Gear Patrol

It wasn’t so long ago that 10-key calculators and instant messenger were the most exciting things happening to technology. But nowadays, tech moves fast — new computer segments are born and buried quicker with each passing year. Don’t let that scare you away from the good ole desktop, though. All-in-ones have more to offer than ever: effective touchscreens with the UI to back them up (Windows 8), high-def displays that can easily double as TV screens (thanks to HDMI and built-in TV tuners), and slimmer profiles for fitting just about anywhere.

Sure, it’s tough explaining to grandma where to put the floppy disc, but we’ll leave that to you. Before choosing which one is right for you, though, figure out just what it is you need. Whether that means sexy looks, entertainment nirvana or a gamer’s sweaty-palmed fantasy, our five picks for the best all-in-one desktops are awaiting below to help out.

In today’s digital era of technology, “Knowledge is Power” has taken on a much broader meaning as data becomes our most valued asset. How we as users go about portably accessing and backing up these personal files — music, photos, financial documents, and third-party software — has proven to be just as critical. Whether it’s the aspiring music producer shopping beats around to labels or the established accountant keeping tabs of clients’ paper trails, everyone can use a sturdy and high-functioning portable hard drive, especially those who remain adventurous and (naturally or otherwise) accident prone.

We’re talking an external device that can withstand the daily wear and tear. Something that can handle being tossed in the messenger bag; something that can survive a natural disaster. Need we remind you of Hurricane Sandy, or of last Friday’s party at your place? Didn’t think so. Luckily for you, there’s a handful of damage-proof HHDs available sure to safeguard all your stored data — and we’ve found the best.

If the new breed of “convertible” Windows 8 laptops hasn’t left you more confused than a barber with Troy Polamalu in his seat, then Google’s latest venture into the hardware world should do the trick. The Google Chromebook Pixel ($1,299) is a high-end laptop running Google’s own Chrome OS. Not familiar with the software? It’s a browser on steroids, optimized for web content along with a growing number of browser-based applications — and that’s about it.

Available with either 500GB or 1TB of storage, the Corsair Voyager Air ($199-$229) is a wi-fi wonder for media maniacs not content with cloudy reception. Dubbed the first all-in-one to combine the conveniences of being a USB drive, a wireless network drive and a hub, the Voyager Air is a potent portable of note. USB…

Remember those clunky “car phones” in the late ’80s and early ’90s? It seems we’ve reached that stage in computer/tablet hybrids. Essentially a tweaked, larger version of the Sony Vaio Tap 20, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon Table PC ($1,699+) might not be the most graceful computer at the ball, but it does pique our interest…

We have a ton of questions about the Ion Audio Air Copy, which was just announced at CES 2013. The primary one is, what’s a company most known for making inexpensive USB turntables doing throwing out a wireless scanner? More importantly, who actually needs — literally, needs — a wireless scanner? From our deep and…

Hard drives are about as exciting as, well, hard drives. Seagate Central ($190-$260) aims to change all that as the world’s first shared storage device with a Smart TV app, enabling you to access files on your flatscreen and just about every other device in your home. In short, the Seagate Central allows access to…

The latest member of the ThinkPad family isn’t just a tablet dragging along a keyboard for faster emailing and double the battery power — though its companion QWERTY is certainly good for both of those things. The real kicker? Attaching the 11.6-inch Windows 8 touchscreen device to the keyboard activates a special cooling system in…

Ridley and Harrison fans: prepare to be disappointed. Famed designer Philippe Starck has teamed up with LaCie (again) to create a striking new 4TB USB 3.0 Blade Runner hard drive ($299) with an unusual form inspired by the 1982 dystopian sci-fi classic. But that’s where the connection to replicant huntin’ ends. The heavy-duty aluminum design…

It’s hard to comprehend, but there are people out there in this great land of ours who don’t have high-speed internet access. Some, by choice (like your grandfather, who asked you to explain what Facebook is) and others by lack of choice, hamstrung by providers that ignore less populated areas due to high installation and…

To the inexperienced, the words “techie” and “guy” seem synonymous. Sure, most guys do like technology these days — but like does not true a techie make. So while this list can absolutely be applied to any modern man, its real target is the hardcore gadget nut. The one who scours the blogs and refreshes…

You lean on him all year-round to assist, assemble and install everything from kitchen cabinetry to those amazing Patagonian rosewood floors you love so much. He tirelessly tackles the disparate demands of Honey-Do lists and familial fixes without so much as a peep. And yet, of all the men featured in our 12 Guys of…

If being heckled by your friends for using AOL makes you think you should get with the times, well, you’re right. But Alto, AOL’s rebooted attempt at relevance in today’s email provider market, looks to be downright useful. The formerly ubiquitous provider describes their newest web-based mail client as the result of frustration with “the…

