Gateway P-7811FX Laptop

The Gateway P-7811FX is a rather moderately priced gaming laptop at only $1,249.99, just about $100 more than its cheaper comparative laptops by Gateway. Unlike its predecessors from the manufacturer, though, Gateway has upped the ante this time around by providing gamers with more performance power than ever.

The Gateway P-7811FX is a perfect and rather rare combination of high end components and affordable price that should definitely attract the attention of hardcore gamers out there. Its large 17-inch monitor provides great resolution. Combine that with its technology and high end graphics card, and Gateway has cooked up a seemingly perfect recipe to handle the strenuous demands sometimes put on computers by new age video games.

The fantastic performance the Gateway P-7811FX packs into a laptop should put it at the top of every gamers list when looking for a new laptop. It is the perfect accessory to have while traveling or if you are big into gaming parties and do not want to lug around a hefty desktop every time. When you are not gaming, the Gateway P-7811FX also handles every other computing task you throw at it with ease as well, serving as the perfect multi-purpose work and pleasure station.

Dell Latitude E6400

Introduction

It could be argued that laptop computers have yet to become what our society deems a “necessity,” but it seems as if their time is quickly approaching. Even if laptops are still considered a luxury by many, their usefulness cannot be matched -- or disputed. Those who work in business or other office environments know more than anyone else how useful a laptop can be; you can do work away from the office and make the most of business trips.

It released a new line of laptops in their series which were specifically tailored to meet the needs of businesses and increase productivity while decreasing total cost of ownership.

Dell is just one in a line of highly efficient laptops in the series. This particular model has a sleeker, more compact design than its counterpart, the very rugged Dell Latitude E6400 ATG which meets very strict MIL-STD 810F requirements for extreme temperatures, vibration, dust intrusion and altitude. Dell has totally revamped its ubiquitous business laptop line and the Latitude E6400 is at the forefront of the renovation. It features Intel’s latest mobile platform and introduces a brushed-metal design that works at home or in the office. The E6400’s most impressive feature though, is its extraordinarily long battery life, which we’ll discuss in greater detail shortly. Let’s take a look at some specifics concerning Dell’s newLatitude E6400and find out if it’s really worth its $1,239 price tag:

HP Pavilion dv3-2155mx and the HP TouchSmart tx2-1275dx Laptop

The HP Pavilion dv3-2155mx is a laptop from Hewlett-Packard that adds a bit of external flair with internal substance. A younger demographic will enjoy its design complete with tattoo-like shapes that cover much of its exterior. The HP Pavilion dv3-2155mx is ideal for movie buffs and is HD-friendly, as its display's 16:9 aspect ratio comes in handy when you want to pop in a DVD and get the optimal viewing experience. Add in an excellent battery life that won't leave you out in the cold while in class or on the road, and the HP Pavilion dv3-2155mx is a device that deserves a hard look when shopping for your next laptop.

Unfortunately, the HP Pavilion dv3-2155mx is a fixed configuration laptop, unlike many Dell models, so what you see is what you get. The HP Pavilion dv3-2155mx is currently available at a retail price of $729. It comes with a standard one year parts and labor warranty that includes 24/7 support via telephone or online chat.

You can run some games on the laptop, as it uses an integrated Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD card. The integrated Altec Lansing speakers produce good sound as well for enjoying music or movies without the need for headphones, although the sound will obviously be better with them on. There is also built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi or 10/100Base-T Ethernet LAN if you prefer a wired Internet connection.

It is disappointing that the faster 802.11n Wi-Fi and that Gigabit Ethernet are not available, as these are options that are usually present in most laptops nowadays. Bluetooth is also absent.

Intel Atom

Intel has a broad range of products. Anything from the top of the line Extreme Edition quad core down to a single Celeron. They have desktop chips, server chips, and mobile chips. You might think that there isn't any other market for Intel to get into. Well you are wrong.

Technology is constantly changing, and new devices are always coming around. In the past year a completely new type of computer has come around, the Ultra Mobile PC. Intel has recognized this new market; it's come out with a CPU designed specifically for UMPCs, the Intel Atom CPU.

If you ever owned a PocketPC, PDA, MP3 player, Personal Video Player, or iPod, I'm sure you have heard of the XScale CPU. The Xscale CPU was made by Intel until 2006 when they sold that lineup. If Intel had a CPU made for mobile devices why would they sell it, and then start over again? Intel said they were giving up on the XScale so they could focus on x86 chips such as desktop, mobile and server CPUs.

The biggest difference between the Xscale and Atom is that the Xscale is meant for handheld devices, and the Atom is a full-fledged x86 CPU, meaning it has the ability to run software just like a normal PC; it can even run Windows. The XScale processors do not have the x86 instructions; they use the ARM architecture.

It's not a big deal for mobile devices, since most are home grown by the manufacturer. But if you throw an XScale into a typical PC, it won't even boot up. The Xscale is a great CPU for handheld devices such as MP3 players; the OS of the device is typically home-programmed, so they are fine with using ARM architecture.

UMPCs, on the other hand, run native x86 instructions, such as those needed to run Windows. In this case, the ARM architecture isn't going to fly. I don't think you're going to get Microsoft to rebuild Windows for Xscale CPUs, plus the fastest are running around 600 MHz, so XP would be a push to run.

Wave Music System Review

Introduction: Bose Wave Music System

Popular science called the original Bose Wave Radio "a sonic marvel" because of the amazing sound quality coming from such a small compact unit. You simply had to hear this system to believe it. With the success of the original Wave Radio, Bose has produced three Wave Systems using the proprietary waveguide technology: Wave Radio, Wave Acoustic System, and the newest the Wave Music System. Nearly identical in appearance to the Wave Radio, there are a few major changes and improvements to the system.

Changes to the Wave Music System

Upon opening of the box first thing I noticed is that Bose managed to keep the size and weight of the wave music system the same. And that's where the similarities end for the most part.

With the new Wave Music System you receive an easy to read, full size 28 page Owners Guide with very clear instructions and large pictures to show what each function can do. Bose also includes a credit card style remote control with batteries already installed, one power cord and a demonstration CD that shows off the performance of the Music System.

