The $250 (as of December 7, 2011) Kodak Hero nine.1 coloration inkjet multifunction printer is $50 more costly compared to the Office Hero 6.one, but this far more home-oriented MFP did not fare also within our hands-on evaluations. Our exam device produced exactly the same superb photographs because the Place of work Hero did; this model also makes use of the identical cheap inks, and it adds an easy-to-use and appealing four.3-inch color touchscreen to your mix. Regrettably, furthermore, it endured from some building quirks that its cousin didn't.
In our tests, problem number 1 was that we couldn't raise the scanner unit to change the ink cartridges and entry the upper paper path. The latch was stuck. After we produced several makes an attempt involving some added pressure, it worked fine. We?¡¥ve by no means had to dress in down an element like this to obtain it to function right. And though the Hero nine.one survived our speed testing with no hitch, it jammed two times inside an hour or so of hands-on use. Virtually all printed pages had a very small dimple or bite within the very same place alongside the direct edge of the sheet. Even though a printer's paper mechanism could depart an extremely tiny nick wherever it grabs the edge, obviously a jam is an undesirable final result. Kodak is sending us a replacement unit to double-check.
In any other case the Hero nine.1 performed as advertised. Photographs looked fantastic, featuring certainly one of the most sensible color spectrum while in the enterprise. Text was sharp and darkish, if not correctly black. Typical graphics printed on basic paper had been acceptable (however a bit uninteresting and grainy). Color copies of seriously coated pages confirmed a refined but visible vertical banding, as opposed to the horizontal banding we are more accustomed to viewing.
The Hero nine.1 is quickly ample for the house business office or dorm place, although not for some businesses. Text pages emerged from our test device at a sedate five.one pages per minute on the Computer and three.8 ppm on the Mac. Half-page images printed at two.two ppm on plain paper, and 1.two ppm on Kodak's shiny picture paper. A full-page image prints in about two plus a 50 percent minutes, even though as mentioned it can be definitely worth the wait around. Our scans were not especially quick both.
The set up procedure for the Hero 9.1 is best-in-class. The set up software package is appealing and painless to utilize, and also the House Center software program is thorough in addition to very straightforward to operate with. You get OCR (optical character recognition) functions together with 3D photo printing (Kodak even consists of 3D glasses to suit your needs to enjoy the outcomes), plus the usual photo-printing and scanning modules. Kodak also delivers a lot of solutions to use this printer with a cellular device, through Google Cloud Print or its personal e-mail printing support, together with by means of mobile-device applications for printing wirelessly.
A lot as we enjoy the Home Middle software, we encountered a few kinks in the course of use this time. Once we examined the Hero 9.1 on our Mac platform employing Microsoft Phrase, the program hung soon after we selected the 'Printer Alternatives 2' menu solution within the print driver. Kodak is informed of this issue, and can be releasing a repair with all the 7.three model of its Residence Center computer software later on this month.
The home Center scan driver incorporates Kodak's Excellent Web page, an imaging engineering designed to improve the high quality of scanned paperwork with less person intervention. It can be enabled by default within the driver. However, within our regimen test of scanning a basic document with plain black text, the results ended up decidedly imperfect, displaying considerable areas of white colored artifacts, specifically within bigger font measurements. Kodak confirmed that if the person tells the driver to scan a document in black-and-white, leaving Excellent Page enabled creates this end result. Disabling Perfect Page gets rid of the difficulty.
The Hero 9.1 connects by way of USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi, and gives SD Card, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, and USB/PictBridge ports for simple image printing or offloading of scans. The bottom-mounted paper tray holds 100 sheets and has an built-in 40-sheet image tray--the major variation, besides physical appearance, between the Hero 9.one and also the Office Hero six.one. The output tray retains around 50 sheets, and the computerized document feeder to the letter/A4-size scanner retains 30 sheets. Duplexing is entirely supported throughout the device, with two-sided printing together with two-sided-to-two-sided copying and scanning available.
Ink for that Hero nine.one has the exact same outstandingly cheap for each page as that with the Office Hero 6.1. The standard-size, 425-page black cartridge charges $10, for a per-page price tag of only two.35 cents. The three-color unified cartridge costs $20 and lasts for 420 pages, or 4.seventy five cents for each web page. A four-color web page for only seven.one cents is virtually fifty percent the fee of what you'd pay with many MFPs in this course. The $17, 770-page XL black cartridge cuts charges only slightly, to two.two cents per page, but it does preserve on trips to your shop for refills.
The Kodak Hero nine.1 incorporates a lot likely for it, but its slowness, in addition to the bodily flaws we encountered, avert a wholehearted suggestion. Many individuals may prefer the less expensive Business office Hero 6.1, or alternatives these because the Epson Artisan 837 or the HP Photosmart 7510.
2011年12月15日星期四
2011年11月24日星期四
China moves ahead of US in smartphone shipments
China pushed in advance with the US for your 1st time with regards to the number of smartphone shipments, using a whole of 23.9 million gadgets staying delivered to operators while in the region through the third quarter, in comparison with 23.three million inside the US.
Knowledge from investigation firm Technique Analytics confirmed that in China smartphone shipments enhanced by a sizable 58 % around the preceding quarter, whereas while in the US they fell by seven percent.
Method Analytics director Tom Kang pointed for the wider availability of smartphones in retail channels, intense subsidizing by companies of high-end telephones like Apple's iPhone as well as the emergence of low-cost Android versions as causes for your speedy growth in China's smartphone industry.
Nokia at the moment enjoys the largest share from the country's smartphone market, with 29 p.c of all product sales within the 3rd quarter, although both Samsung and Apple are threatening the Finnish company's dominance.
If Apple can strike a deal with China Cellular, the largest provider around the world with more than 600 million subscribers, expect the Cupertino company to make substantial inroads in the market. China Cell and Apple are currently in talks above a possible offer.
While in the meantime, China Telecom could release the iPhone 4S within the early component of subsequent year, which might also improve Apple's share of the industry within the Asian country. China Unicom, the next greatest carrier in China, is at present the one iPhone provider inside the region.
Strategy Analytics govt director Neil Mawston commented around the company's findings, saying, "China is now with the forefront with the throughout the world cellular computing boom."
He continued, "China is now a considerable and growing smartphone market that no hardware vendor, element maker or content material developer can manage to ignore."
Knowledge from investigation firm Technique Analytics confirmed that in China smartphone shipments enhanced by a sizable 58 % around the preceding quarter, whereas while in the US they fell by seven percent.
Method Analytics director Tom Kang pointed for the wider availability of smartphones in retail channels, intense subsidizing by companies of high-end telephones like Apple's iPhone as well as the emergence of low-cost Android versions as causes for your speedy growth in China's smartphone industry.
Nokia at the moment enjoys the largest share from the country's smartphone market, with 29 p.c of all product sales within the 3rd quarter, although both Samsung and Apple are threatening the Finnish company's dominance.
If Apple can strike a deal with China Cellular, the largest provider around the world with more than 600 million subscribers, expect the Cupertino company to make substantial inroads in the market. China Cell and Apple are currently in talks above a possible offer.
While in the meantime, China Telecom could release the iPhone 4S within the early component of subsequent year, which might also improve Apple's share of the industry within the Asian country. China Unicom, the next greatest carrier in China, is at present the one iPhone provider inside the region.
Strategy Analytics govt director Neil Mawston commented around the company's findings, saying, "China is now with the forefront with the throughout the world cellular computing boom."
He continued, "China is now a considerable and growing smartphone market that no hardware vendor, element maker or content material developer can manage to ignore."
2011年11月15日星期二
Western Digital's New NAS Box Touts Easy Setup
WD has returned to your consumer and small-business NAS market with its Sentinel DX4000, a 4-bay box that leverages Microsoft's Storage Server 2008 R2 Necessities operating program.
A beefy bit of hardware, the DX4000 will come pre-populated with possibly two or 4 2TB drives, retailing $950 for the 4TB model and $1500 for the 8TB edition. When the present drive shortage is over, getting the cheaper version and upgrading with an additional 4TB might be a intelligent choice.
WD has outfitted the DX4000 with state-of-the-art tray-less bays, which just slide into your drives, as well as twin gigabit Ethernet ports and twin USB three.0 ports. The Ethernet ports offer failover safety just in case 1 connection goes down, nevertheless they never at present support aggregation for improved efficiency. USB three.0 implies more rapidly neighborhood backup with the box to depart the DX4000 a lot more free of charge to pay attention to serving files or backing up PCs on the network. The DX4000 even has twin AC jacks, however just one power brick.
Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is much more capable and considerably less complicated to setup than the Windows Residence Server OS that some more affordable NAS bins were employing a yr or two back. Exactly where WHS required an install disc, Storage Server 2008 has all of its software package on board. Surf for the DX4000's IP tackle, displayed prominently about the unit's front panel LCD, and you happen to be prompted to down load the install program. After a minimal setup regimen, the server is going to be initiated.
When initiated, you down load the Connector software program from the DX4000 and install it with your nearby Personal computer. You might outline customers and shares, schedule backups, and permit the media server as well as the like. But when you choose not to achieve this, storage around the unit is offered right away to everyone with the password and Connector software program mounted.
On-line backup is within the functions for that DX4000 and ought to be prepared by the time the DX4000 in fact hits stores, but the best attribute at the moment seems for being remote imaging of neighborhood PCs onto its platters by means of the set up Connector software package. If you are looking for an easy-to-setup automatic backup technique for the PCs as part of your office, you would be hard-pressed to seek out a better-looking a single than the DX4000.
SS2008 also immediately configures the drives to an proper RAID level, and will reconfigure when you include drives. With two drives on board, the default is RAID 1 mirroring. Create a 3rd drive and the unit will switch to RAID five.
Although PCWorld has not had a chance to run the DX4000 by way of its official assessments, I did some unofficial copying, and the DX4000 seems to become a great performer. It wrote some 15GB of mixed huge and small files to its drives at 47.5MBps and read them again at about 66.8MBps. These are around the imply for a quality SMB NAS box, and even more than satisfactory for just about any meant role.
Though not at present the most feature-rich of SMB NAS containers, the DX4000 addresses the basics well, and it undoubtedly seems for being the easiest for non-IT varieties to setup and configure. WD also offers state-of-the-art service ideas, which includes overnight parts substitution, to augment the DX4000's normal 3-year standard warranty. It can be not low-cost, however the DX4000 seems worthy of inclusion in any NAS buying conversation.
A beefy bit of hardware, the DX4000 will come pre-populated with possibly two or 4 2TB drives, retailing $950 for the 4TB model and $1500 for the 8TB edition. When the present drive shortage is over, getting the cheaper version and upgrading with an additional 4TB might be a intelligent choice.
WD has outfitted the DX4000 with state-of-the-art tray-less bays, which just slide into your drives, as well as twin gigabit Ethernet ports and twin USB three.0 ports. The Ethernet ports offer failover safety just in case 1 connection goes down, nevertheless they never at present support aggregation for improved efficiency. USB three.0 implies more rapidly neighborhood backup with the box to depart the DX4000 a lot more free of charge to pay attention to serving files or backing up PCs on the network. The DX4000 even has twin AC jacks, however just one power brick.
Storage Server 2008 R2 Essentials is much more capable and considerably less complicated to setup than the Windows Residence Server OS that some more affordable NAS bins were employing a yr or two back. Exactly where WHS required an install disc, Storage Server 2008 has all of its software package on board. Surf for the DX4000's IP tackle, displayed prominently about the unit's front panel LCD, and you happen to be prompted to down load the install program. After a minimal setup regimen, the server is going to be initiated.
When initiated, you down load the Connector software program from the DX4000 and install it with your nearby Personal computer. You might outline customers and shares, schedule backups, and permit the media server as well as the like. But when you choose not to achieve this, storage around the unit is offered right away to everyone with the password and Connector software program mounted.
On-line backup is within the functions for that DX4000 and ought to be prepared by the time the DX4000 in fact hits stores, but the best attribute at the moment seems for being remote imaging of neighborhood PCs onto its platters by means of the set up Connector software package. If you are looking for an easy-to-setup automatic backup technique for the PCs as part of your office, you would be hard-pressed to seek out a better-looking a single than the DX4000.
SS2008 also immediately configures the drives to an proper RAID level, and will reconfigure when you include drives. With two drives on board, the default is RAID 1 mirroring. Create a 3rd drive and the unit will switch to RAID five.
Although PCWorld has not had a chance to run the DX4000 by way of its official assessments, I did some unofficial copying, and the DX4000 seems to become a great performer. It wrote some 15GB of mixed huge and small files to its drives at 47.5MBps and read them again at about 66.8MBps. These are around the imply for a quality SMB NAS box, and even more than satisfactory for just about any meant role.
Though not at present the most feature-rich of SMB NAS containers, the DX4000 addresses the basics well, and it undoubtedly seems for being the easiest for non-IT varieties to setup and configure. WD also offers state-of-the-art service ideas, which includes overnight parts substitution, to augment the DX4000's normal 3-year standard warranty. It can be not low-cost, however the DX4000 seems worthy of inclusion in any NAS buying conversation.
2011年11月11日星期五
Apple releases software update to fix iPhone battery issues
Apple on Thursday launched a software program update to its newest iOS five cell running method as a way to repair bugs that are blamed for affecting battery life of some iPhones.
Based on the description with the update, it is made up of enhancements including bug fixes impacting battery life, new multitasking gestures for first iPad, bug fixes with documents syncing while in the cloud, and improved voice recognition for consumers with Australian accent.
Complaints regarding the battery lifestyle of Apple's latest iPhone 4S smartphone are already piling up within the Web while in the past weeks.
On Apple's official assist community forums, some iPhone 4S proprietors said that their handsets' battery drained more than 10 % every single hour, even if in standby mode with some sophisticated capabilities like Siri and place solutions fully deactivated.
It really is noted that Apple engineers contacted some iPhone 4S owners in Britain and mounted a diagnosis file on their products to send out details back again to your company's headquarter in Cupertino, California.
Apple confirmed the iPhone battery problem final Wednesday, stating that some bugs in the iOS technique have triggered the situation and it will launch a computer software update within a few weeks.
Based on the description with the update, it is made up of enhancements including bug fixes impacting battery life, new multitasking gestures for first iPad, bug fixes with documents syncing while in the cloud, and improved voice recognition for consumers with Australian accent.
Complaints regarding the battery lifestyle of Apple's latest iPhone 4S smartphone are already piling up within the Web while in the past weeks.
On Apple's official assist community forums, some iPhone 4S proprietors said that their handsets' battery drained more than 10 % every single hour, even if in standby mode with some sophisticated capabilities like Siri and place solutions fully deactivated.
It really is noted that Apple engineers contacted some iPhone 4S owners in Britain and mounted a diagnosis file on their products to send out details back again to your company's headquarter in Cupertino, California.
Apple confirmed the iPhone battery problem final Wednesday, stating that some bugs in the iOS technique have triggered the situation and it will launch a computer software update within a few weeks.
2011年11月8日星期二
Google mulls offering paid TV services: report
Google is mulling a approach to supply paid cable-TV solutions to consumers, a transfer that might flare up a brand new wave of competitors while in the standard Television business, U.S. media documented on Friday.
In accordance to your Wall Road Journal, the internet research big has regarded as incorporating video and telephone solutions to a previously announced high-speed Internet support in two U.S. cities.
Men and women briefed about the strategy advised the newspaper that Google has reviewed distributing key Television channels from companies like Walt Disney, Time Warner and Discovery Communications as portion of the video clip provider. The discussions ended up even now exploratory and no closing conclusions have already been created, mentioned the report.
Google mentioned it doesn't remark on rumor or speculation.
Whether or not this is a speculation or not, the documented strategy reflects feasible innovation and revolution for that classic Television experience together with the development of high-speed Internet, which may grow to be an additional profitable battlefield each of the technological innovation giants will fight for.
Together with the development of house and mobile broadband solutions, far more and much more video contents turn into obtainable for rental, obtain and streaming on desktop computer systems, tablet computers and smartphones.
Competitions around the video streaming marketplace have already been increasingly intense this yr, between this kind of providers as Apple's iTunes, Amazon's Prime Video, NetFlix, Hulu Additionally and Vudu, which can be owned by Wal-Mart.
