Li-ion Battery Knowledge Infomation

Chengdu consumers sued successful Toshiba

2008-08-09T00:54:00.000-07:00

Because Chengdu consumers sue Toshiba successfully, the value more than 2000 Yuan television flares become by the expendable items maintain for 3 years The new bulletin news reported according to "Chinese Industry and commerce Times", recently, some careful consumers discovered that in Japanese Toshiba's liquid crystal projection television maintenance card original “expendable items: The liquid crystal projection television special-purpose flare” an item has been obliterated, but increased the liquid crystal projection television special-purpose flare in 3 year maintenance's major component “” an item. This means from now on the domestic user when will purchase the Toshiba liquid crystal projection television, special-purpose flare from beforehand paid own expenses the service to turn 3 year maintenance. And Toshiba (China) invests the Limited company also to stipulate, before pays own expenses to replace flare's user, may also depend on the maintenance records to return pays the expense. 2000 multi-dimensional flares do not maintain unexpectedly It is reported that makes the foreign electrical appliances to rewrite the maintenance card, is Chengdu Xinjin County ordinary consumer Wei subgroup. On June 21, before Wei subgroup more than one year, purchases a Toshiba liquid crystal projection television presents the breakdown. The Wei subgroup sends a telegram to the Toshiba Chengdu to service department, the service department said that was television's special-purpose flare goes bad has needed to replace, and said that the flare was the expendable items, must pay expenses the service. Replaces a flare's expense to reach as high as more than 2000 Yuan, and as the expendable items, means that must replace non-periodically frequently, Wei accepts with difficulty regarding this. Chengdu Consumer association sends out the investigation letter On June 28, the Wei subgroup has submitted the suit book to Chengdu Consumer association. After Chengdu Consumer association dwell upon Toshiba television's maintenance card, instruction booklet discovered that with "Disappears Law" about the special-purpose flare's maintenance stipulation and the country “three packages” the stipulation not symbol. On July 17, Chengdu Consumer association invested the Limited company Chengdu office to the Toshiba China to send out the urgent investigation letter officially. The investigation states by letter, Toshiba this product matches the instruction booklet only to indicate “this aircraft's flare to have the service life”, but actually had not stipulated the concrete service life time limit, causes the consumer when the choice cannot obtain the complete information, therefore has the possibility to make the mistake or is not the best choice. The investigation letter also pointed out that “the liquid crystal projection television special-purpose flare” uses an essential part normally as the television, Toshiba Corporation actually its elimination outside the free maintenance scope, with "Partial Commodity Repair Replacement Returned goods Responsibility" to television complete machine maintenance stipulation not symbol. Pays own expenses to trade the flare to be possible to attain refunds money After receiving the investigation letter, Toshiba (China) invested the Limited company Technical service department's people in charge to carry on returned goods processing to the Wei subgroup purchase liquid crystal projection television. Recently, Toshiba Corporation also to maintained the card to make the revision. Toshiba Corporation also indicated that to will already coordinate the sales shop in the circulation stage's commodity stocks to make best effort to replace the new maintenance card, to holds the old maintenance card user, also will implement 3 year maintenance according to the new maintenance card's stipulation. To maintains the period already collected fees the replacement consumer, returns this item of expense according to the maintenance records.

Tip about purchasing of notebook batteries

2008-08-06T00:24:00.001-07:00

Usually in the purchase of notebook batteries, we have to conduct some initial set up.

In the purchase of laptop batteries after some time scale table shows no electricity, or long-rechargeable lights. Use after a period of time. Will be automatically adjusted over. At the same time can also "completely cycle" approach to human adjustment. Power is the alarm off, let-photoelectric cells, and salt. Cycle to two.

Concrete steps are:

Start---->> Began setting --->> Power Options control panel----->> warning

1, when reduced to below the level of electricity, lack of a battery alarm (L)

2, when reduced to below the level of electricity, issued a severe shortage of alarm batteries (C)

Of the above two options in front of the "checkmark" hook options removed. Let notebook has been discharge to a blank screen. Re-release cycle like the two.

Note: the reason is that laptop battery production process is in charge of the equipment used to charge. With your own laptop power detection procedures are not synchronized. Some battery-charging chairman of lights, because we have developed a new battery than the original battery capacity greater. Laptop batteries over the value of the design limit. At this point in the laptop battery to protect the MCU board procedures have been in control of the external power charging process. Simply put, is the long-rechargeable lights, but did not continue in charge. At the same time not affect the use of batteries. Will not damage the life of the battery.

Digital Photo Frame

2008-08-04T20:52:00.000-07:00

Is the lack of space to show off your photographic memories? Fidelity Electronics has introduced state of the art technology that allows you to view your personal photos in high resolution digital imaging framework. This new technology allows photos that are hidden to re-appear again giving them the pride and place well worth it for all to see and admire. Each ingenious product has all the high-tech, modern design and characteristics necessary for a display requires precious and memorable moments.

During the past year, Fidelity Electronics of Canada has been deeply involved in the development of digital photography and image of the market framework. Fidelity has recently launched its latest Digital Picture Frame, the DPF-1500 Pro with 1 GB of internal memory, and an impressive 15 "high-resolution color LCD screen.

Fidelity now leads 9 models of different frameworks for digital photos each with different skills and styles. Useful features include, rotation, zoom, auto start and auto format. Many of the frames are also multimedia and MPEG video playback and MP3 music, built in stereo speakers.

Digital Picture Framing offer a new visual experience for people of all walks of life, from high technology for a sales presentation to the traditional grandmother who wants to display family photos on the mantle or hung on the wall.

All tables have the ability to be viewed directly from processors digital memory cards - without a computer, camera or Internet connection and most include internal memory in this way, you can sit, relax and enjoy your photos showcasing. Imagine the talks will be created as you, your family and friends admire your digital images! For something different, music can also be added that the presentation perfect tool ...

The photos really love knows no boundaries, all shot their vacations, holiday photos, baby snaps photos and other personal effects can come to life in single-frame image, giving it a touch of elegance to an instant photo gallery! This is another wonderful breakthrough in the field of digital photo frame. If you are looking to achieve a modern display high-resolution digital photography that offers sharp images that graphics, then goodbye to the old photo lab and other contraptions obsolete and enjoy their photo memories with the new look today. Digital photo taked by all camera batteries stock in a memory card. Larger memory card and high capacity digital camera battery make you taking more pictures.

With auto start and all automatic formatting functions Fidelity Electronics products are effortlessly elegant at the same time fully functional at the same time, what makes anyone of its range of digital photo frames for the perfect tool presentation.

Author :John now as a webmaster at http://www.supply-batteries.co.uk ,you can contact him there.

Casio QV-R4 digital Camera infornation

2008-07-20T19:27:00.000-07:00

Casio QV R4 camera is easy to use when downloading photo's to the PC, and the quality of the photo's are good 'if' the camera decides to perform well,longer battery life(casio np-30 battery) .which was something that mine did not do very often.

The camera developed a lens fault and was returned to Casio under guarantee. Although this was 'supposed' to have been fixed, the camera never seemed to perform very well after the repair. Also, the metal case was damaged during the repair work. A few months after receiving the camera back again, the same fault developed, but this time Casio claimed that it was out of guarantee, even though three months of the guarantee time was lost during the time it took for them to deal with the repair.

The QV-R4 has a good bundle. Inside the box, you'll find:

The 4.0 (effective) Mpixel Casio QV-R4 camera

NP-30 rechargeable Li-ion battery

Battery charger

Wrist strap

USB cable

CD-ROMs featuring Casio Photo Loader

143 page camera manual (printed)

Casio has joined the "no bundled memory card club". What they've done instead is hardwire a tiny 11MB of memory into the camera. What that means for you is that you'll want to buy a memory card as soon as possible. The QV-R4 supports both Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) cards. I suggest buying a 64MB card at the very minimum.

The NP-30 Li-ion battery used by the QV-R4 is very familiar. The NP-30 has 3.7 Watt/hours of power. Many other manufacturers use this battery in their cameras -- I knew it looked familiar. Casio estimates that the battery will last for about 110 minutes in the R4, which is about average for a small camera. As longtime readers of this site know, I don't like these proprietary batteries (another one will cost you $30), but there's not much you can do to avoid them on these tiny cameras.

Charging the battery is very easy, thanks to the handy included charger. You just pop the battery in the charger, and plug the charger directly into the wall -- no cords necessary. It takes two hours to recharge the battery.

Look and Feel

The QV-R3 is an attractive, small camera with an all-metal body. The metal body means its durable, but it also scratches quite easily. The build quality of this camera is excellent.The camera is easy to hold, with controls placed so you can quickly reach them. The R4 fits in any pocket with ease.

The QV-R4 has an F2.6, 3X optical zoom lens made by Pentax. The lens has a focal range of 7.6 - 22.8 mm, which is equivalent to 37.5 - 112.5 mm. The lens is not threaded.

At the top right of the photo, you can see the built-in flash. This flash has a working range of 0.4 - 2.8 m. No external flash options are available.

Just below the flash is a great feature: an AF-assist lamp! This lamp puts out a bright white light, which the camera uses to focus in lower light levels. I wish all cameras had these.

In a word, the photo quality on the QV-R4 was very good. Images were sharp, and colors were accurate,casio np-30 battery is longer battery. At the same time, the quality isn't as good as the class-leading 4 Megapixel cameras from Canon and Nikon. Images are a bit noisy at times, and things seem a little over-processed at times (check out the Crissy Field house in the gallery for an example). For an ultra-small camera, though, the quality is good.

Toshiba Satellite P35-S611 review

2008-07-17T00:51:00.000-07:00

The Toshiba Satellite P35-S611 is the ultimate gaming machine, loaded with the latest sight and sound technology plus a 17" diagonal Wide-screen display for the best in graphics. The sleek, ultra-cool chassis contains a massive 100 GB hard drive that has plenty of room for your applications and files. The P35-S611 also features a hyper-threaded 3.33 GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 processor, 512 MB of installed RAM, a Super Multi-Drive that can burn CD, DVD-, and DVD+ discs, and an integrated 54g wireless LAN

The Basics

Hard Drive: The 100 GB hard drive (4200 RPM) is one of the largest hard drives offered in a notebook, and it provides enough room for storing a multimedia library and for some video editing.

Processor: The Mobile Intel Pentium 4 548 processor features one of the fastest notebook clock speeds available: 3.33 GHz. It also offers Hyper-Threading technology, which allows a single CPU system to behave in some aspects like a dual-CPU system. This results in more efficient software performance (such as faster reaction times in gaming applications) and enhanced multitasking. It is also well suited for professional-quality image, audio, and video editing. Thanks to its Mobile features, the processor can save power when its not needed, thus conserving battery life. It also has A 1 MB L2 cache and an 533 MHz front-side bus (FSB).

Memory: The 512 MB of built-in memory (1 DIMM, PC-2700 DDR333) is a good start for power users. It can be expanded to a toal of 1.5 GB.

CD/DVD Drive: The DVD Super-Multi drive is compatible with both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW discs (as well as DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM). It offers a 4x DVD read speed, and writes at 2.4x for DVD+R/RW and 2x for DVD-R/RW. You can also burn CDs at 16x and read them at 24x.

Keyboard & Mouse: This notebook has a standard 85-key keyboard and electro-static two-button touchpad.

Battery: Li-ion PA3383 , PA3383U , PA3383U-1BAS , PA3383U-1BRS

Sound and Graphics

The P35-S611 comes installed with an ATI Mobility 9000 IGP video/graphics card, featuring 64 MB of shared video memory. It will deliver relatively strong 3D graphics rendering and it can can drive an external display that works in tandem with the notebook's native display. The 17" diagonal wide-screen display (1440 x 900 pixels) is intensified with TruBrite technology, producing sharp, mesmerizing images. Harman Kardon speakers and SRS TruSurround XT technology create a rich, more immersive audio experience.

Connectivity and Expansion Slots

The P35-S611 offers a good range of expansion and connectivity options, including a PCMCIA slot for one Type II PC card and the following:

3 USB 1.1 ports for connecting a wide range of peripherals--from digital cameras to MP3 players

1 FireWire (also known as IEEE 1394 or i.Link) ports for connecting digital video camcordrs and other peripherals

1 RGB monitor port

1 TV-out (S-Video)

1 headphone jack and 1 microphone jack

It also has an integrated 802.11g wireless LAN (which is compatible with the more widespread 802.11b and offers faster data transmission rates), integrated 56K modem (V.92), and an RJ-45 LAN network port (for a 10/100 Ethernet connection to networks and DSL/cable modems).
Preloaded System and Software

The P35-S611 comes with the Windows XP Home Edition operating system, and it also includes Microsoft Works (for working with word processing and spreadsheet documents). Other preloaded software includes Norton Antivirus 2004 (with 90 days of complimentary live updates), Quicken New User Edition, Napster online digital service (30-day trial), Adobe Acrobat Reader, InterVideo WinDVD (for playing DVD movies), ArcSoft ShowBiz DVD, and Sonic Solutions RecordNow Basic.

Dimensions and Weight

At 9.5 pounds, the P35-S611 is weightier than most notebooks used by business professionals, but is on par with other notebooks in this gaming class. It measures 1.6 x 16.5 x 11.5 inches (H x W x D).

Power

The included 12-cell rechargeable lithium-ion PA3383U-1BRS battery has an approximate 2-hour battery life (during normal use). It also comes with a 120W AC adapter.

What's in the Box

This package contains the Toshiba P35-S611 notebook PC, rechargeable lithium-ion battery (compatible toshiba a70 battery ), AC adapter, and operating instructions. It's backed by a 1-year warranty for parts and labor.

Product Description

The Satellite P35 is the ultimate gaming machine, loaded with the latest in everything, including a 17" WXGA display with TruBrite for the best in graphics. The 16: 9 aspect ratio makes it perfect for viewing wide-screen format movies!The Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor supports Hyper-Threading Technology, improving the performance of many applications. The ATI discreet graphics optimizes visuals without compromising system performance. The 17" diagonal wide-screen display is intensified with TruBrite technology, producing images so sharp they are mesmerizing from across the room. Harman Kardon speakers and SRS TruSurround XT technology create a rich, more immersive audio experience. And the sleek, ultra-cool chassis contains a massive hard drive that has plenty of room for your applications and files. With razor-sharp images, robust sound and intense power it all adds up to the ultimate gaming machine.

Sony Vaio VGN-TX670P Notebook

2008-07-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

The good: Extreme portable design; built-in cellular, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi; integrated double layer and DVD-moment player, very long battery life; excellent multimedia controls for a company engineer.
The bad: Very expensive; overcrowding keyboard.
The bottom line: Although it is expensive, the Sony Vaio VGN-TX670P offers a great combination of business and entertainment features, long battery life, unparalleled connectivity and a package incredibly ultraportable.
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Less than a year after his debut series Vaio T ultraportable laptop (and later several iterations), Sony gives its thinnest and lightest of a new model to see some new features, and a new name. A $ 2300, Vaio VGN-TX670P costs about as much as the previous one model Vaio VGN-T350, but adds a slightly wider screen and subtracts a few oz lightweight and a profile.

This is an eminently ultraportable notebook: Vaio VGN-TX670P (sony vgp-bps5) carbon-fiber body measures 10.75 inches wide, 7.65 inches deep and less than one inch thick. At 2.8 pounds (3.5 pounds with its small, ice cream sandwich-sized AC adapter), is one of the smallest and lightest on the machines, especially for an optical drive onboard . The Sharp actius MP30, which also weighs 2.8 pounds and have an optical drive, costs about $ 700 less than the Sony, although it has a significantly lower prevalence, 10.4-inch standard aspect display and lacks many of Sony's multimedia and connectivity subtleties. The Fujitsu Lifebook P7010D weighs less than one pounds more, offers a similar set of features and specifications, and cost several hundred dollars less, the $ 1379 Averatec 1000, with a weight of one pounds more, is another low-price option . Other Sony laptops in the weight class, including $ 2000, 2.7 pounds Toshiba Portege R200 and $ 2000 of 2.5 pounds Dell Latitude X1, lack the optical drive.

The Vaio VGN-TX670P Cardinal requires commitment from all other ultraportable laptop on the market: the keyboard and overcrowding has been reduced keys. However, is relatively robust and responsive and not as small as others - including Averatec, in fact, we are comfortably typed out this review on it. Similarly, the touch pad and mouse buttons are small but usable. The superslim, 11.1-inch wide-screen, with its native resolution 1364x768, is not the dazzling jewel that we have seen in recent portable Sony VGN-like Vaio S470P, but good enough. The stereo speakers, which sit above the keyboard, is what you expect from a laptop this size: weak and tinny.

This notebook has all the ports that a business user will need (two USB 2.0 ports, four-pin FireWire, VGA, PCI Express card slot) and a handful that cater to the ideas of entertainment. Very significantly, along with the series Vaio BX (announced in August), Vaio VGN-TX670P marks the first time that Sony has incorporated an SD card reader in one of its laptops - a belated and inevitable concession for a company that until now has supported only its own Memory Stick flash format. In addition to a multiformat, double-layer DVD, with the smallest eject button we have ever seen, and the volume and mute buttons abroad - always a good touch - Vaio VGN-TX670P is a row of record checks that sit above the keyboard , One of them configurable fast pitch of A / V mode button that lets you play a DVD or a CD without booting Windows. At the top of Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Sony includes a nice variety of its own software, including the media, connectivity and support for utilities, as well as standard applications for recording and playing discs.

In terms of connectivity, Vaio VGN-TX670P offers the most complete set of features available today in a laptop of any size. In addition to LAN, modem, 802.11b / g, and Bluetooth, this laptop offers a function of cellular network (you can read more about the details in our review of the Vaio VGN-T350P, when this feature first appeared). It was found that the cellular antenna is discreet but easily came loose and it would be difficult to lose.
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Our test unit prototype includes a modest number of elements that do not stand in the way of Vaio VGN-TX670P performance. The unit includes an ultra-low voltage, 1.2GHz Pentium M 753 processor, 1 GB of memory 266MHz slow; 915PM/GM/GMS Intel chipset with integrated graphics subsystem that takes up to 128 MB RAM of memory and a 60 GB hard drive spinning at a slow, 4,200. In CNET Labs' mobile benchmarks, our unit ran neck and neck with the older generation Vai-T-series machines, as well as with the Fujitsu Lifebook P7010D and the Dell Latitude X1, each of which was equipped with a 1.1GHz Pentium M processor. Even though I do not recommend it for heavy work or computer games, Vaio VGN-TX670P can easily handle the level of productivity of the tasks typical business traveler, including in-flight DVD viewings. The Vaio VGN-TX670P a fantastic battery lasted 6.6 hours in our laboratories "flight tests - excellent performance of any rule.
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Depending on where to buy it, Sony supports the Vaio VGN-TX670P either with his new company focused on Vaio Care program (read about the details here) or its industry-standard consumer warranty: one year of free service (including free shipping in both directions) and 24 / 7 free telephone technical support, after the expiry of the year, calls for assistance are $ 20 per incident. Sony offers a wide range of warranty extensions, a three-year plan with onsite service costs $ 250. The company's website provides a good knowledge base and e-mail support from Sony technicians.

Power of Sony Vaio Vgn-Tx670p

Capacity: 6600mAh
Volts: 7.4V
Net Weight: 309.00
Dimension: 205.90 x 47.00 x 15.80 mm
Color: Dark Grey
Type: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) Laptop Battery with no 'memory effect'

dell inspiron 8600 laptop information

2008-07-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

If you've got the money, the Dell Inspiron 8600 (dell inspiron 8600 battery ) has solid sound, superior battery life, and thoughtful design touches.
Dell's Inspiron 8600 is a very good desktop replacement with excellent battery life and equipment options, but at times it can be daunting on selecting the configuration you want.
Pros
Superb Battery Life
Lots of Upgrade Options
Cons
Mediocre Graphics Solution
Only Two USB Ports
Description
Intel Pentium M 1.4 GHz Processor
512MB PC2700 DDR Memory
40GB Hard Drive
24x CD-RW Combo Optical Drive
15.4" WXGA (1280x800) Wide Screen LCD and NVIDIA GeForceFX Go5200 with 32MB
AC'97 Audio
v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet and Intel 802.11b Wireless
Two USB 2.0 Ports, One FireWire Port and One Type II PC Card Slot
14.2" x 10.8" x 1.5" @ 6.9 lbs.
Windows XP Home Operating System
Guide Review - Dell Inspiron 8600

This wide-screen laptop is packed with conveniences, boasts a very good battery life such like the digital camera battery , and has multimedia chops. But at $2840 it's expensive, and at least one competitor is a tad faster.

The 8600's all-too-rare press-and-check external power gauge saves you from having to turn on the notebook just to check battery life. That said, you shouldn't have to check too often: The 8600 gave us a generous 4.5 hours in our tests.

Need even more battery life, or more internal storage? You can pop out the 8600's DVD burner and insert an additional battery ($99 extra), or a second hard drive ($249) to expand the unit's 60GB storage by another 40GB. Thanks to the 8600's spring-loaded side release, you can make the swap using one hand.

With a strong set of speakers built into the front of the case and dedicated audio buttons, the 8600 makes a good stand-alone CD player. The volume controls, located at the top of the keyboard, are cleverly designed with rounded, concave surfaces. Separate CD control buttons run down the right side of the keyboard.

If you like a keyboard with a springy feel, the 8600's will please you , the same as your digital camera battery. It lacks extras such as a scrolling button and application launchers, and we found that we sometimes hit the audio buttons when we wanted to hit the nearby Page Up or Page Down key. But the rest of the layout is fine, and we found typing easy overall.

Our review unit came with a 15.4-inch screen and a whopping 1920-by-1200-pixel native resolution, excellent for doing graphics work, opening multiple windows, or cramming huge spreadsheets onto the screen.

Dell sells just one choice of docking station for the 8600, the $169, 1.7-pound Advanced Port Replicator. As the name suggests, it's not much more than a convenient place to plug in your peripherals; however, it provides two additional USB ports and a DVI port, which is useful for connecting the notebook to a flat-panel monitor.

