Best Buy’s in house brand Rocketfish has a unique keyboard case for the Apple iPad. The Advanced Series iCapsule Keyboard is a Bluetooth keyboard and a hard back case to protect the iPad. While not in use the iPad can be stowed inside the clamshell case which is complete with a cutaway to show off the Apple logo.

The case can hold the iPad in portrait or landscape mode and the keyboard runs on two AA batteries which provides you with the convenience of swapping out batteries when you run low on power.

This is not the first keyboard case we’ve seen. But what distinguishes this one from the other is the size of the keyboard and the versatility of being able to fit in both portrait and landscape modes.

The case is available for order at Best Buy’s online store only. It is currently backordered but you can place an order now and get it when they are back in stock. The case/keyboard is on sale for $79.99.

Rocketfish Advanced Series iCapsule Keyboard for iPad is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

On Black Friday Best Buy will be offering big discounts on everything from laptops to HDTVs. In addition there will be a slew of other electronics and accessories available with significant discounts. Here are the best Black Friday deals we found for computer accessories at Best Buy. We also have a list for mobile phones and accessories and one for home entertainment items. The links below will take you to the Best Buy page for that item, except where otherwise designated.

Hard Drives

Seagate 2TB FreeAgent GoFlex External USB 2.0/3.0 Hard Drive for – $89.99

Western Digital 1TB Internal 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive – $59.99

Western Digital 1TB My Passport Portable Hard Drive – $89.99

Monitors

Acer 20″ G205HV Widescreen LCD Monitor – $89.99 (at Acer)

Samsung 23″ 2333T Widescreen LCD Monitor – $139.99

Networking

Belkin Surf Wireless N Router (Model # F7D2301 / F7D6301) – $29.99

Netgear Wireless N+ Dual-Band Router (Model # WNDR3400-100NAS) – $59.99

Printers

Canon Pixma MP560 Wireless All-in-One Printer – $49.99

Epson Stylus NX127 All-in-One Printer – $29.99

Portable Storage and Flash Drives

PNY 8GB SDHC Memory Card (at PNY) – $14.99

SanDisk 4GB Micro SDHC Memory Card (at Sandisk) – $7.99

SanDisk 4GB SDHC Memory Card – $7.99

SanDisk 8GB Ultra SDHC Memory Card (at Sandisk)- $19.99

PNY 8GB USB Flash Drive – $14.99

SanDisk 4GB USB Flash Drive – $7.99

Portable Media Players

Apple 8GB iPod Nano – $149.99

• Blue
• Graphite
• Green
• Orange
• Pink
• Silver

Apple 8GB iPod Nano w/Gumy Earbud Headphones, Aerosport Case, PowerBlock Wall Charger – $159.96

Apple 8GB iPod Touch w/$30 Best Buy Gift Card – $229.99

Microsoft 16GB Zune HD – $169.99

Microsoft 32GB Zune HD – $209.99

SanDisk 4GB Sansa Clip+ MP3 Player – $29.99

• Black
• Blue
• Purple

Black Friday Best Buy Computer Accessory Deals is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

iHome has just come out with the iHome iB969 Charging Station to help you Charge Your World!” The charging station is a compact device that will charge up to four devices. Two of those will have to be iPhones or iPods as the station has the dock connector slots that fit only those Apple devices. There are also two ports for USB cables to charge anything else that can be charged via USB.

I placed the charging station on my night stand and each night for the last week charged my iPhone and iPad as well as my wife’s iPhone and our family’s Amazon Kindle. Each morning this dependable solution rewarded us with full batteries ready to take on the day. It is unusual to find one solution that can charge so many devices, but iHome really delivers.

