Computer Hardware

Sci Tech Today has reviewed LG VX9800 Smartphone. Measuring 4.57 x 1.97 x 1.0 inches and weighing 5.19 ounces, Verizon's new "LG the V," as the wireless carrier calls it, sports a 1.75-inch color screen on the outside that displays a plethora of icons and other information pertaining to phone operations: time, date, signal strength, battery life, and caller ID. Turning the phone around reveals a highly capable 1.3-megapixel camera, with built-in flash and 4x zoom, that can double as a business-card scanner.

The LG VX9800 is the latest smartphone from Verizon Wireless to feature Evolution Data-Optimized (EVDO) capability, which means potentially blazing download speeds. But this new handset's main claim to fame is its ability to play both streaming video clips and music tracks. And it does it on a device that is appealing to both the eye and the ear.

Under the hood, the LG VX9800 incorporates a multimedia-enhanced chipset from Qualcomm; a Bluetooth radio; 128 MB of user-accessible flash memory; and a MiniSD memory-card slot. A five-way navigational control to the right of the keyboard enables you to quickly and easily select the more frequently used smartphone menus.

The handset integrates a full-duplex speakerphone, voice-command recognition software, a speed dialer, and a voice memo recorder.

Rating:8/10

http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=002000865Z5W

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PhoneScoop has reviewed T-Mobile MDA Smartphone.T-Mobile could have been satisfied just selling the MDA to the road warriors who spend more time on the road than in the office. The MDA has just about every feature those users need... and more, in a package smaller than past Pocket PC phones and even smaller than competitors like the Sidekick II. However, T-Mobile took care to include extra software and interface flourishes designed to make the MDA easier for the average person to use.

Despite T-Mobile's best efforts, you'll still have to deal with the occasional crash or hidden functions that are common to all Windows Mobile devices, but for day-to-day use, a little courage is all it takes to get the MDA working.

The MDA is surprisingly compact. While it is larger than even the biggest flip phone, it still is much smaller than your average PDA phone. Rounded corners and edges, and a sides that bow out ever so slightly, disguise the fact that the MDA is simply a rectangle slightly less than an inch thick. Those slight curves make a pleasant difference in how the MDA fits in your hand. The overall size allows it to sit in the palm nicely, and the rounded corners and edges allow you to grip the device comfortably. Because the MDA has a simple, compact shape it also fits into pockets easily. It barely even creates a bulge when shoved into tight fitting pants.

Looking at the MDA while closed, it is not obvious that the top slides sideways to reveal a QWERTY keyboard. Without any cues to indicate that the phone slides open or where it slides, it is difficult to remember which direction the phone opens. After over a week of use, we still found ourselves trying to slide the phone open in the wrong direction.

To use the keyboard, the MDA is turned 90 degrees and held horizontally. The MDA's rounded edges make it one of the most comfortable phones to use with a QWERTY keyboard. It is both easy and comfortable to wrap your hand from the base of your thumb to your index finger around each side of the phone. Part of weight rests on your fingers supporting the MDA from beneath while the rest with the open screen resting on top of your index fingers.

Rating:7/10

http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/review_htc_wizard/

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TechDigest has reviewed LG Chocolate Mobile Phone. If you haven’t heard the hype already, the Chocolate is being sold as the next fashion sensation in the mobile phone world. LG has every right be optimistic having already sold 300,000 Chocolate handsets in Korea, receiving general all-round approval for its slim, black, sliding design complemented by extremely slick, glowing red buttons.

It boasts a generally pretty standard set of features: a 2”, 256k colour display, 1.3 megapixel camera and 128MB memory. The pleasant surprises come in the form of its smaller than expected dimensions (9.5 x 4.8 x 1.5cm) and particularly light weight (approximately 85g). But no phone is perfect and so we must get on to the handset’s admittedly few failings. One annoyance is that you end up getting greasy paw prints all over the front screen; this polished surface also looks like it has the potential to scratch easily, although we haven’t managed to do so yet.

The internal memory seems a little bit limited at 128MB; normally manufacturers tend to stick MP3 support on as an afterthought but the Chocolate is actually better than most. The sound quality is pretty impressive but what really appeals the most to us is the 3.5mm headphone socket attached to smart, matching remote. Digital audio support (MP3, WMA, AAC) and playback quality is surprisingly good but we can’t help but wish for a little more capacity, maybe even a card slot.

Rating:8/10

http://www.techdigest.tv/2006/05/lg_chocolate_ph.html

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ePhotoZine has reviewed Ricoh Caplio R4 Camera.There are smaller compacts than the Ricoh Caplio R4 available, but none which pack such a useful lens and impressive set of features into them. The camera is about the same size as a packet of cigarettes and fits my hand perfectly, with controls well enough laid out to operate with one hand. On the downside, my fingers did keep covering up the flash at first, although I could live with this. As soon as I realised the problem I adjusted my grip. The flash is positioned as far from the lens as possible to help prevent red-eye.

Five different autofocus modes can be found in the menu including, multi-AF, spot AF, MF, snap and infinity focus. The default setting is multi-AF and this locks on quickly when the shutter button is lightly pressed. A slightly gritty noise is made when focusing, but this was something I soon got used to.The controls are very simple on the R4, without being too basic. On the top is the shutter button and a switch for the CCD anti-shake system. Located on the back are the zoom control, the menu button and the adjust button. I especially like the adjust button feature, it puts all the most commonly used menu features a few button presses away. The ISO, sensitivity, exposure compensation, and white balance are all easily adjusted within this menu.

Rating:8/10

http://www.ephotozine.com/equipment/tests/testdetail.cfm?test_id=433

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ImagingResource has reviewed Panasonic Lumix® DMC-LS2 Digital Camera. recent years and while most of the attention has been focused on high-end models with all their bells and whistles, the category that's actually reaped most of the rewards has been the low-end. Who could imagine five years ago that you could get a pretty decent 5 or 6-megapixel digital camera with substantial features for a suggested retail of under $200? Panasonic's solid new Lumix DMC-LS2 is certainly a camera that falls into the new high-low-end category, a space shared by such recent models as the 5 megapixel Canon A530 and 6 megapixel Sony Cybershot DSC-S600.

With a five-megapixel CCD, a 3x zoom and a new 1-point high speed Autofocus option, the LS2 has plenty of functionality while still listing for less than $200. Where it sets itself apart from cameras like the Canon A530 and Sony S600 is that the LS2 offers Panasonic's mega-helpful MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.), which is great for reducing blur from handshake. The LS2 is the only camera in its price range to offer optical image stabilization, which is certainly a strong selling point. Though it doesn't dazzle with its design--the camera is basically a slightly rounded silver brick--it's not unattractive to look at either. And although image quality on the LS2 is not going to blow you away, printing daylight shots of up to even 8x10 sizes will still produce solid results. What more could you really ask for in a digital camera that only sets you back two bills?

Rating:9/10

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/LS2/LS2A.HTM

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ImagingResource has reviewed Canon EOS-5D Digital Camera. In many respects, the Canon 5D is exactly the camera that many photographers have been asking for since the Canon D30 was first introduced in 2000. It has a full frame sensor, high resolution and a fairly light/compact body. At a street price of about $3000.00, it's far more affordable than past Canon full-frame cameras and about the same cost as the D30 was when it was first introduced. In many respects, it probably has the best price/performance ratio of any Canon DSLR introduced so far.

The 2.5" LCD on this camera is an absolute pleasure to use. I spent many years looking at the ground glasses of view cameras and looking at an image in a large LCD is somewhat reminiscent of that experience. The LCD screen on the 5D is much better, and thus much more useful, than the one on my 1Ds.

Rating:9/10

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/E5D/E5DA13.HTM

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Notebook Review has reviewed Dell Inspiron E1705 PC Notebook. The Inspiron e1705, Dell's "e for entertainment" desktop replacement notebook computer featuring Intel's Yonah dual core processor, has been available for several months, and is essentially identical to another Dell model, the Inspiron 9400, which is available on the Dell business website. The e1705 under review here is large and powerful, and though available through the business site in its 9400 incarnation, has a decidedly non-business feel.

The built-in sound is actually pretty good for a notebook. This was never a primary concern, but I'm glad to be able to listen comfortably to music or the radio while I work, or watch a DVD without having to use headphones or external speakers.With no power savings features enabled, the 6-cell battery ran for one hour and 57 minutes before I received a warning that only 10% of the battery's full charge remained. I didn't expect much more than this with the small battery. Unless some unanticipated occasion to rely on the battery arrives, I probably won't bother trying to squeeze out more time.

The e1705 is better than expected and quite a bargain for a powerful desktop replacement notebook. After two weeks of regular use and testing, I'm comfortable with this notebook as my primary computer. The e1705 is the best performing computer I've ever used, thanks to the Yonah T2500 CPU. The 1440x900 resolution works well for me, and despite the very minor backlighting issue mentioned above, the screen is nice and comfortable. What I want more than anything from a computer is comfortable usability, which boils down to input devices, display and performance. On all three counts, the e1705, as configured, easily meets my needs.

Rating:9/10

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2923&review=Dell+Inspiron+e1705

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CNet has reviewed HP Photosmart R927 Digital Camera. With a 3X, f/2.8-to-f/5, 35mm-to-105mm zoom lens (35mm equivalent) and a compact, silver-metal body, the attractive R927 looks like standard fare for today's digital point-and-shoot market. But as much as we like its sleek curves, some of its buttons are awkwardly placed. For example, the flash and macro controls are on top of the camera, making one-handed shooting more difficult.

The good thing about HP Photosmart R927 Digital Camera is its extensive help menus and features for beginners; oversize LCD; attractive and sturdy. But unfortunately it gives poor image quality and sluggish performance.
Overall, with its big 3-inch LCD and a menu system full of helpful tips, the HP Photosmart R927 is a decent camera for someone new to digital cameras or to photography in general. Pixel-peepers looking for the best image quality, though, should steer clear.

Rating:7/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/HP_Photosmart_R927/4505-6501_7-31638296.html?tag=pdtl-list

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CNet has reviewed Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H2 Digital Camera. The H2 builds on the strengths of its predecessor with a 12X 36mm-to-432mm (35mm equivalent) image-stabilized Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, a 6-megapixel Super HAD CCD sensor, and a 2-inch LCD in a body that's small enough to fit in a fanny pack, should you be so fashion unconscious as to wear one. Slightly smaller than the littlest dSLRs, such as Pentax's *ist DL, the H2's one-pound body is logically designed.

For those keeping score, that makes this screen a half inch smaller than the H1's. The Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H2 is mostly comfortable to use, but I accidentally hit the menu button a number of times during field tests, and the raised dots that add grip for your thumb irritated mine after prolonged use.

the H1. It takes 2.6 seconds to power up the H2 and take the first picture. Time between shots is about average for its class at 1.5 seconds, though it remarkably remains about the same when using flash. Burst mode captures up to 7 fine-quality JPEGs at about 1.5fps. At VGA resolution, the maximum number of shots jumps to 100, but the speed remains the same.

Rating:8/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_Cyber_Shot_DSC_H2/4505-6501_7-31703776-2.html?tag=sub

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CNet has reviewed Netgear RangeMax WN511B adapter. For users who want a new adapter pronto, the Netgear WPNT511 provides especially fast maximum and mixed-mode throughput, while the Belkin Pre-N PC Card includes a more well-balanced mix of short- and long-range speed. (Keep in mind, though, that MIMO-based adapters that were released prior to this Draft N spec use proprietary technology and may not show such good performance when mixed with networking products from other vendors.

Overall, the Netgear WN511B adapter outperformed Linksys's WPC300N Draft N adapter, but it is by no means a killer product. We're still not sold on the performances of the Draft N networking products we've tested so far, and we have a few more to check out. Our recommendation is to be patient and wait to see future iterations of Draft N products.