The 8600 comes equipped with Intel's 2-GHz/400-MHz Pentium M 755 chip--the fastest mobile processor available today--and 1024MB of RAM. Although it earned a WorldBench 5 score of 90 in our speed tests, one of the highest marks we've recorded, another laptop we tested this month with the same configuration, the $2499 Polywell PolyNote 3015AW, scored even higher, at 98. However, the 8600 should be plenty fast enough for any application. An excellent printed manual and the Corel WordPerfect Productivity Pack top it all off.

Dell's Inspiron 8600 looks very much like the 8500 and that is no accident. The 8600 ( dell inspiron 8600 battery )is essentially an upgrade of the 8500 to use the new Intel Pentium M CPU. This gives the 8600 a big advantage over the 8500 and other desktop replacements because of its very long battery life.

Overall system performance is very good with the Pentium M 1.4 GHz CPU. This performs roughly between a Pentium 4 2.4 and 2.6 GHz desktop processor. This means computing will be slower than most desktop replacements with high end Pentium 4 processor, but the power savings allow the 8600 to last sometimes more that twice as long on a single battery charge.

Graphics are headlined by a 15.4" wide screen LCD display with a very good viewing angle. The low end versions of the 8600 come equipped with an NVIDIA GeForceFX Go5200 video processor with 32MB of memory. While it is DirectX 9 compatible, the performance is very lacking when it comes to running 3D games, particularly with the low memory. There is an option for the ATI Radeon 9600 Mobility which offers excellent performance, but it costs more.

Probably the biggest problem with the 8600 (dell inspiron 8600 battery )is the expansion capabilities. Most desktop replacements offer 3 USB 2.0 ports and some even 4. With the huge number of USB devices available, it is a shame that there are only 2 USB ports on the 8600.

So in the end, the Dell Inspiron 8600 is a very good computer if you are willing to wade through the customize options and can live with only two USB ports.

Canon ES4000 video camcorder Review

2008-07-14T22:08:00.000-07:00

The ES4000 is my favorite non digital canon camcorder with a MSRP. the ES4000's higher price is justified. The ES4000 has a 22x optical zoom, the biggest of Canon's camcorders, as well as a 44x digital zoom (big but not too big). I feel that huge digital zooms are not important while big optical zooms are highly useful since a digital zoom invariably and noticeably hurts the picture quality. The ES4000 has a 1/4-inch CCD with 410,000 pixels and offers the usual 2.5 hours recording on the Hi8 tapes with canon bp-911 battery. The camera also packs a color viewfinder and a remote, both very nice features that are commonly overlooked in Hi8 and 8mm camcorders.

Unfortunately, most camcorders with time code fall into the prosumer category, where prices are a bit out of reach for the average consumer. With the introduction of the ES4000 Hi8 camcorder, however, Canon brings the price of time code down into the realm of the affordable. Boasting a 22:1 optical zoom (44:1 digital), manual exposure and white-balance controls, headphone and microphone jacks, LANC edit control, optical image stabilization and RCTC (Rewritable Consumer Time Code), the ES4000 is a rare find in the consumer video marketplace: a really good camcorder at a really good price and bp-911 battery with longer life.

CANON ES4000 feature

2-way Pan Head Video Tripod - Center Brace, 20mm legs, 49" height

Performance Pak - Tripod and Bag

Recording Format Hi8, 8mm

LCD Screen Size 0.55 in

Audio Format Hi Fi, Stereo

canon bp-911 rechargeable battery,lithium ion

Weight 1.79 lbs

Dimension 4.29 in x 4.17 in x 7.24 in (HxWxD)

Optical Zoom 22 X

Digital Zoom 44 X

Image and Sound

To match its excellent selection of features, the ES4000 delivers a very colorful, sharp picture and crisp, clean stereo audio. The inclusion of headphone and microphone jacks makes it possible to get a microphone closer to the talent and monitor the audio signal as you shoot--both essential for high-quality audio work.

All of the camcorder's automatic systems performed very well, including autofocus, autoexposure and auto white balance. The autofocus circuitry, for example, was very quick to respond to movement in the frame, and didn't hunt for its focus as some systems do. The only drawback to the manual controls was the lack of old-fashioned lever-controlled outer focus- and iris-adjustment systems, instead of the tiny servomotor-controlled inner systems so commonly found on today's camcorders.

In summary: the ES4000 is a full-featured Hi8 camcorder that performs very well for hobbyists or prosumers. Canon ES4000 battery (BP-911 battery) is very attractive. it records excellent images and sound, it's easy to use and (perhaps best of all) it supports RC Time Code. Good job, Canon! You've succeeded in bringing the power of professional camcorders down to a level that even many first-time camcorder buyers can afford.

In our comparison, we'll be looking at five areas that we think the demanding hobbyist or prosumer videographer will want from an entry-level DV camcorder: image quality, audio quality,battery life(canon bp-911)manual controls, image stabilization and connectability. Each camcorder will receive a rating from 1-5 in each of these areas so that you may decide which features are most important to you and make your purchasing decision accordingly.

Canon powershot G5 Review

2008-07-11T19:27:00.000-07:00

The Canon PowerShot G5 is my second digital camera. Like a lot of people I bought a simple 2Mp camera first to see how I would use it. Many fun snap shots and disappointing prints later I knew I needed a 'real' digital camera. I chose Canon because I have found their products to be robust and high quality.

The PowerShot G5 has an excellent bundle. Inside the box, you'll find:

The 5.0 Mpixel Canon PowerShot G5 camera

32MB CompactFlash card

BP-511 Li-ion rechargeable battery

AC Adapter / battery charger

Neck strap

Lens cap w/strap

Wireless remote control

USB cable

A/V cable

CD-ROM featuring Canon Digital Camera Solutions, ArcSoft Camera Suite, and drivers

209 page camera manual + software manual (both printed)

While a 32MB card is larger than you'll get with some other 5 Megapixel cameras, it's really just a starter card. I highly recommend getting something much larger -- 256MB is my recommendation. I've long been a fan of the 1GB IBM Microdrive, and that is supported by the G5, but keep in mind that it puts extra strain on the battery. There are plenty of "regular" 1GB CompactFlash cards out there, so you may want one of those instead.

The G5 uses the same BP-511 Li-ion battery as its predecessor. The battery has a very respectable 8.1 Watt/hours of power.

Powerful bp-511 lithium ion battery

The downside of proprietary batteries like the BP-511 is the cost and the fact that you can't use standard batteries (as you can with AA-based cameras) if you're in a bind. That's why I personally prefer cameras that use AA batteries.

When it's time to recharge, you just plug the included AC adapter into the G5. This same AC adapter can be used to power the camera in the studio, or when you're transferring photos to your computer. It takes 80 minutes to bring the canon bp-511 back to 90% capacity, and then 2 more hours to fill it to 100%.

The G5 includes a lens cap and strap to protect your 4X zoom lens.

The G5 has a fast (f2.0 – f3.0) zoom lens that goes from (35mm equivalents) 35mm to 140mm. This alone makes it desirable for a) shooting in low light, and b) shooting at low ISO and hand-holding. It also helps with the flash range, with a range specified to 13.1 feet at the far telephoto end. While this isn’t of much interest to me, it may be of value if you don’t use an external flash and shoot regularly with flash.

The lens options for compact digital cameras constitute one of the major choices. Right now, you can have either a faster lens (like the Canon G series) or a wider lens (like the Nikon 5000 series.) Hopefully there will be a wider and faster lens in the not-too-distant future, but for now, the user needs to pick one or the other. For me, the choice was easy – I’ve been shooting most of the time with a 35mm lens and I often shoot in reduced (evening, night) lighting. For others, the choice may be very different.

The G5 hasn’t been available long, and although I bought it within a few days of its availability, this still doesn’t constitute a “long term” test that really determines how comfortable a camera is to work with and how close the results are to what the photographer wants. For my kind of shooting and what I want it to do, it works well,and have bp-511 with a longer life. Despite the shutter lag and the finder, it’s excellent for street shooting because of the ability to compose with the camera at a lower level. Except for the chromatic aberration, the image quality is excellent. It’s easy to control the camera.

Canon mv890 review

2008-07-11T01:23:00.000-07:00

Canon mv890 detail:

Recording media:MiniDV

Number of CCDs:1

Size (W x H x D):48x91x114 mm

Weight:435 g

Canon mv890 Battery type:Li-ion Canon nb-2lh

Included cables:1 x AV cable

Included accessories:Canon nb-2lh Battery pack

The Canon MV890's £189 list price suggests a bare-bones MiniDV camcorder, but the opposite is true -- it's a surprisingly well-appointed model, one that shares impressive core specs -- including a widescreen LCD, plenty of manual controls -- with Canon's MV930 (£219) and its pricier MV960 (£260). What's the catch?

The MV890 doesn't capture still photos, though we'd hardly call that a catch, unless you're dying for grainy, 0.7-megapixel basic images. In fact, the MV890 has one desirable feature its costlier siblings lack -- a microphone jack. Unfortunately, there's no accessory shoe on which to mount an external mic, so you'll either have to hold it or get fancy with rubber bands.

In exchange for the microphone jack, you have to give up the wireless remote that comes with the MV930 and the MV960. Other than that, the MV890 is virtually identical to those two models, right down to the 4mm CCD, the simplistic joystick-driven menus and the palm-friendly design. You can find out more about the camcorder's capabilities, performance and image quality by reading our review of the MV960 canon nb-2lh.

One of our favourite new features in the MV series is the selectable zoom speed: 1x, 2x, 3x and variable. The last option operates like most zoom controls, tying the speed of the zoom to the amount of pressure on the rocker. The fixed speeds provide a consistent zoom to prevent tell-tale amateur jerkiness, although we just wish you didn't have to dig into the menu system each time you want to change the setting.

As with other MV models, Canon includes eight autoexposure modes, three white-balance options and six shutter-speed settings, as well as the full auto Easy mode. You also get nine digital image effects, along with a nifty level marker that overlays a horizon line on the LCD to help you shoot even, centred images. That's a lot of manual controls for an entry-level camcorder. Plus, you can add a handful of lens converters and filters.

We generally liked the video from the MV890 canon nb-2lh battery, which captured crisp, colourful video under optimal lighting. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the MV890 has the same problem as the other MVs when it comes to low-light video -- it produces noisy, washed-out images. But that's to be expected from a camcorder with a smallish image sensor and bargain-basement price.

These complaints aside, most low-budget shooters will enjoy the Canon MV890. At this price, it's hard to find a small camcorder with so many features. And given its laudable video quality under most conditions, it's a bargain, even at its full list price.

The Cyber-shot P150 Camera

2008-07-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

The Cyber-shot P150 is a sleek and pocket-sized (Battery Sony Np-FR1) 7-megapixel camera with specifications normally only found in most full-size, high-end cameras. For only the second time in a Cyber-shot P-series cameras, Sony is offering a Carl Zeiss 3X optical zoom camera to complement the high-resolution images of great clarity of image.

The P150 has been empowered with Sony's own recently introduced Real Imaging Processor ™ circuitry that ensures fast start-up and shot-to-shot times, and puts extra speed and performance behind automatic features such as auto focus and auto exposure . This means you'll never miss that one in a million shot because the camera is always ready to take great pictures.

Beyond the ease of point and shoot features,Buy Sony Np-fr1 battery and the Cyber-shot P150 also has manual flash and exposure settings, and nine preset scene modes such as twilight, landscape, snow, beach and fireworks, allowing the user to quickly select the best fit based on shooting conditions. If the images are captured in focus with the exhibition proper lighting, the camera enlists the help of an intelligent auto-focus and exposure system, which means that even if the subject is outside the centre and in a difficult situation lighting, the camera will automatically make the necessary adjustments.

There is a better place to put your digital camera other than a desk or table drawer. Designed to reside next to a TV or PC, the new Cyber-shot Station CSS-PHA camera accessory, available for about $ 80, accommodates the Cyber-shot DSC-P150 camera for playing slideshows on a television, while the Sony Np-fr1 battery.

The P150 uses very little battery power. With up to 310 shots per charge, including the InfoLithium battery ™ lets you snap away and preview images on the 1.8-inch LCD screen without fear of reducing the burden.

With the optional Cyber-shot Marine Pack (MPK-PHB), the Cyber-shot P150 becomes an underwater camera with water resistance to a depth of up to 132 feet. For those who want greater flexibility, the P150 can be used with optional telephoto and wide-angle lens conversion.

DSC-P150 features:

Sony 7.2 effective Megapixels CCD image sensor
Carl Zeiss 3x zoom (38-114mm equivalent in 35mm photography)
Still image: 3072x2304, 3072x2048 (3:2), 2592x1944, 2048x1536, 1280x960, 640x480
MPEG Movie: 640x480 VX Fine w / audio at 30 fps (Memory Stick Pro)
16fps at 640x480 VX rule, the length limited only by the media
Auto, Program AE, Manual plus 9 scene modes
Live Histogram screen capture and playback
5 Area Multi-point AF; car or Spot AF selectable point
1.8 "TFT color (134000 pixels) LCD screen with automatic brightness
ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400
Adjusting color saturation, contrast and sharpness
Noise Reduction: automatically cleans up a long exposure image
14bit A / D Conversion - allows a wider dynamic range of stress in the shade
Built-in flash with Auto, Fill, Forced Off, and Slow sync (red-eye reduction available)
USB 2.0 Auto-Connect to host computer
InfoLithium rechargeable Sony np fr1 battery and charger included
Optional Cyber-shot Station dock camera and controller
Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro 1GB compatible, including 32 MB.
DPOF PictBridge printing and direct-USB compatible

Available in September 2004, the stylish Cyber-shot P150 camera will sell for an estimated $ 500. A Memory Stick 32MB memory card, InfoLithium battery and AC adapter are included.

Physical Views

The Cyber-shot P150 and a CD-size comparison.

The Cyber-shot P150 and the Cyber-shot L1.

Features and Controls

Sony DSC-P150 Specifications

Image Device: 1/1.8 "7.2 effective Megapixels Sony Super HAD CCD ™
Still Image Sizes: 7M 3072x2304
7M (3.2) 3072x2048 5M 2592x1944
3M 2048x1536
2M 1600x1200
VGA 640x480
Recording Media: Memory Stick Media (32MB included), Memory Stick PRO Media
Zoom: 3X Carl Zeiss Optical, 7.9 - 23.7mm (38-114mm equivalent)
Smart Zoom ™ Feature: 0 - 14.0X (VGA resolution)
Digital zoom: Precision, 0 - 2.0X range, 6X Total
Filter: 37mm (VAD-WA requires adapter lens)
Auto Focus: 5 Area Multi-Point AF, AF Center, 5-Step Guide
Minimum Focus Distance: 19.7 "(50cm)
Macro Focus Distance: 3.9 "(10cm)
Shutter speed: 1 / 8 - 1 / 2000 sec. (auto)
1 - 2 / 1000 sec. (Automatic)
30 - 1 / 1000 sec. (manual)
Aperture Range: F2.8/F5.6 (W); F5.4/F10 (T)
Exposure compensation: + / - 2.0 EV, 1 / 3 EV steps
Color LCD: 1.8 "134k pixels LCD
Flash modes: Auto / Forced On / Off Forced / Slow sync red-eye reduction: On / Off
Flash effective range: 0.8 - 11.ft. (0.2 - 3.5 m) Wide
1.0 to 8.3 feet (0.3 - 2.5 m) Tele
White Balance: Auto, daylight, cloudy, fluorescent, incandescent, Flash
Burst Mode: 5 Shot (7M fine JPEG), 100 Shot (VGA / std JPEG.) 1.1fps
Photo Effects: Sepia, Black and White
ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400
Scene modes: Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Soft Snap, Candle, Beach, Snow, high-speed shutter and fireworks
Self-Timer: 10 Seconds
Video Output: NTSC / PAL selectable
Still image modes: Normal (JPEG Fine / Standard), Burst, Multi-Burst
MPEG Movie Mode: MPEG VX Fine with Audio (640 x 480 to 30 fps)
(MPEG VX Fine requires Memory Stick PRO media)
Standard VX MPEG audio (640 x 480 16fps)
Video Mail (160 x 112 at 8fps) with Audio
Microphone / Speaker: Yes / Yes
USB Terminal: Compatible with USB 2.0
Cradle compatible: Yes
Memory Stick PRO ™
Media Compatibility: Tested to support up to 1 GB of media capacity; does not support Access Control security function
Compatible Battery: Sony NP-FR1 Info Lithium 3.6v 4.4Wh
Supplied Software: Picture Package ™ Sony v1.0 (Windows), Pixel ™ ImageMixer VCD2 (Macintosh), SPVD-012, 1 USB Driver, Cyber-shot Life tutorial (Windows)
OS Compatibility: Microsoft Windows 98/98SE/Me / 2000/XP Home / XP Pro
Macintosh OS ® 9.1/9.2/X (10.0, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3)
Supplied accessories: NP-FR1 InfoLithium ® Rechargeable Battery, AC-LS5 Battery Charger, A / V, USB cable, Wrist Strap, MSA-32A 32MB Memory Stick ® Media, CD-ROM Software
Dimensions: 4 1 / 4 "x 2 1 / 8" x 1 "(108 x 52 x 26mm)
Weight: 5.4 ounces (147g) organisms (6.7 oz (183g) Body w / Battery, Media, Wrist Strap)

Canon EOS 1D camcorder reivew

2008-07-09T01:06:00.000-07:00

The benchmark for high speed, high resolution professional photography. Powerful enough to capture a 110 frame burst at 10 frames per second. Built to withstand the toughest conditions.

10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor

10 fps, max. burst of 110 JPEGs

Dual "DIGIC III" processors

High precision wide area AF

EOS Integrated Cleaning System

ISO 100-3200 range (L:50 H:6400)

3.0" LCD with Live View mode

Picture Style

EF lens compatibility

Illuminated status LCD's

Cropped viewfinder (to enable compatibility with EOS-1V focusing
screens)

Supplied RAW conversion application (TWAIN), supplied remote capture
software

Double NP-E3 battery charger

Canon's EOS-1D is the first professional digital SLR from Canon since the EOS-D2000 (introduced in March 1998 which was a collaborative effort with Kodak, also known as the Kodak DCS 520). Indeed, the EOS-1D is the first all Canon professional digital SLR. Canon themselves admit that after the EOS-D2000 they were caught dragging their heels somewhat when Nikon released the D1 but believe that they are coming back strong with the 4 megapixel 8 fps EOS-1D, rechargeabl NP-E3 battery.

It combines a new 8.2 million pixel CMOS sensor with Canon's DIGIC II imaging engine and captures eight-megapixel JPEG images at 8.5fps in continuous bursts of up to 40 frames and RAW images up to 20 frames. Canon took their popular 4.1 megapixel EOS-1D and doubled the resolution of the imaging sensor. The EOS-1D Mark III is compatible with all EF lenses (excl. EF-S lenses) and EX Series Speedlite flash units. Untethered shooting and image transfer are available with the optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2

In the digital camera battery realm, Canon's progress has been marked by cautious advances, but excellent products when they finally make a step. In the consumer realm, their digital cameras offer good value and exceptional color and image quality. About a year and a half ago, they introduced their first digital SLR, the EOS-D30. While many D30's found homes in professional photographer's equipment kits, it clearly wasn't intended to be a fully professional camera. Compared to Canon's film-based SLRs, the D30 was slower and less ruggedly constructed than Canon's pro models.

One of the only problems with Canon's 1D and 1Ds series bodies is that they are big and heavy. Some photographers simply don't want to deal with the weight--about 3 pounds without a lens-- while those with very small hands often complain that some controls are out of reach. After a long day of shooting, my right arm definitely did feel the awesome weight of this camera, but I didn't have trouble reaching any important buttons,Most significant of the issues is the autofocus (AF) issue. The Mark III (NP-E3)has a completely redesigned AF system that works better in low-light than nearly all other D-SLRs.[citation needed] However, under certain conditions (notably warm, bright, sunny days, conditions under which AF usually operates the best) some users have experienced poor AF performance.

Continuous Shooting basically lived up to Canon's 10-frames-per-second (fps) claim. We were able to capture full 10-megapixel JPEGs at a rate of 9.9fps with the camera set to its highest quality JPEG compression setting of 10. Canon's claim is based on a lower compression setting of 8, but either way, it feels like you're firing a machine gun (without the recoil or death) when you shoot with the 1D Mark III in high-speed Continuous Drive mode. Its NP-E3 battery can be used for about 3 hours.

mages shot with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III can be absolutely stunning. Colors look extremely accurate, and the automatic white balance does an excellent job of neutralizing colors under a variety of lighting situations. The only times it became confused was in situations in which there was mixed lighting, and even then it produced pleasing, if not absolutely spot-on results. If paired with a sharp lens, the 1D Mark III can produce images with a vast amount of fine detail.

canon powershot SD400 camera review

2008-07-08T02:16:00.000-07:00

Announced in February 2005, the SD400 (which goes by the names of Digital IXUS 50 in Europe and IXY DIGITAL 55 in Japan) is the latest in a long line of ultra-compact 'ELPH' or 'IXUS' cameras stretching back to early 2000 (and a lot farther back than that in the film camera world). Like the SD300 before it, the SD400 incorporates two UA (Ultra-high Refractive Index Glass Molded (GMo) Aspherical lens) elements which has allowed Canon to produced its smallest cameras yet to feature a 3x zoom. It may be smaller than a credit card, but Canon has still managed to cram a fairly comprehensive range of features into the SD400;

5.0 megapixel CCD

2.0-inch color TFT monitor

35-105mm (equiv.) F2.8 - 4.9, 3x optical zoom

640 x 480 movies at 30fps

Print/Share button

Fast Frame Rate movies (320x240 pixels @ 60fps)

'My Colors' feature

Six special scene modes

Custom white balance

Spot, center-weighted and evaluative metering

DIGIC II processor & iSAPS

9-point AiAF

The PowerShot SD400 has an average bundle. Inside the box, you'll find:

The 5.0 effective Megapixel Canon PowerShot SD400 Digital ELPH camera

16MB Secure Digital card

NB-4L lithium-ion battery

Battery charger

Wrist strap

USB cable

A/V cable

CD-ROM featuring Canon Digital Camera Solutions, ArcSoft PhotoStudio, and drivers

193 page camera manual + software manual (both printed)

Canon includes a 16MB Secure Digital (SD) memory card with the SD400, which holds a grand total of five photos at the highest quality setting. That means that you'll want a larger card right away, and I recommend a 256MB card as a good starter size. The camera can use either SD or MMC (MultiMedia) cards, though only the former is recommended. The SD400 takes advantage of high speed SD cards and one is required for the unlimited burst mode or for the highest movie quality. Look for a card rated at 60X or higher quality canon nb-4l battery for best results.

