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HP DV7-2040US Laptop w Core2Quad Q9000 under $1200

2009-05-11T04:59:00.000-07:00

HP Pavilion DV7-2040US 17.3 Inch Laptop
with Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000
Laptop for Gaming and Multimedia

Regular Price: $1,731.00
Price range : $1390 up

Amazon Price: $1,249.99 + Free Shipping
Rebate: $50.00
Price After Rebate: $1,199.99 (May 9, 2009)

HP dv7-2040us Specifications
Processor : 2.00Ghz Intel Core2 Quad Q9000 Cache 6MB L2 Cache
Display 17.3” Diagonal HD+ High-Definition HP LED BrightView Widescreen Display (1600 x 900)
Video Graphics : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4650 Memory Up to 2815MB (1024MB dedicated)
Memory : 4 GB (Max 8 GB)
Hard Drive : 500GB (5400RPM)
Multimedia Drive LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support
Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN
Sound Altec Lansing speakers
PC Card Slots 1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards
4 USB 2.0, 4th port shared with eSATA
2 Headphone out
1 microphone-in, HDMI, 1 VGA (15-pin), 1 RJ-11 (modem), 1 RJ -45 (LAN), 1 IEEE 1394, 1 Consumer IR (Remote Receiver)
Dimensions : 16.2" (W) x 10.9" (D) x 1.37" (min H)/1.70" (max H)
Weight : 7.67 lbs
Battery : 8-Cell Lithium-Ion battery(120W AC Adapter)
Operating System: Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit with SP 1
Software Include : Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (60 days) , HP Recovery Manager, HP MediaSmart, Muvee Reveal, Cyberlink DVD Suite, Adobe Acrobat Reader, HP Games Powered by Wild Tangent, Microsoft Works, Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition: 60 Day Trial Version, Microsoft Internet Explorer
My Opinion and Review
Wow!!!!
Very Quickly at this price for me. about Intel Core2 Quad under $1500.
Although 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q9000 Mobile Processor not latest or highest CPU but enough for everything for do.

For Graphics Video, The ATI Mobilty Radeon HD 4650 from AMD is a DirectX 10.1 notebook graphics adapter. Great for gaming performance support most DirectX 9 games (Call of Duty 4, F.E.A.R., or Unreal Tournament 3). HD4650 performance closely nVidia GeForce 9700M GTS,
nVidia GeForce GTX 260M.

For this specs at under 1200 Great Price
(Price only Q9000 about $400 How can)

Canon Vixia HF S100 $1,069.99 - $1,099.99

2009-05-11T04:55:00.000-07:00

Many companies turn out SD-based camcorders in compact designs, simply because the flash-based technologies allow for much smaller models than those based on tape, hard disks, and mini DVDs. While Canon continues to offer compact AVCHD models, the Vixia HF20 and the HF200, the company's branching out with slightly more "pro" prosumer offerings in the Vixia HF S100 and the Vixia HF S10.

These two models, which record 1,920x1,080 60i video, feature a larger, faster f1.8 10x HD lens and a relatively large, high-resolution 1/2.6-inch 8-megapixel CMOS sensor, along with higher-end capabilities, such as SMPTE color bars, the ability to manually boost gain up to 18dB, fixed 70 and 100 IRE zebra stripes, and a user-assignable button/control dial combo. They differ only by internal memory: the HF S100 has none, while the HF S10 has 32GB.

Though it weighs a bit over a pound, the camcorder feels kind of light for its 2.8-inch-by-2.7-inch-by-5.4-inch dimensions. Still, it's no featherweight, and while I fit it into a loose jacket pocket it's not very compact. With only a few exceptions, the camcorder has a nice, functional design, with intelligently laid out controls and a streamlined user interface. The larger size makes it a bit more comfortable to hold and operate as well.

Looking at the camcorder head-on, one of the first things you notice is the odd built-in lens cover that uses a closing-eye type rather than aperture-blade type of design we usually see. It wouldn't be notable except that when closed, the two plastic pieces tend to rattle against each other; since the camcorder is off it's not a problem, just a minor irritation. Instead of putting the video light in the typical location on the side of the lens, Canon put it on the pop-up flash. The stereo mics sit on either side of the lens barrel. While they may be more susceptible to wind noise in that location (though I didn't have any problems), it allows for larger mics with better separation than the typical positioning above or below the lens. If that's not adequate, you can attach a mic via the mini accessory shoe on top of the camcorder. There's a 3.5mm mic input on the grip side of the unit, and the other connectors--USB, component, and miniHDMI--sit in a covered compartment underneath the strap. The strap does get in the way a little when you're hooking stuff up.

