Epson Digital Darkroom System

Epson has recently revealed their latest computer system entitled Digital Darkroom, it comes with plenty of accessories that should make life easier for some people, but for others that can note the difference they will most probably buy each product separately - making the final cost much cheaper.
Anyway, the Epson Digital Darkroom system includes the following:
PX-5800 inkjet printer
21-inch EIZO WSXGA monitor
Endeavor CM-3100 desktop
GT-X900 scanner
P-5000 photo viewer
Photoshop CS2
And last but not least, something unique to make the price worth it:
Instructional DVD to learn how to play with the equipment.
Price: ¥600,000 (close to $4,900.00)

Source : http://images.google.com/

Apple and Asus face patent battles

Apple and Asus are the latest computer companies to become embroiled in patent rows. Apple is being sued for $360 million (£180 million) by Klausner Technologies, which alleges that the iPhone's Visual Voicemail system infringes two of the company's patents filed in the early 1990s. The patents cover a "Telephone Answering Device" which can be used to organise voicemails. Klausner also has its sights on AT&T and Skype, and has successfully defended its patents against AOL and Vontage, which both license the technology.
Meanwhile, IBM has asked the US government to block imports of some Asus's products, alleging that the Taiwanese company has infringed three of its patents concerning PC components including, power supply units and cooling systems. Asus, which works closely with companies such as Apple and Dell, has begun marketing its own brand of PCs, including the well-received Eee PC. Asus denies the allegations.

Source :http://images.google.com

Gateway adds 30-inch monitor

Weeks after splurging on a 24-inch monitor, I noticed that Gateway just released a 30-inch version, the Gateway XHD3000 30-inch Extreme HD Display.
Playing off the latest computer chip trend of quad-core computing, Gateway’s touting this one as “the world’s first ‘Quad-HD’ display” because it has four-times the resolution of a standard HD display of 720p.
The “ultra-high” resolution is 2560 by 1600, thanks to the Silicon Optix Realta HQV video processor. It also has an upscale feature so standard-definition video will appear clearer and sharper than it actually is. In fact, this upscaling feature takes 1080p resolution and makes it look like it’s 1600p. By comparison, DVD quality is 480p. Standard TV is, ugh, even worse.
I’d really like to see how much sharper 1600p is compared to 1080p. As some of you know, 1080p is better than any high-defintion video broadcast today on TV (those resolutions are 720p and 1080i). And the HDTV channels I watch are so crisp and clear, I’m watching more TV then ever before. Can it really look better?
Other features of the XHD3000: Six video inputs (HDMI, single and dual DVI, component, S-Video, composite and VGA), includes a remote control, picture-in-picture functions, six USB ports, and a hefty price tag of $1,700.

Source : http://images.google.com/

Sony Vaio VGN-Z11WN/B

Sony isn't shy about charging premium prices for its laptops, and the cost of the ultra-portable Vaio VGN-Z11WN/B is fairly eye-watering, at about £1,500. To justify this level of expense, the laptop needs to be truly superb. Fortunately, it is.
DesignThe Z11WN/B has a carbon-fibre casing, which makes for a light, yet strong, chassis. It's an ultra-portable, weighing just 1.5kg. There's no clasp to hold the upper and lower sections together in transit, though. To be safe, you should use a carrying pouch or ensure the machine has its own pocket in your travel bag.
The Z11WN/B measures 31.4cm by 21cm by 3.3cm. This rather large footprint (for an ultra-portable) is due to the display.
This laptop's screen simply bowled us over. It's a 13.1-inch unit with LED backlighting and Sony's X-Black image-enhancing technology. The screen's surface is semi-reflective, which we much prefer to the over-reflective screens on some other laptops.
Even better is the 1,600x900-pixel native resolution. This widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio means it's easy to work with two document windows open side by side.
Ultra-portables need to strike a balance between portability and screen size. We think Sony has got it just right with this laptop.
The Z11WN/B shares some key design elements with its recent stablemates, including the cylindrical hinge, one end of which houses the on/off switch and the other the power input. The hinge gives the system a distinctive look and, when the laptop is powered up, the on/off switch area is attractively backlit.
Another design element shared with other Vaios is the Apple-like keyboard. The keys protrude from a backplate made from a single sheet of aluminium that runs down the wrist rest and into the front of the casing. This forms what Sony calls an 'isolation keyboard'. The keys are well spaced -- indeed, touch typists with smaller hands may find they are too far apart. The keys give good feedback and feel well-built, though.

The wrist-rest area houses a large touchpad. Although it takes almost two full sweeps to move the cursor right across the screen, we like the wide-aspect touchpad. It has vertical and horizontal scrolling built into the bottom and right edges, and, underneath, there's a pair of wide mouse buttons flanking a fingerprint scanner.
To the right, above the row of function keys, is an eject button for the optical drive caddy. It's unusual to find a physical button for this task, and we're not sure why Sony bothered with it, particularly as there's a button on the caddy itself.
Above and to the left of the function keys are buttons marked 'S1' and 'S2'. These can be configured to launch applications of your choice. By default, one switches between display types (normal, mirror and extended desktop), while the other opens up a 'Vaio guide' that walks you through using the laptop.

Features

There are several Z-series models, including one with a 128GB solid-state drive. You can further configure some of the models, altering their hard-drive size and other components, should you choose to.
Our review sample had a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 processor and the maximum 4GB of RAM installed. The operating system is Windows Vista Business with Service Pack 1, but the box includes an install CD for Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2, should you wish to downgrade.
The graphics sub-system is a dual-mode affair, comprising a discrete Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS GPU with 256MB of dedicated video memory and the integrated GMA 4500MHD module in the Intel GM45 Express chipset. A slider button on the keyboard area lets you switch between 'stamina' (integrated) and 'speed' (discrete) modes, depending on whether you need to conserve battery life or maximise graphics performance respectively.
As befits an ultra-portable aimed at mobile professionals, communications features are exemplary. Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g and Draft-N) and Bluetooth are present, as expected, along with Gigabit Ethernet and a V.92 modem. More excitingly, the Z11WN/B also has integrated 3G/HSDPA connectivity (up to 7.2Mbps download) courtesy of T-Mobile. You get a 30-day trial of T-Mobile's service, so you can judge whether it's for you.