The SD400 uses the same battery as the SD200 and SD300 (but NOT the SD500). That's the NB-4L battery which packs just 2.8 Wh of energy. That translates to just 150 shots per charge using the CIPA standard -- which is below average. The SD300 can take 140 shots per charge using the same battery, while the SD500 takes 160. Some non-Canon cameras do a lot better in this area. The Casio EX-Z57 takes a whopping 400 shots per charge, the Nikon Coolpix 5900 can take 270, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T33 can fire off 180.

My usual complaints about proprietary batteries like the one used by the SD400 apply here. They're expensive, and you can't put in a set of alkalines to get you through the rest of the day like you could with an AA-based camera. Then again, you'd be hard pressed to find an ultra-thin camera that uses AAs.

When it's time to recharge, just drop the nb-4l batteryinto the included charger. This is my favorite style of charger -- it plugs right into the wall (yes, I know some people don't like this). It takes about 95 minutes to fully charge the battery.

Overall I recommend the SD400, but if you can swing it, I'd buy the SD500 instead. While it's a bit bigger, it takes better pictures and has both a more powerful flash and a longer-lasting battery.

What I liked:

Very good photo quality (though see issues below)

Compact and very thin metal body

Blazing performance

First rate movie and continuous shooting modes

Unique My Colors feature

LCD visible in low light

AF-assist lamp; good low light focusing

USB 2.0 High Speed support

Optional underwater case and external slave flash

High quality canon nb-4l rechargeable battery

What I didn't care for:

Images noisier/softer than I would've liked

Redeye

Some corner softness and purple fringing

Cheap plastic door over memory card / battery compartment

Battery life isn't great

Can't swap memory cards while camera is on a tripod

More manual controls would be nice

Tiny memory card included

Some other ultra-thin cameras worth considering include the Canon PowerShot SD300 (4MP; missing the new features listed at the top of the review) and SD500, Casio Exilim EX-Z57,Fuji FinePix Z1, Nikon Coolpix 5900, Olympus C-630Z and Stylus Verve S,Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7, Pentax Optio S5i, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T7 and DSC-T33.

As always, I recommend a trip down to your local reseller to try out the PowerShot SD400 and its competitors before you buy!

hp pavilion zd7000 laptop review

2008-07-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Microsoft has upgraded its TV- and media-friendly Windows XP Media Center Edition (MCE) to MCE 2004, and HP's Pavilion zd7000 runs the new version. The $2,600 laptop features a big, wide-screen display; a handheld remote; a DVD burner; and an external box that ties in to your television signal. MCE 2004 may be better suited for a PC, especially if accommodating the OS requires a 9.2-pound laptop, plus multiple cables and paraphernalia. Nevertheless, the HP Pavilion zd7000 is among the fastest, best-designed laptops CNET has ever tested, and it's equipped to please videographers, shutterbugs, gamers, and even those who ponder spreadsheets. However, its sheer weight and heat, plus a battery that conks out just past two hours, may discourage you from taking the laptop off your desk.
After looking at several recent big-screen laptops, we think the HP Pavilion zd7000 has the best implementation of a nonstandard-resolution display. In particular, its resolution is appropriate for its screen size, unlike others we've seen. HP's Pavilion nx7000, for example, crams its 1,680x1,050 resolution onto a 15.4-inch (diagonal) wide-screen LCD--that's 130 pixels per inch, a view so dense, you have to squint.

The HP Pavilion zd7000 (hp zd7000 battery )tops out at a comfortable 100 pixels per inch, displaying a 1,440x900 native resolution--enough to sail through a spreadsheet as easily as through a movie. We love the display's saturated colors and its sharp, clean text on an evenly lit background. The image fades when viewing from above or the side, however, so gathering friends around for a movie won't work.

The HP Pavilion zd7000's size allows for uncluttered, uncrowded hands-on elements. A long, ridged latch opens the lid easily to reveal a full-size keyboard--even the Backspace key is big--with a separate numeric keypad. Keys provide a good "pop" feel and operate silently, and the keyboard is almost free of wiggle and sag. A wide touchpad features a scrolling strip down the right-hand edge; ordinary left- and right-click mouse buttons sit just below it. Stereo speakers line the laptop's entire front edge and sound at least as good as small external speakers, not as a digital camera (digital camera battery) There's also a power button for the 802.11g Wi-Fi radio.

HP stocked the Pavilion zd7000 with features on the outside and muscle on the inside. Along the edges, it has a quartet of USB 2.0 ports; a four-pin FireWire port; S-Video; two flash memory slots that read Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, and SmartMedia; and a Type II/Type III PC Card slot. A fixed DVD-R/RW drive accommodates most optical media but, unfortunately, not a backup battery. Inside, there's a screaming-hot 3.2GHz desktop Pentium 4 (it really does run hot; good thing the Pavilion zd7000 is too heavy to park on your lap for long); Nvidia's AGP 8X GeForce FX Go5600 graphics controller with 128MB of its own memory; 512MB of 333MHz memory filling both memory slots; and a 60GB hard drive.

Microsoft streamlined and extended Media Center Edition (MCE) 2004 in some useful ways. The basic idea is a separate, no-keyboard interface that lets you use the remote to run utilities for viewing and recording television, organizing and displaying photos, and performing other media-oriented activities. MCE 2004 can teach itself how to work with your set-top box, walk you through calibrating color on your screen, and notify you when someone is trying to call you (if you have Caller ID). It can download current TV schedules unattended and record a TV show while you're using the system for other tasks. Microsoft also improved the television listings; you now have tools to sort and filter them, and you can find listings based on keywords.

For those moments away from television, HP bundles Microsoft Works 7.0 with Microsoft Money 2003 and Encarta Internet Edition.

The HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE comes in first place in mobile performance in this small test group of desktop replacements. The HP Pavilion zd7000 is the first laptop digital camera (digital camera battery )we've tested with Intel's Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor. The difference between this chip and the normal Pentium 4 is the addition of a 2MB L3 memory cache on the Extreme Edition chip as well as its normal 512K L2 memory cache. The HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE's mobile performance score has less to do with this major bump in cache memory and more to do with how low the speed of the processor is throttled in order to conserve battery life. In this case, the HP Pavilion zd7000's 3.2GHz Pentium 4 Extreme Edition processor does not drop its speed significantly and as a result ends up with the highest MobileMark performance score we've yet seen. Unfortunately, the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE's great mobile performance does not come without a price, as is seen in its battery life score. The Dell Inspiron XPS with its Pentium 4 3.4GHz processor is a distant second in mobile performance, with the original HP Pavilion zd7000 P4 bringing up the rear. Often with desktop replacements, mobile performance comes down to how much battery life the manufacturer is comfortable sacrificing. In the case of the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE, HP chooses mobile performance, designing a system that can run office and content-creation applications very fast in a mobile state.

SysMark 2002 performance:
The Pentium 4 Extreme Edition-based HP Pavilion zd7000 (hp pavilion zd7000 battery) significantly outperforms its Pentium 4-based predecessor, with increases of about 14 percent over the older processor. This is due not only to the laptop's Pentium 4 Extreme Edition chip, which has a superlarge 2MB L3 memory cache, but also to the system's increased RAM, about (1GB as opposed to 512MB) and faster 5,400rpm hard drive. All of these factors result in a 24 percent increase in office-productivity performance and a 3 percent increase in Internet content-creation performance. However, the great hardware improvement isn't enough to win out over the Dell Inspiron XPS. Although the Dell Inspiron XPS uses the normal version of the Pentium 4, it runs at a faster 3.4GHz. Also, the system includes a superfast 7,200rpm hard drive, which helps give it a performance boost over the competition. That said, the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE's maximum performance is still one of the best we've seen and should satisfy the performance demands of even the most demanding user.

To measure maximum notebook application performance, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's SysMark 2002, an industry-standard benchmark. Using off-the-shelf applications, SysMark measures a desktop's performance using office-productivity applications (such as Microsoft Office and McAfee VirusScan) and Internet-content-creation applications (such as Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Dreamweaver).

3D graphics performance:
The HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE places a distant second behind the Dell Inspiron XPS in 3D graphics performance. The good news is that the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE's 3D score is a huge 25 percent increase over the older model's, thanks mostly to the P4EE processor's huge 2MB L3 memory cache. The 3D performance of this system is great. However, the Dell Inspiron XPS performs even better. Using 3D architecture that is about half a generation ahead of the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE's, the Dell Inspiron XPS houses ATI's newest mobile GPU, the Mobility Radeon 9700 128MB, which is the successor to the Mobility Radeon 9600 Pro. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the Dell Inspiron XPS beats the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE by 15 percent. It should be noted, however, that the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE is still one of the highest-scoring 3D laptops we've seen. It was just outclassed by newer hardware. Still, the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE should have no problem meeting the performance needs of most gamers.

canon powershot s400 digital camera review

2008-07-02T19:43:00.001-07:00

The PowerShot S400 Digital Elph is the world's smallest 4 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom (36-108mm in 35mm equivalent) lens and a 9-point AiAF autofocus system that makes focusing quick and easy, even with powerful NB-1LH rechargeable battery. The camera also features a stainless steel body with a new super hard Cerabrite finish to guard against scratching; an improved Movie Mode that captures motion video clips up to 3 minutes in length with sound; and Direct Print capabilities with Canon's Card Photo Printer CP-100 or letter-size S820D, S830D, and S530D photo printers to make prints without the need of a computer.

Canon's proprietary image processor, called DIGIC, was developed specifically for use with its line of digital cameras and combines the jobs of image processing and camera function control into one chip. It handles nearly every digital camera function including JPEG compression/expansion; memory card control; LCD/Video control and processing; gain control (control of CCD signal amplification); Auto Exposure; Auto Focus; Auto White Balance control and most other functions of the camera. The result is a camera that offers faster and more powerful AF than ever before, faster image processing,canon nb-1lh battery,longer battery life, and the ability to record 3-minute movie clips with sound.

Over the past 68 years, Canon has accumulated a vast amount of photographic data and know-how and used it to create some of the most innovative camera products in the marketplace. Now, using that same data and know-how, Canon has developed an exclusive technology called iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) that can predict certain camera settings such as focusing distance, exposure and optimum white balance based on zoom focal length, overall light level and tonal distribution data. Canon refers to this collective data as "Photographic Space." By incorporating iSAPS technology into its PowerShot line, the cameras can analyze a scene just before the image is made and in doing so, increase the speed and precision of the camera's autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance.

Powershot S400 Features

4.0 Megapixel CCD imager for up to 2272x1704 pixel images

3x optical 36-108mm f/2.8-4.9 zoom, 3.6x digital zoom

1.5 inch color LCD with up to 10x playback zoom

Ultra-compact and durable stainless steel body (3.4 x 2.2 x 1.1 in.)

Advanced TTL AiAF nine-point autofocus system

Program AE automatic and Manual exposure modes

Movie mode w/sound 320x240 up to 3 minutes long

2.5fps Continuous exposure mode

Evaluative metering on focus point or Spot

Stitch Assist mode for perfect panoramas

Exposure compensation: +/-2EV in 1/3-step increments

White Balance: Auto, 5 presets or Custom

Photo Effects: Low Sharpening, Vivid Color, Neutral, Sepia and B&W

Low-light focus assist illuminator

Shutter speeds of 15 seconds to 1/2000 second

Auto noise reduction with 1.3 sec or longer shutter speeds

Selectable ISO settings from 50 to 400

Voice memo (up to 60 secs) can be attached to images

Intelligent Orientation sensor

Builtin microphone and speaker

Lithium rechargable battery canon nb-1lh and charger included

Direct print to CP-100 and other Canon printers

USB connectivity for PC and Mac

Optional WP-DC500 Waterproof Case

Package Contents (U.S./N. America)

Digital Camera

Wrist Strap WS-300

Battery Charger CB-2LS

Battery PackNB-1LH

CompactFlash Card FC-32M

Case for CompactFlash Card

AV Cable AVC-DC100

USB Interface Cable IFC-300PCU

Digital Camera Solution Disk

ArcSoft Camera Suite Disk

User Guides

Using the camera

Holding the camera you can't fail to notice that it is a solid piece of engineering built to do what it is meant to do - take quality pictures. This 4 megapixel model (2272 x 1704 pixels) comes equipped with a 3 x optical zoom lens equivalent to 36 - 108 mm with a maximum aperture of 2.8 - 4.9. Inside is Canon's DIGIC image processor, which was specifically developed for use in digital cameras. It combines the job of image processing and camera control in one chip, thereby handling nearly every camera function from JPG compression to auto focus, exposure, white balance control and most other in-camera functions. That it works can be seen in Canon's latest series of Powershot cameras, which offer faster and more powerful AF, longer battery life and faster image processing times. Although there are few manual settings and advanced features as opposed to Canon's larger cameras, The ELPH's excellent image quality and convenient size will surely suit a broad variety of snapshooters as well as more advanced photographers.

The Canon S400 comes in stainless-steel with a new scratch resistant Cerabrite finish. Its controls are well laid out and easy to use. On the top you will find the power on/off button together with the shutter release and Canon's by now familiar zoom control around it. On the back there are the mode dial, the record/play mode switch and a 4-way control. Below the 1.5" high resolution LCD you will find 4 further buttons to activate menu settings, display options and certain manual camera functions. What I like is that the 4-way switch is in fact 4 separate little buttons laid out in a circular way. A very nice idea from Canon as it will avoid making the wrong menu choice by pressing the wrong end of the control, as is so easy to do on cameras of this small size. The Canon S400 has a helpful focus assist light to aid focusing in dim lighting conditions, together with a solid metal socket for connecting the camera to a tripod.

It takes a good 2.5 seconds before the camera is ready to take pictures. Press the shutter release button halfway and the camera's 9-point AiAF autofocus system locks focus in a little under one second. Shutter lag times are low and not really noticeable while shot-to-shot speed is excellent as well. After presing the shutter, the camera is ready to take the next shot in just under 2 seconds. When your battery is lost,
canon nb-1lh was recharged in short time.

For anyone who wants a very portable and extremely durable camera it's hard to beat the Canon ELPH Series. Canon was the first to manufacture these small but very functional cameras and they continue to make the best even better. Their Canon S400 is a worthy contender in the compact digicam class, as it is a very stylish camera that delivers almost perfect results at the expense of manual exposure control. Although other Canon camera's (such as the S45) may have full manual control and perform just as well, they are much bigger and heavier. This one has the advantage that it fits easily into the smallest pockets and thus makes an ideal weekend or holiday camera. The Canon S400 may not be the latest Canon ELPH camera anymore, but personally I would definitely prefer this one over the more recent models because of its longer zoom lens and the possibility of using cheap and widely available Compact Flash cards instead of the more expensive SD memory cards. Go out and get one while they are still available . .

Sony Vaio Pcg-z1a Notebook

2008-07-02T00:26:00.000-07:00

When you hear the phrase, "Curves that captivate", you probably do not immediately think of a notebook PC. But that is what Sony Electronics' Web site promises for the new Z series Vaio laptops - Sony the first built around the new Intel Centrino package of a battery of thrifty chipset, Pro / Wireless 2100 WiFi (11Mbps 802.11b) adapter (sony pcga bp2v) battery wireless network, and Pentium M processor.

In fact, Svelte-design-wise, the Vaio PCG-Z1A tested here is fractionally thicker than the long-popular Vaio 505 models with older mobile Pentium 4 CPUs. But the biggest Z1A has a 14.1-rather than 12.1-inch screen with 1400 by 1050 pixel resolution SXGA +. And it has those curves - notches carved out on either side of a recess and keyboard covered when the screen is closed.

The notch in the left holds the microphone, headphones, i.LINK (Sony's name for IEEE 1394 FireWire) and two USB 2.0 ports, has the right to break the 56 Kbps modem (Ethernet, and VGA ports are in the rear) and a light power button. Along with a sleek LCD thin, the design of Sony continues the tradition of offering the closest thing to a conversation piece or status symbol you can get into this, even school kids have laptop-old. .. and charging a premium for it. With a 1.3GHz Pentium M chip, 512 MB of DDR266 memory, a 60GB hard drive and combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive, the elegant Z1A costs $ 2400.

If you want Windows XP Professional instead of Home Edition, add $ 100. If you want to step up to 1.5GHz Pentium M and 1GB of memory, you'll pay a high $ 3000, a model with a 1.6GHz processor and twice the capacity of battery is a painful positively $ 4000. (Note that both models use high-end modules 512MB PC2100; Z1A comes with a fixed and a plug-in module 256 MB, so its roof system is 768MB.)

But if you have a budget of $ 2400 and a busy travel schedule, the Vaio Z1A offers more than just a pretty face: It is thin and light enough to spoil a more portly portable, 9.7 to 12.4 per 1, 5 inches and 4.7 pounds (including its AC adapter is cut by 12 ounces).

Its 1.3GHz Pentium M processor is not the fastest laptops in class, but it works very well, thank you - at least as fast as 1.7GHz or 1.8GHz Pentium 4 mobile. The battery life is a little above average, too, if not running the marathon that Intel Centrino advertising blitz has (let's remember that this is a lightweight laptop with a relatively small group of lithium-ion Pcga-bp2v battery pack) . The 60GB hard drive DVD-ROM/8/4/24X Hitachi and Matsushita 8X CD-RW combo unit working quickly and quietly.

Add an attractive package - with Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, InterVideo WinDVD 4, McAfee.com security service, Microsoft Works, and both Microsoft Money and Quicken New User Edition, as well as Sony's high-quality, home - brand image, video and audio-file managers - and you have a capable contender. Even with some minor complaints about its keyboard and touchpad screen, we find the Z1A The combination of capacity, style and slimness, well, captivating.

Not only the new Intel Pentium M reverse the recent mania for higher clock speed as the holy grail of CPU performance, but the faster clock 1.6GHz Pentium M chip is priced so high that most sellers seem to be the solution for smaller models. Hence, were pleasantly surprised to see the 1.3GHz Vaio Bapco Sysmark 2002-publishes an application suite score of 140, a mixture of 153 on Internet Content Creation with 129 in the Office of Productivity. The latter figure, it is worth noting, is on a par with at least a 2.2GHz Pentium 4-M portable and even a pair of 2.53GHz and 2.4GHz Pentium 4 desktop we've tested over the past year.

The Slimline of FutureMark PCMark 2002 results were equally respectable 4270 (CPU), 4095 (memory) and 597 (hard drive). Sony shortchanged its video image and reputation of excellence, however, opting for a model of economy-16MB ATI Mobility Radeon graphics controller (not to be confused with the latest Mobility Radeon 7500 and 9000 chips): The Vaio Z1A Battery puttered to a lackadaisical in 1701 FutureMark 3DMark 2001 SE Pro and managed only a limp 30 frames per second when playing Quake III Arena high quality in 1024 by 768 mode.

That said, the 14.1-inch LCD is sharp - especially for the widescreen DVD viewing, despite the stereo speakers are typically small and tinny and only the top two or three of the nine brightness settings are sufficiently clear to our middle-aged eyes. Even then, sometimes found ourselves squinting tiny text and icons in the 1400-1050 pixels - we have enjoyed resolution SXGA + 15.0-inch and larger screens laptop, but frankly it would have been just as happy if Sony has stuck with confidence-old XGA (1024 by 768) for the 14.1-inch viewing area.

In fact, there is a model Vaio Z1A1 with only a screen, priced at $ 2200, but also skimps with 40GB instead of 60 GB hard drive and 256 MB instead of 512 MB of standard memory - a commitment of more, we believe that, for $ 200 from his savings through our Z1A. Of course, you can use Windows' Control Panel or ATI-tray utility tasks for the whole system screen resolution to 768 by 1024 instead of its native mode, but the results seem too pixelated for the eyes .
Buy Digital Camera Battery , While we are grumbling, the Z1A keyboard offers a reasonable floor, but am sorry to write full-size and disposition of alphanumeric, but gets a bit crowded around the edges - the right Shift key is small, and Home, End, PgUp, PgDn and doubled to reach the arrows cursor across a Fn key, as with many small laptops. The color coordinated touchpad is attractive, but believes Scratchy or slightly more prone to occasional jumps that most we've tried.

Handy switches at the top right let you turn the Wi-Fi radio on or off (the latter helps save battery life) and use two buttons that can be customized for a limited range of functions (defaults audio mute and maximum brightness of the screen). In addition to the aforementioned USB 2.0, FireWire, audio, Ethernet, VGA, modem and ports, you'll find slots for a single Type II PC Card and a Sony Memory Stick flash modules. An external USB floppy drive is an option of $ 80.

You will also find quite impressive battery life lightweight: Despite that never came close to Sony "up to 6.5 hours" claim, our test unit lasted two and a half hours in PCMark 2002 (CPU, hard disk, memory, and video playback) and test loop an average of three hours in our real world working sessions, including those oriented drain battery installation of multimedia software and play instead of idling word processing. If you do not mind adding some extra weight, a dual capacity (8800 mAh compared to 4400) lithium-ion battery pack is an option of $ 500, a spare battery is regularly $ 300, and a high-speed connectivity 802.11a wireless PC Card is $ 160.

In total, the Vaio Z1A life until Intel Centrino hype and Sony Slimline-chic heritage, is a major aspect, the good performance, slightly more expensive high-end laptop for business users. The next time showing off his coworker of his new Tablet PC, you can strike again to the old school style notebook.
Buy Sony Np-BG1 battery.

