Gadgets for men - all about cool electronic gadgets for guys » Laptops and PCs

Pink computers are getting more and more popular

Vic — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:11:43 +0000

There’s one thing o noticed lately, smaller and more colorful computers are getting more and more popular. My explanation is pretty simple: more and more women and kids start using a mobile computer so they look for cook pink laptops and such.

That’s why netbooks grew so much in the last years, as they offer reduced weight and are powerful enough to run the basic applications a regular user would run. And that’s why producers now offer their computer in bizarre colors, like magenta, cyan, pink, etc. Just take a look at the market 3 or 4 years ago. Most laptops were grey or black, with very few “escapes” from Sony or maybe Apple. But now…

On the other way, i find pink laptops and electronic devices in general annoying. If my girlfriend would want to buy such a thing, I’m pretty sure i would tell her a couple of “words”. It’s not like it would make any difference, but anyway

Also, i tend to see pink computers are getting even more diversified. They started as plain and simple, now producers offer their pink devices with various designs and patterns. Also, more and more campaigns are started around pink electronics, to attract more the feminine target.

And in some cases, pink computers are even cheaper than the classic black ones. Not much, but 5 to 10% is still a significant discount, and this year on Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales period i’m looking for even bigger discounts on such products.

Still i wonder, if any of my readers are women or girls, would you buy a pink laptop? Do you read one or more Hi Tech Gadgets Review before deciding what to buy or not? I don’t know about others, but i for one associate pink computers with one word: “skanky”…

What component consumes your laptop battery the most?

Vic — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:57:05 +0000

Have you ever asked yourself which components consume the most from your laptop battery? I suppose it wasn’t one of your primordial questions, but the answer to this question, is actually useful: knowing what consumes the battery, you can increase the autonomy by not using that much those components or by setting manually their operating speed (if it’s the processor, RAM etc).

Well, hardware and software producers are preoccupied by this aspect, and that is why on Windows 7 developing team’s blog, has been published an article regarding the way the laptop’s battery is consumed and what components, software, drivers influences its autonomy.

The responsible components for the battery’s autonomy are the following:

LCD screen
Chipset
CPU
Graphics card
Hard disk
Network card (wireless or with wire)

This list is also influenced by component choosing , for example an on board graphics chipset consumes more than a normal chipset, but altogether the laptop has a bigger autonomy thanks to its lack of on board Graphics. The study does not cater for external devices which the users could connect to USB ports (USB Wireless Card, USB external drive, SD card, USB thumbdrive), Firewire, Express card etc. These are the ones that decrease more the autonomy of your laptop.

The conclusion is pretty simple: in order to have a big autonomy, you will need a big capacity battery, a screen with manually decreased luminosity, an efficient on-board graphs chipset, lots of RAM so it won’t be necessary to use the hard disk too much, a strong WiFi signal and the most important, you must run applications that won’t require too much your CPU or your Graphs card. And obviously, you must not connect external devices. Note that software plays an important part of a laptop battery life and you can use registry cleaners to maintain your Windows installation up to date and clean, free of pieces of code that only make your CPU consume more power.

Best tips to extend your laptop’s battery life

Vic — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 08:32:26 +0000

If you’re the owner of a laptop, you’ve definitely got in the situation where you couldn’t find any mesh around and you needed a few more seconds to finish watching a movie or sending an e-mail. For you, what I have in mind writing this article is to point out a few simple and efficient methods that can lead to a significant growth of the autonomy of your laptop’s battery.

I’ve divided the advices in two categories: simple measures and a little more complicated ones, that however, bring a significant extend of duration between two successive battery recharges.