To one side of the lens Canon placed a new Custom dial, which looks, feels, and operates similarly to the control dial on Sony's prosumer models. You press the button to enable it, then use the dial to adjust whatever setting you've programmed it for--choices are exposure, focus, assist functions (70/100 IRE Zebra and peaking), mic level, and automatic gain control limit (0 to 18dB). I like it in the Sonys and here as well; it's a comfortable interface for adjusting options like exposure and focus, though I'm not fond of it for cycling through the Zebra and peaking options.

As usual, the zoom switch and photo button lie on top of the camcorder beneath your forefinger, with the mode dial right behind where an eye-level viewfinder should be; one of the biggest drawbacks of this model, geared toward enthusiasts, is the lack of an EVF. The power connector and 3.5mm headphone jack flank the mode button. One of the two record buttons lies under your thumb on the back. To the left of the zoom switch is the small, recessed power button which is a little to difficult to manipulate.

Most of the shooting controls live on the LCD bezel. The function button pulls up both the frequently used settings as well as the full menu system another level down. In addition to the usual--white balance, image effects, digital effects, video quality and still photo size, program and a handful of scene modes--the HF S10/100 offer real shutter- and aperture-priority shooting modes with a shutter speed range of 1/8 to 1/2000 second and aperture options ranging from f1.8 to f8, giving you more control over depth of field than you generally see in a prosumer model. It also offers Canon's Cine mode for adjusting color and gamma to go with its 24F progressive modes, though it and 30F get recorded as 60i. In still mode you can select metering and drive modes as well. Other high-end features accessible via the menus include three fixed or variable zoom speed, x.v.Color mode, color bars, and a test tone.

The menu system itself has been updated for a smoother feel and the ability to choose font size. Since the 2.7-inch display is the typical low-resolution model, the small fonts look pixelated and would be hard for some to read. It does stand up pretty well in direct sunlight, however.

Navigating down on the joystick while shooting triggers a fly-up menu to pop up the video light (which works in still photo mode), digital effects, 3-second prerecord, backlight and exposure compensation, manual focus, mic level, face detection, and a digital teleconverter. The options are slightly different in still mode: you gain flash and lose the mic and teleconverter. It's especially nice that you still have quick access to functions that you don't assign to the custom dial.

The HF S10/S100 also incorporate this year's features, which include Video Snapshots, 4-second clips used to create a "highlights reel" effect (the camcorders ship with a music CD). I like the idea, but the implementation can be annoying. You enter Video Snapshot mode by pressing a hard-to-feel button on the left side of the camcorder in the LCD recess. A blue outline appears on the display. When you press record, a highlight travels around the blue outline counting down your 4 seconds. It stays in Video Snapshot mode until you switch to playback or press the button again. While I like the way the display feedback works, I think I might have preferred a separate record button, or a choice on the mode dial rather than the have the isolated button. (For a complete accounting of the HF S10/100's features, you can download the PDF manual.)

Performance and quality are top notch at both its maximum 24Mbps bit rate and 17Mbps. (Recording capacities are about 5.5 minutes per gigabyte and 7.8 min/GB, respectively. Canon recommends a Class 4 or better SDHC card.) The camcorder focuses quickly and accurately, even in low light. While battery life is pretty average for its class, it recharges fairly quickly; Canon claims it takes 10 minutes per half hour of battery life. The optical stabilizer, as usual, works well out to the end of the zoom range. The video looks great: sharp, with saturated colors, and excellent exposures with relatively few blown-out highlights. The DigicDV 3 processing does a solid job maximizing the dynamic range. Living-room light-level recordings look quite good as well. There's a bit of noise and softness, but that's to be expected. The audio records crisp and clear, too. The camcorder's not perfect, however. Outdoor shots do show a bit of purple fringing on high-contrast edges, and there's some color shift in reds and blues. Still photos have a slightly overprocessed look as many camcorder stills do, and the flash does odd things to the saturation, but overall they're not bad.

If you're a video hobbyist or a pro looking for something cheap and portable to complement your workhorse equipment, the identical twins Canon Vixia HF S10 and HF S100 deliver a much better shooting experience than the current crop of $600 HD camcorders--as long as you can live without the EVF. The HF S100 is probably the better deal, since the price of a 32GB card should be less than the price differential between the two models.