The Canon ES55 Review

2008-07-01T01:21:00.000-07:00

The Canon ES55 is an entry-level camcorder targeted at casual shooters and video newbies operating on a budget. Its sub-$400 list price will surely attract the attention of first time camcorder shoppers, and its features will allow future experts to learn the art of making video without having to spend thousands of dollars on a camcorder. Canon's ES50 (BP-945) is the younger sibling to the ES55. The ES50 retails for $349. It is just like the ES55, but excludes image stabilization and photo modes.

First, the drawbacks. I don’t really like the layout of this particular model, and it has one of the worst zoom controls of any similarly priced unit. It also records on 8mm tape. While this may be better than VHS-C in terms of basic quality and recording time, it still leaves a lot to be desired when compared to Hi8 and Digital 8. Having said all of this, the ES50 is a bargain with a MSRP of $349.00, and a street price of around $100 less. And, furthermore, this camera may well have the best features for the money of any of the lower priced models. Its battery code is : Canon bp-945

The ES55 (Canon bp-945) is a sleek, sharp-looking camcorder. It fits nicely in the right hand and its weight is distributed well, making it easy to hold comfortably in one hand while shooting for extended periods of time. Your right thumb can easily operate the large Record/Pause button and standby toggle.

Canon has always had some of the most powerful optical zooms available, and this unit is no exception. But, to offer a 500X digital zoom is absolutely ludicrous. On the other hand, there are other features on this unit that can be used very effectively. There are some nice special effects available, in addition to a digital fader and titler. This model is also equipped with a time base corrector, which will help make up for the shortcomings of the 8mm format, bp-945 battery. A time base corrector digitally processes the video signal resulting in a more stable, better quality image. Canon has made it easier for you to take advantage of all of these features by including “custom keys” so you can preset the camera to use different configurations and then access the setting with the touch of a button.

Canon ES55

8mm Camcorder

Format: 8mm

Lens 22:1 optical zoom (500:1 Digital), 3.6-79.2mm

Image Sensor 1/4" CCD, 270,000 pixels

Viewfinder color eyecup, no LCD

Focus auto and manual

Maximum Shutter Speed 1/1000

Exposure auto or manual with FlexiZone

White Balance auto

Image Stabilization electronic

Digital Effects art, black & white, sepia, negative, mirror half, mirror full, mosaic, pastel, emboss, color key-red/green/blue/yellow, 16:9, cinema, slow shutter, strobe

Inputs 1/8-inch mike

Outputs Mini-jack output of RCA video and

mono RCA audio

Edit Interface none

Other Features Built-in video light

Dimensions 3-3/4"(H) x 4"(W) x 6-3/4"(D)

Weight (sans tape and battery) 1 pound, 7-1/8 ounces

Video Performance (approx.)

Horizontal resolution (camera) 200

Horizontal resolution (playback) 150

Battery: rechageable BP-945, BP-945

Performance Times

Pause to Record 2 seconds

Power-up to Record 6 seconds

Fast-forward/Rewind (120 min. tape) Approx. 13 minutes

Canon ES55 review

2008-07-01T00:40:00.000-07:00

Video Performance (approx.)

Horizontal resolution (camera) 200

Horizontal resolution (playback) 150

Battery: rechageable BP-945, BP-945

Performance Times

Pause to Record 2 seconds

Power-up to Record 6 seconds

Fast-forward/Rewind (120 min. tape) Approx. 13 minutes

Canon digital camera,EOS 300D review

2008-06-26T22:03:00.000-07:00

Canon is doing well in the world of digital photography and maybe that is an understatement.Especially canon EOS 300D with a power bp-511 battery.The assortment of digital cameras built up by Canon over the past few years, is recognisable and has its own face. Names like Powershot and EOS are standing out and being recognised which is quite a performance in a sector that goes through many changes almost daily. Until the end of last year it was mainly the compact digital camera attracting the attention from the consumer, beside that a large group of consumers could only dream of a digital reflex camera, because the price tag showed some 2000 Euro.

Canon EOS 300D - digital reflex camera

But by the end of August Canon all of a sudden as if by magic made a digital reflex camera appear with a price tag that made us raise our eyebrows, and with us many of the industry. The price of a digital reflex became interesting overnight: Euro 1299, lens included! And not only that; Canon was also capable to supply the demands for the Canon EOS 300D and high capacity
canon bp-511 battery) for market need.

Canon EOS 300D - Features

This model is equipped with a CMOS image sensor with an effective image resolution of 6.3 Megapixel (3062x2048) which is more than sufficient for the mayor part of the functions to be able to offer oversized enlargements. Canon EOS 300D have a powerful bp-511 li-ion battery,no memory effect.The Canon EOS 300D offers a lot of similar possibilities that the EOS 10D offers. Here and there the Canon 300D stays on the surface with the possibilities of his settings and Canon economised on the material of the housing to be able to keep the price down. Anyone owning lenses suitable for EOS analogue cameras can use them again in combination with the EOS 300D. Just like the EOS 10D one should count on a focal length multiplier of 1.6x.

Biggest hit

The 300D offers several advanced features such as 35-zone TTL metering that is linked to the active focusing point; continuous tracking AF and ultra-wide AF with seven manually or automatically selectable focus points which light up in red if focus has been achieved.

Canon EOS 300D Battery life was very good throughout our tests. You can expect to take about 600 images without flash and 400 with it.

If you have liked Canon EOS 300D through my introduction,you come to buy it!!

Sony Vaio SZ Series Lapops

2008-06-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

The Sony Vaio SZ Series (Battery Code # Sony Vgp-bpl2) is Sony's entry-level SZ-series notebook. The SZ line represents Sony's latest attempt to combine mobility and power without sacrificing too much of either. These ultraportable laptops weigh in at a light 4 pounds, about average for their category, but they come loaded with features not found on other ultraportables.

As of late March 2006, the Sony SZ line is one of the few ultraportable Intel Core Duo notebook series currently available. Other laptops in this category include the Lenovo Thinkpad X60s, the Asus W5F, and the Toshiba Portege M400 convertible tablet, but several important features differentiate the SZ line from the others.

General info about the Sony SZ line

Sony's SZ laptops are divided into two major categories, "Regular" (Sony just calls them "SZ", but "Regular" is used here for clarity) and Premium:

Regular SZ laptops have magnesium bodies, weigh 4.1 lbs, and offer a manufacturer-estimated 5.5 - 6 hours of battery life (inaccurate; see Battery section below).
Premium SZ laptops have carbon-fiber bodies, weigh 3.7 lbs, and offer a manufacturer-estimated 6 - 7 hours of battery life (inaccurate; see Battery section below). They use a different type of LCD screen and backlight, resulting in an ultrathin screen (4.5mm thick) that supposedly looks better than the Regular type -- but the Regular screen already seems thin enough and bright enough, so the Premium one may be more of a luxury than a necessity. The Premium laptops also have a slightly different type of keyboard, but the difference is subjective and preference will probably depend on the individual user. Lastly, some Premium laptops come with an integrated EDGE antenna for wireless Internet access using Cingular's cellular network.
The two types are otherwise the same. For more details, see Sony's SZ comparison page.

The Sony Np BG-1 Battery in particular

The Vaio SZ Series

The SZ Series is Sony's lowest-priced SZ notebook (excluding the custom-configurable SZ-140). This means:

As a Regular SZ notebook, it has a magnesium body instead of the carbon-fiber body of the Premium laptops.
It comes with Windows XP Home instead of Windows XP Professional.
It has an Intel Core Duo T2400 1.83Ghz CPU instead of the 2.0Ghz CPU that some others have.
It has a 100GB hard drive instead of the 120GB drive that some others have.
It does not have the EDGE antenna (for WWAN Internet access) that some others have.
SZ Series Specs as Reviewed

Dimensions: 12.5" (W) x 1.0" -1.5" (H) x 9.3" (D)
Weight: 4.07 lbs. with standard battery
CPU: Intel Core Duo Processor T2400 1.83GHz
Memory: 1GB DDR2 PC2-4200 533MHz (upgradable to 2GB)
Hard Drive: 100GB 5400rpm SATA drive with G-Sensor Shock Protection
Optical Drive: Dual-layer, dual-format DVD RW DL internal drive with max 8x read speed and 4x write speed
Display: 13.3" WXGA 1280x800 XBRITE widescreen glossy LCD
Graphics 1: (A built-in switch toggles between the two graphics cards) Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 128MB Shared Memory
Graphics 2: (A built-in switch toggles between the two graphics cards) NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 with 128MB Dedicated Memory
Audio: Sony Sound Reality Audio Enhancer
Wireless LAN (WiFi): Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG (802.11a/b/g)
Bluetooth: Integrated Toshiba Bluetooth technology
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2 (the CD is not included)
Sony Vaio SZ Series Battery: Standard-capacity lithium-ion battery with estimated life of 2.5 to 5.5 hours (inaccurate, see Battery section )
Power Requirement: 105W+10%
Keyboard: 86-key full-size keyboard with 3mm stroke and 19.05mm pitch
Pointing Device: Electro-static touchpad with two buttons and vertical & horizontal scroll areas
Webcam: Built-in webcam and microphone
Security: Fingerprint scanner
Ports:
1x Memory Stick Duo Pro MagicGate
1x PC Card (PCMCIA Type II)
1x VGA output
1x iLink/FireWire/IEEE 1394
1x headphone output
1x microphone input
1x V.90 Modem (RJ-11)
1x 10/100 Fast Ethernet (RJ-45) (no Gigabit Ethernet)
2x USB 2.0
1x ExpressCard/34
1x DC-in (for power)
1x Port Replicator Connector
Card Reader: 4-in-1 xD/SD/MMC/MS Pro flash media reader card that uses the ExpressCard/34 slot from Digital Camera Battery Shop.
Service & Support: 1-year Limited Warranty, 1-year toll-free 24/7 telephone support
Installed Software: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with SP2, America Online 180-Day Trial - New Users Only, Norton Internet Security 60-Day Subscription, TrendMicro Anti-Spyware 30-Day Trial, VAIO Security Center, VAIO Update software, VAIO Recovery Wizard software, VAIO Support Central, Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition, Intuit Quicken 2006 New User Edition (previous Quicken users may require additional upgrade), InterVideo WinDVD, Microsoft Works 8.5 60-Day Trial Version of Microsoft Office 2003 (Student/Teacher Edition), Roxio DigitalMedia SE, Click to DVD - DVD Creation, DVgate Plus - Digital Video, SonicStage Mastering Studio - Audio Mastering and Remastering, SonicStage - Digital Music, VAIO Media - Network File Sharing, Image Converter - PSP Transfer, 60-minute Trial Version of Wheel of Fortune, 60-minute Trial Version of Jeopardy .

Where and How Purchased

I purchased the notebook from Amazon.com at a list price of $1899.99. After a variety of Amazon discounts and rebates, my final price was somewhere along the lines of $1720. ($150 Amazon rebate, $30 A9.com discount). The price hasn't stabilized yet and some of the buyers commented that the price had decreased by a few hundred dollars since they placed their orders. In the last few days, however, the price has actually gone up and as of March 31, 2006, the list price is $1,999.99 (the rebate and A9 discount are still available). Nonetheless, thanks to free shipping and a lack of sales tax in my state, this turned out to be a reasonably good deal for the notebook -- according to Pricegrabber.com, other merchants were selling it for $1800+.

As expected of Amazon, the notebook arrived on time and in perfect condition.

Reasons for Buying

I was in the market for a new notebook because my old one was too slow and too heavy. I wanted a faster, more portable model and I looked around for a good match. Intel recently released their new Core Duo processors, and seeing the supposed performance gains in multitasking environments and multithreaded applications, I decided to get one instead of an older Pentium M model. A few laptops had already begun to make use of the new processors and I examined the offerings from several major notebook manufacturers. Lenovo (which acquired IBM's PC division) had the Thinkpad X60s -- a generally excellent machine, but it had no internal optical drive, something I considered an absolute necessity. Toshiba had the Portege M400 convertible Core Duo tablet, but it had a strange keyboard layout that moved or eliminated several keys I frequently used. The Asus W5F seemed like a potential match, but at the time, the product website was incomplete and buggy so I couldn't find out enough about it and the product itself seemed to be unavailable for sale everywhere I looked.

Then I found Sony's SZ series. I traditionally avoided Sony products because -- in my opinion -- they tended to be overpriced toys that sold themselves based more on style and looks than functionality. Initially skeptical, I examined the SZ series' specifications, and to my surprise, Sony's expensive toy actually seemed to offer more than anything else out there. It has an internal optical drive (a dual-layer burner, no less); a regular full-size keyboard; a 13.3" widescreen display; both a PC Card slot (which I use for EV-DO wireless Internet) and an ExpressCard/34 slot (which may soon gain popularity); 802.11a/b/g WiFi; Bluetooth; FireWire; a multi-card reader; a webcam; a fingerprint reader; and to seal the deal, a unique Hybrid Graphics System that allows the user to switch between an Intel integrated graphics card and a discrete NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 card.

Finding any of two or three of those features in an ultraportable would be a tough task, yet Sony somehow managed to integrate all of them into one sleek and lightweight machine. I was impressed.

Power of Sony VGN Sz Series

SONY Vaio Vgn-Sz Series Laptop Battery's OEM Battery Code: vgp-bpl2 , vgp-bps2 , replacement for sony vaio vgn- fe590pa , vaio vgn-fe550g , vaio vgn-fe590 , vaio vgn-fe590pb , vaio vgn-fj series, has Chemistry: Li-ion,Volts: 11.10V,Capacity: 6600mAh,Dimension: 206.55 x 70.70 x 19.60 mm,Net Weight: 474.00 g,Color: Black.

Casio Exilim EX-S100 review

2008-06-23T23:19:00.000-07:00

EX-S100 Features:

3.2-Megapixel effective CCD imager
Credit card-size stainless steel body, only 0.66" thick
Still Image: 2048x1536, 1600x1200, 1280x960, 640x480
Uses world's first transparent ceramic 2.8x optical zoom lens
Lens covers 36-102mm (in 35mm equivalence)
AVI 320x240 Movies with audio, length limited only by available memory
Contrast type AF selectable between spot, multi
Focus modes include pan focus, macro mode, infinity, and manual focus
23 Best Shot scene modes, plus 1 custom mode
9.3 Megabytes of internal memory
4 to 1/2000 sec. shutter speeds
Built-in flash with Red Eye Reduction
2" TFT color LCD monitor
4X playback zoom magnification
USB 1.1 data transfer to PC or Mac computers

Lithium rechargeable Casio NP-20 battery and charging cradle included

Secure Digital/MMC card slot for memory expansion
DPOF, Exif Print, Print Image matching, and PictBridge compatible

The Casio Exilim EX-S100 was developed to be the flagship of the Exilim "S" series, and as such, embodies all the brand concepts. Key features of the EX-S100 include a 3.2-megapixel CCD image sensor. The Casio Exilim Card EX-S100 is a 3 megapixel digital camera with a 2.8x optical zoom lens that offers a focal length of 36-102mm and a large 2-inch LCD screen and rechargeable np-20 battery.

The Casio Exilim Card EX-S100 is no different with dimensions of 88mm (W) x 57mm (H) x 16.7mm (D) and weighing just 113g without the battery and storage card fitted. All of this is housed in a stylish and hard-wearing metal casing. But is the Casio Exilim Card EX-S100 just too small for its own good? Carry on reading my extensive review to find out if it's actually a good camera or not.

The Casio Exilim Card EX-S100 has a 3.34 megapixel, 1/3.2 inch CCD that delivers 3.2 effective megapixels. The camera's 2.8x optical zoom lens is equivalent to a 36-102 mm lens on a 35mm format camera. There is also a 4x digital zoom available. There are 5 image sizes (2048 x 1536, 2048 x 1360 (3:2), 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 pixels, powerful NP-20 battery) which are recorded as JPEGs in one of 3 image quality settings (Fine / Normal / Economy). The EX-S100 supports SD and MMC memory cards and there is also 9.3MB of built-in memory.

The Casio Exilim Card EX-S100's dimensions are 88mm (W) x 57mm (H) x 16.7mm (D), and it weighs 113g without the NP-20 battery and storage card fitted. The camera is powered by Casio's proprietary rechargable lithium-ion battery. There is a metal tripod mount in the left of the bottom of the camera. The PC interface is USB 1.0 (via the supplied cradle). There are no NTSC / PAL AV outputs, so you can't connect the EX-Z55 to your TV. Printouts can be made without going through a computer, though, by directly connecting the Casio Exilim Card EX-S100 to a PictBridge-compliant printer.

The EX-S100 features a stainless steel body, a hallmark of the EXILIM CARD series, which has been polished to a brilliant shine through a special process. It is created entirely of metal, right down to the screws, for a true feeling of high quality. The front of the camera has been given a fresh look, with a theme of circular patterns to highlight the shape of the lens, while the back of the unit features a more square look that matches the impressively large 2.0” TFT LCD screen. In keeping with the distinctive form of the other models in the EXILIM CARD series, the lens area itself protrudes slightly from the body of the camera. Its NP-20 battery can last about 3 hours.

dell xps m1210 laptop review

2008-06-22T20:40:00.001-07:00

LIKE MANY THINGS IN the PC industry these days, laptop computers as the digital camera (digital camera battery ) are a fairly mature sort of product. We all know about the basic types and sizes, and how the inevitable tradeoffs in display performance, size, weight, battery life and display real estate tend to work. If you're a road warrior, you can get a svelte, compact machine with understated design cues and six hours of battery life; you'll just have to sacrifice performance for that mobility. If you're a gamer, you can get a graphics and processing powerhouse with Pontiac-style ribbed body cladding and a display large enough to double as the main sail on a small yacht; you'll just have to accept the additional weight, heat, and battery drain that comes with it. For most of us, buying a laptop means deciding what set of tradeoffs we're willing to make and then looking into the various choices in our preferred weight class.

Dell's entry-level multimedia laptop, the XPS M1210 (xps m1210 dell laptop battery)has some excellent show-biz genes, such as media buttons and a TV tuner option. But it's also a strong, well-designed, and highly mobile performer. The Windows Vista refresh only enhances the earlier XP version's strong points.

The 4.9-pound M1210 is not the lightest laptop in its class, but it's still quite travel friendly as a digital caemra (digital camera battery ) . Pricing is flexible, starting at $1299, and the design is excellent. The M1210 has four USB ports, among other connections, ports, and card slots. Its 12.1-inch WXGA screen is extraordinarily bright and inviting, and the well-laid-out keyboard requires no ramp-up time. And with the unit turned off, one press of the keyboard's MediaDirect button launches a movie, music file, video clip, or photos slide show located anywhere on the notebook. Though the M1210 is a small notebook with small-sounding speakers, it comes with two headphone ports on the front so two people can plug in and listen at the same time.

Last year Dell added an 'Instant office' option to the MediaDirect menu; after selecting it, you can flip through your PowerPoint slides, contacts, and calendar entries, without waiting for Windows to load.

The Mobile Media Guru configuration, included on our $2150 (as of April 11, 2007) review unit) further broadens your entertainment and communications horizons. An external USB TV tuner and a remote control enable you to watch and record live TV on the M1210's small screen. Dell also includes an excellent Webcam and an integrated broadband antenna at this price level. (An integrated Cingular or Verizon cellular broadband card and Bluetooth cost extra, however.) The notebook's 'WiFi Catcher' switch makes it easy to scan for any type of wireless signal--Wi-Fi, broadband, or Bluetooth.

The XPS M1210 ( dell xps m1210 battery )features a bright 12.1-inch display that's just big enough for surfing the Web and watching the occasional movie on the road; the crisp 1,280x800 native resolution and glossy finish in particular add to the movie-watching experience. Above the display sits an optional 1.3-megapixel Webcam with directional microphone; the camera swivels so that you can snap shots in front of or behind the laptop and record presentations with audio and video. Beneath the display sit two speakers with the tinny sound that's typical of a laptop; we had hoped for more from a laptop that's billed as a mobile entertainment center.

The keyboard on the XPS M1210 (xps m1210 battery ) shows some significant gains over its predecessor's; all of the keys are full size, with generous travel that makes typing comfortable for even extended periods. The touch pad and mouse buttons are a bit small (typical for a laptop of this size) but functional. We like the glowing blue media controls that sit along the XPS M1210's front edge, making it easy to change music tracks and control volume. We also like the handy Wi-Fi catcher, which lets you test for nearby Wi-Fi networks by simply sliding a switch on the laptop's left edge.

The Dell XPS M1210 takes advantage of its slightly thick case by packing it with an impressive number of ports, jacks, and slots. For starters, you get four USB 2.0 ports, a number usually seen on much larger systems. Add to those four-pin FireWire, VGA, and S-Video-out ports plus two headphone jacks (handy if you want to watch a movie with a friend) and a microphone jack; there's also an ExpressCard slot and a five-in-one media card reader that recognizes Secure Digital, MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, and xD formats. Networking options include modem, Ethernet, and 802.11a/g Wi-Fi; our review unit also included Bluetooth and WWAN. An integrated DVD burner rounds out the feature set.

Casio Exilim EX-Z60 camera review

2008-06-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

The Casio Exilim EX-Z60 is a six megapixel digital camera with a three times optical zoom lens and strong power battery(np-20). It is a fairly slim model and will slip into a large pocket. It is a simple digital camera and it should not take long to get to grips with it. In terms of price this is one of the cheapest cameras of its type that I am aware of. Therefore the Exilim EX-Z60 is likely to appeal to anyone who is looking for a straightforward point and shoot camera that is easy to carry around and will not break the bank.

In addition to its compact and stylish design, the EX-Z60 functions include “Old Photo” Best Shot Mode, which refreshes faded colors of old photos by bringing them back to life in digital format, automatically adjusts for obliquity even when photos are shot while still in the album. The Rapid Flash function enables three consecutive, high-speed flash photos in only one second, ensuring that no special moments are missed. The Easy Mode setting provides a simplified, easy to understand, and convenient version of the settings menu and camera interface, designed especially for first time users but also helpful to those who prefer a basic camera settings interface as well. The BEST SHOT Button enables convenient, one-touch access to 33 scenes chosen from an image menu and providing the user with a wide range of camera settings for taking hassle-free photos every time. But different from the old's,Z60 Camera have high capacity and power rechargerable battery(casio np-20) for you.

