May 2008 Archives

Will the Dell Mini Inspiron have a 8.9" screen, run Ubuntu or XP Home, and cost under $500?

That's what engadget seems to think.

We decided to do some measuring in photoshop to see if they are right about the screen size and here's what we came up with.

The Samsung NV24HD is the subject of a new review posted at PhotographyBlog.

Samsung hopes this $350 10 megapixel compact camera that also records video in 720p will replace both your digital camera and your camcorder... here's PhotographyBlog's opinion on that:

"Samsung's aggressive marketing pushes can't disguise the fact that, in spite of the gimmicks, at the compact level it has consistently delivered fairly average products. By contrast its DSLRs are great, though its partnership with Pentax undoubtedly helps the both of them. But back to the NV24HD, which, while it certainly stands apart from the hordes in terms of both design and user interface - love or hate the latter - sadly falls down when it comes to its inconsistent image quality performance. And, given that the camera isn't really aimed at the photo enthusiast who will be happy to tweak their images to perfection, or try and try again, that's disappointing. At the point and shoot level there are more reliable alternatives for its price and headline specification. However, the Samsung NV24HD's more esoteric features - including the funky photo styles, placed right at the fore of its operation - are indeed fun and less run-of-the-mill than many, meaning it feels churlish to bash this model with too large a stick. So, in summary, the Samsung NV24HD is a collection of interesting ideas that, taken as a whole, don't quite work as well as they should. And thus, as much as it pains us, it's hard to give this retro-futurist contender our unequivocal recommendation. 'Interesting' is, unfortunately, not quite the same as 'brilliant'."

Samsung NV24HD Review at photographyblog

A guy by the name of "doody" on the MSI Wind forums has run a bunch of benchmarks on the MSI Wind.

As expected don't plan on playing the latest games on the MSI Wind but it seems reasonable for standard web browsing, email, word processing etc.

3 cell battery life with WiFi on and screen at 50% was a surprisingly good 2hrs 19mins - with WiFi off I would hope to get over 3hrs which makes it a good ultra-portable to own and use on planes and trains.

MSI Wind benchmarked via liliputing

No that isn't a typo, and don't worry - we aren't going all religious on you: Jisus is an ultra-portable from Dutch company Van Der Led and they have just announced a V2 of Jisus.

The Jisus V2 costs about $525 (349 Euros), is wrapped in a brown leather skin and comes with a 10.2 inch 1024 x 600 pixel display, 1.6GHz VIA C7-M CPU, 1GB DDR2 RAM, 80GB 5400rpm HDD, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 2 USB ports, SD card slot, 1.3 megapixel webcam and a 3 cell 2200mAh battery, and runs Ubuntu Linux OS.

via eeepc.net

3K have now officially released the Razorbook 400 eeepc clone and have reduced the price by $100 to $299 which makes this copycat device slightly more appealing.

So what do you get for your $299? a 7" 800x400 display, a 400MHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB flash drive, Linux, Wi-Fi, and 3 USB ports.

Is it worth buying? only if you can't afford more than $300 and really need a 7" screen instead of something bigger. If you can afford a bit more then check out the MSI Wind, the EeePC 901, or wait a bit until there is more info on the Dell Mini Inspiron.

Razorbook 400 price dropped to $299 via eeepcblog

Samsung has announced a new slider phone: the SGH-L870. It has a stylish stainless steel body but the look is spoiled in our opinion by the dated look of the operating system theme and icons.

Here's the specs:

• Network: HSDPA (2100MHz) 3.6Mbps + EDGE/GPRS 900/1800/1900
• Display: 2.4″ QVGA 16M Color TFT
• Camera: 3-Megapixel Camera
• Operating System: Symbian 9.3
• S60 3.2
• Nokia Mini Map browser (full browsing)
• New Thematic UI
• Quick Office document viewer
• Push Email (Visto, Seven, Intellysync, Good)
• Advanced PIM Applications
• Music Player (MP3, AAC, AAC+, RA, AMR, WMA)
• Video Player (H.263 + AMR, MPEG4, Real One, WMV)
• FM Radio (RDS)
• Bluetooth v.2.0 EDR / USB 2.0 (Full Speed)
• Memory: 100MB internal memory + Micro SD up to 4GB
• Size: 103.5 x 50.5 x 13.5mm

Samsung Announces L870 Slider Phone via slashphone

The Pentax K20 is the subject of a new review posted over at CNET.