The station is made of plastic and has a sturdy enough base that it will hold an iPad in the back slot designed for it. If you carry your iPad in a case you will have to take it out to keep in this back channel, unless the case is very form-fitting like the clear Belkin iPad Grip Vue case that I used to use. My Incase Book Jacket Case is just too bulky and adds too much weight for the iPad to fit securely in this holding spot without the iPad falling over or the charging station tipping over due to the weight of the case with the iPad. My solution is to just put the iPad on the night stand next to the charging station and use the back channel for my Kindle. It is not designed for the Kindle but the eBook reader still fits in the slot even with its Amazon case on it.

iHome really pays attention to details in designing their solutions. The base of the charging station will expand if your device is too wide to fit in contracted position (see video for a demo). In all the documentation iHome has pictures of a Sony eBook reader. So if you have one of those, it seems it was designed to fit that device when expanded. But it also fit our Kindle even though it did slightly hang over the front edge.

The bottom of the station has channels for the USB cables plugged into the two ports on the bottom. Without them the cables would make the base of the station unstable. Be sure to run the cables in through the channels. Also underneath is a place to wrap up a particularly long cable. There is a switch next to each of the USB ports. One is designed specifically for the iPad and in position A it charges the power-hungry device. In position B it will charge a device that requires less power and thus saving a few watts and pennies on your electricity bill. Every little bit helps protect our planet right?

For the other USB port there is also a switch. The instructions tell you to try to charge your device in position A. If it doesn’t work switch it to B. My Kindle, which can be a little picky about what will charge it, charged just fine in either position. Also the power brick that plugs into the AC outlet has collapsible prongs making it easy to take the charger on the road. I know I will pack it in my computer bag when my family and I take long trips and have to stay overnight in a hotel since it will allow one outlet to charge all four of our iPhones.

The two universal Apple docks on the top will charge anything other than the iPad. The left one is for basic charging and the right one is for fast charging.

One of the really nice things about the dock is that if you plug in the supplied cable into your computer, it will sync the device in the left universal dock. It doesn’t sync the right dock or the either of the USB ports on the bottom. But if you put the station next to a computer or just leave the cable in the back and plug it into a notebook next to your bed, as I do, you can charge and sync using the station.

I have very little bad to say about this. It could be a little heavier and I wish that the slot in the back would let me leave my iPad in its case. But charging the Kindle there is fine.

The device costs $59.99 which is a good value for a charging station that does so much. The Griffin Power Dock I showed you in the video is $50 retail and can be found for just under $30 now. But it won’t sync with a computer and only charges two iPods or iPhones and won’t charge other devices like a BlackBerry or Kindle.

I recommend the iHome iB969 to anyone who needs at least three charging stations and has both an iPhone/iPod and an iPad or another mobile device that charges via USB.

Pros

• Charges four devices
• Syncs an iPod or iPhone with your computer
• Charges more than just iPods or iPhones
• Compact
• Sturdy enough to hold a heavy iPad even in a case if it is not too thick or heavy
• Expandable base for devices that won’t fit in narrow mode
• Attention to detail
• Quick charging dock on the right

Cons

• Have to take iPad out of a large case like my Incase Book Jacket to be held in back slot
• At first setup is a little confusing with all the different switches and ports that behave differently

iHome iB969 Charging Station Neatly Charges Your Mobile Toys and Tools is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The iPad Space Dock, from LapWorks, is fashioned from a solid aluminum pipe making it a very durable dock for the Apple iPad. It’s size and the fact that it can be disassembled into two pieces makes it a space-saving accessory which will fit into an accessory bag, hence the name space dock”. 

While most people use their iPads by holding them in their hands, sometimes users want to set them down and still have the screen viewable. Those users will need a dock. Apple’s iPad Dock is functional only in portrait mode. The dock connector and line out port on the back of the Apple Dock make it useful for hooking up to a speaker system and charger with just one connection for only $29. There is also a model with a keyboard for $69. However, they both only work in portrait mode, which is not very pleasing for video viewing and many other tasks. The iPad Space Dock fixes this problem since the iPad slides into the dock in either orientation.

The Space Dock is a durable piece of aluminum with a brushed finish. The channel that actually holds the iPad is lined with velvet material to keep from scratching and grinding against the case.

On the back of the tube are three fretted holes. A T-shaped leg is screwed into the holes to give the stand its stability.