Simple measures to extend battery life:

Use a pair of headphones instead of the laptop’s speakers, because these ones consume much more current
Select an adequate energy conservation profile in Windows
Decrease screen’s luminosity as much as possible
Disable radio controllers that you don’t need. Ex: WiFi, Bluetooth, 3G
Disable ports you don’t need. Ex: serial/parallel port, Firewire port, fingerprint reader
Turn off the software that you don’t use
Don’t run software that intensively uses the notebook’s components. Ex: games, unpacker, audio/video convertors, web-pages with lots of flashes
Don’t use the peripherals such as :USB mouse, external hard-disks, USB sticks, Express Cards and any other type of peripheral
Use the latest versions of drivers for your system. These ones bring, besides additional functions and optimizations for the existing ones, especially current consumption
If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, a very good method of increasing the autonomy is to disable window animation at minimization/maximization, to disable transparency effects and also to disable the Aero interface

Advanced measures to prologue battery autonomy

Modify the wireless network card driver settings
Modify the energy conservation profile in Windows
Buy more RAM to prevent the intense usage of the hard-disk
Use an undervolting software for CPU and frequency decrease
Use a decreasing software of video card functionality’s frequencies
Buy a supplementary battery, if your laptop supports one
get a product with a Pixel Qi e-Ink type display that acts like a portable ebook reader

Long-term advices

If the above-mentioned advices help you immediately, there are also other advices you can follow to assure a smaller deterioration of the battery on its whole functioning duration. It’s a known fact that battery autonomy decreases in time, even on the best laptop computers available out there, because of its usage and aging. So, here are the advices:

Read the instructions regarding battery storage in case of sustained dis-usage.
Format the battery at least once a month (discharge it and recharge it completely) and try to always use the battery in complete cycles. (avoid to partially discharge battery and to start recharging it when the battery is not empty yet).
Use as often as you can the battery, don’t keep the laptop always in gear, at home and at the office.
if you’re traveling a lot consider purchasing a laptop car power supply

That’s about it with these tips for extending laptop’s battery life. If you know other methods to increase the laptop’s/notebook’s autonomy, please write them down in the comment section. Also, if you have any questions regarding some of the above-mentioned advices, please, don’t be ashamed and leave a comment.

Should i buy a netbook or not?

Vic — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:00:57 +0000

I’ve been wondering whether i should buy a netbook or not for quite a while now, as a replacement for my every day laptop that’s way too heavy to carry around (around 6 pounds). And i’m sure there’re many of you having the same problem as i have. That’s why i put together a couple of pros and cons of a normal everyday netbook.

The pros:

they’re small and light
they have good autonomy (2-5 hours)
they’re fairly inexpensive (300-500$)
they’re not heavy at all: around 2-3 pounds max
the latest ones have decent hardware and can even run Windows XP or Vista

The cons:

the hardware inside is still pretty slow
being so small, most of the netbooks are uncomfortable to use for a longer period of time (small screen, small keyboard, etc)
overall build quality and materials is low for the cheap-medium models

The good part is that netbooks are getting better. There are already a couple of 12″ models on the market and more to come. Those provide a good enough screen and keyboard layout without sacrificing portability.

And, by the end of this year, Intel is going to launch their new ultra low voltage architecture, the next ATOMs, based on the Nehalem technology. And this is scheduled to bring a big performance boost, though netbooks equipped with it will be quite expensive in their early months.

So, nowadays i find netbooks still not good enough for a savvy user. They’re good as a backup of your laptop or when you only need them for 1-2 hours a day (like when you’re traveling). But, if i were you, I’d wait till next year when netbooks will truly become mainstream and will be truly worth full, or better yet till touch screen laptops take over the market.

Netbook comparison – or how to choose the netbooks for your needs

Pioneer PDP435FDE Plasma TV Review

Gadget Road — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:48:54 +0000

Pioneer is considered as a leader in the production of electronic goods and as technology has improved, they have stepped to make the most advanced products. Plasma vision screens are the perfect example tot point out their success in this field. They have introduced a range of plasma TV models bundled together with a range of advanced display functionalities.

The new Pioneer PDP435FDE Plasma TV is manufactured with plasma wide-screen which is 43 inches in size. The product is a HD-Ready television. This plasma television includes features like built-in tuner, native aspect ratio, comb filter, brightness adjustments, contrast ratio and more.

