Accessories
Everyone needs some type of computer accessory, so what are the great stocking stuffers?
WiFi Finder
One great accessory to always have with you is a WiFi finder. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been places and had to open my laptop, wait for Windows to load all to find out there was not a WiFi access point. There is where a WiFi finder would come in perfectly. There are quite a few WiFi finders out there and really they are all basically the same. The Kensington WiFi finder not only detects WiFi signals, but also detects Bluetooth signals so you can connect to a Bluetooth network as well. This WiFi finder is around $30.
Power Supply Tester
This is another great accessory any system builder should have. We have tested quite a few power supplies here at ThinkComputers and we have fried a few motherboards with faulty power supplies. That is why if you are a system builder a power supply tester is a test little accessory to have. It is better to test a power supply before you install it, just in case it is faulty and could damage any of the other components. Also if you are troubleshooting issues with your PC a power supply tester makes it easy to rule your PSU in or out. Power supply testers can be found online for around $15-$30.
Hard Drive Dock
This is another great accessory I think that everyone who works on computers should have. They make it so easy for you to transfer files between hard drives, backup old files, and recover files off old hard drives. There are quite a few companies that make hard drive docks, you can check out our review of the Thermaltake BlacX, Thermaltake BlacX Duet and Vantec NexStar Hard Drive Dock. You can find most hard drive docks online for around $20-$40. If you don’t need something like a hard drive dock you can also find USB to IDE/SATA adapters online for about $10 cheaper than the docks.
BAWLS
If you are a computer user or gamer there has to be something that keeps you going throughout the night, for me its Bawls. Bawls has been my favorite energy drink for quite some time now and when I’m having a rough night I get ones of these to get me going. Bawls is still one of the few energy drinks that comes in a cool glass bottle as well. Bawls is quite expensive though, costing just as much as beer! A case (24 bottles) is around $40, but it’s worth it!
I've been meaning to get the SanDisk Sansa Clip. This might just be the time to buy one!
Just got one of those Thermaltake BlacX Duet's and they're real handy devices
I'd love to own an eSATA Flash Drive. The case i currently have (Thermaltake: Element S) is the first one I've owned that supports that functionality on the front I/O panel. Standard flash drives are just too slow.
I've owned the SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 Player for a couple of years now and it still gets used almost every day. It's perfect for riding my street-bike because it has physical buttons you push to change the songs and is so small you can barely notice it in my jacket. Also, it's wonderful for snowboarding because if you do happen to drop it in the snow and it breaks you aren't out $200 like with an iPod or Zune.
Be wary, the actual “clip” on the back of the MP3 player is quite fragile, mine broke off after the 1st week of use.
Good to know! I'm not planning on using the clip though. As you said, it's quite fragile. Is it removable?
sadly, no.
sadly, no.