Sharp LC-42SB45U 42" 1080p LCD HDTV under $800

2009-05-11T04:50:00.000-07:00

Sharp 42'' Class Full-HD 1080p LCD HDTV LC-42SB45U

Price Range : $800 up
WalMart May 9, 2009 : Special at $798.00

Review Rating : 95%

Sharp LC-42SB45U Specification

Display e: 42 inches TFT active matrix 16:9 Widescreen Resolution 1920 x 1080

Display Format 1080p (FullHD)

Image Aspect Ratio 16:9

Image Contrast Ratio 2000:1

Viewing Angle 176 degrees

2 speakers

Pixel Response Time 6 ms

Built In ATSC/QAM/NTSC Tuners

TV Tuner : Analog TV Tuner NTSC Reception System NTSC, ATSC, QAM

Digital TV Tuner : QAM , ATSC

HDTV Ready

Output Power / Total 20 Watt

3 HDMI input

2 Component video input

1 VGA input

1 S-Video input

1 Composite video input

3 Audio line-in

Energy Star

Color Black

Dimensions : 39.8 in x 25.4 in x 3.9 in

Weight : 43.9 lbs

My Opinions

This month (May 2009) is time to TV HDTV that many store release 42" 50" under $1000. Maybe shifting tech to LEDTV
coming soon.

This Model is full function of HDTV class 1080p and includes built in ATSC, QAM, NTSC tuners. This model also offers 1
PC input, 1 S-Video, 3 Composite, 2 Component and 3 HDMI ports. Grreat price at under $800

Asus Eee PC EPC900B-BLU01X Netbook under $250

2009-05-11T04:48:00.000-07:00

Asus Eee PC EPC900B-BLU01X Netbook
with Intel Celeron Processor 353

Best Buy may 10-16, 2009
Price: $249.99

Asus EeePC EPC900B Specification

Processor : 900 MHz Intel Celeron processor 353

Operation : Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition

Display : 8.9" WSVGA widescreen display

Memory : 1GB DDR2 (expandable to 2GB)

Hard Drive : 16GB Solid State hard drive

Built-in 1.3MP webcam

Built-in media reader

3 USB 2.0 ports

Built-in high-speed wireless LAN (802.11b/g)

10/100 Mbps Ethernet LAN with RJ-45 connector

4-cell lithium-ion battery

Dimension : Height 1.3" x Width 8.9" x Depth 6.7"

Weighs : 2.2 lbs.

BB SKU: 9272299

My Opinion and Review

Intel Celeron 353, Nick name is Dothan-512 series based on Pentium M microarchitecture and released on Sep 2004.
Clock speed at 900 MHz with 400MHz FSB, 512KB L2 cache. Performance and speed closly Atom z520 but lower than
Atom 270/280.

Dell 15.4" Inspiron 1525 Laptop PC

2009-02-27T05:11:00.000-08:00

Dell 15.4" Inspiron 1525 Laptop PC with Intel Celeron 550 Processor with 4GB USB Flash Drive, HP F2210 Multi-Function Printer & Microsoft Laptop Backpack Bundle

The old days of bulky, overweight Dell notebooks may be coming to a close in 2008. Today Dell announced their latest addition to the Inspiron family of notebooks, the 15.4-inch Inspiron 1525. We are happy to have a pre-production unit to review, and this sleek successor to the Inspiron 1520 might just surprise you.

Our pre-production Inspiron 1525 is equipped with the following specs:
15.4-inch WXGA (1280 x 800) CCFL TrueLife (glossy) screen
120GB 5400 RPM SATA HDD
8x Dual-layer DVD±RW drive
2.0GHz Core 2 Duo T7250 processor
2GB DDR2-667 SDRAM (up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM available)
Video: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Wireless: Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Mini Card
Colors: Multiple colors and finishes available
Media Card: 8-in-1 flash memory reader
Mobile Broadband: Dell Wireless integrated mobile broadband mini-cards Sprint and Verizon serice
Input and Output Ports: 4 USB 2.0, HDMI, VGA, IEEE 1394a, RJ11, RJ45, 1 ExpressCard 54mm slot, 2 headphone, 1 microphone, 3 mini-card slots, consumer IR, S-Video
Dimensions: 1.00" - 1.48" (height) x 14.05" (width) x 10.08" (depth)
Weight: 5.9lbs with 6-cell battery
No webcam (optional Integrated 2.0 megapixel webcam available)
Windows Vista Home Premium
Base configuration price: $499
Price as tested: $1,024 ($874 after instant savings)

Although I wasn't a huge fan of the glossy inlaid "Commotion Pattern" design on our pre-production Inspiron 1525, I must say it looks flawless. I was highly critical of the paint application on the Inspiron 1420, 1520, and 1720 because the paint has questionable durability. The new glossy lid designs might be a magnet for fingerprints, but it certainly looks more durable than the old Inspiron paint jobs.

Screen

Display options for the Inspiron 1525 include a matte finish 15.4" Widescreen XGA (1280 x 800), a 15.4" Widescreen XGA (1280 x 800) with TruleLife (glossy finish), or a 15.4" "high resolution" (1440 x 900) glossy widescreen display. On the surface the lack of higher resolutions is a serious flaw in the design of the 1525. In truth, the overwhelming majority of "average" notebook users will think the WXGA resolution looks stunning.