The iMac has dominated the all-in-one desktop market for years despite only receiving incremental updates in recent memory. The New Apple iMac ($1,300+) finally represents the next step in desktop design, proving once again that thin is definitely still in. Specifically, the new form factor is 80% skinnier than the last model and weighs 8…

After flipping the middle finger to the rest of the laptop market with the MacBook Pro Retina last summer, it was only a matter of time before Apple’s Midas touch turned to the smaller 13-inch companion. The new Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Retina ($1,699+) has received the same innovations: a smaller body, a retina display…

Lenovo’s family of convertible devices, with names like Yoga and Twist, remind us of that gymnast/cheerleader/yoga instructor/circus performer we dated years back. Unlike that experience, where the novelty quickly wore off, the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist ($849+) proves useful for both work AND play. A serious productivity Ultrabook with passable multimedia hardware, the Twist’s screen turns…

Windows 8 is coming, and if Microsoft has its way, PC users will be transitioning seamlessly back and forth between their desktop and tablets like they’re in some kind of Ridley Scott daydream; that is, as long as they own the right accessories. For those unfamiliar with Windows 8, the traditional desktop experience you know…

If your iMac needs a pedestal upgrade from its current almanac/cigar box, the Twelve South HiRise ($80) is a more than suitable replacement. Providing proper height adjustment for your display, the HiRise is perfect for people who like their necks and don’t enjoy performing impersonations of Marty Feldman in Young Frankenstein. The HiRise’s internal metal…

Gaming towers are synonymous with gigantic frames, furnace heat output and throbbing jet-engine rackets. If you’re the subtle, nuanced gamer — or you just want to attract as little attention as possible while raiding in WOW — the Falcon Northwest Tiki Micro Gaming Tower ($1,800+) should be a prime option. The Tiki is a veritable…

There’s a reason museums have signs asking patrons not to touch the art. It’s basic human nature: we like to touch stuff, priceless works of self expression be damned. The TMDtouch Zorro Macsk ($199) delivers the touch capability we’ve been craving on our iMacs, at a reasonable price, and with very little hackery. The Zorro…

The Apogee Quartet ($1,295) is a USB audio interface that provides Macs and their parent’s-basement-squatting masters with studio-grade chops. Connection-wise, four combo XLR and 1/4” analog inputs — complete with world-class mic preamps capable of capturing click-free transitions from a vast gain range of 0-75dB — and eight digital inputs can accomodate a burgeoning boy…

Looking to chip away at the iPad’s death grip on the market through dual functionality and some serious Windows 8 guts, the Sony VAIO Duo 11 represents yet another foray into the field of computer meets Transformer. It’s no wannabe: powered by an Ultrabook-level Intel processor (your choice of i3, i5, or i7) and an…

Ultrabooks, tablets, and Andre the Giant-sized phones have already made the world of mobile computing a muddled mess, and the newly announced Samsung Series 5 and 7 Slate PCs aren’t here to help. The 11.6-inch hybrids are part of a new wave of Windows 8 powered franken-slates looking to blend the computing talents of laptops…

Keyboards are underrated and mistreated. Face it: the thing your fingers are resting next to right now is absolutely filthy — you disgusting pig, you. Luckily for you, the Logitech Washable Keyboard ($40) can be cleansed of its grime, just like a stack of dirty dishes. Using UV coating and laser-printed symbols for durability, the…

If you’re not backing up your data, you’ll regret it. Cloud storage solutions like Dropbox provide some piece of mind, but they’ve yet to fully keep pace with today’s ever-growing media libraries. The Drobo Mini ($649+) is a new personal and portable storage solution for mobile professionals that holds up to 3TB of data in…

The iMac’s design is unquestionably stunning, but it’s hard to marvel too long at a screen that’s burning your corneas with glare. The MacFrame ($49+) protects you from needing your grandma’s glaucoma shades while you surf the web. Luckily, glare is actually caused by the screen’s glass cover and not the glass LCD monitor screen…

The days of needing a router just to catch up on captioned cat photos have long since gone the way of the beeper. Today, everything from video calling and media streaming, to automatic “cloud” backups and farming gold in mythical lands is funneled through home broadband — not just on desktops or laptops, but on…

The all-in-one desktop market has belonged to Apple since we booted up our first Mac to hunt rabbits and die of dysentery on the Oregon Trail. Despite advances from its Windows-based competitors, the iMac has kept users captivated, thanks in large part to its high-density pixel resolution and minimalist design. Taking aim squarely at Cupertino’s…

Anyone who’s tried working off just a tablet for a day has experienced the ecstasy of an easy, lightweight carry, and the agony of hunching over a slightly inclined screen for 10 hours. Like other gadgets we’ve seen, the Asus Taichi aims to solve that dilemma by combining an ultrabook and tablet into one airy…

RED is credited with making some of the most innovative and lust worthy video shooters on the market today. Considering their gear can devour upwards of 50 megabytes of data per second and render eye popping 5k resolution video, almost anything is possible; at least until it comes time to chop, cut and rebuild that…