Rating:6/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Netgear_RangeMax_WN511B_adapter/4505-3380_7-31841161-2.html?tag=sub

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CNet has reviewed Kodak EasyShare V610 Digital Camera. With the EasyShare V610, Kodak takes its innovative dual-lens camera design to its logical conclusion. The company pairs a typical compact-camera 38mm-to-114mm zoom lens with a second 130mm-to-380mm lens, for an effective 10X optical zoom range; a gap remains between 114mm and 130mm. Unlike most big zoom cameras, the 6-megapixel Kodak EasyShare V610 is small and made mostly for snapshooters, so it doesn't include manual exposure controls.

The good thing about Kodak EasyShare V610 is its Small size for 10X optical zoom; innovative dual-lens design; plenty of scene modes; in-camera panorama stitching. Unfortunately, it offers average image quality; no image stabilization; few manual controls; no manual white balance. Overall, As one of the only pocketable cameras with a 10X zoom lens, the Kodak EasyShare V610 is on the cutting edge of design; we just wish the image quality were better.

Rating:7/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Kodak_EasyShare_V610/4505-6501_7-31813552.html?tag=pdtl-list

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CNet has reviewed Sony SDM-S205FB (Black) 20.1" LCD Monitor. The Sony SDM-S205FB is a superior 20-inch LCD made for high-end business users. We were impressed by the display's near-flawless performance, though for its $599 price (Sony originally released this monitor with a $699 price), we're disappointed at the lack of landscape/portrait pivoting abilities and the basic assortment of inputs.

The good part about Sony SDM-S205FB is excellent image quality; classy design; stable base; good range of adjustability; decent cable management solution. But unfortunately it cannot pivot between landscape and portrait; difficult to make ergonomic adjustments; poorly labeled control panel buttons. Overall, line: The 20-inch Sony SDM-S205FB delivers excellent image quality and is a good choice for businesses with money to burn.

Rating:7/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Sony_SDM_S205FB/4505-3174_7-31657341.html?tag=pdtl-list&ar=o

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CNet has reviewed Samsung SyncMaster 204B (Black) 20.1" LCD Monitor. The Samsung SyncMaster 204B looks like a business monitor, but its impressive DVD performance, feature set, and handsome styling make it a viable option for the home as well. We also appreciate its ample flexibility and image adjustability. Compared to other 20-inch LCDs in its $699 price range, however, the SyncMaster 204B delivers a bit less than the HP LP2065, which adds a USB hub to the offering, and the Dell UltraSharp 2007FP, which includes a set of built-in speakers.

The good part about Samsung Syncmaster is its Ample adjustability options; easily accessible image presets; impressive DVD and gaming performance. But it is expensive; subpar screen uniformity; minimal cable management system. Overall, the Samsung SyncMaster 204B can handle productivity and entertainment tasks, but there are less expensive alternatives that offer comparable image quality and superior features.

Rating:7/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Samsung_SyncMaster_204B/4505-3174_7-31676719.html?tag=pdtl-list

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CNet has reviewed Magellan RoadMate 800 GPS Receiver. Yet, while we appreciate the multimedia features and versatility, we're disappointed by the omission of text-to-speech functionality, which was included on the 760. Still, if your main concern is moving from point A to point B without getting lost, the RoadMate 800 can do the job. At $699.99, the RoadMate 800 may be a bit too pricey for some, but when you consider the RoadMate 700 cost nearly $1,300 only two years ago, it's a step in the right direction for consumers.

The good part about Magellan RoadMate 800 is that it comes with maps preloaded on its hard drive and includes entertainment features. It also has solid performance. Unfortunately, the Magellan RoadMate 800 doesn't feature text-to-speech functionality or an FM modulator. Overall, armed with a rechargeable internal battery and entertainment features, the Magellan RoadMate 800 is an accurate nav system you can use in the car or on foot, but it lacks some of the advanced features of its competitors.

Rating:7/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Magellan_RoadMate_800/4505-3430_7-31623201.html?tag=pdtl-list

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CNet has reviewed Canon ZR600 Mini DV Digital Camcorder. Much like its slightly more expensive sibling, the ZR700, Canon's ZR600 performed well in our tests under optimum lighting, while low-light performance yielded significant noise--not uncommon for entry-level Canon camcorders. It boasts a very full feature set for an entry-level model, including a bevy of shooting options, fixed- or variable-speed zoom, and a wide-screen LCD.

The good part about Canon ZR600 is its Wide-screen LCD; easy-to-use controls; built-in lens cover; above-average color reproduction; 25X optical zoom; plenty of manual controls; accepts add-on lenses and filters; low price. But there is no accessory shoe or microphone input; bottom-loading tape compartment; grainy, low-resolution still photos; not enough stabilization at maximum zoom; poor low-light performance. Overall, stick with well-lit environments and you're sure to like the Canon ZR600, a low-priced, feature-rich camcorder.

Rating:7/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Canon_ZR600/4505-6500_7-31660614.html?tag=pdtl-list

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CNet has reviewed AOC A42HD84 42 in. HDTV Plasma Television. The AOC A42HD84 is a budget-priced 42-inch, high-resolution plasma that costs less than most 32-inch LCDs and brings new meaning to the phrase no frills, with virtually no features, limited connectivity, and few options for optimizing the picture.

The good part about AOC A42HD84 is that it is relatively inexpensive; capable of producing reasonably deep blacks; accurate color decoding with no red push; clean video processing with 2:3 pull-down; PC input; distinctive look. On the other hand, Extremely blue color temperature that cannot be adjusted; some false-contouring artifacts in dark scenes; no picture-in-picture; limited connectivity with just one DVI and no HDMI inputs are some of its limitations. Overall, while the AOC A42HD84 is one of the most-affordable 42-inch plasmas on the market, its sparse features and inaccurate color makes it less of a value.

Rating:6/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/AOC_A42HD84/4505-6482_7-31851461.html?tag=pdtl-list

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CNet has reviewed Dell Latitude D520 Laptop. The good thing about this laptop is the Reasonable price; solid mobile performance and battery life; reinforced frame; lots of component choices, including Intel Core Duo processors; onsite service comes standard. But sadly there is no discrete graphics option; lacks a fingerprint sensor; no built-in WWAN capability. Overall, While the Latitude D520 won't wow you in any one respect, its satisfying combination of speed, battery life, features, and price will serve basic business users well.

Rating:6/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Latitude_D520/4505-3121_7-31861593.html?tag=pdtl-list

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CNet has reviewed InFocus IN76 Multimedia Projector. While still not the least expensive HD-resolution DLP on the market, the solid-performing InFocus IN76 still represents a great value, and its unique styling is icing on the cake.
As with many projectors, the InFocus IN76's principal spec is resolution. The projector uses a 1,280x720 native-resolution DLP chip from Texas Instruments, known as the Dark Chip 2 DMD. This particular chip aids in reproducing deeper blacks (see Performance), and like all 1,280x720-resolution chips, it can display every pixel of a 720p HDTV source. All other sources, including HDTV, DVD, and computers, are scaled to fit the native resolution.

The IN76's connectivity is solid, highlighted by an HDMI input, a DVI (for a computer or a second digital video source) input, and a component-video input. We would have liked another component-video input, but at this price, you can't have it all, and the second digital input is the important thing. There's also a composite-video input, an S-Video input, and a RS-232 port, which is useful if you have a home automation system. Additionally, there is a SCART port, which is used mostly in Europe.

Rating:7/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/InFocus_IN76/4505-3180_7-31660598-2.html?tag=sub

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CNet has reviewed MSI Mega Player 536 Audio player. The MSI Mega Player 536 is a sleek portable audio player with a fetching iPod-like styling complete with flat, touch-sensitive buttons. It includes an integrated SD/MMC memory-card slot, an FM tuner, and high-quality line-in recording capabilities--all for a competitive price of $199 for the 8GB version (a 4GB version is available for $149). Unfortunately, a quirky interface, limited file-format support, a subpar display, and so-so battery life drag the player down considerably.

The MSI Mega Player 536's interface is somewhat confusing until you get the hang of it. The main menu has six icons (music, multimedia, file browser, record, radio, and settings) that you select to access the device's main features. Although holding down the menu button pops up a page that provides access to additional features, you wouldn't know it without reading the user guide. The music menu allows navigating tracks by the directories in which they're stored on the device's hard drive or on an inserted memory card. The music menu also has artist and album options, but oddly, you can navigate tracks by those categories only if you've synced the player using Windows Media Player.

Rating:6/10

http://reviews.cnet.com/MSI_Mega_Player_536_8GB_White/4505-6490_7-31840766-2.html?tag=sub

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VR Zone has reviewed A4Tech X-750F Laser Gaming Mouse. Gaming mice are appearing in ever-increasing numbers. Most of them feature high-dpi accuracy, along with other bells and whistles. A4Tech, not to be left out, has also introduced a line of gaming mice. Their X7 series is aimed squarely at gamers, and has several features not found on normal mice. Today, we review the X-750F. The big brother in the X7 series, it uses laser to track movements instead of conventional LEDs, thus offering greater precision and the ability to be used on almost any surface.

The underside of the mouse reveals the 2500dpi laser sensor that the X-750F uses for tracking. The X-750F uses a Agilent 6010 laser sensor, which provides 7080fps according to Agilent. It does not emit much visible light during use, only a small line of laser if you look carefully.

Overall, the X-750F is a decent gaming mouse in most respects.

The 2500dpi laser sensor gives that extra edge in accuracy, and the ergonomics of this mouse are good. The 3xFire button is also a good idea, though it would be better if A4Tech would allow users to reconfigure it, as it currently comes in useful only in very specific situations. The DPI button is useful, and would be more so if the steps between sensitivity were smaller. The driver software is also decent enough and gets the job done, though it lacks any exceptional features and has some minor flaws.

Furthermore, at a RRP of SGD59, I would say that this mouse is worth the buy for the features it provides for gamers.

Rating:8/10

http://sg.vr-zone.com/?i=3363

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ExtremeOC Tech has reviewed Genius HP-04D Headphone. After testing the HP-04D Headphones from Genius we feel that for the price tag they make great all around headphones that do not skip out on quality. There are plenty of other headphones in the price range of these but for the money you would be stupid to turn these bad boys up. They do have there bugs and are a little big but we feel that for the price and the quality you can afford to look a little goofy :) We feel the Genius HP-04D are a must buy item!

The H P-04D is the professional Hi-Fi stereo headphone set for music fans, no matter if you have a home studio, CD or MP3 player. The HP-04D includes two driver units to produce accurate sound quality. Features also include the adjustable headband, comfortable ear-pads, and on-line volume control.

Rating:9/10

http://www.extremeoctech.com/index.php?ind=reviews&op=entry_view&iden=14

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Game Pyre has reviewed Toca:3 Drive Racer PC Game. Though there’s a lacking storyline, the wide branching storyline, slick and stylish graphics, along with that little bit extra brought on by just how fumed the other drivers on the road can get with you, TOCA Race Driver 3 really holds it’s roots in this corner of the racing simulation market. Through a huge series of impressive races, you'll learn how to handle the most beastly cars along the performance racing roads, a feat that only the very few with talent (read, not me) will be able to accomplish. With that in mind, any fans of any racing title out there on the digital roads won't have any problems digging into this title – it’s worth the drive.

Rating:8/10

http://www.gamepyre.com/reviewsd.html?aid=714&p=1

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3dGameMan has reviewed HIS X1800GTO Turbo 256MB Video Card. Need to get in the game, but don't want to break the bank? Well, this video card offers great performance and features at an affordable price. The core speed on this product is 520MHz, which is 20MHz over the default X1800 GTO core speed. 256MBs of GDDR3 memory at 1000MHz is also a plus. It also comes with 12 pixel shader processors that will have no problem powering through the latest games. And let's not forget, its crossfire ready!"

For the ultimate in performance gaming, HIS X1800 Series drives graphic performance to new heights with incredible speed, performance and intense 3D graphics. Offering mind-blowing graphics acceleration and high quality video playback, HIS X1800 combines a radically new ultra-threaded core 3D architecture supports Shader Model 3.0 and delivers new High Dynamic Range visual effects, enhanced realism with adaptive anti-aliasing and lightening fast performance. A 512-bit ring-bus memory controller and up to 512 MB GDDR3 RAM.
The HIS X1800 Series is a perfect high-end solution for gamers looking for the ultimate performance.

