Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best home media server?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/26/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-home-media-server/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/26/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-home-media-server/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/26/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-home-media-server/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

So we've asked you which HD media streamer you prefer. And we've done the same for NAS drives. But what if you're the type that's looking for the best of both worlds? Take it away, Stuart:

"We have a laptop and a desktop, with plans to add another computer in the near future. I'd like something that can primarily provide a large (1TB+) storage repository that can be accessed via our network, as well as have space for data backups and media streaming capabilities. I've read articles on Drobo and Windows Home Server-based devices, but after a certain point my brain just starts to get overloaded. Which solution out there would be best for me? I'm trying to stay below $700 if possible."

We think your task is pretty clear cut here, reader. Which home server out there is a notch above the rest? Would you recommend a pre-built device or a homegrown solution? After giving this one a whirl, toss your own inquiry over to ask at engadget dawt com - your very words may grace this space next week.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetdrobohome serverHomeServermediamedia servermedia streamingMediaServerMediaStreamingmultimediastreamingwhswindows home serverWindowsHomeServerThu, 26 Jun 2008 23:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best backpack for traveling with gadgets?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/ask-engadget-best-backpack-for-traveling-with-gadgets/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/ask-engadget-best-backpack-for-traveling-with-gadgets/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/19/ask-engadget-best-backpack-for-traveling-with-gadgets/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's that time of year again, folks (yes, summertime). Which also means vacation time for many USers, and that could very well pose a problem. All those gadgets you can't leave behind have to be toted along somehow, so we'll let Brendan explain his quandary further:

"My wife and I will be traveling to Europe for 5 weeks. Naturally, I have some perfectly portable gadgets which will need to come along, but I need a good bag (messenger or backpack style, preferably lightweight) to hold the goodies and also keep those pesky pick-pockets at bay. I've got a subnote, GPS, DSLR, PMP, pocket translator and a few other peripherals. What bag will keep all these items safe, yet not make me stand out like a big sore 'tourist' thumb?"

We're glad you asked, and we have all ideas quite a few others are too. What backpacks have you found useful for carrying around gadgetry, and more importantly, which ones are comfortable for hours on end? If you've got a question of your own to unpack, send 'er over to ask at engadget dawt com.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetbackpackbagfeaturesgadget purseGadgetPursehandbagman bagManBagpurseThu, 19 Jun 2008 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best rugged portable hard drive?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/12/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-rugged-portable-hard-drive/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/12/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-rugged-portable-hard-drive/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/12/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-rugged-portable-hard-drive/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yeah, we've let you folks toss out suggestions for a similar question back when a 1TB internal HDD was nothing more than a pipe dream, but it's about time we gave this one an update, don't you agree? Hear Ian out:

"I was wondering which portable hard drive was good enough to stand up to the life of a student. Something that can take a few bumps and not be harmed. It doesn't have to be huge in capacity, but I need one larger than 80GB. I'd obviously like FireWire and USB 2.0 if possible, but I'm not trying to spend a fortune here either."

Had any particularly good / bad experiences with battle-tested portable HDDs? We want to hear 'em all, so don't be shy, alright? To get your question up in the lights, send us a note at ask at engadget dawt com -- just don't forget to include the secret password.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetfeatureshard driveHardDriveportable hard driveportable hddPortableHardDrivePortableHddruggedtoughThu, 12 Jun 2008 23:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best Tablet PC?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-tablet-pc/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-tablet-pc/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/05/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-tablet-pc/#commentsFiled under: ,

With the subnote revolution in full swing, one may wonder why anyone in their right mind would even consider opting for a Tablet PC. There's no denying that tablets cater to a narrowing niche, but the ability to doodle, write and detail your next home project (or similar) right on the screen still has its place in universities and certain on-the-go professions.

"I know I'll get tons of people suggesting that I just buy an Eee PC or similar, but I'm looking for some solid advice on a new Tablet PC. I'm primarily interested in taking notes in a few courses that I'm in, and I'm not planning on using this as my primary machine. I'm looking to spend the least amount of cash as possible, and I'm not looking for anything really powerful. I'm also down with any convertible suggestions -- anything I can sketch schematics out on will do."

Come on out of the woodwork, Tablet PC users. We know you're out there. Give this fellow a bit of advice, and make sure you don't lead him astray, alright? If you think you've got a question worthy of posting, shoot it on over to ask at engadget dawt com.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetconvertibledrawingfeaturestablettablet pcTabletPcwritingThu, 05 Jun 2008 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best entry-level DSLR?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/29/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-entry-level-dslr/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/29/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-entry-level-dslr/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/29/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-entry-level-dslr/#commentsFiled under: ,

Don't worry, we'll get to you mid- and high-enders soon enough, but we've got a feeling this week's Ask Engadget question will appeal to the masses. Granted, we've shot this inquiry out before, but a lot has happened in the DSLR realm in 3.5 long years, wouldn't you agree?

"Summer's coming up, and that means vacation time. I want to get an entry-level DSLR in order to best capture some of my upcoming adventures, and while I'd like to keep the cost low, I'm not against spending a bit of cash to get a really solid setup. What camera (and maybe even what lens) would your readers recommend for a newcomer?"