The holes are drilled into the tube so that when the leg is attached the dock can hold the iPad at three different viewing angles 58, 62 and 68 degrees. I found that the middle angle was the most secure and less wobbly than the others. But all three work  fine.

There are three holes in the front of the dock so that if the iPad is held in it in portrait mode, the sound coming out of the speakers won’t be muffled by the dock. In practice the holes amplify the sound to some extent.

One of the problems with the dock is when the leg is screwed all the way into the dock the T-shaped leg is not always at the right rotation to lay flat on the table. The video shows this issue. The solution is to slightly loosen the leg so it rests flat. When it does the two black rubber pieces around the metal leg help keep it from sliding around too much. If the dock had some nonskid material on the bottom of the tube part as well, it would alleviate any concerns of sliding around. The stand didn’t slide very much for me, but I think this addition would be added insurance.

One issue that I failed to mention in my video review is that when putting the iPad in the dock, if the iPad is in a case it will have to be removed. There is only room for the iPad in the channel.

All of this makes this a great value and really useful accessory. However, there is still the question of cost. At about $40 this would be a great tool for holding up your iPad when watching video or using it in tandem with a typewriter. Unfortunately the iPad Space Dock is priced at $64.95. For a limited time the dock is available exclusively at the LapWorks website for only $54.95. You will have to decide if the price is right. I think it is a bit steep.

Pros:

• Solid material
• Velvet lining protects iPad from scratching
• Stable enough to tap on the screen while in the dock
• Versatile enough to hold iPad in landscape and portrait mode
• Holes to allow sound out of the speakers actually amplifies sound

Cons:

• T-shaped leg a little loose making stand slightly wobbly
• Bottom of dock tube  could use some non-skid material to make sure it never slides
• Pricey

iPad Space Dock: Durable, Versatile, Space-Saving but Pricey is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Pogoplug is a device that enables users to connect their USB hard drive to the Internet so you can access files from any Internet enabled device like a notebook, an iPad, or a mobile phone. Now, Pogoplug is supporting printers.

When I learned about this new feature I was excited. The biggest weakness of many smart phones and specifically the iPad is a lack of built-in printing support. There are apps that work for iOS devices. But now you have a single device that works with just about anything that can access the Internet.

Setting up the Pogoplug will be as simple as hooking up your HP or Epson printer (released since 2005) to the device and you are ready to go. There is an Internet address for it or you can email documents to the device to print. It is now accessible via an iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, Android device or any notebook computer with Windows, Linux or a Mac. This new functionality will be a part of the existing PogoPlug and it will still work with hard drives to enable cloud” access to files without a monthly fee.

HP and Google recently announced this kind of capability built into their newest printers. But this will also work with older HP and Epson printers so long as they have been released in the last five years.

Pogoplug Now Supports HP and Epson Printers is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Smirk About skins are decorative skins made for a large selection of portable electronics including everything from the new Apple iPad to Sony Playstation 3 Controllers.   We were fortunate enough to receive a couple of samples from the folks at Smirkabout.com to review.

I selected a couple of skins, one for my iPad and the other for my Amazon Kindle 2. These are similar to the Gelaskin skins Josh Smith previously reviewed.

Finding the right skin is as simple as choosing your portable device and then selecting from a plethora of designs. They have designs by artists, simple patterns, and pop culture choices.

Below is my video review of both the iPad and Kindle skins.

To summarize what I said in the video, the skins are fairly easy to apply and feel like they would do a good job of protecting the back and front surfaces that they cover from scratches. The  Smirk web site has a large selection of skins. Be careful what you pick though. I thought I would like both of the designs I selected, but the one for my iPad was a little wild for my taste.

The Smirk About skins are a great way to add some personality to the generic look of the iPad, Kindle or whatever device you use. They are easy to apply and stick very well. I eventually removed the skin and it did not leave any adhesive residue on the case of either device.

It was difficult to get the skin on my Kindle to lay down around the the power switch and headphone jack. That part of the top edge is raised slightly. That skin left a little game along the uneven section.  The rounded back of the iPad made it a little harder to apply the back skin. There were a few wrinkles that I had to work out a little. But it was not hard to do so on the iPad. I never got it flattened all the way on the Kindle.