Belkin FM TuneCast II

MOS continues his quest for the ideal in-car electronic companion for his iPaq, so that he and his passengers can listen to digital music wherever they travel. The Belkin FM TuneCast II transmits the music from digital music player through a car's FM radio. Does it measure up?

I'm sure many of you are familiar with the tape adapters from back in the day which allowed those with the first portable compact disc players to make use of the new format in an older vehicle. It was much cheaper to get the "car kit" with your Sony Walkman, and plug that into the existing tape deck. These days however, it's rare to find a late model vehicle which has a tape player, and as of yet there isn't a way to adapt new audio formats to a CD input.

Right now the CD isn't going to be replaced as the main medium for retail sales, but flash or hard drive based players are constantly becoming ever more popular. Another format for portable audio is the MP3 CD player. All of the above offer something the venerable compact disc does not, and that's longer play without user input.

Sure you can have CD changers that hold a dozen discs, and some higher end autos integrate these in-dash. Unfortunately they come with size, complexity and cost tradeoffs which are trumped by the newer options. The question is how to integrate these new devices into an older vehicle without excessive cost, now that a tape adapter isn't an option for many folk? Well, what's the other audio input format that every vehicle since the 70s has had? Yep, the trusty FM radio. While not the audiophile format of choice, it is easy to access, and even better, requires no wires going into the car, easing placement within the vehicle's interior.

Crucial Ballistix DDR2 Memory

Today we get the opportunity to play with the Crucial Ballistix DDR2 memory. So what could possibly make these any better than the rest? Well for starters, this RAM runs at tighter timings and is SLI certified. Like other memory manufacturers, they offer a limited lifetime warranty.

I have an SLI motherboard, a pair of 8600 GT in SLI, and an SLI certified case and power supply. I'm not sitting here saying you need SLI versions of everything. I'm actually creeped out about how SLI I have become. Maybe I should just get some SLI RAM and paint an nVidia logo on my head. Well okay, maybe I shouldn't go THAT far, but SLI memory has piqued my interest. Unlike the SLI certified case, which didn't seem to have any advantage over your normal case, SLI memory is supposed to offer some kind of advantage in performance. My first action was to investigate what SLI memory is. Here is what I grabbed from nVidia's site.

"NVIDIA SLI-Ready system memory certification ensures compatibility and system stability with the rest of the SLI ecosystem components, including NVIDIA nForce SLI motherboards, NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, and SLI-Ready power supplies. SLI-Ready memory also supports Enhanced Performance Profiles (EPP). When paired with NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI, 680i LT SLI or 590 SLI AMD edition-based motherboards, SLI-Ready memory exposes advanced performance memory settings.

"Only memory that pass NVIDIA SLI certification can be called 'NVIDIA SLI-Ready certified.' Be sure to look for the NVIDIA SLI-Ready badge when you buy your system memory."

After reading this I'm still a little fuzzy on what it does. I take away from this that it adds compatibility and stability while giving the memory advanced settings. Doing a little more research, I found out that it is mostly done via the Enhanced Performance Profiles (EPP). This is more information about the timings than what are normally in the SPD profiles. It should make the memory "self-tweaking," in a sense. All those settings in the memory configuration that require countless hours of tweaking can now be done by the memory itself.

Westinghouse VK-40F580D Television

There is not a plethora of large-screened flat panel televisions on the market that also house a DVD player. The Westinghouse VK-40F580D, however, is such an LCD. If you find the idea of combining two great things in one package intriguing, keep reading. We'll discuss the advantages and disadvantages, and see how this baby performs.

While having a combination television is not a necessity, some do prefer this option to having to buy an additional standalone DVD player. Of course, one possible major issue with buying a combination television is the always-present risk of the DVD player malfunctioning, causing you to possibly lose your television for a while until the unit is repaired. Those who consider the combination a luxury, though, will bypass the risk.

In addition to its integrated DVD player, the Westinghouse VK-40F580D also provides good image quality and decent picture controls, although it lacks a lot of connectivity as far as LCDs are concerned. The Westinghouse VK-40F580D can currently be purchased for around $1,100.

Panasonic DMC-FX500 Camera

Introduction

You may be asking, what actually makes a Panasonic digital camera a Lumix? It is a design and technology produced by Panasonic that makes digital cameras small and lighter, while still allowing them to produce high image quality. Also, the Lumix digital cameras haveinterchangeable lenses, which makes it easy for customers to operate.

The Panasonic DMC-FX500 is packed with a lot of features that you will find valuable. For one, it comes equipped with a 10.1 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, and 4x digital zoom. You can take advantage of the shutter speeds that range from 60 to 1/2000 seconds. If you’re into shooting the highest quality video, the Panasonic DMC-FX500 can perform this function. However, you will need to use a fast card with at least 10MB.

A powerful feature you will love about the Panasonic DMC-FX500 is the Intelligent Auto mode. This “smart” feature can identify scene modes, such as portrait or landscape. Then it can automatically adjust to that mode. You no longer have to worry about manually changing it. Instead, you can focus on taking the picture.

Read on to learn about the features and storage capacities that the Panasonic DMC-FX500 offers. Then don’t be surprised if you decide you want to purchase one. The Panasonic DMC-FX500 retails for approximately $400.00.

Pentax K200D Digital Camera

Introduction

It seems as if the Pentax K200D digital camera has some stiff competition as it enters the ring to compete with the likes of theNikon D60, theOlympus E-520and theCanon EOS 450Din the entry level segment of the market, but Pentax has nothing to worry about. Aside from a reasonable price, the K200D also offers a range of more than desirable features, which include a "shake reduction" or SR system, dust removal and perhaps the most unique and unusual feature for this type of camera: a weather-sealed body and large viewfinder with 96 percent coverage and a magnification of 0.85.

The K200D's shake reduction system alone makes it worth its price. Photographers, both amateur and professional alike, can consider blurred hand-held photographs, particularly those taken with telephotos or long exposure times, a thing of the past. Two sensors are used by the SR system to detect any vibrations and compensate for any movements by the 10.2 megapixel CCD. This blurring protection system occurs directly at the CCD, saving the user from having to purchase special and undoubtedly expensive lenses. Even more impressive is the fact that the Pentax K-mount bayonet enables just about any Pentax lens to be used with the new K200D.