Performance

Because the Z11WN/B supports stamina (integrated graphics) and speed (discrete graphics) modes, we ran the Windows Experience Index twice. In both modes 'processor' (calculations per second) and 'primary hard disk' (disk data-transfer rate) scored 5.3, while 'RAM' (memory operations per second) scored 5.9. All Windows Experience Index scores are out of 5.9.
In speed mode, 'gaming graphics' (3D business and gaming graphics performance) scored 5.1, and 'graphics' (desktop performance for Windows Aero) 4.4. In stamina mode, gaming graphics dropped to 3.8 and graphics to 4.1. Overall, performance -- especially in speed mode -- is excellent.
Sony rates the system's li-ion battery life at 4.5 hours in speed mode and just under 5.5 hours in stamina mode. We ran two battery tests, in each case asking the laptop to play a DVD movie continuously from a full battery charge under the Vaio Optimized power scheme.
In stamina mode we got just under 2.5 hours, while in speed mode the system managed just over 2 hours.
Although these are reasonable battery-life figures, you're not going to get a day's work done on battery power, especially if you're a heavy user of Wi-Fi or HSDPA when on the move. You may, therefore, want to consider buying the optional extended battery, which costs roughly an extra £160.

Conclusion

The Sony Vaio VGN-Z11WN/B is beautifully designed and reassuringly robust. It marries a decently sized 13.1-inch screen with good portability, and has the advantage of integrated 3G/HSDPA support. There are some downsides, though, including a meagre two USB ports. It's also packed with pre-installed software, such as Skype and Google Earth, much of which is eminently removable.

Source : http://reviews.cnet.co.uk

HP Pavilion dv2 Review

Our HP Pavilion dv2 (dv2-1030us)

features the following specifications:
1.6GHz AMD Athlon Neo Processor MV-40
4GB PC2-6400 DDR2 SDRAM 666MHz (1 Dimm)
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with Service Pack 1
12.1" WXGA High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1280x800)
320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3410 Graphics (512MB)
802.11a/b/g/n wireless and Bluetooth
5-in-1 card reader
External Lightscribe SuperMulti 8x DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
6-Cell Li-ion battery
Dimensions: 11.50 in (L) x 9.45 in (D) x 0.93 in (min H) / 1.29 in (max. H)
Weight: 3.95 lbs (with 6-cell battery)
Price as configured: $749

Build and Design

The design of the Pavilion dv2 is brand new for HP and features the AMD "Yukon" platform designed specifically for ultrathin laptops. The body of the dv2 is smooth with rounded edges, making it extremely comfortable in your hand while carrying it around. The design is compact, but the overall footprint is almost as wide as a 13-inch notebook because of the bezel around the keyboard and screen. The screen also sports a latchless design, making it easy to open the notebook with one hand. Although the lid lacks any latch to keep it held shut, the hinges feel nice and strong, keeping the lid secure. Pressing firmly onto the back of the screen cover will produce some ripples on the screen ... but you must apply significant pressure to cause this.

What might look like a giant beefy hinge for the 12-inch display is actually a standard 6-cell battery with a small hinge on either side of this thin and light laptop. The plastic covered, alloy-reinforced lid features a glossy black finish that looks subtle and stylish and doesn't scream "LOOK AT ME!" the way that the HP Imprint Finish does on most HP Pavilion notebooks.
The magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis is quite rigid and suffers from no flex or creaks even when twisted between my hands. Granted, this is due to the fact that the dv2 is less than one inch thick ... meaning there isn't much empty space inside the notebook for anything to bend under pressure. Bottom line, this notebook can survive the use and abuse from students who will toss it into a backpack every day for several years in a row.

In terms of upgradeability, the dv2 is much easier to upgrade than most netbooks and even some notebooks currently on the market. One panel provides access to the single RAM slot and a place for a Gobi WWAN card (available on custom configurations starting in June). Another panel gives you access to the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth card, and a final panel contains the hard drive. Although the dv2 provides easy access for upgrades, you won't be able to add more RAM to this notebook since it comes maxed out with a 4GB RAM module.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Most low-priced, full-size notebooks currently on the market feature poorly built keyboards that show significant flex/bounce when typing pressure is applied. This isn't the case with the dv2 thanks in large part to the ultrathin chassis design. There simply isn't space inside the notebook for the keyboard to flex or bounce.

Each key press has the perfect amount of resistance with soft, quiet clicks. The keys are accurate and responsive and I enjoyed typing on this keyboard. The overall size of the keyboard looks virtually identical to what we've seen on other 12-inch notebooks from HP ... and that's a good thing. This keyboard is much nicer than what is featured on most netbooks. The keys are easy to read and are a good size ... except for the top row of Function keys which are a little too small and not particularly easy to press without hitting another key by mistake.

The touchpad is an ALPS model and feels very responsive with little lag. The entire touchpad surface is made of a high gloss plastic, and can sometimes be hard to use depending on how dry or oily your fingertip happens to be. The surface needs to collect some of your finger's natural oils to allow for easy movement on the touchpad. While the reflective touchpad surface looks cool HP probably would have been better off using the same type of textured touchpad surface used on the HP Pavilion tx2500 and TouchSmart tx2. The touchpad buttons are in a great location and are easy to control with your thumb. The buttons provide mild feedback with a shallow movement that gives an audible click when pressed.

