Showing posts with label windows. Show all posts
Showing posts with label windows. Show all posts

8/25/2012

Kensington SlimBlade Presenter Media Mouse with Mouse, Presenter and Media Controller in One (Pewter) K72280US Review

Kensington SlimBlade Presenter Media Mouse with Mouse, Presenter and Media Controller in One (Pewter) K72280US
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
The Kensington Slimblade Presenter Media Mouse is two useful tools in one svelte package. It's a comfortable and capable Bluetooth laser mouse; but flip it over and find an ipod-like control pad for giving Keynote or Powerpoint presentations. The remote is also compatible with iTunes and FrontRow.
Now to the details. To use the SlimBlade, simply remove the USB transeiver from the battery compartment, plug it in and you're ready to go. There are Mac drivers to install before the first use. It seemed to work fine with the current version of Leopard.
I really have to compliment Kensington on the comfortable, sleek lines. The SlimBlade is easy to pack and comfortable for hours of use. The mouse-side of the unit features a two-button design with a 360-degree trackball, similar to that on an Apple Mighty-mouse. Unlike the Apple mouse, this ball is not rubberized, but also didn't seem to 'clog' the way my Mighty-mouse does. The mouse tracking is accurate with no noticeable latency. One warning : The SlimBlade USB bit MUST NOT BE PLUGGED IN BEFORE LOGGING INTO YOUR MAC USER ACCOUNT OR YOUR MAC WILL KERNAL PANIC. This seemed to be a consistent pattern. Log into your account FIRST, then plug-in the Kensington USB attachment. The batteries (two AAA's) are supposed to last six months and the SlimBlade has a low-battery light when it's time to swap them. Needless to say, with a 25-day review window, the batteries were still going strong with regular use.
Now for the other half of the SlimBlade. Flip the mouse over and you'll find a circular, rubberized control pad and a recessed toggle switch. Flip the switch and the 'presenter' controls are activated. The controls will advance your slideshow, and the top button on the pad activates a laser pointer built into the leading edge of the mouse. The presenter functions worked as promised. When the toggle is in 'media mode', the rubber control pad is still active, but will only work for iTunes and FrontRow and the like. One problem that I noticed is when the toggle is in media mode, the mouse buttons (now under your hand) are still active. So if I'm using the presenter side of the mouse for, say, iTunes, I find my fingers underneath the mouse constantly clicking the mouse buttons and affecting whatever is on my desktop! I can think of a couple of fixes to this in future SlimBlade releases. One would be to reverse the location of the media control wheel and battery compartment. So the media wheel is underneath the non-mouse button side of the mouse. Or, just install a mercury switch to sense the orientation of the mouse and disable the mouse-side controls accordingly. This may be problematic for space shuttle astronauts trying to give a Keynote slideshow, but would work for the rest of us.
On the whole, I liked the Kensington SlimBlade and do feel it's a quality product worth eighty bucks. I give it four out of five.


Click Here to see more reviews about: Kensington SlimBlade Presenter Media Mouse with Mouse, Presenter and Media Controller in One (Pewter) K72280US

Show and tell was never this cool.The mouse, presenter and media controller all converge in one slim, sleek unit that slips in your pocket. The Kensington SlimBlade(TM) Presenter Media Mouse goes beyond your expectation of what a mouse can do.Full featured laser mouse allows you to navigate through your documents with superior precision.Multifunction navigation pad lets you easily navigate through your presentation and digital media, and a built-in laser pointer give you the power to control your digital media from anywhere in the room.In Pewter.

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2/26/2012

HP Pavilion DV4-1227US 14.1-Inch Laptop - Espresso Black Review

HP Pavilion DV4-1227US 14.1-Inch Laptop - Espresso Black
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I ordered this laptop on the HP website, even though the model number is not the same (mines is DV4-1300), it has all the same exact features as this model, and looks physically the same. So far so good I haven't had any problems. It's packed with features, and the best part is, that it's affordable. I got my laptop for $701.00, of course this was with the use of a coupon, and a student discount, plus the shipping was free, not only that, but I got free upgrades on the memory and hard drive. I think this is the perfect laptop for a student, because it's not that heavy and you can easily take it with you where ever you want. I also love the 14" screen it's not too big, but it's not too small, to me it's the perfect screen size on a laptop. The fan is a little noisy at times, but it's not a major concern. It also gets quite hot on the bottom, but I think most laptops do. The battery life I found to be so-so, not the best, but not bad either.
My computer specs:
-Espresso Black
-Windows Vista Home Premium with Service Pack 1 (64-bit) (free upgrade)
-Intel Core Duo 2 Duo Processor T6400 (2.0Ghz)
-3GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm) (free upgrade)
-320GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection (free upgrade)
-Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
-14.1" diagonal WXGA High-Definition HP BrightView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
-LightScribe SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-RW with Double Layer Support
-Webcam + Fingerprint Reader
-Wireless-G Card with Bluetooth
-HP Integrated HDTV Hybrid Tuner
-HP Color Matching Keyboard
-6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
-No Modem Overall, I do recommend this computer, especially for students like myself who are on a tight budget, you'll get a lot of bang for your buck!

