Gadgets

Setting out to write my Top Five Gadgets was a bit daunting at first. I was afraid that it would end up too similar to the Gadgets We Love story from last September. That is, until I looked back at that story and realized I’ve added a few new gadgets since then. So, here’s my Top Five Gadgets, in no particular order. 13-inch MacBook Pro (2009). This is number one mostly because it’s first only mind since I’m writing with it. It has been my main computer since I got it shortly before my first CES in January 2010. It can do everything I need to do throughout the day, and is easily portable when I need to leave home to cover something. Sure, it has a few problems (the trackpad fails to register clicks on occasion), but it still works well. iPhone 4. My second smartphone that I’ve had, and a year later I couldn’t be happier. Sure, Android moves faster, but there’s so many great apps on the iPhone that aren’t on Android, and it just looks nicer overall. Unlike most of my friends with Android devices I don’t usually have to worry about conserving battery throughout the day, and I can’t spot individual pixels even if I try. I’m actually tempted to put the Retina Display as another gadget to show just how much I love it. Home-built PC (monitor pictured). Many hardcore PC gamers will tell you that if you want the best machine possible you build your own unless you can afford a custom rig. That’s what I have, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I don’t use it for work too often (I might if there was a way to get the Apple keyboard to work with it), but it’s great for gaming. I joke that the machine could boot up into Steam and I’d be perfectly happy. It’s nice to be able to play PC-only games like The Witcher, The Witcher 2, and Magicka while also playing cross-platform games like Portal 2 and Civilization 5 with high-end graphics and no slowdown. Razer Naga. Yes, a mouse is in my Top Five Gadgets. That’s because this is probably the best mouse I have ever used. At $80 it wasn’t cheaper, but the high dpi and number buttons were well worth it for me. It makes some games so much easier and faster. It was made mainly for MMOs, but I’ve used it more in single-player RPGs like Mass Effect. It also makes switching weapons in games like Team Fortress 2 much easier. When not gaming the back and forward buttons are placed right near the index finger, making web browsing easier as well. With all the buttons it might sound uncomfortable, but trust me: it isn’t. The newer version has changeable grips, but the grip on the original model is incredibly comfortable for me already. iPad. I’m still using the first generation iPad, having no reason to upgrade beyond size. The A5 chip, FaceTime, and Smart Cover would be great, but I still can’t justify the upgrade for now. I use my iPad mostly for reading books and articles both at night and on weekends. It’s also handy for casual gaming, especially for designer board game adaptions like Ticket To Ride. Chances are you probably already know what’s great about the iPad (unless you deny it because you hate Apple products), so I won’t bore you with that. Suffice to say its great for media consumption and writing anything from short emails to long blog posts. So there you have my Top Five Gadgets as of this moment. At least a few of them are subject to change over the next few months (I’m hoping for an upgrade or two by the end of the year, my wallet willing), but for now they are the gadgets I use just about everyday. Sometimes they may be frustrating, but they’re usually great. There’s a few others that had to be cut out because sometimes it’s just hard to choose your favorite gadgets when you spend all day poring over all the new ones.