Free Help from Tech Experts

Geeks To Go is a helpful hub, where thousands of volunteers serve up answers and support. Check out the forums and get free advice from the experts, including malware removal and how-to guides and tutorials. Converse about Windows 10, get system building advice or download files... Go to forums >>

Archive for Gadgets

Are We Taking Gadget Improvements TOO Far?

In the name of progress, companies keep pushing themselves to create the next new big THING. We consumers have all gotten quite spoiled. We want more out of our phones. We want our MP3 players to do more than just play music. We want our eBook readers to do more than just read books. We want it all. In order to try and satisfy us, manufacturers are rushing to stuff more features into our already jam-packed devices.

Read the rest of this entry »

Will e-Book Readers Last?

With Amazon’s Kindle being so popular, other companies have rushed to produce their own e-Book Reader. Barnes and Noble’s offering, the Nook, is also quickly becoming very popular amongst the people who want to read their books without having to haul them around everywhere. However, other devices simply are not faring quite as well. Are we going to see these devices fade away, or are they around for the long haul?

Read the rest of this entry »

What Geeky Gadgets are You Grateful For?

thankfulFor those of us in the US, Thanksgiving is upon us once again. Like the rest of you, I’ll spend my day going between the kitchen and the television. In the morning, we watch the parades. In the afternoon… it’s football time! During our dinner, we always take turns going around the table and giving each person a turn to talk about things they are thankful for. When my kids were little, I used to laugh inside when they would say how they were thankful for their favorite toys, or a cute boy in school. They’d remember at the end of their list to throw in “oh yeah – and my Mom too!”.

Like anyone else, I’m thankful for my kid and family… my friends… my health… my ability to work. Those are all a given. Let’s have some fun, though, and talk about the Geeky things in life that we are grateful for! We’re human. It’s okay for us to be happy that we have “things”, and to be thankful for them!

Read the rest of this entry »

iPhone or Droid – What is Your Phone of Choice?

androidUp until now, the iPhone has undeniably been the most sought-after phone on the market. It seems like nearly everyone has one these days. I get teased quite often by my boss and friends because I neither have – nor want – an iPhone. What the heck do I “need” one for? I’m happy with my normal run-of-the-mill cell phone. It calls people. It texts people. It even takes pictures and plays music! I work from home, and I don’t travel often. I don’t need a phone that does a million things other than what I already have… or do I?

Read the rest of this entry »

DigitalFoci Image Moments – Display your digital photos in High Def!

Overall = Rating: ★★★★½

The recent rise in popularity of digital photo frames is no real surprise.  You can’t get a phone without a camera anymore, there are hundreds of models of digital cameras priced at or below $100.  With all those cameras, we have to have a way to display the pictures without paying for printing, right?

The market is currently flooded with photo frames.  Everyone is making them, and some are making them dirt cheap.  During the recent “Black Friday” deals, I noted frames starting at $29.99!  I bought one.  Wouldn’t you?  With such a price, one is forced to ask the following question: What kind of quality can I get out of a thirty dollar frame?

The answer is pretty simple – meh.  It has almost no onboard storage space and the display quality is moderate at best.  It only supports a few card formats, only accepts JPG images, and lacks in options.  What if I want a nice photo frame with lots of onboard storage space and great image quality that accepts a bunch of card formats, image formats and has tons of options?  The Image Moments line from Digital Foci promises all those things, and more. Read the rest of this entry »

Is your data secure – SanDisk Cruzer Enterprise USB Key Review

Overall Rating: ★★★★½

One of the biggest challenges for personal and corporate computer users is the security of sensitive data.  When data is stored inside a corporate network, it’s usually firewall and password protected to ensure its safety.  Unfortunately for IT Security personnel, all their security is worthless when sensitive data is transferred by USB key.

