HP Mini 1000

Key Specs

Processor: 1.6GHz Atom N270
Memory: 1GB RAM
Storage: 60GB hard drive
Optical Drive: None
Screen: 10.2 inches
Graphics: Intel integrated graphics
Weight: 2.5 lbs.
Dimensions (HWD): 1.0x10.3x6.6 inches
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition SP3

Review

HP’s Mini-Note 2133 was one of the first entrants in the netbook market, and its high-res screen, Windows Vista OS, and relatively high price helped it break from the pack. The company’s new low-priced Mini 1000 doesn’t seem as distinctive, however, as its screen size, CPU, memory, and other specs are almost identical to competitors like the Asus Eee PC 1000H and MSI Wind U100. And although it is the most compact netbook yet without a compromised keyboard, the Mini 1000 lacks some of the innovations—including the high-res screen and ExpressCard slot—of its predecessor.

While its résumé might not stand out, the Mini 1000 dresses to impress, with solid construction, a stylish and svelte case, a superb keyboard, and a super-bright screen. At first glance, it looks like a sleek, all-black version of the Mini-Note 2133, but there are numerous refinements to the older design.The glossy black (and fingerprint-attracting) lid now sports a subtle swirl pattern printed on it. The keys are no longer slick and shiny, but subtly textured, and the screen has grown from 8.9 to 10.2 inches. Despite the larger display, the Mini 1000 has slimmed down from the earlier model, to 1x10.3x6.6 inches (HWD) and 2.5 pounds, making it the smallest, thinnest netbook yet with a full 10-inch-wide keyboard.

Inside, the differences are more dramatic. The 2133's anemic VIA processor has been replaced by the netbook-standard Intel Atom N270 running at 1.6GHz, backed by 1GB of DDR2 memory and running Windows XP Home Edition SP3. HP included a 60GB hard drive with our review unit; the company says 8GB and 16GB SSD drives, 2GB of RAM, and a Linux OS with a friendly “Mobile Internet Experience” front-end will be available as options.

Performance, which is in line with other Atom-powered notebooks, is a huge step up from the Mini-Note 2133.Where the Mini-Note 2133 turned in a score of just 23 on Cinebench 9.5, the Mini 1000 scored 135 in the same test. Overall performance is very responsive for tasks like e-mail, Web browsing, writing, and light number-crunching, but as with all netbooks, it’s more suited for video and audio playback than it is for multimedia content editing and conversion. The Mini 1000 completed our Windows Media Encoder test in 27 minutes and 8 seconds, and our iTunes encoding test in 19 minutes and 24 seconds. That puts it in the same performance ballpark as other Atom-powered netbooks such as the $439 Lenovo IdeaPad S10, which earned 133 on Cinebench 9.5 and completed our Windows Media Encoder and iTunes tests in 24 minutes and 10 seconds and 20 minutes and 5 seconds, respectively.

With the included three-cell battery, the Mini 1000 lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes playing back an MPEG-4 movie. Although lighter usage, such as writing and browsing the Web, stretched that to around 2 hours and 40 minutes, road warriors will definitely want to consider the upcoming six-cell battery option.The Mini uses standard Windows power profiles to manage power; there’s no power-management utility to toggle the processor manually to a slower speed to save battery life, as you find on most other Atom netbooks.

The standout feature of the Mini 1000 is its keyboard. It is 10 inches wide, 92 percent of the width of a standard laptop keyboard. The keys have a solid feel, and they don’t have the usual tapered edges, which gives them flat tops with a slightly larger surface to hit. The layout is excellent, with none of the misplaced or shrunken punctuation or Shift keys you find on almost all other netbooks. Only the cursor arrows and function keys are half-sized vertically. The wide touch pad is very responsive; its buttons are easy to press, although their locations on the sides of the touch pad take some getting used to.

The 1,024x600-pixel display is very bright—so much so, in fact, that blacks looked gray at full brightness. Turning down the brightness a bit solves this issue. The display is sharp and has a very wide viewing angle, but its glossy finish—unusual for a netbook—sometimes makes for annoying reflections. Though HP plans to offer an 8.9-inch screen as an option, a high-res 1,280x768 screen like the one found on the Mini-Note 2133 will not be available. The integrated GMA950 chipset does a fine job with Windows applications and full-screen video playback, but its poor 3D performance (its 3DMark06 score was just 91) means gamers will be best off reliving five-year-old classics. The speakers are creatively placed behind a grill inside the laptop hinge, and although they don’t have a lot of volume, the audio clarity is superb.

For networking, the Mini 1000 includes 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 radios, as well as a 10/100 Ethernet port. You’ll also find a pair of USB 2.0 ports, a combination headphone/microphone jack, an SD/MMC slot, and a VGA Webcam with microphone. Though the notebook has a VGA monitor output, it uses a small custom connector, so you’ll need to purchase an optional adapter cable to use an external monitor.