Rating:8/10

http://www.3dgameman.com/content/view/1709/47/

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PC Mag has reviewed Sonos ZonePlayer 80. Using a wireless network, the ZonePlayer 80 lets you play the thousands of digital music files that are on your PC's hard drive on your stereo system. Buy additional modules ($349 each) and you can wirelessly connect every audio device in your home and control them all with the easy-to-use remote.

This is a truly excellent wireless audio solution for people who already have a good home stereo system and audio playback devices in multiple rooms. And it's surprisingly easy to set up.

Compact. Excellent audio quality. Broad file format support. Very easy setup.

No WM DRM, FairPlay, or WMA Lossless support. No photo support. Controller lacks a headphone output.

Each unit has analog RCA inputs and outputs plus optical and coaxial digital outputs on the back and mute and volume buttons on the front. I like that they don't take up much space, and since they work via Wi-Fi, you can keep them totally hidden if you want. They also have integrated power supplies, so there's just a power cord—no brick. The controller has a 3.5-inch 320- by 240-pixel color LCD, a touch-sensitive scroll wheel, and nine backlit buttons. The built-in rechargeable battery, which takes about 2 hours to charge fully, lasts from two to five days, depending on what settings you're using and how much you use it.

Rating:8/10

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1956076,00.asp

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Pocket Lint has reviewed Panasonic CF-18 Toughbook Tablet PC. The armoured-body measures 271mm wide, by 216mm long by 49mm deep and weighs in at 2.1kg. To keep the weight down, the outer shell is constructed from a magnesium alloy, 20 times harder that standard ABS plastic.

All the standard ports are sealed with rubber-bung style plugs to prevent the dust and moisture from the outside, getting inside. The larger doors, that cover the 6.5hour battery, PCMCIA and SD slots and removable hard drive have a locking mechanisms that would sub-mariners envious and extra work has gone into the construction of the high stress areas of the tablets screen hinge and main release catch, both looking like they’ve been designed with roadies in mind.

Toughbook also offer an GPS package, so once in great outdoors users can not only tell you exactly what the situation is, but exactly where they are as well. Panasonic have also opted to add an SD media slot, next to the two PCMCIA slots, located under the locking door on the left hand side, presumably as the many other devices in the range use this type of removable media.

VERDICT Overall I can see why the CF-18 is the professionals’ choice. The hardened outer shell, shock-proof drive and dust and water resistant casing makes it idea for people on the move with difficult job to do, who their computer to function in any and all circumstances. The price and the lack of supplied combo-drive make it less attractive to the wider market but the smallish keyboard may also preclude news staff from selecting the CF-18 as the computer they take to the frontlines, which is a shame as the larger, 13.3inch Toughbook C-29, is 1.6kg heavier.

Rating:8/10

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/review.php?reviewId=1523

Posted by Melody at 06:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

DC Resource has reviewed Olympus EVOLT E-330 Digital Camera. I t's the first digital SLR with a real "live view" on the LCD -- just like on the point-and-shoot digicam you may already own. This type of camera has been the subject of rumors for quite some time, with most people figuring that there would be an electronic viewfinder in place of the traditional optical viewfinder.

For regular shooting, there's "Live Mode A". Near the viewfinder, Olympus has placed a second image sensor (the same one as on the Stylus 800, apparently), which captures the light coming through the lens (after bouncing off a few mirrors), and then sends it to the LCD for the live view. As far as I know, something like this has never been done before.

But wait, there's more. The E-330's main sensor -- called a Live MOS (similar to CMOS) -- can also be used for live viewing (called "Live Mode B" this time). Since the mirror is flipped out of the way, the autofocus system cannot function, so this mode is for manual focusing only. The quality of the live image produced by the 7.5 Megapixel Live MOS sensor is much better than the one with the secondary sensor, and as an added bonus you can digitally enlarge the view by as much as ten times -- and move around in the zoomed-in area -- perfect for ensuring proper (manual) focus.

Many of the other features on the E-330 are unchanged from the E-300 that it replaces. You still have Olympus' exclusive dust reduction system, full manual controls, a hot shoe, and support for all Zuiko Digital lenses. One thing not going for the E-330 is its price: it costs $200 more than Olympus' own E-500, $300 more than the Canon Rebel XT, and a whopping $450 more than the Nikon D50!

Something else to note: the camera does not give a "preview" of the selected white balance setting on the screen. So if you change to something else, you won't know the results until the photo is taken. Also, in Live Mode A you'll see 92% of the frame, as opposed to 100% in Mode B -- something to keep in mind when you're composing your shots.

One thing that thankfully didn't disappear on the E-330 is its optical viewfinder, which shows 95% of the frame. To the right of the field-of-view is an info display showing current settings and shots remaining, but it is disabled while using the live view feature. A diopter correction knob on the left side of the viewfinder focuses what you're looking at, and there's a switch for closing the viewfinder as well.

Rating:8/10

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/olympus/e330-review/index.shtml

Posted by Melody at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Mobile Review has reviewed Nokia 6103 phone. This handset fits nicely into one’s palm, and it is quite easy to open it with one hand, because of pretty big deepening along the case.

Case is made of proof plastic, its quality is fine. 6103, unlike its predecessor, has different case surface, 6101’s surface was easily soiled, and now it’s replaced with rougher one, which reminds of rubber by tactile feeling. This solution made operating the handset a far more enjoyable activity. And you are not aware that the phone may slip out of your hand. The only disadvantage of such surface is that at certain angle you can see stains that originate from your hands.

Coupled volume button is set on left side. Our sample had pretty big backlash, that’s why it was always trembling, it isn’t a loud sound, more of annoying one. There are no concerns about keys layout, while talking, you will easily find this button and adjust the volume.

The device provides normal connection quality causing no problems. Almost in any case you'll find the loudspeaker volume and microphone sensitivity enough. The 40-tones polyphony sounds well, MP3 files can serve as call melodies. Speakerphone is present; it can be turned on pressing the right functional key during a conversation. The realization is average, the volume is enough not always.

Voice dialing feature works smoothly, phone recognizes your voice almost every time. In order to activate this function, you should just hold Answer key on your phone, or on headset.

Rating:8/10

http://www.mobile-review.com/review/nokia-6103-en.shtml

Posted by Melody at 06:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Notebook Review has reviewed LG S1 notebook. The LG S1 was awarded with a 2006 German "Red Dot" design award, a quote from the award description of this laptop: "The 15.4-inch wide screen S1 Express Dual notebook boasts a glossy piano-black design. It sports outstanding multimedia features with Intel Centrino Duo Mobile Technology, and the latest video (ATI Mobility Radeon X1K series) and audio technology.

It also provides the maximum level of security with an embedded security chip called TPM and a fingerprint reader. The S1 Express Dual notebook PC is expected to set the standard for cutting edge notebook PC design thanks to its Red dot Design Award 2006."

The keyboard is well built with a full 99-keys, including a dedicated number pad -- a very unique feature in a 15.4" screen laptop. However, the spaces between the keys looks a bit too big and I fear this area cause it to collect a lot of dust in the keyboard in the future.

The notebook casing is plastic, but not a cheap type of plastic as it feels very strong and the screen doesn't bend easily at all. The only thing I'm really missing from a design and build perspective is that there is no latch to hook the screen to the body with, I feel that would provide a more secure closing mechanism.

After checking the market for a while before buying this laptop I have came to a conclusion that this is probably the strongest 15.4" laptop out there. After using it for a little while I'm pretty sure I was right: this laptop has no big weaknesses and the only part that I would truly like to see improved is the screen brightness. It's a perfect desktop replacement.

Rating:9/10

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2920&review=LG+S1

Posted by Melody at 06:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

T-Break published a review on the Toshiba Qosmio G20 Laptop. The notebook is huge and heavy, however, its supposed to be a Desktop Replacement and not one that you carry around with you. Considering that, the size and the 4.3Kg weight can be justified. Looks-wise, we like the slick black coating, however, its extremely prone to finger prints. The front side of the laptop has a slot-in Optical drive that writes dual layer and ± DVDs.

The G20 is a multi-media powerhouse based on Microsoft's Windows XP Media Center edition and is designed to be a desktop replacement. Toshiba bundles the notebook with a Media Center Remote control as well as IR blasters that basically send IR signals to your cable/satellite box for changing channels through Media Center. Also included are A/V cables, installation/recovery media and the power adaptor which is of average size.

The right side of the notebook has two USB ports, audio ports as well as the modem jack while the left side features expansion card slots, a Firewire port and a card reader. Finally, the back has display inputs and outputs such as DSUB, S-Video and component as well as the power adapter connector and the Network socket.

Rating:7/10

http://www.tbreak.com/reviews/article.php?id=445

Posted by Melody at 09:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

PC Stats has reviewed Seasonic S12 600W Power Supply. Seasonic's flagship power supply is its S12 600 and computer enthusiasts have put this bad boy in the same category as PC Power & Cooling, Fortron Group and Silverstone units, that's some pretty select company! The Seasonic S12 600 is SLI certified, that itself is already like a badge of honor and it is fully ATX 2.0 compatible. The Seasonic S12 600 retails for $171 CDN ($155 US, £83 GBP) but that's a pretty aggressive price for a top of the line PSU.

The Seasonic S12 600 is standard ATX size at 139 x 150 x 85mm which is good news if you're using a tight case. Many of the enthusiast class power supplies that are 500W+ are physically larger than the Seasonic S12 600 which can cause space restriction problems. Please note that the Seasonic S12 600 only has one exhaust fan so it's vital that it is not blocked.

The Seasonic S12 600 powersupply uses Active Power Factor Correction (A-PFC). A-PFC circuitry eliminates the need for an external voltage level switch (115/230) on the powersupply since it works with a wider voltage range (115VAC of North America to 230VAC of Europe) by default than PFC-based powersupplies.

Rating:7/10

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1949

Posted by Melody at 04:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Photography Blog has reviewed Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX01 Digital Camera. The Panasonic DMC-FX01 is the smallest digital camera in the world with a 28mm wide-angle digital zoom lens. The FX01 offers a 28-102mm, 3.6x zoom lens in a stylish and ultra-compact body. The Panasonic FX01 also features a 6 megapixel sensor, 2.5 inch LCD screen, and as with all Panasonic cameras, the company's MEGA O.I.S optical image stabilisation system for shake-free photos.

The Panasonic DMC-FX01 offers Auto, Simple and Macro exposure modes plus 16 different scene modes (Portrait, Soft Skin, Scenery, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Self Portrait, Food, Party, Candle Light, Fireworks, Starry Sky, Baby, Snow, High Sensitivity, Water). The maximum aperture is f2.8 (wide) – f5.6 (tele), and the shutter speed range is 60 secs. – 1/2000th sec. There are 4 ISO speeds ranging from 80 to 400, an Auto option and a new High Sensitivity Mode that allows ISO 800-1600 at a reduced image resolution. There are 5 different White Balance presets to choose from (Daylight, Cloudy, Halogen, Flash, White Set), plus an Auto setting and White Balance Adjustment (150K step, -1500K - +1500K). The camera offers exposure compensation in ± 2 in 1/3 EV steps and auto-bracketing is available.

Rating:9/10

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_panasonic_lumix_dmc_fx01.php

Posted by Melody at 04:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Steves Digicams has reviewed Olympus Stylus 720 SW Digital Camera. The Stylus 720 SW can withstand a 5-foot drop, shoot under water up to 10 feet, and combines light, durable body construction and shock-absorbing materials throughout the interior. The stylish and compact Stylus 720 SW offers 7.1 megapixels of resolution, a 3x internal zooming lens, 2.5” LCD, Bright Capture Technology, Digital Image Stabilization Mode and much more. Designed for everyday use yet versatile and rugged enough to shoot on the mountain, at the game, at the party, on the beach or up to ten feet underwater.