Display Features

The wide-screen is capable of creating image resolution up to 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically. Its brightness is adjusted up to 1100 candela per metre square. The viewing angle of the device is up to 160 degrees in both its horizontal and vertical sides. The native aspect ratio of the product is 16: 9 and its interpolated aspect ratio is 4: 3.

Comb Filter and HDTV Signals

Pioneer PDP435FDE Plasma TV is manufactured with Digital 3-Line comb filter feature. This plasma television has HDTV-Ready digital feature which needs a separate receiver to view HDTV signals.

Built-in Tuner

This plasma television has integrated tuners such as:

NTSC
PAL
SECAM

Broadcast Formats Supported

The product supports the following broadcast formats such as:

720p (HDTV)
480p (EDTV)
480i (SDTV)

Broadcast Formats Displayed

This plasma television can display broadcast formats such as:

1080i (HDTV)
720p (HDTV)

Technical Features

Adjustable colour temperature
Picture-in-picture
Parental control
Sleep timer

Audio Features

Pioneer PDP435FDE Plasma TV contains two integrated speakers which is capable to offer total audio output power up to 26 watts. The type of audio used in this product is virtual surround. Audio feature supports SAP or MTS stereo modes.

Connectivity

Rear input connector:

1 x Component
1 x HDMI
1 x RF
3 x 21-pin SCART

Front input connector:

1 x S-Video
1 x Composite
1 x Audio (RCA)
1 x D-Sub (RGB PC)

Rear output connectors:

1 x S-Video
1 x Composite
1 x Audio (RCA)

This plasma television is provided with headphone jack connector to connect headphone.

Visit Plasma TV Reviews Site to find best Plasma TV offers and read expert reviews on Akai, Fujitsu, Benq and Panasonic Plasma TVs.

Video Covering Specifications of HP LaserJet P2015 Laser Printer

Gadget Road — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:30:25 +0000

Laser Printers are one of the most widely used computer-accessories. It’s not very difficult to find printers in offices, education institutes and homes. Earlier, printers were used only for obtaining the hard copy of a document. But now, thanks to advancements in technology, printers are used to perform a number of tasks. Now, printers print a number of pages within seconds and printers capable of taking a Xerox copy of a document have also been developed. Several new features have also been incorporated in the printers.

Whether you use Windows based systems or Macintosh notebook computers, you can use a printer to get the prints whenever you want to. It is now also possible to connect printers without wires and so, you don’t need to place your printer at a fixed place in order to get print outs. It’s because of the popularity and requirement of the printers that companies release different types of printers at regular intervals. HP is one of the companies that are well-known for developing quality products. LaserJet P2015 is a new printer released by HP and what makes this printer stand out of the crowd is the fact that it is loaded with features.

Here’s a video covering different aspects of the HP LaserJet P2015 –

HP-LaserJet-P2015-Laser-Printer – Hosted by Putfile.com

As you can see in the video, the LaserJet P2015 is a compact printer that is capable of producing lightning fast prints. With only 22.7lbs in weight, the LaserJet P2015 is perfect for small to medium sized offices which require prints of great quality at lightning speed. This printer has all the features required in an advanced printer.

LaserJet P2015 supports both the Windows based systems and the Apple MacOS X. Different MacOS versions are supported by it and the required software for macintosh computers can be downloaded from the websites. The printer prints the first page in 8.5 sec and it is capable of printing up to 27 pages/min. So, it can be used for urgent purposes.

The interface used by LaserJet P2015 is USB and so, if you want to purchase the printer then make sure you have the USB working properly. Sometimes, macintosh computers for sale and other notebooks are damaged and if you’re someone who purchases systems for offices from auction sites then please ensure the USB is working properly before purchasing the printer.