The screen on our pre-production unit looks flawless from straight on and the horizontal viewing angles are great. Upper vertical viewing angles are good, but colors did begin to invert at lower viewing angles when the screen is tilted back.

Pantech announces the Pantech Matrix Pro

2009-02-18T09:47:00.001-08:00

Pantech has just announced the Pantech Matrix Pro, a dual-slider smart phone with Windows Mobile 6.1. If you think "Pantech Matrix" sounds familiar, it's because Pantech released its non-smart phone cousin, the Pantech Matrix, a few months ago as a dual-slider messaging phone. The Matrix Pro is also Pantech's second attempt at a smart phone, after the rather sad Pantech Duo of two years ago. Also note that Pantech is the manufacturer behind the Helio Ocean and the Helio Ocean 2, which have a similar form factor.

Like all of its dual-slider handsets, the Matrix Pro slides up vertically to reveal a number keypad, and horizontally to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard. The Matrix Pro is a tad flashier than its regular cousin, with a mirror-finish exterior and sleeker design.

Of course like most smart phones, it has support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync for syncing with calendars, email, and contacts, plus you get support for Microsoft Office documents. Other features include a 2-megapixel camera, A-GPS with AT&T Navigator, threaded SMS messaging, a music and video player, Video share calling, AT&T Mobile Music, stereo Bluetooth, and a microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB cards. The phone is GPRS/EDGE quad-band and UMTS/HSDPA tri-band.

We're still hunting down specifics on pricing and availability, but it'll likely be soon.

Hands on with the Samsung Omnia HD

2009-02-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

As Samsung made an impressive showing at the GSMA World Congress it's difficult to pick one of its new phones as the most notable. Yet, the company's Omnia HD certainly would be in the running. I had the opportunity to check it out while visiting with Samsung in Barcelona.

Though the Omnia HD is the next-generation model of the existing Omnia, it shows a few design differences The curved ends give it a more eye-catching, aerodynamic look. It's also slightly bigger than its predecessor, but we'll gladly take the extra heft with the stunning 2.7-inch, 16 million-color display. In all ways it's bright and beautiful--colors were vibrant, graphics were sharp and video lives up the HD name.

The display's offers Samsung's TouchWiz interface with the customizable widget bar on the left side. The touch interface for both finger swiping and selecting icons was responsive and the Symbian interface is intuitive. The display works in landscape and includes an accelerometer for certain functions like the virtual QWERTY keyboard. Speaking of which, the keyboard is very comfortable thanks to the display's large size. We had no problems tapping away.

The three physical controls below the display include Talk and End/power buttons, They're rather thin but I didn't find them to be problematic. There's a single VGA camera lens above the display for video calling while the main lens for the 8-megapixel shooter is located on the rear face. It has a flash but no sliding lens cover. Other exterior controls include a volume rocker on the left spine and a camera shutter, a screen lock control and a Micro-USB port on the right spine. The headset jack is located conveniently on the op of the device but the memory card slot is behind the battery cover.

Features include HSDPA 3G support an 8-megapixel camera, an FM radio, assisted-GPS, Bluetooth, a music player, organizer applications, a speakerphone and Wi-Fi. We'll get a review model as soon as we can but check out our Samsung GSMA photo gallery in the meantime. We'll have video soon as well.

Nintendo DSi to hit America April 5, for $169.99

2009-02-18T09:39:00.001-08:00

Nintendo has yet to face a serious competitor in the handheld field—the best Sony's PSP could do was carve out a respectable niche far below the sales of the DS. The new DS is finally coming to American shores to cement that lead: the Nintendo DSi is coming to North America on April 5, for $169.99.

The DSi is much more of a portable entertainment device than the previous iterations of the hardware. The system features two digital cameras, along with the ability to manipulate the pictures you take. There is also software to listen to, and fiddle with, music on the system via the built-in SD card slot. The built-in microphone allows you to record your voice or ambient sounds.

The aspect of the system with the most promise for gamers is the app store. Gamers will be able to download new games and applications from WiFi hotspots... for a price. Applications start at 200 points, or $2, and will go up from there. In a blow to importers, the DSiWare service is regionally encoded, which means you won't be able to enjoy Japanese applications, and ours will remain on our North American machines.

The DSi was designed to be a supplement to the DS line of hardware, and not a replacement for the hardware that's already out there. Since the new hardware removes the GBA slot, gamers may want to hold on to their existing systems if they hope to play their older games, or the Guitar Hero: On Tour series.

The system will launch in two colors: black, and the new blue color .

The Nintendo DSi has finally been given an official date and price in North America. Nintendo hopes to use the system to boost DS sales, not replace the current product line... although I doubt the company has a problem with customers upgrading.

