New Electronics Reviews

At the heart of this pricey PlayStation 3 lies a powerful multicore CPU, jointly developed by Sony, Toshiba, and IBM, running at an incredible speed of 3.2 GHz. A Reality Synthesizer graphics engine, based on NVidia's G70 architecture, delivers the graphics. Working alongside these powerful chips are 256MB of high-performance XDR main memory and 256MB of GDDR3 video memory. All these specifications are surely going to impress the most hard-core PC gamer.

The best price for the Sony Playstation 3 is here on Amazon.com.

Strengths:

• Glamorous design with quiet operation
• All games in high-definition;
• Plays high-def Blu-ray movies in addition to standard DVDs
• Built-in Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g
• Bluetooth support for wireless controllers and accessories
• Works with PS2 and PS1 titles;
• Built-in memory card readers;
• Online play is free
• HDMI output with 1080p support
• No external power supply

Drawbacks:

• Priciest game console
• Doesn't upscale DVDs to HD resolution;
• No infrared port for non-Bluetooth universal remotes
• HDMI cable not included

Specifications:

• Processor: Multicore Cell Processor 3.2 GHz
• Memory: 256MB XDR RDRAM
• HDD Capacity: 60GB
• Video RAM: 256MB GDDR3
• Weight: 11 lbs or 176 ozs
• Input Type: Gamepad
• Media Support: BD-ROM, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
• Input/Output Connections: 4 USB Ports, HDMI Video output
• Max Resolution: 1920 x 1080

Summary:

Sony's PlayStation 3 may be the most expensive next-gen game console, and its launch titles are not all that impressive, but by combining a great gaming platform, its posh design and horde of features, including a Blu-ray drive, powerful cell processor, make it hard to resist.

Read more and see price on Amazon.com.

Labels: Miscellaneous

A Blu-ray Disc (BD) is the name of a next generation optical disc format for the storage of digital information including high definition (HD) video. This disc format has been jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), which is a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers, that include Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony and TDK to name a few.

The format also has broad support from seven of the major eight movie studios such as Disney, Fox, Warner, Paramount, Sony, Lionsgate and MGM, as a successor to today's DVD format. Five of these major studios have agreed on releasing their movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format.

The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of HD video, as well as for storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc.


Difference between Blu Ray and DVD

Blu-ray Disc represents an increase over DVD capacity by five to 10 times. This is due, among other reasons, to the usage of a blue laser rays instead of red laser rays used by DVDs. BD also has improved lens specifications compared to DVDs, allowing for a much smaller focus laser beam which enables the recording of much smaller and higher density pits on the disc.

In Blu-ray Discs there is less distortion because of the data layer being closer to the laser lens which is not a case in DVDs. This feature gives Blu-ray Disc significantly improved tolerances, more precision and ultra-high storage densities than DVDs.

Currently Blu-ray disc’s holds 25 gigabytes to 50 gigabytes of data with a maximum possible capacity of 200 gigabytes, while DVD’s or HD DVD’s hold 15 gigabytes to 30 gigabytes with a maximum of 60 gigabytes. A Blu-ray Disc can hold HD Video capacity of 5 hours while HD DVDs can hold only 3 hours of HD Video.

Blu-ray has found favor Blu-ray from many consumer electronics, computer companies and major movie studios while DVD has a few backing it namely Universal Pictures, Intel and Toshiba. There are a few companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Paramount and Warner Bros., who have pledged their support to both formats.

Labels: Miscellaneous

The Vostro 1400, part of a new Dell notebook line, is designed right from the base level to appeal to the specific needs of small-business customers. The Vostro 1400 weighing 2.45 kilograms has its power from a 2-GHz Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of RAM, enabling the system to provide impressive performance. From tune-up and network-assistant tools to an easy online-backup solution using Dell DataSafe, using the Vostro 1400 is like having a 24X7 IT guy inside your system. Plus, you also get all of the multimedia amenities like a 2.0 megapixel webcam (optional), multimedia controls, 8-in-1 card reader that bogs down other brands. The notebook is very business looking and has some tough features which include a magnesium alloy chassis, spill proof keyboard, and shock resistant hard drive.

Pros:

• Super quite Toshiba 120GB SATA-300 HD.

• Very sturdy magnesium alloy case.

• Dedicated nVidia 8400M GS

• Excellent value at $599

• Cheap additional battery at $59 for a 9 cell

• The Dell Network Assistant utility allows to set up or repair your network, as well as share folders and printers from one screen

• Using the Self Help Menu in Dell Support Center, you can run performance and virus scans

• Free one year Automated PC TuneUp feature which automates all the small tasks you either forget or don't know how to do. This tool will remove unwanted and temporary files, enable automatic Windows updates, update your security settings, turn on your firewall, and perform regular maintenance chores.

Cons:

• The Dell Vostro 1400 cannot be configured with WinXP.

• Not all XP drivers are listed at support site,

• The Vostro 1400 does not support Quickset in XP.

• Media buttons above keyboard but not on the edge.