The Stylus 720 SW is packed with a wealth of premium features such a large 2.5” LCD and Olympus’ exclusive Bright Capture Technology providing dramatically improved shooting in low-light conditions – indoor, sunset, night time, and underwater. The combination of Olympus’ TruePic TURBO Image Processor and the 7.1-megapixel image sensor capture crisp, high-quality images fast. And the 28 shooting modes – including Digital Image Stabilization Mode – offer maximum versatility for shooting in most any situation.

Built with durable materials and shock-absorption technology that minimizes the impact delivered to the lens and circuitry, the Stylus 720 SW delivers superior durability in a premium point-and-shoot digital camera. Swimming, surfing, hiking, climbing, mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding – the 720 SW performs in any conditions. The all-weather exterior with rubber gaskets and O-rings allows the camera to shoot under water to depths up to 10 feet. If you want to go deeper, the optional PT-033 underwater housing enables the camera to shoot at depths up to 130 feet.

Rating:9/10

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/stylus720.html

Posted by Melody at 04:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

DC Views has reviewed Nikon Coolpix S5 Digital Camera. The latest addition to Nikon's expanding range of digital compacts in the S-range is the Nikon Coolpix S5, an ultra slim 6-megapixel model with a strong metal body. It combines simplicity of operation with high-quality image performance and a multitude of scene exposure modes while using a new Pictmotion photo sharing technology for in-camera slide shows with smooth transitions and added music.

The Coolpix S5 incorporates a Nikon ED f/3.0-5.4 35-105mm optical zoom lens with 12 elements in 10 groups and a range of in-camera features such as Nikon's D-lighting technology as well as in-camera Red-Eye Fix. Its sister model the Nikon S6 even comes with built-in Wi-Fi for wireless photo transfer to MAC or PC and an even bigger 3.0" LCD screen.

Holding the camera takes some getting used to as the ultra thin body with wave shaped contour does not provide much grip for single handed operation, whereas the position of the lens means that it is quite easy to cover it with your left index finger when holding the camera with two hands. Build quality is very good. The Nikon S5 feels solid and durable and all controls have that feeling of real quality to them, as we have come to expect from Nikon cameras.

Despite some rather obvious shortcomings such as the tiny controls and reflective LCD screen coupled to the average lens quality, the Nikon S5 would still make a nice addition to the family’s photographic gear as an elegant ladies' camera, to capture the kids at play or to record snapshots on holiday. Its durable built and solid construction will ensure many years of trouble free use although we feel the price is a bit steep compared to the competition. Despite some of its nifty gadgets though, the serious enthusiast would probably be more tempted to buy a model with a higher level of user control if they intend to take their hobby further.

Rating:7/10

http://www.dcviews.com/reviews/Nikon-S5/Nikon-S5-review.htm

Posted by Melody at 04:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Laptop Logic has reviewed Kensington Notebook Expansion Dock with Stand. While the Kensington Expansion Dock with Stand has more mainstream appeal than a 25-In-1 SmartMedia card reader, many people shy away from purchasing them because they are seen as unnecessary. Many docks just put your laptop on a pedestal in order to improve the computer’s cooling abilities, but the Kensington Expansion Dock with Stand promises to turn your notebook computer into an ergonomic and comfortable desktop experience. With its SmartFit adjustment system the stand can stand taller or stouter in order to put the laptop’s LCD screen right at the user’s eyelevel.

If you are in the market for a laptop stand and port replicator or hate being hunched over your laptop when sitting at a desk, I’d recommend the Kensington Expansion Dock and Stand because of its easy setup, features, and styling. However, if you are just shopping around for a new accessory for your notebook or are budget conscious I would stay away. $169.99 is a high price to pay for such a niche .

Rating:8/10

http://www.laptoplogic.com/reviews/detail.php?id=118

Posted by Melody at 04:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Laptop Magazine has reviewed Kensington SX2000 Computer Speakers. Kensington has firmly cornered the market for speaker docks that resemble cartoon dialogue bubbles. The design is certainly unique, comprised of a dock and buttons at one end, and a large, flat-paneled NXT speaker jutting out on the other. The Kensington gets docked 0.5 stars for being the only stationary set in the roundup that doesn’t come with its own remote, not too surprising when one considers that the SX2000’s main selling point seems to be its low price.

The sound quality isn’t bad for a single flat panel, but it hardly competes with the richness offered up on the Klipsch iGroove and Bose SoundDock, especially when pushed to high volumes. The audio output became tinny when dealing with bass-heavy songs like The Gorillaz “Feel Good Inc.” A noticeable hiss is also detectable at low volumes. For those looking for an extremely original (if polarizing) design at almost half the price of many of its competitors, the SX2000 isn’t a bad way to go.

Rating:6/10

http://laptopmag.com/Review/Kensington-SX2000.htm

Posted by Melody at 03:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Notebook Review has reviewed Sony VAIO FE590 notebook. The Sony VAIO FE590 is a fully customizable 15.4" Core Duo based laptop. It comes with an optional motion eye camera, the choice between an nVidia 7400 Go graphics card or Intel 950 integrated graphics, Bluetooth, Core Duo processor, up to 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, and a DVD Burner.

As of mid last year Sony no longer sends any software discs with their laptops, all drivers and other programs are installed on a hidden partition on the laptops hard drive. This means there is a massive amount of bloatware pre-installed and the registry was a bit of a mess too, something I don't expect in a new computer.

Design wise the VAIO FE strongly resembles the older Pentium M based VAIO FS series. The VAIO FE has a magnesium lid and base while the palm rest is of a plastic construction. While many people described it to me as being white before I purchased it, upon receiving the laptop its look is most definitely grey. The lid is quite smooth feeling despite having a textured look to it. This notebook stays very cool, even with the laptop running for extended periods of time.

The design does have a few flaws; one of the vents on the base of the laptop is often covered by my legs and as such can get a bit warm. The ports on the side and the front of the laptop are very annoyingly positioned with the headphone and microphone sockets at the front and the remaining ports on the right. Another common problem with the design is the very loose battery. Unless the battery is locked in it will fall out quite regularly, even if you do not touch the release. Even when it is locked it rattles a fair bit.

Overall I'm extremely happy with this notebook as it's very powerful in every application I use it for. Despite its flaws I would definitely recommend this notebook if you're after something lightweight and with a great screen.

Rating:8/10

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2913&review=Sony+FE590

Posted by Melody at 01:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Brighthand has reviewed T-Mobile MDA Pocket PC Phone. Unlike the squarish design of most of its relatives, the MDA has a more rounded organic styling, complete with a raised diamond pattern covering the back. This pattern doesn't actually do anything, but it does serve the important purpose of making the device feel good to hold. The more curvy styling also helps in this regard, making the MDA a slightly more hand-friendly device than the others.

The build quality on the MDA is excellent, but I wouldn't expect anything less from an HTC device. You can rely on these things to stand up to the normal rigors of wear and tear without too much difficulty.

A key flaw of the Wizard's design is the button configuration. The bottom front panel only contains four buttons: two softkeys and two phone keys. Absent are two buttons you need for proper one-handed navigation: the Start and OK/Close buttons. Without these, you can't drive the device with one hand. This, however, can be remedied with a piece of freeware whipped up by some dedicated coders from the enthusiast website XDA-Developers.com, which allows you to use the phone keys for double duty by pressing and holding them. A pity that this wasn't included with the device out of the box.

I actually prefer the T-Mobile MDA a bit over the Cingular 8125, despite the fact that they have identical internal hardware. The design of the MDA is more rounded, and fits more comfortably into the hand, than does the more squared-off 8125. That said, the devices are almost exactly alike: solidly designed and built, data oriented, GSM handheld with very few frills.

Rating:7/10

http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=12194

Posted by Melody at 01:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Trusted Reviews has reviewed Sharp LC-32GD7E 32-inch LCD TV. Provided you like your TVs to glint like an Aston Martin in the sun, you’ll lap up the 32GD7E’s looks. Clad all over in a resplendently metallic ‘Titanium’ finish, it’s the very definition of futuristic chic. This means its design appeal is perhaps rather ‘blokish’ – but then ladies of the house might still be won over by the space saving nature of its unusually slender screen frame.

The 32GD7E isn’t quite as well connected as might be hoped from a TV that resides in the higher echelons of Sharp’s range. Single HDMI and component jacks cater for the industry’s ‘HD Ready’ connectivity requirements when at least two digital jacks would have been appreciated; and there are only two SCARTs when we’d really have liked three. At least the set provides PC support via a 15-pin D-SUB port, and there’s a card slot for adding subscription services to the basic channels received by the built-in digital tuner.

Did we say digital tuner? Indeed we did. What’s more, although at launch a couple of months back this TV couldn’t handle the Freeview 7-day electronic programme guide, we’re pleased to report that recent upgrades mean the set can now deliver all the digital TV EPG functionality we’ve come to know and love.

Rating:7/10

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2812

Posted by Melody at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Digital Reviews has reviewed PowerColor X1800 GTO Graphics Card. The product comes with the usual driver CD, a Quick Installation guide, as well as a CD containing a bunch of CyberLink software. This includes PowerDVD, PowerProducer, Power2Go, PowerDVD Copy, MusicMatch, MediaShow, PowerDirector, and PowerBackup. I would recommend checking out CyberLink's product website for more information about these specific products. Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed that the product did not come with any additional games.

With graphics cards becoming more powerful, it is to no surprise that graphics cards are getting larger. Compared with older graphics cards, this one is a bit heavier and longer. There is the typical aluminum heatsink covering the majority of the board with small fan behind it. There is the recognizable 'Ruby' character holding a sword on the heatsink.

Looking at the side of the card are two DVI ports as well as an SVideo port. The two DVI ports potentially allow you to hook up two monitors to the card to allow a dual display. Do not worry if you don't have a monitor with a DVI port or not. There is an included DVI to VGA converter to allow you connect any monitor to the card.

With a retail price of $250, the X1800 GTO is a reasonable price. On the other hand, the X1800 XT is $50 at a retail price of $300 which offers significant performance because of 16 pixel shaders as opposed to the 12 pixel shaders on the GTO. On the other hand, you get a graphics card in the X1800 series which has support for pixel shader 3.0 and HDR.

Rating:7/10

http://digitalreviews.net/reviews/200605/powercolorx1800gto.html

Posted by Melody at 02:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Guru of 3D posted a review on the HiS X1900 XT ICEQ3 Video Card. Whow .. this card is better than expected isn't it ? What HiS managed to present here today is a card above the rest of the manufacturers by once again presenting a really good package. First off, you get everything you'll need to get this card up and running. Secondly I was honestly surprised by the overclocking results as we (at this point) have not been able to push it to the maximum. Thirdly obviously has to be the integration of ICEQ3 cooling. I have to admit a was a little weary as I expected the solution to cool a tad better. None-the-less the overclock proof that it's working really well and heat is pushed away easily.

If we look purely at the board itself then the layout is 100% similar towards ATI's reference design. You know .. I would LOVE to see a black PCB for a change .. something .. really !

But hey .. obviously this card is a beast. The performance the card is delivering gaming wise is just breathtaking and image quality fantastic. You should see Lost Coast at 1920x1200 with 4xAA, 16xAF, HDR enabled and with every possible IQ setting at high. Breathtaking stuff, really. The 48 active shader cores the new Radeon X1900 series have ... the idea as it is right now is really clever as I intend to believe that Shaders are so friggin important these days for games. But will it be enough? Suffice to say that complex shaded games now and in the future will definitely form a fantastic symbiosis with the Radeon X1900 XT. Any game we tested was performing ridiculously fast it was spectacular to see yet I do have to admit that the Ghost recon Advanced Warfighter game can bring this card to it's knees for sure.

Some advice if you plan to invest large sum of money into graphics cards like these:

You need to play games at the highest resolutions.
You need to have a need for playing with image quality settings enabled
You need to bare in mind that you need a screamingly fast PC in terms of your processor as a high-end graphics card needs to be bound to a high-end processor. I'm Talking Athlon 3500+ and upwards and Pentium 4 3.6 GHz as a bare minimum.