Design

Even amateur photographers know that you can't choose a digital camera based on how it looks in pictures, but rather what kind of pictures it takes. Fair enough, though it should be pointed out that the K2D00 is a ridiculously good-looking digital camera; much of its looks come from a very sturdy design, which features some of the heaviest construction in its price range. Its plastic body and metal frame make it the densestPentaxto date. Let's not forget the camera's dust sealing around the buttons and doors, gaskets and seals, giving it a soft, spongy feeling around those locations.

Silverstone LC20 Case Review

I’ve been tinkering with the idea of building an HTPC (Home Theater PC) for a while now. So when we received the Silverstone LC20, I leaped at the chance to write a review on it. Read on to find out how this HTPC case fared.

The idea of an HTPC is not brand new. Since video cards were created with TV output, people have been interfacing with their television sets. With the advent of TV Tuner cards, people have actually been able to use their computers as televisions directly.

But things change, and the area of computer and television integration has been no exception. New hardware and software allowed us to crawl out of the Stone Age and put one more foot into the Digital Age. Computers can now be used not only to display output on a television, but to act as a complete entertainment platform. You can watch movies, listen to Internet radio, and play PC games, all on your TV. In addition, your computer can act as a PVR (Personal Video Recorder), recording your favorite shows to hard drive for you to play back at a later time. All this is just touching the surface; there is much more you can do with your HTPC. You may even find yourself replacing some of your existing home entertainment components altogether.

The Silverstone LC20 is a computer case, designed to be used as the home for an HTPC computer. The case is sleek and attractive, so it won't look too out of place among all of your other home entertainment products. Before opening the box, I took a quick trip to Silverstone's website to grab the specs on the LC20:

Apple iPad Tablet Computer

Apple managed to redefine the MP3 player market with its iPod. It did it again for the smartphone market with its iPhoneNow, rumors are circulating that it plans to do it yet again for the tablet PC market. Should we believe it?

The Internet has been slammed recently with rumors of Apple releasing a tablet computer within the next year. Apple, of course, has remained quiet on the matter, but many media outlets are heralding the device as the "worst kept secret" in tech.

News outlets are predicting that the "iPad" will be similar to a large iPhone and would most likely sell for between $500 and $700. Sources have also revealed to the media that the iPad will have a 10-inch touch screen and use an operating system similar to that of the iPhone.

The tablet computer will also reportedly have music, movies, e-mail, and Web browsing capabilities much like the company's wildly successful iPhone. It is believed that all of the applications will be sold through the Apple app store, but that theiPad's larger screenwould enable multiple apps to run simultaneously.

he rumors, reports, and assumptions are swirling and sometimes it's difficult to tell fact from fiction. The sources for many iPad stories online are never revealed, and some of the information seems plausible, while other bits of news seem completely far-fetched. An interesting example of a story that substantiates the claim that there will be an Apple iPad comes from an unlikely source: a survey that was recently sent out to customers who shop at a particular bookstore.

Asus UX50V-RX05 and Sony Vaio VGN-NW125J/T Laptops

If you were to judge a book by its cover, you would think, after taking a quick glance at the Asus UX50V-RX05, that you have a powerful, top notch laptop at your disposal. While it is definitely a good-looking piece of machinery, with its glossy, jet black finish, the Asus UX50V-RX05 is lacking in the performance department, mostly due to its single-core CPU. Its underwhelming CPU churns out a performance you would expect from a much more portable laptop, not one with a 15.6 inch screen such as the Asus UX50V-RX05.

While it is not a processing powerhouse, the UX50V-RX05 does come with a 16:9 wide screen display and an honorable graphics engine. That being said, if you are in need of a multitasking juggernaut, stop reading now. Otherwise, if you are a casual gamer and like to pop a DVD into your laptop from time to time, the UX50V-RX05 may be the right choice for you.

The laptop is on sale now for a suggested retail price of $749. To protect your investment, the UX50V-RX05 comes with a standard one year warranty on parts and labor as well as telephone and online support.

As stated in the introduction, its processor is where the UX50V-RX05 falls a bit flat. It comes with a 1.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Solo processor and 4 GB of DDR2 SDRAM, much unlike others in its class which use dual-core processors. The result of this choice by Asus is an overall multitasking performance that is, in a word, sluggish, and lags behind the competition. This is especially true considering the Asus UX50V-RX05’s price and size.

The UX50V-RX05 also has a plentiful 500GB SATA 5,400 rpm hard drive. More impressive than its less-than-desirable CPU is the UX50V-RX05’s 512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 105M graphics processing unit, which allows you to play some 3D games on the laptop without too many hiccups.

Affordable HD Camcorder

It doesn’t matter what their age or background, lifestyle or profession, everyone enjoys the benefit of being able to capture life’s special moments on film, and sometimes digital cameras aren’t enough. Whether you’re a fourteen-year-old boy wanting to record your friends performing skateboarding tricks or a sixty-five-year-old-woman hoping to capture her grandchild’s first steps, an HD camcorder’s clear, crisp and vivid videos are worth every penny.

Let’s be clear: HD camcorders are still quite pricey; “cheap” ones are just south of a grand. That being said, some amazing deals can be found online with a little snooping, though consumers should be wary of HD camcorders that sell for anything less than about five hundred dollars. Some things, including the price of an HD camcorder, are too good to be true.

Truth be told, not everyone who purchases a pricey HD camcorder is in need of one. Sure, their video capabilities are amazing and sharp, but if you’re just looking to upload videos onto YouTube, a better investment would be a good point-and-shoot digital camera with video capabilities. Often, camcorders -- whether HD or not -- end up gathering dust in the closet.

Before you blow big bucks on one of these cutting-edge cameras, be honest with yourself. Are you really going to be shooting lots of video? It’s important to accurately assess whether you'll actually be using a camcorder frequently or just occasionally. Also think about whether anyone will be eager to watch your HD videos that you may not have the time or patience to edit. If you have a special event coming up, consider borrowing or renting a camcorder rather than blowing all your spare cash on a trinket that will be used once or twice and end up as shelfware.

If you’ve decided, after all of this, that an HD camcorder is for you -- well, then it’s time to get shopping. Here’s a look at four excellent HD camcorders that are in the sub-$1,000 range.