Go easy on the guy -- he even admitted that he's fresh to the game -- but don't hold back on explaining your answers in order to really give a good idea of why one camera is a better pick versus another. Right after that, send in a question of your own to ask at engadget dawt com -- but make it good, alright?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetcamerachoicedecisiondslrentry-levelfeaturesThu, 29 May 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Which gaming mouse is superior?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/22/ask-engadget-which-gaming-mouse-is-superior/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/22/ask-engadget-which-gaming-mouse-is-superior/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/22/ask-engadget-which-gaming-mouse-is-superior/#commentsFiled under: ,

Okay, so we already went way-too-vague on you when asking which mouse ruled them all, but we're hoping to narrow things up for you gamers out there with this one:

"I spend a fair amount of time on my PC playing a variety of games. First-person shooters, RPGs, a little of everything. I've heard lots of people recommend a certain mouse as a great overall device, but I'm looking for one that caters to gamers. Which mousing device on the market today gives gamers an edge and comes with features that we actually care about?"

If you're reading this now, chances are you've managed to log off long enough to help this guy out. Then again, if you're vying for top spot in those online death-matches, maybe you don't really want to give away your secret after all. Care to have your question plastered on the site? We'd typically recommend faxing your questions over, but IT just hooked us up with this fancy ask at engadget dawt com email address that you can try instead.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryaskask engadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesgaminggaming mouseGamingMousemouseperipheralThu, 22 May 2008 20:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Subnote or full-sized laptop for university use?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/ask-engadget-subnote-or-full-sized-laptop-for-university-use/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/ask-engadget-subnote-or-full-sized-laptop-for-university-use/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/15/ask-engadget-subnote-or-full-sized-laptop-for-university-use/#commentsFiled under: ,

We know, the vast majority of you either graduated or got past one more wave of exams this past week, but there's no better time to buy a lappie for school than when you actually have time to enjoy it, right?

"I'm looking to buy a laptop before I head off to college in a few months. I know there's too many choices out there in each category to ask for specific recommendations, but I'm wondering how current students feel about their machines. Is a subnote potent enough for university use? Is an ultraportable a better alternative? Or should I get a full-blown 15- to 17-incher as an all-purpose rig? My future GPA is hinging on your responses."

Let's hear it, bookworms. Is that CloudBook / Eee / 2133 Mini-Note treating you alright? Or would this poor freshman-to-be be better off with something larger? Toss out your opinions below -- friends don't let friends buy the wrong computer. If you'd like our readers to study a question of yours, send us an inquiry at ask at engadget dawt com, capiche?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetfeatureslaptopschoolsubnotesubnotebookultraportableuniversityThu, 15 May 2008 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Which are the best full-size headphones?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/ask-engadget-which-are-the-best-full-size-headphones/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/ask-engadget-which-are-the-best-full-size-headphones/http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/01/ask-engadget-which-are-the-best-full-size-headphones/#commentsFiled under:

Late last year, you dear readers chimed in with your opinions for best earbuds in the land. Now, however, Ask Engadget is comin' atcha from a slightly different angle. Take it away, Jose:

"I'm looking for some good headphones for around $150. I hate earbuds (so uncomfortable and the audio quality seems to depend on the angle that they're stuck in there,) so now I'm looking for full-on cans. I've been told both positive and negative things about Bose cans, but I'm looking for a few more opinions here. Help me and my ears!"

Just as a note, we got the impression that Jose would be willing to stretch that budget a bit if a real winner was available just north of two bills, so feel free to pass out suggestions even if they're a touch pricier than what was mentioned. If you're looking to have your question heard loud and clear, shoot it over to ask at engadget dawt com and wish upon your lucky star(s), alright?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>audiobestfeaturesheadphoneheadphonesmusicThu, 01 May 2008 17:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best digital camera for a child?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/24/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-digital-camera-for-a-child/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/24/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-digital-camera-for-a-child/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/24/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-digital-camera-for-a-child/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kids these days. Gifted with cellphones before they're able to walk, texting before they can write and wrecking mum's DSLR before they can even earn an allowance. In order to nix that last issue, many parents are looking to snag a point-and-shoot that wouldn't be too overwhelming for the average kiddo, yet could stand the abuse and churn out somewhat respectable images. According to Sean:

"I have tried a couple of child-specific digital cameras on the market and have been unhappy with them. They are poorly made and take really crummy pictures. Does anyone have a recommendation for something that takes decent pictures (over 3-megapixels, please) and that you'd be comfortable turning over to a 10 year old?"

We'll go ahead and assume Mr. Sean wants to keep the price point low, and while finding a kiddie camera with decent quality may be tough, feel free to include suggestions in comments for digicams you've had that have survived unspeakable catastrophes. Want to get your inquiry up in here next week? Shoot us a line at ask at engadget dawt com and we'll see what we can do.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetchildchildrendecisiondigicamfeaturesThu, 24 Apr 2008 19:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Which GPS rules both North America and Europe?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/17/ask-engadget-which-gps-rules-both-north-america-and-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/17/ask-engadget-which-gps-rules-both-north-america-and-europe/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/17/ask-engadget-which-gps-rules-both-north-america-and-europe/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yeah, you definitely have our permission to be incredibly envious of someone who is actually going to be motoring about in both Europe and North America on a frequent basis, but in all seriousness, we're betting Sneaker isn't the only chap out there looking for the best GPS for intercontinental travels.

"I'm headed to Europe in the near future and will be doing some extensive driving. Thus, I'm wondering which GPS units your readers have found to be effective for cruising on the back-roads of Europe, while still getting the job done in North America as well? Would appreciate some recommendations."