The Mini 1000 offers the standout solid construction and comfort as its more expensive Mini-Note 2133 predecessor, but with dramatically better performance. We just wish the excellent higher-resolution screen from the 2133 were an option on this model. The Mini 1000 is a worthy competitor in the netbook market, offering the small size of the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 without the compromised keyboard. Spec-wise, however, it’s more of a “me-too” netbook. While we love its small form factor and excellent keyboard, those aren’t enough to offset the $80 to $120 price premium over offerings from Asus, Lenovo, and MSI, which offer nearly identical performance.

Price (at time of review): $499 (as tested)

Asus LS221H - Screen

Key Specs

Screen Size: 22 inches
Native Resolution: 1,680x1,050
Aspect Ratio: 16-to-10
Contrast Ratio: 4,000-to1 (dynamic)
Brightness: 300cd/m2
Response Time: 2 milliseconds (gray to gray)
DVI Connector: None
D-Sub/VGA Connector: One
HDMI Connector(s): One
DisplayPort Connector: None
USB Ports: None

Review

Reviewed by: Matt Safford Review Date: November 2008

The Asus LS221H is a 22-inch (1,680x1,050) monitor with stunning design elements, including a slim profile, leather-adorned bezel, and hardened glass screen that strikes the perfect balance between glossy and glare. In our tests, however, the LS221H didn’t quite perform at a level that matches its outstanding good looks—or its price: At $349, the LS221H costs about $100 more than many other 22-inch monitors, like HP’s W2207H or the Samsung 2253BW. For the most part, it’s hard to argue with the display’s design. Its button controls are simple but serviceable and smartly incorporated into the silver trim that surrounds the black part of the bezel. A brown leather panel sits below the buttons, adding some visual contrast. A silver metal ring and Asus’s logo adorn the rear of the monitor, making the back almost as visually interesting as the front. (That’s especially handy if your desk doesn’t face the wall.) The hardened glass screen, meanwhile, is bright (300 cd/m2) without being too glossy to impede office productivity. Beyond that, though, the monitor’s features come with caveats. The stand, for instance, is as solid and sturdy as any we’ve recently reviewed, but unfortunately, tilt adjustment is all it offers; you might need an additional base to get it to the right height for your eye line. The LS221H’s stand also features a ring of LEDs that change color depending on which preset video mode you have enabled. Unless you like purple lights emanating from below the screen while you’re trying to watch a movie, however, this is more of a gimmick than a useful feature. Then there are the power and video connectors. We’re glad the LS221H comes with VGA and HDMI, but to connect to DVI, we had to use the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter. The layout isn’t perfect, either. The connectors are in the back of the stand’s base, which keeps cable clutter under control—but doesn’t let you push the base up against a wall. On our DisplayMate tests, the LS221H didn’t perform poorly, but it wasn’t overly impressive, either. In the white-level saturation test, the brightest few shades showed up as white, indicating oversaturation. Turning down the brightness helped a bit, but it didn’t eliminate the issue. The darkest levels of gray weren’t easily distinguishable from black, which has been an issue in recent monitor-test results; some similarly priced screens, however, offer better gray-scale performance. Text was readable down to 5.3 points, which is on par with nearly all recent monitors, but there was some backlight bleeding (light escaping from behind the screen in the corners), which caused the brightness to be uneven. This was most noticeable on a gray screen. During our game and video tests, the Asus LS221H produced no visible streaking, thanks to its speedy (but standard) 2-milliscond gray-to-gray pixel-response time. Dark areas in both Doom 3 and The Bourne Identity were slightly better than average, though there was a slight loss of detail in the darkest scenes. LG’s Flatron L227WTG fared a bit better with dark scenes, but its glossy screen was far more reflection-prone than Asus’s LS221H. All in all, the Asus LS221H delivers more high-end class than optimum performance. But if you don’t mind paying a $100 premium for style, there’s no reason not to choose the LS221H. Office workers who like to watch movies and play a few games after hours (or when no one’s watching) will find the monitor a striking addition to their desk. Price (at time of review): $349 (list price)

SanDisk Sansa Clip (8GB)

Computer Shopper does not currently have pricing information for this product. It may be available directly from the manufacturer's Web site.

Key Specs

Storage Type: Flash memory
Capacity: 8GB
File Types Supported: Audible; MP3; WAV; Protected WMA; WMA
Screen Size (Diagonal): 1 inch
FM Tuner: Yes
Video-Playback Support: No
Mfr. Rated Battery Life: 15 hours
Dimensions (HWD): 2.2x1.4x0.7 inches
Weight: 0.9 ounces