Here’s a quick glance at some specification of the LaserJet P2015 –

It weighs only 22.7lbs
It is capable of printing up to 27 pages/min
It is uses wired connectivity and it uses USB as the interface
The first print out time is 8.5sec
8.5 in x 14 in is the maximum media size that it can handle
550 sheets is the max media capacity
It can be used with both Windows based systems and Macintosh notebooks

So, if you’re looking for small-size printer that is capable of printing pages at lightning speed then you should consider buying LaserJet P2015. Compare its features with other available printers and do the math to make sure you get the best deal for the money.

Averatec 1050 Laptop Review

Gadget Road — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:17:14 +0000

Averatec 1050 Laptop Computer is a compact and appealing model laptop, which is designed with Intel Pentium M processor. The total weight of the device is 1.63kg with a dimension of 2.9cm height, 26.6cm width and 20.2cm depth. This is an ideal device best supports the multimedia lovers. The 10.6 inches WXGA TFT screen with a resolution of 1280*768 pixels. This helps the viewers to enjoy audio and video in a better quality.

The RAM that is used in this device is 512MB with DDR SDRAM type which has the memory capacity up to 2048KB. The total memory capacity of the hard disk is 80GB complied with EIDE storage controller through which you can comfortably store all kinds of data. The special feature that is available in the device is the memory card. There are various types of memory slots used in this model.

Intel Centrino Mobile technology is used to enjoy wireless internet services with the support of the data link protocols like Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g. The integrated network cards and an integrated wireless LAN are also available in this Averatec 1050 laptop. The various ports supported by this device are USB 2.0, Serial port and others. This is considered as a best companion for those who enjoy music and video.

Intel 855GM chipset is provided with the bus speed of 400MHz. The device consists of battery up to 5.5 hours, through which the users can enjoy non-stop working with the compact and high processor laptop. The special optical drive helps the users to read and as well as write CDs and DVDs with the average writing speed of 24x for CDs and 8x for DVDs.

The Pentium M processor comes out with the processing speed of 1.1GHz. With the help of WXGA TFT screen the users can enjoy viewing the impressive images. Averatec 1050 laptop is a best choice for the moderate users.

Compare Latest Laptop Deals and read impartial reviews on Apple, Sony, Acer, Samsung, Advent and Dell Laptops at Laptop Reviews Website.

Twinhead Stylebook 12D Notebook Review

Gadget Road — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:23:34 +0000

Notebooks will be very helpful for those who are always busy in their business activities. Twinhead Stylebook 12D Notebook, a new model of notebook is designed and launched in the market. This product has come with unique features like Pentium-M processor with 1.73 GHz processing speed, data bus speed up to 533 MHz, 60 GB hard disk memory, 512 MB standard memory, 10/100 Ethernet network ports, 802.11b wireless networking etc.

Processor

Pentium-M processor has embedded for fast processing. The processing speed may exceed up to 1.73 GHz.

Mother Board

The motherboard has the compatibility to transfer data with the maximum speed up to 533 MHz which is technically known as ‘Bus speed’.

Hard Disk

Twinhead Stylebook 12D Notebook has availed in the market with an embedded hard disk in which you can store up to 60 GB.

Memory

RAM capacity of the device is 512 MB which is suitable for ideal users. Totally you can get the highest maximum memory support as 2048 MB. It has featured with DVD or CD-RW combo DVD or CD-RW combo optical storage.

Ports

You can use a unique port called ‘10/100 Ethernet’ which is essential for getting networks. If you want to get wireless network, it is compulsory to use 802.11b wireless port.

Screen

Twinhead Stylebook 12D Notebook has equipped with a smart and compact screen which is 12.1 inches in size.

Resolution

The users can expect resolution up to 640 x 480 pixels in VGA format. It has featured with some display chips namely – Intel 915 GM Intel ICH6-M North bridge chip
Intel ICH6-M Southbridge chip

Sound card

The device uses PCI AC -97 sound card which offers stereo sound effects. To support the process, a built-in AC 97 audio chip is featured.