The EX-Z60 has features like: “Auto Macro” mode which allows for automatic switching between macro and auto focus modes. “9-Point Multi AF” clearly indicates the areas of focus when photographing subjects with multiple focus points. The “Quick Shutter” function reduces mistakes by facilitating simple and easy high-speed focusing. “Flash Assist” mode compensates for poorly illuminated areas within the shot. “Exposure Warning” mode warns over or under exposure via an on-screen display. The “Icon Help” function provides icon guidance when adjusting camera settings. The “Direct On” button allows quick startup in both shooting and playback modes.

Features:

6-Megapixel effective CCD imager, 3x optical zoom w/auto macro

A rechargeable lithium ion battery (NP-20 battery)

Stylish, durable and light-weight aluminum body

Large 2.5-inch TFT color LCD, twice as bright as EX-S500

Anti Shake provides higher sensitivity, faster shutter speed prevents image blurring to hand or subject movement

High-speed start-up enables shooting approximately 1.4 seconds after power up.

Release time lag of only 0.002 seconds after the shutter is pressed.

Rapid Flash, 3 high speed flash photos in one second

Continuous shutter function enables photos to be taken in 0.9 seconds intervals.

33 "BEST SHOT" scene modes set the camera for easy to difficult situations.

Attach up to 30-second audio memos to still images at capture or later.

Record voice-only audio, approx. 25 minutes on internal memory.

MPEG-4, VGA(640×480 pixels), 30 frames/second high quality movies

Movie Best Shot, Past Movie, Short Movie and in-camera movie editing.

9-point autofocus system with selectable AF modes: Multi or Spot AF.

ISO sensitivity from 50 to 400, ISO 800 with Anti Shake.

Built-in flash with Red Eye Reduction and Flash-assist function.

USB data transfer to PC or Mac computers.

Super-Life battery enables up to 180 shots on a single charge.

Li-ion rechargeable battery and charger included.

8.3 Megabytes of internal memory and SD card slot for memory expansion.

ExifPrint, PRINT Image Matching III, USB Direct-Print, and PictBridge compatible.

Ease of Use

Casio have made the Exilim EX-Z60 very easy to use. If you take a look at the back of the camera there are very few buttons compared with other digital cameras. My only complaint is that if you want to shoot a movie you will need to dip into the menu system to place the camera in movie mode. Otherwise everything you need to take a picture is at your fingertips.

The menu system itself is well designed. It is basically a case of scrolling through the menu until you find what you are looking for. Nothing is hidden or tucked away and all the options are described in plain English without the use of symbols or abbreviations.

To cut the menu options to a bare minimum you can put the camera in easy mode. This makes it even more straightforward to use.

Batteries and Memory Card

A rechargeable lithium ion battery (rechargerable casio NP-20) is used to power the Exilim EX-Z60. Casio supplies both a battery and charger with the camera. Casio estimate you should be able to take around 180 shots before the battery needs to be recharged.

There is 8.3mb of storage built into the camera. Therefore a memory card is not supplied with the camera. I was able to take just four photos before the memory became full. This is very poor indeed. You are strongly advised to buy a high capacity card to go with the camera. It is compatible with both SD and MMC cards.

Casio's Exilim EX-Z60 makes a better fashion accessory than a camera.it hava a strong casio np-20 with longer battery life. If you're looking for style and photographic substance in the same price range, I suggest you check out Canon's SD series or Nikon's S series of cameras.

Sony Cybershot Dsc-H9 review

2008-06-20T01:55:00.000-07:00

Sensor: 1/2.5 " Type CCD,

8.1 million effective pixels

Movie clips:MPEG VX Fine / Standard
(640 x 480 @ 30 / 16 fps MPEG-1 with audio)

Modes: Auto • Program • Shutter Priority • Aperture Priority • Manual • Scene

LCD monitor: 3.0-inch tilt 230,000 pixels

Power: Sony cybershot Dsc-H9 battery (NP-BG1)

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 is an 8.1 Megapixel super-zoom camera with a 15x optical zoom. This gives it one of the longest optical zoom ranges of all super-zoom cameras and makes it usable in practice with Super SteadyShot to combat camera-shake.

The H9 also boasts a huge 3in screen and better still, it’s a flip-out model allowing easy composition at high or low angles. And the H9 wouldn’t be a Sony if it didn’t feature additional gadgetry, so let’s give a warm welcome back to NightShot in the Cyber-shot range, which uses infra-red illumination to take photos in complete darkness.

The DSC-H9 provides up to 250 shots3 with a fully charged NP-BG1 Lithium Ion battery -- enough shooting capacity to cover a long weekend or a whole vacation

The Cyber-shot H9 is certainly a feature-packed camera which understandably piqued the interest of super-zoom buyers the moment it was announced in February 2007. It stacks up pretty well against the competition too. The 15x zoom range offers an equivalent range of 31-465mm, making it a little wider and longer than the 12x zooms of Panasonic’s Lumix FZ50 and FZ8 models, and beaten only by the whopping 28-504mm 18x range of the Olympus SP-550UZ.

While it’s easy to compare numbers in theory, the H9’s lens has a big advantage over its rivals in practice: it focuses very quickly indeed, making it much easier to grab action shots be they of wildlife or sports.

The H9 also trumps its rivals with its screen: not only is it much bigger at 3in, but you’ll also enjoy the flexibility of flip-out capabilities. It may not twist to be usable in portrait orientation or for self-portraits, but it’s still very impressive.

So has Sony produced the ultimate super-zoom camera? In our full H9 review we’ll detail its features and capabilities, along with comparing it against rivals from Panasonic and Olympus. As always we’ll also demonstrate the H9’s key features, including the zoom range, stabilisation, focusing speed and night capabilities, in our Sony Cyber-shot H9 video tour.

A rechargeable lithium ion battery (NP-BG1) is supplied together with a charger. Sony estimates you should be able to take around 280 shots in between charges.This NP-BG1 battery is a change from previous H-series cameras: the H5 ran on two AA batteries. While those batteries are more convenient.

Canon PowerShot sd900

2008-06-19T00:00:00.000-07:00

If it is true that one can not tell a book by its cover, then the diminutive Canon Powershot SD900 seems too small and compact package that is a 10 megapixel Wallop. canon nb 5l .But large file size is only part of the story of a small camera that produces excellent color images and out of the box.

Canon PowerShot sd900

In fact, coverage is pretty cool on its own - the SD900 case is titanium, with its bright medium gray complemented very well chrome bright and flat black accents. Build quality, fit and finish appear to first class. The camera has a 2.5 "LCD monitor and an optical viewfinder, a 10 megapixel sensor 3X optical zoom and Canon that provides a 35mm film equivalent focal length of 37 to 111 mm. Canon claims the DIGIC III processor image provides a better image quality, operating speed and battery performance over previous processors.Canon nb-5l battery.

The SD900 is a new addition to the Powershot line and like many point-and-shoot cameras Canon SD line, which offers virtually no manual controls. The ability to produce images with large file sizes seems tailored for those who want to print large enlargements or crop your shots aggressively to produce the desired result.

Original Canon PowerShot sd900 Battery

Canon offers a wrist strap, battery charger, battery, AV cables and interface, a 32MB SD memory card and CD-ROMs with software every SD900. With a 10 megapixel sensor 32MB card that did not last long, so plan on buying one with more capacity. One card allows some 4 GB + 950 images in the largest file size and configuration of image quality, at least according to the camera meter.

The SD900 measures approximately 2.35 x 3.6 x 1.1 inches and weighs about 6.5 ounces with battery pack and memory card. You can capture still JPEG images in seven different sizes pixel, Motion JPEG and a 160 x 120, 320 x 240, 640 x 480 or 1024 x 768 pixels at 15 and / or 30 frames per second.

House features and design

The front of the camera features 3x zoom lens, flash, viewfinder window, self-timer/red-eye reduction / AF-assist beam and a microphone.

The camera back is dominated by the 2.5 "LCD monitor, but also houses the viewer, the indicator lights, the mode dial, print / share, visualize, function / set nenu and buttons, and Touch Control Dial .

The upper chamber includes a loudspeaker, lamp power and power button, shutter nutton and zoom lens.

A socket threaded tripod, memory card slot / batteries lock release switch, DC coupler terminal cover and memory card slot / cover batteries are in the lower chamber.

A digital terminals and A / V of the terminal can be found beneath the terminal cover the camera on the right side.

Auto mode

The SD900 powers up in a relatively short time - the lens extends as a wide-angle camera and is ready to acquire focus about 1 second after pressing the power button. By default configuration will automatically include the normal color and compression, automatic white balance, the size of large files and evaluative metering exposure. The image quality and color are good enough for shots of scenes illuminated normally automatic settings.

Manual Mode

While the SD900 offers a "manual" which really only allows you to select the exposure compensation, white balance and ISO speed manual as inputs. The camera continues to make almost all the work.

There are also four other shooting options accessed through the "manual" mode: Digital Macro, Color Accent, Color Swap and Stitch Assist. The color options involves the selective color image manipulation, Stitch Assist and helps produce panoramic images.

Special scene modes

There are eleven Special Scene selections available on the SD900 - Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, under water and ISO 3200. Canon makes a "watertight case" for the SD900 and recommends using it to shoot at ski resorts or beaches.

A word here about ISO 3200: a simple rule of thumb with any digital camera is the image that noise increases as does the ISO level.canon nb-5l ,Because the sensors in compact cameras dimensions can be smaller than those of their older brothers, this noise may become more apparent in the ISO lowest levels in the covenants. In the SD900, ISO 3200 would be the choice of places where the flash is inappropriate or ineffective, given the distance between the main theme - that literally becomes the final option, the "noise when a picture really is better than no picture at all "the establishment. In the photos below, one was shot in "Indoor Mode" and the other on "ISO 3200" - the results speak for themselves.

Another consideration in the selection of ISO 3200 in the SD900 is that the camera default in 1600 x 1200 pixels. In practical terms, this means that the expansion / crop options offered captured images to higher resolutions are not available in ISO 3200 - you'll be presented with the production of an image that best suits postcard size prints, or slightly larger.

Exposure Compensation

In Manual and many of the special scene modes, the SD900 accepting manual input of + / - 2 EV exposure compensation in 1 / 3 EV increments.

Metering

Evaluative metering, Canon said it was appropriate to the standard lighting conditions, including lighting, the camera is the default setting. Center-weighted and spot metering can also be selected. In the photo below, evaluative metering did a good job of exposing this road backlit billboard.

Focus / Macro Focus

The SD900 will focus as close as 1.6 feet in normal mode, 2-inch wide-angle and macro 12 inches in macro telephoto. There is also an "Infinity" that the establishment of close-focuses on 9.8 feet. The camera is equipped with an autofocus assist beam supporting care in low light conditions.

Monitor / Viewer

The 2.5-inch LCD monitor is composed of some 230000 pixels and is adjustable brightness. On sunny days with direct light on the monitor and a low contrast theme, the photo composition is sometimes problematic, even with the monitor to adjust the maximum brightness. Monitor performance was satisfactory in the absence of direct sunlight and / or a greater contrast topic.

Unlike many cameras in this class, the SD900 is equipped with a viewfinder. Although small, the viewer provides for a viable option for those times when the composition of photos through the monitor has been difficult.

Photos composed through the monitor are captured as they appear on the monitor, but through photos composed by the viewer tended to produce an image that covers most surface that appeared through the search engine. You may find more photos cropping up through the viewfinder to remove objects that "hidden" in the frame.

Flash

Canon claims a series of flash to 17 feet and 10 feet at wide angle in shaping telephoto, figures that seem accurate in my experience. Red-eye reduction and slow sync options can be enabled by the shooter. Playing with the flash of color seem accurate to my eye.

I was particularly pleased with the performance of flash in connection with the AF assist beam. In the photos that follow, two of them were made in the copper mine Queen in Bisbee, Arizona. We were 1500 feet into the mine and about 950 feet below ground, and with the exception of our small miners lamps and an occasional bulb, the lighting is nil. The SD900 produced some quality exhibitions despite the near pitch-black environment.

Color

The SD900 produced accurate color reproductions of my eye across a range of natural light and flash. The camera also has a "My Colors" mode with a series of adjustments that allow the shooter to change colors to be captured: Off (normal colour), Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, b &w; positive Film; light and shades of darker skin; Vivid red, blue or green color and custom.

ISO

In addition to Auto, ISO values of 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 can be selected manually. There is also a high ISO setting, but the camera only select a higher ISO Auto it deems appropriate if this option is chosen. As mentioned above, there is an ISO 3200 Special Scene mode that can be accessed through the menu.

White Balance

The SD900 features automatic white balance in my experience that worked well in a series of flash and outdoor lighting. There is also daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H and custom white balance options.

Battery performance

Canon claims a canon nb-5l battery life of approximately 230 shots with the LCD monitor activated, and about 700 shots using only the viewer. In my experience the Canon SD900 exceeded the estimate - I got about 250 shots using the monitor, with nearly 80 of those flash also included. I did change the chamber energy savings to minimize the adjustments in time for the various systems.

Performance speed

Performance speed in the SD900 is quite good for a point and shoot. I thought that it could acquire the approach and shoot a good image in lighting conditions at about 1.25 to 1.5 seconds, with the shutter seems to have about .5 seconds or less on fire.

Canon claims to 2 frames per second in continuous shooting rate Large / Fine mode. I saw 5 shots in about 3.7 seconds in the High / Super mode.

Lens Performance

The Canon 3x optical zoom in the SD900(nb-5l) offers a range of af/4.9 aperture of f/2.8. Performance seems good on TV of the range, but there was no barrel distortion (straight lines bow out from the center) present at the wide angle. There were also strip (ghosting purple) present in the high-contrast images in border areas. The barrel distortion could be observed in normal photos, but the band was more obvious under large increase (400%). My feeling is the strip will not be apparent unless an image is enlarged or very much cropped and enlarged. Unfortunately, these two scenarios are unlikely with the SD900.

With a 35 mm film equivalent focal length of 37 to 111mm, the SD900 lens is not really a "comprehensive" wide-angle, but the length of 111mm is very close to the 105 mm focal length 35mm many shooters favour portrait work.

Diversity

The SD900 does not feature image stabilization and has 4x digital zoom and digital macro capability. The camera can print directly to PictBridge-compatible printers (no computer necessary) and also has new face detection technology to identify faces in images and make the focus point.

Conclusion

The Canon SD900 is a compact, elegant shirt-pocket camera that can produce high quality images in file sizes that lend themselves to large additions and / or crops to achieve the desired result.
See Cheap Canon Nb-5l Sd900 Camera Battery.

Laptop Dell C600 Review

2008-06-18T00:46:00.001-07:00

Dell C600(Dell C600 Battery) Key Specs

Processor manufacturer: Intel
Processor model: Mobile Pentium III
Clock speed: 0.85 GHz
RAM installed: 128 MB
Wireless LAN: integrated antenna for wireless 802.11b networking via a Mini-PCI card
Hard drive size: 10 GB
Graphics processor: ATi Rage Mobility 128 AGP 2X
Graphics RAM: 8 MB
Display diagonal size: 14.1 in
Dimensions (W x H x D): 31.9x3.5x25.4 cm
Weight: 2.7 kg
Operating system: Windows 2000 Professional

The Dell Latitude C600(Laptop Dell C600 Battery) is a straightforward corporate laptop with excellent battery life and some special touches.

One aspect that is unique among the machines we tested (and worth copying by others) is the inclusion of both a touch pad and pointing stick. Those who are comfortable with both features can switch back and forth, depending on the task (both are active concurrently), and those with a preference can choose between them, turning one or the other off.

The C600 has an internal antenna for wireless networking, and Dell offers, for an extra $199 (direct), an internal Mini-PCI 802.11b adapter. Unfortunately, that card needs to be plugged into the same slot as the wired Ethernet Mini-PCI adapter. So to toggle between wired and wireless networking, you'll have to use a PC Card for one of them. This is an unexpected omission, especially when the similarly priced Acer and Toshiba models include standard internal wireless network and Ethernet capability.

If you like, there is some Digital Camera Battery infomation to view.

Hot-swapping modules to and from the single bay worked like a charm: We just clicked an icon on the System Tray, ejected one module, and popped in the new one. Another highlight is the high-resolution display. Although its 14.1-inch size is the same as most others, the screen's 1,400-by-1,050 native resolution lets you see more of a document or Web page without scrolling.

As for the audio capabilities, the speaker volume was very low: For presentations, you'll need an external pair of powered speakers. The keyboard layout, spacing, and feel were all comfortable. One notable keyboard feature is the Dell(dell battery) AccessDirect button, which calls up the on-disk documentation. You can also program this button to launch a frequently used application or—even more useful for IT managers—to preconfigure each machine with a specific support resource, such as Dell's technical-support Web site.

Dell(how about the Battery Dell Latitude C600) also caters to tech managers' needs. Bay modules, batteries, docking slices or stations, and an AC adapter can be shared among any Latitude C-series models, including legacy systems (CPx, CPt, CPi, and others). The modules also can be shared with L-series models via an external expansion bay and an IDE cable. Also, the primary and secondary battery are identical and can be used in either the battery bay or the multipurpose bay.

Speaking of battery life, the C600 beat out all the other notebooks in our roundup. With a system weight of 5.4 pounds, the C600 is one of the bulkier models we tested. Those extra few ounces (due to its bigger battery, the same as Digital Camera Battery), however, translate to more than 3.5 hours of runtime or nearly 8 hours with an extra battery installed in the modular bay.

The C600 comes with minimal printed documentation, but Dell balances this shortcoming with outstanding, comprehensive on-disk system reference material and a three-year warranty.

Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS camera review

2008-06-16T23:34:00.000-07:00

The delightfully compact Digital IXUS 800 IS combines IXUS style with advanced photographic features. Experience sharper flash-free shooting with ISO 800 and a 4x optical Image Stabilizer zoom lens, rechargeable Canon NB-5L battery.

6.0 MP CCD
4x optical zoom with optical IS
ISO 800
Elegant design
DIGIC II and iSAPS
2.5" LCD
16 shooting modes and My Colors
Widescreen recording and 30fps VGA movies
PictBridge and Print/Share button
Software and CANON iMAGE GATEWAY*

Accessories : Extend shooting possibilities with a range of optional accessories, including a Waterproof Case (40m) WP-DC5 and High Power Flash HF-DC1 NB-5L battery.

The Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS is a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 2.5 inch LCD screen, li-ion NB-5L battery and optical viewfinder. For the first time ever on a Canon compact, the IXUS 800 features image stabilizer technology to help combat camera-shake. Canon have also extended the optical zoom lens to 4x, giving an effective focal length of 35-140mm. Under the surface, the Canon Digital Ixus 800 IS uses the same advanced DIGIC II processor as the company's digital SLR cameras for fast performance and image processing. There are 14 different scene modes on offer for beginners and a more advanced Manual mode for those who desire greater control. VGA movies at 30fps, a My Colors mode that allows special in-camera colour effects, and PictBridge and USB 2 support complete the specification. So does the Digital IXUS 800 IS carry on the good name of previous IXUS compacts? Read our latest review to find out.

As a rule with Canon digital cameras you know roughly what you are going to get before you turn them on. The IXUS 800 IS is no exception. This camera is capable of producing sharp images and strong colours. For me that is the ideal combination when you are looking to buy any camera. Also camcorder battery can be used in camera.

The Canon Digital Ixus 800 IS has a normal shooting mode, Self-timer (2 secs. 10 secs. or Custom) and a Continuous mode, which allows you take up to 2.1 frames/sec until the memory card is full. There are a number of different My Colors photo effects on offer (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color). The Macro setting allows you to focus on subjects that are as close as 2cms. The camera offers 2 auto-focusing systems - 9-point AiAF and 1-point AF (Fixed centre). The built-in flash offers 5 different modes (Auto, On, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Slow Synchro and Off). The flash range is 50cm-3.5m (W) / 2.0m (T). An AF assist beam and Flash Exposure Lock are also available. Noise reduction is automatically applied to exposures greater than 1.3 seconds. The powerful NB-5L battery can last for about three ours with continuous working

The Canon Digital Ixus 800 IS's dimensions are 90.4 (W) x 56.5 (D) x 26.4 (H) mm, and it weighs 165g without the battery and storage card fitted. The camera is powered by a rechargeable Li-ion Battery which allows you to take up to 240 shots before needing to be recharged. There is a metal tripod mount in the center of the bottom of the camera.

In my view Canon digital cameras are some of the more complicated to use. I have reviewed so many now that I know where to find everything, but if you are new to them it may take you a short while to fully get to grips with the camera and better charger NB-5l battery

The Canon Digital IXUS (NB-5L) series of digital cameras has been successful for many years. At this time, the new Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS leads the series, and will undoubtedly enjoy a warm welcome from the IXUS enthusiasts. We had the opportunity to test the Canon IXUS 800 IS during a long period of time. Whether or not Canon set a new benchmark for their compact camera line can be read in the following Canon Digital IXUS 800 IS digital camera review.

dell inspiron 9300 laptop review

2008-06-16T00:17:00.000-07:00

Packing just about everything you'd want in a desktop-replacement laptop, the Dell Inspiron 9300( dell inspiron 9300 battery )has an expansive 17-inch wide-aspect display, plenty of handy connections and drives, and a bevy of top-notch components, including Nvidia's robust GeForce Go 6800 graphics chip. Delivering nominally lower productivity performance than the prior Inspiron 9200 model, the Inspiron 9300 provides a slightly improved gaming performance and a number of refinements, including Microsoft XP Media Center 2005, an optional TV tuner, and two additional USB 2.0 ports, for a total of six. It's not cheap--our loaded configuration costs $2,858--but we recommend it to home and business users who want power and features in a relatively portable rig.