You'll notice a budget is glaringly absent here, so feel free to toss out your recommendations from low-end to princely. Meanwhile, you can beam in a burning question of your own by writing us at ask at engadget dawt com -- who knows, you might find your very own words in this space next week.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetcanadaeuropefeaturesgpsnorth americaNorthAmericaususaThu, 17 Apr 2008 21:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best console for a new gamer?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-console-for-a-new-gamer/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-console-for-a-new-gamer/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-console-for-a-new-gamer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Most of us are so firmly entrenched in supporting our next-gen console of choice that it's hard to remember why we chose it in the first place. Or is it? Alex would like to know:

"I am interested in buying a gaming console but am stuck at which one. I've never gamed much before, so I want a consle that is well-rounded, with a good mix of games, and I do prefer a regular controller over other designs. I already have a PSP, which I use for movies, and I think it would be nice to use an Xbox 360 controller with my computer, as a replacement for my aging Flight Simulator joystick. Ability to play media over my home network would be neat, but not necessary. Price is not a major issue, but I'm not looking to invest a lot in accessories and add-ons. All the consoles have different features that appeal to me, but I am not sure which one to buy. Hope I can get some help."

Obviously the format war aftermath has a bit of weight in this decision, and the PS3's been picking up steam in other metrics as well, but he's looking for a games machine so Blu-ray alone isn't going to make the winner here, and the Xbox 360 has been on top for a while. Got any opinions? Come on, don't be shy. Oh, and if you have a question of your own for Ask Engadget, send it on in to ask at engadget dawt com. Messages that begin with "Dearest Engadget" will receive extra consideration.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesps3wiixbox 360Xbox360Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Which keyboard should I buy?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/20/ask-engadget-which-keyboard-should-i-buy/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/20/ask-engadget-which-keyboard-should-i-buy/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/20/ask-engadget-which-keyboard-should-i-buy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Considering it's the buying season and all, we're not shocked to see this one come rushing into the Ask Engadget inbox. But considering the multitude of options out there, we'd say it's bit too late to go on a week long research bender in order to pick a victor.

"Keyboards have come a long ways. There used to be just a few to choose from, but now my options are nearly endless. What's the best keyboard out there? I'm looking for something that can handle the occasional WoW raid, a few hours of Counter-Strike and still make writing my dissertation as comfortable as possible."

So, there you have it. Take a step back, let it simmer on your brain a minute, and then hit us all up with your best shot. Feel free to toss out a few options if you can't pick a bona fide winner. We're sure next week we'll be getting all sorts of inquiries from folks wondering how to hack some off the wall holiday gift into a useful piece of kit, so feel free to send those -- along with any other applicable questions -- to ask at engadget dawt com.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>askask engadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesinput peripheralInputPeripheralkeyboardThu, 20 Dec 2007 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Which are the best earbuds?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/06/ask-engadget-which-earbuds-are-the-best/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/06/ask-engadget-which-earbuds-are-the-best/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/06/ask-engadget-which-earbuds-are-the-best/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's Ask Engadget time, which means we've got another conundrum for the collective wisdom of our learned readership (that'd be you):

"What should we stick in our ears? Apple's earbuds aren't cutting it, and most other DAP manufacturers are shipping headphones that are just as bad. We don't want to buy any old replacement set, but high-end earbuds can get ridiculously expensive real fast, and we'd like to avoid that if possible. Anything decent in the $99 range? Anything worth paying a lot more than that?"

We're sure there's somebody out there with an opinion on this, so let's see what you've got. Oh, and we're sorry for running our own staff-submitted questions a couple weeks in a row. We've been getting some great questions sent in to ask at engadget dawt com, but unfortunately most of the topics have been touched on recently or aren't quite relevant enough to dive into. Keep 'em coming and we'll get your name up in lights before you know it.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetearbudsheadphonesThu, 06 Dec 2007 22:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best 3G smartphone?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ask-engadget-best-3g-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ask-engadget-best-3g-smartphone/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ask-engadget-best-3g-smartphone/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You might've noticed the recent uptick in mobile industry news, which comes courtesy of the annual Mobius conference currently taking place in Amsterdam. It's pretty clear that the future is bright, what with 700MHz, 4G, a new Windows Mobile, Android, and a 3G iPhone all on the way, but what about the here and now? What we're wondering is:

"What's the best 3G smartphone currently available in the States?"

And yes, we mean 3G. You know, that hip cool thing that Apple isn't terribly fond of, which brings high speed internets, effective tethering, streaming video and music downloads on the run -- while supposedly beating battery life to a pulp. We're also talking about what's available in the here and now, but it could very well just be time to wait for the next great thing to come along, so be sure to let us know if that's the case for you. If you'd your own question answered, you can to hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadget.3gAskEngadget.3gfeaturessmartphoneFri, 30 Nov 2007 19:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Is it a good time to buy?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/15/ask-engadget-is-it-a-good-time-to-buy/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/15/ask-engadget-is-it-a-good-time-to-buy/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/15/ask-engadget-is-it-a-good-time-to-buy/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As evidenced by last week's Ask Engadget, it's pretty clear a few of you have an opinion on what to buy. But how about when? Ron wrote in wondering if the time is right for a new laptop:

"We're ready to replace our home laptop. Is it a good time to buy now or will there be many sales for Christmas time?"

