Guidemaster: The best portable SSDs you can buy right now
Which portable SSDs are worth your time and money? We tested a bunch to find out.
Valentina Palladino and Jim Salter
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Valentina Palladino
Associate Reviewer Emeritus
Valentina Palladino reviews consumer electronics for Ars Technica. She specializes in wearables, fitness trackers, and mobile devices, but loves to experiment with anything that comes across her desk. She studied journalism at Syracuse University, and her work has been featured on Wired.com, Tom's Guide, Laptop Magazine, and the Verge, among others. She likes reading and Riesling.
Recent stories by
Valentina Palladino
Logitech debuts $169 StreamCam: A streamer-focused, USB-C webcam
Designed for those who want to make and stream videos online.
Valentina Palladino
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Roku Smart Soundbars can now be used to make surround sound systems
Now you can connect multiple Roku speakers to create a more robust audio system.
Valentina Palladino
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Guidemaster: Smartwatches worthy of replacing your favorite timepiece
Everything you want to know about the smartwatches you’ve been itching to buy.
Valentina Palladino
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135
Guidemaster: Fitness trackers to consider before buying a smartwatch
Fitness bands are still around, and one of these might be the best tracker for you.
Valentina Palladino
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HP Spectre x360 13 review: A high-end two-in-one that’s hard to beat
There wasn’t a lot to fix, so HP added a few features to make this convertible even better.
Valentina Palladino
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Dell’s new Concept UFO puts PC gaming on a Nintendo Switch-like device
Details are slim, but the working model we tried out was surprisingly impressive.
Valentina Palladino
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Lenovo enters the foldable PC space with new ThinkPad X1 Fold
Plus a new, dual-screen ThinkBook with an E-Ink panel on the cover.
Valentina Palladino
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Most Read
HP updates Elite Dragonfly laptop with 10th-gen Intel processors, Tile integration
Plus a new display and new graphics for an updated HP Spectre x360 15.
Valentina Palladino
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Samsung’s new Galaxy Book Flex Alpha has QLED display, costs just $829
It’s the fourth Galaxy Book laptop.
Valentina Palladino
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Dell updates popular XPS 13 laptop with 16:10 screen, IR camera
And new Latitude laptops may entice business users.
Valentina Palladino
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138
Ars To-Be-Read: Five books we’re most excited to read in 2020
Start 2020 off right by reading these intriguing sci-fi, fantasy, and nonfiction books.
Valentina Palladino
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HP Elite Dragonfly review: Luxurious, professional, expensive
This is a whole new look for the Elitebook line, and it starts at $1,549.
Valentina Palladino
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Guidemaster: The best tech that will make your home an even better place
In our latest holiday gift guide, we recommend good tech for around the house.
Valentina Palladino and Jeff Dunn
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Staffsource: Ars staffers’ most wished-for gifts in 2019
No holds barred: What’s your most coveted item this holiday season?
Valentina Palladino
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Guidemaster: The most useful gadgets to have in your bag while traveling
Here are some stellar gadgets that will make your future trips better.
Valentina Palladino and Jeff Dunn
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Guidemaster: The best Qi wireless charging pads for your smartphone
Wireless charging can be tricky to understand—these devices make it a no-brainer.
Valentina Palladino
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Guidemaster: Ars picks its favorite tech gifts you can buy for under $50
Good tech can get really expensive really quickly—here are some affordable gems.
Valentina Palladino and Jeff Dunn
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94
Guidemaster: Picking the right Thunderbolt 3 or USB-C dock for your desk
Ars tests a bunch of docks and hubs to see which are worthy of a spot on your desk.
Valentina Palladino
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321
Guidemaster: Our favorite accessories for iPhones and iPads
We tested dozens of keyboards, chargers, and more to find the iOS gear worth buying.
Jeff Dunn and Valentina Palladino
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Pixelbook Go review: A cheaper Pixelbook does not come without compromises
Keeping costs low means eliminating some features from Google’s new $649 Chromebook.
Valentina Palladino
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Acer Swift 3 review: Better as a budget device than as a mid-range laptop
Our $899 review unit isn’t very different from its $479 counterpart.
Valentina Palladino
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Garmin Venu review: Fitness expertise with many pixels left to fill
Garmin dives into AMOLED with this $399 smartwatch, but the execution is shallow.
Valentina Palladino
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Dell XPS 13 two-in-one review: Lots to flex, few weaknesses
The XPS 13 many have been waiting for, but it may not be the two-in-one for everyone.
Valentina Palladino
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Amazon’s new Fire HD 10 tablet costs $149 and charges via USB-C
Plus a new Kindle for kids that helps them find their next favorite book.
Valentina Palladino
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Microsoft announces dual-screen Surface Neo PC, coming holiday 2020
A demo of Windows 10X shows how the OS will be optimized for dual-screen devices.
Valentina Palladino
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Garmin Vivoactive 4s review: So many fitness features, so little time
More fitness chops than you’d expect in a $349 device but largely the same smartwatch.
Valentina Palladino
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Amazon unleashes a bunch of new Echo devices, including glasses and a ring
Plus Echo Buds, $129 wireless AirPods competitors with Bose noise reduction.
Valentina Palladino
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131
Apple Watch Series 5 review: A better, more independent timepiece
An always-on display finally comes to the Apple Watch, but watchOS 6 steals the show.
Valentina Palladino
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129
Roku updates $29 Express and $99 Ultra players, adds new discovery tools to OS
New shortcut buttons and Roku Zones make it easier to find and access content.
Valentina Palladino
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HP debuts Elite Dragonfly 2-in-1 with ultra-light chassis, 24-hour battery life
Mixing privacy and security features with Ultrabook style—starting at $1,549.
Valentina Palladino
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ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th-gen mini-review: Minor updates made to a stellar machine
Lenovo promised 18 hours of battery life, and it delivered with this $1,462 notebook.
Valentina Palladino
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Fitbit Versa 2 review: A solid replacement, but not totally remade
Those buying a $200 Versa 2 this year will see their money go further.
Valentina Palladino
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Guidemaster: How to buy a Chromebook, plus our best picks
The Chrome OS landscape is vast—Ars is here to help you navigate it.
Valentina Palladino
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Lenovo Thinkbook 13s review: ThinkPad influences at a great price
Almost anyone can appreciate this solid Windows laptop that starts at under $750.
Valentina Palladino
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Roku’s new $179 soundbar doubles as a streaming device, works with most TVs
Roku also made a wireless subwoofer to complement the new soundbar.
Valentina Palladino
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