Battery

Lithium battery technology will be apt for the device which offers power to run a maximum of 3.5 hours.

Operating System

You can run the product in Windows XP Home Edition Windows XP Home Edition Operating System.

Dimensions

275 x 225 x 30.8 cm is the compact dimensions of the unit and they represents 3 distinct values namely length, width and height.

Visit Laptop PC reviews website for other models of Twinhead Laptop PCs.

Acer Aspire 1362LC Notebook Review

Gadget Road — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:24:28 +0000

Acer Aspire 1362LC Notebook has been made as a slim and compact designed device which is introduced by a well leading company Acer in the UK .

Features of Acer Aspire 1362LC :

The display screen is made of TFT active matrix technology with wide-screen size of 15”
The resolution of the screen is 1024 x 768 (XGA) in both horizontal and vertical sides of the screen
The notebook comes with Hard Drive which has the capacity to store up to 40 GB. It has a storage controller feature of IDE
The Graphic Controller of the unit is VIA Uni-Chrome Pro K8N800
The notebook has the telecom ability to transmit data using modem up to the transmission speed as 56kbps
The input devices of Acer Aspire 1362LC Notebook are Key-board, Touch-pad, and 4-way scroll button
The operating system of the notebook is Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
To have sound system the user can install a sound card for audio output
The system includes Sound Blaster Pro technology for sound system
The unit comes with L2 type Cache Memory with the capacity of 256 KB, which stores the documents as temporary files
The networking of the notebook is connected with Ethernet, Fast Ethernet networks as Data link Protocol. The system has a network adapter

The software included in this notebook are:

Acrobat Reader
Cyber link Power DVD
Acer System Recovery
Acer Launch Manager
NTI CD-Maker
Norton Anti-Virus
Aspire Arcade
Acer eManager
Acer Disk-to-Disk Recovery
The product can get power externally

The processor of Acer Aspire 1362LC Notebook supports various features namely:

3D Professional technology
Power-Now technology
Steaming SIMD extensions
Hyper Transport Technology
Integrated memory controller
Enhanced Virus Protection

More features :

The processor of this unit is AMD mobile Sempron
You can achieve the processing speed up to 1.6 GHz.
The unit has RAM Memory which has the capacity to store up to 256 MB. It stores the data in the permanent files.
The video memory of the Notebook has “shared video memory” (UMA) feature.
The system runs with the support of Lithium-Ion Battery supply which has power capacity of 63Wh. The system can run with the battery support for up to 3 hours

Measurement :

Enjoy the compact design of the product with cute dimensions as 36.1 x 29.3 x 4.7 cm as width, depth and height. You can buy this amazing unit with the weight as 3.6 Kilo grams.

Visit laptopreviews.org.uk for Cheapest Laptops, best selling Notebook PCs and Acer Laptop Computer reviews.

Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser Keyboard

Gadget Road — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:19:18 +0000

Any new technology is easily adapted by the younger generation better than its older counterpart is. This is routinely seen in the electronics gadget field, for example, the cell phones or the latest in the field of computerized input devices like the new Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser Keyboard.

As it is commonly seen wherever we go now a days, we find almost everyone use his or her mobile phones or other such devices to send their text messages digitally. This is especially true in case of the teenagers, who use their cell phones expertly. However, other people are not as comfortable or as skilled in using their cell phones like these teenagers.

For these people, sending a digital text message can become much easier if they use a compatible keyboard to comfortably type their text messages. However, the new keyboards that are incorporated in the latest mobile phones are still as bothersome as the general keypads of any other older mobile phones.

The Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser Keyboard has become an unparallel gift for any gadget lover or latest gadgets enthusiast. This portable virtual keyboard is extremely compact and thin, and it can be easily inserted your pocket or a hand purse and accompany you wherever you go. The Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser Keyboard is powered by the infrared technology.