Display

The 12.1" WXGA glossy widescreen display features LED backlighting and is bright and vibrant with excellent colors for viewing images or movies. Contrast seems a little better than what we've seen on the larger 14-inch screens on the HP Pavilion dv4, but blacks aren't quite as deep as we would like to see. The 1280 x 800 resolution is significantly more than what you get on the average netbook screen and is the perfect match for a 12-inch screen.
Viewing angles are average with limited vertical viewing angles that give you a sweet spot of +/- 15 degrees. Horizontal viewing angles are much better with colors staying true even out to very wide angles. Brightness levels are more than adequate for viewing in a bright office setting. Sunlight readability is limited, but as long as the sun isn't shining directly at the glossy screen the dv2 is perfectly usable outside on a table at a coffee shop.

Ports and Features

The HP Pavilion dv2 comes equipped with most of the ports you need, including three USB ports and a media card reader. While three USB ports might not sound like a lot, that's the same number of ports found on most 13-inch and 14-inch notebooks. The other thing to keep in mind is that the dv2 is between 0.93 and 1.29 inches thick. Some ultrathin notebooks like the Apple MacBook Air only have a single USB port. The really impressive thing to mention here is the addition of a HDMI port for connecting video and audio to an external monitor or HDTV.
We would have liked to see at least one USB/eSATA combo port and possibly even a docking station connector on this notebook, but given the ultrathin form factor and $750 price point we can forgive these omissions. One thing worth mentioning is that the HP website claims the dv2-1030us configuration of the dv2 doesn't include Bluetooth. However, our review unit does indeed include Bluetooth and several new dv2 owners in our discussion forums also report that the dv2-1030us inlcudes Bluetooth. That said, here's a quick tour of the sides:
Front: No ports, just indicator lights and the speakers.

Performance

HP offers the Pavilion dv2 with the new AMD Athlon Neo 64-bit processor. This single-core processor is bassically a scaled-down version of AMD's current 65nm notebook processors with a lower TDP (15 watts) which means this notebook shouldn't get as hot on your lap and should last a little longer on battery power. While the power consumption of the new Athlon Neo isn't as low as the Intel Atom, it's clear from our synthetic benchmarks that the 1.6GHz AMD Athon Neo is faster than the 1.6GHz Intel Atom. Likewise, the processor inside the dv2 can encode video or run Photoshop filters in a fraction of the time it takes the Intel Atom processor to perform the same task.
The only time the Athlon Neo processor seemed noticeably slower than a low-voltage Intel Core 2 Duo processor was when we attempted to launch multiple applications at the same time. Multitasking in this way generally created a delay of a few seconds, but the delay was never severe enough to cause problems.
Not only does the dv2 run 64-bit Windows Vista with ease, but it's packed with a full 4GB of system RAM in a single DIMM module. That's four times the amount of RAM you get in a netbook! The 320GB Western Digital Scorpio Blue hard drive also gives you plenty of storage for a full entertainment library. As great as all that sounds, the big news with this laptop is the availability of discrete graphics thanks to the new ATI Radeon HD 3410 graphics and 512MB of dedicated memory.While it's true that a few netbooks (such as the ASUS N10) offer discrete graphics, the reality is that the Intel Atom platform lacks the muscle to truly take advantage of discrete graphics when playing games ... at least based on the netbooks we've reviewed so far. Our own lab tests confirm that Atom-based netbooks with dedicated graphics cards only perform marginally better than Atom-based netbooks with integrated graphics when playing games. This is yet another reason that the dv2 should be labeled as a notebook rather than a netbook. For the first time ever consumers have a low-cost ultra-portable that offers flawless 1080p video playback and can even play many 3D video games at reasonable frame rates!
The dv2 was able to play Bioshock at 1280 x 800 resolution at 12-30 frames per second with detail settings at medium and at 24-40fps with detail settings at low. Likewise, the dv2 can handle Unreal Tournament III at 1280 x 800 and keep frame rates in the low to mid 30s. A newer title like Left 4 Dead only managaes an average of around 26fps, but that's still pretty impressive. Notebooks equipped with Intel integrated graphics just can't handle games like that.
The dv2 is at least several hundred dollars less expensive than other thin and light 12-inch notebooks that offer similar or superior processor performance and lower quality graphics, so it's hard to find serious fault with the dv2 in the performance department

Source :http://www.notebookreview.com

Acer Intros Timeline Notebooks

Acer has just introduced its latest line of notebooks, the Timeline series. Designed to be thin, light, power efficient, and affordable, Acer is trying a new approach with Timeline. All models are less than one inch thick and feature LED-backlit 16:9 aspect ratio screens with a 1366x768 resolution. Models will be available in 13.3", 14", and 15.6" screen sizes, and feature Intel Core 2 Duo Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) processors. Built-in WiMax, DDR3 memory, up to a 500GB hard drive or 64GB SSD, and a choice of integrated or dedicated graphics (no word on which chips) round out the specifications.

Other features of the Timeline series includes a multi-gesture touchpad, chiclet-style keyboard, "Laminar Wall Jet" cooling technology, and a claimed eight hours of battery life. The reported price range is $699 - $899.

Source : http://www.notebookreview.com

Intel X58 Extreme DX58SO Motherboard

Introduction:

Intel’s recent launch of the X58 chipset has led to many reviews praising the new chipset and CPU as being the fastest available to the consumer right now. Intel has the entire high end covered with the under $300 Core i7 920, the $500+ Core i7 940 and the $999 Core i7 965 XE. Intel sells their chipsets at a retail price of nearly the same as the CPUs meaning that a new system based upon the new CPU will cost over $1000 when you add in the cost of memory and hard drives and other components.

AMD has a hard time competing as their CPUs are not competitive with the latest offerings from Intel. I’ve reviewed motherboards from ASUS, ECS, and MSI based upon this chipset but what about the reference board from Intel? Intel generally makes good stable reference boards leaving the tweaking to the other board manufacturers based upon their reference design. Intel has tried to shake the feeling by releasing tweaked boards like the X48 Bonetrail 2 reference design. Last month they released the X58 chipset with the codename Smackover. The reference board is called the DX58SO and is on the review bench today.