Review

Reviewed by: Matt Safford Review Date: November 2008

If you're in the market for a small, flash-based music player, you owe it to yourself to consider SanDisk's Sansa Clip. For less than $100, the just-released 8GB model lets you carry more than 2,000 songs. Unlike the diminutive Apple iPod Shuffle, the Clip comes with an FM radio, voice recorder, and bright screen for navigating through files. The 8GB model packs in four times the storage of the most spacious Shuffle and costs just $30 more. We only wish it came with a MicroSD card slot for additional storage. At 2.2x1.4x0.7 inches, the Sansa Clip is a bit larger than the Shuffle, but still small enough to slide easily into the change pocket of your jeans or clip onto a shirt. The added size makes space for a two-tone, text-only OLED screen that's bright and crisp. Navigating through tracks and creating basic playlists is quite intuitive. The controls are simple and serviceable, though the blue-backlit faux click wheel is, sadly, just a directional pad. Being able to spin through (rather than click through) a couple thousand files would make finding a specific track a lot easier. File support is limited to MP3 and WMA, but the clip will play protected WMA and Audible files. After ditching the unsurprisingly awful bundled earbuds for a pair of V-Moda Vibes, the Clip sounded comparable to any Apple player, and was loud enough to drown out the busiest of subway stops. A customizable five-band equalizer is a nice touch for those with super-sensitive ears. The Clip charges over an included Mini USB cable, and you should expect about 12 hours of battery life, depending on the bit rate of your music. You'll have to drag and drop files onto the player manually, but that means you aren't tied to any specific software to manage your music. Considering SanDisk's recent SlotMusic initiative, which pushes MicroSD cards as the next physical music format, it's surprising that the Clip doesn't offer an expansion slot. We would love to be able to add a cheap $25 8GB card to the player and double its capacity. The onboard FM radio and voice recorder are appreciated additions that, along with the screen, make the Clip far more feature-packed than Apple's comparable Shuffle. But don't expect stellar performance from either. You can record from the radio, but songs are saved as uncompressed WAV files, so don't record hours of music or you'll have little room left over for MP3s. Considering the price and features, Sansa's 8GB Clip is a great choice for budget-conscious music fans. It beats the iPod Shuffle by adding a screen, radio, voice recorder, and four times the storage for just $30 more than the 2GB Shuffle. If it only had a MicroSD slot and a real rotating click wheel for navigating through the more than 2,000 songs it's capable of storing, we'd give it an Editors’ Choice. More color options would be nice as well. The 2GB Clip comes in red, pink, and blue, while the 4GB model is silver. Oddly, the 1GB and 8GB models are only available in basic (and boring) black. See all of our SanDisk Sansa Clip (8GB) coverage

Canon Pixma MP620

Price (at time of review): $149.99

Key Specs

Print Technology: Ink jet Interface: USB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, PictBridge, optional Bluetooth Max. Paper Size: 8.5x14 Max. Resolution (Color): 2400x9600 Max Resolution (Monochrome): 600x600 Scan Resolution: 2400x4800 optical; 19,200x19,200 interpolated Automatic Document Feeder Included: no LCD Size: 2.5 inches Dimensions (HWD): 6.9x 14.5x17. 7 inches Weight: 18.7 pounds

Review

Review Date: November 2008

Canon pulls out all the stops with its $149.99 Pixma MP620. This all-in-one printer offers every connection option under the sun, better-than-average print quality, and a few surprising extras.

With its black-and-gray finish and rounded edges, the MP620 doesn’t look like a typical low-cost printer. At 18.7 pounds, it’s also heavier—and potentially sturdier—than many competing models. Although the built-in 2.5-inch LCD is small, its 230,000 pixels convey a fair amount of information. The scan preview is detailed enough to help you judge how the image will be positioned on the printed page. The scrolling selection wheel makes navigating the menus easy. Highlights include the ability to initiate a scan from the printer and route the scan to a memory card, USB-attached flash drive, or networked computer. Another nice touch: The paper output tray automatically opens when you print or copy.

Canon offers a full slate of connection options for the MP620. Out of the box, it supports USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and PictBridge. Canon’s optional $49.99 BU-30 adapter adds Bluetooth compatibility to the mix. If you have an older digital single-lens-reflex camera (dSLR) that uses CompactFlash cards, you’ll appreciate the fact that Canon has included support for CompactFlash in the MP620’s three memory-card slots (17 formats are accepted in all).

With so many options, installing drivers can be confusing. Partway through the software installation, you’ll have to choose between three connection options that aren’t well-explained. Fortunately, the manual is a better guide; it contains a flowchart with step-by-step instructions for the different network-connection setups. The MP620’s print engine has a native 2,400x9,600 color resolution and 600x600 black resolution. The scan engine has a 2,400x4,800 optical resolution and 19,200x19,200 interpolated resolution (yes, take that claim with a grain of salt). Scans are input to 24-bit color but processed out to 48-bit color. The MP620 doesn’t have fax capabilities.

This printer uses five color ink tanks, which helps you save on ink costs. The inks are rated for up to 300 years when stored in an album or 30 years when displayed in a glass frame. Unfortunately, we were not able to determine the cost per page because the MP620 uses a new line of replacement ink tanks. At press time, Canon didn’t have an estimate as to how many pages can be printed with a tank of ink.