The body of the Inspiron 9300 is crafted out of sturdy and stylish magnesium alloy and measures 15.5 inches wide, 11.3 inches deep, and 1.6 inches thick; it has an attractive silver hue with white trim. At 8.2 pounds, the Inspiron 9300 is on the lighter side of robust desktop replacements, weighing more than a pound less than the HP Pavilion zd8000, not like the digital camera battery Still, it's far too heavy for regular travel. With such a big case, the Inspiron 9300 can afford to include a big keyboard, though it lacks a separate number pad, which the HP Pavilion zd8000 has. The mouse buttons are downright huge, and the touch pad is adequately sized. The latter features arrows running along its right and bottom edges, outlining where to place your finger when using the software-enhanced pad to scroll through documents or Web pages. The Inspiron 9300's two speakers and internal subwoofer deliver crisp and rich sound, unlike the weak, flat strains that trickle out of most laptops. Better yet, because the speakers sit in the corners of the laptop's front edge, your hands won't muffle them while you're typing. Sandwiched between the speakers, a row of seven buttons lets you control disc playback and adjust or mute the volume. The buttons are handy, but we wish they let us play discs without booting up the system--a feature standard on other laptops, digital camera Though the Inspiron 9300 runs Media Center, the bundled TV-tuner box is rather bulky and probably too big to bring on the road.

Our test unit had a bright, vast 17-inch wide-screen display with a WUXGA 1,900x1,200 native resolution. It made newer games such as Half-Life 2 really shine, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching a DVD movie. We must note, however, that the antiglare coating on the Inspiron 9300's WUXGA screen creates a somewhat sparkly effect that's most noticeable against white backgrounds; we've heard from a number of irate users who have found this intolerable, so beware.

There's no dearth of ports, jacks, or slots: the Inspiron 9300 ( dell inspiron 9300 battery ) offers FireWire, S-Video-out, VGA, and six USB 2.0 ports; 56Kbps modem, Ethernet, headphone, and microphone jacks; one each of Type II PC Card and Secure Digital slots; and a swank DVI port, should you want to connect the laptop to an even bigger digital LCD. Last, but definitely not least, the Inspiron 9300 includes a cutting-edge multiformat, double-layer DVD drive, which is fixed and cannot be swapped out for another drive.

Like all of Dell's laptops, the Inspiron 9300 is extremely configurable; our Inspiron 9300 series review includes more details about the available components. At $2,858 (as of May 2005), the configuration CNET tested was quite expensive. Our test model had a blazing Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 graphics chip with an ample 256MB of dedicated video RAM; a power-saving 2.0GHz Pentium M processor; 1GB of speedy 533MHz system memory; a moderately fast 5,400rpm 80GB hard drive; and a giant 17-inch wide-screen display. Our Inspiron 9300 test unit flew through CNET Labs' benchmarks, so if you're low on dough, consider getting a unit with a slower, less expensive processor and less memory; if you're looking for a significantly less expensive, lower-octane desktop replacement, check out the Toshiba Satellite P35-S611.

Our test model featured a 2.0GHz Pentium M 760 CPU with a 2MB L2 cache--an extremely robust mobile rig which outscored many comparably clocked systems we've tested. It held its own in 2D application performance and edged out other powerful laptops on our latest 3D graphics tests; the Inspiron 9300 will undoubtedly deliver strong performance for office and content-creation apps. The Inspiron 9300 even bested the mighty Voodoo Envy m760 on our Half-Life 2 gaming benchmark, revving up to a speedy 64.60 frames per second, though it proved no match for our top gaming machine, the Dell XPS Gen 2. The Inspiron 9300's performance is more proof that a fast Pentium M coupled with Nvidia's latest and greatest graphics solution is a worthy competitor to a heavier, more unwieldy Pentium 4-based machine.

The Inspiron 9300 delivers exceptional design, features, and performance, but its warranty maintains the status quo. Dell backs the Inspiron 9300 with an industry-standard one-year warranty on parts and labor, available by mailing your laptop back to Dell; upgrading to three years of warranty protection costs $269. Toll-free telephone support also lasts for just a year. However, Dell offers a long list of warranty-extension options, including onsite repair, night and weekend service, and accidental-damage coverage, for up to $389. Since you'll be shelling out a pretty penny to get the Inspiron 9300, protecting your investment with at least a two-year warranty is a good idea. The best part of Dell's support Web site is the customer forum, where users can go to get help from other Inspiron owners and Dell reps who moderate the discussions. Otherwise, the site offers the typical knowledge base and downloads sections.

Design

The frame of this Dell is more or less a larger version of the Inspiron 9300 ( dell inspiron 9300 battery), but with a larger palm rest and array of ports. The form remains as a solid plastic material, though the chassis is much heavier at 3.6kg. The screen is locked by two rather flimsy latches which don't clamp down properly until the lid is forced down. However, when swiveled open, an expansive 17-inch reflective widescreen with a resolution of up to 1,920 x 1,200 awaits you. We preferred adjusting the screen to 1,440 x 900 pixels as we felt we were squinting our eyes at the higher res.

You get huge but firm mouse buttons with a four-way scroller lying on the touchpad. The keyboard, appearing to be almost dwarfed by the Inspiron's frame, delivers snappy and responsive feedback. While there are no quick launch buttons, seven useful self-explanatory media buttons line the front edge. With such a huge system, we were surprised that no remote was provided to optimise the use of the Dell Media Experience application meant to control DVD/MP3 playback. Also considering the amount of free space there is on the chassis, we were surprised to find no dedicated Wi-Fi switch.

Features

Most of the features packed into our system are top-notch material. Our test unit uses the high-end Pentium M processor 760 (2.0GHz), a huge 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM and a 60GB hard drive. At the left edge is a DVD±RW burner with dual-layer support to burn 8.5GB DVDs. The graphics are powered by the superb 256MB Nvidia GeForce Go 6800, just a level below the 6800 Ultra seen on the Inspiron XPS Gen 2 (not available in the region unfortunately). The unit is highly customisable so you can downgrade to a 730 chip, change the RAM or get a less powerful graphics chip like the 64MB ATI Mobility Radeon X300.

You have a wide range of connectivity options on the unit with highlights such as six USB ports (more than the usual two to four), FireWire, S-video out and DVI-D ports. On the other hand, S/PDIF support is lacking and the ability to read just a single flash card format (SD) is not enough. Many notebooks already come with 4-in-1 flash readers. For a desktop replacement, this is even more unacceptable. The speakers and the subwoofer lying at the 9300's base produce superb sound quality with great bass reproduction audible as far as three to four rooms away. You get a wide range of networking devices such as a 802.11b/g wireless card, Bluetooth, fast Ethernet and a 56K modem.

Performance

We whipped out our usual benchmarking software, MobileMark 2002, to test the performance and battery life of the Dell. The 235 score we obtained was good by general notebook standards but definitely not the top in the 2.0GHz range, especially when the Fujitsu LifeBook N3510 was able to get a slightly better 237 score running on 1.73GHz.

Gaming performance is by far the Inspiron's forte. With an astonishing 8,118 result when using 3DMark03 and 3,004 in 3DMark03,dell inspiron 9300, dell 9300 battery ,this whipped all other laptops that dared to contend for the throne of the best gaming notebook. As such, the Acer TravelMate 8104WLMi boasting a score of 5,700 (3DMark03) fell into second spot in terms of mobile gaming machines we've tried.

Battery life didn't do too well, clocking 179 minutes (about 3 hours) with the additional nine-cell Lithium-ion battery before dying on us. But does anyone really care so much about this when you're probably going to leave the unit at home anyway?

The default option on Dell's Web site is a one-year next-business-day onsite warranty which covers parts and labour including phone support and battery coverage. A great array of extended warranty options is offered, such as three years of service, accidental damage protection and onsite repair. You can also access Dell's online support site to find additional help such as FAQs and downloads for your notebook.

Loaded with Windows XP Professional Edition with Service Pack 2, the Dell comes with a software bundle which includes Power DVD, Sonic MyDVD, Sonic RecordNow! 7 and Microsoft Works 7.0. The Dell Media Experience application opens up an interface where you can choose to play music, pictures, videos and an option to connect to the Net for software support.

Canon digital camera SD300

2008-06-14T00:38:00.000-07:00

Generally stellar performance figures, great NB-4L battery life, and an ultracompact design will score points for the Canon PowerShot SD300 with the point-and-shoot crowd, but its lack of manual controls, limited selection of scene modes, and anemic flash put a crimp in this Digital Elph's versatility. Minimovie fans will love the ability to shoot continuous high-quality clips limited only by memory card capacity, as well as the unusual 60-frames-per-second slow-motion mode.

What's in the Box?

The PowerShot SD300 has an average bundle. Inside the box, you'll find:

The 4.0 effective Megapixel Canon PowerShot SD300 Digital ELPH camera

16MB Secure Digital card

NB-4L lithium-ion battery

Battery charger

Wrist strap

USB cable

A/V cable

CD-ROM featuring Canon Digital Camera Solutions, ArcSoft Camera Suite, and drivers

177 page camera manual + software manual (both printed)

Canon includes a 16MB Secure Digital (SD) card with the camera. That holds just six photos at the highest quality setting, so I'd advise that you buy a larger memory card right away. I'd say 128MB is a good starting size. The camera can use SD or MMC cards, though I'd advise against the latter. The camera takes advantage of high speed SD cards, and one is recommended if you plan on using the VGA movie mode.

The SD300 uses the brand new NB-4L lithium-ion rechargeable battery. This small battery packs a paltry 2.8 Wh of energy, which translates to 140 photos per charge using the CIPA battery life standard. I figure that's around (or maybe a tiny bit below) average for small cameras like this. Doing a little extrapolation, I figure that battery life is about 10% worse on the SD300 than on the S410, which had a more powerful battery.

My usual complaints about proprietary batteries like the one used by the SD300 apply here. They're expensive ($50 a pop), and you can't put in a set of alkalines to get you through the rest of the day like you could with an AA-based camera.

When it's time to recharge, just drop the battery into the included charger. This is my favorite style of charger -- it plugs right into the wall (yes, I know some don't like this). It takes about ninety minutes to fully charge the battery.

There are a just two accessories available for the SD300. The most interesting one is the AW-DC30 all-weather case ($149). This lets you take the ELPH up to 3 m / 9.8 ft underwater -- great for pools and snorkeling, not so great for scuba. The only other accessory that I can find is the ACK-DC10 AC adapter kit, which lets you power the camera without draining your batteries.

Canon includes version 21 of their excellent Digital Camera Solutions software with the SD300. Included in this package are ZoomBrowser (for Windows) or ImageBrowser (for Mac), PhotoStitch (for making panoramic photos), plus TWAIN and WIA drivers for Windows. Zoom/ImageBrowser can be used for downloading images from your camera, basic editing of your photos, and photo printing.

ArcSoft Camera Suite 1.3 is also included with the SD300, which contains VideoImpression and PhotoImpression for Mac and PC. Although it has a quirky interface, there are some useful tools in this easy-to-use software.

Recent Canon camera manuals have been more complex than earlier ones,and canon NB-4L's capacity higher. but they're still above average. The SD300's manual is complete, but expect lots of "notes" and fine print.

While you can operate the PowerShot SD300 with one hand, a two-handed grip makes it easier to work the zoom lever, which is concentric with the top-mounted shutter-release button. A recessed on/off button and a green power LED are the only other adornments on the top surface. The major controls are concentrated on the right side of the back panel, which is dominated by a brightness-adjustable 2-inch LCD viewfinder. A three-way sliding switch lets you select recording, movie mode, or playback, and three other buttons provide access to the three-page menu system (with shooting, setup, and customization options), display options (status info, no info, and monitor off), and print/share features.

As with other point-and-shoot Canons, most shooting settings are taken care of by the four-way cursor pad with embedded OK/Function button. For example, pressing the Up button switches between spot, center-weighted, and evaluative metering; Down selects single-shot mode, burst mode, or the self-timer. The left key cycles through Normal, Landscape, and macro focus modes, while the right button selects a flash mode.

The PowerShot SD300's modest feature set includes most of the basics, starting with a 35mm-to-115mm 3X zoom lens (35mm-film-camera equivalent) with a nine-point autofocus system that's accurate down to 1.2 inches in macro mode. Only six scene modes are available, which is a modest selection in the current market. However, they're generally useful and include a Digital Macro option that fills the frame with the center of the image to provide the equivalent of digital zoom in close-up mode. Other scene modes include Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, and Underwater, which you can use with an optional marine housing. Unfortunately, there's no sports scene mode nor any way to manually control shutter speeds, which seriously limits this camera's excellent 3fps burst mode.

A weakling built-in flash unit, a nonlive histogram that can be viewed only in playback mode, and a jerky zoom lens that was difficult to set precisely are among the PowerShot SD300's other annoyances.

On the plus side, this Elph's movie capabilities are outstanding and include in-camera editing features. You can shoot 640x480 clips with monaural sound at 30fps for as long as your memory card holds out with an optional high-speed SD card and a strong power NB-4L battery, as well as 60fps clips for up to 60 seconds at 320x240 resolution.

Some other ultra compact cameras worth considering include the Casio Exilim EX-Z50 and EX-Z55, Fuji FinePix F440, Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 and G600, Nikon Coolpix 4200, Olympus AZ-2 Zoom and Stylus Verve, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX7, Pentax Optio S5i, and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T1.

If you don't mind losing a Megapixel of resolution, the Canon PowerShot SD200 is similar to the SD300.

As always, I recommend a trip down to your local reseller to try out the PowerShot SD300 and its competitors before you buy!

Nikon D70 Digital Camera

2008-06-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

I had been a die hard Nikon fan for many years...until I bought the D70(nikon en-el3). This was a backup body to my F3. Yes, I know that this seems quite backward from most other people, but I still prefer manual focus to auto focus. The camera worked well for a little over 12 months, then I had 3 "major module" failures at the same time. The folks at Nikon refused to consider that this particular unit may have been a lemon, and I had to pay full price for the repairs. I was particularly dissatisfied with the way Nikon handled this situation...2 weeks out of warranty and no consideration at all. They could have, and should have done better.
Sensor • 6.24 megapixel (total) CCD

specification

• 6.1 million effective pixels
• 23.7 x 15.6 mm
• Nikon DX format (size)
• RGB Color Filter Array
• 12-bit A/D converter
Image sizes • 3008 x 2000 [L] (6.01 million)
• 2240 x 1488 [M]
• 1504 x 1000 [S]
File formats • NEF (12-bit lossless compressed RAW)
• JPEG (EXIF 2.21)
• NEF+JPEG
Color space • Ia (sRGB)
• II (Adobe RGB)
• IIIa (sRGB - more green for colourful landscapes)
Lens mount • Nikon F mount (with AF coupling & AF contacts)
• 1.5x field of view crop
Lens compatibility • DX Nikkor : All functions supported
• Type G or D AF Nikkor : All functions supported
• Micro Nikkor 85 mm F2.8D : All functions supported except autofocus and some exposure modes
• Other AF Nikkor*2 : All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering, i-TTL balanced fill-fl ash for digital SLR
• AI-P Nikkor : All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering, i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR, and autofocus
• Non-CPU : Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster
*1 IX Nikkor lenses can not be used
*2 Excluding lenses for F3AF

Autofocus • TTL phase detection
• Nikon Multi-CAM900 autofocus module
• Detection range: EV -1 to +19 (ISO 100 equivalent, at normal temperature)
Lens servo • Single Servo AF (AF-S)
• Continuous Servo AF (AF-C)
• Manual focus (M)
AF Area mode • Single Area AF
• Dynamic Area AF
• Closest Subject Priority Dynamic Area AF
Focus area One of five areas can be selected
Focus lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
AF Assist White light lamp
Exposure mode • Digital Vari-program
- Auto, Portrait, Landscape, Close up, Sports, Night landscape, Night portrait
• Programmed auto (P) with flexible program
• Shutter-priority auto (S)
• Aperture priority auto (A)
• Manual (M)
Metering TTL full-aperture exposure metering system
• 3D color matrix metering with 1,005-pixel RGB sensor
• Center-weighted: Weight of 75%(8mm circle) given to 6, 8, 10, or 13-mm circle in center of frame, or weighting based on average of entire frame
• Spot: Meters 2.3mm circle (about 1% of frame) centered on active focus area
Metering range • EV 0 to 20 (3D color matrix or center-weighted metering)
• EV 3 to 20 (spot metering) (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C)
Meter coupling CPU coupling
Exposure compen. • +/-5 EV
• 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
AE Lock Detected exposure value locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
AE Bracketing • 2 or 3 frames
• +/- 2 EV
• 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Sensitivity • Auto
• ISO 200 - 1600
• 1/3 EV steps
Shutter speed • Combined mechanical and CCD electronic shutter
• 30 to 1/8000 sec
• Steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
• Flash X-Sync: up to 1/500 sec
• Bulb
White balance • Auto (TTL white-balance with 1,005 pixels RGB sensor)
• Six manual modes with fine-tuning
• Preset white balance
• White balance bracketing possible
Image parameters • Sharpening
• Tone
• Color
• Hue
Viewfinder • Pentaprism
• Optical-type fixed eye-level
• Built-in diopter adjustment (-1.6 to +0.5 m-1)
• Eyepoint: 18 mm (at -1.0 m-1)
• Frame coverage 95% (approx.)
• Viewfinder magnification approx. 0.75x with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1
• Focusing screen: Type B BriteView clear matte screen Mark II with superimposed focus brackets and On-Demand grid lines
LCD monitor • 1.8"
• 130,000 pixel TFT
Flash control • TTL : TTL flash control by 1,005 pixel RGB sensor
o Built-in Speedlight: i-TTL balanced fill-flash or standard i-TTL flash (spot metering or mode dial set to M)
o SB-800 or 600: i-TTL balanced fill-flash or standard i-TTL flash (spot metering)
• Auto aperture: Available with SB-800 and 600 with CPU lens
• Non-TTL Auto: Available with Speedlights such as SB-800, 80DX, 28DX, 28, 27, and 22s
• Range-priority manual available with SB-800
Flash Sync Mode • Front-Curtain Sync (normal sync)
• Red-Eye Reduction
• Red-Eye Reduction with Slow Sync
• Slow Sync
• Rear-Curtain Sync
Built-in Speedlight • Auto flash with auto pop-up
• [P], [S], [A], [M]: manual pop-up with button release Auto flash with auto pop-up
• Guide number (ISO 200/ISO 100, m): approx. 15/11 (manual full 17/12)
Flash compensation • -3 to +1 EV
• 1/3 or 1/2 EV steps
Accessory shoe • ISO standard hot-shoe with safety lock
Flash Sync Terminal No
DOF Preview When CPU lens is attached, lens aperture can be stopped down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or value selected by camera (Digital Vari-Program, P, and S modes)
Shooting modes • Single frame shooting (S) mode
• Continuous shooting (C) mode: approx. 3 frame per second (up to 12 consecutive shots with JPEG format, 4 shot with RAW format)
• Self-timer/remote control mode.
Self-timer • 2 to 20 sec
Playback functions • 1 frame: Thumbnail (4 or 9 segments)
• Magnifying playback
• Slide show
• Histogram indication
• Highlight point display
• Auto image rotation
Storage • Compact Flash Type I or II
• Microdrive supported
• No CF card supplied
Text input Up to 36 characters of alphanumeric text input is available with LCD monitor and multi-selector; stored in Exif header
Playback functions • Single image
• 4 or 9 thumbnails
• Magnified playback
• Slide show
• Histogram indication
• Highlight point display
Video output NTSC or PAL selectable
Remote control ML-L3 wireless remote controller (optional)
Connectivity • USB 2.0 (only at 12 Mbps)
• Mass storage / PTP selectable
• Video out
• DC-IN (optional AC adapter)
Power • Lithium-Ion battery pack EN-EL3
• Three CR2 lithium batteries (with supplied MS-D70 battery holder)
• AC Adapter EH-5 (optional)
Dimensions 140 x 111 x 78 mm (5.5 x 4.4 x 3.1 in)
Weight (no battery) 595 g (1.3 lb)
Weight (inc. batt) 679 g (1.5 lb)
Box contents * Strap, Body cap, Eyepiece cap, LCD monitor cover, Video cable, USB cable, Rechargeable Li-ion battery EN-EL3, Quick Charger MH-18, Picture Project CD-ROM, MS-D70 CR2 battery holder
Optional accessories Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Nikon EN-EL3, Multi Charger MH-19, Quick Charger MH-18, AC Adapter EH-5, Speedlight SB-800/600, Nikon Capture 4 Software, Semi-soft Case CF-D70, Remote Controller ML-L3, CompactFlash™ Card

This is a wonderful camera that delivers, but there are a few complaints:
1. You can change the position of the auto focus, but the control for that is on the camera back, where your face is when you are using it. This control should be on the front, so you can adjust the focus while composing.

2. These focus points are not at the traditional "rule of three's" intersection points, where they should be.

3. The same control, the focus point control, isn't very responsive, so there is a lot of fumbling to get it where you want it quickly.

4. I think (no test data to back this up) the autofocus is noticeably slower than on its Canon counterparts.

5. The Camera is too heavy. A camera this pricey should incorporate pricier, lightweight materials into its casing, such as magnesium, titanium or composite plastics.

I've used it for two years, alongside an FM3. Nothing to say about the latter, but from the D70 I've only had problems. It died on me in the middle of an assignment (stuck on bulb position). After a year the rubber coating came off. The on/ off switch began working erratically, so that the camera would turn itself on in the bag. I had a long think before buying the D70 because of the many, many reports of unreliability I had seen on the Internet, but as a long time Nikon user I decided to go ahead with it. I now had it repaired, as I had purchased a three year warranty, and I put it on Ebay. I have switched to Canon with an Eos 3, Eos 5 and Eos 10D, although I'm keeping the FM3 with 24mm and 50mm primes, as I like to have a fully mechanical camera. I must add that I was very surprised at how many users in Nikon forums considered the fact that a top- of- the- range camera, bought new, should fall apart within sixteen months as absolute normality, and were irritated by my pointing out that Nikon seems to have a serious quality control issue with this model that they are failing to address - and why should they, since many users seem very happy to act like sheep. Many people told me that, since I had a warranty, I shouldn't complain and just have the camera fixed. As if that were the point. I think it is important that gear gets used for what it is meant to be used for - it shouldn't become surrogate babies.

