Computer devices you didn’t know you needed!

It’s an unfortunate reality that in today’s world most computers don’t ship with everything you might need. Webcams, keyboards, mice, trackballs, external drives, monitor adapters–even when you buy a laptop, there’s no guarantee that you’ll like everything about it or that you won’t need to expand it down the road. Let’s look at a few different categories shoppers should take into consideration when buying computer peripherals.

External storage devices

Many external drives are powered via USB or Firewire instead of being plugged directly into a wall. This lends a benefit to portability, as you have less things to carry with you, but be careful! Both of these busses have rather sharp power limitations, and you may not be able to see the same access speeds as a result! Purchasing from a known vendor such as Seagate, Sony, or Verbatim rather than a no-name labeler is usually wise; hard drives definitely do have a relatively high failure rate due to the number of moving parts, and you’d like to be certain that you can get warranty service if need be!

Some Portable Hard drives

Concerning hard drives specifically, Western Digital has historically been synonymous with high quality. It’s also worth mentioning that while these devices are incredibly handy, they’re designed to be portable; don’t put anything on them that you can’t afford to lose, and by all means never have it holding the only copy of a set of data! Accidents happen to even the best prepared; forewarned is forearmed.

Human interface devices

Any device you use to input data to a computer, primarily keyboards, mice, trackpads, and tablets, are Human Interface Devices (HIDs) specifically made for human input. Everybody has a preference in this category–do you get a split keyboard or one with the keys in one section? Do you splurge for a wireless keyboard, or does the idea of replacing batteries repel you and push you more towards a wired solution? If you’re going to purchase a tablet, do you spend the extra money for a larger one, or does your writing or drawing style lend itself to a smaller workspace? Some users hate trackpads, while others adore them. Some people hate trackballs, other people simply can’t abide having to move a mouse around. Ergonomics are a concern here as well: nobody wants to develop Carpal Tunnel (or other repetitive stress injuries) in a time when technology is so central to our lives. Take the time to ensure that any mouse or keyboard you purchase feels right; you’re likely to spend many hours on it, so taking a bit of time to make sure that your body doesn’t rebel against the new purchase is time well spent!

Some Ergonomic HIDs

Monitors are also a human interface device, this time designed for output. Sometimes one screen just isn’t enough, no matter if it’s plugged into your desktop or built into your laptop. An external monitor is a relatively inexpensive way to drastically expand your screen real estate. Virtually all modern monitors use LCD technology. Important aspects to pay attention to are the refresh rate, maximum resloution, and screen size. The refresh rate refers to how often the screen redraws itself; 60 Hz is standard use. The maximum resolution indicates how much screen space you have on the screen itself; higher resolutions means greater image detail. Screen size is measured on the diagonal, and prices can vary greatly based solely on an inch or two of viewable space! You’re also going to want to know your computer’s capabilities BEFORE you buy a new monitor; a monitor’s performance is limited by the graphics card’s features, and it’s no fun buying a new monitor, getting it home, plugging it in, and then turning it on only to discover that all the snazzy new features you paid for are going to waste!

Some LCD Monitors

Once you’ve selected your monitor, take a few minutes at home to explore its menu; adjusting the contrast, brightness, and positioning of the display can often alleviate many of your aggravations. Past that, be sure to again pay attention to ergonomics! If you spend a lot of time tilting your head up or down to see your display, adjust things! Monitors can be moved a lot more easily than neck pain can be alleviated.

Integrating all of your peripherals

If you’ve stayed with us this far, you’ve likely got at least a few USB powered gizmos–does your computer have enough USB ports to handle all of these? Even if you’ve got the port space, remember that if you’ve got a laptop, the idea of plugging in a half dozen cables each time you sit down may not sit well with you. Why not save some time and drop a few dollars on a USB hub? That way you can plug all of your devices into the hub, then you just have one cable to plug in. Also, depending upon your make and model of laptop, a docking station or port replicator might work out. These handy devices sit on your desk and dock with your laptop when you sit down; all of your peripheral devices are plugged into them, and they handle the tedious task of connecting everything for you; what could be easier? Lastly, you also might want to take the time to invest in a nice carrying case. Why risk getting your shiny new peripherals all scratched up because you tossed them together in a bag that would up getting tossed around on your way out the door? On that note, most reputable electronics manufacturers have warranties that last at least a year. Don’t get a no-name brand item, not even a bag, to save a couple of dollars when you’re going to be putting something so valuable into it!