I have long been a gadget freak, and this of course carries over into computers.

I have a smart phone, mp3 player and the sweetest little laptop and I spend each and every day using these items in my work and I know that there’s a lot of you that feel as connected to these items as I do.

But with all of these gadgets come the need for upgrades and accessories in order to use them in different areas of our home and outside world. And maybe you want to switch from the mp3 player you’re using or headphones.

I’ve searched out the best and brightest accessories to help make your life easier and get the most out of your computer, phone and mp3 player! These items rocked my world and I hope they’ll rock yours too!

Oh, there are more of these gift guides coming tomorrow and this week so be sure to check back!

Warmest wishes,

Stephanie Dickison
Publisher & Editor of the knack

Slim-Mouse

And a perfect accessory for travelling is the SlimG4!

This ultra slim mouse is only 5 mm thick and it’s so small that it’s kept inside a single PCMCIA card!

This fully featured optical mouse has 2 buttons and a touch scroll wheel and a manually retractable cable. It unfolds into a little tent of surfaces that make navigating fun and easy.

And they were thoughtful enough to include a mouse pad! Fantastic!

If you’re looking to get someone something really different, this is it.

The Yoggie Pico

This is something you’re going to want to get for yourself and your friends and family.

This teeny-weeny little thing that plugs into your USB, the PICO is a mini server that acts as security protection for your computer and all that it holds.

Why would you want this if you already have security software installed?

It will boost your PC’s performance because your hard drive will be free from all that software. And this award-winning device is so easy to use – you just plug it in and it protects you from internet hackers, blocks internet threats OUTSIDE, before they reach your computer’s contents and all security updates happen on the PICO, and not on your computer! As soon as it’s plugged in, it gives you what’s called “Titanium Grade Security.”

Can your installed anti-virus software do all of that?

You save room on your memory, CPU usage and disc space and get INSTANT piece of mind.

And if you don’t believe me, check out their website – if all of the PC magazines are swearing by it, you’ve got to know it’s worth checking it out.

I am so glad I did.

Belkin

Belkin is one of those companies that I just can’t get enough. Their products are incredibly well-designed, nice to look out and made to make mobility easier and more comfortable.

Their CushTop is a work of pure genius! I absolutely love that it makes working on my laptop at home more comfortable! All these years I’ve been using a couch pillow if I happen out to the living room for a change of pace from my desk. No wonder I don’t work on the couch more.

The CushTop protects your lap from the heat generated from your laptop and has a slight slope so that your wrists don’t tire and you can use it not only on the couch, but on the bed or even floor!

The material feels kind of like a high-end ottoman and it has an inner opening in which to slip your mouse and power cord into, so you kind of have a mobile office ready at your disposal when you need a break from your office chair! Sweet!

It is made so ingeniously that one size accommodates smaller laptops and the other, those honkin’ puppies that I can’t believe people lug around. It’s not as squishy as you might think. It’s pretty hard, actually, but I think that’s good if you’re going to be working awhile – you’re going to want something that stands up!

And it’s nice looking. I’ve leaving mine out in the living room. There are a lot of colours to choose from, but I love the orange. Such a nice change from black accessories, don’t you think?

And because Belkin is just one of those kind of companies, it comes with a Lifetime Warranty.

Sigh.

I just love it!

And equally as brilliant is the PocketTop. It is also made to use on the couch or bed or even table and it too protects your lap from the heat.

But this case allows you to store the laptop’s power cord into the outer pocket and feed it through to the inside of the case to your laptop. So you easily move from room to room or take it with you to a nearby café or even the office. The material is pretty durable and hand-washable, so don’t be afraid to take it outside!

It works with laptops with 15.4” widscreens or smaller and also comes with a Belkin Lifetime Warranty.

And to keep me working wherever I am, I am grateful to have the Belkin Laptop Power Adapter for Home/Office.

It works with all PC laptops under 17” and even works with my fella’s tablet! It allows us to one power supply without having to bring cords and cables everywhere we go.

Belkin has made a product that, as with all of their products, is easy to use and beautiful to look at! One end plugs into the wall and the other into your laptop. The adapter comes with 11 tips to work with most Windows-based PC laptops, but if yours doesn’t work with any of them, Belkin will ship one to you for free!

There is a wrap that goes around the adapter to keep all of the cables tidy and a USB where you can charge your phones and mp3 players either while your laptop is charging or just the mobile device itself. Sooo smart. And it comes with a 3 year warranty.

Mmm!