Joe Porletto

Joe became a Maker at the age of ten after piecing together a Sinclair ZX80 that his grandfather had given him. The bug bit him hard and he’s been tinkering, building, deconstructing and generally creating gadgetry mayhem ever since. Joe lives in Seattle with Addy, his rescue pitty, and Chino, his blind kitty.

Keychron V1 Max wireless mechanical keyboard and M3 Mini wireless mouse Metal Edition review – Premium feature-packed peripherals for power users!

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REVIEW – Now that I’ve adapted to a hybrid work schedule—splitting my time between a home office and company campus—I’ve had to set up two full workstations. That means equipping two of everything, so I can remain effective in both settings. For me, the most crucial parts of my setup are my keyboard and mouse. […]

Keychron V1 Max wireless mechanical keyboard and M3 Mini wireless mouse Metal Edition review – Premium feature-packed peripherals for power users! Read More

Intel NUC 11 NUC11PAHi7 Panther Canyon Mini PC review – Big processing power in a small package!

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REVIEW – When it comes to electronics, smaller is always better. I like to think that the ability to pack supercomputing power into palm-sized devices is a trade-off for the grand promises of the past, like flying cars. Intel’s Next Unit of Compute (NUC) mini PC series is the perfect example of how useful small

Intel NUC 11 NUC11PAHi7 Panther Canyon Mini PC review – Big processing power in a small package! Read More

UGREEN Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock review – A powerful, versatile dock to max out your computer’s connectivity!

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REVIEW – Apple computers have a lot of advantages over PCs, but connectivity isn’t one of them. For literally decades, I was a dedicated Apple user, and as such, I was burned every time Apple decided to sunset another connection option. I still come across Firewire cables and adapters in random corners of my apartment.

UGREEN Revodok Max 213 Thunderbolt 4 Dock review – A powerful, versatile dock to max out your computer’s connectivity! Read More

LumiTool F20 20W Fiber Laser Engraver review – A unique design for an innovative and compact laser!

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REVIEW – One of the biggest problems I often encounter as a maker/tinkerer is finding room on my workbench for the latest new tools. Case in point, my current laser engraver, the TwoTrees TS2, which I reviewed back in January 2023, is great, but it takes up pretty much all of my workspace whenever I

LumiTool F20 20W Fiber Laser Engraver review – A unique design for an innovative and compact laser! Read More

New York Comic Con 2023 video trip report – Bringing pop culture fun to the fans!

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ARTICLE – Once again, costumed and body-painted heroes, villains, and all characters in between descended on New York City for the annual New York Comic Con. The crowds and enthusiasm were both at pre-pandemic levels, and most of the big players, like Marvel, had returned. Notably absent, though, was DC, not seen at NYCC since

New York Comic Con 2023 video trip report – Bringing pop culture fun to the fans! Read More

Vivid-Pix Memory Station review – Scan all the things!

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REVIEW – As a proud Gen Xer, I still have an inordinate amount of memories stored on “old media”. Over the years, I’ve painstakingly converted VCR tapes to MP4s, CDs, and records to MP3s, and scanned countless photos, all with varying degrees of success. Despite my background as a digital artist, photo scanning, in particular,

Vivid-Pix Memory Station review – Scan all the things! Read More

Godox Virso S M2 2.4GHz Wireless Microphone System review – Record three subjects at once with this innovative mic set!

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REVIEW – One aspect of my amateur video making that always seems to fall a bit short is the audio. The internal microphones on smartphones and cameras are never quite good enough to capture the full range of sound, resulting in videos that never reach professional quality. However, after testing the Godox Virso S M2

Godox Virso S M2 2.4GHz Wireless Microphone System review – Record three subjects at once with this innovative mic set! Read More

Cololight Colo Play Desktop Controller review – A cool accessory for gamers, cyberpunks, and everyday users alike!