For all its features and connectivity options, the MP620 isn’t exactly a speed demon. Overall, the speed is right in line with its price (just a little faster than the $129 HP Photosmart C4580), but that doesn’t mean we’re satisfied with it. Our 10-page document with a mix of text and images clocked in at 2 minutes and 41 seconds, while the 20-page text document took 3 minutes and 31 seconds. A 4x6-inch photo printed in 1 minute and 4 seconds on photo paper using the best-quality setting. After switching to regular paper and the regular-quality setting, the photo printed in 31 seconds. The unit’s copy speeds were more typical—48 seconds for color and 33 seconds for black-and-white. A full page of black text scanned in at a fast 14 seconds. Compare that with the admittedly more expensive $299 Epson Artisan 800, our current Editors’ Choice, which managed a 10-page document in 1 minute and 20 seconds and copied a black-and-white document in just 12 seconds.

When we used the regular-quality print setting, text was legible down to 3.5-point type, though the individual letters were slightly pixilated. The text was also a tad too light, especially in color. We liked how the MP620 handled text when printing in high-quality mode, though print speeds slowed to a crawl. Our 10-page test document jumped from 2 minutes and 41 seconds to a whopping 17 minutes and 9 seconds when we switched to that mode. Some printed images had intermittent dark lines using the regular-quality setting. We were much more impressed with the high-quality print setting, which produced laser-quality text and near-flawless reproduction of graphics. On regular paper, our color photos were well-saturated and lifelike. On photo paper, the colors were even richer and showed an increased sense of depth, though some photos displayed a bit too much contrast, which tended to squeeze out detail.

Overall, this is a strong printer in terms of connectivity, photo quality, and photo longevity. If speed is a priority and you can swing $300, we highly recommend the Epson Artisan 800. But if $150 is all you want to spend and you don’t mind the wait, the Canon Pixma MP620 won’t disappoint.

Price (at time of review): $149.99

Noctua NH-U12F 120mm Fan Included With Sound-Optimized Blade Geometry 8 dB(A)


Noctua NH-U12F ULTRA High Performance Quiet CPU Cooler

Preview
The NH-U12F is the newest version of the NH-U12, which won over 100 awards and recommendations from leading international web sites and magazines. The
NH-U12F can be rotated by 90° on all sockets, boasts full compatibility with AMD's new AM2 socket and comes equipped with a Noctua NF-S12 120mm fan, which
has a minimum noise rating of only 8dB(A). Thanks to the 4 Dual-Heat-Pipes, 38 aluminium cooling fins with a total surface area of more than 5000cm² and
soldered joints for optimal heat-transfer, the Noctua NH-U12F achieves superior cooling performance at minimum noise levels.

Features:
4 Dual-Heatpipes for optimal heat absorption
The 4 u-shaped Dual-Heat-Pipes have a huge contact area with the copper base to efficiently absorb the CPU's heat. They form 8 risers to spread the heat
throughout the fins.

Noctua NH-U12F 120mm Fan Included With Sound-Optimized Blade Geometry 8 dB(A)

Noctua NH-U12F ULTRA High Performance Quiet CPU Cooler

Preview
The NH-U12F is the newest version of the NH-U12, which won over 100 awards and recommendations from leading international web sites and magazines. The
NH-U12F can be rotated by 90° on all sockets, boasts full compatibility with AMD's new AM2 socket and comes equipped with a Noctua NF-S12 120mm fan, which
has a minimum noise rating of only 8dB(A). Thanks to the 4 Dual-Heat-Pipes, 38 aluminium cooling fins with a total surface area of more than 5000cm² and
soldered joints for optimal heat-transfer, the Noctua NH-U12F achieves superior cooling performance at minimum noise levels.

Features:
4 Dual-Heatpipes for optimal heat absorption
The 4 u-shaped Dual-Heat-Pipes have a huge contact area with the copper base to efficiently absorb the CPU's heat. They form 8 risers to spread the heat
throughout the fins.


38 aluminium cooling fins for optimal heat dissipation
Thanks to a surface area of more than 5000cm², the cooling fins dissipate the heat extremely fast. Both the choice of aluminium and the fins' shape and spacing
allow for outstanding cooling performance with the supplied ultra silent NF-S12-1200 fan.


Soldered joints for optimal heat-transfer
Unlike many other coolers, whose heat-pipes are stuck to the base and the fins, the Noctua NH-U12F possesses high-grade soldered joints to ensure optimal
heat transfer.




Noctua NF-S12-1200 fan with Ultra-Low-Noise adaptor
Thanks to the sound-optimised blade geometry of the Noctua Straight-Blade-Design and the self-stabilising oil-pressure bearing (SSO bearing), the NF-S12-1200
achieves a flow rate of 81m³/h at a noise rating of only 17dB(A). Using the supplied Ultra-Low-Noise adaptor, the noise level can be lowered to only 8dB(A)!


Screwless fan-mount including anti-vibration strips
Attaching the fan with the steel clips is a child's play and doesn't even require a screwdriver. The supplied anti-vibration strips minimize vibrations transmitted to
the cooler and hence allows for extra quietness.