Cable organizations, going through a grim picture of being kicked out in the decades to come back, also fought back again with their own mobile apps and on-line streaming companies.
A new Steve Work biography revealed the late Apple co- founder had been doing work on an Apple television.
"It will be seamlessly synced with all your gadgets and with iCloud. It's going to hold the simplest individual interface you can think about. I lastly cracked it," Work informed biographer Walter Isaacson within the ebook.
Some analysts said the introduction of an Apple sensible Tv could carry a 100-billion-U.S.-dollar income possibility for your Cupertino, California-based business.
Previous Friday, Google-owned YouTube announced a plan to launch a hundred channels on its site with original professionally created content material. A brand new version of Google Television was also released with new lookup tools that develop benefits from reveals on cable to web-based solutions like NetFlix and Amazon.
In accordance to your Wall Road Journal, the internet research big has regarded as incorporating video and telephone solutions to a previously announced high-speed Internet support in two U.S. cities.
Men and women briefed about the strategy advised the newspaper that Google has reviewed distributing key Television channels from companies like Walt Disney, Time Warner and Discovery Communications as portion of the video clip provider. The discussions ended up even now exploratory and no closing conclusions have already been created, mentioned the report.
Google mentioned it doesn't remark on rumor or speculation.
Whether or not this is a speculation or not, the documented strategy reflects feasible innovation and revolution for that classic Television experience together with the development of high-speed Internet, which may grow to be an additional profitable battlefield each of the technological innovation giants will fight for.
Together with the development of house and mobile broadband solutions, far more and much more video contents turn into obtainable for rental, obtain and streaming on desktop computer systems, tablet computers and smartphones.
Competitions around the video streaming marketplace have already been increasingly intense this yr, between this kind of providers as Apple's iTunes, Amazon's Prime Video, NetFlix, Hulu Additionally and Vudu, which can be owned by Wal-Mart.
Cable organizations, going through a grim picture of being kicked out in the decades to come back, also fought back again with their own mobile apps and on-line streaming companies.
A new Steve Work biography revealed the late Apple co- founder had been doing work on an Apple television.
"It will be seamlessly synced with all your gadgets and with iCloud. It's going to hold the simplest individual interface you can think about. I lastly cracked it," Work informed biographer Walter Isaacson within the ebook.
Some analysts said the introduction of an Apple sensible Tv could carry a 100-billion-U.S.-dollar income possibility for your Cupertino, California-based business.
Previous Friday, Google-owned YouTube announced a plan to launch a hundred channels on its site with original professionally created content material. A brand new version of Google Television was also released with new lookup tools that develop benefits from reveals on cable to web-based solutions like NetFlix and Amazon.
2011年11月5日星期六
China spurs growth of mobile Internet
A senior specialist said Monday that China will take higher strides in marketing the advancement of its cellular World wide web sector.
Wang Xiujun, chief engineer from the Ministry of Sector and Info Technologies (MIIT), stated which the authorities will step up policy assist for cell Net since it "promotes industrial integration and prospects to revolutionary modifications in growth and engineering."
Wang stated the nation will accelerate comprehensive upgrades for its data networks and improve the development of third-generation technology (3G), specifically homegrown TD variants of 3G and LTE (long-term evolution) technology.
As well as the improvement of knowledge networks, the innovation and improvement of integrated systems and businesses must also be highlighted, Wang stated through the ongoing fifth Global Cell Internet Conference, which opened Monday in Beijing.
Wang stated the Chinese government will connect more importance to your safety of users' private data and their rightful interests and maintain a nutritious environment to the advancement from the mobile Internet sector.
The two-day meeting is sponsored by China Cellular, the world's biggest telecommunications organization by number of customers.
"The advancement velocity of mobile Net is far quicker than what we imagined. Cellular Web is becoming a truth, and is also deeply altering our behavior and behaviors," an announcement about the firm's site said.
The assertion said cell Internet has also had a great effect on the normal operation and enterprise modules in the mobile telecommunications market.
MIIT info showed which the variety of Chinese mobile phone end users hit 952.31 million through the end of September, 102.46 million of whom are 3G users.
In accordance to the China Net Networks Information Center (CNNIC), the volume of netizens in China reached 485 million by the end of June this 12 months. As in the conclude of 2010, the amount of people that accessed the internet via cell phones had currently attained 303 million.
Mobile Web customers are even expected to outnumber those who access the world wide web through computers subsequent calendar year, according to Enfodesk, a believe tank engaged in investigating of new media economics in China.
Li Zhengmao, China Mobile's vice chairman, said the production of sensible cellular phones has jumped 50 p.c year-on-year globally. Li extra which the continuous improvement and deepened programs of 3G and LTE systems signifies that cellular World wide web has entered a new phase for speedy expansion.
With over 630 million subscribers, China Cell has become pushing to the country's homegrown 4G regular, acknowledged as TD-LTE, or "Time Division-Long Time period Evolution," to be a globally accepted normal.
Huang Xiaoqing, who heads China Mobile's telecommunications study institute, said the TD-LTE technologies will considerably lower bandwidth charges. He said the technological innovation will give faster broadband wireless solutions to satisfy potential demand that the latest 3G network will be not able to deliver.
China Cell also declared Friday the incorporation of the new business to speed up its development of 3G and smartphone technology.
The subsidiary, China Cellular Final Co., Ltd, will handle customization, testing, procurement, revenue and service to the group's third-generation (3G) devices. The new firm may even accelerate the investigation and growth of TD-LTE.
Wang Xiujun, chief engineer from the Ministry of Sector and Info Technologies (MIIT), stated which the authorities will step up policy assist for cell Net since it "promotes industrial integration and prospects to revolutionary modifications in growth and engineering."
Wang stated the nation will accelerate comprehensive upgrades for its data networks and improve the development of third-generation technology (3G), specifically homegrown TD variants of 3G and LTE (long-term evolution) technology.
As well as the improvement of knowledge networks, the innovation and improvement of integrated systems and businesses must also be highlighted, Wang stated through the ongoing fifth Global Cell Internet Conference, which opened Monday in Beijing.
Wang stated the Chinese government will connect more importance to your safety of users' private data and their rightful interests and maintain a nutritious environment to the advancement from the mobile Internet sector.
The two-day meeting is sponsored by China Cellular, the world's biggest telecommunications organization by number of customers.
"The advancement velocity of mobile Net is far quicker than what we imagined. Cellular Web is becoming a truth, and is also deeply altering our behavior and behaviors," an announcement about the firm's site said.
The assertion said cell Internet has also had a great effect on the normal operation and enterprise modules in the mobile telecommunications market.
MIIT info showed which the variety of Chinese mobile phone end users hit 952.31 million through the end of September, 102.46 million of whom are 3G users.
In accordance to the China Net Networks Information Center (CNNIC), the volume of netizens in China reached 485 million by the end of June this 12 months. As in the conclude of 2010, the amount of people that accessed the internet via cell phones had currently attained 303 million.
Mobile Web customers are even expected to outnumber those who access the world wide web through computers subsequent calendar year, according to Enfodesk, a believe tank engaged in investigating of new media economics in China.
Li Zhengmao, China Mobile's vice chairman, said the production of sensible cellular phones has jumped 50 p.c year-on-year globally. Li extra which the continuous improvement and deepened programs of 3G and LTE systems signifies that cellular World wide web has entered a new phase for speedy expansion.
With over 630 million subscribers, China Cell has become pushing to the country's homegrown 4G regular, acknowledged as TD-LTE, or "Time Division-Long Time period Evolution," to be a globally accepted normal.
Huang Xiaoqing, who heads China Mobile's telecommunications study institute, said the TD-LTE technologies will considerably lower bandwidth charges. He said the technological innovation will give faster broadband wireless solutions to satisfy potential demand that the latest 3G network will be not able to deliver.
China Cell also declared Friday the incorporation of the new business to speed up its development of 3G and smartphone technology.
The subsidiary, China Cellular Final Co., Ltd, will handle customization, testing, procurement, revenue and service to the group's third-generation (3G) devices. The new firm may even accelerate the investigation and growth of TD-LTE.
2011年10月31日星期一
Sony VAIO VPCJ114FX/B: Wait for the Price to Drop
Sony's VAIO VPCJ114FX/B all-in-one desktop Laptop sits in a crowded group. The competitors is simply way too strong for that technique to make headway when burdened with a $1050 (as of January 19, 2011) asking price.
The VAIO's one.86GHz Intel Pentium P6000 processor and 4GB of DDR3-1066 memory assisted the system to attain a score of 86 on our WorldBench 6 suite of tests--about regular for your group. But we have reviewed devices in the two the Price range All-in-One and Big-Screen All-in-One classes that did greater. The 23-inch Acer AZ5700-U2112, as an illustration, beats the VAIO on cost and efficiency, with a WorldBench 6 score of 119. And also the Gateway ZX6951-53--a striking, 23-inch $999 all-in-one--posted a score of 121.
We query Sony's selection to incorporate a meager (and nonupgradable) 500GB challenging drive. Acer's technique delivers a generate with two times that capacity (1TB). And also the ZX6951-53 gives 640GB of space for storing (twenty p.c over the VAIO), while matching the VAIO's Blu-ray combo generate and native 1080p display.
We have been also dissatisfied by the VAIO's paltry selection of connections for external gadgets. As an alternative to a multiformat card reader within the system's side--a normal feature of most all-in-one desktops--you get an SD Card reader as well as a Memory Stick reader situated previously mentioned a FireWire 400 port and two USB ports.
About the system's rear, Sony materials two USB ports and a gigabit ethernet port; the VAIO supports Wireless-N networking too. This collection of possibilities isn't the load-out we predicted to determine on the thousand-dollar all-in-one. You do not obtain a Tv tuner, exterior audio connections, HDMI, or eSATA.
The only upgradable component of this VAIO is its memory. But a minimum of you won't must spend significantly time getting rid of useless software program within the rig. Sony's proprietary VAIO computer software is pleasant to play around with; an integrated Management Middle ambigu as being a prettier edition of Windows' default; and Sony's VAIO Treatment instruments offer you one-touch use of various examination and Laptop tune-up utilities. Bravo.
Sony offers a wireless mouse alongside a skinny but boring wired keyboard. The keyboard drops the entire variety of available USB ports on the VAIO to a few.
Sony's VAIO VPCJ114FX/B is desirable, and it can be no slouch at efficiency. However the all-in-one's value is just too higher for that which you get in return. In case you are not definitely thrilled from the chassis, preserve some cash on the greater, more capable device.
The VAIO's one.86GHz Intel Pentium P6000 processor and 4GB of DDR3-1066 memory assisted the system to attain a score of 86 on our WorldBench 6 suite of tests--about regular for your group. But we have reviewed devices in the two the Price range All-in-One and Big-Screen All-in-One classes that did greater. The 23-inch Acer AZ5700-U2112, as an illustration, beats the VAIO on cost and efficiency, with a WorldBench 6 score of 119. And also the Gateway ZX6951-53--a striking, 23-inch $999 all-in-one--posted a score of 121.
We query Sony's selection to incorporate a meager (and nonupgradable) 500GB challenging drive. Acer's technique delivers a generate with two times that capacity (1TB). And also the ZX6951-53 gives 640GB of space for storing (twenty p.c over the VAIO), while matching the VAIO's Blu-ray combo generate and native 1080p display.
We have been also dissatisfied by the VAIO's paltry selection of connections for external gadgets. As an alternative to a multiformat card reader within the system's side--a normal feature of most all-in-one desktops--you get an SD Card reader as well as a Memory Stick reader situated previously mentioned a FireWire 400 port and two USB ports.
About the system's rear, Sony materials two USB ports and a gigabit ethernet port; the VAIO supports Wireless-N networking too. This collection of possibilities isn't the load-out we predicted to determine on the thousand-dollar all-in-one. You do not obtain a Tv tuner, exterior audio connections, HDMI, or eSATA.
The only upgradable component of this VAIO is its memory. But a minimum of you won't must spend significantly time getting rid of useless software program within the rig. Sony's proprietary VAIO computer software is pleasant to play around with; an integrated Management Middle ambigu as being a prettier edition of Windows' default; and Sony's VAIO Treatment instruments offer you one-touch use of various examination and Laptop tune-up utilities. Bravo.
Sony offers a wireless mouse alongside a skinny but boring wired keyboard. The keyboard drops the entire variety of available USB ports on the VAIO to a few.
Sony's VAIO VPCJ114FX/B is desirable, and it can be no slouch at efficiency. However the all-in-one's value is just too higher for that which you get in return. In case you are not definitely thrilled from the chassis, preserve some cash on the greater, more capable device.
2011年10月28日星期五
Acer Aspire 8940G-6865 laptop review
Although it really is correct that no laptop can replicate the full gaming knowledge of the high-end desktop gaming method, notebooks like the Acer Aspire 8940G can aspire (pun intended) to gaming efficiency very good ample for some users. The 8940G also delivers Blu-ray, and that means you might have a superlative film and media viewing experience--if you might be viewing your movies from specifically the best viewing place.
The quad-core Intel Core i7 720QM processor seems paltry initially blush, with a base clock velocity of 1.6GHz. Even so, Intel's turbo-boost technological innovation gallops to the rescue in most video games, enabling the processor to operate at 2.4GHz if only two cores are needed, and up to 2.8GHz on a solitary core. Most Computer games truly don't consider edge of greater than two cores, and so the total CPU overall performance accessible for video games is satisfactory.
Toss in an nVidia GeForce GTS 250M mobile GPU, additionally 1GB of video clip memory, along with the Acer turns into a balanced package deal for players who want a technique with some mobility. On leading of that, this GPU mated well with all the massive, eighteen.4-inch native 1080p display. All this Laptop goodness is accessible for below $1400 (common street value, as of 1/25/2010)--not bad in any way.
We ended up also pleasantly amazed by this big unit's battery life--it ran for above two hours, 20 minutes in our testing. You will not have the ability to watch any of the Lord with the Rings movies on one particular charge, but it can be lengthy adequate for your typical DVD motion picture. (Remember, even so, that Blu-ray film playback may possibly eat much more of that cost.)
All that Computer horsepower happens in a very naturally significant package. At a hair above ten kilos and about 17 by 12 inches, it really is not really a thing you would want teetering on your lap on an airliner or subway seat. What that bulk also buys you, nevertheless, is a practically full-size keyboard, having a committed numeric keypad and among the much more usable sets of media transport controls we have witnessed.
Video game performance, as expected, was rather good. All our check games--some of which can be admittedly old now--tracked at more than fifty frames for each second, even at 1680-by-1050 resolution. The more-current games we attempted do fall off a lttle bit. For example, Stalker: Shadows more than Chernobyl eked out underneath 30 fps while in the more-demanding modes. Meaning you will should surrender just a little eye candy within the latest generation of video game titles by dialing down a few of the graphic features. (Higher high quality shadows, in particular, are a frame-rate killer.)
Functionality in WorldBench 6 was on the par with quad-core techniques of equivalent design. Particularly notable had been the Photoshop and 3dsmax 8 scores--the quad-core CPU assists out in these checks.
The Acer also delivers great expandability. Not just does it have 5 USB ports, but one of them may also act as an eSTAT connection, supplying access to speedier external hard drives with eSATA assistance. 3 from the USB ports are on the correct aspect, as is the Blu-ray disc generate. All the relaxation of the ports--the combo USB 2.0 / eSATA port, another USB port, a few audio connections (two out, mic in), gigabit ethernet, and no less than 3 screen connectors--are within the proper facet. Acer also observed fit to include a 4-pin FireWire port, even though support for IEEE 1394 is steadily waning.
Output to an exterior display is through FireWire, HDMI, or DisplayPort. You'll be able to effortlessly link the Aspire 8940G to an A/V technique employing the HDMI output and make use of it being a Blu-ray player for the residence theater method. The 8940G even has CIR (client IR) developed in, which means you can use programmable remote controls with it.
Blu-ray and DVD playback looked excellent. We watched the Blu-ray versions of Planet Earth and Casino Royale, plus the DVD of Lord from the Ring: Return from the King. They all looked really good--as extended while you have been sitting while in the sweet spot for viewing. Should you had been viewing from more than about twenty degrees off axis--or much less vertically--you'd see substantial colour shifting.
