STACK #183 Jan 2020

FEATURE LIFE TECH

Networking Netgear RBK50 Orbi AC3000 So, you’ve got all of your devices sorted for the new year – now you just need a decent Wi-Fi system to connect with, right? There comes a time when the kit you were issued with by your provider just isn’t going to

cut the mustard, and the Orbi AC3000 is just the solution you need. Just think about how many devices connect to the Wi-Fi these days? Smart TVs, phones, consoles, laptops and tablets, smart home products and even the fridge! You need a system that can cope with that level of connectivity and one that can reach every part of the house and garage. The Orbi AC3000 uses mesh networking technology. What is that, we hear you ask? In short it's two or more wireless access points set around the house that combine to provide blanket coverage throughout the home so you can connect wherever you’re using a device. It’s reliable and the perfect fit for families requiring a good, strong connection whether you are in the home or in the garage. Microsoft Surface Arc Wireless Mouse This neat little wireless mouse connects via Bluetooth and is designed to fit perfectly into your hand, yet snaps flat for easy stowage when you’re on the run. Suited for both desktop and mobile use, it works on just about any surface – users can scroll both horizontally and vertically and it features precise tracking. And the design will catch the eye wherever you pull it out. Microsoft Wireless Desktop 900 for those late night assignment crunch sessions. The feature that belies the price though is the option to customise eight hotkeys for handy shortcuts. Compatible with both Windows and Mac, the Wireless Desktop 900 is great value for money. HP Sprocket Pocket Photo Printer OK, this isn’t strictly part of the essentials list but it’s a lot of fun and a really cool solution to printing out photos on the fly. So small it can slip easily into a small bag or coat pocket, the accompanying app is where the magic really happens, allowing for photos to be printed from your phone gallery or directly from your preferred social media printer. It can even perform basic editing, filter and colour adjustment options, and is the perfect accompaniment for those instant reminders of parties or other social gatherings. HP OfficeJet Pro 7720 Wide Format All-in-One Printer A keyboard and mouse combo doesn’t have to break the bank and that is definitely the case here. It comes with a full-sized wireless mouse and a keyboard with quiet-touch keys – perfect

With the holidays almost at an end, it's time to focus on the school year ahead.To complement your new hardware purchase, you'll need a few extras to complete the package. Make sure you're ready to go with these back to school essentials . Words Adam Colby

Storage Solutions

WD My Passport 5TB

SanDisk Ultra USB Flash Drive 3.0 32GB You want fast transfer speeds,

An essential tool for the digital student, with portable HDDs, it’s best to stick with the reliable names in the business – there’s nothing worse than losing content from a faulty HDD. The super slim

you’ve got it! The SanDisk Ultra USB 3.0 flash drive can transfer a full-length movie in less than 40 seconds – that’s 10 times faster than USB 2.0. With 32GB of space up it’s sleeve, there’s more than enough room for music, videos, documents and photos. It’s light, comes complete with SanDisk SecureAccess software for password protection and the overall design is pretty sleek too.

USB 3.0 My Passport range now features an expansive 5TB model to hold all of your photos, videos, documents, movies and music. It will also allow users to connect and organise content on your essential social media platforms. Compatible with both Windows and Mac, the drive comes with a hardware encrypted password option and you can also set an auto back-up schedule to be on the safe side . Samsung T5 Portable SSD Drive 1TB Compact and the size of credit card, the solid state drive Samsung T5 at only 10.5mm will practically fit in a wallet. It comes with a generous 1TB of storage, is shockproof from a height of two metres, has a fast transfer rate for all of your content, and is good to go with both Windows and Mac operating systems.

SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive Go Remember that time when your iPhone

storage was sufficient to hold all the photos and videos that you took? Yeah, us

neither. No matter how high you shoot on the storage front, it fills up quicker than subscriptions for The

Mandalorian . SanDisk are here to lend a helping hand with its password-protected iXpand Flash Drive Go, a plug in solution that automatically backs up your iPhone content. The USB 3.0 connector enables you to swiftly transfer said content straight to your computer, freeing up all that valuable space on your phone.

For the all-encompassing office solution, the well-designed Pro 7720 is where it’s at. This beauty connects wirelessly, via USB or Ethernet, and not only performs all the traditional scan, copy and print functions but, with a quick adjustment, it can also print A3-size documents. Users can print professional quality copies directly from a smartphone or tablet. On top of all this functionality, it looks the goods aesthetically, too.

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