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REVIEW – The more time I spend at my desk, whether for work or play, the more I appreciate stylish accessories that not only look cool but also add functionality to my setup. Whether it’s a sleek new mouse with tons of extra buttons or a retro-looking mechanical keyboard with extended media controls, as long as

Cololight Colo Play Desktop Controller review – A cool accessory for gamers, cyberpunks, and everyday users alike! Read More

JOBY Wavo Air Wireless Lav Microphone Kit review – A colorful mic kit for creators on a budget!

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REVIEW – As I prepare to cover this year’s New York Comic Con, as I do every year for The Gadgeteer, I’m making a concerted effort to up my presentation game. Last year, my trusty cameraman and I added the Zhiyun Crane M2S Camera Stabilizer to our kit, which I reviewed in June 2022, and

JOBY Wavo Air Wireless Lav Microphone Kit review – A colorful mic kit for creators on a budget! Read More

Oneisall Pet Grooming Kit & Vacuum review – Keep your pup looking fabulous and your home fur-free!

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REVIEW – One of the great things about my adorable canine companion, Addy, is that, as a short-haired breed, she saves me a lot on grooming expenses. However, my mom’s pup, Rosey, a Chow mix, always seems to be in need of a good trimming. Relief from the never-ending and costly grooming appointments finally arrived

Oneisall Pet Grooming Kit & Vacuum review – Keep your pup looking fabulous and your home fur-free! Read More

Zero Breeze Mark 2 Plus Portable AC review – Powerful on-the-go cooling to help you beat the heat!

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REVIEW – With deadly heat waves occurring across the U.S. and other countries around the world, many people are desperate to find ways to stay cool. While air conditioners work great at cooling things down, they are large, power-hungry devices that lack portability. Enter the Zero Breeze Mark 2, a portable AC unit that, when

Zero Breeze Mark 2 Plus Portable AC review – Powerful on-the-go cooling to help you beat the heat! Read More

BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station & PV350 350W Solar Panel review – The pinnacle of portable power!

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REVIEW – As the focus on renewable energy becomes more urgent and mainstream, the technology of products like portable power stations and solar panels has advanced dramatically. Loud, expensive, pollution-spewing gas generators that annoy campsite neighbors and fellow beachgoers are now being replaced by silent, solar-powered portable power stations like the Bluetti AC200MAX, which I

BLUETTI AC200MAX Expandable Power Station & PV350 350W Solar Panel review – The pinnacle of portable power! Read More

Bolton Velocity Off-Road Vehicle Cellular Signal Booster review – Reach out and touch someone from the middle of nowhere!

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REVIEW – The further I travel from civilization on my solo Overlanding adventures, the more I realize the importance of staying connected. It turns out though, remote places with beautiful scenic views often don’t get reliable cell service. Luckily, I was offered the chance to review a cell signal booster specifically designed for the Offroading/Overlanding

Bolton Velocity Off-Road Vehicle Cellular Signal Booster review – Reach out and touch someone from the middle of nowhere! Read More

EcoFlow Glacier 3-in-1 portable refrigerator review – Keep things ice-cold on the go!

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REVIEW – As camping season approaches, I’ve been looking for ways to stay out in the wilderness a bit longer. So, I’m dipping my toes into yet another expensive hobby, overlanding. Overlanding is all about exploring remote and rugged areas using off-road vehicles for extended periods of time. To that end, I’ve been researching portable

EcoFlow Glacier 3-in-1 portable refrigerator review – Keep things ice-cold on the go! Read More

XULU XR1 Max Mini PC Launches on Kickstarter – A Compact Computing Powerhouse!

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CROWDFUNDING NEWS –  It seems like large, over-the-top PC builds are all the rage today. But, for every neon-lit, liquid-cooled, monster tower computer, there’s a PC building enthusiast running out of desk space. For those of us looking to save some room on our desktops, the XULU XR1 Max Mini PC is making its debut

XULU XR1 Max Mini PC Launches on Kickstarter – A Compact Computing Powerhouse! Read More