So although not exactly the cheapest in it's segment, the HiS Radeon X1900 XT with IceQ cooling is prepared for the future and a card that'll last for a while. The performance and image quality this graphics card is showing of in pretty much any game and is short from spectacular. High end graphics cards come with a robust price tag though and with this cooler expect a tag of 549 USD.

Rating:8/10

http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/342/

Posted by Melody at 11:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ExtremeTech posted a review on DAS Keyboard II. Like the original Das Keyboard, the Das Keyboard II has an all-black exterior and completely blank keys, but its key action uses gold-plated mechanical switches. Pressing these "clicky" keys will conjure flashbacks of the old IBM Model M keyboards that provided very responsive tactile feedback. The 104-key USB keyboard also has five different weight zones in which different keys require different amounts of pressure to press down. This means that keys that we strike with our pinkies will require less force to press down compared with keys that we would press down with our index or thumb fingers.

Though the blank black keys are the main selling point of the keyboard, it isn't necessarily the only thing that makes the Das Keyboard an interesting input device. The build quality, tactile feedback, and sheer look and design are important considerations toward getting people to fork over some dough for this keyboard.

Rating:8/10

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1956797,00.asp?kc=ETRSS02129TX1K0000532

Posted by Melody at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Laptop Magazine reviewed the Dell XPS M1710, a gaming laptop based on an Intel Core Duo processor and a nVidia Go 7900 GPU. Not long ago, Dell’s XPS M170 blazed through our performance benchmarks to become our top gaming notebook. Now the company has unleashed an even faster model in the XPS M1710, which sports two important upgrades: Intel’s Core Duo T2600 processor (for better multitasking power) and a shiny new Nvidia Go 7900 GPU (for better 3D eye candy). The results are impressive, but this beauty will cost you. The base price is $3,400, and our model runs a whopping $4,215.

Inside the clamshell is a more pleasing, simplified layout. A big keyboard (sans number pad) delivers large and very responsive keys. The tracking pad has a backlit XPS logo (surprisingly useful when gaming in the dark), and the mouse buttons are large and have a softer, easier feel compared to other systems in this class. An uncluttered set of media controls rides above the keyboard. One of the keys activates Dell's Media Direct software, which accesses music, photos, and DVDs without booting Windows.

The 17-inch TrueLife display has the same 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution as the XPS M170, but it’s noticeably brighter. With the processing power available, that means incredibly detailed gaming performance with huge frame rates. The display is also excellent for viewing movies and TV. No built-in TV tuner is present, but an optional external TV tuner and remote costs $130. Dell has gone with an integrated subwoofer to complement the two front-mounted speakers. The result is a meatier sound than most notebooks offer.

Rating:9/10

http://laptopmag.com/Review/Dell-XPS-M1710.htm

Posted by Melody at 04:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

PC World has reviewed Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital ELPH / IXUS 800 Digital Camera. Digital Elphs are known for their high-quality construction, but the SD700 IS seems designed to take that reputation to a new level. This miniature metal brick, with shiny accents in just the right places, looks like the sort of camera you'd see Pierce Brosnan pull out of his double-breasted blazer pocket. Nevertheless, some people may dislike it because it's chunkier and heavier than many other point-and-shoots..

Canon's new PowerShot SD700 IS Digital Elph point-and-shoot digital camera has image stabilization to help it compensate for shaky hands, but at $500 it's not a good choice for people with shaky finances. Price aside, however, its features make it one of the most sophisticated cameras in its class.

The camera has an admirably long zoom lens (4X magnification), and its image stabilization should be especially handy when you're zoomed all the way in. In addition, you can use the new high-ISO mode to shoot fast action or in low light; a dedicated ISO button on the back selects this mode (it's actually ISO 800).

The camera focuses swiftly and easily, even when I attempted to beat its image stabilization system. It starts up quickly and takes pictures as fast as you can press the shutter release. (However, if you hold the shutter down, the camera won't take another picture until you release the button; instead, it will show you your last picture.) The quickness makes the camera more usable overall because you don't have to worry about compensating for shutter lag, for example.

After having played with it for a couple of days, I think the SD700 IS is pretty nifty. It combines moderately small size, a great LCD, image stabilization, and awesome build quality. But it's not cheap. If you're looking for a digital camera to suit your personal style, the SD700 IS could be the one--if your style includes dressing up and dining at jackets-required restaurants.

Rating:7/10

http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,125602,00.asp

Posted by Melody at 03:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ExtremeMHz has reviewed Silverstone EB01 Premium Digital To Analog Converter. The EB01 is an elegantly designed USB digital to analog converter capable of providing quality stereo sound. When it comes to any product that Silverstone does put out, build quality is the last thing you'll need to worry about. The EB01 is primarily made of quality brushed aluminum and is quite pleasing to look at. They always go out of their way to make their products as unique as possible, right down to the bold curvy design of the EB01 and their super imrpessive new Temjin TJ07 that is constructed using automotive machinery. When it comes to build quality and design, not corners are cut and is why I respect them highly.

The front features two status LED's, illuminated in blue to indicate power and play functions. On the rear of the unit, you'll find two RCA out jacks and your USB port. Overall, the EB01 is designed to blend in well with today's high-end home theater setups and is also available in silver.

The Silverstone EB01 is not an audio card replacement nor a piece of gaming hardware, but rather a highly unique product that will certainly appeal to those looking to build a home theater PC. It provides you with an easy way to output audio from your HTPC to your home stereo/theater system with a simple USB connection. That's exactly what it does and does it well. However, I was a bit disappointed with the volume levels. Even turning my home theater system to its highest volume did not yield better results. For those with super high-end receivers/amplifiers, this should not be a problem at all. In terms of it's design, it is what you'd come to expect from Silverstone...bleeding edge technology and aesthetics to please. Considering they even offer a silver model, these will blend in well with any modern home audio setup.

Rating:7/10

http://www.extrememhz.com/eb01-p1.shtml

Posted by Melody at 03:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Infosyncworld has reviewed BlackBerry 8700g cellular phone. With the arrival of the 8700g (announced last month during CTIA in Las Vegas), T-Mobile injects some life into its aging lineup of BlackBerry devices, which hasn’t seen a serious new handset (besides a small update to the compact 7100t) in more than a year. Besides the GPRS-only 7290, T-Mobile users have had to make do with the 7105t, a consumer-oriented BlackBerry with a slimmer form factor but a tricky, pseudo-QWERTY keypad. The new 8700g (also available on Cingular as the 8700c) takes the features of the 7290 and adds EDGE support to the mix, along with a speakerphone and mapping/driving directions (courtesy of Google Local)..

The 8700g’s 65,000-color, 320 x 240-pixel display looked sharp and rich to our eyes, although the display was (as expected) tough to see in direct spotlight. The handset’s icon-driven main menu looked colorful and vibrant, as did the full-color images we saw on the Web browser.

We had little trouble typing on the roomy RIM keyboard, although we wish numeric keys and common symbols (such as the period and the comma) merited their own keys; instead, they’re relegated to second-banana status on the letter keys. We also noticed that (on our review model, at least), the entire thumbboard was rattling around a bit inside the plastic 8700g shell; it had no effect on typing and didn’t seem in danger of coming completely loose, but we wish the keypad felt more solid. Back on the plus side, the 8700g is the first BlackBerry with dedicated “call”, “end”, and “mute” keys (the mute control sits on the top edge of the device), and we liked the side and front “convenience” keys, which you can assign to launch any of the 8700g’s various apps.

The quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900) 8700g has an Intel XScale processor under the hood, along with a decent 64MB of flash memory and 16MB SDRAM; in our tests, we found the handset to be relatively zippy (although none of the apps on the 8700g are terribly demanding). The phone also supports T-Mobile’s 2.5G EDGE network, making for speedy (if not bone-rattling) surfing on the RIM Web browser.

Rating:7/10

http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/n/6648.html

Posted by Melody at 03:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

HardwareZone has reviewed ASUS S6F leather notebook. Already renowned as one of the leading names in notebooks and notebook manufacturing, it came as no surprise when ASUS dropped a bombshell in the form of S6F on our laps. Immediately, the unique selling point of this lightweight, portable computing machine is for all to see where instead of using polycarbonate plastic, brushed aluminum or carbon fiber panels, the finishing was, for the first time, done with genuine leather. Color availability is currently limited to a rather bright orange-brown shade, but we were assured that a few colors (including a contemporary gray) would be released throughout the remaining months of 2006...

Though the leather panel does project luxury that other notebooks couldn't, the S6F is literally more than just skin deep where quality is concerned. Gaps in seams are tight, reflecting a high level of manufacturing while finishing of the metallic chassis speaks volumes of the meticulous craftsmanship that went into the S6F. From any angle you care to inspect the notebook, you would be hard pressed to find much, if any, aesthetics or engineering shortcomings with the leather-clad 1.6kg compact. In fact, so much thought went into the aesthetics of the S6F that ASUS ensured the notebook had a smooth homogenous finish by covering up the several connectivity jacks (RJ-11 modem, RJ-45 Ethernet, two USB ports and microphone input) at the side with a flap that blends in seamlessly with the design. Build quality aside and moving into using the notebook, audio handling was expectedly on the soft side, but this is often the case with lightweight, portable notebooks.

All things considered, the ASUS S6F is a notebook that not only looks the part, but is also one that performs as expected of its US$2,330 price tag. The best incentive of getting the S6F however is the promise of exclusivity due of its steep asking price and because you want to indulge yourself in all things leather; notebooks included.

Rating:9/10

http://www.hardwarezone.com/news/view.php?id=4442&cid=9

Posted by Melody at 03:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hexus.net has reviewed Evesham Technology V32EMRO-ZE3 32-inch LCD TV. With the World Cup just around the corner and the Beeb promising high-definition broadcasts a-plenty, along with Sky recently introducing its range of HD services, there's never been a better time to plonk down your hard-earned cash and invest in an LCD TV. Attrition between competiting companies has brought the average online price of a reasonable 32-inch set down to under £1,000. That's not low enough for LOW (Lowest On Web), a division of Evesham Technology. It's selling an HDMI-equipped 32-inch LCD TV, complete with 3-year warranty and delivery, for £749 including VAT.

The remote is what you'll be interfacing with on a day-to-day basis, and Evesham's can be considered average. The central section controls the major features of the screen but the lower buttons, relating to the TV's PiP control, are a little too small for comfort. The remote carries all the important buttons you'll need, including aspect-ratio control, picture control, and input switching. The major changes are made via an intuitive on-screen menu.

Sound quality is surprisingly good for an LCD TV, helped by the large speakers on either side producing a crisp, punchy sound that goes loud enough to annoy your neighbours. The usual range of fine-tuning options are available under the sound subscreen.

Evesham's V32EMRO-V3 LCD TV provides decent HD performance but is rather let down by SD feeds, exhibiting blocking and a slight lack of detail when compared to a Samsung 32R51BD, a similarly priced display. Black colours, too, are decent but not the best for a £749 display. It's not a bad display by any means but the rapidly changing nature of LCD specs will leave it somewhat outdated in just a few months.

Rating:8/10

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=5430

Posted by Melody at 03:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TrustedReviews has reviewed the LG 32LX2R 32-inch LCD TV. It’s certainly a winner on the style front. Its glossy black and silver colour scheme might not exactly be original, but its combination of sumptuous curves, back-lit logos and reflective panels nonetheless make the set stand proud from the crowd. And more importantly, of course, the design adds a real touch of sophistication to your living room.

Connectivity is impressive for a 32in LCD TV costing just a grand. For starters there are not one but two digital video inputs: one HDMI and one DVI. With multiple HDMI/DVI-requiring devices incoming, such as Sky’s high definition receiver, Toshiba’s HD-DVD player and Sony’s PS3, having more than one digital video input on a TV is becoming increasingly desirable. Both the LG’s digital jacks can be set to take high definition video or PC feeds too, and they’re supported by component video inputs, a pair of SCARTs and all the other more basic video alternatives.