Features:

Intel launched their new LGA (Land Grid Array) Socket 1366 Core i7 CPUs just a month ago and the only motherboard chipset that supports the new CPU is the Intel X58 chipset. The Core i7 re-introduced Hyper-Threading technology and supports Intel’s Shared Smart Cache technologies. The LGA-1366 is the first Intel CPU to have the memory controller on the CPU not the Southbridge as earlier chipsets would have.

The X58 chipset is the first Intel chipset to natively support both SLI and Crossfire on the chipset level. Unfortunately, NVIDIA has not certified the Intel X58 motherboard for SLI though the various motherboards based upon this from other manufacturers support SLI out of the box. The DX58SO motherboard does fully support ATI’s Crossfire multi-GPU solution where you can install two ATI cards and run them together, but it is not currently SLI capable.

One of the key features of modern motherboard design that have been adopted by many manufacturers is the Solid Capacitors. An issue with some motherboards is leaking capacitors that cause the motherboard to not function properly. Solid capacitors have the advantage of not breaking off and leaking making the motherboard last longer and more stable at higher power frequencies. Intel’s DX58SO board has Solid capacitors.

Intel first introduced support for DDR3 support to their motherboard chipsets with the launch of the X38 chipset in 2007. The X58 chipset got rid of support for the earlier DDR2 standard and standardized on DDR3 memory support. As the memory controller is now on the CPU the Core i7 has direct access to the memory instead of going through the Northbridge as earlier CPUs would. The X58 chipset supports up to triple channel memory with memory bandwidth up to 76.8GB/second.

Conclusion:

Intel has a lot to be happy about with their new CPU and X58 family launch, firmly taking over the enthusiast market with new processors that are clearly faster than the last generation. The DX58SO motherboard is nearly as fast as the other boards on the platform, with minor differences due to the board manufacturer tweaks in performance. Feature-wise, the DX58SO has done away with legacy connections like IDE and PS/2. The only troubling thing about this board is the layout, with SATA ports that are not sideways facing and the positioning of the 8-pin power connector. I wish everyone a safe and prosperous Holidays as this article was written in the midst of them.

source:http://www.motherboards.org

MSI 790GX-G65 Motherboard

Inroduction

Micro Star International is a Tier-1 motherboard manufacturer based in Taiwan that manufactures hardware for computers and computer related equipment. Their boards are popular among the enthusiasts and they have been around since 1986. Their motto is Quality Products Create Faithful Customers.

AMD recently launched their AM3 CPUs including the Phenom II X4 810, Phenom II X3 720 and Phenom II 710. Their competition with Intel is currently at the mid-range of the market as their CPUs are not performance competitive with the latest fastest Core i7 CPUs. To go along with the AM3 launch there has been a launch of AM3 motherboards to support DDR3 memory. Today's review is of the new MSI 790GX-G65 board.

Features

The MSI board is based upon AMD's 790GX chipset. There are three things that this chipset has support for AM3 CPUs, DDR3 memory and integrated graphics. The Socket AM3 is a 938-pin package designed to support the latest AM3 CPUs. The memory controller is on the processor, meaning that the AM3 CPUs support DDR3 memory and this board supports it as well. Integrated HD 3300 graphics are the top of the heap in terms of performance for integrated graphics solutions.

AMD has launched several AM3 CPUs including the 810 we are using in this review, the 720 X3 and 710 X3 CPUs and more to come later this month. Due to the nature of the interface, AM3 CPUs will work on AM2+ boards, but AM2+ CPUs will not work on AM3 boards due to the missing pins and the use of DDR3 memory for system memory that is not supported by the AM2+ CPU.

APS stands for Active Phase Switching. APS uses the lower power modes of the CPU, memory and Chipset PWM when the system is not under load. Power savings of up to 27.6% are observed with APS enabled compared to a motherboard without APS. Auto Max FSB allows the overclocker to overclock quickly and automatically.

M-Flash allows the user to update the BIOS simply by using a USB drive. You can also sboot from a USB drive by using M-Flash if the BIOS crashes. MSI uses all Solid capacitors as is the custom with most motherboard manufacturers. Solid capacitors have a longer lifespan than regular capacitors and are much less likely to leak than the older capacitors. Chokes are inductors responsible for storing power and regulating current. Shielded chokes reduce core power loss and offer lower EMI emissions.

The integrated graphics core on the board is the HD 3300 from ATI. The HD 3300 has a core clock speed of 700MHz compared to the 500MHz core clock speed found on the HD 3200 on the earlier 780GX motherboard chipsets. The HD 3300 supports all features of DirectX 10.0 and in fact is a HD 2400XT modified for the motherboard with 40 SPs. MSI outfits their 790GX-G65 with 1 Gigabit for SidePort memory. SidePort memory works with your system memory to provide integrated graphics and can improve performance 15% over using the system memory alone.

Conclusion

AMD's launch of the AM3 platform is an interesting one from many angles. For the new computer owner the move to DDR3 memory is pretty clear as fewer and fewer motherboards with DDR2 memory support are hitting the market today compared to a year or two ago. DDR3 memory on the AMD platform requires AM3 CPUs. The extra memory resulted in increased performance in 3DMark Vantage and 06 over a slower AMD Phenom II X4 940 using DDR2 memory. MSI has put together a solid package in the form of the MSI 790GX-G65 motherboard, with good features, excellent bundle and very decent overclocking the MSI board is an easy choice over some of the other 790GX boards with support for DDR3.

Source :http://www.motherboards.org

Microsoft SideWinder X6 Review

Lefties are always left out when it comes to the ergonomics of a device and ambidextrous peripherals are often entry level, or they just aren’t good enough. Microsoft sees the problem and came out with the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 keyboard. The Sidewinder products are usually meant for gamers, making the X6 a gaming keyboard as well!