Nintendo's latest revision of its portable DS hardware, the Nintendo DSi, will arrive in the United States on Sunday, April 5 for $169.99, the company has announced.
The system will be available in two colors: blue and black.

Released in Japan last fall, the Nintendo DSi packs a slimmer profile over past Nintendo DS hardware due to the removal of the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot.

Other changes and additions include larger screens, two cameras, an SD card slot, and support for the new DSi Shop, which offers downloadable games and demos.

Touching the Samsung Ultra Touch

2009-02-18T09:35:00.000-08:00

At the GSMA World Congress, Samsung ensured that touch-screen phone fans would not be disappointed. Besides the Omnia HD and the Beat DJ, the company also introduced the Ultra Touch.

The Ultra Touch differs from the Beat DJ and Omnia HD by offering a numeric keypad for those that favor physical controls. Alternatively, you can use a virtual keypad when the phone is closed for texting and dilating.

The 2.8-inch display supports 16 million colors. It's bright and vibrant and you can take advantage of Samsung's TouchWiz interface. Below the display are Talk and End buttons and a diamond-shaped Back button. The first two controls are flush but the latter is tactile. The flat keypad comes in either red or blue.

You'll have to slide up the phone to expose the camera lens, self-portrait mirror and flash. The rear face of the slider matches the keypad. A Micro-USB port and a camera shutter sit on the right spine while a volume rocker rests on the right spine.

Features include a music player, an FM radio, stereo Bluetooth, assisted-GPS, and an 8-megapixel camera. For more pictures, peruse our Samsung slide show. We'll add video soon.

ZTE debuts solar-powered phone samsung

2009-02-18T02:42:00.000-08:00

ZTE debuts solar-powered phone samsung

Samsung wasn't the only company showing a solar-powered cell phone at the GSMA World Congress. On Wednesday, Chinese manufacturer ZTE launched a green model of its own. Created with Digicel and Intivation, the Coral-200-Solar is designed for emerging markets where electricity may not be readily available. And of course, it's Earth-friendly as well.

The candy-bar design is pretty plain and not nearly as appealing as the Samsung Blue Earth. On the front there's a display, a functional navigation array, and a keypad. Except for the solar panels on its rear face, the Coral-200-Solar largely resembles the ZTE C78 that's currently with MetroPCS. On a side note, a C78 is on my desk back in San Francisco awaiting a full review.

Unfortunately, hands-on time with the Coral-200-Solar was difficult. Apparently, the phone is as scarce in Barcelona as the Blue Earth. When we wondered around the ZTE's booth the day before the announcement it was nowhere to be seen, yet we did spy the aforementioned C78 and the interesting ZTE D92 slip phone, which features a Fastap keypad that combines a full alphabetic keyboard and a standard numeric keypad. The D92 also offers Bluetooth, 3G, and a 1.3-megapixel camera.

Exact feature details are sketchy at this point, but from what we can tell the phone won't offer a lot of goodies. Considering its target markets, the Coral-200-Solar is really about making calls. It should be available in June.

Apple iPod touch 32 GB (1st Generation)

2009-02-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

List Price:$499.99
Price:$389.95

Product Description

other bitrates supported * plays MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF (uncompressed), Apple Lossless, and Audible files (formats 2, 3 and 4) * displays photos converted from JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF and PNG formats * plays video in MPEG-4 and QuickTime formats * built-in lithium ion rechargeable battery provides up to 22 hours music playback; up to 5 hours video playback * 32GB hard drive holds approximately: 40 hours of video, 20,000 photos, or 468 hours at 128 Kbps *

Product Details

Amazon Sales Rank: #1440 in Consumer Electronics
Size: 32 GB
Brand: Apple
Model: MB376LL/A
Dimensions: 2.00 pounds

Features

This player is the iPod touch, not the Apple iPhone
Upgrade your player with the iPhone 2.0 Software Update for iPod touch via iTunes for an additional fee
32 GB flash memory stores up to 7,000 songs, 40 hours of video, or 25,000 photos; includes five software applications: e-mail, maps, weather, stocks, and notes
Built-in Wi-Fi capability allows direct access to the Internet via Safari, YouTube videos, and the iTunes wireless store
Includes earphones, USB 2.0 cable, universal dock adapter, polishing cloth, iPod touch stand, and quick start guide; 1-year limited warranty; 90-day single incident phone support

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Product Description
iPod touch has always been an amazing iPod. With great new applications, now iPod touch is even better. Watch a movie you rented from iTunes. View rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline. Open PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments. With Maps, find your location and get directions from there. See where you are on a map, a satellite image, or a combination of both. Make Web Clips for your Home screen so you can visit your favorite websites in just one tap. Fill up to nine Home screen pages with Web Clips and arrange them however you like. Browse YouTube videos, follow your stocks, check the weather, and take notes. With the new iPod touch, tap into even more.