Other awesome features include a full HD CMOS sensor and an advanced DIGIC DV II image processor, which deliver breathtaking detail and some of the best in color reproduction. SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization and Instant Auto Focus also give users the shot control that HD demands. The HV30’s Genuine Canon 10x HD video zoom lens and its ability to shoot in HD and standard definition recording modes are just two more reasons the Vixia HV30 has loads of devoted followers.

HP w2558hc and Planar PX2611w

There are probably many out there looking to upgrade their computer experience by getting a new LCD monitor. For those that have the old school, bulky CRT monitors, an LCD monitor can save a lot of room, is easier to move from place to place, and simply looks better for the fashion conscious. Besides that, they also emit less energy, are more eco friendly, have a longer life, produce sharper images and create less strain on the eyes.

Perhaps you purchased a newer desktop that already has an LCD monitor, but it is too small and you want something bigger. Or, if you are like me, you have a laptop but want the ability to have a setup on your desk where the screen isn't so close to your face. Whatever the reason may be, there are plenty of LCD monitor upgrades out there that can not only provide a larger viewing area, but also maximize your viewing experience with a sharper, more crisp picture.

This might especially hold true for gamers or those who watch DVDs on their computers rather than on a normal television setup. Of course, with the wide variety of available LCDs on the market also comes a wide range of prices and features. You can get some monitors for as low as $100, but for the purpose of this review we will look at two different offerings that go as high as $800 in price. Now that might seem excessive to many, but if you have the means and the needs for such a device, it is well worth its price. That said, let's take a look at the HP w2558hc and the Planar PX2611w LCD monitors, which each offer their own advantages for those with varying budgets.

MetaRAM

Computers and applications are so memory-hungry today that the quote once famously (and wrongly) attributed to Bill Gates back in the 1980s that "640 K ought to be enough for anybody" appears all but laughable. Manufacturers keep coming up with new kinds of RAM to keep us and our PCs satisfied. The newest is called MetaRAM. What is it, and what kind of future does it have? Keep reading to find out.

Most people know what RAM is and what it does, but not much more than that. There are all kinds of different types of memory and different settings. There are even three different types of DDR memory alone, and there are other types besides DDR. Each type of DDR is different settings and speeds. Picking up an extra stick of memory is complicated.

In case you are still not confused, there is now a whole new type of RAM, MetaRAM. Will MetaRAM become the next RD-RAM, and flop, or will it take off like the DDR lineup? We'll take a look at MetaRAM today. Is it just vaporware that will never make its way into the real market, or is it the next big thing?

The Need for More Memory

So how much memory do you need in your computer? This depends on lots of factors, such as what OS you are running or the types of applications you plan on utilizing. For your basic computer you can buy at Best Buy1 GB would be the minimum, and it's highly recommended you jump up to at least 2 GB. Using applications such as Adobe Photoshop and other applications that need to use excessive amounts of RAM will only increase the amount of RAM needed in a system. When running XP, 1 GB was plenty; now with Vista out now, 2 or 3 GB isn't unreasonable. The demand for more RAM is only increasing. We are left with 8 GB max that you can throw into a computer, and that isn't cheap.

EPoX EP-AT690G Pro Motherboard Review

With specifications still shrouded in secrecy (until 2/28/07), the AMD 690 chipset is beginning to show itself on new motherboards. Today we will be looking at the new EPoX EP-AT690G Pro motherboard to see what it can do.

With the merger of AMD and ATI, there has been much speculation as to what would come out of the mix. The AMD 690G chipset is one of the first things to come of the partnership. The actual specifications of this chipset are still in the dark, as all of the hardware vendors who have access to this chipset have signed an NDA to keep the information to themselves until the scheduled publication date of February 28, 2007.

But instead of focusing on what we don't know about this board, how about taking a look at what we do know. It's EPoX's first board to tout the AMD 690G chipset, paired with the ATI SB600. It has an onboard Radeon X-700 graphics processor, with both VGA and DVI connections on the main board. It has integrated sound, up to 10 USB ports, Gigabyte networking, and more.

EVGA 680i LT SLI

Once again we have an in-depth review of a motherboard. This time it's the nForce 680i LT SLI chipset. Keep reading for what you've come to expect in these analyses, a thorough examination with testing. We'll see if this board can match performance with other top of the line chipsets.

We have taken a look at the midrange nForce SLI chipset, the Asus P5N-E SLI, and now we will take a look at the former chipset's bigger brother, the nForce 680i LT SLI chipset. This is a full-featured board with what is supposed to be great performance. This isn’t the top of the line chipset, but is very close. It is the same chipset with a few features chopped off -- or are they? This is a very exciting chipset and motherboard to review, so let’s begin now.

You're not missing anything here. You get the works in terms of accessories. It’s nice to see a motherboard fully stocked, but then again this isn’t a budget motherboard. You don’t get shorted on SATA cables, that’s for sure. Let’s take a look at the board.

ABIT Fatal1ty F-I90HD

I have tested many motherboards here at Dev Hardware -- some good, some bad, some ugly. I've always had a specific reason for testing the motherboards, and this time it's no different. This motherboard sells itself as a mATX motherboard with overclocking capabilities. We'll see how well it lives up to the description.

These types of motherboards are few and far between. ABIT is known for the quality of their motherboards, and the boards' ability to be overclocked. Hopefully the F-I90HD will live up to our standards and become another great motherboard from ABIT. Now it's time to dig into this review.

ABIT Fatal1ty Series

This motherboard is part of ABIT's Fatal1ty Series of products. What is a Fatal1ty product and what makes them different? Fatal1ty is the name of one of the most famous gamers around. He makes hundreds of thousands of dollars playing computer games around the world. This line of products is gear towards gamers and consists of products such as motherboards, mice, keyboards, headphones, and sound cards.

For most people this is just going to be a marketing tactic to get you to buy the product. It really has no benefit over traditional computer hardware This is my first look at a Fatal1ty product. I didn't get it for the Fatal1ty name; I got it for its feature set.