Lefties are always left out when it comes to the ergonomics of a device and ambidextrous peripherals are often entry level, or they just aren’t good enough. Microsoft sees the problem and came out with the Microsoft Sidewinder X6 keyboard. The Sidewinder products are usually meant for gamers, making the X6 a gaming keyboard as well!

The X6 is decked in a very hard and sturdy black plastic. The build quality is really good on the X6. There are plenty of extra buttons, keys and knobs on the X6, for example there are two huge knobs on the top part of the keyboard, one for volume and the other for the backlit LEDs in the keyboard. Yes, the keys are backlit so gaming in the dark will not boring anymore.

The best part of the X6 is that the number pad can be detached and attached to the left of the keyboard! The number pad is another part by itself that is magnetically attached on either side of the monitor. This will be a godsend to the lefties who uses the number pad for gaming.

Like what we said earlier, the X6 is a gaming keyboard and is evident at all the little touches put in my Microsoft for the gamers. For example, there is a “Cruise Control” button that lets you continue an action without holding down a key. Then, there is a “Mode Button” for switching in between standard mode and gaming mode.

There is also a very interesting “Macro Record”. All you need to do is to press the button, record the keystrokes you want, and press the button again to assign it to one of the 30 macro buttons. The next time you press the macro button, the keystrokes will be repeated. Great for those who play games with plenty of keystrokes!

The only thing that we didn’t like about the Sidewinder X6 is that it doesn’t have the ability to adjust it height unlike other keyboards. We found that the X6 is a little too low for our likings and not being able to adjust it means we have to live with it.

The Sidewinder X6 is really nice for gamers, as well as lefties with its removable number pad. The height of the keyboard is a little too low for us and it didn’t have adjustable legs. We hope that Microsoft can take this into consideration for future keyboards.

Pros: Ambidextrous keyboard, Backlit keys and Programmable buttons

Cons: No height adjustable and the keyboard is too low for us

source :http://hardwaretechreview.com

Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725

If you're a closet gamer who hides behind a screen name and isn't the trash-talking type, the Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725 ($2,699.99 direct) is probably not for you. Its outlandish design, which conjures up images of fiery balls of flames striking a bloody canvas, seems fit for those who crave bragging rights for their systems. Within this 9.2-pound beast sits a mobile quad-core processor and an Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTX graphics card—parts that will set you apart from casual gamers. Performance, overall, lived up to expectations, but there is a cheaper alternative that turned in better gaming scores.

Gaming laptops cater to different personalities. For a practical gamer who isn't obsessed with looks, something like the Gateway P-171XL FX would be a good fit. Gothic-loving gamers might prefer the LED-crazy Dell XPS M1730, while the Alienware M17's stylish and subtly classic design is calculated to appeal to a wide range of gamers. To say that the X305's fiery red design caters to colorful personalities is somewhat of an understatement. It's a daring design, just a pitchfork symbol short of something Satan himself would be proud of. Upon close inspection, you can actually see your reflection through the red flames.

Buzz up!on Yahoo!

The fiery theme extends to the interior, only in a darker red that surrounds the 17-inch screen, the area above the keyboard, and the speaker grilles. This Qosmio is devoid of color-shifting LED lights, like those for which the Dell M1730 is notorious. Because it takes numerous fans and heat sinks to cool the quad-core processor and the Nvidia graphics card, the X305 is thick, and its 9.2-pound frame is as heavy as that of the Gateway. At 9.4 pounds, the Alienware M17 is fractionally heavier, while the Dell M1730 is the back-breaker of the group at 10.7 pounds.

The 17-inch LCD widescreen is as large and as bright as the ones on the Alienware M17 and the Gateway P-171XL FX. The 1,680-by-1,050 screen resolution, however, is a feature Toshiba should have paid closer attention to, as both the Alienware and the Gateway laptops bundle screens with a resolution of 1,920 by 1,200 (1080p), which makes for substantially better viewing at a lower cost. The full-size keyboard is very much like the ones found in Toshiba's Satellite line—comfortable and pleasant to type on. Unlike in the Satellite line, the keyboard includes a numeric keypad to the right, ideal for entering serial codes and number crunching. Adding a keypad, though, aligns the touchpad further toward the left-hand side of the frame so that it's centered with the keyboard. In doing so, your left palm rests on top of a speaker grille, whereas the right palm has almost too much space.

Four speakers above and below the keyboard and a subwoofer underneath the X305 immerse you into a phenomenal surround-sound experience. Because of its size, the X305 can accommodate every single connectivity port that matters. There are four USB ports, one of which doubles as an eSATA port, for storage expansion. In the back sits a FireWire port, HDMI-out, VGA-out, and an Ethernet port. Toshiba is still recovering from the HD DVD debacle, so don't expect a Blu-ray drive anytime soon, but the unit does have a dual-layer DVD drive. Both the Dell M1730 and the Alienware 17 offer optional Blu-ray drives for those who wish to take their cinematic experience to the next level. Storage capacity is a differentiating feature in the X305. While the Alienware (160GB) and the Gateway (400GB) are bundling spinning drives only, the X305 gives you both a 320GB spinning drive and a 64GB solid-state drive (SSD), for a total for 384GB. The SSD drive is costly, which factors into the X305's price.

The X305 is one of two laptops that are the first to use a 2-GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 processor. The other is the Acer Aspire AS8930-7665 (check back soon for our review), a media center laptop. As a group, these mobile quad-core CPUs are less expensive than the mobile Extreme processors found on the Dell M1730 and the Gateway M-171XL FX, but their performance is as impressive. Aided by 4GB of DDR3 memory, the X305's video-encoding scores beat out the Gateway's by 35 percent and the Alienware M17's by 37 percent. On CineBench R10, its score pummeled the other two by margins of 63 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

The X305 has a clear advantage in overall performance over the Alienware M17 and the Gateway P-171XL FX. On gaming tests, however, it's a different story. The Nvidia GeForce 9800M GTX is a magnificent gaming card, but as a single card it was no match for the M17's dual ATI Radeon 3870 CrossFire graphics cards. At a low resolution (1,024 by 768), the quad-core processor couldn't help 3DMark 06 scores; the X305 trailed the M17 by 8 percent. On 3DMark 06 at native resolutions, the M17's higher resolution was enough to beat the X305's by 17 percent. Crysis benchmark scores favored the M17 as well, whereas there was more parity on World in Conflict tests. Unless you're an extreme gamer, however, these score deltas won't significantly affect your actual playing.