Gateway LX 6810-01

2009-02-17T07:47:00.001-08:00

Product summary
The good:
Includes discreet graphics card; configuration includes TV tuner and remote control; chassis offers ample room for expansion; inexpensive.

The bad:
No Wi-Fi; smaller hard drive than the competition.

The bottom line:
The affordable Gateway LX6810-01 scores high points for offering high-end components right off the shelf. We recommend this system for multimedia editors and light gamers that can make use of its hard-working Nvidia 3D card and full 8GB of RAM. However, if you're looking more at straightforward performance, Dell offers a system with a faster CPU and a similar feature set for about the same price.

Specifications:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 (2.33 GHz) ; RAM installed: 8 GB DDR2 SDRAM ; Hard drive: 640 GB Standard ;

Price range: $779.99 - $799.9

CNET editors' review

Reviewed by: Justin Yu
Edited by: Rich Brown
Reviewed on: 02/13/2009

Intense gamers, multimedia editors, and families looking for a multipurpose computer heavy on 3D graphics power and connectivity can end their search with the Gateway LX6810-01. It's sold exclusively at Best Buy and makes a compelling argument for off-the-shelf systems with high-grade components that won't disappoint even more demanding users. While other prebuilt desktops settle with middle-ground components for a low price, Gateway offers a fast HDMI-equipped Nvidia graphics card, an eager 2.3 GHz quad-core processor for constant multitasking, a TV tuner for onscreen entertainment, and plenty of room for expansion inside and out--all for a very reasonable $779. Although this system lacks pricier extras such as Blu-ray, Bluetooth, or a wireless network card, we still give this Gateway a solid recommendation for intense gamers and media editors that need a reliable, affordable, and versatile desktop machine.

The Gateway LX6810 is about the same size and shape as the Dell XPS 430-121B, although you probably won't want to move the Gateway around too much--it's a little heavier at 31 pounds. However, it hides its aesthetic bulk using sliding doors and a hinged media bay. The front of the system looks unassuming at first, but pushing a button at the top reveals a media card reader with a copy button and two USB 2.0 ports.

The optical bay includes a dual-layer DVD burner and a free slot for an aftermarket upgrade. Another hatch below the power button reveals a FireWire port, headphone and microphone jacks, and a convenient set of audio and video connectors for use with a digital camera, camcorder, external hard drive, or other audiovisual source. Finally, you can pull down the last door at the bottom to slide-out a couple SATA hard drive bays, should you need even more storage. We saw this same case design last year with the higher-endGateway's FX 6800-01e, and we find it as well-designed now as we did then, perhaps more so given this newer model's lower price.

The back of the tower houses the usual array of inputs, including four more USB 2.0 ports, an additional FireWire port, as well as a wired Ethernet jack and a standard collection of analog audio plugs. As with the Dell, you only get wired networking here. We don't necessarily demand Wi-Fi in standard midtower PCs, but we also appreciate anything a vendor can do to eliminate cable clutter, and wireless networking is a relatively cheap way to help the cause.

In a side-by-side comparison, we have to applaud Dell for its quick-release handle that pops off the side panel, while Gateway still uses screws to secure the chassis. Not that it's difficult to break out a screwdriver, but it's not as if tool-free case access is a new invention either. Once you do get into the system you'll find the case spacious and ready for expansion. Gateway gives you plenty of room to add an additional optical drive, install two SATA hard disks, or plug an additional expansion card into the free PCI slot. You can even squeeze out another PCI-E x1 slot if you remove the 56k modem card. One foreseeable downside is that the memory is already maxed out at 8GB, but that's still the largest amount of RAM we've seen at this price, and we suspect most of you will find 8GB plenty for the foreseeable future.

	Gateway LX6810-01	Dell XPS 430-121B
Price	$779	$900
CPU	2.3GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200	2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Quad CPU Q8300
Memory	8GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM	6GB DDR3 1066MHz
Graphics	1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 120 graphics card	256MB ATI Radeon HD 3650 graphics card
Hard drives	640GB, 7,200rpm	750GB, 7,200rpm
Optical drive	dual-layer DVD burner	dual-layer DVD burner
Networking	10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN	10/100Mbps Ethernet LAN
Video outputs	DVI, VGA, HDMI	DVI, HDMI
TV tuner	Yes	Yes
Operating System	Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit)	Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit)

This Gateway doesn't claim to be a true home theater PC, but still gives you the added entertainment of a TV tuner card with both analog and digital inputs as well as a remote to control the airwaves. You can even connect it to an HDTV thanks to the HDMI output on the Nvidia GeForce GT120 graphics card. The spread of components in the Gateway makes it a very different system from the Dell XPS 430-121B. For more than $100 less, Gateway cuts back on processor speed and storage space, but gives you two more gigabytes of slightly slower RAM that will benefit digital media editors, provided you're content with the reduced storage space.