Easy installation on socket LGA 775, K8 (754, 939, 940) & AM2
The NH-U12F fits Intel's socket LGA 775 as well as AMD's K8 (754, 939, 940) and AM2. Thanks to the detailed step-by-step installation guide, installation only
takes a few minutes!


SecuFirm™ mounting system
The SecuFirm™ mounting system guarantees optimal contact pressure and maximum security thanks to the use of a backplate and spring-loaded screws. As a
result, the SecuFirm™ mounting system makes it possible to safely transport the assembled system without any risk even though the cooler exceeds the 450g
weight specification established by Intel and AMD. Perfect for LAN gamers!


Can be rotated by 90° for improved compatibility and optimal positioning within the case
The NH-U12F can be installed rotated by 90° on all compatible sockets to allow for an optimal positioning of the cooler within the airflow inside the case and to
evade compatibility issues.

Includes:

Syringe of high-grade thermal paste
Detailed step-by-step installation guide
Mounting Hardware

Socket compatibility
Intel Socket LGA 775, AMD K8 (754, 939, 940) & AM2
Height (without fan) 155 mm
Width (without fan) 126 mm
Depth (without fan) 70 mm
Height (with fan) 155 mm
Width (with fan) 126 mm
Depth (with fan) 95 mm
Weight 790 g
Material Copper (base and heat-pipes), aluminium (cooling fins), soldered joints
Application Intel all frequencies, AMD all frequencies

Fan size Permited 120x120x25mm / 120x120x38mm (2 fans mountable)


Fan Noctua NF-S12-1200
Bearing SSO-Bearing
Blade Geometry Straight-Blade-Design
Rotational Speed (+/- 10%) 1200 RPM
Rotational Speed with U.L.N.A. (+/- 10%) 800 RPM
Airflow 81 m³/h
Airflow with U.L.N.A. 59 m³/h
Acoustical Noise 17 dB(A)
Acoustical Noise with U.L.N.A. 8 dB(A)
Input Power 1,44 W
Input Current 0,12 A
Voltage Range 4-13 V
MTBF > 150.000 h


Scope of Delivery NH-U12F
NF-S12-1200
Complete mounting hardware
Ultra-Low-Noise Adaptor (U.L.N.A.)
Thermal PasteAnti-Vibration-Strips


Warranty 6 years

Intel Core i7 920 and 965 Extreme processor

Aaah yes, my dear apprentices ... the force is strong today. Hey everybody and welcome to another Guru3D.com review. Intel’s code-named Nehalem processors have been discussed for years now, it's been pending for a long time and Intel's' marketing machine has been spinning for for a while. Today is the day that Intel is lifting the embargo on these consumer desktop processors that you guys all have known to learn as the "Nehalem" processors. The processors will become available this month, and they should be fast, they should be flexible and also, reasonably priced. What's not to like, eh?

So today Intel launches these Nehalem based puppies on the new name Core i7 as in their 7th architectural generation. A name that will catch on quickly and you'll get used to it just as quickly as well. No less then three processors are announced today and Guru3D.com will take a look at two of them. We'll do more though, later this week a couple of x58 motherboard reviews but today we'll also post an extensive Multi-GPU article to see what kind of effect Core i7 processors have on the hottest gaming gear.

But surely we start off with the processors themselves.

Nehalem (familily) processors code-named Bloomfield (Core i7) have four physical processor cores and a triple-channel DDR3 memory controller.

A new processor deserves a new motherboard, so a new chipset is announced today as well; the x58 chipset. We'll cover that mainboard in several other articles this week as well, but we really wanted a review dedicated to the new architecture first.

Speaking of architecture, what we'll do today is to have a deeper look inside the Core i7 processor, the technology, the architecture, a nice little photo-shoot and obviously a decent benchmark session to see where this product establishes itself performance wise. All in all we got a lot to cover, so hover onward to the next page where I'll show you what specifically is being launched today.

Good times, let's rock. Next page please.

Mighty Mouse - Apple

How do you improve on the mouse that has everything? Remove its tail. Mighty Mouse — the mouse that changed the way you scroll — has gone wireless. Now you can take that seamless, touch-sensitive, 360-degree scrolling design with you wherever you go.

No Tail Required

With its secure, reliable Bluetooth technology, the wireless Mighty Mouse goes wherever you do. Pair it with any Bluetooth-enabled Mac and wireless keyboard to work untethered and uncluttered at your desk, or take your show on the road. Mighty Mouse lightens your load on the go by operating with either one or two AA batteries. That’ll save you lugging a bulky dock around.

Laser-guided Precision

The wireless Mighty Mouse’s tracking engine is based on powerful laser technology that delivers 20 times the performance of standard optical tracking, giving you more accuracy and responsiveness on more surfaces. It works just as well on your office desk as it does on a table at your favorite coffee spot. So leave the mouse pad at home. Mighty Mouse is one smooth operator.