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion DV4-1227US 14.1-Inch Laptop - Espresso Black

Offering an eye-catching modern look, the entertainment-focused HP Pavilion DV4-1227US notebook PC makes it easy to enjoy your favorite music and videos while on the go, as well as keep you productive with a speedy dual-core processor and 64-bit Windows Home Vista Premium operating system. The 14.1-inch high-definition BrightView display looks good even in direct sunlight, and you'll enjoy movies or music in seconds with the external DVD or music buttons to launch HP QuickPlay (which bypasses the boot process). Control playback settings from up to 10 feet away with the included HP remote, then store it conveniently in the Express card slot. Turn your next instant message into a live video chat with the integrated webcam and omni-directional microphone. Optimized for low-light environments, it's great for capturing short videos to share on your favorite social networking site.
It's powered by the 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor, which boosts speed, reduces power requirements, and saves on battery life. It also offers a fast 800 MHz front-side bus speed and 2 MB L2 cache. HP's ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection locks your 250 GB hard drive into place when it senses abrupt motion to help prevent data loss. The built-in eSATA/USB combo port enables fast backup to an external hard drive. Other features include 4 GB of installed RAM (8 GB maximum), Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics (up to 1759 MB total), dual-layer Lightscribe DVD±RW drive (which also burns CDs), ExpressCard 54 slot, quad-mode Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), and 5-in-1 memory card reader.

High Style Expanding on the sophisticated elegance of HP's notebook design from the past few years, the new DV series is defined by fluid, modern lines and metalized finishes. Bursts of energy and excitement are brought to life with the HP Expresso Black Imprint, using bright flickering balls that erupt outwared against a sleek black backdrop. The streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and touchpad. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance.

The Basics

Processor: The Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 processor has a 2.0 GHz processor speed, fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and 2 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
With two computational execution cores in a single processor, it provides greater system response when running multi-threaded applications simultaneously with no significant increase in power consumption. It's optimized for multitasking and is ready to support the Microsoft Windows Vista operating system. It can simultaneously run multiple demanding applications--such as graphics-intensive games or serious number-crunching business productivity applications--while downloading music or running virus-scanning security programs in the background. Some of the advanced Intel innovations of the Core 2 Duo processor include:

Smart Memory Access: Improves system performance by hiding memory latency, thus optimizing the use of available computer data bandwidth to provide data to the processor when and where it is needed.
Advanced Digital Media Boost: Effectively doubles the execution speed for instructions used widely in multimedia and graphics applications.
Dynamic Power Coordination: Coordinates Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology and idle power-management state (C-states) transitions independently per core to help save power.
Deeper Sleep with Dynamic Cache Sizing: Saves power by flushing cache data to system memory during periods of inactivity to lower CPU voltage.



Hard Drive: The large 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) offers a wealth of storage space, perfect for storing a vast multimedia collection or for editing digital video. This SATA hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to Firewire and USB 2.0.
You'll enjoy enhanced hard drive protection with HP's Protectsmart, which includes a 3D accelerometer that safeguards your data by parking your hard drive if your notebook detects any range of motion, such as being knocked off your desk, falling or taking abuse.



Memory: The 4 GB of installed RAM helps boost the amount of available video RAM that's shared with this notebook's video card. This notebook has an amazing 8 GB maximum RAM capacity (4 x 2 GB). To receive the faster data transfer benefits of the dual-channel DDR2 RAM, any RAM additions require memory modules of same capacity and clockspeed.