Obviously plenty of sales are going to be cropping up around this time, but is he going to just end up with a dated clunker some big box was trying to clear its stock of? We suppose it differs between different tech categories. And for something like a laptop you've got to take into consideration generations of processor, graphics and connectivity technology -- if you're hoping to rock latest and greatest for any amount of time. Any tips for the man? And as always, you send in your questions to ask at engadget dawt com for your shot at harnessing the collective wisdom of Engadget's fine readers.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetfeatureslaptopThu, 15 Nov 2007 20:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Which mouse is the best mouse?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/10/ask-engadget-which-mouse-is-the-best-mouse/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/10/ask-engadget-which-mouse-is-the-best-mouse/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/10/ask-engadget-which-mouse-is-the-best-mouse/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Excuse us as we again present one of our own questions for you, dear Ask Engadget reader, to solve: what mouse should we buy? While most of us here at the Engadget HQ have some considerable mousing experience, from roller balls to laser mice and everything in between (even the oft-dreaded Mighty Mouse), it'd take a lifetime to give every mouse a fair shot at revolutionizing our point and click experience, and we're afraid we might be missing out on some true gems. Any favorites? Any carpal tunnel horror stories? Anybody still rocking a trackball? Let us know how you do in the comments, and we'll be sure to return to reader-submitted queries, which you can send in to ask at engadget dawt com, next week.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesmouseSat, 10 Nov 2007 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best Bluetooth stereo headset out there?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-bluetooth-stereo-headset-out-there/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-bluetooth-stereo-headset-out-there/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/01/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-bluetooth-stereo-headset-out-there/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Speaking of Korea, Samsung's P2 made its way into the States today, and you know what that means: it's time to start shopping for stereo Bluetooth headphones. At least that's what Bala's up to, who wrote in to Ask Engadget for advice as follows:

OK, I give up. I have been searching exhaustively for a Bluetooth stereo headset that's both lightweight, preferably the over-the-ear type and easily portable. I'd like to use it to listen music wirelessly from my iPhone (with an A2DP adapter) and my laptop which has Bluetooth. I'd also like to use it for voice calls (both with my iPhone and my PC), and that means it needs to have an integrated microphone. So far I have found only the BlueAnt X5 Stereo Bluetooth Headset to be meeting my requirements. Are there other headsets out there that would meet my requirements for under $125?

What say you guys, any favorites in the A2DP game? And don't say Kleer, that's cheating. Oh, and if you'd like your own question answered, be sure to send it in to ask at engadget dawt com.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a2dpask engadgetAskEngadgetbluetoothbluetooth stereoBluetoothStereofeaturesheadphonesThu, 01 Nov 2007 19:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best gadgetry South Korea has to offer?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/26/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-gadgetry-south-korea-has-to-offer/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/26/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-gadgetry-south-korea-has-to-offer/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/26/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-gadgetry-south-korea-has-to-offer/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Last week's question about HDTV opinions was a bit loaded, so we're going to take it down a notch for this week's Ask Engadget. Of course, there's always room for controversy next week, so be sure to send in your questions to ask at engadget dawt com. This week's feel-good query comes from Chad:

"As any reader of Engadget knows, the coolest stuff tends to always be stuck in Korea (or somewhere equally far away from Chicago). Luck has it though that I am going on assignment to Seoul in a few weeks and I was wondering... If given the chance to go to the Gadget Holy Land (Korea), what would you pick up? Also, if there are any Koreans reading this, where in / near Seoul should I go to procure these gadgets?"

Chad seems to have an enviable dilemma. With the endless quantity of South Korean gadgetry that's paraded across this site in recent years, anything particularly choice stick out? We're kind of partial to those 7-inch DMB / GPS / PMP units that transform into police bots at night and fight crime in the city streets, but that's just us.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetfeatureskoreasouth koreaSouthKoreaFri, 26 Oct 2007 18:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's the best home theater display out there?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-home-theater-display-out-there/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-home-theater-display-out-there/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/18/ask-engadget-whats-the-best-home-theater-display-out-there/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We're a bit short on reader-submitted questions on Ask Engadget this week -- speaking of, send your questions to ask at engadget dawt com and you've got a good shot at getting it some air time -- but it's alright 'cause we've got a question of our own:

A buddy of ours is setting up a home theater, and has decided to really go all out. Unfortunately for him, there's no clear choice between display technology. DLP claims this, plasma claims that, LCD claims another, and there's always some dang projector floating around promising the bliss of unlimited screen size. So, assuming price is no object -- in the sense that he's willing to really invest here, not that he just likes flinging his money around -- and our buddy is looking for the best possible quality in his 42-inch+ display that will be situated in a moderately sized, fairly glare-free living room, what would you pick for him?

Hopefully that's enough to go on, but if not you can always resort to calling the DLP kids cheapskates and making fun of the LCD fans' refresh rates.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetdlpfeatureslcdplasmaprojectorThu, 18 Oct 2007 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Can a NAS device really change your life?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/05/ask-engadget-can-a-nas-device-really-change-your-life/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/05/ask-engadget-can-a-nas-device-really-change-your-life/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/05/ask-engadget-can-a-nas-device-really-change-your-life/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've got ourselves a tall order here on Ask Engadget, Tony's looking for basically the holy grail of home media gadgetry, and while we're not sure he's going to get all he's asking for -- or even half of it -- we're always up for a challenge. Oh, and as always, don't be shy to send in your own ridiculous requests and more reasonable queries alike to ask at engadget dawt com. Here goes:

"OK, it's a torrent world now, as big media doesn't seem to get the fact that I want to watch what I want, when I want, how I want. So I'm looking for an easy, efficient NAS type device that will handle my torrents. It must:

  • Work well with my Mac
  • Allow me access when I am on the road (away from home) to add new torrents, see status, etc.
  • Work with my Airport Extreme with a HD attached.
  • Play nice with my Apple TV (how I watch most files I dl). Can also be used with a 360 if the ATV is a make or break.
  • Expandable via drive bays or USB 2.0.
  • Not be a power pig.
  • Price is not really a major object, but of course good value is preferred.
  • Must be quick and easy to add and delete torrents, as I don't have a lot of time to muck around.

What do you or the other readers suggest?"