Spry and Mighty

In the beginning, there was one button. Then there were two. Then there were clickable scroll wheels and programmable toggles and solid-state slides. But nobody made a mouse as easy to use as your Mac. Until now. Mighty Mouse combines the capability of a multibutton mouse with Apple’s signature top-shell design for the best of both form and function. Use it any way you work: Stick with single-button simplicity or click with multibutton efficiency.

Get Around

Time is round. Space is curved. Why should your mouse be linear? Plenty of applications require you to do more than scroll up and down. Mighty Mouse offers 360-degree scrolling capability, thanks to its Scroll Ball, perfectly positioned to roll smoothly under just one finger. Explore the farthest reaches of your files — pan images in iPhoto, view timelines in iMovie HD and Final Cut Pro, traverse bars in GarageBand and Logic Pro — with one hand tied behind your back (or holding a cup of coffee or typing). Mighty Mouse gives you room to roam.

You’ll Really Click

Touch-sensitive technology under Mighty Mouse’s seamless top shell detect where you’re clicking, transforming your sleek, one-button mouse into a two-button wonder. But the innovation doesn’t end there. Apple engineers added force-sensing buttons on either side of Mighty Mouse that let you squeeze the mouse, activating Mac OS X Dashboard, Exposé or a whole host of other, customizable features — instantly.

AMD Launches ATI Radeon HD 4830 Series Graphics Card

AMD introduced the ATI Radeon HD 4830 graphics card, raising the performance bar for graphics cards priced at less than $150 (approx Rs. 7,500). The card supports AMD's second generation Unified Video Decoder (UVD 2.0), ATI Avivo HD technology and Hardware DivX and MPEG-1 video decode acceleration.

The HD 4830 has an integrated HD audio controller with support for stereo and multi-channel (up to 7.1) audio formats, including AC-3, AAC, DTS, enabling a plug-and-play audio solution over HDMI. It has a 256-bit GDDR3 memory interface and 640 stream processing units.

The press release said the ATI Radeon HD 4830 graphics card is supported by a dozen add-in-board companies offering custom designs of the products. Partners include ASUS, Club 3D, Diamond Multimedia, Force3D, GECUBE, GIGABYTE, HIS (Hightech Information Systems), Jetway, MSI, Palit Multimedia, PowerColor, SAPPHIRE Technology and VisionTek. It is expected to be available immediately.

Other cards in the HD 4800 series are the HD 4870 / 4870 X2 and the HD 4850. Though the indicative pricing is $150 (Rs. 7,500 approximately), the exact pricing depends on the vendors and variations like amount of video RAM, overclocked versions, type of cooling, etc.

Logitech Launches New Mouse for Notebooks

Logitech has introduced the Logitech V550 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks, featuring the Clip-and-Go dock that lets users clip the Mouse to the laptop - and go.

"Logitech research revealed that the vast majority of people who use a notebook PC are mobile both within and outside the home," said Subrotah Biswas, Country Manager, India & SAARC, Logitech. "To meet the demands associated with increased mobility, the V550 Mouse offers a complete set of features to make it easier to use a mouse with a notebook when moving from the kitchen to the living room or from one's desk to a meeting. Now, you won't have to choose between grabbing your mouse or a cup of coffee."

The V550 Nano features the Plug-and-Forget Nano-receiver that once plugged into the computer stays nearly flush against the side of the computer (protruding just 8 mm), so it doesn't have to be unplugged when users stow their laptop. The V550 offers up to 18 months of battery life and saves additional power by automatically turning off when it's docked or when the Nano-receiver is stored inside the mouse.

The mouse's scroll wheel can spin freely to let users move quickly through long documents and Webpages. By pressing down on the wheel, users can switch to click-to-click scrolling mode and scroll precisely through lists, slides or photos. In addition, the button directly below the scroll wheel allows users to switch between Applications.

The V550 Nano is offered in two colors - gray with silver accents and silver with cool-blue accents.

Two Clip-and-Go docks - one silver, one black - and a setup kit come bundled with the purchase of every Logitech mouse.

The V550 Nano is compatible with both PC and Mac computers, and the Clip-and-Go dock is compatible with all notebook styles.

The Logitech V550 Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks is available at a suggested retail price of Rs. 3,115, comes with a 3-year replacement warranty and is distributed by Neoteric and Rashi Peripherals.