Motherboard Overlook

et's look at the motherboard. As I mentioned earlier, it's a mATX motherboard. Typically mATX motherboards don't do very well as far as overclocking and don't have as many features as normal MTX motherboards. I used to think of them as cheap motherboards that weren't anywhere near great. I have had some good experiences with a few mATX motherboards recently, so I'm starting to change my mind. The red and black coloring scheme is in line with the Fatal1ty brand name.

Sonos Multi-room Audio System

Do you long for a house full of music? If you’re the kind of person who hates moving from room to room because you can’t hear your tunes everywhere you go, don’t panic. Help is at hand, in the shape of the powerful and flexible multi-room music system from innovative audio solutions company Sonos. Keep reading as we take a closer look.

The system is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing hi-fi equipment, standalone audio devices, domestic Wi-Fi computer networks and online services to provide centralized access to an entire music library throughout a building. It is also designed to be simple to install and configure, and easily extendable through the use of modular units which can keep being added almost indefinitely to fill even the largest house with sound.

At the heart of the system lies the ZonePlayer. This little device connects to either a set of speakers or an existing audio system, and handles the playback of any selected audio source. There are two key differences between a ZonePlayer and any standard media player. First, it is equipped with a twin-port Ethernet switch, allowing it to be connected not only to an existing network, but simultaneously to an external device such as a game console or Slingbox.

Second, it is able to connect wirelessly to other local ZonePlayers through Sonos's own peer-to-peer mesh network, dubbed SonosNet. This is where the power of the system starts to become apparent. Up to 32 ZonePlayers can be connected in this way, each one capable of streaming audio from any other to create an extraordinarily powerful local audio network.

One further wireless device is also available: the BR100 ZoneBridge has no musical capabilities of its own, but instead serves as a wireless router which, when connected directly to a broadband router, eliminates the need for Ethernet wiring. In effect, the ZoneBridge creates an instant SonosNet wireless network which can also connect other standard wireless devices to the Internet.

Logitech X-240 2.1 PC Speakers

Introduction

We've all experienced buying a new computer, getting it home, and realizing that the included speakers are pretty much worthless. Whether they're standalone speakers or built into the monitor, the factory PC speakers almost always need to be replaced with a decent aftermarket pair of speakers - that is if you plan on doing any kind of gaming or listening to music.

I had the usual pair of sub-par (to say the least) speakers that came with my aging desktop PC for over a year now, and I finally decided to go ahead and purchase an aftermarket pair of PC speakers - mainly for playing music, as I'm not much of a gamer. While there are plenty of awesome choices out there for $100 or less, I decided to set my budget at $50 for a 2.1 system (2 speakers and 1 subwoofer) since I don't need a system that will rattle the windows or wake up the neighbors.

For people looking for a quality 2.1 speaker system for around $100, I highly recommend checking out the Logitech Z-2300 THX-certified speakers. I did consider this system, but it was slightly out of my price range.

After doing my usual exhausting research of finding the best product possible to buy, I decided to go with theLogitech X-2402.1 speaker system. I chose this setup because of a few different reasons:

• It was rated high in almost every review that I read.

• It had pretty good specs.

• It came with an integrated MP3 player dock.

• The price was right!

So for just $36 (free shipping), I purchased the speaker system fromAmazon, and it only took about 5 business days to arrive - not bad for the free shipping option. I must say that I'm extremely happy with my purchase, and aside from a few very minor gripes, the Logitech X-240 PC speakers are an outstanding value. Hopefully this review will help you decide whether or not these PC speakers are the right fit for your needs.

NewQ Gold DSP Review

Well guys, here it is. I finally have the review up of the NewQ Gold DSP. And as far as I know, it's the first one I have seen. That sweet little EQ type thingy you have seen pimped around the internet lately. I have always been an audio enthusiast and when I saw this, I just couldn't resist myself. I had to have one in my box. Thus providing for me the best of both worlds. Excellent PC audio, as well as a smokin' overclocked system. Throw in a 12pack of your favorite beverage, and we have the makings of some of the best things in life.

Introduction: Well guys, here it is. I finally have the review up of the NewQ Gold DSP. And as far as I know, it's the first one I have seen. That sweet little EQ type thingy you have seen pimped around the internet lately. I have always been an audio enthusiast and when I saw this, I just couldn't resist myself. I had to have one in my box. Thus providing for me the best of both worlds. Excellent PC audio, as well as a smokin' overclocked system. Throw in a 12pack of your favorite beverage, and we have the makings of some of the best things in life.

Overview: The first thing I noticed about this unit when I pulled it out of my box, was the quality. I was very impressed with the workmanship with which this was assembled. Basically like a miniature rack system device you would have sitting in your home theater ensemble. I'm going to go over a few functions of this unit here.

"SRS, the Sound Retrieval System, came about many years of research on the psychoacoustics of sound and the dynamics of the human hearing system. SRS retrieves the spatial information from recordings and restores the original three- dimensional sound field. As a result, the reproduced sound is much closer to a live performance. Like live performances, SRS has no critical listening position (sweet spot). Listeners can move around the room and continue to be immersed in full three-dimensional sound."

• Normal Mode

• 3d SRS surround Sound Mode When playing cd-Music, MP3 file and games, it provides not only 3 dimensional surround sound by dynamic sound as well.

• TruSurround Mode When playing DVD titles which are recorded by Dolby Digital Sound, it provides virtual 6 speaker effects with 2 or 3 speakers through TruSurround

• The NewQ (with its 5.25-inch wide Bay) consists of the equalizer unit and interface cards for easy installation. Installing the NewQ is as simple as installing a CDROM drive.

7 Band digital graphic equalizer

(60Hz, 150Hz, 400Hz, 1KHz, 2.4KHZ, 6KHZ, 15KHZ)

• 3 User setting Modes

• 4 Preset Modes (Normal, Rock, Pop, Classic)

Creative Labs Audigy2 NX Review

There's a reason you don't see more people playing Doom 3 or certain other intense PC games on their laptops. Actually, there are several reasons, and one of them is that the audio card won't give them the sound reproduction such games deserve. Creative Labss came up with an answer to this need: a US external sound card. Memphist0 checks out the Audigy2 NX, not just for gaming, but for movies and music. Does it measure up to its desktop kin? Read on to find out.