Would you like fries with that Tony? But seriously, anybody got any pearls of wisdom and / or reality checks for Mr. Optimistic? He might just have to get crafty on his own with a little bit of Automator or perhaps the BitTorrent SDK itself, but perhaps we can get him halfway there. Oh, and it goes without saying that Tony's just looking to download the latest and greatest media released under a CC license for his free consumption, yes?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetbit torrentBitTorrentfeaturesnasFri, 05 Oct 2007 17:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Pentax K10D, Nikon D80 or what?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/06/ask-engadget-pentax-k10d-nikon-d80-or-what/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/06/ask-engadget-pentax-k10d-nikon-d80-or-what/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/06/ask-engadget-pentax-k10d-nikon-d80-or-what/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We covered the budget end of the spectrum last month on Ask Engadget, but the release of Sony's new Alpha A700 DSLR seems as good a time as any to tackle the DSLR market. Phil wrote in for help on choosing between the numerous attractive entry-level DSLRs out there:

"I've been wanting to do some photography for a while. I don't have much specific technical knowledge in terms of cameras, but I know the sort of stuff I like (macro, scenic, sports photography). I've never owned an SLR and thus I do not have any lenses and such, so I'm free to use any brand. I've read reviews comparing the Nikon D80 with the Canon 400D, and they mostly say that the D80 is more expensive, but the difference is worth the money. The Pentax K10D has been receiving favourable reviews and has just recently been voted the best camera in Europe (can't remember by whom). My budget would be around US$1000 including 1 or 2 decent lenses to get me started. I'm open to ideas of other cameras as well (Sony Alpha maybe?) Have to consider the "ecosystem" (i.e. availability / variety / quality of lenses available) as well."

Leave your suggestions for Phil in the comments, and don't forget to write in with your own questions to ask at engadget dawt com!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetdslrfeaturesThu, 06 Sep 2007 20:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: PC or Mac for back to school?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/23/ask-engadget-pc-or-mac-for-back-to-school/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/23/ask-engadget-pc-or-mac-for-back-to-school/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/23/ask-engadget-pc-or-mac-for-back-to-school/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It's that time of year again on Ask Engadget, when unfortunate, impressionable youths get kicked out of nurturing homes into the adult-beverage-soaked halls of higher learning institutions. Of course, the question of the hour is what kind of computer should you guilt your parents into purchasing for you, but Dave's making things particularly hard on himself:

"I'm a Uni student doing IT Security, and I'm looking to replace my now four year old Windows laptop, and am tossing up between getting another Windows PC or getting a MacBook, and just wanted some advice on how it would suit me. Essentially I do some C/C# programming, Web design, presentations, reports and the like, with assignments needing to be in PPT and DOC formats. Could I get some advice on how each one would fare for my purpose, and iWork and Office compare for University use? Any help would be much appreciated!"

It sounds like Dave's got some pretty specific needs, and our gut feeling is that he won't hear the end of it from his peers if he's running any software that isn't governed by an open source license, but what say you peoples? Oh, and don't forget to send your questions and moral conundrums to ask at engadget dawt com, or next week we're going to be featuring a heartfelt plea from Josh to help him decide his favorite color.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetfeatureslaptopmacbookpcThu, 23 Aug 2007 22:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Can you turn my clunker laptop into a media center?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/ask-engadget-can-you-turn-my-clunker-laptop-into-a-media-center/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/ask-engadget-can-you-turn-my-clunker-laptop-into-a-media-center/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/16/ask-engadget-can-you-turn-my-clunker-laptop-into-a-media-center/#commentsFiled under: ,

We were keeping it simple last week on Ask Engadget, helping in Perry's quest for a stripped-down GPS unit. This time Xtopher Robin is looking to do more with less, with big hopes for his aging laptop. If you'd like your own question answered by the best tech minds ever to click a comment submit button, be sure send it to ask at engadget dawt com for next week's round of fun. And here's Xtopher:

"I have a 3 year old laptop (1.89GHz Athlon XP, 1GB of RAM, 64MB Radeon) loaded with all kinds of music, pictures, movies, etc, and I'm looking for a good media center program. I have XP Pro, and want a "MCE-like" experience. I have tried MediaPortal, but I'm less than thrilled with the experience. I'm looking for something that can be controlled via a Bluetooth controller (ie: Salling Clicker through a cell phone, Wiimote, PDA, etc). Any ideas?"

Sounds like a tall order for those specs, but perhaps a bit of Linux will give the thing a new lease on life? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetlaptopmcemedia centerMediaCentermediaportalThu, 16 Aug 2007 21:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best GPS devices on the market?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/09/ask-engadget-best-gps-devices-on-the-market/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/09/ask-engadget-best-gps-devices-on-the-market/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/09/ask-engadget-best-gps-devices-on-the-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,

There was no shortage of opinion last week on Ask Engadget, when Ebzy was in search of some guidance in the digital camera market. You can get your own question answered by sending in to ask at engadget dawt com. Today Perry's in search of a GPS unit:

"I'm thinking of buying a GPS for my car, and am totally confused with the options. I'm not interested in ones with JPG viewers, MPEG players... I just want the best GPS that I can get. What do you recommend in various price ranges, and if money were no object?"

So Perry isn't exactly into the frills, but can he find a top-shelf unit without them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetfeaturesgpsThu, 09 Aug 2007 17:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best digital camera for the price?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/02/ask-engadget-best-digital-camera-for-the-price/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/02/ask-engadget-best-digital-camera-for-the-price/http://www.engadget.com/2007/08/02/ask-engadget-best-digital-camera-for-the-price/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Now that we got Lenny's wireless TV situation sorted last week on Ask Engadget, let's turn our attention to cameras. And of course, don't be shy about sending in your questions to ask at engadget dawt com, because life is too short to listen to your Uncle Ted's unsolicited tech advice. This one's a little vague, but it sounds to us like Ebzy here would like to take pictures of stuff, with, um, something.

