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Monday, December 29, 2008

Reasons Why Acer Aspire One N270 is Best Laptops Deals

Acer Aspire One N270 weight just over 2 pounds and is packed with a 160 GB hard drive and Windows XP operating system. It has a vibrant 8.9 inch CrystalBrite and include 1 GB it can be upgraded up-to 1.5GB, 54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g), multi-format memory card reader, multiple USB ports.It comes preinstalled with the Microsoft Windows XP Home operating system and has a WSVGA resolution 1024 x 600 dpi. and support for up a 262K color depth.

Features
Acer Aspire One 1.6 GHz Atom N270 processor also includes a power-optimized front side bus of 533 MHz for faster data transfer on demanding mobile applications and a 512 KB L2 cache, the bus is the main processor for data in a laptop. The standard memory of RAM is 1GB and it can be upgraded up-to 1.5GB. Hard Disk Drive's capacity is up-to160 GB hard disk drive 5400 RPM, which offers enough to room to hold a digital audio library of over 26,000 songs and still have room left over for movies, games, and a large collection of software, serial ATA (SATA) hard drive also quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data. Because of its size does not come with an integrated optical drive, but optional CD/DVD read/write drives can be connected to the laptop via one of the three USB ports.

Design

The screen size of the Acer Aspire One N270 is of 8.9 inch with the maximum display resolution of 1024 x 600 and support color depth 262k. CrystalBrite display technology it an added attraction and has an Integrated Video by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 which has a shared memory with the main memory.Able to read color coordinates more accurately. The Acer Aspire One N270 includes an integrated audio card with Microsoft DirectSound compatibility and includes two stereo speakers.Also the Acer Aspire One N270 has an integrated 54g Wi-Fi which is 802.11b/g.

Price

The Acer Aspire One N270 prices about $349 - $399. about $349.99 at amazon, about $349.99 - $379.99 at Tigerdirect, about $349.99 at Bestbuy and about $349.99 at Office Depot.
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Sony Vaio Vgn-cs18gn/b

Sneak Peek

The Sony Vaio VGN-CS18GN/B notebook takes you to the next level of mobile computing. This sleek, stylish and sturdy notebook comes with host features that will make your business as well as entertainment a delight. The unique feature like Motion Eye technology makes your online video conferencing a delight.

Key Features

The powerful Intel Core2 Dou P8600 processor along with 3 GB RAM gives you optimum performance to run any kind of application without any worries. Keyboard is smooth and hand space provided is very spacious. The Intelligent Touchpad works very proficiently without being over sensitive to touch. The in built 250 GB hard disk provides you with enough storage space to keep your favorite movies, music and data. It features DVD Writer to burn large amount of data on the CD or DVD.

Design

The Sony Vaio VGN-CS18GN/B notebook has a distinct look with great detailing given on style and color. The Aroma Black color makes it appealing to the users as well as passers by. With the dimension of 335.8 x 245 x 39.8 mm and weight of 2.6 kg it is slim and lightweight. It can be carried anywhere while traveling. With the screen size of 14.1 inch Clear Bright display you will get crisp and clear images at a press of a button. . It is also provided with an internal modem whose speed is 56 kbps with the WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n.

Core Information

The cache memory of the Sony-VAIO VGN-CR23G/L notebook is 3072 KB. This form of memory can be considered as an intermediary between the main physical RAM and the CPU. The cache makes any data regularly used by CPU instantly obtainable.

Cutting Edge Technology

Sony Vaio VGN-CS18GN/B notebook features latest technology in computing mobility. The Notebook has various ports and slots for different utilizations. Fingerprint Reader, 3 in 1 Digital Media Reader, Express card slot, 3 USB Port, Firewire port. The notebook comes with integrated Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS video card.

Conclusion

Sony Vaio VGN-CS18GN/B notebook will delight the user with its latest features and performance. The genuine Windows Vista Business operating system gives you optimum performance. Home users looking for affordable notebook with advance features can opt for this model.

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The Benefits of Owning an Alienware Laptop – Gaming All Day Long!

The first computer games were simple and did not require graphics but they were a lot of fun. Millions of people have made a hobby out of playing on the computer throughout time, with games advancing and entering the 3D era. Today, we can play high-resolution games on powerful computers, including on the gaming laptop. Shopping for such a product requires a lot of knowledge and experience with gaming. Determining which alienware laptop is suitable starts with considering your playing needs. Let’s talk about it.

What you have to understand is that there are not special computers made only for gaming. The best components are combined to make a gaming laptop, one that is fit for other applications as well. These computers have amazing components, including top-speed processors, video RAM and ultramodern graphics cards. The display screen is also interesting, with a viewing quality that is more than impressive. Having an alienware laptop means that all of your dreams have come true. And this is why you need to be certain that you have chosen the very best.

Quality is a very important factor for anyone interested in a gaming laptop. Thinking about quality, the first step that you need to take is to find an alienware laptop that has the best graphics card. This will ensure the performance needed for the complete gaming experience. As for the RAM (we all know it stands for Random Access Memory), specialists in the field recommend a gaming laptop that has video RAM. There is a very big difference between simple and video RAM, with the last being indicated for extreme gaming. You will definitely enjoy your alienware laptop once it has all the memory it needs for all the games to function properly.