Great Camcorder battery for the money. I was very tempted to go with the F5 but kept reading all the great reviews and decided to go with this camera and have money left for the high end AF-S lenses. I have always had Nikons, but this one just knocked me off of my feet. I had had it only a few days when a friend of mine had his wedding. On the way to the ceremony, I went by my photo shop and picked up an SB-28, went to the wedding and casually shot around having some fun. I had the prints made on Fuji paper and was amazed at how sharp and "trasty" this camera and lens was. I have meanwhile gotten the MB-15...it works great also and makes the camera heavier but more comfortable. Also....if you can afford the marque lens GET THEM. They are better than anything I have ever seen with 35mm. I just got back from a trip to Guatemala and Tikal...the slides are out of this world. Buy the camera and don't look back.

I can't understand some of these reviews. The camera was designed at a specific price point for a specific audience. I think this camera has everything you would ever want for the price you are paying. YES there are nit picky little things, but overall it's a fantastic camera.

I think most people want the D70 features at the F80/N80 price. You simply can't get it at the price you are paying. Maybe Nikon needs another new model that has more features again, but costs less than the D70.

My nit picky items so far... - dim viewfinder, I know this is because of the fancy on-demand grid lines. - very annoying low light assist beam. (should have used the red-eye feature of the F70 built into the flash and have the standard infra red beam). Yes, I know you can have it turned off.

There are more things, but can't really complain because of the price.

After sending my first Nikon D70 en-el3 back to Nikon three times for the same rewind fork problem of breaking..I finally received a new D70 body with the new and beefier rewind fork and the camera is serving me well. I have two N90s', an 8008s, a FM and a FE2...all of which I use periodicly as backup for my D70. I do a lot of studio work and weddings and definitely appreciate the custom settings and functions of the D70 which suit my needs...that my other Nikons don't have. All are wonderful performers in their own right..but the D70 seems to fit like a glove and promotes confidence in my abilities to create exceptionally good portraits with it. I applaud Nikon for taking care of the professionals' needs when they are called on to service and repair in an expeditious manner...and I have always received courteous service speaking directly with service relations personnel explaining my needs and desires. Nikon always comes through for me. I have tried Canon, Pentax and Maxxum pro 35MM systems..but never really satisfied with their optics. Not so with Nikkor lenses. They also breed confidence. There are no perfect cameras which suit all photographers needs...but the D70 along with the two N90s bodies have served me well for the type of photography I do most. My other Nikon bodies also have their place and function...and serve equally well for what they are used for. I prefer Nikon as my choice of equipment over the others I've tried in the past and the D70 was chosen over the F5 because of bulk...not to mention heft of the F5. After a two to three hour photo shoot the F5 would feel like a lead filled bucket to wheel around. The Nikon D70 Battery fills my need perfectly..or nearly so

IBM ThinkPad R50 Review

2008-06-11T19:49:00.000-07:00

IBM released its new ThinkPad R50 series during the fall of 2003. The R Series of notebooks from IBM used to parade as a budget class, that’s no longer the case, the R Series is in fact quite close to the high-end T Series in performance and specs. The ThinkPad R50 (Battery) of course features IBM’s easy to distinguish classic black case and with a 13” x 10.4” x 17” (W x D x H) dimension specs we see that it has grown slightly from the previous generation. With a 15-inch XGA screen (14.1" also available) and weighing a modest 6.6lbs, or 7.1lbs when combined with the AC adapter for travel weight, the ThinkPad R50 can serve as a good desktop replacement or as a reasonably mobile laptop if you’re on the go. The ThinkPad R50 is a diverse laptop, so let’s dig into the details and see if it’s worth your consideration for purchasing.

ThinkPad R50 Review Unit Specifications

The ThinkPad R50 (Battery) used in this review has the following configuration:

- Pentium M 1.4 GHz (Centrino processor)

- 512MB DDR333 RAM (CL2.5)

- 14.1" 1024x768 XGA screen

- Radeon 7500 Mobility graphics card with 32MB RAM

- 5400 RPM 30 GB Hard Drive

- Built in 802.11b Wi-Fi

Shortcomings

It’s always best to get the bad news aside and focus on the good, so let me now talk about the only two failings I can think of with the R50:

1. The screen. It's not bad. It's actually somewhat better than the screen on the old Toshiba Satellite 3000 I have, but it's not as nice as Sharp's Actius screens, or Sony's black LCDs, or some Digital Camera (Battery)'s screen. The default settings are lacking in contrast and brightness, and it is easy to imagine the image would get washed out in glare. The vertical viewing angle is a bit small (about 20 degrees before color and contrast reversal start to happen), but the horizontal viewing angles are fine (about 130 degrees). It was clear this was meant as a no-nonsense business laptop, and not a multimedia machine. Having said that, the display is crisp and sharp for text and CAD work that I do.

2. No standard FireWire port, if you want fast data transfer from such things as Digital Video Cameras then you need this. It is true that some models come with IEEE1394 (FireWire), but mine did not. To compensate for this shortcoming in the R50 you’ll have to purchase a FireWire PCMCIA card.

Usability

The R50 is a joy to use. The keys are wonderfully tactile, and the TrackPoint navigation stick with the new Soft Dome cap is very comfortable to navigate with. The buttons for the TrackPoint are likewise very well designed. The TrackPad does not fare quite as well. For some reason, it always feels a little too small, and the buttons are flush instead of raised, making them harder to click. The motion of the TrackPad is also not quite as satisfying as with the TrackPoint. However, the extra features of the TrackPad are quite convenient - scrolling areas for horizontal and vertical scrolling, and customizable hotspots are nice to have. I ended up using the top left corner of the TrackPad to simulate the Windows key.

What amazed me most about the ThinkPad R50 (Battery) in operation was the sheer silence. I could not hear the hard drive spinning against ambient noise in my home. Even more impressive, with the R50 on my lap, I could not feel the hard drive or the DVD-ROM spinning! While parked on my lap, the bottom surface of the R50 was never the slightest bit warm during normal usage. It did warm up a bit when running 100% CPU utilization with consecutive SiSoft Sandra tests (a benchmark application designed to push a PC to its processing limits to record performance), but other than that, it was always comfortably cool to the touch.

The speakers were also quite a bit nicer than I'd expected, especially for a business model laptop. Please realize that the ThinkPad R50 was not designed to be a music machine though, you’ll need decent speakers to hook up via the headphone out jack to get really good sound.

Active Protection System

The much-hyped APS (Active Protection System) on the Tthinkpad R50 and Thinkpad T42 (Battery) is a feature that causes the ThinkPad to park the heads of the hard drives when the notebook senses it is falling. I doubt I'll be testing how effective that is in an actual fall, at least not intentionally, anyway. In practice, I find the APS program is a little too sensitive, and I miss being able to set sensitivity settings in the software - you get a simple on/off, and another option for ignoring repetitive motions caused by such things as trains and buses. Still, it doesn't cost me any trouble, and the day it saves my data might make it all worthwhile. In the meantime, I amaze and astound my friends with the 3D real-time position readout!

Design and Build

The R50 is a very nicely proportioned laptop, and strikes an ideal balance for mainstream laptops. The lines on it are very smooth, with a nice blend of chiseled edges and contours. Of course, it's in the standard IBM matte black casing.It has the typical oversized "hood" on the outer edge of the screen. Love it or hate it, the beveling does serve a purpose to stiffen the cover. It does not provide any appreciable shading from glare, however. The latch on the screen is a twin-hook arrangement, but it only needs a single sliding switch to unlock it, and it can be easily opened with one hand. The hinges to open and close the screen are solid chunks of metal, and open with a smooth action. Some laptops you’ll find creak or feel cheap when you lift the screen , the Thinkpad R50 (Battery) suffers no such issues.

The top surface of the R50 has a nice, rubberized feel that is quite easy to grip. The keyboard is full-size, and very tactile. It's missing a Windows button, and it's not for want of space. Credit it to typical IBM stubbornness. IBM lists the ThinkPad R50’s weight as 6.6lbs (2.5 kg), but it is actually lighter than my old Toshiba Satellite 3000, which was also supposed to be "2.5 kg". The weight of the R50 is a comfortable one, and not burdensome in the least.

Sony DSC-D700 camcorder review

2008-06-10T21:22:00.000-07:00

NP-F550

lens / zoom : 28 mm - 140 mm (5x) (dig: 2x)

focus / macro : auto | manual / 20 cm /

metering mode :

aperture : auto | manual / F2 - F2.4 - F13.2

white balance : auto

shutter : auto | manual / 4s - 1/2000s

exposure :

flash / mode : pop-up / external

viewfinder :

iso ratings : 100 / 200 / 400

image size : 1344 x 1024

image format : tiff / jpeg (exif)

image compr. :

lag/cycle times :

remote control : self timer 1s / 30s / time laps

video options :

audio options :

connectivity : video

storage : pcmcia II, memory stick

Power acceessories : Li-ion NP-F550

Sony's CyberShot Pro D700 is definitely the "king of the hill" of the sub-$2000 digital cameras. Newer digicams may be topping the 2 megapixel mark these days but the 1.5 megapixel D700 has got it all! The Sony DSC-D700 (np-f550) caused quite a stir in the Digital Photography world when it was announced last year. Many people were excited by it's specifications: five times zoom, full SLR-TTL viewfinder, 1.5Megapixel CCD and all the manual controls you'd expect to find on a true SLR.

True SLR with a big optical viewfinder, a huge 2.5-inch color LCD, 5X zoom lens with manual focus and zoom control, variable ISO 100-400, builtin popup flash or external "clip on" strobes with the hot shoe mount, 1/2-inch 1.5 million square-pixel progressive scan CCD, JPG or TIF image capture (1344 x 1024 pixels), ATA Type II memory card (CompactFlash, SmartMedia or MemoryStick cards in PCMCIA adapter too) and it's powered by the infamous Sony NP-F550 LITHIUM rechargable battery, more Sony Battery here..

Unfortunately due to the high price ($1699) and short supply (the newsgroups were buzzing with availability news earlier this year) it's not had the impact we all expected it would. Those who did venture (and were fortunate enough) to get hold of one weren't disappointed, finally I've got my hands on one and have the opportunity to share an in-depth review of the camera with you.

The D700 has the largest focal length zoom of any camera in its class except for its 2MPixel brother, the new Sony NP-F550 which also sports a 5X zoom (and that one is a Carl Zeiss!) The 700's lens is a F2-2.4, 5.2-26mm (35mm equiv 28-140mm) optical zoom with 13 elements in 10 groups. Threaded for 62mm filters. The minimum object distance is 20cm in all focal lengths, macro is automatic.

dell inspiron 700m laptop review

2008-06-09T20:09:00.000-07:00

The Dell Inspiron 700m sits on the borderline of being an ultraportable (usually determined as a notebook weighing 3 – 4 lbs) notebook and a thin-and-light style notebook (defined as a notebook weighing 4 – 6 lbs). With a gorgeous 12.1” widescreen, 4.1 lbs of weight and 1.5 inches of thickness this notebook is certainly small and highly mobile, yet still big enough that is very usable given the widescreen viewing and decent, though not full, sized keyboard it has. Let's get on with a full review of the good and the bad of this Inspiron 700m laptop.

Specs:

The review unit Inspiron 700m ( dell 700m battery) has the following specs:

Intel Pentium M 725 (Dothan 1.6GHz Pentium M Processor)

512MB RAM

12.1” WXGA Widesceen

Intel PRO/Wireless 2200 (802.11 b/g) Internal Wireless

40GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive, 4200 RPM

32 WHr 4-cell Lithium-Ion Battery

Windows XP Home, Service Pack 1

24x Combo DVD/CD-RW Optical Drive

1-year warranty

The price for all of this came to $1,446.70 after a coupon code was applied for 10% off. I ordered the notebook on 8/14/2004 soon after it was announced by Dell and it took almost 3 weeks for it to arrive with the receiving date being 9/7/2004. Usually a notebook from Dell will ship quicker, but when it’s a new release you can expect a longer time on delivery.

Design

The Inspiron 700m (dell inspiron 700m battery) is unlike any other Inspiron in it’s look and design. First of all the 700m’s lid is a very pale silver and almost white in color. There are some white trimmings on this notebook so it has a clean look and does borrow a bit from the styling of Apple’s PowerBook. The quality of the casing and overall finish of the 700m is not as good as an Apple PowerBook, but the inspiration was most definitely borrowed from that line of notebooks.

Overall I like the design of the 700m, it actually reminds me a lot of the Sony VAIO TR series, except kind of pumped up a bit so that it’s larger (the Sony TR has a 10.6” screen and weighs 3.1lbs). It’s got enough style to turn some heads, but it’s by no means loud in it’s design as the Acer Ferrari notebook is. A friend of mine called the dell inspiron 700m battery“cute”. I guess I would agree with that, so if you’re looking for a notebook that screams “get out of my way” or you want to present an attitude, then don’t look here.

Build

I separate the build from the design as it is entirely possible for the design of a notebook to look nice, but the build to feel a little cheap. The build of the 700m is not cheap by any means; it feels relatively sturdy and even looks slightly rugged from the side. However, this notebook was not made to be tossed around. The casing is plastic and gives the impression that if it were dropped from 3ft. or more there could be some damage registered. I didn’t try this, I’ll leave it to an accidental drop to determine this estimation I make. Where the build does feel a little cheap though is with the touchpad and mouse buttons. The mouse buttons are just plain clunky and make a lot of noise. On my 700m the left mouse button depresses in a lot further than the right one.

The good news is that the keyboard has no flex, it is sturdy, and the rest of the notebook build feels solid too. The lid hinge feels solid and is still easy to open, the CD tray is not overly wobbly and there are not buttons or ports that look like they’re begging to fall off or cause problems after a few months of use.

As you can see, an ample number of ports are provided for such a small notebook. A modular optical drive is a big bonus, this makes it easy to upgrade your 700m ( dell 700m battery) to a DVD burner if you want. The S-Video out, VGA out and, FireWire and SD card reader are all nice extras to have on this sized laptop too. Not putting any ports on the back ensures that all of the ports are easily accessible.

Screen

The screen is where the 700m shines. And I do mean shine, as this is the brightest shiniest notebook screen I’ve come across. I’ve used the Sony VAIO TR5 with it’s XBrite technology and the HP zt3000 with it’s BrightView screen, but the Dell Inspiron 700m is just slightly brighter and better than these. Watching DVDs or viewing images is a treat, as colors are vibrant and gorgeous and the contrast amazing. The screen brightness is truly amazing and the angle at which you can view the screen from is great. The widescreen is extra good for DVD viewing and, although the resolution is quite high and you can’t fit a ton on the screen, the widescreen allows you to view two windows at the same time with relative comfort.

Sound & Audio

The Inspiron 700m has two speakers that are actually built into the screen and project sound forward towards the user. The soundcard does provide stereo sound, as you would expect given the fact there are two speakers! However, as is almost always the caveat with laptop speakers, the sound is somewhat tinny and if you turn up the volume a lot it starts to sound bad. Plug in headphones to the front-side port to achieve better sound and get some bass, as the built-in speakers provide almost no bass.

Heat & Fan

I’m happy to report that the Inspiron 700m is both quiet and cool. You won’t have papers blown off of your desk as a giant sized fan kicks in to blow out hot air when using the 700m. Rather, the Inspiron 700m (dell 700m battery )is whisper quiet and you won’t be hearing any noisy fan.

The Inspiron 700m is also cool running and does not generate too much heat. It is comfortable to use on your lap, you won’t burn yourself or feel uncomfortable. The only thing that does make it slightly awkward to have this notebook on your lap are the rubber feet on the bottom, they tend to stick into your legs and don’t let the notebook rest flat on your legs. But at least the fact the notebook doesn’t get too hot means it won’t cause any discomfort to the, umm, crotch area shall we say. The fact heat is not an issue is a kudos to the design of this notebook and the Pentium M processor, often times I find with smaller notebooks that the heat builds up quite a bit due to the fact all of the components are smashed together and it’s hard for the heat to exhaust out. This is true with the Sony VAIO TR5 I last used, the Inspiron 700m is much cooler than it.

OS and Software

I selected Windows XP Home as the operating system for the Inspiron 700m. I wasn’t going to use it for code development or as a web server so it’s all I needed. Unfortunately the XP Home I got did not have the latest Service Pack installed. All Inspiron 700m machines that now ship will have this though. The included software is standard fair, you do get recovery CDs so that’s nice. Here’s a list of included software:

• Image restore disks

• Dell Resource CD with Application Backup

• CyberLink PowerDVD v5.1 Decoding Software for DVD

• Norton Internet Security 2004, 90-day trial

• Dell Jukebox powered by Music Match

• AOL 9.0 (Yuck)

• Word Perfect Productivity Pack 12

• Microsoft Encyclopedia 2004

• Dell Media Experience version 2.1

• Dell Photo Album

• Jasc Software Paint Shop Trial Edition

You’ll want to buy Office XP if you don’t already have a copy, the Word Perfect Suite just doesn’t cut it when compared to MS Office. If you despise all the bundled promotional applications such as AOL 9.0 and Norton AntiVirus that come installed by default on the 700m and you are a power user then you might want to format the hard drive and then reinstall the Operating System (not using the Recovery CD, that’ll just reinstall all the garbage applications such as AOL and other trial software, use the Windows XP Home CD that comes with the 700m). If the word “format” and “hard drive” put together scares you, then don’t pay attention to what I just said.

Battery Life

This is the part of the review where I hang my head in disappointment. Everything was pretty good up to this point, but there’s no beating around the bush, battery life , not like the digital camera battery is below mediocre for a laptop that claims to be a “traveler”. Travel with this on a plane ride that lasts more than 2 hours and you’ll be calling it a lot of words, but not a “traveler” when the battery dies at precisely 2 hours of usage. Yes, 2 hours of use is what I got in my experience with the provided 4-cell battery. This is unacceptable for a notebook that is designed to be taken and used easily for travel. You’re literally forced to buy an extended life battery or carry an extra battery. So much for travelling lightly and without bulk. Check out this quote about the 700m from the Dell website:

Weighing in at 4.1 pounds and 1.5" thin, the stylish InspironTM 700m is the “go anywhere” notebook perfect for students and frequent travelers. Full-featured with a two spindle device design, a fast Intel Pentium M processor, and a 12.1” wide Crystal-Clear LCD screen, the Inspiron 700m offers a complete mobile, computing solution.

Well, go anywhere as long as it’s not for over 2 hours and away from an electric plug outlet. The extended life 8-cell battery is a $130 add-on option that should extend your battery life to over 4 hours. It will stick out of the back of the Inspiron 700m quite a bit though and add weight. Plus I think $130 is overpriced for a battery – I guarantee Dell gets these for around $30/$40 from a Taiwanese supplier so the markup is rather huge. Oh well, it’s how these computer companies make there money.

apple macbook pro laptop information

2008-06-08T20:36:00.001-07:00

For people who appreciate finer laptop accoutrements such as a backlit keyboard and a slot-fed DVD drive, Apple has crafted another tasty offering in the form of the 17-inch MacBook Pro and strong power apple macbook laptop battery. Sleek, powerful, and able to run Windows as well as the Mac operating system, the MacBook Pro makes a strong case for becoming anyone's ultimate notebook.

Following on the heels of the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro and replacing the 17-inch PowerBook G4(with high quality apple powerbook G4 battery ), the 17-inch MacBook Pro delivers many of the same beloved features as its little sibling, such as a scrolling track pad, the Sudden Motion Sensor, and an excellent software package, and adds a huge, bright 17-inch display that's great for graphics work. Better yet, our fully loaded test configuration powered through most of CNET Labs' performance tests, exhibiting only a few of the growing pains encountered by other Intel-based Apple laptops and desktops, such as the iMac Core Duo. Of course, such performance doesn't come cheap: the 17-inch MacBook Pro's default configuration costs $2,799 (upgrades on our review unit brought the price up to $3,099). But for graphics professionals and other Mac users who have money to spare, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is a dream.

With the MacBook Pro, Apple hasn't radically redesigned the PowerBook form factor, it has just made a few refinements to it. Measuring 15.4 inches wide, 10.4 inches deep, and 1 inch thick, the sleek, aluminum MacBook Pro looks very similar to the 17-inch PowerBook G4 it replaces. At 6.8 pounds, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is a hair lighter than its predecessor and the lightest laptop of its size on the market. With its AC adapter, which like other Apple laptops connects magnetically to the case, the MacBook Pro weighs 7.9 pounds. For the sake of comparison, the Dell Inspiron E1705 weighs 8.2 pounds, while the Toshiba Qosmio G35 weighs 10.2 pounds.

The 17-inch MacBook Pro offers a decent selection of ports and connections and laptop batteries, though it comes up a bit short of what you'll find on a similarly sized PC laptop, including the Inspiron E1705. That said, the MacBook Pro features three USB 2.0 ports; FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 ports; an ExpressCard slot; and a DVI port (VGA with included adapter) for connecting to an external monitor. It's also equipped with Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (enhanced data rate), and you can access the Internet via 802.11g Wi-Fi radio, and Gigabit Ethernet. As with the PowerBook, the MacBook Pro features a slot-loading SuperDrive that plays and burns DVDs and CDs. One new extra is the Apple remote that controls the included Front Row multimedia player; we wish, though, that the MacBook had a storage slot for it. Unlike most PC laptops, the MacBook Pro lacks a built-in media reader for flash memory cards, and there's no S-Video output or built-in modem--both of which the PowerBook had.

Compared the 17-inch MacBook Pro against a number of older Apple laptops running the PowerPC processor as well as other Core Duo-based Macs. Unsurprisingly, the MacBook Pro trailed behind a PowerBook G4 when running Sorenson Squeeze, which requires the Rosetta translation program to run on the new chipset. But its ample amount of RAM and quick hard drive helped it power through our Photoshop CS test, in spite of Rosetta. (We expect the MacBook Pro's performance to even out once software publishers release more so-called universal binary apps; however, we recommend checking if your applications are or will soon be Intel-compatible before buying any new Apple system and laptop battery.) Of course, on native applications such as iTunes, the 17-inch MacBook Pro saw significant gains over the previous generation of PowerBooks. Likely due to its discrete graphics card, the 17-inch MacBook Pro displayed very respectable Doom 3 frame rates, though its 23.2 frames per second (fps) can't compete with the 56.5fps achieved by the Inspiron E1705 we tested. In our DVD battery-drain test, the MacBook Pro lasted 2 hours, 54 minutes--quite respectable for a desktop replacement that's not likely to see too much time away from the wall socket.