The skins do not add any weight or thickness to the device. I was able to put my Belkin Grip Vue Case on the iPad over the skin.

The Smirk About skin I applied to my iPad is called the Phapk. It costs $29.95 and has a lifetime guarantee which says that if it outlasts your device then they will replace the skin for free. They also guarantee that the colors on the skin won’t fade. The one applied to my Kindle is called Mystic Ocean and was a lot more attractive. It cost $19.95 and has the same guarantee.

I asked my family about the skin on the Kindle. Since getting my iPad I almost never use it any more, so I let them decide whether they liked it or not. My sons were split. One  really liked it and the other was not as impressed. But my wife said it was too busy and she preferred the white of the Kindle. So we  removed that one.

If you like customizing your devices with skins, then I personally think you will really like the skins from Smirk About. They are not too expensive and will protect the surfaces most likely to be damaged by scratches making them worth more if you try to resell them later.

Pros:

• High quality material
• Lots of design choices
• Price is fair
• Easy to apply

Cons:

• People who like the plain surface of their device won’t like these
• If the device has some rounded parts it takes a little more effort to get it to lay down flat

Smirk About Skins for iPad and Kindle Review is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

I love my Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 card. It is a small 3G cellular modem that also works as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to five devices. It is great for people who are mobile and have more than just one or two Wi-Fi enabled devices that they want to use on the Internet. But it has one enormous and glaring weakness. Battery life is abysmal. (Full MiFi Review)

Today I was on the road for almost seven hours going to visit a man in my church who is critically ill in a hospital that is about a three and a half hours away. AT&T 3G covers only about half of the area between my house and Durham, NC where the hospital is and I have an iPhone. So I brought the MiFi card because almost the entire drive has Verizon broadband coverage. With it I could get online with my iPhone, my iPad and my notebook computer, or so I thought.

The second glaring weakness of the MiFi card is that it easily gets turned on. That in combination with the poor battery life resulted in a dead battery about halfway home tonight. You would think that I could simply plug the USB cable that I use to connect it to my notebook computer into a USB car charger. Unfortunately, for some reason, it won’t charge the card. I have tried a few different ones. None worked. Under heavy use the battery actually drains a little bit while plugged in. Then, if I get out for a bite to eat on the way and forget to turn it off, it stays on and drains the battery even more.

I’ve been looking for a solution. I had an AC/DC adapter and plugged in the AC wall charger that came with the MiFi. But today I didn’t have it because, since getting my iPad, I’m draining the battery every day. So I plug it in overnight at the same time I charge my iPad. 

After about 5 hours on the road, and an hour with the MiFi card accidentally left on, it was dead. To make matters worse, the USB cable could not charge the thing; and I wanted to get online for something important while I was in one of those areas without AT&T 3G or even halfway decent Edge coverage.

The good news was there was a Best Buy at the next exit. I stopped and asked at the cell phone section if they had anything that would charge MiFi in my car. Fortunately for me, the guy had a MiFi card too. He walked right up to the Rocketfish Mobile Vehicle Charger which sells for just $21.99. It is has a micro USB connector and plugs into the cigarette lighter. Bingo! I was set.

It worked great and I was able to charge up my MiFi card enough to get a signal. I know some of you are saying, “Kevin, we knew this a long time ago.” But I guess I was too busy to even ask!

I finally made it home and took my family out to get some Chinese food. The card charged enough in the hour I had it plugged in to get Wi-Fi signal for my iPhone, my son’s iPod Touch and my iPad as we sat in the restaurant after finishing eating. I know. We should put away the gadgets when we eat. Most of the time we do.

How to Charge a Mifi Cellular Wi-Fi Router On the Road is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

OtterBox is best known for its rugged and waterproof cases, but the company also offers a commuter series of cases designed to offer protection for on-the-go users without the traditional bulk or weight of a waterproof design.  The Motorola Droid Commuter case from OtterBox is an example of this protective, yet usable in everyday settings, design.