A search for features on the 32LX2R quickly uncovers a disappointment: there’s only a built-in analogue tuner, not a digital one. With this in mind it might have been nice if LG had provided a third SCART socket, since many buyers will have to use one of the two that are provided for attaching some sort of digital receiver. But we guess we won’t harp on about this too much given that the set carries one digital input more than the vast majority of its rivals.

Rating:7/10

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2804

Posted by Melody at 01:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TrustedReviews has reviewed Eizo FlexScan S2410W LCD Monitor. As it stands, the S2410W is a chunky old beast, and dare I say typical of previous Eizo angular designs. It comes in two colours, black and white/silver (the white/silver is perhaps more suitable to a Mac setup), and one of its key features is the stand. This incorporates an ingenious arcing and tilting mechanism that allows the display to be raised and lowered through a shallow curve, as well as being tilted back and forward. This means the panel can be raised to almost eye level or lowered at an angle akin to reading a book. The base also has a 172 degree swivelling action, but unlike the Samsung 244T, the panel can not be pivoted into a portrait orientation.

The chassis is perforated with slits and holes for heat dissipation, and around the back you’ll find a metal cable tidy that in all honesty does a poor job of clamping down on the cables, often flipping open if the cables press against it.

The power supply is internal and for connectivity you get a USB 2.0 hub with two downstream ports positioned on the left side of the chassis. The upstream port is vertically mounted at the rear and the necessary USB cable is supplied. Next to this are two DVI-I ports both of which can accept a digital or an analogue signal but, unlike the Samsung SyncMaster 244T, they are not HDCP compliant. With the supplied DVI-to-DVI and DVI-to-D-SUB cables two PCs can be connected simultaneously. With a touch of the Signal switch you can also swap between the two sources.

Rating:7/10

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2806

Posted by Melody at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

AMDZone has reviewed Asus A8R32-MVP Deluxe Motherboard. Powered by the Xpress 3200 chipset the Deluxe is receiving more attention from Asus than their first Crossfire offering. It isn't all roses for ATI as Asus has again chosen the now Nvidia owned ULi 1575 Southbridge that has proven to be a better performer than the SB450. So essentially in the Deluxe you get the enthusiast market treatment from Asus with the addition of 32 PCI Express lanes dedicated to the graphics cards.

Looking at the A8R32-MVP we see that while the PCB color has changed in fact there have not been dramatic changes to the layout that the A8R-MVP had. There are some tweaks that help for instance having a larger gap between the 16X PCI E slots by moving one of the PCI slots between them in additional to the 1X PCI E slot.

Closing in on the CPU socket we see the Xpress 3200 CrossFire chipset to the right with a black passive cooling heatsink. Below it is the Silicon Image 3132 SATA RAID chip that powers the red SATA II port below it, and an external port. To the right of the Silicon Image chip is the Marvel 88E8053 PCI E gigabit lan controller. To the left of the voltage regulator heatsink is a 4 pin ATX power connector. The area includes plenty of capacitors and voltage regulators. Missing from the socket area is the additional 4 pin power connector for additional juice to the graphics cards. A pin out for it is located near the memory, but it is not present in this board.

Rating:8/10

http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=244&page=1

Posted by Melody at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Virtual Hideout has reviewed Kingwin KF-25 Data Dock 2.5-inch HDD Enclosure. Kingwin is notorious for their unique boxes. This box, just like several of their others, have the flip-open lid with magnets in the flap to keep the box lid closed. The outside of the box has a glossy finish, and the top shows the product and the colors in which it is available. The back has a description of the features of the Data Dock. The contents of the KF-25 Data Dock are the Data Dock, External USB cable, Internal USB cable and carrying pouch.

The Kingwin KF-25 Data Dock is 2 units in one 3.5" enclosure. The first part is a 4 port USB hub. The second part is a 2.5" HDD enclosure. Well, you say, what's so special about that? What is special is that with just a push of a button, the USB hub or HDD enclosure can be ejected. Yup... EJECTED! On the back of the ejected component is a single USB port. Now, this is where the carrying case comes into play. The ejected HDD enclosure becomes portable, and, of course, things that are portable like the cozy comforts of a carrying case.

The Kingwin Data Dock is most definitely a nice little item that tackles several issues. One issue is not having enough USB ports on the front of the computer. This gets taken care of by providing 4 USB ports up front. The next issue is having an external HDD enclosure, connected to the computer with a USB cable, taking up space either on top of the computer or desk space. This gets taken care of by having the HDD enclosure slide in and out of the Data Dock. A very nice idea, if I may say so myself.

Once again, Kingwin has certainly done their homework. If you are looking for a small multifunction unit that only uses the space of a FDD in your computer, compared to having an USB hub and HDD enclosure on your desk, give the Kingwin KF-25 Data Dock a try. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Rating:8/10

http://www.virtual-hideout.net/reviews/kingwin_data_dock/index.shtml

Posted by Melody at 03:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Sci-Tech Today reviews the LG VX9800 smartphone, and finds that it's a good phone if you're looking for something that will download video clips and MP3s, but if you're looking at it more for business use, you might want to check out a pocket PC. About the phone's camera: "Turning the phone around reveals a highly capable 1.3-megapixel camera, with built-in flash and 4x zoom, that can double as a business-card scanner."

The LG VX9800 is the latest smartphone from Verizon Wireless to feature Evolution Data-Optimized (EVDO) capability, which means potentially blazing download speeds. But this new handset's main claim to fame is its ability to play both streaming video clips and music tracks. And it does it on a device that is appealing to both the eye and the ear.

Measuring 4.57 x 1.97 x 1.0 inches and weighing 5.19 ounces, Verizon's new "LG the V," as the wireless carrier calls it, sports a 1.75-inch color screen on the outside that displays a plethora of icons and other information pertaining to phone operations: time, date, signal strength, battery life, and caller ID. Turning the phone around reveals a highly capable 1.3-megapixel camera, with built-in flash and 4x zoom, that can double as a business-card scanner.

It has a full-blown Qwerty-style keyboard; a sharp, bright, 2.25-inch color screen that portrays images in landscape mode; an MP3 music player equipped with a customizable equalizer; and a tiny set of surprisingly loud stereo speakers. The LG VX9800 is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a wireless handset that can download and play video clips as well as MP3 music files in stereo. But prospective buyers who also need a full-fledged Web browser or "push" access to e-mail that resides behind the corporate firewall would be better served by purchasing one of the latest Pocket PC phones running the Windows Mobile 5.0 OS.

Rating:7/10

http://www.sci-tech-today.com/story.xhtml?story_id=002000865Z5W

Posted by Melody at 02:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

MobileBurn reviews the T-Mobile SDA and isn't very impressed with the phone's camera: "The SDA's camera is a 1.3 megapixel unit that seems to have a lot of problems. The fixed-focus lens seems to be tailored for portrait distance shots rather than landscapes, and the lens also seems to have trouble with bright, high-contrast scenes. As a result, sunny shots of the park and such are going to show a lot of purple fringing and other unpleasant things. Due to the blocky looking images, I would have guessed that the camera were actually of lower resolution and that the 1.3 megapixel rating was achieved through software, If I didn't know better. Shots of closer subjects look much nicer, and the automatic white balance system actually does a very good job of dealing with incandescent lights, which is a rare thing."

It may not be the most sexy looking phone on the planet, but few devices today can offer as much functionality in a normally sized package as can T-Mobile's SDA.

-Mobile's SDA measures up at a reasonably compact 116mm x 47mm x 21mm (4.6" x 1.9" x .83"), and weighs about 122g (4.3oz) with SIM and memory card. For comparison's sake, that's a bit shorter and narrower than a Motorola SLVR L7, but 9mm (.35") thicker and 22g (.78oz) heavier. Fairly respectable numbers.

The SDA offers a number of controls to make its use more convenient. On the sides of the SDA you'll find dedicated volume and camera controls and a special button that brings up the Comm Manager application - for quick access to WiFi, Bluetooth, Phone, and ActiveSync switches. A much-bemoaned external antenna, of sorts, can be found up top with the power switch and infrared port. On the bottom, the miniUSB power/data port sits along side the headset jack. The 1.3 megapixel camera's lens and self-portrait mirror are located on the back. The front of the device is dominated by the large 65k color QVGA (240x320) display and a myriad of buttons. In addition to the normal numeric keypad and call control keys you'll find 3 dedicated music controls, a web browser key, and a pair of softkeys that straddle the dedicated home and back buttons. All of the controls have a very solid, predictable feel, as does the joystick that is located in the middle of everything. The keypad keys are located a bit too close to the bottom of the SDA, but other than that there is really very little to complain about.

Rating:7/10

http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Id=2333&source=HOMETOP

Posted by Melody at 02:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

StarTechCentral reviews the Dopod 577W, and notes, "The 577W has a design reminiscent of a current Nokia phone. This smartphone even has a 1.3-megapixel camera on the back and all the usual complement of buttons." Overall, "you’d be hard-pressed to find another phone with this kind of features and this kind of versatility at this price."

IT IS amazing how much you can pack into a smartphone these days and still keep it roughly the same size as a regular phone.

Case in point is the Dopod 577W – it is no bigger than a regular-sized candy bar phone, yet it has the full Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition operating system and, incredibly, a very high-resolution 240 x 320pixel (QVGA) TFT colour screen which measures 2.2in diagonally.

A QVGA screen is essentially the same resolution as most Pocket PCs and on a screen this size, the pixels are nearly invisible to the naked eye.

Compared with most regular phones and smartphones, which usually only come with 176 x 220pixel screens, the 577W blows them all out of the water in the display department.

The main thing I don’t like about this phone was that the buttons that just don’t feel good when pressed.

The joystick is also a little dodgy – literally – I generally dislike joysticks because you tend to press the joystick inwards when you’re actually intending to push it upwards to scroll.

The phone has a default Home screen which shows you lots of information such as your appointments and e-mail messages and which can be customised by downloading other themes.

You can access some built-in themes – most notably a Dopod-specific one, which not only changes the Home screen’s look, but also simplifies the whole interface and hides some of the more advanced features from the user.

This is great for the novice who doesn’t want the complicated Microsoft Smartphone interface.

The cool thing about this interface is that it changes your usual program icons into nice 3D animated icons and even has a background wallpaper which changes according to the time of day – for example, you get a nice daylight beach scene at midday, and a sunset wallpaper towards the evening.

Rating:8/10

http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2006/5/2/prodit/14060563&sec=prodit

Posted by Melody at 02:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TrustedReviews takes a look at the Pavilion dv5046EA from HP, and wonders if a budget machine can shake its lack of appeal, or if it has more than just a nice look.When you look at the dv5046EA you don’t instantly recognise that it’s a budget machine - the finish is sleek, the design attractive and the feature set good. In fact you’d be forgiven for thinking that this was a machine costing over the £1,000 mark. In fact, most people that I showed this notebook to were amazed to hear that it will only set you back £699 including VAT! Of course the big question is whether the dv5046EA lives up to its good looks and feature set, and most importantly, whether you really do get what you pay for.

There’s a decent amount of connectivity with integrated 802.11b/g WiFi, a 10/100 Ethernet adapter and a 56k modem. Bluetooth is conspicuous by its absence, but it’s fairly rare to find a notebook at this price with integrated Bluetooth. The keyboard is well laid out with full size keys and the Tab, Caps Lock, Shift, Return and Backspace keys all large, as one would hope. The Ctrl key is in the bottom left corner where it should be, making life easier for keyboard shortcut junkies. Also the cursor keys are dropped away from the main keyboard, making them very easy to manipulate.

Unfortunately, when I started typing on the dv5046EA I noticed that characters where randomly missing in the text. It seemed that when I typed fast the keyboard just didn't seem able to keep up. I found this somewhat strange and asked HP to supply me with a second notebook with which to compare. The keyboard on the replacement notebook showed no evidence of missed characters, while the keyboard itself felt more solid, with less flex when typing at speed. I can only assume that the original sample that I tried was faulty, but you might want to try the keyboard out before buying.

