TheWirecutter.com Knows Gadgets

The idea behind TheWirecutter.com is simple: Forget the newest release that’s soon to be obsolete. What are the all-time best products? The site, which bills itself as a “Casey Kasem Top 40 if Casey Kasem were a geek,” was founded late last year by Brian Lam, former editor of the popular tech website Gizmodo. While most tech publications cater to nerds, The Wirecutter is the layperson’s resource, having published more than 100 reviews on everything from laptops (the 13-inch MacBook Air) and smartphones (the iPhone) to juicers (the Omega 8003) and vacuums (the Dyson DC28 Animal). Each review, written by established tech journalists for magazines like Popular Mechanics and Wired, is backed by hours of independent research as well as interviews with experts. It’s such a straightforward premise, it’s a wonder it took this long for someone to do it. “Sometimes the best ideas are right in front of our noses,” says Lam.