To combat this security hole, many companies have switched to encrypted-only USB keys.  The problem with most encrypted USB keys is that the security can be turned off.  When a user gets tired of entering a password every time, they have the option to just go in and disable the software that encrypts the drive.

The solution is a USB key that offers encryption at the hardware level.  The SanDisk Cruzer Enterprise does just that.  The Cruzer Enterprise boasts 256Mb hardware-based mandatory encryption.  Let’s take a closer look at the offering from SanDisk. Read the rest of this entry »

Digital Camera “must-have” – DigitalFoci Photo Safe II review

t_IMG_0083 In today’s world of digital cameras, what’s more frustrating than running out of  memory card space when you’re out taking pictures?  It’s the worst feeling in the world to get somewhere and realize that you forgot to empty the memory card.  I’ve done it, and everyone I know has done something similar.

The Photo Safe could be the answer to the woes of millions of digital photography enthusiasts.  If this little device works as advertised, I know it will change the way I do things, and it may for you as well.

The Photo Safe is not the only device of its kind.  The DigitalFoci device has competition from Epson, Wolverine, and a few other manufacturers.  If given the opportunity, I’ll compare them with the DigitalFoci.  However, from initial glance, they all appear to offer about the same things, but at significantly varying price ranges.  The 80Gb models range from the DigitalFoci at $130 to some very spendy units at almost $300!

Read the rest of this entry »

Garmin Nuvi 350 Travel Assistant Product Review

Nuvi 350 Travel Assistant Unless you’ve lived under a rock for the past 10 years, you should know about GPS navigation systems, what they do, and why they’re cool. If you have been living under a rock, then you can get a quick rundown on GPS functionality and “cool factor” by reading our other GPS related articles (Go outside and play – Garmin Colorado 400t Review and Magellan Maestro 3210: Review). In short, a GPS navigation system uses satellite signals to tell you where you are and compares this information to locally stored maps to tell you how to get where you’re going.

For the most part, one GPS navigation system is just like any other GPS navigation system. Sure, some of them navigate better than others (this is usually because the manufacturer has better maps), some have better user interfaces, and some of the newer high end models even have fancy extras like MP3 players built in, but on the surface they are all designed to tell you where you are and get you to where you’re going. So why should you care which GPS you get? Simple, decide what you want out of the device and buy the one that has the features that match. If all you need is to get from point A to point B, go for something simple with an interface that you like and you should be pleased, but if you want a little “extra” out of your trips then you’ll need to look for a GPS with a little more “bang for your buck”.

So what’s so special about the Garmin Nuvi 350 Travel Assistant ? Let’s find out.

Read the rest of this entry »

Microsoft GPS – Streets & Trips 2008

IMG_0221I recently had the pleasure to review the Garmin Colorado 400t. When given the opportunity to purchase the new Microsoft Streets & Trips 2008 (S&T) with a GPS Locator included, I jumped at it. I take my laptop everywhere, literally. For me, turning my laptop into a turn-by-turn GPS seemed like the right thing to do.

I have used the Streets & Trips family of software for a few years now. I like the software. It’s always been easy to navigate, had good directions, some great features, and is easily configurable. Older versions of S&T were real heavy and burdensome on the system, but the more recent versions are lighter and run with a smaller footprint. Read the rest of this entry »

Mother’s Day Surprise – Digital Foci Pocket Album review

IMG_0109Still searching for that perfect Mother’s Day gift? For a while now, I’ve been thinking about getting my wife a portable picture viewer she can carry around. With all our photos being digital and only having family pictures taken once a year, she’s been wanting something for those in-between moments, something to help her showcase our little one. Maybe a thoughtful addition to one of those lovely gift hampers you’ve been considering?

For those in the same situation, let’s take a look at the Digital Foci Pocket Album. This keychain weighs in at just over an ounce, sports a 1.5 inch color LCD screen and 8MB of onboard memory. The Pocket Album also comes with its own special software to manipulate photos and transfer them to the keychain.

Read the rest of this entry »