I highly recommend Grant Thompson's Random Weekend Projects series over at YouTube for some inspired how-to projects. Where else can you learn how to "light a fire with your pee" and "how to make a battery using pennies"? His latest project is a bit more down to earth, outlining how to take that tablet screen video and blow it up to a 50" screen using just $5 in parts...

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Hex Tribute Cloak Backpack • $99.95 • HEX Inspired by the traditional and indestructible rucksack, the Cloak backpack is made of water resistant wale navy blue corduroy, with a drawstring liner underneath to secure contents with a pull. And if you tote your laptop and tablet wherever you go, you'll like the padded front access iPad pocket lined in micro fleece, alongside an interior laptop compartment designed specifically for a 15" MacBook Pro (but any laptop of the same size will work too. The Tribute Cloak is a handsome way to avoid carrying a bag that screams out you're carrying hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of tech inside. More

I'm typically not an impulse tech buyer, but when the Google Chromebook first came out, I was tempted by the reasonable price. I'm still using a 2007 Apple MacBook at home, casually on the look out for other options. What's tempting about the Chromebook series is its availability from a variety of manufacturers. Here's a breakdown of the three options... More

Maybe boring gray and black just isn't your deal. You want to add a little color to your life, even your computer. Or maybe you just want a way to protect the part of your expensive laptop that gets touched the most. Either way, check out this project to customize and protect the trackpad in style. More

Wacky for washi? We can't blame you. This decorative Japanese masking tape has been everywhere lately, including all over our favorite bloggers' tech gear. If you want an easy way to add some personal style to your phone, laptop, tablet, or cords, look no further. And since this stuff comes off easy, you can change your style as often as you change your mind. More

As much as I've liked my dual screen monitor setup at my work desk, I exchanged out one of my monitors for a laptop for the mobility. I'm constantly in meetings, and also work from home occasionally, so it's nice to be able to unplug and take the work with me wherever I go. However, my desk was left assymmetrical, with my laptop lower on the table and the monitor higher up. A laptop stand came to the rescue to even things back up... More

Heritage Computer Sleeve
• $44.99
• The Herschel

The Herschel makes affordable and sturdy backpacks, totes, wallets (I just purchased one to replace a dying leather Hot Topic wallet I got for free years ago), and additionally have extended into the category of iPad and laptop sleeves. A sturdy coated cotton-poly fabric exterior with leather detailing and a padded fleece lined interior can acommodate for a 11", 13", or 15" laptop and is available in a variety of color combos (and alternative material and styles). They're no-nonsense but quite handsome for throwing into a messenger bag, tote, or backpack without worry about scratches or dings.

This week I've planned a much needed trip away from my home town of Ottawa down to Toronto, Canada's metropolitan hub. My train just departed and thankfully the in car wi-fi is working, because even though I'm traveling, I still have a busy week of work ahead. More

Maybe you know someone who really, really loves Apple products. The clean designs of iMacs, MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, and Mac Mini's scream modern minimalism and functionality. With Apple as my co-pilot, I've gathered a selection of gift ideas catering to the Mac addict sensibilities... More

Windows 8 was released on October 26th, 2012, and with its next iteration of OS Microsoft has given developers a more feasible way of developing touch-based laptops and desktops to capture some of the market that they lost to tablets. There are a host of new devices available right now, and while some of them are hybrids of tablets and notebooks, others still work as laptops. Here are some of the ones we're most anticipating. More