DVD/CD Drive: This multiformat DVD/CD drive is compatible with writing both DVD+ and DVD- disc formats as well as dual-layer (DL) DVD+/-R discs, which can store up to 8.5 GB of data. It features 4x DVD-R DL Write Once, 2.4x DVD+R DL Write Once, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD+RW, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD-RW, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x CD-R, 24x CD-RW, and 40x CD-ROM speeds.
This LightScribe DVD±RW drive lets you laser-etch silkscreen quality text and images on to CDs and DVDs . Your software, PC and discs work together for a no-hassle way to burn just the labels you want. After you burn content, just flip the disc over, reinsert and burn your label--anything from a simple title to a full-disc work of art.



Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a 101-key keyboard and a touchpad with on/off button and dedicated vertical/horizontal Scroll Up/Down pad. It also includes two quick-launch buttons (HP QuickPlay Music and DVD).
Screen, Video & Audio You'll enjoy razor-sharp graphics and widescreen movies with the 14.1-inch WXGA high-definition screen, which has a widescreen resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels--perfect for watching DVD movies the way they were meant to be seen. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD, which uses shared video memory (up to 1759 MB allocated from the system memory). This graphics card is built with Intel Clear Video technology, which delivers clearer, more detailed images by eliminating many of the jagged edges and video artifacts seen when viewing interlaced content and features powerful color control to ensure videos are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out.
The Altec Lansing speakers provide exceptional sound, and it also includes SRS Premium Sound. You'll be able to privately share enjoyment of multimedia with a friend via the dual headphone jacks.

Networking, Connectivity & Expansion This notebook has an integrated 54g wireless LAN that's fully compatible with 802.11b/g wireless networks. It also includes a next-generation ExpressCard 34 card slot (replacing the PCMCIA slot), which lets you take advantage of thinner, faster, and lighter expansion cards for even more advanced wireless, networking, storage, and security features. It comes with the following external connectors:

3 USB 2.0 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players (with 1 eSATA + USB 2.0 combo port)
1 HDMI output (for connecting to a compatible HDTV or home theater receiver for uncompressed digital audio and video via a single cable)
Analog video output: 1 VGA
1 ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)
2 headphone jacks
1 microphone jack
1 Expansion Port 3 connector (for use with the HP xb3000 Expansion Base or the HP Notebook QuickDock)
1 IR receiver
5-in-1 memory card reader (Secure Digital, MultiMedia, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, xD Picture Card)
10/100 Fast Ethernet networking
56K modem (V.90)



Operating System The 64-bit version of Windows Vista Home Premium (with SP1) is the operating system for users with advanced computer needs, and it includes all of the Windows Media Center capabilities for turning your PC into an all-in-one home entertainment center for watching DVD movies and accessing your digital audio library. You can also use Windows Media Center to record and watch your favorite TV shows (even HDTV) and to access new kinds of online entertainment content. Computers that include Windows Vista Home Premium and an auxiliary Windows SideShow display will also allow you to access key data even when your computer is off. It is also easier than ever to share files between other PCs in your household and to manage your laptop computer settings to more securely connect via Wi-Fi.

Every edition of Windows Vista provides the essential tools and technologies to help protect you whether you are browsing the Internet, connecting to a wireless network, or just reading e-mail. All editions of Windows Vista include new tools that can warn you of impending hardware failures long before you have lost any important personal data. And, all Windows Vista editions include parental control features that allow you to manage and monitor your family's use of games, the Internet, instant messaging, and other activities.

Preloaded Software

HP MediaSmart Software Suite: Your one-stop multimedia and entertainment center to create photo slideshows, share personal videos, listen to your favorite music playlists and watch DVD movies.
muvee autoProducer Basic: Automatically create professional looking home videos and burn to DVD.
Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe: Automatically fix and edit videos and create CDs and DVDs. Edit, burn and archive data to discs.
Microsoft Works 9: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar.
Microsoft Office Home and Student Edition 2007 (60-day trial version).
Adobe Reader 8: Read and print PDF files.
Norton Internet Security 2009 protects your PC and your identity when you email, bank and shop online; 60 days of protection updates included.

Dimensions & Weight This notebook measures 13.15 x 9.45 x 1.57 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 5.1 pounds.

Power It's powered by a 6-cell rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has a battery life of up to 2 hours (depending on usage).

What's in the Box This package contains the HP Pavilion DV4-1227US notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, AC adapter, IR remote control, and operating instructions. It is backed by a limited warranty for parts and labor for one year from date of purchase as well as technical telephone assistance for one year. Software is also covered for 30 days from date of purchase.