I don't often talk about the built-in speakers in a notebook because they're usually pretty poor, but I think the Altec Lansing branded speakers in the dv5046EA deserve a mention. The quality is still nothing to write home about by proper audio standards, but they are definitely a cut above the norm. The speakers are more than adequate for watching movies, or listening to some background music while you work, as long as you don't crave too much bass. If you try to push the bass level up, the sound will distort - the inclusion of a subwoofer would have resolved this, but again it would have pushed the price up.

Rating:8/10

http://www.trustedreviews.com/article.aspx?art=2780

Posted by Melody at 02:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

XtremeComputing has reviewed Commodore PMC30 30gig media player. This device could really do with an improved firmware upgrade to turn it from being a good device into a great device. Yes it may be bigger and heavier than the most PMP’s, but it is one of the most robust and durable I have held or seen. This in my opinion saved this player a bit along with the playback time.

This device is truly complete AV Jukebox with multiple features and easy to use functionality and offers support for the most popular codec’s, as well as offering a range of fully packed features. The device is equipped with DRM (Digital Rights Management) security, thus enabling consumers to download music legally at nearly every authorized download store.

This player looks amazing in my opinion and although on the heavy/large size, most of it is taken up by the screen although not as large as the ‘Viliv’, Commodore have given you a Slim Type Trans-reflective TFT Color LCD. The screen is 3.6” with a 320 x 240 QVGA resolution which should supply all your needs.

The PMC30 could have been great, but here is my final thoughts, the video playback quality on the player even when outputted to a TV was excellent as well as sharp but not as good as the Viliv. Although I thought this player was brilliant in more ways the one thing that stopped it from being great was how temperamental it turned out to be. From the time, I have had the PMP I have had to reset it about 6 times, from where it does not start up properly to crashes from time to time.

Rating::7/10

http://www.xtremecomputing.co.uk/review.php?id=259

Posted by Melody at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

PC Stats posted a review on the ASRock 939SLI32-eSATA2 ULi M1695 Motherboard. The brand spanking new ASRock 939SLI32-eSATA2 motherboard is one of the future friendly motherboards, and it looks pretty sweet. Based around the ULi M1695 Northbridge and ULi M1697 Southbridge, the ASRock 939SLI32-eSATA2 motherboard supports all current Socket 939 AMD Athlon64/X2/FX processors. The four DDR DIMM slots can accommodate up to 4GB of PC3200 unbuffered non ECC memory.

The ASRock 939SLI32-eSATA2 motherboard comes integrated with a PCI express x1 Gigabit NIC, a 5.1 channel audio codec, IEEE 1394a and the ULi M1695 chipset even boasts nVIDIA SLI support! There are plenty of expansion options thanks to the two PCI Express x16 slots, one PCI Express x4 for high bandwidth devices and three PCI slots for legacy hardware. Socket AM2 support is also available thanks to the "Future CPU" port when the "AM2CPU daughter board" is used. All this with a retail price of $111 CDN ($95 USD/£54 GBP)!

The 939SLI32-eSATA2 motherboard is large and pretty busy; if you have a tight cases take note of the 30.5 x 24.4 cm dimensions. The 939SLI32-eSATA2 is not the most user friendly, but for a motherboard that is just a bit over $100 CDN it's easily overlooked.

The board uses a 20 pin main ATX power connector so if you've got an older power supply kicking around you might be able to use it, so long as there is enough juice on the 12V rail to feed an Athlon64 processor. The motherboard also has a 4 pin ATX12V connector as well as a molex connector just below the Future CPU port. The latter only needs to be plugged in when dual videocards are installed.

ASRock has an appealing solution here because it offers users computer hardware that has the potential to outlive its original processor generation. The Future CPU slot makes it possible for the ASRock 939SLI32-eSATA2 motherboard to support socket AM2 via a daughter card, when AMD's DDR-2 Athlon64 processor is introduced later this year. The only question we're left wondering about is just how available will these Future CPU sockets be?

Rating:8/10

http://www.pcstats.com/artvnl.cfm?articleID=1947

Posted by Melody at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

techFEAR has just published a new product evaluation on the Mvox MV900 Speakerphone. The MV900 is a well-rounded Bluetooth/USB speakerphone for mobile phone and computer users alike. It's equally versed at hands-free use in the car or in the conference room helping close that last minute business deal.

The Mvox MV900 is small (3.4 x 2.2 x 0.8 inches) and lightweight (2.5 ounces) making it incredibly portable. The large oval button is the Talk button and the LED above it serves double duty indicating mute or low battery.

The bottom of the MV900 is home to the AC to DC power adapter (for charging or longer term use) and the USB port for connecting to a PC. Note that the MV900 can be charged via the USB cable when connected through a powered USB hub. The small light centered on the front face above the power and USB port is the charging indicator.

At the end of the day, the Mvox MV900 is a terrific collaboration tool when used in intimate spaces with a small group of people. The functions are easy to learn and use making it a welcome device in those situations.

In a market where Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones may already have voice dialing, built-in speakerphones and access to a product-rich wireless headset aftermarket, the MV900 may not appeal to all users. If you need or want a hands-free speakerphone for the car that is of better quality that one can expect from a mobile phone, then the MV900 will fill that desire.

Rating:8/10

http://www.techfear.com/articles/2006/4/mvox_mv900.shtml

Posted by Melody at 12:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ExtremeOCTech posted a review on the Turtle Beach Montego DDL Sound Card. After putting the Montego DDL card through the tests we believe that this card is a triple threat when it comes to gaming, movies & music. We did have a small problem with the bass while listening to music but it made up for it in gaming and the movies test. We believe that everyone should give the Turtle Beach Montego DDL sound card a good look over before just jumping onboard the Creative Train. You might just think twice once you heard the Montego DDL Card.

Montego DDL combines cutting-edge technology, audiophile sonic-quality and an unprecedented array of features to deliver PC audio performance normally reserved for the finest home audio equipment. Whether you're playing games, listening to music, or watching DVD movies on your PC, Montego DDL provides the best surround-sound experience with multi-channel analog and high-resolution digital audio with Dolby® Digital Live.

Compatibility with 3D gaming audio standards transforms game play into an exciting and realistic experience by reproducing audio cues and sound effects that follow the on-screen action. The multi-channel clarity of Dolby® Digital Live game play on a digital sound system provides a breathtaking experience for serious gamers.

Rating:8/10

http://www.extremeoctech.com/index.php?ind=reviews&op=entry_view&iden=12

Posted by Melody at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ThinkComputers.org posted a review on the Globalsat Wireless Bluetooth Entertainment Pack. Bluetooth! Bluetooth! Bluetooth! That's all we have been hearing about lately! It is no surprise that manufacturers are making Bluetooth products for the most popular MP3 player of all time, the iPod. Bluetooth offers easy wireless connectivity to almost any device out there. Today we will be looking at 2 Bluetooth products from Globalsat that are made specifically for the iPod, the BTH-820 and the BTA-809.

The BTH-820 and BTA-809 are packaged together in a nice retail package. Globalsat lists these 2 products separately on their website, but you can buy them together in their "Wireless Bluetooth Entertainment Pack". Globalsat also offers the BTA-830 which is made for all types of media players, not just the iPod.

The BTH-820 is the Bluetooth receiver. It is very small and light (think USB stick). On the front of it is the controls, they include: Play, Pause, Forward, Back, Volume Up, Volume Down. They are setup in an easy to use circle pattern. On the top of the BTH-820 is the headphone jack. You can plug the included ear buds in there or any other headphones you like.

The BTA-809 is the Bluetooth transmitter. It is made specifically for the iPod. It is very small as well measuring in at 61.8 x 24.5 x 15mm. There really is not much to the BTA-809, on the front is an activity LED, and power button. On the top is of course the iPod connection that will work on the iPod photo, iPod Video, and iPod Nano. On the side is the USB connection that is used for power. It is also covered with a small piece of plastic, this time white to match the color of the transmitter. The transmitter has a really sleek look to it, much like an iPod does.

Rating:7/10

http://www.thinkcomputers.org/v2/index.php?x=reviews&id=389

Posted by Melody at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

PCMag reviews the Amp'd Hollywood (also known as the Motorola E816), and while the phone is given an Editor's Choice rating, the review isn't that hot on the phone's camera: "The 1.3-megapixel CMOS camera is mediocre: It takes photos that are reasonably sharp but have washed-out colors. It saves them on the included 128MB thumbnail-sized MicroSD card, which fits into a slot on the top of the phone. Starting in May or June, the E816 will support Amp'd's push-to-talk system with a free download."

The E816 is also a great-looking phone, all in black with soft plastic edges. The backlit black keys are large, elegant, and easy to press, and the whole color scheme goes well with Amp'd's black-and-blue user interface.

The phone comes with a good pair of earbuds for listening to music on Hollywood's music player, which supports MP3, AAC, and WMA files (including files downloaded from Amp'd's music store, the cheapest in the industry at 99 cents per song).

Battery life, at 5 hours 10 minutes of talk time, is stellar. Unfortunately, like on the Verizon E815, the Hollywood's Bluetooth is crippled—it supports headsets and Apple's iSync software, but not file transfers. Fortunately, you can use the MicroSD card to transfer music and pictures on and off your phone. But the Bluetooth issue shows Amp'd's challenge: breaking out of the traditional carrier-control mindset.

Rating:7/10

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1952917,00.asp

Posted by Melody at 09:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

MobileTechReview reviewed the Aurora m7700 Notebook from Alienware recently, and I must say, if nothing else, it does have a presence.What’s big, blue and fast? In the world of notebook computers, the answer is the Alienware Aurora m7700. This desktop replacement targets the gaming market with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ dual core processor, 256 meg Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 Ultra PCI Express graphics card and a 17″ WXGA display. That’s our $3,000 review unit, but Alienware is all about build-to-order, so you can go with an AMD Athlon 64 FX-60, Nvidia GeForce Go 7800 GTX and a 17″ wide UXGA (1920 x 1200) display if you’re hankering to beat the pants off of your buddies’ desktop rigs and can shell out the $2,000 additional.

The Alienware Aurora m7700 arrives in a large black box, befitting a desktop machine. Inside you'll find the notebook, a large mouse pad with rigid plastic platform, recovery media, an Alienware tee shirt, brick charger, a USB floppy drive and a soft nylon case with strap that's big enough to hold both the computer and the large charger along with small items.

But the m7700 is considerably smaller than the desktop and 17" monitor it can easily replace. Not bad. It all depends on what you're looking for in a notebook. This machine is perfect for space-constrained households, those who need to travel overseas and bring a desktop experience with them (it has that carry on appeal) and above all, those who love gaming but don't want to be tied to a desktop.

If you're a hard core gamer looking for a notebook that can handle today's cutting edge games, Alienware should be on your short list. With killer graphics cards and two excellent LCD options, the Aurora m7700 is ahead of the desktop replacement pack. Throw in AMD's notoriously excellent for gaming CPUs and the m7700 will put some FEAR in your gaming buddies hearts. Though not for the faint of muscle at over 12 pounds (crank that up a few pounds for the AC adapter), and not small desk friendly, the Aurora notebook is certainly much more portable and space saving than the desktop it replaces. Few of us have the pleasure of gaming 24/7, and the m7700 proves equally capable of handling MS Office work, Photoshop and software development.

Rating:8/10

http://www.mobiletechreview.com/notebooks/Alienware-Aurora-m7700.htm

Posted by Melody at 09:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TabletPCReviewSpot.com has a review up on the Toshiba Portege M400, a tablet computer with an Intel Core Duo powering it. There is some great news for Tablet PC users. Strap on your rocket boots because the new Toshiba Portege M400 with Intel Core Duo technology is sure to take you for a flight. This zippy lightweight makes a near perfect debut as the first Tablet PC featuring a dual core CPU to hit the market. To add extra appeal, Toshiba designed this machine with the traveling pro in mind adding biometric security, hard drive shock protection and extended battery options. Top it off with a very good user experience and good build quality and you have a good sense of what you're in for if you plan to acquire the "latest and greatest" in Tablet PC convertibles.