Introduction

Laptops, notebooks, whatever you like to call them, have been striving to not only be viewed as a needed item for the road warrior but as the only computer you need. In the past it was clear that a desktop PC was still needed. Laptops did not offer the computing horsepower, storage capabilities, or features for many people. They could only comfortably run Web browsers or office applications.

For the most part this has changed. The new breed of laptops, dubbed desktop replacements, utilize the same high-end processors as their desktop cousins. They also have current generation graphics cards, greater storage options (either internal or external), DVD/CD writers, and just about every other feature the desktop has historically offered. That is with one exception, the sound card. Yes, laptops do offer sound cards but they tend to be of a much lower quality than most users would want. Most laptop sound cards typically offer just enough to be called a sound card. They forgo sound quality for battery life or cost.

Creative Labs has heard the cry of those with a sound challenged laptop and began offering USB external sound cards. Finally, a choice for those that want to give up their bulky desktop PCs but want a high quality, fully featured soundcard. The Audigy2 NX advertises many of the same specifications as the Audigy2 that gamers use in their desktop machines. This is a huge selling point for gamers. With the Audigy2 NX it is now possible to play all those games with EAX sound enhancements on a laptop and be able to hear them. Unreal Tournament 2004 with its EAX ADVANCED HD sound was a major reason I choose an Audigy2 Platinum for my desktop PC, and now my laptop will be able to reproduce those sound enhancements as well.

Reviewing the Creative Audigy SE

A dedicated sound card—now why on earth should we need one, you may ask. We already have one integrated into our motherboard and it's doing its job fine, at least if it isn't broken. Answering your question is quite an easy task. And once you get the hang of it, we are going to proceed with reviewing the Creative Audigy SE. At the end, you can expect our professional rating and conclusions.

The on-board sound cards are produced cheaply for the purpose of not increasing the price of a motherboard. And because of this, they are of poor quality. If you want to take your audio experience to another level, you need to acquire a dedicated sound card, which obviously is capable of much more than the tiny little integrated chip on the motherboard. An independent audio card has the advantage of getting more attention during the production stages along with additional technologies to enhance your experience.

You may be low budget, but as long as the determination to upgrade from your basic integrated audio is present in your heart, the Creative Audigy SE is a product to watch for. I invite you to read the following pages because I'll analyze a dedicated sound card that was meant to end your pursuit for greater sound quality, giving you superior relaxation time (regardless of music, movies, or games) in your hectic everyday life.

The Package

It’s time to see what we have. First of all, you must know that there are two packages. First there is the retail version that can be found at a price starting from $30, but if your budget is even lower and you aren't interested in a nice and shiny box alongside a printed quick start leaflet, you may go for the bulk version. Going this way, you might end up sparing another $10.

So the contents of the package for the Creative Audigy SE version can be summed up in the following list:

• Sound Blaster Audigy SE card

• Quick Start leaflet

• Creative Sticker

• Installation CD containing:

  • Creative Software Suite

  • Drivers for Windows XP, XP Professional x64 and 2000

  • User's Guide on CD

  • Quick Start leaflet

Thermaltake Shark Case Review

Your case is one of the most visible components of your system and can say a lot about who you are and what your computer is for. With so many different designs and styles available to choose from, you can say almost anything you want. Today Dan Wellman takes a look at the Thermaltake Shark case, a high end enclosure built to look good and cool well.

Thermaltake has built a solid reputation as an innovative manufacturer of top quality cooling solutions, and their stunning range of high-end cases is no exception. The Shark VA7000 case is one of the more expensive cases in the Thermaltake range, so expect to pay somewhere in the region of $150 - $170 for one without a PSU. One with a PSU or liquid-cooling system thrown in is much more.

For a case that’s pretty expensive, but Thermaltake is giving you much more than just somewhere to put your motherboard and drives. Almost every aspect of the case is bursting with innovation and ideas that make working with the case a pleasure. Even the cardboard box that the case comes in is colourful and attractive!

Upon purchase, you obviously get the case itself. You also get a bagful of screws and whatnot for attaching your drives and seating the motherboard, etc. Thermaltake being the masters of cooling also throws in not one, but two 12cm 2000rpm fans (intake and exhaust) to ensure that a constant supply of cool air is dragged over the internal components and then pushed out as it heats up. It is also compatible with all current types of liquid cooling systems. The form factor is ATX or mini-ATX.

XG Viper 2 Case Review

When building a custom computer, it used to be that selecting a case for your machine was based solely on the internal configuration. Power supply, number of internal and external drive bays, and cooling potential were pretty much the only things that were important. All cases looked the same, square and beige in color. Today’s cases include the look and feel of what old case modders used to spend weeks perfecting. The Viper 2 case, the latest case in MGE’s XG line, is the best of both worlds: a well designed case wrapped in a sleek exterior.

XG, which stands for Extreme Gamer, has come out with their newest case, the Viper 2. This case in another in a line of cases designed around today’s computer enthusiasts, who want their machines to look as good as they run. Today I’ll be building a machine using the Viper 2 case as the platform.

On XG’s website, they have this to say about their new case:

The new Viper 2 carries on the tradition of the case that put XG on the map in the PC case market in 2004. The Viper 2 is truly designed with the extreme gamer in mind with its stylish design, aluminum 400W power, SATA 2.0, 20 + 4 pin connector and PCI express connector. With its ultra-gloss custom paint and hot design, the new Viper 2 features an advanced LCD display for time, CPU temperature, alarm, and fan speed. Other advanced features include a tool-less drive bay, PCI slot, and easy access side panel. Ideal for LAN Parties, Viper 2 comes with its compact size and ultra light weight.

Just from the pictures, the case looks pretty good. Let's take a look at the specs for the case, as listed on XG’s website:

InWin BL631 mATX Case

Cases come in all kinds of sizes and shapes. There’s a case for just about every use of a computer. Today we are going to take a look at an InWin case meant for small areas, such as a home theater PC, for which I will be using the case.