Audio quality was astonishingly strong. You will not get deep bass, but the whole affair was fairly loud for laptop audio and remained clear. Stereo imaging was also solid. Be aware that this laptop actually has five speakers as well as a small "subwoofer" built-in in to the chassis, however , you won't get correct 5.one (with rear-channel consequences). Even now, this Acer surely sounded a notch over the Toshiba Qosmio X505 we examined final month.
As is normal at this value, the bundled software is relatively limited. You receive NTI's Media Maker and Backup deals, Microsoft Performs, and limited-use trialware variations of many diverse apps, like Microsoft Office and McAfee's World wide web Security.
The Acer also gives some thoughtful usability touches. The keyboard has a great all round sense, though we do wish the business had developed in full-size cursor keys and separated them a lttle bit through the relaxation of the keyboard. The keyboard is backlit, but an FN key blend can disable the backlight.
The cluster of media transportation keys is properly thought-out, and in some cases incorporates a single-button disabling key therefore you will not unintentionally skip forward or pause whilst seeing films. One of the a lot more valuable characteristics for gaming can be a physical button that disables the trackpad--since you're probably to become gaming with a mouse or other exterior controller.
All round, the Acer Aspire 8940G is among the far better examples of a contemporary desktop substitute method, supplying outstanding gaming overall performance in its class, an enjoyable multimedia experience, and excellent usability in an attractively priced package.
The quad-core Intel Core i7 720QM processor seems paltry initially blush, with a base clock velocity of 1.6GHz. Even so, Intel's turbo-boost technological innovation gallops to the rescue in most video games, enabling the processor to operate at 2.4GHz if only two cores are needed, and up to 2.8GHz on a solitary core. Most Computer games truly don't consider edge of greater than two cores, and so the total CPU overall performance accessible for video games is satisfactory.
Toss in an nVidia GeForce GTS 250M mobile GPU, additionally 1GB of video clip memory, along with the Acer turns into a balanced package deal for players who want a technique with some mobility. On leading of that, this GPU mated well with all the massive, eighteen.4-inch native 1080p display. All this Laptop goodness is accessible for below $1400 (common street value, as of 1/25/2010)--not bad in any way.
We ended up also pleasantly amazed by this big unit's battery life--it ran for above two hours, 20 minutes in our testing. You will not have the ability to watch any of the Lord with the Rings movies on one particular charge, but it can be lengthy adequate for your typical DVD motion picture. (Remember, even so, that Blu-ray film playback may possibly eat much more of that cost.)
All that Computer horsepower happens in a very naturally significant package. At a hair above ten kilos and about 17 by 12 inches, it really is not really a thing you would want teetering on your lap on an airliner or subway seat. What that bulk also buys you, nevertheless, is a practically full-size keyboard, having a committed numeric keypad and among the much more usable sets of media transport controls we have witnessed.
Video game performance, as expected, was rather good. All our check games--some of which can be admittedly old now--tracked at more than fifty frames for each second, even at 1680-by-1050 resolution. The more-current games we attempted do fall off a lttle bit. For example, Stalker: Shadows more than Chernobyl eked out underneath 30 fps while in the more-demanding modes. Meaning you will should surrender just a little eye candy within the latest generation of video game titles by dialing down a few of the graphic features. (Higher high quality shadows, in particular, are a frame-rate killer.)
Functionality in WorldBench 6 was on the par with quad-core techniques of equivalent design. Particularly notable had been the Photoshop and 3dsmax 8 scores--the quad-core CPU assists out in these checks.
The Acer also delivers great expandability. Not just does it have 5 USB ports, but one of them may also act as an eSTAT connection, supplying access to speedier external hard drives with eSATA assistance. 3 from the USB ports are on the correct aspect, as is the Blu-ray disc generate. All the relaxation of the ports--the combo USB 2.0 / eSATA port, another USB port, a few audio connections (two out, mic in), gigabit ethernet, and no less than 3 screen connectors--are within the proper facet. Acer also observed fit to include a 4-pin FireWire port, even though support for IEEE 1394 is steadily waning.
Output to an exterior display is through FireWire, HDMI, or DisplayPort. You'll be able to effortlessly link the Aspire 8940G to an A/V technique employing the HDMI output and make use of it being a Blu-ray player for the residence theater method. The 8940G even has CIR (client IR) developed in, which means you can use programmable remote controls with it.
Blu-ray and DVD playback looked excellent. We watched the Blu-ray versions of Planet Earth and Casino Royale, plus the DVD of Lord from the Ring: Return from the King. They all looked really good--as extended while you have been sitting while in the sweet spot for viewing. Should you had been viewing from more than about twenty degrees off axis--or much less vertically--you'd see substantial colour shifting.
Audio quality was astonishingly strong. You will not get deep bass, but the whole affair was fairly loud for laptop audio and remained clear. Stereo imaging was also solid. Be aware that this laptop actually has five speakers as well as a small "subwoofer" built-in in to the chassis, however , you won't get correct 5.one (with rear-channel consequences). Even now, this Acer surely sounded a notch over the Toshiba Qosmio X505 we examined final month.
As is normal at this value, the bundled software is relatively limited. You receive NTI's Media Maker and Backup deals, Microsoft Performs, and limited-use trialware variations of many diverse apps, like Microsoft Office and McAfee's World wide web Security.
The Acer also gives some thoughtful usability touches. The keyboard has a great all round sense, though we do wish the business had developed in full-size cursor keys and separated them a lttle bit through the relaxation of the keyboard. The keyboard is backlit, but an FN key blend can disable the backlight.
The cluster of media transportation keys is properly thought-out, and in some cases incorporates a single-button disabling key therefore you will not unintentionally skip forward or pause whilst seeing films. One of the a lot more valuable characteristics for gaming can be a physical button that disables the trackpad--since you're probably to become gaming with a mouse or other exterior controller.
All round, the Acer Aspire 8940G is among the far better examples of a contemporary desktop substitute method, supplying outstanding gaming overall performance in its class, an enjoyable multimedia experience, and excellent usability in an attractively priced package.
2011年10月27日星期四
Toshiba L735-S3220RD: A Lighter, Smaller All-Purpose Laptop
If you're looking for an all-purpose notebook which is comparatively simple to in shape inside your backpack or satchel, Toshiba's $779 (as of September 24, 2011) L735-S3220RD is nicely worth taking into consideration. It is lighter and smaller sized than a standard all-purpose notebook, but the unit won't feel puny in dimension, display screen dimensions, or power. Then again, its battery daily life is very poor (three hrs, 10 minutes), and its input ergonomics are only so-so. However the unit may look somewhat expensive, way too, the Blu-ray push and its accompanying software are partly responsible for that.
Due to the stickers plastered all over the keyboard deck, the L735-S3220RD's seems to be never impress from the box. But soon after you take away them, this red-and-black laptop's visual appeal grades out as over regular. Developed close to a 13.3-inch, 1366-by-768-pixel display and weighing 4.three lbs, the L735-S3220RD is substantially smaller sized and lighter than garden-variety 14- to 15-inch all-purpose laptops and will appeal to end users seeking some thing a little lighter. If it ended up fifty percent an inch thinner and 50 % a pound lighter, it will qualify as an ultraportable. Some of savings in fat, nevertheless, are due to a rather tiny 48 watt-hour battery, which can be partly liable for that short run-time.
Our test L735-S3220RD came outfitted with a Core i5-2410M CPU; 4GB of DDR3 memory; along with a 5400-rpm, 640GB hard disk drive. These components helped push the laptop to a WorldBench 6 score of 114. Although 1080p video clip playback was as clean as we could desire for, the gaming frame premiums the Intel Hd graphics delivered topped out at about 30 frames per second, and also then only at lower detail and resolution. Audio heard by means of the headphones was fantastic, but heard through the speakers it can be as tinny as I've endured within a prolonged time--a shocking shortcoming from a company that takes the trouble to place a subwoofer in some of its Qosmio models.
The input ergonomics within the L735-S3220RD are a combined bag. The keyboard includes a great sense, as well as the layout is top-notch with no undersized keys, but the keys aren't sculpted. The smallish, textured touchpad is as red as the keyboard deck and distinguished only by a rather textured coating. Even using the buttons on the front edge in the keyboard deck, cursoring and buttoning feel marginally cramped.
Connectivity possibilities about the L735-S3220RD consist of three USB two.0 ports, HDMI and VGA video clip output, audio-in and -out, plus a Kensington lock port. You also get an SD/MMC card reader, 802.11b/g/n wireless, and 10/100 ethernet. Toshiba's choice to offer only rapidly ethernet is really a little bit stunning in an age when gigabit ethernet is readily available--and taking into consideration the unit also has Bluetooth. Gigabit ethernet could be really helpful when you are backing as much as a network.
The L735-S3220RD's software program bundle is made up of a typical array of utilities and trial software, such as Microsoft Place of work 2010 Starter, Norton Internet Security, along with the Google toolbar. Between the opposite apps are Toshiba utilities ranging in the valuable (these kinds of as harddrive safety by way of a movement sensor) towards the redundant (duplicating performance previously existing in Windows). The laptop's overall performance perks up somewhat once you take away the chaff. The notebook runs Windows seven House Top quality. Included to deal with Blu-ray and DVD playback chores is Corel WinDVD.
The L735-S3220RD is component of Toshiba's L730 sequence; and when you happen to be inclined to settle for lesser (however certainly competent) efficiency and no Blu-ray, it is possible to get the principles for significantly much less. Cheaper CPU alternatives incorporate an older Intel Pentium B940 and an i3-2310M processor. Simply how much lower you can sink the price is dependent on when you shop, however the low-end product was offered for $479 at this composing from Toshiba's personal web site.
The more you carry the L735-S3220RD, or any L730 collection notebook close to, the more you'll value Toshiba's smaller, lighter style. It isn't going to wear on you as the day progresses, and for most consumers the smaller screen will not be a problem. If it were not for the quick battery life and marginally subpar input ergonomics, this laptop computer would have earned a better general score.
Due to the stickers plastered all over the keyboard deck, the L735-S3220RD's seems to be never impress from the box. But soon after you take away them, this red-and-black laptop's visual appeal grades out as over regular. Developed close to a 13.3-inch, 1366-by-768-pixel display and weighing 4.three lbs, the L735-S3220RD is substantially smaller sized and lighter than garden-variety 14- to 15-inch all-purpose laptops and will appeal to end users seeking some thing a little lighter. If it ended up fifty percent an inch thinner and 50 % a pound lighter, it will qualify as an ultraportable. Some of savings in fat, nevertheless, are due to a rather tiny 48 watt-hour battery, which can be partly liable for that short run-time.
Our test L735-S3220RD came outfitted with a Core i5-2410M CPU; 4GB of DDR3 memory; along with a 5400-rpm, 640GB hard disk drive. These components helped push the laptop to a WorldBench 6 score of 114. Although 1080p video clip playback was as clean as we could desire for, the gaming frame premiums the Intel Hd graphics delivered topped out at about 30 frames per second, and also then only at lower detail and resolution. Audio heard by means of the headphones was fantastic, but heard through the speakers it can be as tinny as I've endured within a prolonged time--a shocking shortcoming from a company that takes the trouble to place a subwoofer in some of its Qosmio models.
The input ergonomics within the L735-S3220RD are a combined bag. The keyboard includes a great sense, as well as the layout is top-notch with no undersized keys, but the keys aren't sculpted. The smallish, textured touchpad is as red as the keyboard deck and distinguished only by a rather textured coating. Even using the buttons on the front edge in the keyboard deck, cursoring and buttoning feel marginally cramped.
Connectivity possibilities about the L735-S3220RD consist of three USB two.0 ports, HDMI and VGA video clip output, audio-in and -out, plus a Kensington lock port. You also get an SD/MMC card reader, 802.11b/g/n wireless, and 10/100 ethernet. Toshiba's choice to offer only rapidly ethernet is really a little bit stunning in an age when gigabit ethernet is readily available--and taking into consideration the unit also has Bluetooth. Gigabit ethernet could be really helpful when you are backing as much as a network.
The L735-S3220RD's software program bundle is made up of a typical array of utilities and trial software, such as Microsoft Place of work 2010 Starter, Norton Internet Security, along with the Google toolbar. Between the opposite apps are Toshiba utilities ranging in the valuable (these kinds of as harddrive safety by way of a movement sensor) towards the redundant (duplicating performance previously existing in Windows). The laptop's overall performance perks up somewhat once you take away the chaff. The notebook runs Windows seven House Top quality. Included to deal with Blu-ray and DVD playback chores is Corel WinDVD.
The L735-S3220RD is component of Toshiba's L730 sequence; and when you happen to be inclined to settle for lesser (however certainly competent) efficiency and no Blu-ray, it is possible to get the principles for significantly much less. Cheaper CPU alternatives incorporate an older Intel Pentium B940 and an i3-2310M processor. Simply how much lower you can sink the price is dependent on when you shop, however the low-end product was offered for $479 at this composing from Toshiba's personal web site.
The more you carry the L735-S3220RD, or any L730 collection notebook close to, the more you'll value Toshiba's smaller, lighter style. It isn't going to wear on you as the day progresses, and for most consumers the smaller screen will not be a problem. If it were not for the quick battery life and marginally subpar input ergonomics, this laptop computer would have earned a better general score.
2011年10月24日星期一
Acer Aspire AX1920-UR20P: Big on Storage, Small on Price
Acer's Aspire AX1920-UR20P just isn't significantly to look at, but it performs well and carries a bargain price tag. Our evaluation product ($499 as of July twenty five, 2011) came configured having a dual-core Intel Pentium E6700 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 1TB difficult drive--double the space for storing the category-leading Micro Express MicroFlex 23B offers for $600.
The Aspire AX1920 attained a score of 113 on PCWorld's WorldBench 6 benchmark suite, a rather below-average mark for the spending budget desktop Computer, but 9 details far better than the 104 carded by last year's $450 Acer Aspire X3400. The Aspire AX1920 relies on an built-in Intel G41 express chipset, rather than on the discrete graphics card, along with the shortcomings of that arrangement show up in the final results of our Unreal Tournament three graphics assessments, where the Computer managed an unplayable frame price of four.four frames for each 2nd (at high quality configurations and 1920-by-1200-pixel resolution). Even together with the options dialed down to medium quality along with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels, Unreal Tournament 3 remained unplayable, at 13.7 fps.
The Aspire AX1920 occupies a matte black chassis, using a plastic textured front and a blue, ice-cube-like energy button about the prime correct corner. The case's dimensions are about ten.five inches tall by 14.5 inches deep by 4 inches wide. The matte black aluminum sides feature square air holes along with the Acer logo.
Nearly all of the ports can be found within the again with the situation. About the front, however, behind a bit door about the bottom, are two USB ports, a multiformat card reader, headphone and microphone jacks, along with a tray-loading DVD SuperMulti RW push.
Around the back in the device, you get two far more USB ports, a gigabit ethernet port, a VGA-out, a microphone jack, audio-in/audio-out jacks, a mouse PS/2 port, and a keyboard PS/2 port (however unaccountably the AX1920's mouse and keyboard are USB wired.
The keyboard has island-style keys that are elevated to float in opposition to a shiny black history. Even though fascinating and type of desirable, this design and style is a dust magnet. The keys by themselves are smallish and hard to press, however the keyboard is fairly comfy general. Dedicated buttons throughout the very best from the keyboard cover sleep, lookup, Internet, e-mail, play/pause, stop, fast-forward, rewind, volume down, volume up, and mute. The three-button optical mouse is small, simple to use, and responsive.
Inside the AX1920's case, you will find not a good deal of space for tinkering, but opening the situation is easy: Launch two thumbscrews and you're in. It can be neatly organized, but you get just one open PCIe x1 slot and 1 open PCIe x16 slot for growth.
The Acer Aspire AX1920-UR20P won't win any style competitions, nonetheless it performs really well for any spending budget Pc. It has some drawbacks--wired USB peripherals, built-in graphics, no Wi-Fi, as well as a instead loud fan--but if you're seeking a sub-$500 Personal computer that could manage standard duties, the AX1920 is a fairly great option. And on prime of that, it's a terabyte of hard-drive house.
