GeekSugar

BeadBoard Outlet Desk: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:43:30 -0700

Used to be (well, still is), you had a desk and you just figured out how to plug your electronic life into it, particularly laptop cords and such. Nowadays you can get furniture that's built for such modern uses, like Pottery Barn's Beadboard Space Saving Desk ($500), which features a five-plug outlet in the cabinet.

It's like having a charging station built in to your desk, and the drawers slide both ways, so there's no jerry-rigging necessary to get your tech organized on it. The only thing is that I'm not in love with this rustic look. What do you think?

Beadboard Gaming Console Is Grown-Up Furniture For Geeks

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 11:00:46 -0700

I'm suddenly obsessed with creating the perfect home gaming setup, but without the goofy chairs made for kids.

The Beadboard Media Gaming Console fits that grown-up bill, despite being featured on Pottery Barn's younger site, PB Teen. No matter - the price tag ($1,000) is grown up.

In any case, there's a spot for all your awesome black boxes - Wii, Xbox, PS3, TiVo - as well as plenty of shelving to stash games nicely.

5 Great Places to Shop For Tech Savvy Moms

GeekSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:01:25 -0700

Mother's Day is quickly approaching (plan your brunches for May 10), and if you haven't the slightest idea as to where to start your search for the perfect gift, I'm here to help. If your mom knows how to upload her pics to her computer, record shows on her TiVo, turn the flash off on her digital camera, then these places will offer up some great gifts she'll really love.

View Slideshow ›

Rattan Charging Station: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:35:06 -0700

Very interesting - used to be, we only saw charging stations made of wood or plastic, but now it seems you can get the useful organizing hubs in natural materials as well - not everyone was into the Seagrass Charging Station, but it's a novel use of material.

Pottery Barn is in on the action too, with its new Woven Rattan Charging Station ($49).

The natural willow reed encloses the charging strip, while your gadgets sit in the front of the basket. It's different, for sure, but it also reminds me too much of my mom's '80s wicker furniture obsession.

What do you think?

Projection Screen/Storage Unit: Love It or Leave It?

GeekSugar — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:45:25 -0700

I like that Pottery Barn keeps churning out media furniture and accessories, and this Stuff-Your-Stuff Theater Set is particularly innovative. By day, the furniture is a large shelf, providing convenient space for video games, DVDs, and Blu-rays. By night, a pull-down screen converts it into a mini theater, for you to project your game or movie onto.

For $1,300, it's a furniture investment, but if you happen to be in the market for storage like this, it'd be pretty awesome to be able to project a "big screen" onto it. Otherwise, I don't know if I'd splurge on this big piece.

What do you think?

Gadget-Loving Brand: Pottery Barn

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:06:13 -0700

Pottery Barn has long been an arbiter of American style, and I love that they've expanded that definition to include cell phone and iPod accessories in their line of home goods. After all, the gadgets themselves are usually great-looking; why shouldn't your charging station or speakers be? They've become very prolific, and even if their prices stay high, they're still fun to look at. Check out their myriad of techie products in my slideshow.

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Pottery Barn's New Charging Station Is Slightly More Affordable

GeekSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:05:03 -0800

By now, I've seen several modern-looking charging stations from Pottery Barn, but I generally have the same complaint about them: too expensive! Must organization really come at such a premium?!

If you're lucky enough to catch something on sale though, you've just scored; such is the case with this Speaker Charging Valet from the PB Kids arm of the company.

It still comes in at $75, which many folks would scoff at, but look at all that it holds and does - it gives you spots to charge your essentials and functions as an iPod dock. Not a bad little corral for your gadgets.

Watch a Photo Slideshow While Your Camera Charges

GeekSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:00:23 -0800

I'm a big fan of charging stations for a variety of reasons, but the fact that I found one that also features a built-in digital picture frame makes me like them even more.

A part of the Bedford Smart Collection at Pottery Barn, this Digital Photo Station offers a three-outlet power strip for plugging in a camera charger, cell phone charger, etc., and the 3.5-inch digital frame that adorns the front of the station.

At $149, it's a tad overpriced in my opinion, but I guess you're paying for aesthetics on this one.

Pottery Barn's New Simple Dock Is Just That

GeekSugar — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 10:11:48 -0800

I remain somewhat impressed by Pottery Barn's tech accessories, because even when they're overpriced, they usually hit the right style mark.

The Simple Dock in particular, is no exception; not only is it pretty nice looking (though my thoughts are still in conflict over whether I like the faux leather), but the size is great for a smaller place or desk. Which brings me to my next point; iPod docks these days keep showing up with so many bells and whistles and extras, and sometimes you - or a person you might want to give it to you - don't need all that.

But still, Pottery Barn did it again with their disappointing pricing: $80 for this? It was appealing to me until I got to that point. It'll inevitably go on sale, but I still don't understand why they price such simple (but not altogether unique) products so high.

Pottery Barn Camera Cases: Cruelty-Free But Cute-Plus!

GeekSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:00:19 -0700

It used to be that faux leather or animal skin was second best and you avoided it, but in these more responsible times, faux things are preferable. Hence why I'm loving these faux crocodile and snake Digital Camera Cases from Pottery Barn.

No cuddly reptiles had to die so your camera won't get damaged. Instead, fake skins in bright colors make the camera case pop inside your bag so it'll never get lost. At $24 each, you can start stockpiling them for Christmas gifts (yes, I said it, and yes, it's almost that time)!