How It Works

The TechSafe Cable Lock has dial number combination locking system, like those you find on bike locks, connected to a very heavy steel cable that they coated with a hard rubber to make it smooth. You feed the cable around something heavy like a large table leg and fish the locking mechanism through a large eye at the end opposite the cable lock. The system comes with three metal clamps that you feed between the laptop’s lid and body.

The lock fastens to the clamp when you push the button to reveal a hook that grabs the end of the clamp as it protrudes from the back of the laptop. Release the button and the lock pulls the hook attached to the clamp inside the large metal lock.

Scramble the combination to set the lock.

Griffin TechSafe Cable Lock hooked up to MacBook Pro

I often use my computer at an Atlanta Break Company nearby. I’m nervous about leaving my computer to use the restroom or to get up and grab a refill of my Diet Pepsi. I also hate having to pack everything up just for a quick pitstop. The TechSafe Cable Lock would make a thief think twice before trying to steal your laptop.

No cable lock or Kensington lock will keep a determined thief with enough time and opportunity from stealing a laptop. But a device like the TechSafe Cable Lock will make them think twice and delay them enough to protect your computer.

Video Review

Not Universal Enough

The system seems to work well with those computers that are compatible. The cable won’t be cut easily. The lock system feels sturdy enough to do its job. My son claims to have seen a YouTube video on how to crack the combination on a lock like this. The good news I tried his system and it didn’t work! +1 for Griffin!

Unfortunately, as I said above, the TechSafe Cable Lock doesn’t work with two of the three laptops I tested it on. The company’s description makes it clear that the system won’t work with a MacBook Air. However, they list almost every other manufacturer saying:

The TechSafe cable lock fits a wide variety of PC laptops and netbooks, from Dell, Acer, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba, Asus, Sony and more. It’s also compatible with Apple’s most recent additions to the MacBook and MacBook Pro lineup.

It lists Toshiba, but I know that the Toshiba Satellite L745 I tested it with didn’t work. You can see that in the video review above. The reason? The gap between the lid and body of the computer is too wide for the metal clamp to stay in place if a thief grabs it and pulls even slightly. You will have to test it out on your system. Look at the gap between the lid and body. If yours is wide, find another solution or don’t leave your computer unattended, which is actually good advice no matter what.

If you have a MacBook or MacBook Pro I can assure you this will work and work well. It may be compatible with other computers that have a narrow space between the lid and body.

Cost and an Optional Accessory

The Griffin TechSafe Cable Lock costs $29.99 directly from Griffin. If you find that it will work with your system, then you might also want to try out the TechSafe Locking Security Clamp, which clamps to a table and has a place where you can run the cable from the Cable Lock to secure it. It costs $19.99, but is currently out of stock from Griffin.

Pros

• Strong lock
• Cable too think to cut
• Works with computers that don’t have Kensington Lock
• Can’t easily be “cracked” like some bike locks can
• Good price

Cons

• Not compatible with MacBook Air
• Computers with wide gap between lid and body are incompatible

Griffin’s TechSafe Cable Lock: Not Universal, But Certainly Secure is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

We’ve seen locks for specific computers without the port, like this lock designed for the MacBook Air. But Griffin’s solution is universal.

A metal blade slips through the hinge of the laptop and connects to the security lock to keep it connected. The lock offers a four digit combination security code, much like an old-fashioned briefcase, only much stronger. Click the blade into the lock and connect the lock to the five-foot steel cable which loops around something secure, like a table leg, to keep the laptop secure.

An optional TechSafe Security Lock Clamp can also connect to a table and clamp in place. The cable from the lock hooks to the clamp.

The lock will keep a MacBook or other notebook secure at the coffee shop or in an office with unscrupulous coworkers. While no one should leave a notebook computer totally unattended, this keeps it safe if you are across the room.

The best security for your laptop is to keep it close by. But locks like this one from Griffin Technology add an extra level of safety. In a situation, like a workplace with customers in and out and where a user leaves the Notebook out, this adds some assurance that it won’t be lifted.

Here is Griffin’s promo video that shows how it works.

Griffin Technologies offers this security accessory for $29.99 direct from their website.

Secure a Laptop with Griffin’s TechSafe Cable Locking System is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The new cases come in six colors – black, pearl, green, flame, pine and copper. Translation: black, white, green, reddish-orange, green and brown. You can order one for an 11 or 13 inch Air.

The simple sleeve case protects your air with a multi-layer padding made of a special water resistent nylon material that WaterField Designs designed themselves. A plastic insert offers added protection and the ultrasuede won’t scratch the scratch prone aluminum Apple uses.