The Aspire AX1920 attained a score of 113 on PCWorld's WorldBench 6 benchmark suite, a rather below-average mark for the spending budget desktop Computer, but 9 details far better than the 104 carded by last year's $450 Acer Aspire X3400. The Aspire AX1920 relies on an built-in Intel G41 express chipset, rather than on the discrete graphics card, along with the shortcomings of that arrangement show up in the final results of our Unreal Tournament three graphics assessments, where the Computer managed an unplayable frame price of four.four frames for each 2nd (at high quality configurations and 1920-by-1200-pixel resolution). Even together with the options dialed down to medium quality along with a resolution of 1024 by 768 pixels, Unreal Tournament 3 remained unplayable, at 13.7 fps.
The Aspire AX1920 occupies a matte black chassis, using a plastic textured front and a blue, ice-cube-like energy button about the prime correct corner. The case's dimensions are about ten.five inches tall by 14.5 inches deep by 4 inches wide. The matte black aluminum sides feature square air holes along with the Acer logo.
Nearly all of the ports can be found within the again with the situation. About the front, however, behind a bit door about the bottom, are two USB ports, a multiformat card reader, headphone and microphone jacks, along with a tray-loading DVD SuperMulti RW push.
Around the back in the device, you get two far more USB ports, a gigabit ethernet port, a VGA-out, a microphone jack, audio-in/audio-out jacks, a mouse PS/2 port, and a keyboard PS/2 port (however unaccountably the AX1920's mouse and keyboard are USB wired.
The keyboard has island-style keys that are elevated to float in opposition to a shiny black history. Even though fascinating and type of desirable, this design and style is a dust magnet. The keys by themselves are smallish and hard to press, however the keyboard is fairly comfy general. Dedicated buttons throughout the very best from the keyboard cover sleep, lookup, Internet, e-mail, play/pause, stop, fast-forward, rewind, volume down, volume up, and mute. The three-button optical mouse is small, simple to use, and responsive.
Inside the AX1920's case, you will find not a good deal of space for tinkering, but opening the situation is easy: Launch two thumbscrews and you're in. It can be neatly organized, but you get just one open PCIe x1 slot and 1 open PCIe x16 slot for growth.
The Acer Aspire AX1920-UR20P won't win any style competitions, nonetheless it performs really well for any spending budget Pc. It has some drawbacks--wired USB peripherals, built-in graphics, no Wi-Fi, as well as a instead loud fan--but if you're seeking a sub-$500 Personal computer that could manage standard duties, the AX1920 is a fairly great option. And on prime of that, it's a terabyte of hard-drive house.
2011年10月21日星期五
Digital Storm ODE: A Desktop System With Plenty of Gaming Bang for Your Buck
Digital Storm has created some slick and effective devices within the past, but the ODE may be the ideal acquire of all of them.
Priced at $1499 (as of July twenty five, 2011)--and encased in a glossy white, somewhat rounded circumstance that will search correct in your house at Aperture Science--the unit is really a bargain for overall performance Pc lovers. Electronic Storm didn't reduce any discernible corners in cutting the price.
Using the help of enormous lighted enthusiasts on the front and leading, and an successfully significant cooler about the back that doubles as a CPU warmth sink, the inside and also the processor stay great and awesome. A dial about the top from the circumstance permits you to modify the speed with the followers to balance electricity savings and performance. And in yet another nod to design, the organization additional red LED lights towards the bottom in the facet window, supplying the inside components a slight glow.
The ODE's inside seems just as neat and sleek as its exterior. Every one of the wires are tucked neatly out of sight powering the motherboard, affording swift use of the system's six tool-free 3.5-inch bays and four 5.25-inch bays.
For power, the Digital Storm ODE packs an Intel Core i7 2600k that leaves you lots of independence to overclock. You also get 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, with place to include a couple of further sticks afterwards if sought after.
The ODE dominated our Far Cry 2 graphical benchmarks, sustaining a frame charge of 103 frames per 2nd on top quality at a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels. That is attributable towards the two Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics cards jogging in SLI. The two cards provide a total of four DVI and two HDMI ports for your multiple-monitor wants.
The array of necessary ports is sufficient to assist each accessory you will need. Within the top in the situation are four USB ports, a USB 3.0 port, and a FireWire port. About the rear are eight USB ports, two USB 3.0 ports, two eSATA ports, and another FireWire port, in addition the requisite audio ports along with a gigabit ethernet port.
The Electronic Storm ODE will not likely leave you short on space both, providing equally a 1TB harddrive for massive storage and an 80GB solid-state drive for pure speed. And also to supplement those, you obtain four open up bays where you'll be able to add difficult drives on your heart's content material.
On the other hand, never depend on becoming able to add considerably to your motherboard. The two GPUs occupy nearly all of the accessible area, leaving just two open PCIx1 slots, one among which can be easily accessible.
Media aficionados will benefit from the Blu-ray combo generate for seeing high-quality video and quickly burning DVDs or songs CDs. But they may possibly be a small distraught to learn that there are no SD or Media Stick slots here.
Great computing energy requires some critical voltage to keep every little thing jogging smoothly. The good news is, Electronic Storm includes a Corsair 800W energy provide, with sufficient juice to electricity no matter what you include to the technique later on.
Within our WorldBench 6 suite of benchmarking assessments, the Electronic Storm ODE scored a 198--an fantastic mark for the program of its cost. By way of comparison, the equally priced CyberPower Gamer Xtreme 5000 scored a 175, along with the V3 Convoy, which scored a mere 5 level more than the ODE, fees $1000 more.
The Digital Storm ODE sits comfortably with several of our highest-performing desktops at a price that's in excess of fair. It gives excellent performance and high-end components in a sleek package deal that can surely leave any purchaser pleased.
Priced at $1499 (as of July twenty five, 2011)--and encased in a glossy white, somewhat rounded circumstance that will search correct in your house at Aperture Science--the unit is really a bargain for overall performance Pc lovers. Electronic Storm didn't reduce any discernible corners in cutting the price.
Using the help of enormous lighted enthusiasts on the front and leading, and an successfully significant cooler about the back that doubles as a CPU warmth sink, the inside and also the processor stay great and awesome. A dial about the top from the circumstance permits you to modify the speed with the followers to balance electricity savings and performance. And in yet another nod to design, the organization additional red LED lights towards the bottom in the facet window, supplying the inside components a slight glow.
The ODE's inside seems just as neat and sleek as its exterior. Every one of the wires are tucked neatly out of sight powering the motherboard, affording swift use of the system's six tool-free 3.5-inch bays and four 5.25-inch bays.
For power, the Digital Storm ODE packs an Intel Core i7 2600k that leaves you lots of independence to overclock. You also get 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, with place to include a couple of further sticks afterwards if sought after.
The ODE dominated our Far Cry 2 graphical benchmarks, sustaining a frame charge of 103 frames per 2nd on top quality at a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels. That is attributable towards the two Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti graphics cards jogging in SLI. The two cards provide a total of four DVI and two HDMI ports for your multiple-monitor wants.
The array of necessary ports is sufficient to assist each accessory you will need. Within the top in the situation are four USB ports, a USB 3.0 port, and a FireWire port. About the rear are eight USB ports, two USB 3.0 ports, two eSATA ports, and another FireWire port, in addition the requisite audio ports along with a gigabit ethernet port.
The Electronic Storm ODE will not likely leave you short on space both, providing equally a 1TB harddrive for massive storage and an 80GB solid-state drive for pure speed. And also to supplement those, you obtain four open up bays where you'll be able to add difficult drives on your heart's content material.
On the other hand, never depend on becoming able to add considerably to your motherboard. The two GPUs occupy nearly all of the accessible area, leaving just two open PCIx1 slots, one among which can be easily accessible.
Media aficionados will benefit from the Blu-ray combo generate for seeing high-quality video and quickly burning DVDs or songs CDs. But they may possibly be a small distraught to learn that there are no SD or Media Stick slots here.
Great computing energy requires some critical voltage to keep every little thing jogging smoothly. The good news is, Electronic Storm includes a Corsair 800W energy provide, with sufficient juice to electricity no matter what you include to the technique later on.
Within our WorldBench 6 suite of benchmarking assessments, the Electronic Storm ODE scored a 198--an fantastic mark for the program of its cost. By way of comparison, the equally priced CyberPower Gamer Xtreme 5000 scored a 175, along with the V3 Convoy, which scored a mere 5 level more than the ODE, fees $1000 more.
The Digital Storm ODE sits comfortably with several of our highest-performing desktops at a price that's in excess of fair. It gives excellent performance and high-end components in a sleek package deal that can surely leave any purchaser pleased.
2011年9月25日星期日
HP to Decide on PC Spin-off Plans by Year End
Just over a month after Hewlett-Packard mentioned it might market or spin-off its Computer enterprise, new CEO Meg Whitman on Thursday said the business will determine on a proposal to spin-off the Personal computer unit from the conclude from the 12 months.
Underneath former CEO Leo Apotheker, HP in mid-August explained it will examine the sale or spin-off from the Individual Systems Group (PSG) unit, which specials in PCs, smartphones and tablets. News agency Bloomberg earlier documented that HP was reconsidering a proposal to spin-off the Computer unit, citing a supply familiar with all the company's plans.
Speaking on a conference phone Thursday, Whitman stated that a decision on the group's future would come someday in the following 3 months. "With regard to your possible spin off of PSG, we're committed to carrying out the function correct now to find out the most effective route ahead and we anticipate the board to generate a determination from the finish from the calendar 12 months if not sooner. This selection is exclusively depending on the worth to traders and value to buyers," Whitman mentioned.
Whitman was appointed as HP's CEO on Thursday following the business board determined weaknesses in previous Apotheker's leadership and felt the need to bring in new leader, explained Ray Lane, executive chairman at HP on the conference contact.
With razor-thin margins and slowing income, the Laptop unit is a drag as HP moves to emphasize far more profitable organization areas for example enterprise computer software, services and hardware. HP in mid-August also said it might kill webOS smartphones and tablets, as well as a buying frenzy ensued following HP started out promoting its TouchPad tablets at US$99 to clear out stock.
Analysts stated which the Pc organization is surely an integral part of HP's operations and could continue being while in the company's fold.
"They will be the biggest Computer vendor could be the environment, essentially the most lucrative after Apple. Talking about spinning that off without any resolution on it had been a shock," mentioned Ezra Gottheil, senior analyst at Technological innovation Organization Research.
The intend to promote the Pc organization with no distinct course ruined have confidence in with clients and companions, and may have expense Apotheker his work, Gottheil said.
"How would you as a buyer have responded? I believe they may be worried. They took an incredibly large set up base and customer base and produced them ponder." Gottheil said. "I do not think it actually was a good concept, and it can be never ever going to occur."
Whitman's top rated priority should be to stabilize the chaos bordering HP's course between staff, partners and consumers, Gottheil explained.
Though challenged on margins, the Computer company is HP's most significant revenue resource and it is self-sustaining, stated Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Systems Associates. The Computer enterprise may help HP retain sturdy distribution and logistics abilities, and be considered a key component in HP's printer and higher-margin enterprise hardware and consulting organizations, Kay said.
"Aside from synergies, the Pc enterprise continues to be a contributor to your bottom line," Kay mentioned.
Even so, PSG's webOS software program and hardware organization could possibly be toast after becoming mishandled by Apotheker, Kay said. Apotheker inherited the webOS business soon after HP bought Palm last yr when Mark Hurd was CEO. HP killed the tablets and smartphones, but explained it might retain webOS software package and license it to 3rd events.
HP's TouchPad became hot only right after it a drastic cost drop to $99 from $499, so Apotheker will need to have prematurely dismissed the marketplace, Kay stated. Had the TouchPad marketed for $299, HP would have offered several thousand units, enough to determine a beachhead within the market place, Kay mentioned.
There is certainly also little curiosity in licensing WebOS, Kay explained, incorporating that it stands little opportunity against competing cellular platforms including Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Microsoft's forthcoming Windows 8 OS for tablets is likely to make it even more demanding for WebOS to survive.
"Nobody really wants to license [WebOS]. If they do not develop their own hardware and can't license it, they purchased Palm for absolutely nothing," Kay stated.
Disagreeing with analysts, consultant Steven Protter mentioned HP really should transfer ahead with options to spin-off the Pc organization to keep up financial integrity. Protter focuses on HP server and software integration.
"I imagine that the Pc organization is lower margin and concur with HP's selection to spin it off as long as they retain their server business," Protter said.
Underneath former CEO Leo Apotheker, HP in mid-August explained it will examine the sale or spin-off from the Individual Systems Group (PSG) unit, which specials in PCs, smartphones and tablets. News agency Bloomberg earlier documented that HP was reconsidering a proposal to spin-off the Computer unit, citing a supply familiar with all the company's plans.
Speaking on a conference phone Thursday, Whitman stated that a decision on the group's future would come someday in the following 3 months. "With regard to your possible spin off of PSG, we're committed to carrying out the function correct now to find out the most effective route ahead and we anticipate the board to generate a determination from the finish from the calendar 12 months if not sooner. This selection is exclusively depending on the worth to traders and value to buyers," Whitman mentioned.
Whitman was appointed as HP's CEO on Thursday following the business board determined weaknesses in previous Apotheker's leadership and felt the need to bring in new leader, explained Ray Lane, executive chairman at HP on the conference contact.
With razor-thin margins and slowing income, the Laptop unit is a drag as HP moves to emphasize far more profitable organization areas for example enterprise computer software, services and hardware. HP in mid-August also said it might kill webOS smartphones and tablets, as well as a buying frenzy ensued following HP started out promoting its TouchPad tablets at US$99 to clear out stock.
Analysts stated which the Pc organization is surely an integral part of HP's operations and could continue being while in the company's fold.
"They will be the biggest Computer vendor could be the environment, essentially the most lucrative after Apple. Talking about spinning that off without any resolution on it had been a shock," mentioned Ezra Gottheil, senior analyst at Technological innovation Organization Research.
The intend to promote the Pc organization with no distinct course ruined have confidence in with clients and companions, and may have expense Apotheker his work, Gottheil said.
"How would you as a buyer have responded? I believe they may be worried. They took an incredibly large set up base and customer base and produced them ponder." Gottheil said. "I do not think it actually was a good concept, and it can be never ever going to occur."
Whitman's top rated priority should be to stabilize the chaos bordering HP's course between staff, partners and consumers, Gottheil explained.
Though challenged on margins, the Computer company is HP's most significant revenue resource and it is self-sustaining, stated Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Systems Associates. The Computer enterprise may help HP retain sturdy distribution and logistics abilities, and be considered a key component in HP's printer and higher-margin enterprise hardware and consulting organizations, Kay said.
"Aside from synergies, the Pc enterprise continues to be a contributor to your bottom line," Kay mentioned.
Even so, PSG's webOS software program and hardware organization could possibly be toast after becoming mishandled by Apotheker, Kay said. Apotheker inherited the webOS business soon after HP bought Palm last yr when Mark Hurd was CEO. HP killed the tablets and smartphones, but explained it might retain webOS software package and license it to 3rd events.
HP's TouchPad became hot only right after it a drastic cost drop to $99 from $499, so Apotheker will need to have prematurely dismissed the marketplace, Kay stated. Had the TouchPad marketed for $299, HP would have offered several thousand units, enough to determine a beachhead within the market place, Kay mentioned.
There is certainly also little curiosity in licensing WebOS, Kay explained, incorporating that it stands little opportunity against competing cellular platforms including Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Microsoft's forthcoming Windows 8 OS for tablets is likely to make it even more demanding for WebOS to survive.
"Nobody really wants to license [WebOS]. If they do not develop their own hardware and can't license it, they purchased Palm for absolutely nothing," Kay stated.
Disagreeing with analysts, consultant Steven Protter mentioned HP really should transfer ahead with options to spin-off the Pc organization to keep up financial integrity. Protter focuses on HP server and software integration.
"I imagine that the Pc organization is lower margin and concur with HP's selection to spin it off as long as they retain their server business," Protter said.
2011年8月23日星期二
HP Allays Fears Around PC Business Uncertainty
Enterprise continues as normal for Hewlett-Packard's Computer unit, which can carry on to assistance and promote goods since the business explores possibilities to spin off or offer the Personalized Programs Team, HP explained on Monday.