Against single-graphics-card systems like the Gateway P-171XL FX, the X305 shone brightly on my gaming tests. Keep in mind, though, that the X305 uses the most recent Nvidia GTX card, while the other two already will have had updated systems by the time you read this review.

With the amount of heat these parts generate, battery life is bound to suffer. The problem I have with the X305's battery life is that Toshiba didn't even bother putting in the biggest battery it could accommodate. The 58-Wh battery seems small considering that the Alienware M17 and the Gateway P-171XL FX are using 90-Wh batteries. Even though the Gateway scored only 1 hour 35 minutes on MobileMark 2007, the manufacturer's inclusion of a high-capacity battery shows at least an attempt to optimize battery life. The X305's 1:32 score deserves less sympathy because Toshiba should have put in a bigger battery, given the unit's higher price.

The fiery motif and daring colors may not appeal to everyone, but the parts inside should trump whatever doubts you may have about the design. The Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725 has the fierce performance to go with the look, integrating one of the first Intel mobile quad-core processors and the most powerful Nvidia graphics card to date. Nonetheless, the Alienware M17 outperformed the X305 in a variety of gaming tests, at different resolutions and at a lower cost, which makes the M17 still the gaming laptop to beat.

source : http://www.pcmag.com

How to Buy a Netbook

Seems like everywhere you turn these days—newspapers, magazines, TV shows, even your friends—netbooks are a hot topic for discussion. What has pushed netbooks—very small laptops that run a full-blown Linux or Windows operating system—into the spotlight is the fact that they are capable yet inexpensive, with prices ranging from $300 to $600. Early on, they were considered second computers, best for e-mail and Web surfing—thus the netbook moniker. But as manufacturers compete vigorously for market share—slashing prices and tacking on extras—consumers are reconsidering the roles that netbooks could play. Inexpensive and portable netbooks appeal to a wide audience, from businesspeople who travel frequently, to kids and home users looking for a small laptop to carry from room to room, to book-laden students who spend long hours on campus.

What Makes Netbooks Different?
It's easy enough to tell a netbook from other laptops, but the differences between one netbook and the next are getting fewer and fewer. They generally have 8-to-10-inch widescreens and lack built-in optical drives. None have full-size keyboards—they usually range from 89 percent to 93 percent of full size—so expect a more cramped typing experience than with a mainstream laptop. (If at all possible, try out the keyboard before you buy.) You will find an abundance of USB ports, a webcam, a card reader, and built-in Wi-Fi. Some even have bonus features like ExpressCard slots, Bluetooth, and options for cellular modems. Most every netbook has adopted the Intel Atom platform, made up of the Atom processor, integrated graphics, and 512MB to 1GB of RAM.

What Can (and Can't) Netbooks Do?
Don't underestimate the capabilities of these machines. They're not just limited to Web surfing, compiling spreadsheets, or word processing. You can offload your photos from a digital camera and edit them using a program like Adobe Photoshop Elements 7. With some patience, you can transcode video to another format using Windows Media Encoder 9 or edit video footage using Adobe Premiere Elements 7, or run your entire music library off of a program like Apple iTunes. A netbook can play video from sites like YouTube or a movie from an external USB drive, unmarred by distortions and lag. Businesses are considering these pint-size laptops because you can run various e-mail clients on them, put them on a network, install a VPN client, and secure them with antivirus and antispyware suites.

Configuring Your Netbook
To get a netbook that does all that you want it to do, you have to follow some basic configuration guidelines. Start with the operating system. Linux is cheap and very user-friendly, but average users tend to be more familiar and comfortable with Windows. What it comes down to is the support, functionality, and compatibility that Windows offers with an enormous range of hardware and software applications—whereas with Linux, users may not want to take the time to learn a new interface, install a program, or figure out how to get a device to work with a particular driver. And when Windows 7 rolls out, it will be even tougher for Linux to get a foothold in the netbook market. You'll find two types of hard drives: solid-state drives (SSDs) and spinning hard drives. While SSDs have faster transfer speeds, are more durable, and have longer life spans than their traditional counterparts, you pay a premium for these advantages. Most netbooks are available with spinning hard drives that can store up to 160GB worth of data. Shoot for a hard drive that has a capacity of at least 60GB and a rotational speed of 5,400 rpm.

The Intel Atom processor is the fastest and most energy-efficient netbook processor you can get. You may find an Intel Celeron M or a VIA processor in first-generation models like the ASUS EeePC 4G and the HP 2133 Mini-Note, but you're better off skipping these. Many netbooks will run fine on 1GB of memory, and most can be upgraded to 2GB, provided you can make this simple addition yourself. (Microsoft has limited manufacturers to including 1GB of memory on systems with Windows XP Home Edition, and a lot of today's netbooks run XP Home.)

Standard netbook batteries are typically three-cell (less than 30 Wh) units, although netbooks like the ASUS EeePC 1000HE, the Acer Aspire One (10-inch), and the Samsung NC10-14GB have upped their standard batteries to six-cell units. Our testing has shown that the smaller batteries will get you anywhere from 2 to 3 hours on a single charge, while the bigger ones range from 6 to 8 hours. If your activities include trips abroad or all-day classes, you'll want to look for a netbook with a six-cell option.