The Toshiba Portege M400 is one of the most advanced Tablet PCs on the market today. We love the Core Duo processor option and the biometric security. The weight and build quality makes for a great portable travel companion. We would have liked to see Toshiba offer dedicated graphics as an option for those users who actually want to play games beyond Solitaire, but Toshiba left us hi and dry in that regard. Overall, we would recommend the M400 as yet another fantastic contender in the “thin and light” convertible Tablet PC category.

Rating:8/10

http://www.tabletpcreviewspot.com/default.asp?newsID=441

Posted by Melody at 09:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

HardOCP has reviewed Nintendo DS Console. Aptly code-named Nintendo DS, this "Developers' System" provides developers a newfound canvas not only to create new games today, but also to shape the future of the entire industry. Developers - and the public - need only use their imagination to see how the DS promises to transform the portable game industry by changing the way gamers relate to their games - and each other. Two screens offer two perspectives on the action at once. The touch screen could make accessing items, moving characters or navigating menus as easy as a tap or drag on the screen. Voice recognition could let players simply tell the game what they want it to do. Chat software will let users transmit text messages, handwriting and even drawings to one another. And wireless functions could link players in the same room - or across the country.

Not only did it meet our expectations in terms of hardware and use, but it also raised the bar in terms of game play. There are many titles out there that take advantage of the features of the DS, and those games are delightful and entertaining to play.

The system certainly offers something for everybody. If you enjoy puzzle games, platformers, RPGs or even open ended farming games. Then this is a system you’ll certainly want to consider.

Rating:9/10

http://console.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTA0MywxLCxoY29uc29sZQ==

Posted by Melody at 03:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Infosyncworld has reviewed Samsung SGH-T509 Phone. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the slim, silver and tough-to-put-down T509 is the iPod nano of phones. Measuring 4.6 by 1.8 by 0.4 inches and weighing a mere 2.7 ounces, the slight T509 is a few millimeters thinner and narrower than the SLVR, if a bit taller. The flyweight phone is a pleasure to hold (and, yes, admire), and it fits comfortably in a jeans pocket – so comfortably, in fact, we often forgot it was there..

The phone’s nearly two-inch, 65,000-color TFT LCD looks superb, and with a dense resolution of 176 by 220, there was no discernable screen-door effect. Images looked vivid and detailed, and the lively, animated menus practically jumped off the screen. The LCD was a bit tough to see in direct sunlight, but that’s to be expected.

The T509’s raised silver keypad was relatively easy to peck with our fingertips; the numeric keys are a bit smaller than we’d like, but we soon got the hang of it. A volume rocker sits on the left side of the phone, while a dedicated camera control sits on the right spine, just beneath a proprietary headset jack (if you want to use your favorite 2.5mm headset with the T509, you’re out of luck).

While we couldn’t get enough of the T509’s looks, its mediocre VGA camera was something of a disappointment. The camera itself comes with a decent set of features, including resolutions ranging from 640 x 480 to 176 x 132, a multishot mode (six, nine, or 15 shots), 4X digital zoom, a variety of color effects (including monoschrome, sepia, emboss, and sketch), 30 picture frames, a three-, five-, or 10-second self timer, spot focus and tweakable brightness and ISO settings. The still camera also double as a camcorder, shooting 176 x 144 or 128 x 96-pixel clips (capped in length at just eight to 12 seconds). Despite all the features, however, our snapshots looked murky almost to the point of abstraction, while our video snippets looked predictably jerky and muddy.

The T509 gets back on the right foot with its impressive connectivity options. The handset’s Bluetooth support extends to wireless headsets, dial-up networking, contact syncing and file transfers; we had no trouble pairing the phone up with our Plantronics headset and our PowerBook for contact and image transfers. Meanwhile, the T509’s EDGE capabilities (compared to the GPRS-only SLVR L7) made for speedy surfing on the WAP 2.0 browser.

Rating:7/10

http://www.infosyncworld.com/reviews/n/6631.html

Posted by Melody at 03:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pocket Lint has reviewed Samsung YP-Z5 MP3 player. Yet another contender to the iPod nano, the Samsung YP-Z5 is Samsung's attempt at knocking the nano of its perch and stealing the limelight. But can it win us over? We take a closer look. Black and thin (although slightly thicker than the iPod), the Samsung YP-Z5 front is dominated by two things, the large screen and the control pad. Aside from a volume rocker switch on the side and the headphones jack on the top, the sleek design offers little else.

The 1.8-inch TFT colour display (0.3 inches larger than the nano) is crisp, bright and clear and understandably is the main point of focus for the player. The interface, designed by the same team behind the first iPod is fast and easy to use, but hindered by poor controls.

The problem exists in the fact that Samsung, it seems, hasn't really decided how it wants you to control the player and it caused us lots of frustration trying to access tracks and images on the player.

Where the YP-Z5 gets confused is that the central d-pad is both a four way d-pad and a touch sensitive control pad at the same time. Confused? We were. Scrolling through song listings requires you to touch the pad, but not depress it too far and while we are sure it sounded like a good idea on paper, in practice it doesn't work.

Rating:6/10

http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/review.php?reviewId=1510

Posted by Melody at 03:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Motherboards.org has reviewed GIGABYTE GA-8I945GMH-RH VIIV Motherboard. The 945GMH-RH board has a Socket 775 interface for the CPU. The 945 chipset takes all available Intel 775 CPUs including the 955 and the 840 Dual Cores, the 670 and below Single cores and the Celeron D processors that are Socket 775.Intel introduced the 915 and 925 chipsets introducing the Dual Core CPUs, that required the use of a new chipset. Intel quickly replaced the 925 with the 955. Late last year Intel introduced their newest chipset the 945 and 975 chipsets and support for Core Duo CPUs.

GIGABYTE's board sports 4 240-pin DIMM (Dual In-line Memory Modules) slots. The board supports up to 4GB of dual channel DDR II 667 MHz memory. Dual channel mode is activated when memory is placed in like colored memory slots. Many mini-ATX boards only sport 2 DIMM slots but GIGABYTE decided to outfit the GMH-RH with the normal 4 slots.

As a Digital home entertainment platform VIIV has a heck of a lot going for it. Intel's High Definition Audio standard, plus the other features makes it a compelling value addition to any motherboard bundle. The GIGABYTE GA-8I945GMH-RH is a good example of what the VIIV platform brings to the table. For today's Home Theater enthusiast, VIIV+ a powerful graphics card makes good sense. The software bundle of Internet Security from Norton's nearly pays for the board by itself.

Unfortunately, the audio on the board would not work, making this evaluation incomplete. The onboard graphics on the GMA950 is perfectly fine for playing back DVD movies, and audio, business use and very light gaming. One thing I would not suggest is running this system with HD-DVD or Blu-Ray devices without a graphics upgrade, as the H.264 content will bring even the best Core Duo CPU to its knees.

Rating:7/10

http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/motherboards/1610_1.html

Posted by Melody at 03:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Phoronix posted a review on the NVIDIA GeForce 6100 video card. Some of the key features for the GeForce 6100 include NVIDIA PureVideo, Shader Model 3.0, 425MHz graphics clock, MPEG-2/WMV9 standard-definition video playback, and NVIDIA MediaShield. Some of the other options for NVIDIA integrated graphics with AMD Athlon 64 solutions consist of the higher-end GeForce 6100/nForce 410 and the GeForce 6150/nForce 430. The GeForce 6100/nForce 410 combination is designed to compete in the home and SOHO PC market, while the more competitive IGP/MCPs are geared for media-centers and likewise HTPC setups.

Other features for the GeForce 6100/nForce 410 series include TSMC 90nm manufacturing, support for PCI Express x16 graphics cards, and Unified Memory Architecture. The GeForce 6100 also boasts one vertex processor and two pixel pipelines. While these NVIDIA parts have been available for months now to the public sector, the Linux support has still been questionable. Today at Phoronix, we are examining the performance of the GeForce 6100 IGP under Linux with a slew of gaming benchmarks.

Rating:7/10

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=457&num=1

Posted by Melody at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

CoolTechZone.com put up a Logitech MX610 Laser Mouse review. The MX610 is a sleek, silver and black peripheral that matches well with Logitech’s product lineup. Not only that, but the universally selected colors fit well with any home or office décor. Unfortunately, the MX610 is a right handed mouse, and this particular version isn’t designed for left handed users. However, that changed with a Left Handed MX610 mouse that Logitech released earlier this year to compliment the right handed edition.

Overall, the MX610 isn’t significantly unique than Logitech’s other mice, but maybe that’s because Logitech has found a winning, ergonomically friendly design, and thus doesn’t bother to change the physical aspects of the mouse. Either way, we were impressively comfortable with the design and didn’t find many, if any at all, flaws.

The top of the mouse carries a scroll wheel, which could be used to navigate left, right, up and down, thanks to its tilt design, and a LED battery indicator. The green and blue e-mail and IM buttons are situated towards the left end of the mouse for easy access. There are two additional buttons above and two buttons underneath the e-mail and IM buttons. Like buttons on other Logitech mice, these, too, are custom configurable, though come pre-equipped to go back, forward, volume up/down and mute.

Rating:9/10

http://www.cooltechzone.com/Reviews/Peripheral_Reviews/Logitech_MX610%3A_Laser_Cordless_Mouse_200605012299/

Posted by Melody at 01:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bytesector takes a look at the Scythe Kamariki-2 550W Power Supply.The Kamariki-2 looks good on paper, as it provides some nifty extra features, good supply of molex connectors and is easy on the eyes.I really like the look of Scythe's Kamariki-2, mainly because it is fairly simplistic, yet elegant. The exterior sports the increasingly popular mirror finish, but this isn't the same old shiny piece of metal that blinds you when the sun strikes it.

Instead of looking like a cube shaped mirror, this PSU looks like it was initially given a coat of a dark silver/black colour, and the mirror finish was added on top, giving it a dark but glossy appeal. For the most part, it reminds me of metallic paints that you see on all the fancy cars on the road.

Another feature of note is the three minute cool-down time. After the system is turned off, the power supply keeps the fans running for an extra three minutes to ensure the components get ample cooling and dissipate heat quicker. While a whole lot of motherboards don’t support the 8-pin P4 connector just yet, it’s good to know that the Karmariki-2 is built for the present as well as the future.

My biggest disappointment is probably the voltage regulation on the rails. However, as I mentioned before, I wouldn’t hesitate to use this power supply in my system. Sold at around $120 USD, the value of the Kamariki-2 can be found in the middle-of-the-pack for PSUs in its class. If you are building for the present or for the future, you’ll definitely want to take a look at the Kamariki-2 because it’s definitely capable of juicing up a system.

Rating:7/10

http://www.bytesector.com/data/bs-article.asp?id=640

Posted by Melody at 01:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Maximum CPU has reviewed Centurion 534 Computer Case. Installing all of the components into the Centurion 534 case was extremely easy due to the tool-less assembly that Cooler Master offers on almost all of their cases. Within 10 minutes I had everything installed. I was easily able to shave five minutes off the usual install time.

One thing that I noticed right away is that the Centurion 534 case lacks the sharp edges that most other cases have. This is a nice feature because I usually end up getting a few minor cuts while I am installing all the components into the case.

I have to admit that I was a bit surprised when I saw that the 534 didn’t have a removable motherboard tray. While this was once a feature included in only the most expensive cases, the removable motherboard tray has worked its way down to the less expensive cases as well. Even the MGE Ninja 2 had a removable motherboard tray. While this feature isn’t really a necessity, it still makes installing and upgrading your computer components a lot easier.

When I was finished installing all of my components, I noticed how easily the case showed fingerprints. It must have been the paint and finish that Cooler Master chose to use on the case because none of my other cases showed fingerprints as much as the Centurion 534 did.

The Centurion 534 is no exception from the fine line of Centurion cases. It is a sturdy case and is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a higher quality steel case. The case offers almost everything that computer enthusiast demand in a case while remaining relatively inexpensive. Cooler Master defiantly didn’t disappoint with the release of this case.

Rating:8/10

http://www.maximumcpu.net/archives/55

Posted by Melody at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)