Amidst uncertainty with regards to the fate of its Pc enterprise, HP declared on Monday the Compaq 8200 Elite organization all-in-one desktop, having a three-year warranty for elements and labor and on-site and telephone assist services. HP will make certain the total assist and guarantee motivation with the desktop is achieved, a business spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
"We realize clients might have inquiries about help, which means you will see us increasing our communications to consumers about our dedication. We completely stand by our merchandise, support and clients. Consumers and corporations can acquire with self-confidence," the spokeswoman stated.
HP final week said it would investigate the sale or spin-off with the PSG unit, which markets PCs and cellular devices such as smartphones and tablets. For HP, a slowdown in Personal computer revenue and its razor-thin margins really are a drag since it emphasizes far more worthwhile organization places such as enterprise software program, companies and hardware.
HP's 1st action in restructuring was to liquidate its stock of smartphones and TouchPad tablets, which had been marketing at bargain basement charges through the weekend. Stores Greatest Purchase and Staples sold all HP tablets and smartphones in a make a difference of hours on Saturday. The products operate on the webOS software, around which HP will continue to build and discover enterprise options.
Over and above the brand new Compaq desktop, the organization will announce new PCs later this 12 months to fill out its line of laptops and desktops.
A single HP buyer, Brent Woodruff exchanged his TouchPad for Apple's iPad 2 with Best Purchase because of concerns all around assistance for your webOS running method and services together with the TouchPad. He also owns an HP laptop computer and netbook, and it is not worried about help for the people products.
"I'm not worried about both. Whichever entity picks up their Pc company will most likely consider about the support contracts and warranties also, equivalent to your IBM-Lenovo deal," stated, Woodruff, a laptop or computer engineer in Tallahassee, Florida.
IBM offered its Personal computer company to Lenovo in 2005 to target on the higher-margin software package and services organization.
The sales and assist changeover for items just like the ThinkPad laptop from IBM to Lenovo was easy, and any transition will be equally smooth for HP, explained Josh Kaplan, CEO of Rescuecom, a laptop or computer repair firm.
"HP's had a terrific monitor report with tech support ... they are not only going to alienate consumers," Kaplan said.
HP is also the world's greatest Personal computer maker so there will probably be no shortage of areas, Kaplan stated. HP has regularly ranked as one of many far better assistance providers, and it'll try out to take care of that position even in transition.
Nonetheless, you can find inquiries around assistance for webOS, and proprietors of devices according to that OS might be squeezed, Kaplan mentioned.
Users submitting in Net message boards also weren't concerned about assist within the wake of HP's announcement, stating warranties would not be voided and HP had a duty to fulfill its commitments.
"Whether or not someone is delighted with his/her level of help from HP will differ according to their individual encounter, but what is occurring at HP right now will not influence their stage of tech support/warranty, for far better or for even worse," wrote a poster in Notebook Review's discussion boards.
Amidst uncertainty with regards to the fate of its Pc enterprise, HP declared on Monday the Compaq 8200 Elite organization all-in-one desktop, having a three-year warranty for elements and labor and on-site and telephone assist services. HP will make certain the total assist and guarantee motivation with the desktop is achieved, a business spokeswoman said in an e-mail.
"We realize clients might have inquiries about help, which means you will see us increasing our communications to consumers about our dedication. We completely stand by our merchandise, support and clients. Consumers and corporations can acquire with self-confidence," the spokeswoman stated.
HP final week said it would investigate the sale or spin-off with the PSG unit, which markets PCs and cellular devices such as smartphones and tablets. For HP, a slowdown in Personal computer revenue and its razor-thin margins really are a drag since it emphasizes far more worthwhile organization places such as enterprise software program, companies and hardware.
HP's 1st action in restructuring was to liquidate its stock of smartphones and TouchPad tablets, which had been marketing at bargain basement charges through the weekend. Stores Greatest Purchase and Staples sold all HP tablets and smartphones in a make a difference of hours on Saturday. The products operate on the webOS software, around which HP will continue to build and discover enterprise options.
Over and above the brand new Compaq desktop, the organization will announce new PCs later this 12 months to fill out its line of laptops and desktops.
A single HP buyer, Brent Woodruff exchanged his TouchPad for Apple's iPad 2 with Best Purchase because of concerns all around assistance for your webOS running method and services together with the TouchPad. He also owns an HP laptop computer and netbook, and it is not worried about help for the people products.
"I'm not worried about both. Whichever entity picks up their Pc company will most likely consider about the support contracts and warranties also, equivalent to your IBM-Lenovo deal," stated, Woodruff, a laptop or computer engineer in Tallahassee, Florida.
IBM offered its Personal computer company to Lenovo in 2005 to target on the higher-margin software package and services organization.
The sales and assist changeover for items just like the ThinkPad laptop from IBM to Lenovo was easy, and any transition will be equally smooth for HP, explained Josh Kaplan, CEO of Rescuecom, a laptop or computer repair firm.
"HP's had a terrific monitor report with tech support ... they are not only going to alienate consumers," Kaplan said.
HP is also the world's greatest Personal computer maker so there will probably be no shortage of areas, Kaplan stated. HP has regularly ranked as one of many far better assistance providers, and it'll try out to take care of that position even in transition.
Nonetheless, you can find inquiries around assistance for webOS, and proprietors of devices according to that OS might be squeezed, Kaplan mentioned.
Users submitting in Net message boards also weren't concerned about assist within the wake of HP's announcement, stating warranties would not be voided and HP had a duty to fulfill its commitments.
"Whether or not someone is delighted with his/her level of help from HP will differ according to their individual encounter, but what is occurring at HP right now will not influence their stage of tech support/warranty, for far better or for even worse," wrote a poster in Notebook Review's discussion boards.
2011年8月2日星期二
Babies to get their own tablet computer
With the way things are going, it can't be too long before we see the unveiling of a curved tablet with straps attached, designed to fit snugly around the protruding bulge of an expectant mother. Such a device would be pre-loaded with an assortment of educational apps designed to give little Johnny or Jane a brainful of useful knowledge prior to their arrival in the big wide world.
You see, according to an LA Times report, Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the Vinci tablet, a 7-inch device aimed at babies from zero to four years of age. Newborns tend to do little more than babble and bowel movements, but now we're supposed to believe they'll be able to engage with a selection of games, books and music videos. Maybe they will.
The tablet incorporates a special soft-cornered handle, making it easy for those tiny little hands to grip. It has no Wi-Fi facility, so parents needn't worry about their six-month-old toddler - who won't know the value of money at that age (unless an app teaches them) - emptying their bank account by filling up the hard drive with costly downloads.
Under the hood, Vinci is likely to impress many. The Android-based device uses a Cortex A8 processor, has 4GB storage space and a 3-megapixel camera. It also has a slot for a MicroSD card, a built-in speaker and a built-in microphone.
Weighing in at 1.28 lb (580 g), Vinci is a touch lighter than the iPad at 1.33 pounds (603 g), so a baby will, at the very least, get a physical workout while playing around with it. The tablet is being sold for $389 and will be launched in the US on August 1o.
Vinci's website explains that the tablet was “invented by our founder, Dr. Dan D. Yang, who is a mother and world-renowned telecom entrepreneur.” Yang came up with the idea for a baby-focused tablet when she noticed how much her young daughter liked to play with her smartphone and computer.
There's no doubt that a great deal of thought has gone into the design of the Vinci tablet, but it might leave you wondering - whatever happened to those more traditional kinds of toys. Rattle, anyone?
You see, according to an LA Times report, Amazon has started taking pre-orders for the Vinci tablet, a 7-inch device aimed at babies from zero to four years of age. Newborns tend to do little more than babble and bowel movements, but now we're supposed to believe they'll be able to engage with a selection of games, books and music videos. Maybe they will.
The tablet incorporates a special soft-cornered handle, making it easy for those tiny little hands to grip. It has no Wi-Fi facility, so parents needn't worry about their six-month-old toddler - who won't know the value of money at that age (unless an app teaches them) - emptying their bank account by filling up the hard drive with costly downloads.
Under the hood, Vinci is likely to impress many. The Android-based device uses a Cortex A8 processor, has 4GB storage space and a 3-megapixel camera. It also has a slot for a MicroSD card, a built-in speaker and a built-in microphone.
Weighing in at 1.28 lb (580 g), Vinci is a touch lighter than the iPad at 1.33 pounds (603 g), so a baby will, at the very least, get a physical workout while playing around with it. The tablet is being sold for $389 and will be launched in the US on August 1o.
Vinci's website explains that the tablet was “invented by our founder, Dr. Dan D. Yang, who is a mother and world-renowned telecom entrepreneur.” Yang came up with the idea for a baby-focused tablet when she noticed how much her young daughter liked to play with her smartphone and computer.
There's no doubt that a great deal of thought has gone into the design of the Vinci tablet, but it might leave you wondering - whatever happened to those more traditional kinds of toys. Rattle, anyone?
Google buys about 1,000 IBM patents
Google Inc. has bought about 1,000 pending and issued patents from IBM Corp. in its quest to shore up its defenses in opposition to fits by other technologies organizations, according to paperwork filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Google and IBM spokesmen wouldn't comment Friday on the buy.
The patent transfers were recorded two weeks in the past and cover a assortment of technologies, many of which have small to complete with Google's Net research and advertising enterprise. One covers techniques of automatically adjusting a clock, yet another deals with surface area remedies for electrical contacts.
But even patents which have little do with Google's company could be helpful ammunition in the hyper-litigious technology world.
If it's sued above patents by a company whose organization relies on technologies coated by Google's patents, Google can file a retaliatory lawsuit.
Phone makers that use Google Inc.'s Android software program are being sued by Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. As being a youthful firm, Google has couple of patents of its very own to counter with.
Kent Walker, Google's common counsel, wrote within a blog article in April which the explosion in patent litigation threatens to stifle innovation.
"But as things stand these days, one of your company's best defenses versus this kind of litigation is (ironically) to have a formidable patent portfolio, as this helps sustain your liberty to create new products and companies," Walker wrote.
Earlier this month, Google participated in an auction to get a assortment of 6,000 patents from Nortel, a bankrupt Canadian maker of telecommunications equipment. It was outbid by a consortium including Apple that paid $4.5 billion.
Within the previous year, Google has also bought patents from Verizon Communications Inc. and Motorola Inc.
The patent sale was very first described by the blog Seo through the Sea, which follows Google.
Google and IBM spokesmen wouldn't comment Friday on the buy.
The patent transfers were recorded two weeks in the past and cover a assortment of technologies, many of which have small to complete with Google's Net research and advertising enterprise. One covers techniques of automatically adjusting a clock, yet another deals with surface area remedies for electrical contacts.
But even patents which have little do with Google's company could be helpful ammunition in the hyper-litigious technology world.
If it's sued above patents by a company whose organization relies on technologies coated by Google's patents, Google can file a retaliatory lawsuit.
Phone makers that use Google Inc.'s Android software program are being sued by Apple Inc. and Microsoft Corp. As being a youthful firm, Google has couple of patents of its very own to counter with.
Kent Walker, Google's common counsel, wrote within a blog article in April which the explosion in patent litigation threatens to stifle innovation.
"But as things stand these days, one of your company's best defenses versus this kind of litigation is (ironically) to have a formidable patent portfolio, as this helps sustain your liberty to create new products and companies," Walker wrote.
Earlier this month, Google participated in an auction to get a assortment of 6,000 patents from Nortel, a bankrupt Canadian maker of telecommunications equipment. It was outbid by a consortium including Apple that paid $4.5 billion.
Within the previous year, Google has also bought patents from Verizon Communications Inc. and Motorola Inc.
The patent sale was very first described by the blog Seo through the Sea, which follows Google.
2011年6月17日星期五
Slow Navigation Hampers Sony Reader Daily Edition
"A excellent study can be a couple of seconds absent," proclaims the Sony Reader Every day Edition screen because it tries to connect with the Sony store--or to perform the rest involving the unit's wireless Net accessibility. However, in my exams, I had to wait around a good deal extended than a couple of seconds.
That is also bad, since the Sony Reader Every day Edition ($400 as of February 3, 2010) has content material that I might love to download if doing this have been much less of the headache. The Day-to-day Edition is Sony's 1st e-reader to provide wireless use of content (by way of AT&T's 3G wireless network), and Sony has sought to capitalize on that feature by offering not just a bookstore but wireless delivery of newspapers, either by subscription or as single copies. Several big names in day-to-day print U.S. journalism--including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal--are for sale in Sony's Reader Store, which you can entry from the device.
But 3G wireless service was spotty at best in my home in downtown San Francisco. Whatever I tried to do, I received frequent messages advising me to check whether I'd turned on the wireless switch (you get both a hardware switch on the bottom edge of the device and a software setting for toggling the switch on). I managed to subscribe for the digital New York Times through the Sony keep, but at very first I couldn't obtain it: A message reported that the obtain had been interrupted and needed to be restarted from my account page. (In other locations, though the unit had fewer foibles, it was painfully slow to connect.)
By the way, you can transfer commercial and free content material for the Reader after using the included USB cable to attach the device to your PC. In fact, this is the only way to patronize bookstores other than Sony's (you can buy from any e-tailer that supports ePub with Adobe Material Server 4 encryption). Like other Sony Readers, the Everyday Edition also supports AAC, BMP, GIF, JPEG, MP3, PDF, PNG, RTF, and TXT file formats, plus Sony's old BBeB e-book format, in case you have older e-books on hand.
Wireless services and a slightly larger (7-inch-diagonal) E-Ink display that supports 16 shades of gray are the chief distinctions between the Every day Edition and the Touch Edition released last fall: The latter has a 6-inch-diagonal, eight-shade-grayscale display. But the extra real estate mainly extends the height of the Day-to-day Edition, so it seems rather tall and narrow for an e-book reader. It's also a tad fatter (0.6 inch thick) and heavier (12.75 ounces, including the included black cover) than the Touch Edition (0.4 inch thick and 10.1 ounces). Sony offers a cool cover with a built-in reading light for the Daily Edition, as a $60 option.
Like the Touch Edition, the Every day Edition has a touchscreen that you can manipulate with your fingers or with a stylus that slides into the device's upper left corner. You can turn pages forward (but not backward) with a finger swipe, and you get to choose whether to use left-to-right or right-to-lift action for this purpose. This feature generally worked well, but the device was unresponsive to my swipes intermittently, and ultimately I found it a lot less annoying to depend on the hardware page-turn buttons below the display.
You fire up the Reader by sliding a button on the upper left edge. Doing so brings up a Home display with large icons, starting with a thumbnail cover of your most recent reading material on top and your other available books in the middle. At the bottom are icons for accessing your periodicals, other collections, and notes; and below them are tabs leading towards the online bookstore, applications, and settings. Navigating among options seemed a bit slow, but not as slow as on other devices.
Sony supplies several built-in applications--an image viewer, a handwriting utility for capturing notes or doodles, a memo pad, a dictionary, and a music player. I particularly liked the handwriting utility, which did a nice job of interpreting my scrawls and sketching. The Reader remains primarily a reading device, but the included apps complement that primary purpose (the dictionary, for instance, can come in quite handy).
The device comes with a standard headphone jack, and music sounded good through my earbud headphones--this Reader, unlike some others, has enough oomph to deliver loud audio when turned all the way up. (Sony has indicated that it will introduce additional mobile apps going forward.)
I was a lot less impressed by the shopping experience that the device permits. The shop took a while to display, and when it came up, it was neither intuitively organized nor particularly attractive. At the top have been several text links, some of them rather cryptic: Subjects (which lists general book categories), Sections (which includes things like bargain-priced books), Periodicals (newspapers, for example), and Bundles (several books sold together). Next to these was an unappealing reproduction of a New York Post front page.
Below came icons for various best-sellers and then for new arrivals. And below those, a small banner ad appeared. Sony clearly has some distance to go before it catches up with Amazon's excellently organized Kindle storefront.
The newspaper features, though, are compelling. The lengthier display dimensions mean that you can view more newspaper headlines on a single page. And if you subscribe to a newspaper and leave the device's wireless adapter turned on overnight, you'll have the new day's edition waiting for you when you wake up (Sony says that the online Wall Street Journal even offers an automatic afternoon update for its Every day Edition customers). You can also opt to keep several days' worth of material loaded on your Everyday Edition, so you can catch up on the news at your leisure (the device has approximately 2GB of internal memory and can accommodate an SD or Memory Stick expansion card if that's not enough).