Reduce your impact on the environment with this Energy Star-certified system and HP's innovative take-back options, including trade-in, recycling and donation.


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1/24/2012

HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop Review

HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I have been using this laptop for one month and I am absolutely amazed. It is sleek and stylish and much lighter than I expected of a 15". What can I tell you? The keyboard is nice and spacious for typing. Before I got it I was a little concerned about the function of the touch pad but this baby is second to none, it is very accurate and has tons of functions...2 finger scroll, 3 finger scroll the list goes on.
I use this laptop extensively and I have had no problem with heat. Be careful not to block the vents at the side, I guess if it's blocked it would become hot.
Cons (if any)
1. The battery runs for approximately 2 1/2 hours on hp recommended power setting and this is while downloading, playing videos, games, browsing and organizing photos and files.
2. The Keyboard, while awesome, is not back lit. This would have been a nice addition for me.
3. The viewing angle is not great but then again it's not like I am laying down to use it.
Pros (there are many)
1. WiFi easily connects
2. Bluetooth - superb, picked up and paired my devices immediately.
3. Speed - the laptop boots up super fast, there is the option to start with the hp quick start or windows 7.
4. Finger print reader - very accurate and convenient, it works with I.E and Firefox.
5. Webcam - I really could not ask for more and the software has quite a bit of editing options.
6. The sound on this is much better than I expected. I have a dell latitude and my kids are not able to watch movies on it without the use of an headset. This requires no headset unless you need privacy.
7. DVD drive - While I've only used it twice to burn a set of recovery disk and another project, the drive it very quiet and fast. While I'm not a fan of Light scribe, I tried it and it works great.
8. I love HP Media Smart
9. Windows 7 - I am impressed, it really makes life easier.
I was worried buying a laptop with an AMD processor but it's fast and cool, no overheating here.
Ratings on the Windows Experience Index (scale of 1.0 to 7.9) is 4.5, this is based on the lowest score.
Processor - 6.3
Memory (Ram)- 5.9
Graphics - 4.5
Gaming Graphics - 5.4
Primary Hard Disk - 5.8
I researched long and hard to find the perfect laptop for my needs and a good price... this did it for me. No regrets.
I have recommended this to my friends and I recommend it to you....you won't regret it...I don't work for HP or Amazon.

Click Here to see more reviews about: HP Pavilion dv6-3020us 15.6-Inch Laptop

Now there's a notebook PC made for the way you play. In fact, the HP Pavilion dv6 comes with software that lets you start playing right out of the box. With amazing graphics, audio, and video, plus a wide array of options, the HP Pavilion dv6 Entertainment series notebook delivers power and performance to match your fast-paced lifestyle. Exclusive HP MediaSmart software gives you instant access to the music and movies you love. Immerse yourself in videos, games and 3D graphics on the high-definition 15.6" diagonal HP BrightView LED display. Look your best in any light with the HP TrueVision Webcam and sound great with integrated dual-array digital microphones for improved noise reduction.

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10/18/2011

Samsung i900 Omnia (Player Addict) Unlocked Phone with 16 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Black) Review

Samsung i900 Omnia (Player Addict) Unlocked Phone with 16 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Black)
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Warning! I am NOT a techie. I am just your average everyday technology-using non-...uhm, techie. So what you'll get here is just a superficial review based on my observations. Ask me what certain programs are for, your guess would be as good as mine. :) So here goes...
Exterior - Don't judge a book by its cover for sure! The Samsung Omnia has a very simplified, sleek look. Just three buttons on the front: accept call, end call, and for navigation.
The Touch Screen - The screen is adequate. The touch screen sensitivity is fine, although sometimes you need to tap two or three times. But then again, being the phone is new I suddenly find myself with a very light touch.
The Keypad - Portrait-oriented, the keys are narrower even for my small fingers. But I typed 'the quick brown fox...' sentence with only 3 errors. Landscape-oriented, the keys are much much better.
Battery Life - This is the only area with which I had a big problem. I researched a lot about this phone but somehow I missed out on this one important factor. It turns out this phone's battery can only last an average of 5.8 hours. I charged it one whole day and the next day I had to recharge it twice again, and after 3 hours it died on me. This is NOT good. So I looked up ways of saving battery life and hit on this - http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsMobile/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=3979662&SiteID=65. The topic is about HTC Diamond, but the advice works on Omnia. Right now I'm up to 75% charged after 1.5 hours. Believe me, I'd rather have that than charging it for a full day. I'm still researching for other tips on saving power. :)
Wi-fi - Since this is an unlocked international phone, I don't get the advantage of 3G network here in the US. But with the battery life issue, that's okay with me to just use the internet while I'm at home using wi-fi. This might seem very discouraging to some, so you can always avail of the Omnia from Verizon. It can access their 3G network.
Text Messaging - I'm a text fanatic. I give Omnia 100%! The only thing I don't know how to work out yet (or this might not even be possible) is how to make the messages in my inbox just reflect the sender's name in the front-view of the folder instead of a snippet of the message. I don't know, I just feel uncomfortable with seeing snippets of messages at a glance. :)
Camera - Really really nice!!! 5mp with auto-focus, flash, smile-focus, image editing, and a lot more. :D
Video - Pretty decent for a phone.
Synching the Phone to PC - Really haven't figured this out yet. I popped in the CD and followed the steps but I think I missed something since after synching it, my phone alerted me its memory was low. I checked my media storage--I had downloaded almost every file in my computer from pictures to music to videos! That's a looot of memory! I had to hard-reset my phone to erase everything. Good thing I only had it for 1 day at that time. :)
That's it for now. Will be updating if I have any more info to share. :)


