Laptop sleeve is a hoarder's worst enemy

This is one of those items that might look goofy at first but then, after some thought, might just make sense. All too often, messenger bags and other laptop totes are just excuses to carry around junk you don't really need. That can result in scratches and dents to your computer or, far worse, a bag that's so heavy it gets dropped or topples off a desk because of gross weight imbalance.

For the true road warrior who survives with only the essentials, the Cargo Laptop Sleeve from Built NY provides space for all the gear that's needed. The neoprene zip case has three pockets for a mouse, USB drive, portable hard drive, or anything else that can fit in them, according to Gadget Lab. It also claims says its zigzag stitching improves water resistance, which will help protect against the occasional macchiato spill.

Crave CNET

TrekDesk: Another shackle to the workstation

When Crave first started seeing workstation fitness machines, we thought they were just a passing novelty. But now we're seriously beginning to wonder--and worry--whether they're actually catching on.

The desk treadmill seems to be the most popular form of office exercise, as evidenced by the Walkstation and the TreadDesk, respectively estimated at US$6,500 and up to US$4,000. But now they have yet another competitor that may end up being substantially cheaper.

The TrekDesk is an alternative to the other all-in-one setups, a universal workstation that instead attaches to a standard existing treadmill with adjustable height, center console, manuscript stand, and cupholder. (That green exercise ball is part of the ergonomic TrekDesk Chair, which is sold separately.)

Although the price isn't final yet, the desk is expected to cost less than US$549. There's just one catch: The treadmill isn't included. Still, if you already have one that's been gathering cobwebs, this might be a way to get some use out of it for a change.

Via Crave CNET

B&O takes a different angle on TV sound

Leave it to Bang & Olufsen to break the mold once again, this time with a TV under-screen speaker. While other manufacturers toil away with boring rectangles and cylindrical designs, the B&O wizards have gone a completely different geometric route: A triangle.

The BeoLab 10 is a center speaker designed to work with the BeoVision 4 HDTV. Mounted beneath the plasma, according to Audio Junkies, it uses its Acoustic Lens Technology to disperse sound 180 degrees with twin amplifiers.

And never leaving anything to chance, B&O is also planning to offer a range of grill covers to match any given decor. No pricing has been released yet but, given the company's reputation, the BeoLab 10 might require you to move into a smaller place to afford it.

Via Crave CNET

Who makes the most reliable laptops?

One question we get pretty frequently is some variation on "Which laptop brand is most reliable?" It's an important question, as laptops can be tough to fix, with pretty much no user-serviceable parts inside (yes, I'm sure you're all clever enough to pop open your laptop chassis and tinker around; I'm talking about all the other laptop owners out there). That means if something goes wrong with your laptop, it's a pretty much guaranteed trip to a repair center.

Most people rely on anecdotal evidence to pick a laptop they think won't break down--relying on horror stories from friends or the Internet. Of course, every manufacturer has a mile-long list of angry customers who have not gotten satisfaction from indifferent tech support telephone drones, fine-print-filled warranties, or shady third-party repair services. The detail-minded folks at Consumer Reports have just put out its annual look at the computer industry, and while our colleague Tom Krazit has already pointed out that Apple ranks at the top of the list for laptop tech support, (with HP in last place), we're more interested in the brand repair history chart from the same issue.

The chart shows data from about 75,000 laptops purchased between 2003 and 2007, recording how many have had a serious problem requiring repair. The companies listed are Lenovo, Compaq, Sony, Toshiba, Dell, HP, Gateway, and Apple, and all scored between 20 percent and 23 percent. Consumer Reports says a difference of less than three points is statistically "not meaningful."
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Hot water in 3 seconds with Tefal QuickCup kettle

This one's not only ideal for mom, but great for the entire family. It's bad enough waiting for your toilet turn in the mornings, but what's worse is the atrocious time it takes to boil a kettle of water for your daily caffeine fix. Now you can make the latter less of a chore with Tefal's QuickCup kettle that delivers hot water in *drumrolls* an astounding 3 seconds!

Using "Optic-Quick" technology, water is heated when it travels up the spiral heating element and you can configure it to dispense just the right amount of water for your cup. Yeah, selfish, but it's every man for himself in the mornings. Meanwhile, you can use the extra time earned for an extra 40 winks, or do something nice like give your mom a peck on her cheek on Mothers' Day.

Convenience comes at a price of US$99.20. Not expensive at all if you consider it also filters your water through a pump.

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