But if you do keep your wireless service active overnight, be sure to keep the charging adapter connected so you can replenish the power that the wireless radio gobbles up. Most crucially, you should check the strength of the AT&T 3G signal in your neighborhood, as the whole scheme depends on robust 3G service. It's one thing to head over to an area with good reception when you feel like buying a book, but quite another thing to miss out on your day-to-day newspaper since of poor AT&T reception. (And I do blame AT&T, since I had no trouble downloading subject material to my older, Sprint-provisioned Amazon Kindle 2.)
Oddly, even though the Everyday Edition uses a GSM service, it doesn't currently support international roaming (which is the best reason to go with GSM technology). For now, at least, you can purchase and down load material wirelessly only when you're in the United States and within range of your decent AT&T signal. Since the newspaper support is the best reason to shell out $400 for this device, I'd be wary of making the investment unless I was confident of the quality of the available network support.
That is also bad, since the Sony Reader Every day Edition ($400 as of February 3, 2010) has content material that I might love to download if doing this have been much less of the headache. The Day-to-day Edition is Sony's 1st e-reader to provide wireless use of content (by way of AT&T's 3G wireless network), and Sony has sought to capitalize on that feature by offering not just a bookstore but wireless delivery of newspapers, either by subscription or as single copies. Several big names in day-to-day print U.S. journalism--including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal--are for sale in Sony's Reader Store, which you can entry from the device.
But 3G wireless service was spotty at best in my home in downtown San Francisco. Whatever I tried to do, I received frequent messages advising me to check whether I'd turned on the wireless switch (you get both a hardware switch on the bottom edge of the device and a software setting for toggling the switch on). I managed to subscribe for the digital New York Times through the Sony keep, but at very first I couldn't obtain it: A message reported that the obtain had been interrupted and needed to be restarted from my account page. (In other locations, though the unit had fewer foibles, it was painfully slow to connect.)
By the way, you can transfer commercial and free content material for the Reader after using the included USB cable to attach the device to your PC. In fact, this is the only way to patronize bookstores other than Sony's (you can buy from any e-tailer that supports ePub with Adobe Material Server 4 encryption). Like other Sony Readers, the Everyday Edition also supports AAC, BMP, GIF, JPEG, MP3, PDF, PNG, RTF, and TXT file formats, plus Sony's old BBeB e-book format, in case you have older e-books on hand.
Wireless services and a slightly larger (7-inch-diagonal) E-Ink display that supports 16 shades of gray are the chief distinctions between the Every day Edition and the Touch Edition released last fall: The latter has a 6-inch-diagonal, eight-shade-grayscale display. But the extra real estate mainly extends the height of the Day-to-day Edition, so it seems rather tall and narrow for an e-book reader. It's also a tad fatter (0.6 inch thick) and heavier (12.75 ounces, including the included black cover) than the Touch Edition (0.4 inch thick and 10.1 ounces). Sony offers a cool cover with a built-in reading light for the Daily Edition, as a $60 option.
Like the Touch Edition, the Every day Edition has a touchscreen that you can manipulate with your fingers or with a stylus that slides into the device's upper left corner. You can turn pages forward (but not backward) with a finger swipe, and you get to choose whether to use left-to-right or right-to-lift action for this purpose. This feature generally worked well, but the device was unresponsive to my swipes intermittently, and ultimately I found it a lot less annoying to depend on the hardware page-turn buttons below the display.
You fire up the Reader by sliding a button on the upper left edge. Doing so brings up a Home display with large icons, starting with a thumbnail cover of your most recent reading material on top and your other available books in the middle. At the bottom are icons for accessing your periodicals, other collections, and notes; and below them are tabs leading towards the online bookstore, applications, and settings. Navigating among options seemed a bit slow, but not as slow as on other devices.
Sony supplies several built-in applications--an image viewer, a handwriting utility for capturing notes or doodles, a memo pad, a dictionary, and a music player. I particularly liked the handwriting utility, which did a nice job of interpreting my scrawls and sketching. The Reader remains primarily a reading device, but the included apps complement that primary purpose (the dictionary, for instance, can come in quite handy).
The device comes with a standard headphone jack, and music sounded good through my earbud headphones--this Reader, unlike some others, has enough oomph to deliver loud audio when turned all the way up. (Sony has indicated that it will introduce additional mobile apps going forward.)
I was a lot less impressed by the shopping experience that the device permits. The shop took a while to display, and when it came up, it was neither intuitively organized nor particularly attractive. At the top have been several text links, some of them rather cryptic: Subjects (which lists general book categories), Sections (which includes things like bargain-priced books), Periodicals (newspapers, for example), and Bundles (several books sold together). Next to these was an unappealing reproduction of a New York Post front page.
Below came icons for various best-sellers and then for new arrivals. And below those, a small banner ad appeared. Sony clearly has some distance to go before it catches up with Amazon's excellently organized Kindle storefront.
The newspaper features, though, are compelling. The lengthier display dimensions mean that you can view more newspaper headlines on a single page. And if you subscribe to a newspaper and leave the device's wireless adapter turned on overnight, you'll have the new day's edition waiting for you when you wake up (Sony says that the online Wall Street Journal even offers an automatic afternoon update for its Every day Edition customers). You can also opt to keep several days' worth of material loaded on your Everyday Edition, so you can catch up on the news at your leisure (the device has approximately 2GB of internal memory and can accommodate an SD or Memory Stick expansion card if that's not enough).
But if you do keep your wireless service active overnight, be sure to keep the charging adapter connected so you can replenish the power that the wireless radio gobbles up. Most crucially, you should check the strength of the AT&T 3G signal in your neighborhood, as the whole scheme depends on robust 3G service. It's one thing to head over to an area with good reception when you feel like buying a book, but quite another thing to miss out on your day-to-day newspaper since of poor AT&T reception. (And I do blame AT&T, since I had no trouble downloading subject material to my older, Sprint-provisioned Amazon Kindle 2.)
Oddly, even though the Everyday Edition uses a GSM service, it doesn't currently support international roaming (which is the best reason to go with GSM technology). For now, at least, you can purchase and down load material wirelessly only when you're in the United States and within range of your decent AT&T signal. Since the newspaper support is the best reason to shell out $400 for this device, I'd be wary of making the investment unless I was confident of the quality of the available network support.
2011年5月18日星期三
Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B laptop review
The Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B laptop combines a rather amazing array of business-friendly functions with outstanding functionality, good build-quality and tastefully understated fashion. At two.0kg, the 13.3in Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B weighs fairly less than almost all of the similarly-sized levels of competition. The Vaio retains the critical but bulkier parts these as being a dual-layer DVD burner and a decent-sized battery. So even though it won't quite make it into the sub-category of ?¡ãthin and light?¡À laptops, it can be pleasantly easy to carry around.
Completed in a business-like matt black the Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B is unlikely to slip from your fingers as you dash to the meeting-room. The built-in fingerprint reader ensures a speedy Windows sign-in and if you would like to hook up a projector then you will locate equally VGA and HDMI ports put conveniently along the lefthand-side. Neither will there is be any clumsy reaching across the back for any from the connectors which include FireWire (but no eSATA), gigabit LAN and USB two.0 ports accessible on both sides. Along the front edge with the laptop is actually a pair of memory card slots and a physical wireless on/off switch at the same time as audio jacks and an eject button for your optical drive.
The Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B's backlit scrabble tile-style keyboard may also make certain you are able to maintain typing together with the lights dimmed. When back at your desk, the Vaio can slot rapidly right into a docking station to make sure the minimal of plugging. On leaving the workplace, you will manage to utilize Bluetooth two.one + EDR and 3G cellular connectivity.
Driven by a two.53GHz Intel Core i5-460M, the Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B is actually a really rapidly laptop, attaining 111 points in WorldBench six. In addition, it comes with a capacious 500GB tough drive.
Offered the business credentials with the Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B laptop computer, we had been considerably surprised to seek out an nVidia GeForce 310M graphics chip inside, able to delivering appropriate gaming benefits and certainly faster than every other with this round-up in terms of 3D graphics. Sadly, nVidia's auto-switching Optimus technological innovation isn't supported, so you will have to recollect to flip it on and off manually when necessary to be able to protect battery existence. This is unfortunately the Vaio's weak match managing only 298 minutes below MobileMark 2007.
Completed in a business-like matt black the Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B is unlikely to slip from your fingers as you dash to the meeting-room. The built-in fingerprint reader ensures a speedy Windows sign-in and if you would like to hook up a projector then you will locate equally VGA and HDMI ports put conveniently along the lefthand-side. Neither will there is be any clumsy reaching across the back for any from the connectors which include FireWire (but no eSATA), gigabit LAN and USB two.0 ports accessible on both sides. Along the front edge with the laptop is actually a pair of memory card slots and a physical wireless on/off switch at the same time as audio jacks and an eject button for your optical drive.
The Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B's backlit scrabble tile-style keyboard may also make certain you are able to maintain typing together with the lights dimmed. When back at your desk, the Vaio can slot rapidly right into a docking station to make sure the minimal of plugging. On leaving the workplace, you will manage to utilize Bluetooth two.one + EDR and 3G cellular connectivity.
Driven by a two.53GHz Intel Core i5-460M, the Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B is actually a really rapidly laptop, attaining 111 points in WorldBench six. In addition, it comes with a capacious 500GB tough drive.
Offered the business credentials with the Sony Vaio VPCS13V9E/B laptop computer, we had been considerably surprised to seek out an nVidia GeForce 310M graphics chip inside, able to delivering appropriate gaming benefits and certainly faster than every other with this round-up in terms of 3D graphics. Sadly, nVidia's auto-switching Optimus technological innovation isn't supported, so you will have to recollect to flip it on and off manually when necessary to be able to protect battery existence. This is unfortunately the Vaio's weak match managing only 298 minutes below MobileMark 2007.
2011年5月7日星期六
Gateway NV5214u All-Purpose Laptop Review
The Gateway NV5214u is really a budget all-purpose laptop, and proud of it. For that sticker value of $529, it delivers the normal drill: lackluster speakers, minor within the way of bundled software, and a fairly hefty footprint. But it can be quite a capable machine, providing a respectable bang-to-buck ratio and hunting pretty good while in the process.
For its plastic casing, the NV5214u took several design pointers from its even bigger siblings. A glossy complete, smooth curves, and a row of slick touch-sensitive keys give it an air of class. It's also rather large, measuring 14.six by 1.5 by 9.eight inches, and weighing six.eight pounds.
So the system is a little on the hefty side--but it can be what's to the inside that counts, right? Microsoft's Windows Vista Residence Premium resides around the 320GB hard generate. Powering the NV5214u will be the dual-core, 2.1GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-64, in addition 4GB of RAM. The DirectX 10-capable ATI Radeon High definition 3200 graphics processor drives the exhibit, but never assume miracles: Although a title for older, refined tastes like Doom three will chug along at 30 frames per second on the higher settings, newer games like Crysis will balk. The ensemble scored a 64 while in the WorldBench six check suite, which puts the NV5214u behind marginally more high-priced competition this sort of as being the HP Pavilion DV4-1465DX or the Dell Studio 14Z. Vehemently opposed to Vista? A flyer packed with the machine casually reminds consumers to pick up their no cost copy of Windows 7 Home Top quality, which should improve things--particularly the battery lifestyle, which presently clocks in at a less-than-spectacular two.five several hours.
The 15.6-inch, LED-backlit display screen is easily vibrant while in the normal workplace or in a fluorescent-lit dwelling, but the visibility suffers when you venture outside. The 1366 by 768 resolution is simply proper for 720p video, with a sixteen:nine facet ratio which will make sure you movie buffs and bored school college students alike. Colour reproduction is good, and the exhibit is evenly lit.
Gateway helps make ample utilization of the machine's footprint, presenting a spacious keyboard having a full amount pad. Even though the individual keys are wide adequate, they are also flat, and organized uniformly, which can be disconcerting for touch typists. In low-light situations, you could discover your wayward fingers starting to be misaligned using the keys; and with absolutely nothing to differentiate the keys, you may make the occasional typo.
Nestled amongst the display and the keyboard are seven touch-sensitive buttons for controlling the volume, toggling the trackpad and Wi-Fi, and triggering the MyBackup computer software (far more on that within a bit). The machine also has a programmable button that will kick off any software, file, or Web web page you command it to. So far as touch-sensitive buttons go, they are relatively eye-catching, lending the NV5214u several of the style-consciousness of more-expensive devices. Sadly they're also nigh invisible in low-light situations, which might outcome in some haphazard display screen finagling really should you need to flip the volume down while viewing a motion picture.
The trackpad is good: It has a nice, sleek texture which makes for at ease pointing. But the trackpad button is usually a bit bothersome. It is an individual, reflective bar--tap the left facet to click on, tap the proper side to right-click. The middle, however, is unclickable. This can be nitpick territory, but when you happen to be accustomed to pressing each the left and appropriate buttons for the center click, or perhaps the single bar on most older MacBooks, put together for any bit of a understanding curve. Stretching your fingers to faucet the opposite ends of the seesaw-like bar is awkward plenty of to draw negative consideration to an in any other case appealing fixture.
Each of the common laptop computer amenities make an appearance in the NV5214u: Four USB ports, a Webcam, a multiformat card reader, a DVD burner, and ethernet, modem, mic, and headphone jacks are all organized neatly along the sides of the machine. Users looking for a bit far more screen real estate property will enjoy the incorporated VGA and HDMI ports; although the GPU might not be able to deal with considerably gaming, the program ran effortlessly when multitasking within the 1900-by-1200-resolution, 24-inch exhibit.
The NV5214u's speakers suit the budget-machine mildew, also. Crank the volume up, and they're going to fill a area with sound--the bland, tinny kind of sound. If you would prefer to have any semblance of bass, you'll need to invest in a very correct set of speakers, or more most likely, a good pair of headphones.
The bundle isn't going to give you significantly in the method of bundled software. The MyBackup method is precisely what its title suggests. You press the touch-sensitive hotkey to fire up Gateway's straightforward backup-scheduling utility. Just decide on which folders to sync, then select a location along with a timetable, as well as the software will take care from the rest. The tool is not robust, but informal customers will value the one-button entry to a modicum of data-loss prevention, that's a step in the appropriate course.
You are going to also uncover the regular 60-day Microsoft Workplace trial, ad-supported Microsoft Operates, plus a handful of casual video games and demos inside the Gateway Games console, a digital storefront.
The Gateway NV5214u has quirks, a brief battery life, and a groan-inducing 7-pound bodyweight that may ward off some shoppers. But at $529, it is a fashionable discount, and everyone (especially a college student) who desires a good, inexpensive machine--and who doesn't thoughts the lack of bundled extras and frills--would do nicely to appear it above.
For its plastic casing, the NV5214u took several design pointers from its even bigger siblings. A glossy complete, smooth curves, and a row of slick touch-sensitive keys give it an air of class. It's also rather large, measuring 14.six by 1.5 by 9.eight inches, and weighing six.eight pounds.
So the system is a little on the hefty side--but it can be what's to the inside that counts, right? Microsoft's Windows Vista Residence Premium resides around the 320GB hard generate. Powering the NV5214u will be the dual-core, 2.1GHz AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-64, in addition 4GB of RAM. The DirectX 10-capable ATI Radeon High definition 3200 graphics processor drives the exhibit, but never assume miracles: Although a title for older, refined tastes like Doom three will chug along at 30 frames per second on the higher settings, newer games like Crysis will balk. The ensemble scored a 64 while in the WorldBench six check suite, which puts the NV5214u behind marginally more high-priced competition this sort of as being the HP Pavilion DV4-1465DX or the Dell Studio 14Z. Vehemently opposed to Vista? A flyer packed with the machine casually reminds consumers to pick up their no cost copy of Windows 7 Home Top quality, which should improve things--particularly the battery lifestyle, which presently clocks in at a less-than-spectacular two.five several hours.
The 15.6-inch, LED-backlit display screen is easily vibrant while in the normal workplace or in a fluorescent-lit dwelling, but the visibility suffers when you venture outside. The 1366 by 768 resolution is simply proper for 720p video, with a sixteen:nine facet ratio which will make sure you movie buffs and bored school college students alike. Colour reproduction is good, and the exhibit is evenly lit.