Specialty features aren't exclusive to larger laptops, either. Already, the HP Mini 1000 is bundling mobile broadband, a modem that makes use of cellular networks to acquire a broadband signal. One can accomplish (though not master) gaming—once thought of as an absurd activity on a netbook—on the ASUS N10Jc, thanks to an Nvidia graphics chipset. (The N10Jc also includes Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics, so you can switch between the two chipsets to enhance graphics power or to prolong battery live.) Several netbooks have already been spotted running Windows 7, Microsoft's successor to Windows Vista, and the Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is currently the only netbook shipping with a 12-inch screen. And some laptop makers have imbued their netbooks with sex appeal, even at the modest price points of these units. Both the HP Mini 2140 and the ASUS EeePC 1002HA have sleek-looking aluminum frames. As for the future, if manufacturers can keep netbook prices down, the sky's the limit.

source : http://www.pcmag.com

HP Pavilion Elite m9550f

As Gwen Stefani, U2, and Lenny Kravitz know, you have to keep reinventing yourself to stay relevant in an ever-changing world. The HP Pavilion Elite m9550f ($1,199 list) is the latest in a long line of high-end multimedia systems from HP, and unfortunately, even though previous systems have won our esteem and highest honors, the m9550f comes across as competent yet unexciting. To stick with the musical analogy, the m9550f is like the 1970s Elvis: still pretty entertaining and able to perform, but largely coasting along on a reputation and the glory of what once was.

The m9550f's case is the same as the one for the m9040n we saw back in 2007. Though dated, it is totally functional, with a rubberized tray on the top to hold your MP3 player, external hard drive, or digital camera during sync sessions. What's more, it still has the same excellent Personal Media Drive and Pocket Media Drive bays. Both let you use HP's hard drive cartridges to boost the 1TB of installed storage in the system by up to another 1.5TB (one 1TB Personal Media Drive plus one 500GB Pocket Media Drive, the maximum current capacities).

The features inside the m9550f are both a step forward and a step back. It has a newer Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 processor (replacing the older Q6600 in its predecessor, the Elite m9400t), 8GB of DDR2 memory (the most you're likely to need as a home user), a 1TB hard drive, 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, and a more-powerful midrange ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics card. All of these components are improvements over those we saw in the m9400t. However, to add these features and keep the price similar to that of the m9400t, HP had to leave something out. Unlike the m9400t, the m9550f lacks a Blu-ray drive (so no high-def movies from Netflix or Blockbuster) and an ATSC TV tuner (no over-the-air high-def).

Like all HP Pavilion PCs, the m9550f has a load of crapware on it. When I was looking at the m9400t, the extra multimedia-oriented hardware made up for the points that were lost to crapware. That's not the case with the m9550f. The good old Microsoft Office 2007 60-day trial is there, as are a Norton Internet Security 60-day trial (the m9400t came with 15 months), ninedesktop icons for stuff like eBay, and ads for Juno and NetZero dial-up ISPs—which doesn't make sense, as the m9550f lacks a modem.

Another nit to pick is that the chassis is packed to the gills, leaving only one PCI slot and one PCIe x1 card slot free. The interior is messy, with wires covering up the motherboard and most of the free space. I don't expect custom hand-routed wires in a $1,200 system, but even at that, it's pretty unruly in there. Luckily, you'll have few reasons to open the chassis, since hard drives can be plugged into the Media Drive bays.

The system's multimedia performance is decent. The m9550f finished the Windows Media Encoder test in 43 seconds, coming in a good bit under the 1-minute average score for a multimedia system. It was also able to complete the Photoshop CS4 test in 1:33, good for a high-end multimedia system. The current Editors' Choice Dell Studio XPS 435 completed the same tasks in 36 seconds and 1:12, respectively. The m9550f's 3D performance is mediocre—45 frames per second (fps) at a resolution of 1,280 by 1,024 is too jerky for playing Crysis smoothly, though the 55 fps the m9550f scored on World in Conflict at the same resolution is playable. Both games are unplayable at 1,920 by 1,200, but that's okay; the system is multimedia-oriented, not a gaming rig. If you want to play games on this system, you'll have to use a more modest resolution.

The m9550f is more capable than systems like the cheaper Acer Aspire X1700-U3700A and the Gateway LX6200-01, and is less capable overall than the more expensive Dell XPS 435. Where the m9550f really falls short is in comparison with its predecessor. The m9400t had a few lower-grade components (less memory, slower processor) but had a better bang for the buck with other features like Blu-ray and the 15-month Norton subscription. As for crapware, the Acer and Gateway are also guilty of having too much, but that's a pitfall the Dell avoids. For these tough times, I'd recommend getting a less-expensive system like the Acer if you don't need 3D (or the Gateway if you do), or springing for the Dell if you need higher-end features like Blu-ray and 3D.

The HP Pavilion Elite m9550f is a competent multimedia PC that will serve people well if they already have HP Personal or Pocket Media Drives, but it's ultimately less compelling than other choices. Worse, it's a step backward from its predecessor. The Elite line is just treading water at this point—it's up to HP to update the line to keep it relevant. Although the m9550f's basic hardware is sound, its new features didn't make up for those that were taken away.

source : http://www.pcmag.com

Maingear Ephex (Core i7)

The Maingear Ephex (Core i7) ($7,799 direct) is the latest in a long line of record-topping PCs that I've reviewed, and is certainly not going to be the last. It is awe-inspiring with its green "Flamewerks" automotive paint job, and the flames are more than symbolic, since the Ephex smoked all of our benchmark tests. Performance isn't the whole story, however. The build quality and logical choices about what's preloaded on the system earn kudos and my respect as well.
The Maingear Ephex is one of those PC systems you look at and say, "Woof, I bet that's fast." It's built into a large, imposing, full-tower chassis with a windowed case door, internal lighting to show off the liquid cooling, and an automotive-grade black paint job with green "Flamewerks" licking the sides, top, and front of the case. The paint job alone accounts for $1,000 of the system's price. (For $500 less, you can get the automotive paint without the flames, or you can get the plain case (no paint) and knock off a full grand.) Through the case door, you can see the clear piping for the internal liquid cooling system, which has two radiators to dissipate the heat. The main radiator at the top of the case cools the liquid from the GPUs, and the secondary internal radiator deals with the heat from the overclocked CPU. There's so much liquid coursing through the Ephex that Maingear needed to put in an auxiliary water pump in the space where extra optical drives would normally go. Keeping the performance parts cool pays off, since the Ephex has the highest benchmark scores I've seen. The liquid cooling has another fringe benefit: The Ephex is ghostly quiet, unlike several air-cooled systems I tested nearby.