This virtual laser keyboard, when used on any smooth and flat surface, displays the complete image of the QWERTY keyboard. This virtual keyboard also requires extremely small space to setup. After the setup is done, you can comfortably start typing on its infrared keys.

The Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser Keyboard is an outstanding portable device for all those people who are always moving in and out of their homes and offices. This virtual keyboard also is useful for other people who constantly need similar wireless devices. The virtual keyboard can be used with other portable and even the stationery electronic products like the PDA, the Blackberry cell phone, and even the normal personal computers.

This portable Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser Keyboard is an extremely practical device that is also very light in weight. This is a great wireless gadget that can be easily taken with you wherever you go. This keyboard is extremely small as well, as it measures only 3-1/2 inches in height, comparatively smaller than a lighter or a stick of butter.

The Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser Keyboard works exactly like a normal and ordinary computer keyboard, and it will soon make the regular keyboard outdated because of its great design and convenience.

The Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard recognizes all the key taps and the key touches as you comfortably type on the laser images of the keyboard. This keyboard can also imitate all the typing sounds just as if these keys are being typed on a regular keyboard or a typewriter. The Bluetooth Wireless Virtual Laser keyboard is compatible with any personal computer or Mac. It is also compatible with a variety of wireless gadgets that use the Bluetooth technology.

A keyboard or a PC ? Both.

Adrian George — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:09:59 +0000

Are you runnin’ out of space for your all-important desktop PC? How about buying this one? No, it’s not (only) a keyboard with an integrated touchpad, it’s a powerful computer hidden inside a keyboard look case. Designed by a somehow obscure company (Cybernet), the All-In-One PC (codenamed ZPC-GX31 – Intel G31 Express Chipset) brings you the desk space after you’re screaming for all this time.

Plus, this one can be fully customized for your needs, for a price between 629 $ and 1099 $. The supported configuration looks like this:

CPU: Any Intel Core 2 Duo, Core 2 Quad @ 1066 MHz FSB or Celeron D processor;

RAM: Up to 4 GB of DDR 2 @ 667 Mhz (2 x 2 GB)

VIDEO: The good for office Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100. If you want some NOS then buy a PCI Express video card.

Networking: 1 x Gigabit Fast Ethernet Port

Audio: Realtek High Definition

Enough? No? Then see the complete specifications.

The All In One PC can be customized and ordered right on cybernetman.com.

Asus Eee PC reloaded: 12 GB SSD and 9 inch hi-res display

Adrian George — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:39:36 +0000

Asus Eee PC, the very popular, accesible and easy to carry notebook is getting some nice upgrades: a better display (9 inch and 1280 x 600 pixels – means full page Internet browsing), up to 12 GB SSD storage and 1 GB of RAM. Well, that’s more like it – the minor specifications are being kept secret but we already know the best part. The new version of this nice little piece of technology will be named Eee PC 900.

Of course, the "injected" technology makes this little boy also a little bigger and expensive - Asus Eee PC 900 will cost about 600 dollars - look for it in the summertime or, if you’re in a hurry, buy the cheaper version (Asus Eee PC 4G) right now.

MSI build worlds first turbocharged notebook

John Pope — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:12:25 +0000

Yes, it’s here, the first turbocharged notebook, the MSI TurboBook. You press a button and the system is overclocked by 25%. Nice you say, but think of the battery life or low ventilation of CPU and memory.

Pressing the button too often will surely decrease the life expectancy of the notebook. Anyway it’s something new and I’m sure there will be some people who’ll find it interesting.

ASUS Eee PC offers complete mobile Internet enjoyment

John Pope — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:23:00 +0000

Sub sized laptops, both because of size and functionality seem to be the next best thing, no matter how they’re called: UMPCs, sub-notebooks or companions. ASUS jumped the wagon and launched today the Eee PC, a name that doesn’t says much, but that’s why we are here, to enlighten you.