Gateway helps make ample utilization of the machine's footprint, presenting a spacious keyboard having a full amount pad. Even though the individual keys are wide adequate, they are also flat, and organized uniformly, which can be disconcerting for touch typists. In low-light situations, you could discover your wayward fingers starting to be misaligned using the keys; and with absolutely nothing to differentiate the keys, you may make the occasional typo.
Nestled amongst the display and the keyboard are seven touch-sensitive buttons for controlling the volume, toggling the trackpad and Wi-Fi, and triggering the MyBackup computer software (far more on that within a bit). The machine also has a programmable button that will kick off any software, file, or Web web page you command it to. So far as touch-sensitive buttons go, they are relatively eye-catching, lending the NV5214u several of the style-consciousness of more-expensive devices. Sadly they're also nigh invisible in low-light situations, which might outcome in some haphazard display screen finagling really should you need to flip the volume down while viewing a motion picture.
The trackpad is good: It has a nice, sleek texture which makes for at ease pointing. But the trackpad button is usually a bit bothersome. It is an individual, reflective bar--tap the left facet to click on, tap the proper side to right-click. The middle, however, is unclickable. This can be nitpick territory, but when you happen to be accustomed to pressing each the left and appropriate buttons for the center click, or perhaps the single bar on most older MacBooks, put together for any bit of a understanding curve. Stretching your fingers to faucet the opposite ends of the seesaw-like bar is awkward plenty of to draw negative consideration to an in any other case appealing fixture.
Each of the common laptop computer amenities make an appearance in the NV5214u: Four USB ports, a Webcam, a multiformat card reader, a DVD burner, and ethernet, modem, mic, and headphone jacks are all organized neatly along the sides of the machine. Users looking for a bit far more screen real estate property will enjoy the incorporated VGA and HDMI ports; although the GPU might not be able to deal with considerably gaming, the program ran effortlessly when multitasking within the 1900-by-1200-resolution, 24-inch exhibit.
The NV5214u's speakers suit the budget-machine mildew, also. Crank the volume up, and they're going to fill a area with sound--the bland, tinny kind of sound. If you would prefer to have any semblance of bass, you'll need to invest in a very correct set of speakers, or more most likely, a good pair of headphones.
The bundle isn't going to give you significantly in the method of bundled software. The MyBackup method is precisely what its title suggests. You press the touch-sensitive hotkey to fire up Gateway's straightforward backup-scheduling utility. Just decide on which folders to sync, then select a location along with a timetable, as well as the software will take care from the rest. The tool is not robust, but informal customers will value the one-button entry to a modicum of data-loss prevention, that's a step in the appropriate course.
You are going to also uncover the regular 60-day Microsoft Workplace trial, ad-supported Microsoft Operates, plus a handful of casual video games and demos inside the Gateway Games console, a digital storefront.
The Gateway NV5214u has quirks, a brief battery life, and a groan-inducing 7-pound bodyweight that may ward off some shoppers. But at $529, it is a fashionable discount, and everyone (especially a college student) who desires a good, inexpensive machine--and who doesn't thoughts the lack of bundled extras and frills--would do nicely to appear it above.
2011年5月4日星期三
HP Mini 5102 laptop review: A Good, but Expensive, Netbook for Business
The Mini 5102 will be the newest in HP's line of business-optimized netbooks, featuring a ruggedized metal chassis and design and style factors tailored for your workplace road warrior. It does a great task of presenting functions that enterprise end users care about, however they arrive at a significant price; the configuration we tested, which has a touchscreen, 2GB of RAM, an Atom N450 CPU, and an extended six-cell battery, clocks in at all around $729--easily the cost of a larger, a lot more full-featured laptop.The match and complete are exceptional, if a bit angular. The brushed metal finish around the lid is handsome and doesn't attract fingerprints or smudges. In case you do not like standard black, you can pay out $28 much more for any red or blue complete. Open the lid and you are going to locate a keyboard that's fairly easy to kind on, with extra-wide <Shift>, <Backspace>, and <Enter> keys. It's a great clicky sense with a good amount of journey, but no backlight or keyboard light for doing work inside the dark. The touchpad looks just a little tiny (a common issue with netbooks), but in practice it's not much of a difficulty. It tracks well, along with the buttons are separate, unique, and easy to use accurately without having looking at them.
The display screen good quality is a bit far better than typical, with decent contrast and viewing angles, however the resolution can be a bit constrained. The ten.1-inch screen features a resolution of 1024 by 600, which just is not plenty of desktop genuine estate--it brings about plenty of scrolling to examine Websites or long documents and e-mail messages. You can spend a little added for the higher-res, 1366-by-768 display screen, and it really is possibly worth it, but this selection is not obtainable should you go for the multitouch display screen, which our evaluation unit has. You are able to select from a variety of running techniques: SUSE Linux, Windows XP, Windows 7 Starter, and even Windows seven Skilled. (Should you opt for your multitouch display screen, you have to get Windows seven.)
The range and layout of connections is reasonable, with two USB ports on the front left edge plus a VGA port on the back again left edge, as well as an ethernet port and a 3rd USB port on the back from the correct edge, followed by headphone and microphone jacks within the middle, plus a card reader up front. The front edge from the method capabilities only a Wi-Fi switch. Above the keyboard you will locate only a electrical power button and two quick-launch buttons, a single for e-mail and the other for ones World wide web browser.
Besides the ports and jacks pointed out, you have other connectivity pathways: 802.11n wireless networking is common, as is Bluetooth. Cellular broadband with GPS by Gobi is a $125 alternative, but you can't put together that with a number of another choices, this kind of because the touchscreen or the Broadcom Crystal Hd graphics decoder module.
Additionally, it is possible to choose from a variety of hard-drive possibilities, through the 160GB generate our test unit came with as much as 320GB, or an 80GB or 120GB solid-state drive. Should you genuinely deck out the technique with all of the most high-priced options you can combine, you can get the cost approximately more than $1100! Which is outrageous for the netbook. The base product with 1GB of RAM plus a 4-cell battery costs $415, slightly over several other similarly-specced netbooks.
Considering that most netbooks are based on the same Intel "Pine Trail" platform, the overall performance with the Mini 5102 isn't going to differ a lot from its contemporaries utilizing exactly the same Atom N450 processor. The WorldBench 6 score of 34 is in line with most other netbooks depending on this CPU, although in practical utilize the 2GB of RAM makes factors a little snappier whenever you have numerous applications operating at once (several netbooks only have 1GB of RAM). Our examination unit has the prolonged six-cell battery, which adds only just a little bump for the bottom of the machine but critically improves battery lifestyle. It took 9 hours, 41 minutes to destroy the battery within our exams. As with other Atom-based netbooks, the graphics and video clip decoding capabilities are really poor--this thing is ineffective for enjoying video games, and it struggles with Flash-based World wide web video, specially in large definition. If this kind of abilities issue to you personally, you'll undoubtedly want to choose up the Broadcom Crystal Hd upgrade, which our unit failed to have.
The design and style and attribute set in the HP Mini 5102 is very excellent, particularly for that enterprise audience it targets. The keyboard and touchpad are an enhancement more than the consumer-focused HP Minis, and scores of choices can be found. Regrettably, this all comes at a value. All but the barest configurations price approximately several full-sized laptops--laptops that might not go for more than 9 hrs on the cost but that undoubtedly execute a whole lot far better. This can be a great netbook for straightforward note-taking and document editing on the go, or for all those long enterprise flights, but most consumers hunting for an low-cost companion Personal computer could be better off considering a lot less costly designs.
The display screen good quality is a bit far better than typical, with decent contrast and viewing angles, however the resolution can be a bit constrained. The ten.1-inch screen features a resolution of 1024 by 600, which just is not plenty of desktop genuine estate--it brings about plenty of scrolling to examine Websites or long documents and e-mail messages. You can spend a little added for the higher-res, 1366-by-768 display screen, and it really is possibly worth it, but this selection is not obtainable should you go for the multitouch display screen, which our evaluation unit has. You are able to select from a variety of running techniques: SUSE Linux, Windows XP, Windows 7 Starter, and even Windows seven Skilled. (Should you opt for your multitouch display screen, you have to get Windows seven.)
The range and layout of connections is reasonable, with two USB ports on the front left edge plus a VGA port on the back again left edge, as well as an ethernet port and a 3rd USB port on the back from the correct edge, followed by headphone and microphone jacks within the middle, plus a card reader up front. The front edge from the method capabilities only a Wi-Fi switch. Above the keyboard you will locate only a electrical power button and two quick-launch buttons, a single for e-mail and the other for ones World wide web browser.
Besides the ports and jacks pointed out, you have other connectivity pathways: 802.11n wireless networking is common, as is Bluetooth. Cellular broadband with GPS by Gobi is a $125 alternative, but you can't put together that with a number of another choices, this kind of because the touchscreen or the Broadcom Crystal Hd graphics decoder module.
Additionally, it is possible to choose from a variety of hard-drive possibilities, through the 160GB generate our test unit came with as much as 320GB, or an 80GB or 120GB solid-state drive. Should you genuinely deck out the technique with all of the most high-priced options you can combine, you can get the cost approximately more than $1100! Which is outrageous for the netbook. The base product with 1GB of RAM plus a 4-cell battery costs $415, slightly over several other similarly-specced netbooks.
Considering that most netbooks are based on the same Intel "Pine Trail" platform, the overall performance with the Mini 5102 isn't going to differ a lot from its contemporaries utilizing exactly the same Atom N450 processor. The WorldBench 6 score of 34 is in line with most other netbooks depending on this CPU, although in practical utilize the 2GB of RAM makes factors a little snappier whenever you have numerous applications operating at once (several netbooks only have 1GB of RAM). Our examination unit has the prolonged six-cell battery, which adds only just a little bump for the bottom of the machine but critically improves battery lifestyle. It took 9 hours, 41 minutes to destroy the battery within our exams. As with other Atom-based netbooks, the graphics and video clip decoding capabilities are really poor--this thing is ineffective for enjoying video games, and it struggles with Flash-based World wide web video, specially in large definition. If this kind of abilities issue to you personally, you'll undoubtedly want to choose up the Broadcom Crystal Hd upgrade, which our unit failed to have.
The design and style and attribute set in the HP Mini 5102 is very excellent, particularly for that enterprise audience it targets. The keyboard and touchpad are an enhancement more than the consumer-focused HP Minis, and scores of choices can be found. Regrettably, this all comes at a value. All but the barest configurations price approximately several full-sized laptops--laptops that might not go for more than 9 hrs on the cost but that undoubtedly execute a whole lot far better. This can be a great netbook for straightforward note-taking and document editing on the go, or for all those long enterprise flights, but most consumers hunting for an low-cost companion Personal computer could be better off considering a lot less costly designs.
2011年4月19日星期二
Apple sues Samsung while US ITC sides with HTC and Nokia
Apple is suing Samsung for allegedly copying its styles, while the US Global Trade Commission (ITC) has recommended that HTC and Nokia should not be identified liable for infringing Apple's patents.
The cappuccino organization accused Samsung, a maker of rival smartphones and tablets, of "slavishly" copying its Iphone and Ipad devices.
"Rather than innovate and build its individual engineering along with a distinctive Samsung design for its sensible mobile phone products and personal computer tablets, Samsung selected to copy Apple's technological innovation, consumer interface and revolutionary style in these infringing merchandise," the complaint statements.
Apple alleges that Samsung copied the search of its units, the icons for its apps and even the packaging the hardware is available in.
Apple spoksesperson Kristin Huguet mentioned, "This type of blatant copying is improper."
Samsung's Galaxy Tab is noticed by many because the strongest competitor to the Ipad, whilst Google used the Galaxy S as the basis to launch the Nexus S, the second Google sponsored Android smartphone available on the market and a key competitor towards the Iphone.
The lawsuit could effect the romantic relationship between the two businesses, as Samsung makes several chips used in Apple merchandise. According towards the Wall Street Journal, Apple paid Samsung close to ?¨º3.seven billion in 2010 on your own, producing up a important chunk of Samsung's earnings.
Samsung explained it would actively defend the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, two of Apple's other lawsuits versus HTC and Nokia could go pear-shaped after the ITC weighed in from the fruit themed company suggesting the case be dropped.
Apple desires HTC smartphones that run Android and also a amount of Nokia products to get banned from import into the US, claiming that both companies have infringed its patents.
HTC dismissed the fees, declaring it was around long just before Apple and that it and Google produced fundamentally distinct choices from what is covered in Apple's patents, which relate to signal processing and inter-process communications.
Nokia mentioned that Apple only introduced up the patent declare following Nokia sought royalties in the company in a separate dispute, according to Bloomberg.
Both HTC and Nokia are involved in countersuits in opposition to Apple, however the ITC has by now indicated that Apple is not infringing Nokia's patents, suggesting it might advocate a equivalent end result for HTC's scenario.
The outcomes of Apple's ITC grievances versus Nokia and HTC really should be exposed in June for Nokia and August for HTC.
The cappuccino organization accused Samsung, a maker of rival smartphones and tablets, of "slavishly" copying its Iphone and Ipad devices.
"Rather than innovate and build its individual engineering along with a distinctive Samsung design for its sensible mobile phone products and personal computer tablets, Samsung selected to copy Apple's technological innovation, consumer interface and revolutionary style in these infringing merchandise," the complaint statements.
Apple alleges that Samsung copied the search of its units, the icons for its apps and even the packaging the hardware is available in.
Apple spoksesperson Kristin Huguet mentioned, "This type of blatant copying is improper."
Samsung's Galaxy Tab is noticed by many because the strongest competitor to the Ipad, whilst Google used the Galaxy S as the basis to launch the Nexus S, the second Google sponsored Android smartphone available on the market and a key competitor towards the Iphone.
The lawsuit could effect the romantic relationship between the two businesses, as Samsung makes several chips used in Apple merchandise. According towards the Wall Street Journal, Apple paid Samsung close to ?¨º3.seven billion in 2010 on your own, producing up a important chunk of Samsung's earnings.
Samsung explained it would actively defend the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, two of Apple's other lawsuits versus HTC and Nokia could go pear-shaped after the ITC weighed in from the fruit themed company suggesting the case be dropped.
Apple desires HTC smartphones that run Android and also a amount of Nokia products to get banned from import into the US, claiming that both companies have infringed its patents.
HTC dismissed the fees, declaring it was around long just before Apple and that it and Google produced fundamentally distinct choices from what is covered in Apple's patents, which relate to signal processing and inter-process communications.
Nokia mentioned that Apple only introduced up the patent declare following Nokia sought royalties in the company in a separate dispute, according to Bloomberg.
Both HTC and Nokia are involved in countersuits in opposition to Apple, however the ITC has by now indicated that Apple is not infringing Nokia's patents, suggesting it might advocate a equivalent end result for HTC's scenario.
The outcomes of Apple's ITC grievances versus Nokia and HTC really should be exposed in June for Nokia and August for HTC.
2011年4月15日星期五
China's largest trash-burning power plant to start operating
The biggest trash-burning electrical power plant from the nation, the Hangu Power plant in north China's coastal metropolis of Tianjin, will get started operating just before June, based on the spokesman for that Tianjin Electric Power Corporation.Positioned in Binhai New District of Tianjin, the Hangu trash-burning plant with an region of thirteen.two hectares is expected to eat 2,000 tonnes of trash day-to-day.
On completion, it'll be able to deal with 667,000 tonnes of trash and make 146 million kwh of electrical power every year.
The plant has the biggest complete sealed trash tank in China, which might maintain 20,000 tonnes of trash in storage.
Having a hugely advantaged incineration method, the emission targets from the Hangu trash-burning power plant meet EU emission standards, the spokesman mentioned.
On completion, it'll be able to deal with 667,000 tonnes of trash and make 146 million kwh of electrical power every year.
The plant has the biggest complete sealed trash tank in China, which might maintain 20,000 tonnes of trash in storage.
Having a hugely advantaged incineration method, the emission targets from the Hangu trash-burning power plant meet EU emission standards, the spokesman mentioned.