Never hear of InWin before? Neither had I. InWin was founded in 1986 and started coming to the US market in 1999. It's still a really new company, but is rapidly expanding. Today we are going to look at the InWin BL631 mATX case with a 300 watt PSU. HTPC cases are usually expensive, but this one works for those on a budget. Is it worth it compared to your typical HTPC case that costs twice as much?
After unpacking the case I found something odd -- or didn't find something, more like it. There were no instructions. I know it may be simple to put a computer in a case, but I expected the company to at least provide some kind of documentation. There are some plastic parts inside which look like they might be used for funneling cool air to the CPU, but I'm not really sure with no instructions.
he front of the case is really simple-looking. It has a 5.25" bay into which I put my DVD burner, and an external 3.5" bay. The front also has the power/restart buttons, and some front panel USB and audio ports.

Shuttle XS29F: Is VIA's Nano Processor Powerful

When Shuttle announced its XS29F several months ago, we were told it would bring complete silence to desktop computing (along with its alternative applications, such as a file player for home theaters).
But it was the Mini-ITX fanatics and VIA faithful, rather than Shuttle, who made these claims, and the manufacturer itself provided only a short list of specs for this Nano U1700-powered “nettop” computer--the desktop equivalent of a netbook.
When you're talking about portable computing, the name “netbook” implies a simplified notebook designed expressly as an Internet terminal. Applying the same low-power, reduced-performance technology to desktops allows Shuttle to build its tiny XS29F without any fan whatsoever. Adding your choice of a solid-state drive (SSD), rather than a traditional notebook hard disk drive, can make the system a completely silent space-saving machine perfect for use in noise-sensitive areas like libraries, hospitals, and audio labs.

P55 Motherboard

Meet MSI's P55-GD80, the company's highest-end P55-based offering, expected to run right around $200. As with many past MSI platforms, this one sports tasteful aesthetic touches, like black and dark blue components, classy, unobstructed cooling on the voltage regulation circuitry, and an oversized anodized-looking heatpipe.
In this preview, we'll explore MSI's flagship in greater depth and then introduce ASRock's upcoming top-end model as well. Representatives from ASRock recently spent the afternoon in our Bakersfield, California lab to talk about P55 plans, pricing, power, and future technologies--I'll give you more detail as we skirt around the company's P55 Deluxe.
But first, let's dive into the P55-GD80, a board we're expecting to be a hit with the overclocking community and will evaluate in greater depth once Intel's upcoming platform officially debuts...

HP Officejet Wireless Printer

Here's something we almost never, ever get to say in printer reviews: The USB cable you'll need is in the box. Here's something ironic: After the first half hour or so, you won't need it.
That's because the HP Officejet 6000 Wireless, as its name implies, supports 802.11b/g Wi-Fi as well as USB 2.0 and Ethernet connectivity -- if your home office or small office has a wireless network and router , you use the cable only temporarily during initial setup. It would be nice if a cable came with the plain Officejet 6000 base model of the inkjet printer, which uses USB and Ethernet only, but of course one doesn't.
The 6000 Wireless also differs from its sibling by including an automatic duplexer that pulls pages back and forth, pausing between sides to let the ink dry, for double-sided output. It naturally slows printing -- our 10-page Microsoft Word document took 1 minute and 11 seconds in normal mode on 10 sheets versus 3 minutes and 34 seconds on five sheets -- but works perfectly as a paper-saving convenience.
If you don't need wireless and duplex printing, the Officejet 6000 costs $90, compared to $120 for the deluxe model tested here. If you're reading this during August 2009, you can trim those prices to $70 and $100, respectively, thanks to an instant rebate in the small and medium business area of HP's Web site.
Perhaps best of all is the HP's low cost per page: Like its multifunction Officejet 6500 Wireless cousin reviewed here in April, the 6000 Wireless takes the company's 920XL black, magenta, cyan, and yellow ink cartridges, priced at $32 for the black (rated for approximately 1,200 pages) and $15 apiece for the color trio (rated for approximately 700).
Once you use up the smaller starter cartridges in the box and start buying and using 920XLs, you'll be paying about 2.67 cents per black-and-white and 9.1 cents per color page -- the former's not bad even by laser printer standards, while the latter is a measurable saving over most desktop color lasers' 12- to 15-cent color pages. It's enough to let you spring for the print-quality boost of coated inkjet stock instead of plain paper and still come out ahead.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2

f there's one thing you can tell about Lenovo ,it's that the company doesn't like having idle hands around the place: Even as its netbook engineers were working on the company's new 12-inch model, the IdeaPad S12, Lenovo called for a makeover of its existing 10.1-inch netbook. So say goodbye to the IdeaPad S10 and hello to the S10-2, which enters the hottest segment of the netbook market with new features at a new price point: $349 with your choice of a black, white or gray polka-dot-patterned lid, or $359 if you'd rather be pretty in pink.
Compared to the S10, the S10-2 is seven ounces lighter -- 2.7 pounds counting a 6-cell battery that props the netbook at a comfortable typing angle -- and a few millimeters thinner (7.6 by 10.2 by 1.8 inches). The battery averaged a respectable four and a half hours in our work sessions, which included a good deal of Wi-Fi Web surfing and disk-intensive software installation and system recovery; simple word processing or other productivity tasks should last five hours easily.
The main negative in the move from old to new is that the S10-2 lacks the S10's ExpressCard slot, which welcomed mobile broadband and other expansion options; instead, it catches up to competitors by offering three rather than two USB 2.0 ports. We'd rather have the ExpressCard slot, both for technology's sake and as a greater differentiator in the overcrowded, overly similar netbook arena, but Lenovo says an S10-2 configured with built-in 3G wireless will ship soon.
Speaking of overly similar, the IdeaPad contains a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270, a single-core processor with 512K of Level 2 cache; 1GB of DDR2 system memory; Intel's game-proof 945GSE integrated-graphics chipset; a 160GB, 5,400-rpm hard disk; a Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard/Memory Stick flash-card slot; VGA and Ethernet ports and headphone and microphone jacks as well as the three USB ports; and Windows XP Home Edition. All are thoroughly familiar netbook fare (as is the absence of an optical drive).
While a growing number of netbooks offer 92-percent and a few (like the IdeaPad S12) flaunt full-sized keyboards, the S10-2's follows earlier models such as the original Acer Aspire One at 89 percent of desktop size. The difference is small -- the A through apostrophe keys span 7.25 inches, versus 7.5 inches for a 92-percenter such as the Asus Eee PC 1000HE and 8 inches for a full-sized keyboard, but it does call for just a bit more concentration while typing.
What we found trickier than the Lenovo's keyboard was its touchpad, which is tiny (1.3 by 2.25 inches), with miniscule, stiff mouse buttons. The pad supports thumb-and-forefinger pinching and spreading gestures to zoom in and out of pages and images, but it doesn't give you much room to maneuver.