Here's what they thought of the $1300 14 megapixel digital SLR camera:

"Overall, the K20D is a very good camera for the price. Pentax users looking to step up should feel comfortable doing so. If you're brand agnostic and looking for a solid midrange SLR, the K20D is a safe bet. It has an extra stop of sensitivity compared with the Canon EOS 40D, which tops out at ISO 3,200 compared with the K20D's ISO 6,400. Plus, if you think you'll use the Pentax's wireless flash control, you should note that Canon forces you to buy a separate controller, or its priciest flash unit, if you want that. Nikon's D80 has come down in price recently and offers a tempting alternative, though it has 10MP compared with the K20D's 14MP, and neither that Nikon nor Canon has the K20D's weather sealing. "

Pentax K20D review at CNET

T-Mobile has surprised a lot of people by announcing the European release of the HTC Raphael phone (which they are calling the the MDA Vario IV).

This nice looking phone has a 640x480 VGA screen, slide out qwerty keyboard, 3.2 megapixel main camera, 0.3 megapixel secondary camera, bluetooth, WiFi, GPS, FM radio, 528MHz processor, 256MB RAM, and 512MB ROM.

T-Mobile introduces HTC Raphael in Europe via GSM helpdesk

We knew Dell's flagship gaming desktop PC, the XPS 730 H2C, was going to be fast but we were wondering "is it fast enough to justify the massive price tag?"

Hot Hardware have come out with an equally massive review that answers that question and many more, taking a detailed look at the build quality, interior, and cooling system of a $6300 XPS 730 H2C then putting it through it's paces with a wide range of performance tests and benchmarking.

Go read the full review for all the details but here's a taster:

"The XPS 730 may be the last of its kind. Perhaps the design team of the XPS 730 also realized this, inspiring them to try and make it the best 700 series machine to date. Whatever their inspiration, the XPS 730 turned out to be a great gaming and multimedia computer. The XPS 730 represents the fourth generation in Dell's XPS 700 series and it exhibits a maturity of design that only iteration and refinement can bring. It is clear that Dell has thought long and hard about the complaints levied against past generations of XPS 700 series and they have systematically addressed them while maintaining all of the high-points and charm of the earlier machines. We heartily recommend the XPS 730 and the XPS 730 H2C to anyone in the market for a high-end gaming/multimedia computer and we are happy to award the XPS 730 H2C our coveted Editor's Choice award. "

Dell XPS 730 H2C review and benchmarks at hothardware

It looks like Dell are getting ready to announce their answer to the HP2133 and the EeePC.

Michael Dell was spotted carrying around this sexy little ultra-portable at D6 yesterday, and now Dell have released a couple of photos.

There are no real specs yet but the filenames on the dell site include "mini inspiron" so that may be what it's called (or it could just be an internal product name).

What do we know? 3 USB ports, card reader, VGA out, what looks to be a 7" screen, and a red case. What do we hope for? atom processor, good battery life, and under $500.

We want one!

Update: We're pretty certain after doing some measuring that the mini inspiron comes with a 8.9" or 9" screen, and engadget thinks it is under $500 and you get a choice of xp home or ubuntu.

New update: full specs released, it's called the Dell E and it's just $299! Full Dell E Specs

via gizmodo

It looks like Asus is going to officially reveal the 10" version of the EeePC at Computex in Taiwan in an attempt to keep haead of MSI and their 10" Wind.

Maybe it's just this picture but the EeePC 1000 looks a bit too bulky to still be called an ultra-portable.

Asus EeePC 1000 via umpcfever

Wouldn't you think two people with a combined net worth of $73B could afford sweaters that fit properly, or maybe the laid back Laurel and Hardy-esque appearance is designed to evoke a feeling of relaxed coolness about the reveal of Windows 7 (in a out-maccing the mac kind of way).

All they really revealed was that Windows 7 will have multi-touch support which is nice if you want to manipulate pictures or maps but otherwise isn't exactly earth-shattering.