First of all, Eee PC is a complete mobile companion, a more featured one than Palm Foleo, which was introduced last week. It’s 1.9 pounds and has a 7 inch screen. There isn’t much to be said about the CPU and chipset, besides the fact they’re produced by Intel. System memory is just 512 MB, but that’s enough to run Windowx XP or Linux. Storage is provided by a SSD drive with 4, 8 or 16 GB flash memory.

On the communications part we have WiFi, modem, Ethernet but it seems that Bluetooth is missing. The 4 cell 5200 mAh battery should provide at least 3 hours of continuous work. The first Eee PC will be model 701, just in case you want to rush to stores and get one. I believe that those kind of products are depending too much on price. If it’s too big it’s best to buy a 12" ultra portable, which weights a little more but offers greater possibilities. If you want small size you should consider the fact that Eee PC won’t fit your pocket so you’ll have to get a bag for it.

Source: Slashgear

Samsung Q1 Ultra shows off on CNBC

John Pope — Sun, 27 May 2007 09:05:45 +0000

Even if I think that UMPCs are not yet mature products, they’re improving step after step. Samsung plays a major role here. The next video is a review/interview took by CNBC with Samsung’s Senior Product Manager on Mobile Computing products. If you don’t already know the specs for Q1 Ultra here they are: 7 inch touchscreen display (1024 x 600 pixels), 60 GB HDD, 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, HSDPA and WiBro. You should also know that there will be available different versions of Q1 Ultra.

Dell is trying to help emerging markets with EC280 desktop computer

John Pope — Thu, 24 May 2007 12:36:46 +0000

I know that Mike just wrote about a small PC, a true Mac Mini contender, but I couldn’t help notice Dell’s new offering is a much cheaper solution if you want a small PC for your web surfing needs. The EC280 will be available only for China, at beginning, but demand could change that very fast.

The EC280 isn’t to be confused with a Mac Mini, which has a much cleaner look, but it’s pretty chic, if you ask me, and can be used as a set-top box, as it can be visually integrated in your living room. Spec are the only problem, as Dell is aiming at emerging markets, so for around 350 $ you get an Intel CPU (doesn’t says which), Windows XP, 256 MB RAM, 40 GB hard drive, DVD ROM drive and SiS integrated graphics. It isn’t exactly a block buster, but it does the job OK if you’re not planning to do gaming and photo/video editing.

Source: Digital Inspiration

Stealth has a contestant for the Apple Mini

Vic — Thu, 24 May 2007 11:07:49 +0000

Apple and Shuttle have been battling for supremacy off the small-form-factor PC’s market for a while now. Not sure which one is better, but i kind of like the Apple a little bit more, for its great design. Stealth Computer Corporation also have a line fo their own, called LittlePCs. And today they just launched the brand new LPC-450. Let’s see if it has what it takes to battle the big ones.

Stealth LPC-450 can almost fit in your palm

Fist of all, this computer is small. Very small actually. With 14.6 x 25.2 x 4.2 cm, is smaller than the usual 5.25" optical drive and can fit in your palm. But the exterior ain’t that great looking. Classic, simple, but kind of cheap. Especially those front face buttons and USB ports, which could have been masked way better. So, aesthetically, Stealth LPC-450 it’s not shining.

Fortunately, technologically it does. An Intel Core 2 Duo processor, with 1.66GHz frequency and 2MB LVL2 cache memory, and up to 1 GB DDRII RAM memory (only one DIMM alowed), insure quite some raw power. As internal storage space you may choose a 2.5" HDD, that now go up to 200 GB, and that’s enough, as the device also comes with a Slim Optical device. Graphics aren’t great, only a Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 being included. But this PC’s ain’t for gamers after all. What’s cool is that Stealth LPC-450 is fanless. So, it’s very quiet, even quieter than a laptop…

Fanless but kind of cheap looking

This computers comes with Microsoft’s operating systems, but it can also work with Linux distributions and even Mac OS. As for pricing, Stealth LPC-450 starts from 1400 $ and can go up to a sum almost twice as big. Kind of expensive if you ask me. But, I am one of those persons who don’t understand the purpose of small-form-factor PC’s. Why pay more for such a device when i could get a better laptop computer even cheaper? Just because this one are smaller? Well, maybe, but after all, if you’re scared of big weights you could always choose a 12′1" one, no?