Logitech Bluetooth Mouse M555b Review

When they're not trading tales of taxi-line traumas and bad-hotel horror stories, frequent travelers like to swap brags and boasts: One time I jumped from standby for coach to a free seat in business class. I made it from O'Hare gate C2 to B17 in ten minutes flat. Or, with the Logitech Bluetooth Mouse M555b: I edited the entire annual report with only a two-inch strip of mouse room on my tray table. I scrolled through 4,000 spreadsheet rows in eight seconds.
The M555b ($50) is Logitech's newest mobile mouse, designed for notebooks and netbooks with built-in Bluetooth wireless. Hence it has no USB receiver to fuss with, unlike most cordless mice. Its laser sensor works smoothly on a good variety of surfaces (with the universal optical-mouse exceptions of glass and mirrors), while its 1,000 dpi resolution lets it work in only a couple of inches of maneuvering room.
Like other notebook mice, it's a tad smaller than the desktop variety -- 2.3 by 3.9 by 1.3 inches -- but feels solid enough, at 4.1 ounces with its two AA batteries, to track without skating or wobbling in the hand. Its rounded-rectangle shape should prove comfortable for both left- and right-handed mousers, while the batteries are rated for 10 or 11 weeks between swaps.
Instead of side-mounted or thumb buttons, the Logitech has one extra button on top, just behind the scroll wheel.

Intel Core i5 And Core i7: Intel’s Mainstream Magnum Opus

Intel’s emphasis right now is on Clarkdale, the Nehalem-based mainstream lineup centering on a 32nm process shrink. Clarkdale will be the foundation on which upcoming Core i5 and Core i3 CPUs are based. It’s a big deal for Intel. So big, in fact, that I was told jokingly two weeks before the Lynnfield launch that the whole company had been focusing on Clarkdale, not the Core i5 and Core i7 we’re seeing today.
Of course, that’s only really funny for the folks who’ve already seen how the Lynnfield-based processors actually perform and know they’re not as anemic as an enthusiast might expect, given the fact that Intel is aggressively pursuing integration, aiming for a SoC-type design in the not-so-distant future.
But Clarkdale is six months away, at least. Today is all about Lynnfield—the Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs for Intel’s LGA 1156 interface.

The Venerable Core 2 Rides Off…Sort Of
With the divulging of its Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3 branding, Intel quietly rang the death knell of its Core 2 family, which has been with us for more than three years now, gently massaging away memories of a day when the company ravenously chased after faster clocks.
That transition won’t happen immediately, though—or even quickly for that matter. Well into the fourth quarter of next year, Intel’s Core 2 architecture will remain a value play. Even today it’s going to persist as a viable option for entry-level buyers.

This time we reviewed Thermaltake ISGC-200 CPU cooler, which uses the same fan of ISGC-100 but has a completely different design, with heatsinks making "sandwiching" the fan. Will its performance be better than its "little brother"?
document.write('');

ISGC-200 box is visually similar to ISGC-100's, but a little bit bigger. It also brings the picture of a virtual redhead (that looks very much like the ATI poster girl) holding a huge sword similar to Final Fantasy. Thermaltake says that this girl's name is Zoe, "goddess of victory", and she is a computer programmer who lives in a Peruvian amazon village and has as mission to use her powers to protect a magic stone. No, we didn't understand what this story has to do with CPU coolers. Actually, the ancient Greek goddess of victory was named Nike (yes, the sportswear brand took her name). Hardware Secrets is also culture.

Inside the box, there is the cooler itself, installation hardware, a little white thermal compound bag, user manuals and a case sticker.

ISGC-200 is a tower-design CPU cooler, with three U-shaped heatpipes connecting the cooler base to two aluminum heatsinks. The fan stays between these heatsinks, attached to one of them with two metal clips.

After reviewing Noctua NH-U12P it's time to test a similar model, NH-C12P, which is a six-heatpipe cooler where the 120 mm fan in placed horizontally, thus fitting some SFF cases. Let's check if its performance is similar to its brother's.
Like NH-U12P this model is only compatible with Intel socket 775 or AMD sockets AM3, AM2+ and AM2 CPUs. Actually, its fastening system is identical to NH-U12P's. Its box is also practInside the box we found the heatsink, the fan (which doesn't come installed), three plastic bags with installation hardware, one NT-H1 thermal compound tube and the installation manual. This manual is actually made by two folders, one explaining the installation process on Intel processors and the other one for AMD CPUs. We also found two speed reducers for the fan, which are simple resistors to be put in series with the fan power wires.ically the same, only with a different text.

ASUS P-50GA 500 W Power Supply

ASUS is the number one motherboard manufacturer in the world and they’ve been expanding to other business for several years, recently reaching the power supply market. Though ASUS power supplies are not sold in the US, this didn’t prevent us from getting our hands on their 500 W P-50GA is a short 5 ½” (14 cm) power supply, having a 120-mm fan on its bottom, active PFC and no modular cabling system.
All cables have a nylon protection, but the sleevings don’t come from inside the power supply, as you can see on Figure 2. The cables included on P-50GA are:
Main motherboard cable with a 20/24-pin connector.
One cable with one EPS12V connector and one ATX12V connector.
One cable with two six/eight-pin auxiliary power connectors for video cards.
Two SATA power cables with two plugs each.
One peripheral power cable with three standard peripheral power plugs and one floppy disk drive power connector.
One peripheral power cable with three standard peripheral power plugs.
The cables are somewhat short, having 17 21/64” (44 cm) between the power supply housing and the first connector on the cable and 5 ½” (14 cm) between connectors, on cables with more than one connector. The length of the cables may make it difficult for you to use this power supply inside a full tower case or even on a mid-tower case where the power supply is installed on the bottom of the case.product, which is sold throughout the world.