"I'd like to know what are the best price vs. performance cameras out there. It would be particularly helpful if people could suggest what they think are the best cameras in each price range and category, (including DSLR). The type of memory the card takes is not an issue. Although a good UI is worthy of mention."

Alright, so that's a little broad, but if you've got a favorite shooter in your bag, be sure to shout it out in the comments.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetdigital camerasDigitalCamerasfeaturesThu, 02 Aug 2007 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Wireless TV for the home?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/28/ask-engadget-wireless-tv-for-the-home/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/28/ask-engadget-wireless-tv-for-the-home/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/28/ask-engadget-wireless-tv-for-the-home/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This time on Ask Engadget, Lenny's looking for a way to consolidate a couple of national past times: eating and television. What a noble quest. If you've got a similarly humanitarian tech conundrum, or just want the masses to weigh in on something more pedestrian, hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com. Last time we were picking a wireless router for Brad, here's Lenny's question:

"I'm looking for a wireless TV solution for my dining room. I want a TV
that is as unobtrusive as possible. I don't want to run coax in there,
nor any other AV cables. I just want a TV (preferably mounted on the
wall) that gets its signal wirelessly. I saw two solutions by Sharp and
Sony, but they came out in '04, and don't seem to be widely available now."

Seems like there are plenty of ways to go, and we suppose it depends on what kind of quality, resolution and picture size he's looking for, but we're sure Lenny can find an affordable solution to getting that TV where it belongs. What do you guys think?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureswireless tvWirelessTvSat, 28 Jul 2007 20:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Media streamer of choice?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/ask-engadget-media-streamer-of-choice/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/ask-engadget-media-streamer-of-choice/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/04/ask-engadget-media-streamer-of-choice/#commentsFiled under: ,

We're wrapping our week of Ask Engadget today, and what a party we've had. Make sure to keep on sending questions to ask at engadget dawt com and we'll take a peek at 'em weekly, just like the old days. Yesterday Lisa was looking for a gadget purse, and now we've got Martin getting all technical on us in regards to a media streamer:

"I am looking to buy a digital media streaming device that can play a wide array of media files (so Apple TV is out). I also have a USB mybook external drive which I store my media. I also need to access the drive via network even when it is connected with the streaming device, so I can add new media files to the USB HD via network anytime, and have it stream to my TV. The streamer should also output HD resolution.

"The Netgear EVA8000, on paper, fits the bill mostly, but I am not sure if the USB drive is accessible via network by another computer. Anyone knows? Also, other than the EVA, any other device out there I can consider? "

Sounds like Martin has a lot of needs there, any chance he can find what he's looking for off the shelf? Any other general media streamer recommendations are welcome as well, since we all know that Apple TV isn't the only game in town. Don't forget to send in your q's for next week!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetmedia streamerMediaStreamerFri, 04 May 2007 21:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Forget the man bag, how about a gadget purse?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/03/ask-engadget-forget-the-man-bag-how-about-a-gadget-purse/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/03/ask-engadget-forget-the-man-bag-how-about-a-gadget-purse/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/03/ask-engadget-forget-the-man-bag-how-about-a-gadget-purse/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's Ask Engadget time once again: you provide the questions (send 'em in to ask at engadget dawt com), you provide the answers (in the comments), and we provide the drinks! Well, actually, not really -- we're just here to watch. Yesterday we were looking at camcorders with Clancy, and now we've got Lisa looking for a gadget friendly purse to carry her gadget stash with style:

"I've been trying to find a good solution to carry all of my gadgets around, keep them safe, and keep them organized for years. I'm not talking about a laptop case here -- I'm looking for a purse. I'm looking for a bag that looks at least halfway decent and can handle my iPod, PDA, Nintendo DS, cell phone, eReader, and digital camera (and anything else that I "need" to have with me at any given time), and ideally give me relatively quick access to all of them. Oh, and I'd really like to not have to pay much more than $100 for it. Am I asking for too much? You guys covered a man-bag for a question similar to mine, but I'm really looking for a more feminine option."

We did indeed talk about man bags a couple of years ago, and while we'd love to hear your more recent favorites on that topic as well, let's help out the ladies in the audience in need of some gadget transport that doesn't involve a fashion dive.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetbaggadget purseGadgetPurseman bagManBagThu, 03 May 2007 18:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best video camera for $1000?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/02/ask-engadget-best-video-camera-for-1000/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/02/ask-engadget-best-video-camera-for-1000/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/02/ask-engadget-best-video-camera-for-1000/#commentsFiled under: ,

After burning the midnight question-answering oil with y'all last night, we're here for another session of Ask Engadget. To get your questions featured, hit up ask at engadget dawt com, and we'll pick the best for answering by your fellow readers. After dwelling on the topic of Anna's e-book conundrum last night, we're going after a much broader category today, with a question from Clancy:

"I'm looking to buy a new video camera. I don't want a "home handycam," but similarly I don't have loads of money, therefore I want a camera good in low light good for shooting movies and short films (good/quick focus etc) but I only want to spend about $1000 US. I realize that for that sort of money I'm not going to get much but what would you suggest? I've been looking at the Panasonic PV-GS500, what do you think?"

