An education transformation is underway in Mesa.

CASA GRANDE — A Casa Grande man who is a former U.S. Border Patrol agent created and patented a video game controller for people with severe spinal cord injuries.

Q: Are extended warranties on computers worth buying? — Tim

When I hear the words “Holiday Spirit” I get a flood of great memories and an eagerness to continue traditions of giving. I can remember, when I was younger, the day after Thanksgiving we would start decorating for the upcoming Christmas holiday. I loved hanging the lights outside with my dad, drinking hot cocoa, watching holiday movies, trimming the tree with family and friends, shopping for that perfect present to bestow on someone.

Q: With all of the “special deals” being offered during the holiday shopping season, is it safe to buy electronics that have been refurbished? - Melody

On a recent Sunday afternoon, while checking out some football sandwiched in between the mandatory first, second and third quarter naps on the sofa, I became acutely aware that the pre-Christmas marketing blitz is in full swing and is designed to convince you that trying to live without a certain product would be a huge, life-altering mistake. This particular Sunday, it seemed the focus was on the latest portable electronic devices to include tablets, laptops and phones.

Q: How does Microsoft’s Surface tablet compare to the iPad? -- Jesse

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Apple's iPad Mini will bring a lot more excitement and a little more confusion to the holiday shopping season.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Apple Inc. on Tuesday revealed a smaller version of its hit iPad tablet computer that will start at $329 and comes with a screen that's about two-thirds the size of the full-size model.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Apple introduced a smaller iPad, as expected, but also updated its full-sized one. It also unveiled new Mac computers, including a 13-inch version of a MacBook Pro with sharper, "Retina" display.

NEW YORK -- Those who follow Apple believe they have figured out most of the particulars of a smaller iPad expected to be revealed on Tuesday. One big question remains, though: What will it cost?

Apple Inc. is set to reveal a smaller, cheaper version of the iPad at an event on Oct. 23, according to several reports published Friday.

NEW YORK — Barnes & Noble is rolling out two new versions of its Nook tablet with sleek new hardware and a sharper high-definition screen. The bookseller's move heightens the already intense tablet wars heading into the holiday season.

At the Computex show in Taipei earlier this summer, leading manufacturers previewed the next generation of tablets, ultrabooks, hybrids and touch-screen technology designed to take advantage of Microsoft's touch-friendly Windows 8 operating system. Here are a few of the cool gadgets you can expect to see near the end of the year.

For quite some time I have been touting the benefits of having a portable backup sitting on your computer desk to securely hold your irreplaceable pictures, files and other items near and dear to your heart. Having this device at the ready allowed you to sleep well and fend off nightmares of the inevitable when you go to check your email one day and there is no sign of life coming from your computer. At this defining moment in your life, you are overjoyed that you listened to sage advice and bought a portable backup device, but consider this conversation I recently had with a new client. She told me she had backed everything up on jump drives and a portable hard drive. “I always thought two backups were better than one but thieves broke in the back door and stole not only my computer but also both my jump drives and my portable backup. Now I have lost all of my pictures.” What a sad tale. I recommended she use Carbonite or Mozy as an online backup solution.

Q: I'm looking to buy a laptop for school. Can you give me suggestions on the best laptops under $600? -- Brian

ATLANTA (AP) — Two new computers running Google's Chrome operating system are looking to lure people to a browser-based environment. Both target light-duty computer users who don't need the full range of capabilities that traditional Windows and Mac computers provide.

Just as the plume of black smoke from a Gilbert warehouse fire in June could be seen for miles, the blaze’s impact has had a Valleywide impact on plumbing contractors — and on customers waiting for a plumber to make repairs.

The recent success of Amazon's Kindle Fire has given Google hope that the small-screen, inexpensive tablet market is worth pursuing. Google has set the tech world abuzz by announcing its new Nexus 7 tablet, the result of a partnership with ASUS, a multinational computer hardware and electronics company.

Q: Is the new Microsoft tablet going to be something that will be worth considering vs an iPad? — Tanya

Conventional wisdom and Siera Phillips don’t agree.

Q: I’m in the market for a new computer; when will Windows 8 be out and is it worth getting? — Stanley

Q: I’m in the market for a new computer; when will Windows 8 be out and is it worth getting? — Stanley

East Valley residents have long been able to order pay-per-view movies, faster internet speeds, or long-distance phone service telecommunications provider Cox Communications. Now, they can order peace of mind, too.