2011年4月9日星期六
Lenovo launches 'LePad' tablet in China
Chinese laptop or computer large Lenovo has launched its personal tablet laptop or computer in your house since it tries to compete to get a reveal of an increasingly crowded market place dominated by Apple's iPad.
The LePad -- powered by Google's Android software -- was launched in China on Monday at a Chinese-media only occasion.
Lenovo will commence selling LePad straight to Chinese buyers this week by way of its individual retail merchants and it will place it on sale outside China by June, spokesman Jay Chen advised Dow Jones Newswires.
The firm said within a statement that it absolutely was aggressively pursuing the cellular World wide web gadget enterprise and established a special division -- the Mobile Net and Digital Home business Group -- this 12 months to greater compete.
"The LePad will be the initial key launch considering that the organization group's founding, we are assured in it and can keep on to enrich its products line with better carrying out products along with a richer selection of variations," Lenovo stated.
Additionally for the iPad, Lenovo's new tablet will compete versus gadgets from other significant electronics organizations such as Dell, Samsung Electronics and BlackBerry-maker Analysis In Motion.
LePad -- which was first unveiled in January at the Client Electronics Demonstrate in Las Vegas -- incorporates a ten.1-inch (26 centimetre) color display and connects for the Internet employing WiFi or 3G telecom providers.
In China, designs outfitted with WiFi wireless technological innovation will carry a encouraged price tag of three,499 yuan ($533) for that 16-gigabyte version, the organization explained.
It didn't say when it might go on sale, but pre-orders started on March sixteen.
Lenovo, which bought IBM's Pc company in 2004 for $1.25 billion, had roughly 27 % of its house market previous 12 months and was ranked fourth on earth that has a world-wide share of about 8 %, in accordance to info from IDC intelligence firm.
Investigation firm Gartner estimates total tablet shipments will achieve 54.eight million units in 2011, draining demand for laptops and notebook computer systems.
Apple marketed 15 million iPads last yr, creating $10 billion in earnings and establishing the multi-tasking device like a "must-have" customer item for a lot of.
The LePad -- powered by Google's Android software -- was launched in China on Monday at a Chinese-media only occasion.
Lenovo will commence selling LePad straight to Chinese buyers this week by way of its individual retail merchants and it will place it on sale outside China by June, spokesman Jay Chen advised Dow Jones Newswires.
The firm said within a statement that it absolutely was aggressively pursuing the cellular World wide web gadget enterprise and established a special division -- the Mobile Net and Digital Home business Group -- this 12 months to greater compete.
"The LePad will be the initial key launch considering that the organization group's founding, we are assured in it and can keep on to enrich its products line with better carrying out products along with a richer selection of variations," Lenovo stated.
Additionally for the iPad, Lenovo's new tablet will compete versus gadgets from other significant electronics organizations such as Dell, Samsung Electronics and BlackBerry-maker Analysis In Motion.
LePad -- which was first unveiled in January at the Client Electronics Demonstrate in Las Vegas -- incorporates a ten.1-inch (26 centimetre) color display and connects for the Internet employing WiFi or 3G telecom providers.
In China, designs outfitted with WiFi wireless technological innovation will carry a encouraged price tag of three,499 yuan ($533) for that 16-gigabyte version, the organization explained.
It didn't say when it might go on sale, but pre-orders started on March sixteen.
Lenovo, which bought IBM's Pc company in 2004 for $1.25 billion, had roughly 27 % of its house market previous 12 months and was ranked fourth on earth that has a world-wide share of about 8 %, in accordance to info from IDC intelligence firm.
Investigation firm Gartner estimates total tablet shipments will achieve 54.eight million units in 2011, draining demand for laptops and notebook computer systems.
Apple marketed 15 million iPads last yr, creating $10 billion in earnings and establishing the multi-tasking device like a "must-have" customer item for a lot of.
2011年4月6日星期三
Can Mozilla shame Firefox developers to do better?
I confident hope so. Mozilla has posted what Stan Schroeder, writing for Mashable, calls a "Wall of Shame." Firefox users, is this new? I'm just getting back again to utilizing Firefox following a lot more than a yr -- component of my experiment to purge all Google merchandise and services; I have not followed Firefox plenty of lately to answer. New or not, it's a merely brilliant concept. Apple, Google, Microsoft, Opera every other browser developers really should copycat this a single.
Praise is the carrot. Shame may be the stick. Browser makers should use equally -- or a minimum of look to determine how the stick operates for Firefox. Mozilla's main checklist is ten "Slow Carrying out Add-ons," but you'll find an additional 40 obtainable to view. The poster-application for great conduct is add-on Firefox Sync, which doesn't sluggish efficiency in any way. Linkular's FoxLingo - Translator / Dictionary tops the list, slowing the browser's performance by 74 %. Firebug ranks 2nd, also saps by 74 percent.
Determined by past comments, I presume that Adblock Plus is popular amid Betanews viewers. Some of you may desire to reconsider the advantages. The Add-on ranks twelfth on Mozilla's record, slowing Firefox performance by 21 percent. StumbleUpon is No. 14, for the 19 % hit.
What is perplexing is what's not while in the top rated fifty: Adobe Flash. The plug-in has such a undesirable reputation for hogging resources, I am surprised. Is it can be status undeserved, or is it not about the listing for other factors? Viewers, make sure you pipe in about Flash performance -- in feedback, needless to say.
Praise is the carrot. Shame may be the stick. Browser makers should use equally -- or a minimum of look to determine how the stick operates for Firefox. Mozilla's main checklist is ten "Slow Carrying out Add-ons," but you'll find an additional 40 obtainable to view. The poster-application for great conduct is add-on Firefox Sync, which doesn't sluggish efficiency in any way. Linkular's FoxLingo - Translator / Dictionary tops the list, slowing the browser's performance by 74 %. Firebug ranks 2nd, also saps by 74 percent.
Determined by past comments, I presume that Adblock Plus is popular amid Betanews viewers. Some of you may desire to reconsider the advantages. The Add-on ranks twelfth on Mozilla's record, slowing Firefox performance by 21 percent. StumbleUpon is No. 14, for the 19 % hit.
What is perplexing is what's not while in the top rated fifty: Adobe Flash. The plug-in has such a undesirable reputation for hogging resources, I am surprised. Is it can be status undeserved, or is it not about the listing for other factors? Viewers, make sure you pipe in about Flash performance -- in feedback, needless to say.
2011年2月23日星期三
Apple is expected to unveil new iPad
Apple Inc. will probably unveil a new iPad that could keep its name carved firmly at the top of the tablet computer market.
The company is holding an event next week in San Francisco at which it is widely expected to show off a lighter and sleeker iPad that could maintain its massive lead in the multibillion-dollar tablet industry it pioneered.
The media invitation for the possible iPad 2 rollout was sent as Apple shareholders met at the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters amid calls for the company to disclose a succession plan in the wake of Chief Executive Steve Jobs' recent medical leave. Jobs was not present, missing only his second shareholder meeting in a decade.
Apple shareholders rejected the proposal for the company to disclose its plans for Jobs' replacement. Investors are wrestling with the uncertainty stemming from Jobs' sudden announcement last month that he would take his second medical leave in two years.
Apple said it already engages in succession planning but that requiring disclosure would divulge confidential information and potentially harm the company's ability to recruit and retain executives.
The shareholder meeting came a week before the March 2 event at which Apple is expected to launch the next version of its iPad
Since it launched the first iPad last April, Apple has sold more than 15 million units, and analysts expect the company to sell 30 million this year — or about two-thirds of all tablets projected to be sold globally.
"Right now, Apple is the tablet market," said Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, who noted that the company will have little serious competition until rival products emerge this year from BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion, Hewlett Packard Co., and Motorola Inc. Released in November, Samsung Electronic Co.'s Galaxy Tab has seen tepid sales and been "a fringe competitor at best," Hargreaves said.
When Apple releases new iterations of its products, the company often sells them at the same price as their predecessors. If Apple sticks to its playbook, the price for the new iPad will probably remain close to the current $499 for a Wi-Fi version and up to $829 for one with a 3G cellular connection.
And although the new model will probably be faster and more elegant, analysts believe Apple has hit some technical obstacles that will limit eye-popping new bells and whistles on the iPad 2.
"I don't think they'll break any new ground in terms of hardware features," said Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw. "But then again, you never know with Apple — they can always pull a rabbit out of a hat."
Last summer, when its iPhone sales had flattened amid increased competition from Google-powered Android phones, observers wondered whether Apple had lost its edge in the smart phone market. But after the release of its souped-up iPhone 4 in July, sales of the device skyrocketed and Apple tightened its grip on the profitable market once again.
Early news and blog reports indicate that the iPad 2 will have a few notable improvements — but may not pull off the quantum leap that its cousin, the iPhone, managed last year.
• Screen: The resolution of the iPad 2's screen may not be much improved. While Apple managed to double the resolution of the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen last summer, analysts believe that digital display technology may be lagging and that a 10-inch version of the iPhone's screen would be too expensive and consume too much battery power to make it viable for the iPad.
Cameras: The new iPad will almost certainly have a camera that faces the user and allows for live video chatting using Apple's FaceTime software and other video chatting applications. Less certain is whether the device will have a second, high-resolution camera in the back that would allow users to take videos and photos. Rival tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab already have front and rear cameras.
Weight: Among the complaints about the iPad has been that it is a bit heavy, making it tiring to hold for long periods while reading or surfing the Web. But Apple has tended to reduce the weight and thickness of its laptops and mobile devices each year, and the same will probably be true for the new iPad.
Apple's other advantage in the tablet world has been the number and diversity of its applications. The company has said there are upward of 60,000 software programs and utilities designed for the iPad, including apps that allow users to stream movies; read books, magazines and newspapers; play video games; and create music and illustrations. The company frequently highlights new applications at its launch events.
At the shareholder meeting Wednesday, Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook declined to comment when asked by an investor about the expected release of the next iPad. "The March 2 event might give you some clues," he said.
Also at the meeting, shareholders approved a proposal by the California Public Employees' Retirement System that called for a majority vote before unopposed candidates could be elected to the board of directors. Currently the company does not require a majority. All seven Apple board members, including Jobs, were reelected Wednesday.
The company is holding an event next week in San Francisco at which it is widely expected to show off a lighter and sleeker iPad that could maintain its massive lead in the multibillion-dollar tablet industry it pioneered.
The media invitation for the possible iPad 2 rollout was sent as Apple shareholders met at the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters amid calls for the company to disclose a succession plan in the wake of Chief Executive Steve Jobs' recent medical leave. Jobs was not present, missing only his second shareholder meeting in a decade.
Apple shareholders rejected the proposal for the company to disclose its plans for Jobs' replacement. Investors are wrestling with the uncertainty stemming from Jobs' sudden announcement last month that he would take his second medical leave in two years.
Apple said it already engages in succession planning but that requiring disclosure would divulge confidential information and potentially harm the company's ability to recruit and retain executives.
The shareholder meeting came a week before the March 2 event at which Apple is expected to launch the next version of its iPad
Since it launched the first iPad last April, Apple has sold more than 15 million units, and analysts expect the company to sell 30 million this year — or about two-thirds of all tablets projected to be sold globally.
"Right now, Apple is the tablet market," said Andy Hargreaves, an analyst at Pacific Crest Securities, who noted that the company will have little serious competition until rival products emerge this year from BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion, Hewlett Packard Co., and Motorola Inc. Released in November, Samsung Electronic Co.'s Galaxy Tab has seen tepid sales and been "a fringe competitor at best," Hargreaves said.
When Apple releases new iterations of its products, the company often sells them at the same price as their predecessors. If Apple sticks to its playbook, the price for the new iPad will probably remain close to the current $499 for a Wi-Fi version and up to $829 for one with a 3G cellular connection.
And although the new model will probably be faster and more elegant, analysts believe Apple has hit some technical obstacles that will limit eye-popping new bells and whistles on the iPad 2.
"I don't think they'll break any new ground in terms of hardware features," said Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw. "But then again, you never know with Apple — they can always pull a rabbit out of a hat."
Last summer, when its iPhone sales had flattened amid increased competition from Google-powered Android phones, observers wondered whether Apple had lost its edge in the smart phone market. But after the release of its souped-up iPhone 4 in July, sales of the device skyrocketed and Apple tightened its grip on the profitable market once again.
Early news and blog reports indicate that the iPad 2 will have a few notable improvements — but may not pull off the quantum leap that its cousin, the iPhone, managed last year.
• Screen: The resolution of the iPad 2's screen may not be much improved. While Apple managed to double the resolution of the iPhone's 3.5-inch screen last summer, analysts believe that digital display technology may be lagging and that a 10-inch version of the iPhone's screen would be too expensive and consume too much battery power to make it viable for the iPad.
Cameras: The new iPad will almost certainly have a camera that faces the user and allows for live video chatting using Apple's FaceTime software and other video chatting applications. Less certain is whether the device will have a second, high-resolution camera in the back that would allow users to take videos and photos. Rival tablets such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab already have front and rear cameras.
Weight: Among the complaints about the iPad has been that it is a bit heavy, making it tiring to hold for long periods while reading or surfing the Web. But Apple has tended to reduce the weight and thickness of its laptops and mobile devices each year, and the same will probably be true for the new iPad.
Apple's other advantage in the tablet world has been the number and diversity of its applications. The company has said there are upward of 60,000 software programs and utilities designed for the iPad, including apps that allow users to stream movies; read books, magazines and newspapers; play video games; and create music and illustrations. The company frequently highlights new applications at its launch events.
At the shareholder meeting Wednesday, Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook declined to comment when asked by an investor about the expected release of the next iPad. "The March 2 event might give you some clues," he said.
Also at the meeting, shareholders approved a proposal by the California Public Employees' Retirement System that called for a majority vote before unopposed candidates could be elected to the board of directors. Currently the company does not require a majority. All seven Apple board members, including Jobs, were reelected Wednesday.
2011年2月22日星期二
Sony announces a couple of day-glo Vaio laptops
We briefly spotted this colorful principle piece at CES 2011, and now it has been officially named and announced by Sony. The new Vaio C collection is an "exclusive one-of-a-kind design and style," and its Neon Orange or Neon Green shell, "collects and radiates mild round the edges from the laptop computer, with the VAIO logo, and also throughout the touchpad emitting an attractive glow," in accordance to Sony.
Offered in 14-inch (known as the Vaio CA) and 15-inch (the Vaio CB) versions, the Vaio C series will use Intel's second-gen Core i-series processors (also referred to as Sandy Bridge), and each Blu-ray and discreet AMD Radeon High definition 6630 graphics are options, along with the line supports Intel's Wireless display technologies for beaming High definition video clip to any exhibit with an HDMI input.
Aside from the unusual style, these new models also possess the customized application deals Sony is identified for, like the Sony Creativity Studio Suite of multimedia apps and also the useful Vaio Care assistance app. The Remote Keyboard purpose allows you to utilize the laptop's keyboard to regulate a number of other Sony gadgets, this sort of being a PlayStation three game console or Sony Blu-ray player.
In addition to the orange and green versions, Sony says glossy white and black styles will even be obtainable, although we haven't witnessed any products shots of these however. The Vaio C sequence is going to be available to pre-order commencing March 13, beginning at close to $880, however the actual ship date it nevertheless mysterious.
Offered in 14-inch (known as the Vaio CA) and 15-inch (the Vaio CB) versions, the Vaio C series will use Intel's second-gen Core i-series processors (also referred to as Sandy Bridge), and each Blu-ray and discreet AMD Radeon High definition 6630 graphics are options, along with the line supports Intel's Wireless display technologies for beaming High definition video clip to any exhibit with an HDMI input.
Aside from the unusual style, these new models also possess the customized application deals Sony is identified for, like the Sony Creativity Studio Suite of multimedia apps and also the useful Vaio Care assistance app. The Remote Keyboard purpose allows you to utilize the laptop's keyboard to regulate a number of other Sony gadgets, this sort of being a PlayStation three game console or Sony Blu-ray player.
In addition to the orange and green versions, Sony says glossy white and black styles will even be obtainable, although we haven't witnessed any products shots of these however. The Vaio C sequence is going to be available to pre-order commencing March 13, beginning at close to $880, however the actual ship date it nevertheless mysterious.
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