Click Here to see more reviews about: Samsung i900 Omnia (Player Addict) Unlocked Phone with 16 GB Memory, 5 MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi, Windows Mobile 6.1, and MicroSD Slot--International Version with No Warranty (Black)



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10/01/2011

ASUS G50Vt X5 - Core 2 Duo P8700 / 2.53 GHz - Centrino 2 - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVD?RW (?R DL) / DVD-RAM - GF 9800M GS - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 802.11n (draft) - Vista Home Premium - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1680 x 1050 ( WSXGA+ ) Color Shine - camera - Microsoft Office Ready Review

ASUS G50Vt X5 - Core 2 Duo P8700 / 2.53 GHz - Centrino 2 - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GF 9800M GS - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 802.11n (draft) - Vista Home Premium - 15.4 Widescreen TFT 1680 x 1050 ( WSXGA+ ) Color Shine - camera - Microsoft Office Ready
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Ok, this is the fastest laptop I have ever owned. I actually bought the one with the p7450 2.13GHz, but I upgraded to the P8700 myself. I bought a Refurbished Asus G50VT.
With Vista on it is ok, but with Windows 7 on it its awesome. It can play Far Cry 2 and Call Of Duty MW2 on the highest settings. When playing these games, the video card got to 86C after an hour. My frame rate was in the High 20s mid 30s on the highest settings. The hottest the CPU ever got was 72C. Before I upgraded the CPU, it would idle at in the mid 30s(C). After I upgraded it and used Antec Formula 5 it now idles at 27-29C. The GPU idles at 42C and gets to around 50-55 while surfing the net or watching a video. This laptop runs cool compared to other laptops.
Some people have asked if it can handle 8GB of ram. After little research I found that it can take up to 8GB of memory. 8GB (2x4GB) on eBay costs about $240. Now for battery life.
On power save with the screen on the dimmest I get about 3-3.5 hours of life. Some people think that the light and design on the lid look bad, but I think it looks cool. I just wish that you could turn them off sometimes. Hard drive transfers at about 22 MBPS with Windows 7.
Overall its an excellent laptop. I paid $700 for mine on eBay. 5 Star Laptop!
Pros:
Fast Processor
Good Video Card
Big HDD
Long Battery Life
Fast Wireless Card
Excellent frame rates in latest games
Runs very cool
Cons
Lid Design looks bad to some
Screen slightly low resolution
Can't put a quad core in it

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS G50Vt X5 - Core 2 Duo P8700 / 2.53 GHz - Centrino 2 - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GF 9800M GS - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 802.11n (draft) - Vista Home Premium - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1680 x 1050 ( WSXGA+ ) Color Shine - camera - Microsoft Office Ready



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Click here for more information about ASUS G50Vt X5 - Core 2 Duo P8700 / 2.53 GHz - Centrino 2 - RAM 4 GB - HDD 320 GB - DVDRW (R DL) / DVD-RAM - GF 9800M GS - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, 802.11n (draft) - Vista Home Premium - 15.4" Widescreen TFT 1680 x 1050 ( WSXGA+ ) Color Shine - camera - Microsoft Office Ready

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