Lots of options out there. Clancy isn't going to get the pinnacle of cinematography for one grand, that's for sure, but we're betting he can find something passable at that price. Any suggestions?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetvideo cameraVideoCameraWed, 02 May 2007 18:46:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best gadget to read e-books?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/02/ask-engadget-best-gadget-to-read-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/02/ask-engadget-best-gadget-to-read-e-books/http://www.engadget.com/2007/05/02/ask-engadget-best-gadget-to-read-e-books/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's a late night edition of our week of Ask Engadget, complete with that fancy new logo and more of your questions. Like always, send your queries to ask at engadget dawt com, and we'll air the best of 'em here for discussion by your fellow readers. We got some great responses to Dan's question yesterday about HDTV shopping, and now Anna (from Switzerland) wants to know about e-books:

"What would be the best PDA or other gadget to buy to read e-books on the go? Is there anything that could be used to read them in PDF format?"

Of course, a couple things pop quickly to mind, but there are several drawbacks to the current crop of e-ink devices, especially with viewing PDF documents -- namely, 8.5 x 11 PDFs become unreadable when sized to most e-ink screens. So what say you guys?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgete-booke-inkpdfWed, 02 May 2007 00:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: How do you shop for a HDTV?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/ask-engadget-how-do-you-shop-for-a-hdtv/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/ask-engadget-how-do-you-shop-for-a-hdtv/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/30/ask-engadget-how-do-you-shop-for-a-hdtv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The week of Ask Engadget is still going strong. We're committing a whole seven days to taking your questions -- which you can hit up ask at engadget dawt com with -- and putting the best ones up here for discussing by your fellow readers in the comments. Saturday we got specific with "No Trab" in an audio recording quest, now we're going to open up a whole can of worms with a question from Dan, who's looking for a TV:

"With the enormous variety of HDTVs out there - the various technologies (LCD, Plasma, DLP, Laser, OLED), the various specifications (HD formats, native resolution, contrast ratio), various inputs (HDMI, DVI, VGA, Component), and various tuners (NTSC, ATSC, QAM, Cable Card) - how does one go about choosing 'the best' HDTV? Are there any tips / tricks that go into shopping for an HDTV? What are the absolute do's / don'ts in shopping, purchasing, and using an HDTV?"

Naturally, there's plenty of info for Dan to gorge himself on over at Engadget HD, but does anyone have a favorite resource / game plan / reality check / super-oh-my-gosh-HDTV-model to help the guy out with?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgethdtvshopping guideShoppingGuideMon, 30 Apr 2007 21:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: SD and MP3-friendly portable audio recorder?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/28/ask-engadget-sd-and-mp3-friendly-portable-audio-recorder/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/28/ask-engadget-sd-and-mp3-friendly-portable-audio-recorder/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/28/ask-engadget-sd-and-mp3-friendly-portable-audio-recorder/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Like we promised, we're here with a week of Ask Engadget. Like always, you can send in your questions to ask at engadget dawt com, and we'll bring the best here for answering by your fellow Engadget readers. Yesterday we were asking a question of our own, about media player preference, and today we've got a question from "No Trab," who's looking for a portable audio recorder:

"I need a portable digital audio recorder that records onto SD cards in MP3 format, or if absolutely necessary, WMA. I'm trying to standardize my gadgets on SD cards so I can interchange 'em easily and connect them to PC. And I want a standard audio format so anyone can play it without special software. How hard is that?

"I'm aware of the Roland R-09, pretty high end stereo recorder. Records onto a HD but also has SD card for transfer if you like. And Pogo Electronics has the Radio YourWayLX, which adds the radio recording feature but also does voice. I'll be using this for interviews as a reporter, sometimes in moderately noisy environments, like restaurants."

What say you guys? Sounds like he doesn't have the cash for an R-09, and not much else he's found fits the bill.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetaudio recorderSat, 28 Apr 2007 20:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: What's your favorite media player these days?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/ask-engadget-whats-your-favorite-media-player-these-days/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/ask-engadget-whats-your-favorite-media-player-these-days/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/27/ask-engadget-whats-your-favorite-media-player-these-days/#commentsFiled under: , ,

After many long, lonely months on hiatus, Ask Engadget is back! That is to say, we're expecting good work from you folks -- since, like always, you'll be doing the answering to the questions that you're also sending in. How it works is you hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com, and then let your fellow Engadget readers sort it out in the comments. Last time we had Joey looking for some Moto Q tips and tricks (that old thing?), and now we're going to kick off a whole week of Ask Engadget with a question from one of our own:

"So, a lot's changed in the last coupla years. What's your favorite portable media player these days? And don't say iPod, I know."

Hopefully that'll get the ball rolling, be sure to hit us up with your own questions, if the answer isn't yes or no you may just see it up on Engadget. So, what say you?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetpmpFri, 27 Apr 2007 16:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Moto Q tips and tricks?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/20/ask-engadget-moto-q-tips-and-tricks/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/20/ask-engadget-moto-q-tips-and-tricks/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/20/ask-engadget-moto-q-tips-and-tricks/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You've got questions, and well, the rest of you have answers. That's right, it's time for Ask Engadget. You hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com with the questions you'd like your Engadget-reading peers to take on, and we'll let them sort it out in our comments. Last time Eric was looking for a way to stay in touch. Now Joey wants a bit of Q help:

I've had the Q since last Friday and am having some minor email (Gmail, actually) issues. I was wondering if you could post an article for Q owners to submit tips, tricks, work-arounds, etc.