On the outside a pocket will hold accessories or on other carry-along items. The computer fits snugly into the case. On the bottom the thumb tab gives you some leverage to slide the computer out. Unless you pull it out, the computer won’t slide out on its own. The sleeve is small enough that it easily fits into a larger computer bag. That way you can carry it by itself when you need only the computer and the case’s protection, but throw it into a book bag or briefcase when you need all your other extras too.

We’ve tested a number of their cases, including the iPad version of this case, and love them. They are available today for $79 or $89 for the 11.6″ or 13.3″ MacBook Air respectively.

WaterField Designs Celebrates MacBook Air Refresh with New Cases is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Design

While some notebook stands are too bulky to take with you, the AViiQ’s weighs only 5.5 ounces and collapses flat to fit in the notebook compartment of your computer bag. The AViiQ Portable Quick Stand is so thin, you will barely notice it is there.

The stand is made from four long slices of plastic that look metallic. They are held together by silicone rubber that comes in five colors, allowing you to find one that fits your style. AViiQ says that the Portable Quick Stand will work with smaller notebooks like the MacBook Air or larger 17″ computers.

The stand has a 12 degree angle which raises the notebook off the table offering increased airflow for cooling and a higher angle for those who prefer this angle while typing. People who have good touch typing form will like that angle.

Unfortunately, like many users, we are lazy and rest our wrists on the front part of the laptop. As a result the angle is a little too high for comfortable typing. Very few of our staff find this kind of angle useful for typing. The good news is the stand can be used at a lower angle, even if it was not designed to be used that way. Below you will see what we mean.

As you can see, when you fold the edge with the smaller pieces in on itself instead of putting them at the base of the triangle, the angle is much lower. This is a more comfortable angle to use while typing.

Functionality

The  AViiQ Portable Quick Stand is quick and easy to set up, just press along the folded edge and it turns into a triangle that forms the base of the stand.

There is a bit of a trick to make the stand work without your notebook sliding off. Our MacBook Air has two rubber feet on the bottom. We positioned the apex of the triangle just below those feet and it stays in place (see above). Another option is to have the top groove grab the back edge of the lid of your laptop (see below). This won’t help if your laptop doesn’t have a lid that folds back as low as the back edge of the MacBook Air’s lid.

If you place the top of the Quick Stand against the MacBook Air’s flat metallic base, the notebook will slide off of the stand. Also, the AViiQ Portable Stand is a little unstable while you type, especially for those who bang on a keyboard. If you are a heavy typer the notebook will bounce a little while on the stand. Finally, you cannot use the stand on your lap at all.

Value

At $39.99 the AViiQ Portable Quick Stand is on the high side. While the portability is a nice feature, the weaknesses above make the Portable Quick Stand too expensive for us to recommend. Typically stands in this price range offer more functionality and importantly a sturdier base to type on.

Pros

• Light
• Small
• Colorful trim
• Easy to set up

Cons

• Unstable
• Many notebooks will slide off
• Bouncy while typing
• Can’t be used while typing on your lap
• Too expensive

AViiQ Portable Quick Stand for Notebooks Review is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

Design and Comfort

The Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 is a small mouse designed to not take up too much room in a computer bag. It is small enough that you could just carry it in your pocket if you keep your notebook in a sleeve instead of a computer bag. Unfortunately, because of the size, it is not the most comfortable or accurate mouse to use.

The two top buttons are shaped so that your fingers rest nicely on them. However, the length of the mouse from the front to the back means that you cannot really rest your hand on the mouse while using it unless you have very small hands. I found myself having to grip the mouse between my thumb and ring finger to move it around. This is fine for short mousing stints. After more than fifteen to twenty minutes I found myself subconsciously using the trackpad on my MacBook Pro or MacBook Air instead of reaching  for the mouse.

The weight of the mouse is also a problem. For precision mousing a heavy mouse makes it hard to move to just the right spot. A light mouse makes it too easy to accidentally mouse past the button you want to click or the edge of the window you want to drag. This mouse is just too light. You can fix this by adjusting the speed of the cursor in the settings of the computer, but that slows things down too much the rest of the time. I like my cursor to dart across the screen. A properly weighted mouse makes this possible while still hitting the target.

Buttons and Features

This mouse has the basic right and left click buttons, but there is also a side button the left side that your thumb can hit. It is a back button for use in a browser or in Windows it goes back in your Windows Explorer history. This function is unavailable in Mac OS X Finder windows. The button is also easy to accidentally click while mousing.