What do all gamers want from a gaming laptop? Speed! This is where the processor comes in, the heart of your laptop and the very essence of its functioning. If you have an alienware laptop with a dual core processor, then you can rest assured. The gaming experience will prove to be nothing more and nothing less than perfect. As a reminder, the processor is responsible of data processing and general functioning. You might want to invest a little bit more in your processor if you really want a gaming laptop.

The display, meaning the laptop’s resolution, is also important. You have the opportunity to purchase a gaming laptop that has a large screen and offers incredible viewing quality. Keep in mind that the resolution is linked to the quality of graphics card. All of these components should blend in perfectly, resulting in the alienware laptop you have always wanted for gaming. After all, how can you not be enthusiastic once you are presented with a gaming laptop that has performance and graphics quality as its two main attributes?

As the technology develops, we find ourselves more and more attracted to the possibility of owning a gaming laptop. We use the World Wide Web to locate the products we need and analyze all of their features with great enthusiasm. Hardcore gamers enjoy the new generation of gaming laptops and so do the ones who are just entering this amazing world. Dual core processors, complex graphics cards and high-resolution screens make gaming laptops popular. Each day, new features are being added and the gaming experience is transformed into something even better. And it’s all out there for the die-hard gamers!
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Lenovo Laptops : Power Packed Laptop With the Combination of Style and Low Price

It gives you a scope of best processors, fastest graphics with durability with reliability. It gives you a wide variety of new innovations with extra storage data. Starting at reasonable price to expensive laptops, they are considered to be one of the lightest and fastest laptops. If you are in a hurry and don't have time to plan or prepare your business meetings and presentations, then Lenovo laptops are the best option for you. Anyone can afford it at a cheap price. They are unique in style and have a high performance in terms of quality. Once you get use to it, it become very easy to operate. Some of the best features are like integrated camera, touch pad, modem and wireless card. These laptops come with all those features which can attract the customers at the first look.

Sometime back, if we had to complete a piece of work on the move, it was quite difficult as there were only computers at that time which were not portable. You cannot carry your computer system along with you. But, today, in the 21st century the time has changed and laptops have owned that place instead of personal systems. They are small in size and portable. These can also be called as modern era computer because of its integrated graphics and long battery life. Lenovo laptops are one of the active competitors in the market and receiving lot of coverage across the world. This world class performer has proved to be the best in terms of technology and quality. Their high class functions come with several world class features. Its LCD screen offer you a vibrant display quality and high navigation facility.

These are the compact cum preloaded capacity featured laptops. You can save as much as data you want to save. Filled with all the features, these laptops won't let you down and save your time as well. They will serve you better and are very much in demand.

There are numerous cheap laptops available in the market with different features. One can easily can get confused, which one to pick. No need to worry, because they are one of the competitors in the market and give you best quality at a reasonable price. If we talk about one of its models, the name of Lenovo l 3000 G410 2049-44Q comes with 14.1 inches TFT display, internal memory of 1 GB, 4 USB ports, touchpad, Bluetooth and 4-in-1 media card reader comes easily. This laptop can captivate anyone's attention by its first look. Its sleek and shiny silver body gives it a glamorous look. This is considered as a full equipped laptop with an entire range of capabilities.
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Low Price Dell Laptops

Dell laptops are designed to suit wide range of needs. They have provided quality at affordable rates which has made worthy laptops reach the common person. Dell has constantly experimented with its laptop offering and has created a series of laptops catering every need. It has the Dell XPS series aimed at gaming enthusiasts. The famed Dell Inspiron series is for the mid-range user which combines style, portability and functionality. The Dell Vostro series aims at small and medium business users compiling work and entertainment.

Dell laptops have carved a niche in almost all categories of users. Dell has pioneered in using lithium-ion batteries in laptops to provide enduring laptop usage with greater battery backup capacity. Dell laptops use Intel and AMD processing systems. The AMD processors are used in their gaming platforms and Intel is used for other computing needs.

They are soon about to launch a laptop which has extended battery life performance. This will enable users to operate their laptop by being wireless for hours together. The low price Dell laptops are available for Rs. 35,000 and above. They face competition from popular brands like Acer laptops, Sony laptops, Toshiba laptops, Hp, laptops and Lenovo laptops. Dell has been a favorite for their prompt after sales service and dedicated customer care. Dell laptops lack the enhanced audio/video capability but have enduring performance for most computing needs.

There are some latest dell laptops to be launched in their Latitude and Precision series; these laptops are aimed at providing slim looks and heavy performance. The new-range offers the lightest laptop by the company to the heavy performance based machines.

Dell Laptops has an interactive online support which provides technical solutions virtually. This helps in providing you professional guidance for your entire computer quires. To buy Dell laptops you can go their official site and place an order or you can make purchases from popular shopping based websites. Dell is an option to consider while buying a laptop is for their dedicated customer care and good after sales service. Their USP lies in providing a well-featured laptop with enhanced performance at a reasonable price. This combination of features make Dell laptops a gullible buy. Their products are of high specifications and provide scope for up gradations. You can get the best Dell laptop that suits your needs and fits in your budget.

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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Dell Laptop Hard Drive Diagnostics

By Toby Barns

Most Dell laptop and desktop computers will come with a handy utility already built into them for performing at least some form of basic diagnostics when you need to do a little bit of preliminary troubleshooting. This article will show you how to test the hard drive which is installed in your Dell laptop or desktop computer.