The heart of the Ephex is the overclocked quad-core Intel Core i7-965 Extreme Edition processor. In this system, it's been massaged from a 3.2-GHz stock speed to a blazing 3.9 GHz. If the Core i7 is the system's heart, then the three Nvidia GeForce GTX 280 graphics cards in SLI configuration are its arm and leg muscles. Like Michael Phelps in swimming, the combination is a force to be reckoned with, and like Phelps, it has a prodigious appetite for fuel. The Ephex consumes 350W just sitting idle, and jumps to over 700W while running the Crysis benchmark test. (The only thing green about this power hog is the color of the flames.) The Ephex has a beefy 1,200W power supply, so you can rest assured that all the internal components will be getting enough energy.

The chassis is chock-full of components, so it's no wonder that expansion is limited. Though the case is roomy, the liquid-cooling pipes will get in the way of extra components. The power cords are mostly routed out of the way and are shortened so they take up little space. However, some of the cords are positioned right next to the motherboard, blocking the extra SATA and IDE ports—an inconvenience if you like to upgrade your systems yourself. Lastly, the SLI connectors and liquid cooling for the graphics cards block the free PCIe x1 and PCI slots. Since you're paying so much for the system, you'd be better off sending it back to Maingear if you have a need to upgrade. (Given the Ephex's performance, you may not need to do that for quite a while.)

The Ephex has one of the most intelligent methods I've ever seen of avoiding saddling the user with unwanted programs. There's no preinstalled crapware on the system, and even the couple of potentially useful programs included are not actually installed; they can be, though, with just a few mouse clicks. Some system builders will give you a copy of Norton Antivirus on a CD in the system's packaging (which is inconvenient) or preinstall it on the C: drive (which is convenient, but often undesirable for a gaming PC). Maingear provides a copy of both AVG (an antivirus program that provides free definition updates) and OpenOffice (a Microsoft Office-compatible suite for documents like Word and PowerPoint files) on the hard drive, but both are installer files rather than a preinstallation. Shortcuts on the desktop—the only ones, I might add—point you to the installers. That way, both are convenient to find if you want to install them or to discard if you don't. Bravo, Maingear.

In terms of performance, the Ephex simply blew the competition away. It tallied the fastest scores ever on the PCMark Vantage (13,463 points), 3DMark Vantage (78,764 entry, 16,381 extreme), Crysis (114 frames per second at 1,280-by-1,024 resolution, 70 fps at 1,920-by-1,200), World in Conflict (167 fps at 1,280-by-1,024, 90 fps at 1,920–by-1,200), CineBench R10 (22,542 points), and Photoshop CS4 (51 seconds) benchmark tests. Its 26 seconds at Windows Media Encoder was just a few seconds behind the fastest, the Falcon Northwest Mach V (Core i7) (23 seconds). This all means that the games you can throw at it will play smoothly, even at high (1,920-by-1,200) resolution, and multimedia tasks will be done before your coffee gets cool. The Ephex's speed and strength remind me of Dolph Lundgren as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV: "Whatever he hits, he destroys."

The closest recent desktop to the Ephex is the former Editors' Choice high-end gaming desktop, the Velocity Micro Raptor Signature Edition. Like the Ephex, that Raptor was priced around $7,000, scored the tops at benchmark tests for its time, and aimed squarely at high-end gamers. However, the Raptor used the older Core 2 Extreme QX9650 processor, overclocked to a stunning 4.4 GHz (up from the stock 3.0 GHz). Owing to advances in the SLI drivers and the new Core i7, the Ephex beats the Raptor on the 3D and multimedia benchmark tests. The recent Falcon Northwest Mach V (Core i7) and the AVADirect Uberous X58 are both Core i7-powered, but both have ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 graphics, which held them back on the 3D benchmarks, particularly when playing Crysis. The Falcon was also a couple hundred dollars more expensive than the Ephex, no doubt due to its twin SSDs. (The Ephex has only one, though it's a speedy Intel 80GB model.)

Hail to the new performance king: the Maingear Ephex, with Intel Core i7 and Nvidia Triple SLI muscle. Great build quality, intelligent setup, blazing speeds, and top-shelf components make it a system to lust after, whether you have the means or not. The Ephex is the new target for up-and-coming as well as veteran gaming rigs, so stay tuned for more fireworks in the months ahead.

source : http://www.pcmag.com

Apple Mac mini MB138LL/A

I bought this mini to replace a 1.42 GHz G4 mini that just couldn't handle my 6,000+ pictures in iPhoto anymore. It took 1-2 minutes before I could do anything in iPhoto after I opened it.
When I got this machine, I immediately replaced the two 512 MB sticks with two 1 GB sticks that I bought online for about $35 each (much cheaper than Apple). I also had an existing 200GB external drive which is the same form factor as the mini and sits underneath it in addition to a Belkin USB hub (same form factor as well), since you can never have enough USB 2.0 ports. The machine is great and much faster than my old Power PC mini. iPhoto opens very quickly and I can immediately browse through all my film rolls, even with other programs, such as Safari and Eudora, running. I am glad I waited until Apple changed from the Core Duo to the Core 2 Duo, although I am not sure how much difference there is between the newer and older Intel mini. I also love the included remote for iLife. It's nice to be able to browse through iTunes, iPhoto, etc. without the keyboard/mouse.
There are rumors that Apple will discontinue this little machine soon, but I hope they don't as it is a great buy for anyone who.....

source : http://www.myelectricreviews.com/