Because there is only one side button, it would be a little awkward for left-handed users. Ultimately the mouse would be better if there was a button on both sides.

The scroll wheel works well and is not too stiff or loose. We prefer a smooth scrolling wheel, but for a clicking scroll wheel it is not bad. The wheel can also serve as another button. The problem is, without a supported software driver it cannot be configured. On a Mac there is no special driver. The Microsoft web site has a link to a special Mac driver but the link leads to a Japanese language site with a “not found” 404 error page.

The Windows software is adequate and can be used to configure the buttons. We turned off the thumb button and made the scroll wheel also behave as a double click button. You cannot do this on Mac.

The mouse has an indicator light which will glow red when the batteries are drained. It will flash green and red when the mouse is ready to be paired with your Bluetooth enabled computer. It turns off when it is connected.

If you don’t have Bluetooth on your computer, then you will have to either buy a USB Bluetooth dongle or find a different mouse. Microsoft doesn’t provide a USB dongle with this mouse.

The mouse can be turned off via the switch on the bottom to save battery life. The pairing button is also on the bottom.

Pricing

The retail price is $49.99, but you can find this mouse much cheaper if you search around the web. We bought ours from an Amazon third-party seller for under $20. At that price it is a pretty good deal, if you are going to be using it only occasionally. For $50 it is overpriced and we cannot recommend it. If you spend that much, add a little more and get the great Razer Orochi. Logitech’s v470 Bluetooth mouse is also a better deal for under $40.

Conclusion

If money is no object, get the Razer Orochi as we recommended above. If you are on a tighter budget go with Logitech’s v470. The only reason to choose the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 is you have really small hands or just really prefer Microsoft branded hardware and want to stay consistent. The other two mice mentioned above are so much better that we cannot recommend the Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000.

Pros

• Takes little room in a bag or your pocket
• Good scrolling wheel
• Connects well to Bluetooth

Cons

• Uncomfortable
• Not suitable for left-handed people
• Too light for precision mousing

Microsoft Bluetooth Notebook Mouse 5000 Offers Basics [Review] is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Apple Magic Mouse does not have a great reputation, even among some Apple fans who find it awkward and uncomfortable to use. This hasn’t stopped Verbatim from trying to bring the touch enabled mouse to the PC world, but the company has a hard time making the mouse stand out as Microsoft has recently launched their own Touch Mouse.

Apple Magic Mouse on left and Verbatim Touch Mouse on right

Design

The Verbatim Touch Mouse is a wireless mouse that comes with its own 2.4Ghz USB receiver. The entire top of the mouse is both a button and a touchpad, just like the Apple Magic Mouse. Unlike the Magic Mouse it is black and instead of a rounded top, the front and back are rounded while the sides are squared. Unlike the Magic Mouse, the Touch Mouse will work on Windows and Mac.

On the bottom, the Touch Mouse comes with a small USB receiver that is housed in a hole in the bottom of the mouse when not in use. It also has an on/off button which saves conserves battery life while not in use. Most mice with a self-housed USB receiver will turn on and off automatically when you push the receiver into its compartment, but the Verbatim Touch Mouse does not.

Ergonomics

The most important questions with any mouse are comfort and functionality. Because of its size and shape it is slightly more comfortable than the Magic Mouse. The back of the mouse is raised giving your palm somewhere to rest. The front is a little lower making it easier to touch than the Magic Mouse.

Touch Gestures

To scroll up and down you swipe one finger either up or down. The on-screen reaction is slower with this mouse than with most other mice or the built-in trackpad of on laptops. To go back and forward in your browsing history on the Internet or in your folder viewing history in Windows Explorer, you swipe up or down with two fingers. This is unintuitive since most of the time we want to swipe left or right for history browsing, like you do on the Apple Magic Mouse or on a trackpad.

The problem with the Touch Mouse is the whole touch concept. What we hate most about mousing is having to use a touchpad. Most laptops have horrible touchpads and the primary reasons are size and sensitivity. The Touch Mouse has a tiny touch surface and is only moderately sensitive. We do not recommend it as a replacement for the notebook for this reason. If you really like a touchpad and want one for your desktop, this might be a good compromise.

Buttons and Clicking

The other big problem with the Verbatim Touch Mouse is the button. A typical left click, which is what you do with a mouse the majority of the time, is no problem at all. Just like the Apple Magic Mouse it is hard to consistently get a proper right-click. To do so you push on the right side of the mouse surface instead of the left. However, most of the time this engages the entire button and causes a typical left click to be sent to the computer. The key is not getting too close the right edge of the mouse while clicking, and it got easier over time, but a right click isn’t something you should need to think about.

