I have bought their videocards for almost a decade (before that it was matrox), and the only competitor to videocards to them anymore is ATI, either will get you where you're going though even though there's adamant fans of either. Only twice have cards given problems and it's always been an easy exchange.

 

            For 15 years, the company 'creative labs' has been the leader in soundcards (as in 9 of 10 cards sold are from them, and most software is designed specifically for their hardware), and over those years most competition went out of business. So creative labs began to get lazy and sloppy with their soundcards, often tricking users into installing LOTS of unneeded, troublesome, invasive software when someone just wanted to install their soundcards driver. Plus they became extremely slow at releasing updates and bug fixes, and the tech support I would have to say has been the worst I've known, ever year for over a decade. Literally.

But still the hardware was good, and when you did install the software minimally properly through some tricks and hoops, you'd have a good all-compatible soundcard, though with a bug or two.

     But in 2007 a company called Auzentech released the 'prelude' soundcard, which uses the creative-labs audio 'hardware', but they reconfigured the hardware to provide better sound and more features, plus they included better software and removed all the crap to install. So after 15 years of the creative labs reign, I can finally move to a better company and product.

    The only reason this changeover happened is because 'creative labs' for the first time allowed their audio hardware to be used by companys outside of their own. It took them a long time to turn over the control, but that time has come, and now I can build even better sounding and more stable systems with all the compatibility of the 'creative labs' standards.

 

    A german company devoted to making the best fans for computers. Extremely efficient, quiet, and the only drawback is they are the awkwardly colored and tend to be pricier than anyone else, but just a few dollars more to get the best cooling by fans there is considering how dead quiet they are. Their fans haven't failed me yet and better not; if a fan goes on you, failing or just clogged with dust, so could the rest in a system where temps can go over double the rooms temp.

 

    I've used their heatsinks for 8 years in order to cool cpus and other computer interior parts. Solid quality and build keeps ahead of competitors with every generation, I think everyone in computers knows they rank as the best, unless they don't read reviews or tech websites. Tech support is helpful but then again nothings ever broken; it's just a block of aluminum and copper.

 

     I sometimes might buy memory from other companies like geil, crucial, or ocz, since they are all neck-and-neck in memory speeds for the price, it just depends on who is the best value at the time of purchase at a given speed. Most memory makers have great support, meaning a new part comes within a week and there is no hassle.

 

    I have been buying this model of hdtv cards for over 5 years (having moved away from hauppauge cards). They provide great antenna or cable-tv HD television in a window. The software could use some adjusting for the better, and tech support is korean and could be better since it's very hit or miss. But still my choice of tv cards, none have failed yet, just the software could stand to be better, and I get bother when tech support doesn't answer a question.

 

        I have been buying their motherboards for way over a decade. I don't see that changing anytime soon. The tech support is ok, the only problem is, if you're motherboard breaks, shipping it to them for replacement means a down system for over 2 weeks. I wish they cross shipped a replacement like netgear and other companies.

 

    A silver-based paste for attaching heatsinks to cpus and other hot items. This $7 tube of liquid silver helps a system run over $100 faster, so a good investment over cheap paste.

 

    If i wanted to choose size over speed, i would choose samsung's 1000gb model, and if i wanted to choose speed over size, i would choose western digital's 300gb veloci-raptor drive.

    Both are extremely fast, quiet, and cool, the days of whining hot drives are FINALLY over. In the past I have mostly stuck with the western digital raptor series, but my needs to store files grew larger than what raptors can provide. Samsungs new drives are 'almost' as fast, but go 3x larger in size. So I have one of each in my system, one for size, and one for speed. I suggest the same with all systems, since two drives offers the most potential for systems. 

 

 

 

    The most adjustable desks i could find, and the electric penumatics help wrap the desk around you instead of you around it. Helps with any physical ailment which creeps into us wretched desk-bound slaves. The prices though prove they only want govt or corporate users, not priced for home users, and I don't know why since it's made of typical components, so someone needs to provide them some competition, as a good healthy desk should be within everyones reach.

 

    I use the aluminum armrest on my desk, since it swings out definitely makes a difference instead of your arm just 'hanging there' in space holding the mouse, perfect elbow support. If you have carpal tunnel, this will be the biggest single leap to correct it.

 

    Good chairs when your body finally says 'enough, im too old for this crap'. The freedom chair is a good fit. i can sit forward on the desk and have full support, or lean all the way back and it stretches out so i can work on a 45-degree angle back. But it's creaky like an old cargo ship.