Source: Stealth

Dell takes XPS from GTX to Ultra

John Pope — Wed, 23 May 2007 10:24:07 +0000

If you went to CES this year surely you must have seen the XPS 710 H2C, the ultimate gaming rig from Dell. Today it’s time for its successor to come to life: the XPS 720 H2C, which takes performance up, to a new level, while maintaining a not so friendly price point.

What XPS 720 H2C brings new are dual GeForce 8800 Ultra VGA cards, which totals 1.5 GB frame buffer, more than your average PC RAM size. CPU is a quad-core QX6800, overclocked by Dell to 3.73 GHz from 2.93 GHz (available as an option, as the lowest performing CPU available for XPS is the QX6700 at 3.43 GHz). We also have two 10.000 RPM 160 GB hard drives and only two 2GB RAM, which are provided by Corsair. RAM runs at a “dominating” 1066 GHz, but I think it will hold you back compared to the 4 GB RAM offered by the previous XPS reincarnation, the 710 H2C.

I just hope you have a decor at home to match the XPS 720 H2C

Also as upgrade you can opt for an Ageia PhysX card. At the 5.999 $ starting price point Dell ads a 24 inch Ultrasharp wide screen LCD, a 2X Blu Ray drive and the WL6000 wireless 5.1 sound system. You can find out more here, it you plan on purchasing the monster.

And if you’re curios, read this post to see which dell laptop is the best for your right now.

Source: Crunch Gear

Fujitsu showcases its UMPC during WinHEC

John Pope — Wed, 16 May 2007 14:08:53 +0000

UMPCs refuse to die it seems, after missing a point, I mean being more expensive than laptops, less powerful and too big compared to PDA Phones and smartphones. At WinHEC today, Fujitsu presented its UMPC model, the U series FMV-U8240, which looks promising, despite the fact that it seems more like a tablet PC.

Specs are almost top notch, except SSD drives, which might be purchased as an option later, if Fujitsu decides to ride along with other manufacturers. We have an 800 MHz Intel A110 CPU, codename Stealey, 1 GB RAM, 20 GB hard drive, QWERTY keyboard and a 5.6 inch display with 1024 x 600 pixels. What strikes me it’s the lack of Bluetooth and Wireless WAN.

On the plus side we have Compact Flash and SD card slot for memory expansion. Various accessories include docking station and extended four cell battery said to provide 7 hours of autonomy. Photo shooting freaks will appreciate the two built-in cameras, one of course for videoconferencing. Personally I like the U series, except the lack of advanced wireless interfaces.

Source: UMPC Portal

Can we have an E-paper laptop?

Vic — Wed, 16 May 2007 13:53:43 +0000

After the first electronic paper being launched a couple of days ago, it seems that we’ll also have an interesting e-paper laptop on the way in the near future. But it’s not just an ordinary notebook, is a combination between one and a GPS system, designed to come in handy to every gadget lover planing to venture into the wilds.

Designed by Nikita Golovlev, this project, called Traveller, has integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and some storage space. Meant for tourist, it can pin point to the location desired by the user, using the GPS module, by loading the presaved maps or downloading them from the Internet in no time.

GPS and laptop in a concept designed for tourists

The good parts of using the e-paper are the great autonomy and the possibility to easy store the device when not needed. Like you can see from the pictures, the screen folds nice and easy, and while closed, the Traveller resembles an ordinary book. A thick one i might say, and this could be an inconvenient for this portable gadget. But since no plans of mass producing it aren’t yet available, the concept has some time to be reshaped, so we don’t have to worry about it’s current shape that much…

Source: XAtaka