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Courier ( INR. 50.00 ) available in All Places Features : Brand New New Transcend 8gb Usb Flash Drive With Transcend Original TS8GJFV10 Manufacturer's Description JetFlashV10 is a tiny flash drive with stylish design and outstanding performance. The JetFlashV10's special capless design uses a sliding USB, which protects the connector from damage when not in use. Its classic design includes a hook and a neck strap for convenience and to prevent loss, making the device easier to remove from a USB port. Fully compatible with HiSpeed USB 2.0 Easy Plug and Play installation JetFlash elite Software pack includes : PCLock Function : Makes JetFlash a key to lock your computer SecretZip Function : Compress and/or Password protect saved files using AES Encryption EMail Function : Use your JetFlash to Securely Send, Receive and Save emails AutoLogin Function : Automatically login to websites where you have a password Favorites Function : Store all your favorite website addresses on the JetFlash? DataBackup Function : Backup, Restore and Synchronize your Data using the JetFlash? Driverless (Only WindowsR 98SE needs the enclosed driver) Usb Powered. No External Power, Or Battery Needed Capacity : 8gb Interface Type : Usb2.0 Features Sliding : Usb Connector, Jetflash Elite Software Included Transfer Rates Read : 9~10 Mbyte/S, Write 2 Mbyte/S Dimensions : 64mm X 21mm X 10mm Weight : 11g Accessories Neckstrap, Warranty Card System Requirements : Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition Microsoft Windows 2000 Microsoft Windows Me Microsoft Windows Xp Microsoft Windows Vista Mac Os 9.0 Or Later Linux Kernal 2.4.2 Or Later This Is Original Transcend Product Not "High Quality Chinese Copy Warranty Type : 1 Year Seller Warranty

LG GSA-H62N SATA Dual Layer DVD-Writer

Serial ATA optical drives are now readily available, and the timing couldn't be better as motherboards are quickly loosing the last vestiges of the IDE connector. Parallel IDE has been on the outs forever, but optical drives have only recently adopted SATA to replace it. For the longest time Plextor was the only optical drive manufacturer that offered SATA DVD and CD-ROM drives. Those drives were priced at three to four times what regular optical drives cost... but now it's easy to find an Serial ATA optical drive for under $40. Newer, faster, cheaper - that's the PC industry!

PCSTATS stopped by a couple computer stores on Toronto's famous College St. to gage SATA optical drive availability. Lined up on the shelves were SATA versions from Lite-On, LG, Samsung, Sony, Pioneer, etc. The nice thing about SATA optical drives like the LG GSA-H62N Dual Layer DVD burner PCSTATS is testing for you today is that SATA ODD's have the same benefits we've become accustomed to with SATA HDDs. The coolest bit - being able to hot swap optical drives. Yes you read that right, with Serial ATA optical drives you can remove them from your system without turning it off!

If you're in the market for a speedy new dual layer DVD burner the LG GSA-H62N is a good a choice as any. The SATA optical drive is one of the new generation 18x DVD writers, and it supports all three DVD standards; DVD-R (DL included), DVD+R (DL included) and DVD-RAM. The drive that PCSTATS will play with is an OEM model, which means it comes with nothing besides operating instructions, software and a warranty card. The best bit, LG's GSA-H62N Serial ATA DVD writer costs just $36 CDN ($34 US, £17 GBP) !

The LG GSA-H62N looks like any other DVD writer. It lacks a headphone jack and volume wheel, but otherwise the drive supports all DVD writing standards. It can burn DVD-/+R media at 18x speed, DVD-RAM at 12x, DVD+RW at 8x, DVD-RW at 6x and DVD-/+R DL media at 10x. The GSA-H62N can handle CD-R media at 48x speed and CD-RW at 10x. The drive has a 2MB internal cache and physically measures 16.2 x 14.6 x 4.1 cm in size. The LG GSA-H62N is rather plain looking, and as you can see we are looking at the black version. LG proudly states its DVD standard compatibility, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, CD-R/RW and Super Multi. On the front you'll also find the eject button, a LED indicator and an emergency hole for ejecting the tray when it's stick. Around back there is a SATA data jack and SATA-style power connector. There is no analog audio connector or jumper for selecting master or slave because SATA devices never share channels. According to LG the GSA-H62N will never make a coaster from your blank media because it has a 2MB buffer and Superlink buffer underrun error protection technology. In reality, while this helps, coasters do happen every so often. LG does its best to make sure it's a once in a "blue moon" type situation. Serial ATA Optical Drive Serial ATA must be the most exciting feature to hit optical drives since the days of the 52X CD-ROM. Because the LG GSA-H62N is a SATA device it also supports hot swapping - a convenient feature for enthusiasts who like to tinker with multiple PC systems. To hot swap the LG GSA-H62N, your motherboard must be fairly new, with Serial ATA channels and support Serial ATA hot swapping. If it does, the process is a as simple as clicking on the "Safely Remove Hardware" icon in the task bar, selecting the drive, and viola you're done. Disconnect the cables and pull the drive out. If you want to use the device again, secure the optical drive in place, plug in the Serial ATA data and power cables and you're all set. In case you're wondering, Serial ATA optical drives do use the same cables at Serial ATA hard drives. The LG GSA-H62N DVD writer supports a whole host of writing options. For burning CDs, the drive supports Track At Once (TAO), Disc At Once (Disc At Once), Session At Once (SAO), Multi-session, Fixed Packet, Variable Packet, Raw Mode Burning and Over burn. DVD writing modes include Multi-session recording (DVD+R), Random recording (DVD+RW), Disc At Once Multi-border (DVD-R), Disc At Once Multi-border (DVD-RW), Restrictive Overwrite and Random Access Write (DVD-RAM). Phew!