Some symptoms which should make you suspect that your hard drive is either going bad or has gone bad to some extent include:

No POST - your laptop or desktop computer just hangs and does nothing when you turn it on. It may sit with the lights on, but do nothing more. It may come on for a couple of seconds and then shut itself back off.

Errors - instead of seeing the Windows splash screen after your laptop completes it's POST you get an error which may mention that there is no boot device, or that maybe there is no mountable volume on the drive.

Sluggish Performance - Often when a hard drive is failing you will be able to have some form of a heads up about this unfortunate fact by witnessing a noticeable decline in your systems performance when you are actually in the laptop's OS (Operating System).

Windows Warning - Microsoft Windows does have the ability to actually warn you through a message which will pop up on your screen letting you know that you should save, then backup all important data immediately because a hard drive failure is imminent. Now, it is not necessarily a good idea to wait until this message is displayed because often times a hard drive will go completely bad, unusable, without this warning message ever showing up on your display screen at all.

On your Dell laptop or desktop computer you will likely find a handy utility which will run a quick test on your hard drive for you. This test is very reliable, at least for determining if your hard drive has actually gone bad.

The way you can access this test is as follows:
Power on your Dell computer, you will see the Dell splash screen, then very briefly you will see a message referring to F2 and F12 in the upper right hand corner of your laptop or desktop screen. The trick is to press the F12 key on your keyboard right when you see the message about F2 and F12 show up in the upper right hand corner of your screen.

This will bring up a BIOS boot menu and you will simply choose the one which refers to the hard drive diagnostics. Different Dell laptop or desktop models will offer different choices based on the hard drive being IDE or SATA. Once you have selected your drive the testing will begin. After around two to five minutes or so, depending on the size of your hard drive, you will see the results of the test. The results will either be a PASS, or a fail error code. The thing to remember with the Dell hard drive diagnostics is that a return error code 7 means that your hard drive does indeed need to be replaced. Backup any important data which you may have on your laptop or desktop computer and replace your hard drive.

Learn alternative ways to run Dell hard drive diagnostics already built into your Dell computer.

Toby Barns is a computer and networking consultant with over ten years experience as an independent representative of many major computer manufactures and retailers. Toby has worked in tech support call centers, led teams of advanced technicians in the computer manufacturing industry, done consulting for retail computer outlets, and as a field representative for many major computer warranty service providers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Toby_Barns

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How to Get the Best Deal on an Acer Laptop

Trying to find a computer can be a painstaking task. If you've figured out which type and brand you want, then you're ahead of the game. Acer laptops are fast becoming very popular. They are a Tawainese company that has been on the rise for some time. So, how do you get the best deal on an Acer laptop. The first step is to determine exactly which Acer laptop you want to purchase. I recommend the Acer aspire laptop. It is a good quality laptop, with a lot of features at affordable prices.

Step number two in finding the best deal on an acer laptop is to do some comparative shopping. First at the retail stores, then online. I recommend going to the major electronic retailers first, as they will help you in your research by explaining the differences and features of the Acer laptops. Sometimes what might appear to be a great deal on an acer laptop, really isn't, because it might be lacking a certain feature. Make sure you visit at least 2 or 3 major retailers and ask the "geek" on duty to tell you a little about each machine, and pricing. Take notes, if you have a hard time remembering. Once you have done your leg work at the retailers, now you need to go online and really find the deal on an acer laptop.

First go to Amazon.com. Amazon has a lot of information, huge selection, and will help you figure out what price is a good deal. Next go to other online shopping malls and find the lowest price, then compare your research. Look for free shipping, free add ons, etc. I bought my acer laptop online, got free shipping, and was extremely happy with the deal I received on my acer laptop. I found it at a great site: http://www.best-deal-on.com/AcerLaptops.html I recommend this site with great confidence that it will be where you ultimately find the best deal on an acer laptop. Good luck.

Jim Deering

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Deering

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A Laptop With Three GPUs Will Come to Market

By John Sunvalley

I have just got to know that Toshiba launches laptop with three GPUs,

On Thursday, NVIDIA and Toshiba jointly announced the first laptop with three, count 'em, three NVIDIA GPUs. The new models added to the Qosmio X305 line use hybrid SLI to use the integrated NVIDIA 9400M GPU during non-frenetic video use (i.e., not gaming), and switches to the dual NVIDIA 9800M GTS GPUs for ultra-FPS performance.

The combined efforts of both companies resulted in Toshiba's most powerful gaming laptop to date featuring the new highly integrated GeForce® 9400M graphics processing unit (GPU) along with a pair of NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS enthusiast-class GPUs.
That laptop must be very cool for gaming. But how can they deal with the heat?

When Toshiba set out to reset the bar for high performance gaming laptops and revamp its flagship gaming line, the company turned to NVIDIA for its expertise in visual computing. The combined efforts of both companies resulted in Toshiba's most powerful gaming laptop to date featuring the new highly integrated GeForce® 9400M graphics processing unit (GPU) along with a pair of NVIDIA GeForce 9800M GTS enthusiast-class GPUs. The Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q708 and X305-Q706, the first pair of laptops to incorporate three powerful NVIDIA GPUs, gives users a choice between maximum performance and quiet operation.