We know more than a few of you have picked up that oh-so-skinny WM5 handset, any tips for our man Eric? We're also betting there are some potential buyers on the fences who would love to hear of any hidden potential the Q might have in store.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetmotorola qThu, 20 Jul 2006 21:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Best videoconferencing solution for grandma/pa?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/15/ask-engadget-best-videoconferencing-solution-for-grandma-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/15/ask-engadget-best-videoconferencing-solution-for-grandma-pa/http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/15/ask-engadget-best-videoconferencing-solution-for-grandma-pa/#commentsFiled under: ,

You've got questions, and well, the rest of you have answers. That's right, it's time for Ask Engadget. You hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com with the questions you'd like your Engadget-reading peers to take on, and we'll let them sort it out in our comments. On the last Ask Engadget, which was admittedly a little while ago, Drew asked what the best Bluetooth mouse was available now.This week Eric wants to know:

I'm trying to find a truly simple videoconferencing solution to connect my elderly parent with me. I'm looking for something that, with a single button press (no mouse action, no clicking -- launch and configure from a keyboard shortcut even), will:
  • Establish a video call from point A to at least two other locations, simultaneously.
  • Use a sufficiently large screen and high-enough frame rate that facial expressions are visible to an older person without their glasses
  • Full-duplex audio
  • The ability to initiate a call from my location that auto-answers theirs, such that I appear on-screen without any intervention
There are obviously a lot of solutions out there for videoconferencing, but how many are really simple enough for someone not at all technically inclined on the other end? We'd be tempted to recommend the ill-fated Ojo, but we're sure you guys have some tricks up your sleeves.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetvideo conferencingVideoConferencingThu, 15 Jun 2006 20:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: who likes their Bluetooth mouse?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/04/ask-engadget-who-likes-their-bluetooth-mouse/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/04/ask-engadget-who-likes-their-bluetooth-mouse/http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/04/ask-engadget-who-likes-their-bluetooth-mouse/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You've got questions, and well, the rest of you have answers. That's right, it's time for Ask Engadget. You hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com with the questions you'd like your Engadget-reading peers to take on, and we'll let them sort it out in our comments. Last time Serge wanted a good home NAS solution, but this time Drew's got an easy one:

Here is a good one for all of the Boot Camp converts. What is the best 2 button Bluetooth mouse!

Well, what do you say? We're sure there's more than a few of you out there who stopped waiting for that god forsaken Bluetooth Mighty Mouse and broke down and bought something else. You like what you got? Let us know!
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask engadgetAskEngadgetbluetoothmouseperipheralswirelessThu, 04 May 2006 20:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: that's just NASty]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/13/ask-engadget-thats-just-nasty/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/13/ask-engadget-thats-just-nasty/http://www.engadget.com/2006/04/13/ask-engadget-thats-just-nasty/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's Thursday night, kids, which means it's time for another round of Ask Engadget. Before we get going, if you'd like to ask Engadget something yourself, hit us up at ask at engadget dawt com, and we'll take it to the court of public opinion. Anyhow, last time Brian C wanted to know how to best RF shield his WiFi; this week we got a short n' sweet one for ya, so consider yourself asked by Serge:

I'm looking for a NAS solution and was hoping you could make suggestions. I'm looking for something with gigabit Ethernet, Apache / PHP / MySQL, media serving and a RAID configuration.

Kinda sounds more like Serge wants himself a web-hosting solution in a box, but take out the LAMP configuration and you've got a ton of options. Too many, in fact, the market's positively saturated with home NAS and media storage solutions (most, it seems, with RAID). Got any favorites?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apacheask engadgetAskEngadgetfeatureshome mediaHomeMedialampmediamysqlnasnetworked storageNetworkedStoragephpraidThu, 13 Apr 2006 21:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: block WiFi the right way]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/30/ask-engadget-block-wifi-the-right-way/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/30/ask-engadget-block-wifi-the-right-way/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/30/ask-engadget-block-wifi-the-right-way/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's time once again, everyone for another round of Ask Engadget! This week we've got a special surprise -- the long sought after and fabled Ask Engadget email address. Ready for it? Send your questions to ask at engadget dawt com and we'll take it to the court of public opinion once weekly, as usual. Last time Nick B wanted to know what's up with digital camcorders, this week Brian C wants to know how to RF sheild WiFi:

My company uses WiFi to share internet throughout our small building, but there are literally dozens of other wifi signals around that are messing with ours, leading to flaky and unreliable connections. We've tried getting bigger antennae, which worked for a while, but now the problem is back. Does anyone know of a way to (legally) shield our building from other wifi signals so that we can connect to ours on peace?

Great question Brian, we've heard of a few solutions ourselves, but we'll let the voice of the masses take it away on this one.
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 30 Mar 2006 18:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: Standards-based camcorders (with hard drives)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/09/ask-engadget-standards-based-camcorders-with-hard-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/09/ask-engadget-standards-based-camcorders-with-hard-drives/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/09/ask-engadget-standards-based-camcorders-with-hard-drives/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last week we probed for your best picks on cellphone boosters for our man Nick B, who just wasn't getting proper reception. This week our pal James wants to know what you know about camcorders, shortly and sweetly:

"I'm in the market for a new camcorder (preferably hard drive-based, though not necessarily). I'd like something that records at decent resolutions in standard codecs and hopefully is USB mass storage compliant -- both things the JVC Everio fails to do. Besides the R30 and the SR100 what are my options, drive-based camcorders or otherwise?"

Well, you heard the man, what're you people wielding to capture those precious familial moments?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Thu, 09 Mar 2006 21:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Engadget: phone boosters]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/03/ask-engadget-phone-boosters/#commentsFiled under:

It may be a little later into the evening, but our pal Nick B's got what seems like an increasingly timeless question he wanted to ask Engadget:
I get really crappy cell reception in my apartment, but if I step outside the door, it's fine! I've held a cellphone party, and it seems to be a problem for every carrier! Does the Engadget world have any suggestions to increase cell reception in my apartment?
There are plenty -- and we do meany plenty -- of cell-signal booster devices out there, but what would you recommend to ensure Nick's pals can hear him now?
Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 03 Mar 2006 01:20:00 EST