OtterBox was nice enough to send over one of the new Droid Commuter Series cases for us to use for the past few weeks.  While you read this review keep in mind that I typically carry my droid without any protection on it and it is always in my front pocket, screen facing in.

The OtterBox Commuter case for the Motorola Droid offers 3 pieces of protection for $34.95. The first is a screen protector that installs with ease, it’s actually one of the easiest I have ever put on and enjoy that you cannot tell by sight or touch that it is there. Second is a snap on cover for the top part of the phone that fits around the display. Finally, there is the back of the case which adds most of the protection.

With all of this protection you’d expect to add a lot of weight and bulk to the phone, but while I found both of these factors to be noticeable they weren’t significant. Basically I could tell the case was on, but never found myself wishing I had left it off.

I really liked the rubber covers for power, volume and the camera button; which made all of them much easier to use as well as the plugs for the USB port and headphone jack. The case still allows access to the camera and speaker and is quickly removed to swap in a second battery or use with an accessory like the Motorola media dock.

One downside is that you cannot clip the Droid into the Motorola car mount with the front cover on. Unlike the back of the case the front cover is harder, but not impossible, to remove which makes this a minor issue.

Conclusion:

The OtterBox is an excellent case option for Droid users who want protection without feeling like they are carrying around a brick in their pocket. The small touches, like the quick removable back and usable top row of keys, really make this case stand out. Hopefully a future model will allow the case to click into the Motorola car dock without removing the top case.

Pros:

• Easy on and off
• Works with multimedia dock for charging
• Rubber covers make button finding easier

Cons:

• Doesn’t work with Motorola car dock
• Occasional sqeak when typing fast on hard keyboard

OtterBox Motorola Droid Commuter Case Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Once again, another solid deal from our friends at Woot. Today only, you can pick up a refurbished Acer Aspire One netbook with a USB DVD burner and accessory kit for just $279 (+$5 shipping). You can also choose between black, blue, or red colors (at checkout). Have a look at the important specs, and the contents of the accessory kit:

Acer Aspire One

• Windows XP Home
• Intel Atom N270 CPU @ 1.6GHz
• 10.1” screen @ 1024×600 resolution
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB HDD
• Six-cell battery with claimed run time of up to 6.5 hours
• Integrated webcam
• WiFi B/G
• Multi-card reader (MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, xD)

Accessory Kit

• USB optical drive, reads and burns DVDs and CDs
• Wireless USB mouse (uses two AA batteries)
• Protective Case

Interested in this deal? Head on over to Woot.com, and remember, this deal is only good until 12 AM central time today!

Today Only: Acer Aspire One with USB DVD Burner and Accessory Kit – $279 is a post by Ben from Notebooks.com.

Some people are keyboarders; they love to do as much as they can from the comfort of their home-keys, only leaving that comfortable position when they absolutely have to. Me, I’m a Mouser. I proudly look to my mouse to handle as much as possible without letting go to swing my hands to the keyboard. This obsession with mousing is what led me to purchase the new Logitech Performance Mouse MX when my previous Logitech MX mouse died.

This new Logitech Performance Mouse MX has some really cool improvements over earlier Logitech mice that, combined with programmable buttons and a great scroll-wheel, make it great for heavy mouse users. First off, the Performance MX has Darkfield Technology that lets it mouse on practically any surface including glass, so long as it is thick enough.

Additionally the new MX mouse comes with a Unifying Logitech receiver. This small device sits almost flush in a USB port and can be used to connect a slew of Logitech peripherals. This is a huge improvement over the need to have a specific adapter for each mouse or keyboard you want to use.

If you do get this mouse I highly recommend uBerOptions, a mouse utility that lets you map any button on most Logitech Mice. This is a must have app that can be combined with keyboard shortcuts to make you the fastest mouser in your cubicle.

Here’s a quick look at the Logitech Performance Mouse MX, a more detailed review will be coming in the future.

Hands On: Logitech Performance Mouse MX (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.