"We wanted to deliver an extreme-performance gaming machine that gives gamers a complete, non-compromising system in a laptop form factor," said Carl Pinto, vice president of product development, digital products division for Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. "The combination of the NVIDIA GPUs and chipset allowed us to achieve a high level of performance, quality and flexibility that our customers are asking for, at a competitive starting price of $1,999."

We are a manufacturing representative and distributor of discount laptop parts and accessories - Laptop Battery Laptop AC Adapter Laptop Keyboard Laptop Car Charger LCD Panel.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Sunvalley
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Sunday, December 21, 2008

Intel Laptop Platform to Boost Graphics, Power Use

Agam Shah, IDG News Service

Intel's next-generation platform for laptops will provide more visually stunning graphics and better power management features, the company said on Tuesday.

The company's next mobile platform, code-named Calpella, will be released in 2009. It is a follow-up to Intel's Centrino 2 mobile platform released last month, Intel officials said at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco.

Calpella will include chips based on Intel's upcoming Nehalem microarchitecture, which is expected to reach consumers in the second half of 2009. Packing two and four cores, Nehalem-based laptop chips will be an upgrade from Intel's current Core 2 chips, which are used in notebooks and desktops. Nehalem cuts bottlenecks from the Core microarchitecture to deliver better system speed and performance-per-watt.

Intel is integrating the memory controller and graphics core into the CPU for Nehalem-based laptops, which should boost system and graphics performance, according to the company. That should also reduce the need of integrated graphics capabilities, though gamers may need a discrete graphics card for high-end graphics performance.

Calpella will also feature better manageability and security features for business and home users, said Dadi Perlmutter, executive vice president at Intel, during a speech. Perlmutter did not provide further details about the platform, saying the company would detail it as the release date comes closer.

The first Nehalem chips will reach high-end desktops, said Pat Gelsinger, senior vice president at Intel, during a speech at the IDF. Intel's first Nehalem chip has been branded Core i7 and will ship in the fourth quarter this year. The Nehalem-based server products, code-named Nehalem-EP, will go into production later this year, and will be followed up by another version, code-named Nehalem-EX, which will go into production in 2009.

With between two and eight cores, the speed of Nehalem chips will be enhanced with QuickPath Interconnect (QPI) technology, which integrates a memory controller and provides a faster pipe for chips and system components to communicate. Nehalem will support DDR3 memory and include shared 8M bytes of shared L3 cache for local cores to better execute threads. Each core will be able to execute two software threads simultaneously, so a server with eight processor cores could potentially run 16 threads simultaneously.

The new chips will also feature Turbo Mode technology, which improves power efficiency of the chips by disabling inactive cores to prevent power leakage.

"The key idea in power management is quite simple -- to shut things off when not in use," said Rajesh Kumar, an Intel fellow during a presentation at the forum.

This is an improvement from Intel's earlier power-saving technology, which wasn't efficient in dealing with power leakage from inactive cores, Kumar said. The Turbo Mode technology has been around for a decade but was hard to execute. It required the development of a whole new process technology to make the technology possible. Several sensors measure power in real time, and a new microcontroller has been included to work on power management, he said.

Processing power could also increase with the technology, Kumar said. All cores may not be needed to perform a given workload, so the technology reassigns power from inactive cores to boost performance of operational cores. The more power constrained you are, the more performance will increase, heye said.

Turbo Mode technology will be implemented in future chip architectures, Kumar said.
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Mobile Computing & Wireless Networking News

Microsoft launches first iPhone app

By Jeremy Kirk, IDG news service

Microsoft has launched its first-ever iPhone application is a slick photo viewer with a browsing capability that handles a large number of photos on a mobile device screen.

The Seadragon mobile application is free through Apple's application store. It a product of Microsoft's Live Labs division, which focuses on developing web-based technology and applications.

Seadragon incorporates the Deep Zoom feature, which is also integrated into Silverlight 2, Microsoft's multimedia tool. It allows a user to quickly magnify a particular area of a photo, regardless of its size.

Microsoft said the aim of the mobile application is to let users view even wall-sized displays on a mobile device, regardless of the amount of bandwidth on the network.

Seadragon renders documents as little thumbnails, and a double-tap brings it into focus. A reverse pinch on the iPhone's touch screen kicks in the Deep Zoom, revealing sharp detail.

For the iPhone, Seadragon comes preloaded with bookmarks that deliver content from organizations such as the US Geological Survey for photos and the US Library of Congress for documents.

But the viewer could also be used to browse email or other content. "If you can think of a data type, this can be applied to it," said Microsoft developer Ben Vanik, in a short video.

Seadragon mobile can be used in conjunction with Microsoft's Photosynth application, which takes batches of digital photos and stitches them together. In order to create a Deep Zoom image, Microsoft offers a tool that will prepare the photo or document.

Of the 16 comments about Seadragon on Apple's application store, nearly all were positive. One user called it "brilliant" especially since Microsoft was treading on "alien territories" by writing an application for its competitor's platform.

Microsoft didn't say when Seadragon would be available on other mobile devices or operating systems, including its own Windows Mobile.
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Intel Previews New Laptop Platform

Sharon Gaudin, Computerworld

Intel last week gave a quick preview of its next generation laptop platform, which could shake up the chipmaker's mobile offerings.

The company gave analysts and users a glimpse of the new platform, codenamed Calpella, at its fall Intel Developer's Forum (IDF) in Taiwan. Mooly Eden, corporate vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobile Platforms group, said during his keynote address at the forum that the platform focuses largely on energy efficiency and longer battery life.

Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at research firm Insight 64, said that if he was a hardware vendor, he'd be eagerly awaiting the 2009 arrival of Calpella. "It's a very different platform than anything they've done to date," he said. "When Calpella shows up, everything inside that laptop will be brand new."

The analyst explained that until now, Intel's laptop platforms have consisted of a CPU and a Northbridge chip, which holds the memory controller and the graphics chip. However, in Calpella, the memory controller has been moved onto the CPU itself. The graphics remain separate but will be packaged with the CPU, giving it better access to the memory controller and the CPU, he said.

"These are all good things," said Brookwood. "If I was a vendor, I'd be excited over this, but a little nervous because everything inside the platform is changing at the same time. With so many balls in the air, it's easy to drop one."

However, he added that since Intel is previewing the platform a year before it ships, most of his concerns are lessened.

The Calpella platform will be based on Intel's upcoming 45nm-based Nehalem architecture. The first Nehalem chips, which will be quad-core server chips, are expected to ship this fall. The rest of the Nehalem family -- desktop chips, dual-core, more quad-core and eight-core chips -- are slated to be released over the course of next year. Brookwood noted that the Nehalem chips for the laptop are scheduled to ship in the second half of 2009.

Intel execs showed off the first 8-core Nehalem chip at its Intel Developer Forum in August. A week before the forum, the chipmaker announced that it was naming the new family of chips Intel Core. The first Core chips to hit the market will get the added label of i7, making the full name Intel Core i7.

The Nehalem technology has a new modular architecture, which officials say will make it easier to scale from two to eight cores. The Core chips also are being designed to have two-way, simultaneous multithreading, use Intel's QuickPath interconnect, and have a three-level cache hierarchy.
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HP makes desktop virtualisation move

By James Niccolai, IDG news service

HP is set to launch new software to improve video playback and allow the use of USB peripherals such as webcams. The company is also rebranding its desktop virtualisation suite as the HP Virtual Client Essentials, and adding Linux support for its broker software, called Session Allocation Manager, which currently runs only on Window.

Most of the updates concern HP's Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) suite, which allows a company to run multiple images of a desktop OS in virtual containers on a server, instead of having to manage a separate OS on each employee's PC.

Virtualised desktops are catching on at some businesses but companies need to provide workers with an experience similar to what they'd expect from a standard desktop PC, and that hasn't always been the case with multimedia content, said industry analyst Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates.

HP said it has solved that problem by developing an enhanced version of Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol, which transfers presentation data between thin clients and Windows applications running on a virtualised server.

The existing RDP works fine for relaying basic on-screen data, such as keyboard strokes and mouse movements, but it's not good at carrying rich content such as a training video or webcast, said Manoj Malhotra, product marketing manager for HP's Client Virtualization group.

"The server gets overloaded when it tries to decode a video stream for a large number of users, and some employees end up having a poor experience," he said.

HP's enhanced RDP shifts the burden of decoding video away from the server and onto the thin clients, he said. That will allow companies to stream video to a large number of employees without a deterioration in performance, he said. The new protocol also lets them plug in a wide range of USB peripherals, which don't work well with the existing RDP, according to HP.

The enhanced protocol will be preinstalled starting in January on HP's thin clients running Windows XP Embedded, and on its Linux thin clients later in the first quarter, Malhotra said.
HP said the enhanced RDP is aimed at basic productivity workers. The company also has its own RGS (Remote Graphics Software) protocol, which it positions for applications that use higher end graphics, such as CAD programs, or that multiple users access at once.

While the enhanced RDP will be free, HP charges for its RGS protocol. But on Monday it said it has cut the price of RGS to $35(£21) per seat, from "between $99 and a few hundred dollars" per seat, Malhotra said. It's also allowing customers to use RGS on non-HP servers, which previously was not permitted, he said.

He predicted that the RGS protocol would become more widely used, but HP still expects the enhanced RDP to be used for about 75 percent of virtual desktop deployments.
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Intel to improve battery life with new laptop platform

By Sharon Gaudin, Computerworld (US)

Intel has given industry watchers a quick preview of its next generation laptop platform, which could shake up the chip giant's portable device offerings.

The company gave analysts and users a glimpse of the new platform, codenamed Calpella, at its fall Intel Developer's Forum (IDF) in Taiwan this week. Mooly Eden, corporate vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobile Platforms group, said during his keynote address at the forum that the platform focuses largely on energy efficiency and longer battery life.

Nathan Brookwood, an analyst at research firm Insight 64, said that if he was a hardware vendor, he'd be eagerly awaiting the 2009 arrival of Calpella. "It's a very different platform than anything they've done to date," he said. "When Calpella shows up, everything inside that laptop will be brand new."

The analyst explained that until now, Intel's laptop platforms have consisted of a CPU and a Northbridge chip, which holds the memory controller and the graphics chip. However, in Calpella, the memory controller has been moved onto the CPU itself. The graphics remain separate but will be packaged with the CPU, giving it better access to the memory controller and the CPU, he said.

"These are all good things," said Brookwood. "If I was a vendor, I'd be excited over this, but a little nervous because everything inside the platform is changing at the same time. With so many balls in the air, it's easy to drop one."

However, he added that since Intel is previewing the platform a year before it ships, most of his concerns are lessened.