Pricing

The Verbatim Touch Mouse lists for $54, but is available at Amazon for a much more reasonable $31.62.

Conclusion

We think this mouse is a good choice only for those who really wish they could use something like the Apple Magic Mouse with a Windows machine. It is a unique idea with only a  few mice like this one, but there is a reason. The scroll wheel just works better.

Pros:

• Small and easy to carry around
• USB receiver has storage compartment in mouse
• More comfortable than Apple Magic Mouse
• Windows and Mac compatible

Cons:

• Touch surface not responsive
• Hard to consistently right-click
• Glossy so attracts finger prints

Verbatim Touch Mouse Brings Apple Magic Mouse Feel to Windows [Review] is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

The Inquirer reports that these new AMD chipsets will be the first certified “SuperSpeed USB” chipsets. This means it will be much easier for manufacturers like HP, Gateway, Dell and others to support USB 3.0 on their upcoming notebooks and mini notebooks. This is good news for consumers who want a faster connection, but don’t want to go with an Intel Thunderbolt connection, currently only found on the MacBook Pro, and bringing a noticeable lack of consumer accessories.

USB 3.0 will deliver a faster transfer rate for moving files from your computer to an external hard drive and USB 3.0 delivers more power, which means that hard drives which may have needed to connect to two ports or power supply will likely be able to connect with a single connection for power and data transfer.

This is good news, and is another feather in the hat of AMD, which is on track to give Intel a challenge in the processor race again. We’ve been using the AMD E350 APU in a sub-$500 notebook from Gateway for a month now and have been impressed with everything the budget priced notebook can do. Add in USB 3.0 support and you have an even more attractive package for consumers.

This is especially important given the current amount of USB 3.0 hard drives which greatly outnumber Thunderbolt accessories, and are much more likely to end up on the desk of your average consumer. So far we’ve only seen professional-level Thunderbolt drives and accessories announced. Another cool use of USB 3.0 is a Bus-Powered Monitor which can plug in to a USB 3.0 port and display 1080P video without the need for any additional power source.

AMD Closer to Making USB 3.0 the New USB Standard is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Many average consumers won’t find the need for a portable power solution like one of these external notebook batteries to go with a $500 notebook, but if you are traveling, an outdoor enthusiast or really do need to stay powered for hours more than your traditional notebook battery allows, then these 15 batteries offer a glimpse at everlasting battery life — or at least as close as you can come today.

Tom’s Hardware tested the following external notebook batteries:

• Amstar MedXP 140
• Amstar MedXP 300
• Brunton Sustain
• Brunton Impel
• Digipower Universal Laptop Battery
• Electrovaya PowerPad 95
• Electrovaya PowerPad 130
• Energizer XP8000
• Energizer XP18000
• Lenmar PPU916
• PowerTraveller MiniGorrila
• PowerTraveller PowerGorrila
• Tekkeon MP3750
• Tekkeon MP3450
• Tekkeon MP3450i

The nice thing about these external notebook batteries is that if you can find a notebook that meets all of your needs except battery life, you can fix that with a relatively small purchase. Because these are external options that work with a number of computers, you can use them with several notebooks and when the extra weight is a problem, leave the battery in your car or at home.

Personally, battery life is a ranked higher than high end performance so I am always drawn to notebooks that can deliver long batter life on their own, but the ability to double battery life with a slice battery or an external notebook battery, is always a plus. Just watch out, as Apple like’s to make it difficult for battery makers like HyperJuice who produce external MacBook battery packs.

Via LaptopThoughts

External Notebook Battery Review Roundup and Showdown is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Cartella MacBook Air Case from Pad&Quill

Build Quality and Look

The frame is made of Baltic Birch wood. Inside the frame there is a layer of thin rubber along the edges to act as a bumper. The inside bottom of the case has circular pads where the feet on the bottom of the MacBook Air rest. This raises the computer a little to give it some ventilation. The front is raised slightly higher than the back making the keyboard flat instead of the ever so slight angle at which the MacBook Air normally sits without a case.

The Cartella is made from Baltic Birch

The trim inside the case is an attractive red. The binding is black. On the inside cover there is a pocket to hold thin papers. When you open the case it has instructions for installation as well as a “Table of Contents” which lists major accomplishments of the company as if they were chapters. The Cartella is the fifth chapter. The tongue and cheek nature of the “story” of a pair of “starving artists” which ends with the sixth chapter telling “The Story of No Longer Starving Artists…” is a nice touch. The final line says, “… Thanks to our customers.”