Reviewed by: cnet

Skype strikes deal with Nokia

2009-02-17T06:13:00.000-08:00

BARCELONA--Skype is racking up deals with mobile handset makers here at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009.
On Tuesday, the company, which is owned by eBay, announced a partnership with Nokia, the largest cell phone maker in the world, to put the Skype Internet calling software onto its phones. Nokia will initially offer Skype on its high-end smartphones, the N-series. The N97, Nokia's flagship device that goes on sale in June, will be the first to have Skype embedded. The Skype feature will start shipping on the device in the third quarter of 2009.

Skype will be integrated into the N97 address book, enabling users to see when Skype contacts are online. It will also let people use Skype's instant-messaging client. Most importantly, N97 users will be able to make free and low-cost phone calls over the Internet whether they are on a 3G cellular network or a Wi-Fi network. The Skype-to-Skype voice calls are free. And the SkypeOut service, which allows calls from Skype to landlines and mobile devices, offers low rates.

Nokia's not the only handset maker to announce a deal with Skype at Mobile World Congress. On Monday, Sony Ericsson announced it would be offering a Skype "panel" on the Windows Mobile Xperia1 device.
Adding Skype to smartphones is a great benefit for consumers, especially people who travel internationally or have friends and family overseas. While pricing on domestic voice services has been dropping like a brick from a third-story window, international rates have remained high.

As a consumer who likes to travel and who happens to be traveling internationally right now for this trade show, I am annoyed and almost angered at the outrageous prices mobile operators charge when customers roam in other countries or make international calls from the U.S. They all try to sell "international" plans to help defray the cost, but the plans themselves cost consumers an extra fee every month regardless of whether they're traveling that month or not.

Skype and other VoIP services offer users a more cost-effective alternative. And Skype on a mobile phone, when accessed on a low-cost data network, could help people who travel frequently or make lots of international calls save tons of money.
Of course, the two smartphone makers Skype has announced as partners here are manufacturers that are already struggling to get their high-end devices on American mobile networks. And my guess is that adding Skype won't do much to convince these operators to offer these phones and subsidize them so that American consumers will buy them.
The reason is pretty simple. AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and T-Mobile USA know that a wide-scale deployment of Skype on their phones could cannibalize their international voice services and potentially hurt their domestic voice service.

So if by chance, Nokia or Sony Ericsson manages to win approval from a U.S. operator to get these phones on their networks, I wouldn't be surprised if the Skype feature is stripped from the device in the U.S. version.

That said, AT&T is allowing some voice over IP applications to appear on Apple's iPhone App Store. And Skype users are able to make free and low-cost calls through applications, such as Truphone. But for now, AT&T and Apple seem hesitant to allow Skype's powerful brand, which has more than 400 million registered users, to make it onto the iPhone.

LG kicks off Windows Mobile deal with LG-GM730

2009-02-17T06:06:00.000-08:00

LG Electronics made a number of announcements at GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009, one of which was its alliance with Microsoft to make Windows Mobile the primary operating system for the company's smartphones. As part of the agreement, LG said it would create a tenfold increase of Windows Mobile devices in 2009, and it got things started with the introduction of the LG-GM730.
LG expects to ship the GM730 during the first half of 2009, so unfortunately, it will run Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition. But the company said it would release a Windows Mobile 6.5 version in the second half of the year.
What you do get right away is LG's new S-Class 3D user interface. S-Class features a cube layout with four customizable home screens that you can rotate through with the flick of your finger. It slightly reminded us of HTC's TouchFlo interface on the original HTC Touch, but much, much cooler.
Unfortunately, we don't know much else about the smartphone. We do know that the smartphone will have Internet Explorer Mobile 6.0 and is 0.46-inch thick. LG plans to announce more specs soon and hopefully some news about a North American release. Wishful thinking?

iPhone dominates Mobile World Congress 2009 without Apple

2009-02-17T05:49:00.000-08:00

iPhone dominates Mobile World Congress 2009 without Apple

While reports have suggested that Apple may attend next year's CES to "sit amongst its competition" in consumer electronics, the company has elected not to attend the GSMA Mobile World Congress being held in Barcelona this week. That hasn't stopped the iPhone from dominating talk at the mobile conference.

Journalists seem to find it hard to cover any news coming out of the event without mentioning Apple's smartphone by name as a point of reference, even when the announcements seemingly have nothing to do with Apple.