The Calpella platform will be based on Intel's upcoming 45nm-based Nehalem architecture. The first Nehalem chips, which will be quad-core server chips, are expected to ship this fall. The rest of the Nehalem family - desktop chips, dual-core, more quad-core and eight-core chips - are slated to be released over the course of next year. Brookwood noted that the Nehalem chips for the laptop are scheduled to ship in the second half of 2009.

Intel execs showed off the first 8-core Nehalem chip at its Intel Developer Forum in August. A week before the forum, the chipmaker announced that it was naming the new family of chips Intel Core. The first Core chips to hit the market will get the added label of i7, making the full name Intel Core i7.

The Nehalem technology has a new modular architecture, which officials say will make it easier to scale from two to eight cores. The Core chips also are being designed to have two-way, simultaneous multithreading, use Intel's QuickPath interconnect, and have a three-level cache hierarchy.
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Thursday, December 11, 2008

HP Pavilion tx2510ca Entertainment Notebook - AMD Turion x2 RM-70 2GHz, 3GB DDR2, 250GB HDD, DVDRW DL Lightscribe, 12.1 WXGA, Bluetooth, Vista Home


HP Pavilion tx2510ca Entertainment Notebook
For those whose active lives demand a flexible device for note capture, Internet use, entertainment, communication and computing, the HP Pavilion tx2510 series Entertainment Notebook PC delivers. The tx2510 combines powerful computing with Tablet PC capabilities and entertainment features in an attractive design light enough to go anywhere. HP Pavilion notebook PCs help you work faster, connect in new ways and play more.

Mobile Entertainment
Providing more choices than ever, QuickPlay enables access to DVDs, videos, photos, music, karaoke, games, Internet TV, and streamed or recorded TV (with an optional TV Tuner) at the touch of a button. Built-in demos show you how to add music to your slide shows or videos with drag-and-drop functionality – and much more. Dual headphone jacks enable you to share films and music without disturbing others. Muvee autoProducer makes creating films complete with effects and transitions a snap! It’s time to play!

HP Pavilion tx2510ca Entertainment Notebook HP’s innovative notebook PC designs truly integrate fashion and technology. High-gloss HP Imprint finish – recipient of an iF Material Design award -- encases the elegant forms and is more durable than traditional painted surfaces. The tx2510 Imprint reveals a subtle pattern inspired by the circular elements found in audio equipment. Backlit media controls respond to the touch or sweep of a finger. HP’s mobile products have won coveted International Red Dot awards and have been recognized by other leading design institutions.

  • Enhanced security with built-in fingerprint reader
    Using unique fingerprints instead of standard passwords to access online accounts such as banking and e-mail, a fingerprint reader offers greater security and ease-of-use. To set up access, simply assign each fingerprint to a password through the Digital Personal software.
  • Face-to-face with the HP Webcam
    Turn your next instant message into a live video chat with the integrated webcam, omni directional microphone and an IM solution. Optimized for low-light environments, it's great for capturing short videos or photos to e-mail to friends or share on your favorite social networking site.
  • Personalized disc labels with LightScribe
    Create custom laser-etched disc labels right in the drive with LightScribe and preinstalled Cyberlink DVD Suite. Just burn data on the disc, flip it over and burn the cover image using any scanned image and/or text. Visit the LightScribe Web site for more information.
  • Photo-ready with 5-in-1 media card reader
    Transfer photos from your digital camera in seconds.

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Fujitsu Siemens Lifebook S2110 AMD-based notebook

First UK Review Fujitsu Siemens has launched a new Lifebook notebook on the first day of CeBIT, and it’s the first model in this range to use an AMD processor. Strictly speaking, the Lifebook S2110 isn’t a new model as it has been on sale in the US for a couple of months under the Fujitsu brand. However, Fujitsu Siemens is a 50:50 joint venture between Fujitsu and Siemens, which gives the S2110 a tenuous claim to fame.

Conspiracy theorists might like to note that this year CeBIT overlaps with Intel Developer Forum so this European launch takes place while Intel’s great and good extol the virtues of Pentium M. Those same conspiracy theorists might like to note that the Lifebook S2110 was delivered to us in a box adorned with an Intel sticker.

The key features of a professional notebook are low weight, decent battery life and connectivity, while a huge screen and gaming graphics take a back seat.


On this front the S2110 delivers the goods - it weighs in at 1.9kg with the DVD-Ram drive installed. The optical drive slips into a modular drive bay which can alternatively accommodate a second battery, which on past form will cost about £110 inc VAT. We didn’t receive this accessory with the review sample so we ran our battery test on the main 5200mAh battery and got a real world battery life figure of 2h 31m. The secondary battery is a rated at 3800mAh so it's fair to speculate that this would boost the working life to 4h 20m, which is rather impressive.

In the past, AMD notebooks have suffered from questionable power management which has often been blamed on the chipset, but in this case the combination of the ATI RS482 North Bridge with ATI's own SB400 South Bridge on a Fujitsu FJNB19A motherboard gives us no cause for complaint. Although the Radeon Xpress 200M graphics support DirectX 9 with Shader Model 2.0, it's clear from the pathetic 3DMark05 score of 468 that the S2110 will be of no interest to gamers. It is, however, superb at running presentations, and although the 13.3in screen is limited to a resolution of 1,024 x 768 you can raise the resolution to 1,600 x 1,200 if you plug in an external monitor or projector. The screen is superb, but frankly we’d expect that of any 1,024 x 768 panel in this day and age as every notebook manufacturer has stack of experience with this technology and Fujitsu Siemens is no exception.

