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.

The soundbar is increasingly gaining traction as the audio setup of choice for aesthetically minded sound junkies. It’s no wonder: discrete designs and all-in-one efficiency keep minimalist media centers clutter free while trumping the tinny transmitters of any TV. Their only shortcoming is a one-dimensional soundfield, often the result of simulated surround. To buck that…

Tablets tablets everywhere — how’s a man to choose? Vizio’s MT11x Windows 8 slate adds another drop in the bucket of great selections. A full-HD 1080p capacitive touchscreen with 10-finger multi-touch gestures pleases eyeballs from the start; it’s the guts, however, that make the 11.6-inch device a top-line competitor. 64GB SSD storage, AMD’s Z-60 APU…

Vizio has officially presented the Rose Bowl for several years now and often uses their accompanying commercial time to tease the gadget-loving public with new products. The commercial that kicked off halftime this year was no exception, showing glimpses of a few unreleased devices we’re certainly excited to learn more about at CES. These include what looks like a Windows 8 tablet, a next generation Android tablet and of course, sleek-looking, new TVs. If you haven’t seen the spot already, we’ve embedded it above to study at your leisure. Look out for it on the air over the coming weeks as well. Pay close enough attention (*cough* — 8 seconds in) and you might even catch a glimpse of your favorite site, a.k.a. us. Special thanks to the fine people at Vizio for choosing GP for such a cool cameo. We are truly honored and can’t wait to learn more about what’s in store from the great American electronics company in 2013. With a resume credential like this, our dreams of landing a part in Rudy 2 are now that much closer.

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…

Google TV has failed to make inroads in the exploding “Smart TV” market, but the Vizio Co-star ($99) could change its fate. This affordable Internet-ready console connects to either a satellite or cable TV box and combines live television with your favorite streaming services (like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video), along with Google Chrome for…

We kicked off 2012 by visiting not-so-beautiful Las Vegas to attend CES, with the hope of getting a head start on the exciting new products that will launch over the coming year. While we’ll continue to highlight gadgets revealed there on a regular basis, one of the best parts about being on the ground at…

We fawned over Vizio’s entry into the 21:9 fray last year, only to be bitterly disappointed when the set never made it to retail shelves. This year Vizio promises to actually deliver the ultrawidescreen goods to living rooms around the country with their updated 2012 line of 2560 x 1080 passive 3D HD displays. Besides…

When you sweat the details, and we mean truly sweat, people notice. When you do it with a seemingly impossible low price, people take even more notice. With Vizio’s foray into desktops and laptops it’s evident the engineers and designers have colluded to do just that. A culmination of two years worth of design, the…

Our love for ultra wide-screen displays knows no bounds (case in point: here and here). The problem is, ludicrous price tags and/or cumbersome overseas shopping make the coveted displays a heart crushing prospect to even the most avid peripheral-phile. Enter Vizio and their layman’s attainable solution (think Costco). Announced at CES, the CinemaScope (2.35:1 ratio)…

If our 3D Gear Essentials roundup didn’t arouse your multi-dimensional interests then perhaps this will. At a colossal 65-inches, the Vizio 65″ Theater 3D Edge Lit Razor LED LCD HDTV ($3,500) not only boasts tremendous size, but also heavyweight specs at a welterweight price. Using “Theater 3D” technology, Vizio has eliminated the need for battery-powered…

Gear Patrol loves our Vizio TVs. The only argument we have is in trying to decide what we like better – their excellent HDTV offerings or the smoking prices at which they are offered. That’s why we didn’t hesitate when given the chance to review their Razor LED HDTV line. Forgoing (for now) the bigger-is-always-better…

47 Inches Of Football Watching Splendor Gear Patrol already established that it’s football season and asked whether you follow NFL or College football. We showed you that subscribing to DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket will advance your football consumption to dangerous awesome levels and winning a Titlecraft Fantasy Football Trophy is one of the best rewards…

[click on image to enlarge] Vizio, a brand you may have once brushed off heading directly for the Samsung and Sony units when looking for hdtv’s may now have your undivided attention. Overpriced technology is for the birds. Vizio’s new XVT Series of LCD’s and Plasmas are setting the bar for value at a new…