We expect Microsoft to keep quiet about Windows 7 ahead of it's planned 2010 release to avoid the fubars and snafus of their disastrous Vista launch.

via engadget

I-O Data has announced this good looking bluetooth keyboard for cellphones.

There's no info on exactly how big it is, what it will cost, or if it is made of metal or spray painted plastic... but why worry over the little details.

What's the point? well if you type a lot of emails on your PDA phone or blackberry it could save you from the dreaded blackberry thumb repetitive strain injuries. We have an iGo Stowaway folding bluetooth keyboard that is great but is a little flimsy, something like this could be a stronger alternative.

I-O Data Mini Keyboard via ubergizmo

The Fujifilm FinePix J10 is the subject of a new review at trustedreviews.

Here's what they thought of the inexpensive $100 8.2 megapixel entry-level digital camera:

"The Fujifilm FinePix J10 is a nice-looking little camera, and is competitively priced compared to its main rivals. It is a bit short on modern features though, and some of the controls are very fiddly and annoying to use. It also has a major image quality problem with very visible vignetting at wide-angle zoom settings. Add to this its poor low-light focusing ability and I'm afraid it's not looking good for Fuji's new ultra-compact."

Fujifilm FinePix J10 review at trustedreviews

The Canon Powershot SD890 IS is the subject of a new review over at Imaging Resource.

Here's what they thought of the $400 10 megapixel compact camera with 5x digital zoom:

"The Canon SD890 IS definitely has a lot going for it, not the least of which is its above average 5x image-stabilized optical zoom lens. Its feature set provides more than enough control for snapshooters who can switch between automatic everything and the ability to tweak parameters such as contrast, sharpness, saturation, and various color options. While the Canon SD890 IS doesn't have an on-board help system, beginners with a curious mind and the willingness to reference the manual can also step beyond automatic shooting with this camera. Family memory keepers will appreciate the Face Detection and the more advanced Face Detection and Track features when capturing images of family and friends.

Despite a few shortcomings, such as the the awkward On/Off button, the odd Control Dial, and the inaccurate optical viewfinder, the Canon SD890 IS Digital ELPH will please both amateurs and beginners, especially those who want the extra focal length its 5x optical zoom provides."

Canon Powershot SD890 IS review at imaging resource

The Canon EOS 450D (Digital Rebel XSi) is the subject of a new review at PhotographyBlog.

Here's what they thought of the entry level 12 megapixel digital SLR.

"Image quality is on a par with the EOS 400D, with noise-free images up to ISO 800 and a very usable fastest speed of 1600, so usable that I don't understand why the EOS 450D doesn't also offer ISO 3200. Chromatic aberrations are kept to a minimum and colours are accurate thanks to the new 14-bit processing - the only minor negative is the soft JPEG images, which may put off users more suited to sharper point and shoot cameras. Performance is also excellent, with no shutter-lag to speak of and fast processing times even when shooting in RAW mode. The 3.5fps continuous shooting mode is a little faster than the EOS 450D's predecessor, although in RAW mode the total number of possible consecutive shots has dropped from 10 to 6. Finally the EOS 450D is slightly more expensive than the EOS 400D was at launch, and the older model is still being offered as a budget option, so if you don't need the enhancements offered by the 450D, it's definitely worth considering a camera that is after all only 18 months old.

As for the Canon EOS 450D, it is an excellent camera, especially with the image stabilised 18-55mm lens, and it still offers a fantastic introduction to DSLR photography, just like its more illustrious predecessors."

Canon EOS 450D Review at PhotographyBlog

In the past we have told you about home made adapters that let you turn one of more compactflash cards into a 2.5" SSD drive, well now SansDigital has come out with a finished product that does exactly that.

The CompactSTOR CR2T supports RAID 1 mirroring of two compactflash cards up to 32GB each for a cost of $99.

Compact Flash 2.5" SATA SSD Enclosure via engadget

Sanyo has announced a couple of new in-car GPS navigation systems for Japan that replace the usual hard drive or DVD based storage with a SSD.

Both have 7" screens and a 4GB SSD and the more expensive version ($1750 instead of $1500) adds a DVD player and a 4GB SD card.

The main benefits of using the SSD are that maps should be displayed quicker and the systems will be more stable and heat/shock resistant.