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Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Shopping tips

Buy à la carte

If you've settled on a model and prefer not to buy in a store, order from the manufacturer's Web site. Configure-to-order is now common practice for laptops as well as desktops. Menus show you all the options and let you see how a change affects the overall price. You might decide on a less-expensive processor, for example, but spend more for wireless capability or better graphics. Configure-to-order will often give you choices that you won't get if you buy an off-the-shelf model. And it means less chance of overlooking important details. But be sure to double-check your choices before ordering, and look for unwanted items that some manufacturers include by default.

Play down the processor speed

Current processors deliver all the speed most people need. Instead, get at least 2 GB of RAM.

Get all the storage space you paid for

You may have noticed when you bought a new system that a significant chunk of hard-drive space had already been used up. Of course, the operating system and certain preloaded applications eat up a few gigabytes. That's why the average new system uses about 30 to 40 GB out of the box. But how to explain the systems that use 50 or 60 GB?

Think green when you buy

A new, voluntary Energy Star standard for computers went into effect last summer. It should result in more efficient power use. Energy-use guidelines now cover three operating modes—standby, sleep, and running—with systems entering sleep mode within 30 minutes of inactivity. Power supplies will also need to operate more efficiently.

You probably won't notice much difference in the operation of your computer but your electric bill might go down a bit. Look for the Energy Star label on qualified desktops. Prices won't increase because of the new standard, according to a spokesman for the Energy Star program.

Most manufacturers also have recycling programs that help you to dispose of your old computer, but the programs vary considerably from one company to another.

Computer manufacturers offer a variety of recycling options. When you buy a computer or monitor from Apple, the company will recycle one computer, one monitor, and peripherals at no charge. You can recycle Dell products free at any time. When you buy a Dell product, you get free recycling of any brand of computer or monitor. Shipping is included with the Apple and Dell programs.


HP will recycle any brand of computer, monitor, printer, and other items for $13 to $34 per item, and offers up to a $50 coupon for HP products. Gateway lets you trade in any brand of computer for credit toward a new machine, assuming the item still has some value. Sony has a free drop-off recycling program at 80 locations nationwide, or you can ship to Sony at your cost. Lenovo recycles for $30, including shipping, but gives you a $50 credit toward a future purchase.

Check it out in the store

With a laptop, ergonomics and style are important. The best way to assess those features is to try the laptop at a retail store. Make sure that the keyboard and pointing device are comfortable to use. Also note whether there's glare on the display and how heavy the laptop feels.

Ergonomics can make or break a laptop

Look for a keyboard with keys that don't feel mushy. Touchpads should be large enough so that your finger can cover the span of the screen without repeatedly lifting it, and touchpad buttons should be easy to find and press. The touchpad should also have a dedicated scroll area.

The laptop shouldn't get hot during use (89 to 100 degrees is a good range), and it should run quietly. Glossy screens are now standard on most laptops. Several have added antireflective coatings, with mixed results.

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Computer Buying Guide for Laptop

Meaningful differences in speed between desktops and laptops have largely disappeared. But each design has its own advantages and trade-offs. We give you the essential information to find the computer that's right for you.

1. Feature
The key components of a computer are the processor, memory, operating system, hard drive, graphics adapter (with video RAM), optical drive, and display (monitor). Laptop computers have additional features and considerations that are important. Where applicable, we've noted feature information that is important and distinctive to the type of computers.

2. Processor
This is the computer's "brains." Clock speed, measured in gigahertz (GHz), and the chip's design, termed "architecture," determine how quickly it can process information. Within a processor family, the higher the clock speed, the faster the computer. But different processor families reach different efficiencies.
For laptops: Laptops generally come with a dual-core processor. If you're on a budget, an Intel Pentium Dual-Core or AMD Turion 64 X2 is fine. For greater power or battery life, get an Intel Core 2 Duo.

3. Random Access Memory (RAM)
Most brand-name computers sold today have at least 1GB of RAM, the memory the computer uses while in operation. For laptops: We recommend at least 2GB of RAM (random-access memory).

4. Graphic Adapter
A computer's graphics adapter is either integrated onto the motherboard or on a separate internal plug-in card. In addition to feeding the computer's display with an analog (VGA) or a digital (DVI) signal, a graphics adapter might have an output such as an S-video or HDMI port to feed video to an external TV (common), or accept video from an external analog source (rare). But an adapter can always display video from sources such as a file, a DVD, an external analog feed, or a TV tuner. All desktops and laptops come with a minimum of integrated graphics capability for watching DVDs or playing casual games such as solitaire. Video RAM, or VRAM, is secondary RAM that works with the graphics processor to provide smooth video imaging and game play. To run Windows Vista's 3D interface or play 3D-intensive games, we recommend at least 256 MB or more.