Skype's new new WebEx software for modern BlackBerry, Nokia, and Samsung models also had to point out that the iPhone 3G had already gained those features via an earlier software release.

Nokia's unveiling of its Ovi software store and Microsoft's announcement of its plans to open SkyMarket later this year both required comparisons to Apple's barn storming iPhone App Store, which has already moved a half billion apps since it opened last year.

Similarly, Sony Ericsson's announcement of MediaGo, a new service that will enable users to upload full length movies to specific models of the company's phones via a PC, required comparison to the iPhone's integration with iTunes, which has been able to do that since it first appeared in 2007. MediaGo transcodes various videos into a format that will playback well on mobile devices, avoiding phone compatibility errors such as "incompatible format," "unsuitable frame rate," or "incorrect aspect ratio." iPhone users don't ever see those errors because Apple thought to specify a standardized, optimized video format for the iPhone: H.264; iTunes doesn't allow incompatible video formats to be loaded onto the iPhone without first passing through QuickTime for transcoding.

The next release of Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.5, planned for the end of 2009, as well as the introduction of new devices planned to run it, including new models from LG, also required comparisons with the features already present in the iPhone OS.

The Mobile World Congress seems to serve as a worldwide report card outlining how well the iPhone's competitors are doing in their efforts to catch up to Apple.

Speak software and carry a big schtick

Apple's conspicuous absence from the annual mobile conference should come as no surprise. While the company achieved spectacular sales figures at the launch of the iPhone 3G, Apple is still a small newcomer in the mobile industry and guards its public announcements carefully.

Much of the recent attention related to the iPhone has stemmed from the company's ability to implement the first very successful mobile software store, resulting in thousands of apps that turn the iPhone into anything that third party developers can imagine. While other mobile platforms claim larger software libraries, they can't claim games from top tier developers, nor similar flocks of attention from other mobile programmers attracted to the revenues Apple's secured store is collecting to fuel new development.

Apple also leverages its ability to whip up excitement among consumers to gain media attention right at the moment its new hardware releases are ready. That affords the company far more visibility than if it were to regularly issue piecemeal details on upcoming hardware releases.

With the third major revision to the iPhone expected in June, any announcements made this week by Apple would likely result in only dampening interest in the current model while robbing the company of any element of surprise once the next revision is ready to hit the market. Apple's dramatic releases provide the company with surges of attention right when it helps the company most.

Despite representing just 1% of the global market for all mobile phones, Apple briefly became the third-largest mobile phone supplier in terms of revenue during the company's fiscal fourth quarter of 2008.

That peak in sales at the launch of the iPhone 3G also gave Apple over 17% of the worldwide smartphone market according to Canalys, eclipsing even red hot RIM in unit shipments worldwide. It also pushed Apple over its goal (well ahead of schedule) of selling ten million units in its second year, something many analysts were expressing doubts about the company meeting even as late as early 2007.

Vodafone snags Android-powered HTC Magic

2009-02-17T04:45:00.000-08:00

To our disappointment, there hasn't been a ton of Google Android news to come out of GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009 so far. Huawei announced on Monday that it plans to start selling Android devices later this year, but other than that we didn't see a T-Mobile G2 and Samsung already said it would not show its Android phone at the show and that it has been delayed till the second half of 2009.

However, we did get one device announcement. The bad news is that it's not for the U.S. market. On Tuesday, Vodafone said it will bring the HTC Magic to market this spring, the first Google Android device for the carrier. The Magic will be a Vodafone exclusive in the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, and France and will be available on a non-exclusive basis in Italy.

The HTC Magic features a 3.2-inch QVGA touch screen and trackball navigator but doesn't have a slide-out QWERTY keyboard like the T-Mobile G1. The quad-band smartphone will offer various e-mail options, including Gmail (of course) and POP3 and IMAP accounts, and support Google applications like Google Maps and Google Search. Vodafone customers will also have access to Android Market where they can download more applications and games for their smartphone. Other goodies include a Webkit browser, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSDPA/WCDMA (900/2100MHz), and a 3.2-megapixel camera.

The HTC Magic will come in multiple colors: white for United Kingdom, Spain, and France; black for Germany; and both colors for Italy. Exact release dates and pricing schemes were not released at this time, though there was mention that the Magic would be "available from free on various price plans." Vodafone also plans to release the HTC Magic in other markets over the next few months.

BBC News Vodafone snags Android-powered HTC Magic CNET News - 31 minutes ago by Bonnie Cha To our disappointment, there hasn't been a ton of Google Android news to come out of GSMA Mobile World Congress 2009 so far. HTC Magic with Google's Android coming to Vodafone Mobile Burn Vodafone to sell second HTC Google phone NetworkWorld.com BBC News - InformationWeek - Washington Post - SlashGear all 143 news articles