drive is not a job for the unprepared. Here's how to do it!

Apr 29, 2008 - Chad Criswell

YouTube's slogan is Broadcast Yourself. Thousands of people world wide do just that each and every day. What are the positives and negatives that go with such exposure?

Apr 29, 2008 - Chad Criswell

What kinds of hardware are required to create a podcast for publication on the Internet? What type of microphone is the best?

Apr 18, 2008 - Chad Criswell

Long-term happiness between two people starts with love. Relationship problems often start with unreasonable expectations. Good relationship advice can help you cope.

Apr 17, 2008 - Chad Criswell