I expect to see manufacturers of boat electronics following suit over the coming years as a major problem with boat electronics is failure due to the constant wave motion.

Sanyo GPS Navigation Systems with SSD via akihabaranews

Samsung has announced the largest solid state drive (SSD) so far, and at 256GB it's storage capacity is up there with the needs of most computer users (yes there are some of us who need terabytes of storage space for recorded tv/movies etc but for the average user 256GB is currently more than enough).

Not only is is big on storage space but it is as fast as most smaller SSDs with a 200MBps sequential read and a 160MBps sequential write speed.

How did Samsung do it? they managed to create a multi-level cell drive that overcame the previous speed and lifespan problems.

The 250GB drives in 2.5" form factor should be out in September and be in mass production by the end of the year. No word yet on price.

Full press release follows.

Boy Genius report got sent a Nokia E71 and has put together a review, a video review, and a photo gallery. They think it's the best Nokia phone to date:

"We're at the end of the review, but by now, you've seen how impressed we are with the phone. It takes a lot to get us excited but the E71 has done it. This thing, in our opinion, is the best phone Nokia has made to date. That's a very bold statement, we know. But this really is going to be the phone to beat by a lot of manufacturers. From the design, to the specs, to the size, the feel -- it has the entire package. It's not for everyone, though. Some people prefer a straight up phone like a flip phone, but in terms of a smartphone with a QWERTY keyboard, this takes the cake. It is just striking compared to the shit device the E61 was. It's ok, we still love y'all that carry the E61, but this puts it to shame. One thing I personally can't get over is the awesome dimensions of the device. It's so perfectly thin, yet incredibly comfortable to hold and use. We just hope Nokia doesn't wait too long to bring this to market as they need to strike now. Like right now. This second. After seeing all of the detailed shots and our impressions, how do you guys feel about the phone? Are you foaming at the mouth waiting for it or ice-grillin' us?"

Nokia E71 review at bgr

The Olympus E-420 is the subject of a new review at CameraLabs.

Here's what they thought of the $600 10 megapixel entry level compact compact digital SLR:

"So with the E-420 and pancake lens, Olympus has created a DSLR kit which will appeal to a broad group of buyers: those upgrading from a point and shoot, those who leave a DSLR at home because it's too big or heavy, and those who want a smaller, lighter backup body to a higher-end model. We were already very fond of its predecessor, so with the new enhancements and the introduction of the 25mm pancake, the E-420 has become better still.

But the fact is, the E-520 is just round the corner and like the E-510 before it, most buyers will inevitably go for that over the E-420. While built-in stabilisation is undoubtedly tempting though, it's a shame if you automatically rule-out the E-420 for not having it. To do so would be missing out on one of the most unique DSLRs around right now, so ask yourself very carefully - do you really, honestly need stabilisation?"

Olympus E-420 review at Cameralabs

Popphoto has reviewed the Canon 55-250mm EF-S IS lens that at first glance appears to be a perfect partner for Canon's digital SLR cameras.

Here's what they thought:

"A natural for globe-trotting vacationers and soccer parents, this is the obvious second lens for Canon EOS 40D and Rebel XSi owners. Clearly it and the 18-55mm IS make an attractive team that promises sharp pictures in dicey light across an amply wide 13.9X zoom range. And you can't beat that price."

Canon 55-250mm EF-S IS lens reviewed at popphoto

A white paper has revealed there will be two variants of the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1: one for the US and one for the rest of the world.

The US variant (the X1a) will support quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900Mhz) radio and tri-band (850/1900/2100Mhz) UMTS/HSPA radio for 3G data connectivity, whereas the global X1c version will support tri-band (900/1900/2100Mhz) UMTS/HSPA 3G instead.

Another interested snippet to come out of the white paper is a claim if 10hrs of GSM talktime or 6.5hrs of 3G talk time.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 at intomobile

Somone on the VR-Zone forums has disassembled a MSI Wind so we can get a good look at what's inside.

Brad at Liliputing took a look and noticed something that is a disappointment: the Wind has no access panel for upgrading the RAM so no upgrade for you unless you want to completely disassemble the case.

MSI Wind innards via liliputing