• Blue LED indicators are too bright

• No accessories bundled with the notebook

Specifications:

• Core 2 Duo T5470 (1.6Ghz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)

• 14.1” Wide Screen XGA LCD Display with TrueLife

• 1GB DDR2 667Mhz

• 128MB Nvidia Geforce 8400GS

• 120GB 5400RPM SATA

• 8x CD/DVD Burner w/ double layer DVD+ write capability

• Genuine Windows Vista Home Basic

• Integrated 10/100 Network Card and Modem

• Integrated 2.0 mega pixel web camera

• Integrated High Definition Audtio

• Dell Wireless 1390 802.11g Wi-Fi Mini Card

• 85 WorkingHr 9-cell Lithium Ion Primary Battery

• Dell Wireless 355 Bluetooth Internal (2.0 + Enhanced Data Rate)

• 1 Year Limited Hardware Warranty with Mail-in Service

• 4 USB ports

• ExpressCard/54

• Memory Card reader

Summary

The Dell Vostro 1400 is an excellent choice for the price targeting the small business group. It offers a wide variety of special features and also provides impressive battery life for its size and price. The Vostro 1400 is tailor-made for its audience and worthy of its own sub-brand. It's a powerful laptop that's as easy to use as it is to maintain.

Labels: Computers

As the lowest-cost personal computer ever sold by Apple, the Mini also represents a big change in Apple's business model. The Mac Mini, built in Taiwan to Apple's specifications, has the potential to boost Apple's business again, just as the iMac had done earlier in the 1990's. The New Mac Mini comes as a great offer with 1.83 GHz processor, 160 GB hard drive, CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, modem and combination analog/digital video port, which enables to switch in many big, beautiful monitors through 32 MB of devoted video memory driven by an ATI Radeon 9200 chipset and the bundled software package. It is available in 2 configurations and the package consists of applications like Mail, Address Book and iCal along with the basic components.

Strengths:

• Fast and Powerful Intel Core 2 Duo processor

• Admirable Design, Compact, Lighter and not too noisy

• Great Video-out options

• Brilliant display feature

• Contains useful applications

• Fast enough for basic tasks

• Reasonable Price

Drawbacks:

• The basic price does not include keyboard, monitor, mouse, speakers

• Inaccessible power button on the rear face of the unit

• Difficulty in accessing the internals

• Provided with only one FireWire 400 port

• Toll free support for only 90 days

Specifications:

1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor

Intel GMA 950 Graphics Processor

Apple Remote with Front Row

160GB Hard Drive

Up to 2GB memory

DVI connector, VGA adapter

Slot-loading Optical Drive

Analog and Digital audio

Built-in Gigabit Ethernet

Wireless 802.11g and Bluetooth 2.0

Expansion via USB and FireWire

iLife ’08, Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger

Summary:

Mac mini makes it easy and affordable to work with digital photos, movies, music, and the web, it all happens with the blazing speed of the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Apple Mac Mini is a well designed, superbly useful option at a very attractive price. It is a great selection for a broad range of applications and requirement, but for its success amidst competition, Apple needs to deal with the two most noteworthy issues: inferior analog video output and the lack of FireWire 800 support. If your goal is saving space, the Mac Mini is a winner. If you'd rather get the best deal, there are better options like Dell and HP.

Labels: Computers

The Toshiba Portege R500 is the world’s thinnest notebook series and the first notebook to include a 7mm optical drive and a 12.1 inch widescreen with trans-reflective backlit LED screen. Toshiba claims that the Portege R500 has the world’s longest battery life amongst all other notebook class with a 12.1 inch widescreen.

The Toshiba Portege R500 is built with a 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo U7600 ultra-low voltage processor with a clock speed of 1.20GHz, 2MB L2 cache, and 533MHz FSB. The ultra-portable R500 is based on Mobile Intel 945 GMS Express chipset with integrated 950 Chipset Graphic Media Accelerator to manage the 12.1 inch 1280×800 LED backlight display. The R500 supports up to 2GB of DDR2 system memory and comes with 120GB 5400rpm SATA hard disk drive and an ultra-thin 7mm optical drive as a DVD burner.

Features that make the R500 impressive:

• Intel Wireless (802.11 a/g/n) WiFi Link

• Light and thin 7mm 8x DVD drive

• Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth

• Battery life lasting for around 4 hours

• Incredible start-up time

• Secure Digital and PCMCIA card slot

• VGA output

• IEEE 1394 Firewire Port

• Availability of Driver files and instruction manual for download at Toshiba’s website

• Fingerprint reader

• 3 years standard Warranty

Drawbacks:

• Absence of Mobile Broadband Antenna

• Lacks a 56K Modem

• Absence of Multifunction Card Reader

• While running multiple applications the R500 tends to slow down.

• No Webcam

Specifications:

• Genuine Windows Vista Business (32-bit version)

• Intel Core 2 Duo U7600 1.20GHz, 2MB L2, 533MHz FSB with 64-bit

• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 64MB

• 1024MB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM

• One SD memory slot available

• 120GB (5400 RPM); Serial-ATA hard disk drive

• 7mm, 8x DVD drive supporting 9 formats

• 12.1 inch diagonal widescreen with high-brightness display

• 1280 x 800 (WXGA) Trans-reflective backlit LED

• Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN (802.11a/g/n)

• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

Summary:

The performance of Toshiba Portege R500 is very positive, while there are some minor concerns with build quality, absence of mobile broadband yet the R500 is remarkably well built for such a small ultra-portable notebook. There is no doubt that one can expect the R500 to provide solid business performance.

Labels: Computers