AMD Athlon64 FX-60 Dual Core Processor

On paper and in real world testing, publications have been lavishing praise onto AMD's Athlon64 processors for many a good reason. The benefits of 64-bit computing are real, and high end workstations and servers are already running 64-bit software

. The transition at the desktop level has been slower, but with 64-bit versions of Windows Vista coming soon, AMD is clearly on the right path.

Intel has a lot of clout over the computer industry, and it has steadily been shifting the paradigm towards parallelism. First via HyperThreading and then with twin processing cores. While Intel pushes forward multiple processor cores, AMD's solutions are still walking circles around Intel in terms of performance! The software landscape for 2006 is shaping up to be completely different from 2005, and the rumors of AMD moving its Athlon64 FX processor line over to dual core are true.

Technologically, each companies dual core processor is very different. For example, the integrated memory controller in an Athlon64 runs at the processor clock speed while a Pentium 4/D/XE's bus operates at 800MHz. AMD has a direct 2GHz HyperTransport connection between the CPU and motherboard

core logic while Intel systems share data on the FSB which is stuck at 800/1066 MHz.

Gamers traditionally require high end components and now nVIDIA and ATi videocard drivers support dual core processors. That doesn't necessarily mean that all games themselves support dual core processors, rather videocard related tasks are now dual core compatible. With the benefits of dual core processors obvious, games should be the first to enjoy the added performance from a second processing core.

The new dual core AMD Athlon64 FX-60 processor PCSTATS is testing is based on the Socket 939 form factor, and retails for about $1200 CDN ($1031 USD). Each of the Athlon64 FX-60's individual cores are clocked at 2.6 GHz, which is 200 MHz faster than the previous high end AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ but 200 MHz slower than the single core Athlon64 FX-57. The processor is compatible with every Socket 939 motherboard on the market although a BIOS flash might be necessary. Make no mistake about it, the AMD Athlon64 FX-60 is the most versatile desktop processor on the market... and as we'll soon show you, just about the fastest too.

Like the dual core AMD Athlon64 X2 processors, the dual core Athlon64 FX-60 CPU is physically identical to all 939-pin AMD 'K8' processors and compatible with socket 939 motherboards based on VIA, SIS, ULi and nVidia chipsets. The FX-60 processor PCSTATS will be testing is based on the 'ACB2E' stepping and was built in week 36 of 2005.

The Athlon64 FX-60 has a maximum thermal power of 110W, so any socket 939 heatsink built with the AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+ or FX-57 processors in mind will keep the FX-60 running at an acceptable operating temperature.. We'd recommend the Gigabyte G-Power Pro, Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro or Zalman CNPS9500-LED if you're unsure of what to consider.

The large 38x38mm nickel plated copper heatspreader of the Athlon64 FX-60 protects the two physical processor cores below which are integrated into a single silicon die. Each distinct processor core operates at a stock speed of 2.6 GHz. It's important to note that each core has its own 128KB L1 and 1MB L2 cache; so essentially what we have here are two Athlon64 FX-55's squeezed into one package.

Both cores share a single 128-bit DDR memory controller that operates with dual channel PC1600, PC2100, PC 2700 or PC3200 DDR memory. The CPU-to-memory controller is clocked at the same speed as the processor itself, 2.6GHz, and has a memory bandwidth of 6.4GB/second.

The enthusiast class AMD Athlon64 FX-60 processor supports a single 2 GHz (1 GHz up/down, 16-bit wide) HyperTransport connection between the processor and the rest of the computer.

According to AMD data, the Athlon64 FX-60 series is being manufactured at AMD's Fab30 in Dresden Germany with the 90 nanometer (0.09 micron) Silicon on Insulator (SOI) process. The silicon die has a surface area of 199mm2, contains a whopping 233.2 million transistors, and is packaged in the standard 939-pin organic micro-PGA form factor we all know and love.

AMD's Athlon64 FX-60 processor is rated to run with a default operating voltage of 1.3-1.35V, and has a maximum thermal power output of 110W (at max Icc of 80A). With Cool 'n' Quiet operating the CPU speed can scale back from 2.6GHz to 1.2GHz; consequently decreasing Vcore to 1.1V, maximum thermal power to 46.7W, and maximum Icc to 39.8A.

As with all processors in the Athlon64 FX series, the FX-60 is completely multiplier unlocked and supports multipliers between 4-25x. For computer hardware enthusiasts, this should make overclocking much more fun! Team the FX-60 up with an overclocker friendly motherboard like the DFI LANParty NF4 SLI-DR Expert or Asus A8N-series and watch the megahertz fly!

With the release of the AMD Athlon64 FX-60, the single core FX-55 is officially being discontinued. AMD will continue to sell the Athlon64 FX-57 for the time being.

Next we'll be overclocking the FX-60 into the stratosphere, but first let's see how it stacks up against Intel's 'Pressler' core. If you would like to learn more about the benefits of 64-bit processors or dual core technology, PCSTATS has gone into depth on this topic in the technology behind dual core processors.