From the perspective of folks who cover tech-related happenings, this is always a polarizing time of year. The final weeks of December are generally void of product announcements, yet only two weeks later, we're bombarded with new gadgets at CES.

Before we move on to the latest and greatest devices of 2013, we figure it's worth revisiting some of 2012's most popular devices as suggested by our Product Finder, which includes reviews by hundreds of seasoned specialists across the Web. We've included 59 products across 14 categories along with their aggregate review score and a brief commentary that explains why they're special.

Two realizations struck me while seeking a new mouse pad recently: 1) there's a lack of small plastic pads from major gaming accessory makers, and 2) folks take there mouse surfaces very seriously. On my journey, I found debates about the ideal material, with people defending...

Massively multiplayer online gamers have different needs than those of first-person shooter or real-time strategy fans. They need social interaction. They need extremely comfortable chairs. But most of all they need buttons. So many buttons.

PC peripheral manufacturers have sensed this need and have responded with specialized MMO mice featuring so many buttons. Today we take a look at three of them — the Logitech G600, the Razer Naga 2012 and the Cyborg M.M.O. 7 from Mad Catz — to determine which is most worthy of your MMOney.

NetDirectSales via eBay offers the Logitech MK550 Cordless Desktop Wave Keyboard / Mouse Combo in Black  for $39.99 with free shipping. That's tied with a deal from January and the lowest total price we could find by $20, although we saw a refurb for $5 less in May...

Today only, DealsClick offers the Microsoft Wireless Desktop 3000 Keyboard and Mouse bundled with a Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000 Webcam for $29.99 plus $4.99 for shipping. That's $47 under the lowest total price we could find for these items if purchased separately...

Launched in 1970, Xerox's PARC has played an instrumental role in the engineering of laser printing and many of the technologies that compose the PC you're reading this on: ethernet, the mouse, graphical user interface, among others.

However despite its vast industry contributions, the group has been criticized for failing to capitalize on its many innovations. While some of our older readers might be familiar with the prolific Palo Alto Research Center, we think its accomplishments have largely escaped the younger tech crowd. We'd like to take a few minutes to give credit where credit's due.

Earlier this year we looked at three touch sensitive portable mice from the likes of Mad Catz, SpeedLink and Microsoft. Ultimately I chose Microsoft's Arc Touch as my favorite because it was the most aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to use of the trio.

Microsoft has since provided us with another touch-based rodent, the Explorer Touch Mouse, featuring a more traditional shape complete with a uniform glossy paint job and a simplistic layout. In addition, MS claims the Explorer Touch will go 18 months before needing fresh batteries.

Having been TechSpot's primary PC peripherals reviewer for nearly three years, it's safe to say that I'm pretty well-versed when it comes to pointing devices. Most of the mice that have crawled across my desk have been higher-end models, both wired and wireless.

Two dozen mice later, today I'll be looking at something completely different than anything else I've used to date. HP's new Wi-Fi Mobile Mouse cuts the cord and eliminates the need for a USB dongle or Bluetooth radio. This small pointer connects to your notebook's wireless connection with a proclaimed 9-month battery life.