 

    Good chairs as well, but I like their led lights and office items, which are simple clean german lines and form. Tech support is great and they get parts out quick. These items represent form AND function, and you pay for that luxury.

 

    Mattress, pillows, chairs, camping pad, car; I use tempurpedic wherever I can. Even in inch thick on concrete and I can sleep comfortably. The only drawback besides cost is when it gets cold (under 60F) it turns to a brick. I've used them for a decade, and has helped me sleep even longer.

 

 

 

                    I have been using lian-li aluminum cases for a decade now, I don't even know who comes close to their craftsmanship and detail. their htpc (tabletop) model in black fits perfectly in a stereo rack or desktop. In a decade I know the case will not look outdated and will still run quiet and cool. Tech support has never been needed so I don't know how support is.

 

    This is the networking equipment i have chosen for over a decade. I've tried others but I don't have a problem with netgear with their good menus and hardware, and when something does break, they have a easy and quick turnaround time for a replacement, even when you get on the phone with someone from India, they get the job done and a new hardware is to me within the week. Finally lately they've begun making their hardware actually look good too.

 

    If I didn't build desktops (and nothing compares to building your own...nothing), then this is the desktop i would choose (but only when properly configured in hardware and software). I've bought their laptops for over a decade as well (before dell i bought gateways from 96 on back).

    If not their computers, then their lcd monitors are the best bang for the dollar, especially 30" dual monitors. For over a decade I have never had a problem (and there's been problems, mostly laptops) with tech support and getting what I needed immediately replaced by them, though I have gotten stuck in a loop or two with some of them but it worked out.. Case in point; on my last day of a 4-year warranty they switched me out with a brand new laptop, when all I wanted was them to replace a part of it.

Before i bought dell lcds i bought viewsonics crts and lcds, although if not dells i'd buy NEC or samsung models.

 

    For over a decade I have bought their film cameras, lenses, video cameras, digital cameras, printers, and more. The tech support, so rarely needed, is helpful and quick turnaround, in fact you can mail them camera bodies during their lifetime and they clean it for free. A well-run honest company with good offerings, I feel they deserve my money. Before i bought canon I used epson scanners and hp or epson printers. Epsons still got good equipment, I just feel Canons better.

 

        The leader in graphic tablets, when you need to draw in photoshop or do any other type of tablet work. I used them for over a decade, and not much for competition out there.

 

    Good selection of cables, usb hubs, and smaller accessories. The tech support is the worst though, rarely do i get an answer when I email them in detail my problem and when I do it is some off-base cut-n-paste reply, but when their items do work, they work well. I just wouldnt trust my word on their support.

 

    They've been my phone service for 5 years and have been worth the $20/month charges with unlimited everything. Of course, i have no cellphone nor enjoy using the phone. The phone service drops for a hour or two maybe 2-3 times a year, but life is harder than that problem, yes?

 

 

 

    My choice of color calibrators for screens, printers, and papers. This ensures that what I see onscreen and print is set to world/industry standards in color, and so what I print and send to others is seen the exact same way as well, assuming they too are color calibrated to the color industry standards with their monitors and printers. A calibrated monitor is a very very very big difference even to the blindest of users. Too bad all monitors and printers and scanners do not come already perfectly calibrated, and need to be done manually, but perhaps in another decade.

 

    A usb item which tracks your head so that you can 'look around' in games, virtual worlds, and 3d functions as google earth. More novelty for now but use will grow, sort of like the nintendo wii. Tech support is immediate, helpful, and always open to suggestions. Limited use, yes, but nice to program head motions to do keystrokes in programs and move around, especially with carpal tunnel, where I need to use the mouse as little as possible.

 

    They make a "puck-like" small usb device which lets you move around in virtual realities, design/engineering programs, google earth, and photoshop. Since it lets you move your wrist to control 3 dimensions at once, unlike a 2d mouse, you can work much more efficienctly in programs that uses it. Very handy to anyone using 3d apps or design for $50.

 

    If you are into driving games, then this is one of the most realistic usb driving wheels you can get, over 75 pounds of actual steering equipment. Driving in a circle is about the only time and patience I have for gaming anymore, and it is to the degree of being a collectors item that holds it price over the years. It is a one-man operation and he's on top of questions 24/7.