5. Hard Disk
This is your computer's long-term data storage. Given the requirements of today's games, digital photos, and video files, bigger is better. Sizes commonly range from 160GB to 750GB. You'll even see drives of 1 terabyte (1,000GB). For added security, you could opt for a RAID array (redundant array of identical disks), which includes two identical drives set up so that data is written to both drives simultaneously. That way if one crashes, all your data is safe on the other one.
You might also see the term serial ATA, or SATA, applied to hard drives. SATA provides a faster form of data transfer than the older parallel ATA disk drive interface. For laptops: Most laptops come with a traditional 60- to 320-gigabyte hard drive, which is where all your files and programs are stored. Pay attention to a hard drive's speed. 4,200 RPM, while rare, is considered fairly slow. 5,400 RPM is common. 7,200 RPM is fastest, but costs more. Some laptops can be equipped with two hard drives for improved performance or backup

6. Optical Drive
DVD writers are standard gear on today's computers. A DVD burner provides removable storage for home-video footage or digital photos. With the HD disc format wars over, Blu-ray disc (BD) drives are the standard to look for. BD is capable of playing the growing list of Blu-ray movies and can store 50GB, almost six times the capacity of a double-layer DVD. On some systems, you might find Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo drives, which can also play whatever HD DVD movies are still out there. There are also three older competing, incompatible DVD formats-DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM. Some drives can write in more than one format, but all can create a disc that will play on stand-alone DVD players.
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Apple MacBook Pro


The Intel Core Duo powering MacBook Pro is actually two processors built into a single chip. This, combined with myriad other engineering leaps, boosts performance up to four times higher than the PowerBook G4. With this awesome power, it's a breeze to render complex 3D models, enjoy smooth playback of HD video, or host a four-way video conference.

Intel Core Duo is the first chip built using Intel's groundbreaking 65-nanometer process - resulting in transistors so small, you could fit a hundred inside a single human cell. With smaller distances for electrons to travel, and two processors designed to share resources and conserve power, Intel Core Duo achieves higher levels of performance as it uses fewer watts. Which is what makes it possible to design a super-powerful MacBook Pro that's only one inch thin.

When Mac technology makes something easy, it's hardly news. So here's more non-news for MacBook Pro owners: software just works. If you see the Universal logo on a new application, that means it will run on Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers. For most existing applications, you simply do what you've always done: double-click them. Thanks to the Rosetta technology in Mac OS X, they look and feel just like they did before.

Product specificatin

Processor Brand:Intel
Processor Class:Core Duo
Processor Speed:2 GHz
Installed Memory:1 GB
Installed Video Memory:256 MB
Hard Drive Capacity:100 GB
Display Size:15.4 in.
Display Type:TFT active matrix
Wireless Technology:Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Operating System:Apple MacOS X 10.4.4
Weight:5.5 lbs.
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Saturday, December 6, 2008

Dell XPS M1330


The Power of Two

The Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo is optimized for processor intensive multimedia and applications, driving your PC and digital entertainment experience further and faster than ever before.

Ultimate Windows Vista® Productivity

Take control of your PC with Microsoft’s latest operating system. Enjoy enhanced organization, search features and network controls and use the new built-in Media Center to manage your digital photos, videos and music. Choose (PRODUCT) REDTM for this system and experience Windows Vista® Ultimate (PRODUCT) REDTM . Enjoy an exclusive screen saver, wallpapers and a special (PRODUCT) REDTM Dream Scene video wallpaper.

Look, Listen, Play

The M1330 creates a portable entertainment environment you can enjoy how, when and where you want:
  • Use the HDMI output to connect your laptop to a high-definition plasma or LCD TV. Grab the included remote, lean back and control your system from the comfort of your favorite chair
  • Dual headphone jacks to share with a friend when you’re on the go
  • Step up to the optional NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS upgrade for some serious graphics horsepower
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Great Gaming

Pros: Fast, Good Value, High Quality, Many Features, Easy to Overclock, Energy Efficient, very quite

Product Use Mainly for On-Line Gaming but use it for HouseHold as well and E-Mail
"Have Used this System for over 2 years now and not a single problem with the CPU or Video Card.
CPU= AMD Athlon X2 5600
V.C.= Sapphire Radeon X1950 Pro
ECS MVP Extream MB
4 Gigs OCZ ATI CrossFire Certified Memory
DESK TOP Not a NoteBook !
Self Built"
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AMD Turion X2 Ultra and Turion X2 Dual-Core Key Architecture Features


Direct Connect Architecture
Helps deliver leading-edge PC system performance by eliminating delays caused when multiple components compete for access to the processor bus.

FEATURES:

  • Designed to eliminate the real challenges and bottlenecks of system architectures through the use of separate, dedicated high-speed links:
    • between the processor and main memory
    • between the processor and I/O
    • between CPU cores within the same processor


Powerful Multi-Core Processing

Enables better multi-tasking performance for today’s more demanding PC users so they can run multiple applications to do more in less time.

FEATURES:

  • The extensive AMD64 architectural optimizations and features enable thorough integration of multiple cores within the same processor, with each core having its own L1 and L2 caches


Mobile Optimized Memory Controller

Enables dramatic application performance improvements with increased system bandwidth for a better PC experience with less latency and long battery life.

FEATURES:

  • Directly connects processor to memory to optimize memory performance and bandwidth. Improved memory bandwidth and support for DDR2-800 help provide increased memory performance. Power consumption is reduced by operating at a lower voltage and frequency from processor cores.
  • PC2-6400 (DDR2-800), PC2-5300 (DDR2-667), PC2-4200/4300 (DDR2-533) SDRAM unbuffered DIMMs
  • Support for 64-bit DDR2 SDRAM memory
  • Up to 12.8 GB/s memory bandwidth

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