Cartella has an inside pocket for the "Table of Contents"

This is a solid case that will protect your MacBook Air. The wood frame is light but sturdy. It is an expensive case because it is a quality product.

The Cartella is designed with detail in mind

Functionality

The design makes the case easy to put on the MacBook Air. You slide the thin end of the case into the front of the case. Then just drop the back thicker end of the computer down and it should fall right into place. There are a couple of strips of the bumper material with a sticky back in case you need to add some tension to the case to keep the MacBook Air in place better.

Notice the beveling which lets the MacBook open while in the case and allows for easy removal

We must say they have thought of every detail. The rear side edges have cutouts for the ports. And on the back left cutout is slightly larger to accommodate the MagSafe power connector. The woodworking fits the computer nicely and the spacing is perfect. It is easy to get the computer open thanks to the front spacing where the notch is on the MacBook Air. The spacing allows you to lift the lid. The back edge allows the lid to open and gives room for you to get your finger under the back of the computer for quick removal from the case.

Notice the front opening which allows the MacBook Air to be opened while in the case

Not for Everyone

Not everyone agrees that the Cartella looks nice. My wife looked at it and her first reaction was that it looked kind of cheap. I was stunned because I thought the opposite – it looks classy. So you may agree with me or her. At either $80 or $90 you will want to be certain about the look and feel of this case.

I just think the case fits in a category by itself and is designed for a unique market. It is for people who like nice things and don’t feel the need to show off their Apple hardware. They want more than a cheap rubber cover or a nylon computer bag for protection. If you fit that category, then I think you will really like the Cartella from Pad&Quill.

The Cartella top cover bows a little

It is not perfect. The top cover on ours bowed after a short usage. It could be because we stored the two bumper strips in the inside pocket. But where else would you put them? Also the elastic band that holds it closed can get in the way a little. I’ve never been a fan of those folio style elastic bands around covers. These are two very minor complaints.

The Cartella design allows MacSafe connector to be used while in the case

Video Review

Price, Availability and Other Cases

The Cartella from Pad&Quill is available now for $79.99 for the 11″ model and $89.99 for the 13″ model. Soon there will be an iPad 2 case called the Octavo and we will be reviewing it when it is released. Right now there are also cases available for the original iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Kindle 3 and Nook. We love that the iPhone case is called “The Little Black Book”. Pad&Quill takes quality seriously, but they don’t take themselves too seriously and we like companies like that.

The ports are available for use while in the Cartella case

Pad&Quill Cartella Case Review: Turns MacBook Air into MacBook with Class is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

We had a preview of the service last week and spoke with co founder Manish Rathi, to find out what sets Retrevo apart from the competitors like Best Buy or Amazon.com, and to see how Retrevo would remain an authoritative voice on consumer electronics while selling them.

The biggest thing that sets Retrevo apart form the competition is the information and education that the website offers to buyers. It has long been one of our favorite resources for finding out if a gadget is new, at its prime or on the way out. The best part is that Retrevo is able to provide all of this information in a manner that is easy to understand so we can tell our friends and family to visit the site and look around for themselves without holding their hand through the educational process.

These Real Time reviews, which are powered by advanced AI and algorithms allow Retrevo to deliver a snapshot of the product like you see above, which makes it easy to understand who the product is for. Additionally, the Retrevo Guides help steer shoppers towards the right products for their needs, instead of the products that a salesperson specifically likes at Best Buy.

One of the key issues that Retrevo faced when the company decided to open up a marketplace is how to remain objective and to keep providing users with the recommendations that they want and need. The solution was to rely on the algorithms, rather than humans to recommend products and to not sell certain items. As you look over the Retrevo Marketplace, you’ll find something you won’t see at Best Buy or Amazon — a Do Not Add to Cart Button.

Do Not Add to Cart Button at Retrevo

The Do Not Add to Cart Button appears on items that Retrevo wouldn’t recommend you purchase. Retrevo will show you other items that may be offer a better value, but if you do want to purchase the item, you can still find links to other sites, such as Amazon, where the product is sold.

So far the store looks pretty nice, and the prices are competitive. We’ll keep an eye on the Retrevo Marketplace to see how the Do Not Buy strategy pans out over time.

Do Not Buy Button: Retrevo Launches Consumer Electronics Store with a Twist is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.