Fundamentally, the MacBook Pro line is exactly the same design as the old PowerBook G4 range from the past few years, but with Intel chips inside rather than Motorola. It could quite happily be argued that you shouldn't fix what isn't broken, and you'd be hard pressed to argue that the 17in MacBook Pro isn't the best-looking, slickest large-screen notebook out there. All the ports you could possibly need are included, with three USB, a Firewire, Firewire 800, Ethernet, dual-link DVI and notebook battery, as well as ExpressCard.

Apple has recently updated its MacBook Pro with a bunch of options, which put it right back at the top of pile for hardware specifications. For the first time, you can now have the 17in wide screen kitted out with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution - the same size as on most 24in monitors, making for a very high pixel density and effective screen space (great for those working with large megapixel pictures and HD video). Naturally, there's a webcam nestled inside the bezel at the top. There's now an option for a 250GB internal hard drive, for all the media storage, and the machine can accommodate up to 4GB of speedy DDR2 667MHz memory. The raw power has been enhanced with a Core 2 Duo that goes up to 2.6GHz, and the standard graphics is a GeForce 8600M GT, with 256MB of RAM - pretty handy for kicking back with a game when it all gets a bit much.

Apple backs the MacBook Pro with an industry-standard one-year warranty that covers parts and labor, but toll-free telephone support is limited to a mere 90 days--well short of what you'll typically find on the PC side--unless you purchase the $349 AppleCare Protection Plan, which extends phone support and repair coverage to three years. By way of contrast, you can upgrade most PCs' warranties to three years of support for about $200. Apple does offer online troubleshooting, and its Web forums are a good resource for getting tips from other users and downloading the product's printed manual.

HP Pavilion zd7000 Review

2008-06-06T01:26:00.000-07:00

Product: HP Pavilion zd7000

Price: $2,618 list

Specs: 3.2-GHz Pentium 4, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 60GB hard drive, DVD+RW drive, four USB 2.0 and one FireWire port, 17-inch WXGA display, 802.11g, 9.3 lbs. weight(include Hp pavilion zd7000 battery)2000g

Company Info: 800-752-0900, www.hp.com

Not only did HP design its desktop replacement notebook in true desktop style—with a 3.2-GHz Intel Pentium 4 processor, a 17-inch LCD, and a weight of 9.3 pounds—but it also kept multimedia in mind.

The HP Pavilion zd7000, our Editors' Choice, came in first on our multimedia tests and on 3DMark03, undoubtedly thanks to its nVidia GeForce FX Go 5600 card with 128MB of local graphics memory. (All the other systems here had 64MB of graphics memory.)

The notebook's 17-inch wide-screen LCD is a plus for watching movies or editing photos or video. And the DVD drive lets you burn your home movies. Just be sure to do all this while plugged in; the hp pavilion zd7000 battery life won't let you compute for long untethered.

Music:

You can rip your albums to the hard drive and burn MP3 files to standard audio CDs. MusicMatch Jukebox creates and stores playlists of your favorite music. The built-in Harman Kardon speakers make for a pleasant listening experience.

Photos:

Imaging enthusiasts will really like HP Image Zone. Though not as advanced as some titles, Image Zone has the common functions most users need, like the ability to crop photos and adjust for brightness and color correction. Photo albums intuitively organize picture collections.

Video:

Creating DVD videos from family movies is a snap. The DVD drive, a FireWire port, and Roxio's Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 make it easy to capture and render footage to DVD– recordable media. But the 60GB hard drive will fill up fast.

Gaming:

Equipped with an nVidia GeForce FX Go 5600 graphics adapter with 128MB of memory, as well as a wide screen, this is the best notebook we saw for gaming—and the 3DMark03 score proves our point.

Battery life of HP Pavilion zd7000:

The HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE pays the price for its impressive mobile performance with lackluster laptop hp pavilion zd 7000 battery life that puts it in a distant last place in our group of desktop replacements. Although the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE includes a huge 14.8V, 6,600mAh (98WHr) hp zd7000 battery, the battery is drained in less than two hours. This is a result of its CPU running at a relatively high speed, as evidenced by its great mobile performance. The Dell Inspiron XPS which includes a Pentium 4-3.4GHz processor, came in first place in battery life. Since the Dell Inspiron XPS's 14.8V, 6,400mAh (95WHr)hp pavilion zd7000 battery has specs similar to the HP Pavilion zd7000's battery, this difference in battery life can most likely be attributed to the Dell Inspiron XPS's throttling of its fast processor down to a level below the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE's. As the mobile performance results indicate, the Dell Inspiron XPS is less concerned with mobile performance and more with battery life. The older HP Pavilion zd7000 P4 with its 14.8V, 6,450mAh (95WHr) came in a very close second place behind the Dell Inspiron XPS. The HP Pavilion zd7000 P4 was the worst mobile performer of this lot, falling about 4 percent behind the Dell Inspiron XPS. Basically, the vanilla zd7000 P4 system uses less juice to power its CPU than the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE does. Consequently, the HP Pavilion zd7000 P4EE has battery life that fails to inspire, but having said that, battery life is probably the least important aspect of a desktop replacement, since most users will be using it while it's plugged in.

Reviewed by digital camera battery.

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ15GP Review

2008-06-05T00:24:00.000-07:00

Sony VAIO VGN-SZ15GP Features:

Processor : Intel Core Duo Processor T2300

Supported Media : DVD±RW

Power : 6 Cells Sony VGP-BPS2 or Sony VGP-BPL2

What's Hot : Excellent Design, Rugged case, High Quality monitor.

What's Not : Not great for graphics or gaming.

The Final Word : The Sony Vaio SZ15GP/B is a great entry level unit for people who want to get mobile but don't need a monster laptop.

Notes : This product is no longer available directly from the manufacturer. It may be available in retail and distribution channels, or second hand. The price displayed is the price at review time and the last available recommended retail price.

If there is one thing Sony does right it's sleek, futuristic and sexy design. This is exemplified in their Vaio Notebook series and the VGN-SZ15GP/B is no exception. An achievement in design, it performs reasonably for an entry level notebook. It is not without its quirks but overall tends to perform consistently and of a caliber expected for a unit at this price point.

From a design standpoint it is a very sexy and superbly crafted piece of hardware with an attractive brushed aluminium internal chassis and a muted black, almost flush, keyboard. The speakers are well hidden within the chassis and the monitor bezel continues the same colour scheme with the black meeting at the top of the screen at a discreet in-built web cam. The exterior of the unit is a different matter with the entire body of the Vaio encased in a rugged, almost porous, black sandstone like finish. This gives the appearance that the unit is rather sturdy although how much punishment it could withstand is questionable.

The SZ is slightly thicker than most ultra-portable notebooks but is still lightweight and thin enough to comfortably carry under the arm or in a bag. The connections on the sides of the unit include two USB 2.0 ports a microphone and headphone port and an iS450 port. There is also the standard 15pin D-Sub connection and a DVD±RW drive. We found the eject switch for the DVD drive was uncomfortable to access but this was only a minor frustration. For all your card reading needs, Sony provide a card reading adapter which slides into an expansion port on the right facade. This supports xD, SD and MMC media cards but a built in memory stick Duo Pro"MagicGate" is also included for Sony's proprietary flash memory type.

The ultra-thin display is a 13.3 inch 1280x800 native resolution monitor and looks simply fantastic. Back lit with a single lamp, it is uniform in its light spread while remaining rather bright and avoiding any back-light bleeding. Both text and graphics looked highly detailed and the DisplayMate Video Edition tests we ran performed flawlessly with accurate colour reproduction. For an ultra-portable notebook the screen size is more than adequate and will be suitable for most productivity tasks.

This unit seems to be targeted toward use as a mobile creation studio or mobile office rather than hardcore PC use with a T2300 Intel Core Duo Processor running at 1.66 GHz and 512MB of RAM. The results of our performance tests tended to slant in favour of productivity over recreational usages. The Sony Vaio SZ scored an 80 in PC WorldBench 2005 and a 170 in MobileMark 2002. This is consistent with other low to mid range notebooks we have reviewed and will be more than enough for users wanting to take their office on the road. For gamers and graphics intensive users however, this may not be the right notebook for the job. The SZ sports a 128MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 and scored a 12426 3Dmarks in 3Dmark 2001 and 750 3Dmarks in 3Dmark 2006. This was to be expected for the Go 7400 and while this notebook may well be able to run older, less graphics intensive games and programs, don't expect to jump on F.E.A.R. for a free-for-all frag-fest.

This notebook with a internal 6 cells Sony vgp-bps2 battery, we find this battery is powerful for this 13inch notebook.If your Sony vgp-bps2 battery not work well,you can buy a replacement battery on ebay or other online shopping website like digitalcamerabattery.org.

An interesting feature of this notebook is the hybrid graphics system which allows you so choose how you want to use the graphics capabilities of the SZ. If you are looking for performance you can allow the unit to consume more power to allow for increased performance or you can tell the unit to give you less performance in favour of a longer battery life.

The Sony Vaio SZ15GP/B is a great entry level unit for people who want to get mobile but don't need a monster laptop. However, for something that seems to be entry level, the price tag is somewhat inflated. At the same time, it is a Vaio notebook and sometimes you have to pay the price is you want a respected brand name notebook, despite performance and specs. The battery life was timed in Mobile Mark 2002 at 145 minutes which is fairly good and should be enough to watch the average DVD on the train.

The SZ also ships with a bevy of media creation software from adobe including Premiere and Photoshop. While these are not the latest versions of these programs, they are still quite powerful tools and work surprisingly well on this machine. There is also other software included such as Sonic Stage, PictureGear Studio, Digital Media Home and InterVideo WinDVD. If you need an entry level Multimedia creation tool, this laptop fits the bill nicely.

toshiba satellite a75 laptop review

2008-06-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

Design and Build

The design is fairly sleek as a nice consumer line notebook should be. A nice blue power light sits above some media buttons, it's nothing special but it looks cool. The top (back side of screen) is a slick metallic-looking cobalt color which is nice opposed to some of the standard black, charcoal and magnesium alloy cases. Overall this unit is fairly sturdy. I do not feel like I am going to break it while I'm moving it around and I even twisted the screen lid a bit to test it out, it holds up pretty well. Again, it is a consumer line, not business so it's not quite the rigid metal frames of the expensive ones, but does quite well.

The weight of toshiba satellite a70 (original battery code : toshiba pa3383u-1brs ) is not a huge problem . A lot of people prefer the small and lightweight models of notebooks these days, but this one comes in at 7.9 pounds and doesn't cause me any trouble. As a college student, it's about the size and weight of some of my larger books for class. Sitting in my lap it can get a little warm, but not unbearable under normal use with the processor power turned down. If the CPU is set to high it heats up rather quickly and the fans kick on, and their noise is a little annoying after a while, but with good ventilation, it rarely gets hot enough to require much use of the fans.

Screen

The screen is absolutely wonderful. It was a factor in my purchasing this machine as my digital camera battery . A Toshiba Pentium M system with a widescreen TruBrite screen is several thousand dollars more, so this unit was quite appealing. It is always bright enough for me to see, even when I set the brightness down to save battery life. When outdoors, there is a glare on it because of the glossy finish, but it doesn't annoy me because the screen is bright enough to shine through and I never really notice the glare. Indoors, I haven't noticed a glare at all and it is the brightest, most brilliantly colored screen I have yet to see. Absolutely beautiful. I was fortunate in that it has absolutely no dead or partially lit pixels. It is a 15.4" widescreen factory set at 1280x800.

For a mainstream laptop toshiba satellite a75 ( toshiba pa3383u-1brs) the Toshiba's array of ports and slots falls right on the money. The laptop's left edge accommodates an infrared port and one Type II PC Card slot. The back edge is home to ports that include one for S-Video out, one VGA, one parallel, a 56Kbps modem, a 10/100 Ethernet, and two USB 2.0 ports; there's a third USB 2.0 port on the right edge, along with a headphone jack, a microphone port, and a couple of handy extras: a wireless on/off switch to conserve battery power and a volume-control wheel. Toshiba's Web site offers the Satellite A75 line in five preconfigured versions; in-store versions may vary. While many mainstream laptop manufacturers take this tack to save cash, the fact that you can't customize your A75 system irks us.

The Satellite A75's five configurations have five different model numbers (our evaluation system was the A75-S206), but they all use many of the same basic components. Each Satellite A75 runs a mobile Pentium 4 processor with Intel's much-hyped Hyper-Threading technology, an average 512MB of memory, and an aging ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 graphics chip that borrows up to 64MB of video RAM from the main memory. Also onboard is a fast Atheros 802.11b/g wireless mini PCI card and a preloaded version of Microsoft's pared-down office suite, Microsoft Works.

Processor and Performance

The overall speed and performance of the system is quite fast. I never have noticed any serious lagging when loading programs and playing games. Boot up is about as quick as my desktop with similar specs. I am picky when it comes to performance and do not tolerate lagging. The hard drive is 4200 RPM, slow as far as hard drives are considered as a whole, but for notebooks, it is pretty much the standard. Even with being a slower RPM, the seek times are quick and everything loads with haste. The RAM, sadly, is only at 512MB as of now. It is perfectly tolerable, but I plan to upgrade to 1BG as soon as possible, just for my peace of mind. However, I have heard many reports that the extra 512 does not make a world of difference in some machines, but I'll see about that. The games I have run on the A75 so far include Rise of Nations, run at maximum graphics, and Unreal Tournament at max graphics, as well. Both of them run amazingly well. I have not yet tried a high end game such as Doom 3 or Half Life 2, but I seriously doubt that any notebook less than one of those $3000 mega-machines would be able to play them with adequate satisfaction.

Wireless

Toshiba packages the Atheros Super G 802.11g wireless adapter built in. I love this feature, it is wonderful. It works extremely well, no difficulty and it has a convenient switch on the right side to toggle on/off. Wireless internet is a marvel in its own right. Not that it is a huge deal, but I would rather have one built in as opposed to one in the PC Card slot sticking out. There is no Bluetooth on this model. I have nothing to utilize the technology anyway, so that has no effect on me.

Battery

Toshiba pa3383u-1brs Battery (replacement battery code toshiba pa3382u-1bas)life is surprisingly decent for a big and powerful desktop replacement. I set the screen to middle level brightness and also set the hard drives and screen to never turn off and left the wireless adapter on. With these settings the system ran for 3 hours even.

Compaq Presario V2000 Review

2008-06-01T19:54:00.000-07:00

If you're considering a wide-screen laptop for travel, the Compaq Presario V2000 belongs at the top of your list. At just 6.1 pounds (not including the AC adapter), this compact unit is easier to carry than many competing wide-screen notebooks. Its 14.1-inch BrightView screen, an inch shorter than a standard 14.1-inch screen, should clear an airline seat back much more easily.

Be sure to shell out the extra $25 for the V2000's optional 12-cell Compaq Presario V2000 battery. It lasted 5.8 hours in our tests--long enough to see you through a coast-to-coast flight, a short layover, and maybe even the taxi ride to the hotel. (We didn't test the standard 6-cell Compaq Presario V2000 battery.)

The V2000's bright WXGA screen is top-of-the-line. With a native resolution of 1280 by 768 pixels, it displays icons that are big enough to read easily while giving you an extra inch of width (it's as wide as a standard 15-inch screen). You'll still have to do some adjusting and scrolling in order to view two detailed windows side-by-side, but you'll see considerably more of your spreadsheets or graphics applications and their palettes on this relatively small laptop.

The keyboard is perfect, with responsive keys that depress just the right amount and hardly make a sound. The underpinnings feel firm, and the layout is roomy. A lock button for the touchpad prevents the cursor from wandering as you type, and the tall rear battery forms a foot that provides a nice slant to the keyboard. The rest of the laptop is just as impressive, with a DVD burner (in our review configuration), a FireWire port, and three USB 2.0 spread out along the right side, along with a six-in-one card reader to take care of all your data exchange needs with PDAs, cameras, and other devices. The front-mounted speakers sound surprisingly loud and realistic, with volume buttons positioned at the top of the keyboard.

Plenty of sensibly located icons ensure that you won't get lost navigating the V2000's features. Icons conveniently situated around the keyboard (and in easy view on top of the case) mark side connections. Protected by grooved black panels held in by a couple of screws, the memory and hard drive compartments on the bottom of the laptop are clearly identified, too. Status lights appear on the front, where they're easy to monitor; the Wi-Fi LED glows the same pleasing blue as the Wi-Fi switch at the top of the keyboard.

When you're not on the road, the V2000 makes an excellent desktop replacement when united with HP's optional Xb2000 expansion base. The base, which serves as a port replicator and notebook stand, comes with built-in, subwoofer-enhanced Harman/Kardon speakers that rock even harder than the notebook's built-in speakers. The base also houses an internal bay that can accommodate a big (160GB) second hard drive, giving you a total of 260GB of storage if you opt for a 100GB primary hard drive. The $299 Xb2000 base includes a wireless mouse and keyboard, too.

When equipped with a 1.8-GHz Pentium M 745 processor, the V2000 zips along at a creditable clip; it earned a WorldBench 5 score of 75 in our tests--a statistically insignificant 2 points behind the mark posted by a similarly configured IBM ThinkPad T42.

Upshot: With its light weight, long battery life(Compaq v2000 Battery), and easy-to-read screen, the Compaq Presario V2000 with 12cells Presario V2000 Battery might be the perfect wide-screen laptop, especially for road warriors.

Warranty: Compaq v2000 charger can not charger with digital camera battery

Sony VGN-SZ61VN review

2008-05-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

Power: 11.1V, 6600mAh Li-ion Sony vgp-bps2 Battery

To bridge this gap in people's hearts and minds many manufacturers have long turned to the 13.3 form factor, with the likes of the Samsung Q70, Asus U3 and Apple's iconic MacBook being good recent examples of this. Of course, where small and light notebooks are concerned Sony is always in attendance and it has produced many a 13.3in notebook in the shape of the long forgotten S Series or, more recently, the SZ series, which we first looked at in the form of the SZ1VP back in February last year. Since then the series has seen quite a few revisions, however the basic chassis has remained much the same, as evidenced by the SZ61VN I'm looking at today.

It's fortunate then that the original SZ was a stunner, and on first inspection it looks just as good now as it did then. The Carbon Fibre exterior oozes class and refinement, giving the SZ1VN a beautifully sleek and low profile mystique. This quality finish is continued on the inside, with the beautifully rounded front edge that is both perfectly engineered and ideal for resting your wrists on when typing. Beauty and practicality working hand in hand, that's what good design is about.

Weighing 1.79kg the SZ6 slips comfortably under the all important 2kg barrier; indeed, the SZ6 is even lighter than some 12.1in notebooks such as the Samsung Q45 which weighs 1.86kg. It's thin too, just 32.6mm at its thickest point and, thanks to the wedge shaped design, 21.8mm at its thinnest. This, combined with 315mm width and 234.3mm depth, makes the SZ61VN very portable.

It's portability though, that doesn't impinge on performance and one's ability to perform demanding tasks on the move. That's because, under the hood, the SV61VN sports some serious processing power. This is the top of range SZ6, which means you get a blisteringly quick Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 that runs at 2.4GHz with an 800MHz Front Side Bus and 4MB L2 Cache. This is one of the quickest mobile Core 2 Duo's available right now, and it's ably supported by 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 RAM. Alone this makes the SZ61VN a very quick and capable machine, providing performance that surpasses many a 'desktop replacement'.

Sony VGN-SZ61VN Battery

Battery Code : Sony Vgp-bps2

Battery Type :Li-ion

Voltage : 11.10V

Capacity : 6600mAh

Color : Black

Imension : 206.55 x 70.70 x 19.60 mm

Net Weight : 474.00 g

Product Type :OEM Sony vgp-bps2 Battery

Condition : New, High quality, Safe, Fast! Full 1 year warranty!

Buy a sony vgp-bps2 battery to external your sony vgn-sz61vn laptop power

Warning: this battery cannot replace digital camera battery

dell latitude d610 overview

2008-05-28T00:20:00.000-07:00

dell latitude d610 overview

This is a review of the Santa Rosa upgrade Dell Latitude D610. First, let's start with a little background Dell Latitude series.

The Latitude series of laptops is part of Dell's business lines. As business machines, which are more focused on reliability, durability and subtlety (while the more consumer-oriented Inspirons tout most powerful media focusing on aspects such as high-end discrete graphics solution, dedicated media keys, more attractive price points, etc.).
Dell latitude D600,Dell latitude D610 battery replacement is disconting on www.notebook-batteries.org.

Other series in this line include the Precision series (high-powered mobile work aimed primarily at high-end graphics professionals, particularly those with the need for rendering 3D) and the recently released in economy class Vostro series, introduced to replace the now long - in-the-tooth business Inspirons. Latitude is squarely in the middle of both lines, providing a balance between high performance and price.

The Latitude comes in a wide variety of flavors, but for most people really the choice is between 14.1 "630, and 830 which is the largest, 15.4" model. This model comes at a table replacement, since their weight is not appropriate to charge around the city.

The setup finished receiving was as follows:

2.2GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, 800MHz FSB, 4MB L2 Cache
2GB DDR2 SDRAM-667
Sata HDD 120GB 5400
8X DVD ± RW dual-layer drive
15.4 "screen WUXGA
256MB Nvidia Quadro NVS 140M
Touchpad integrated UPEK Fingerprint Reader
Intel WLAN 4965 (802.11a/g/n)
From 9-cell battery(dell latitude D610 battery)
Dell Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)
Windows Vista Ultimate with the media
4-Year Next-Business-Day parts and labor on-site Guarantee Response Gold
4-Year Guarantee Accidental Damage
Battery Code:dell 1x793,dell 310-5195,dell 312-0068
I also opted for some accessories:

Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Mouse
Belkin protective travel
Extra 90W AC Adapter
Western Digital Passport 120GB Portable Hard Drive
Interlink Electronics Bluetooth remote control

My wife and I picked up at the airport after midnight, and I could barely contain my excitement. We dropped them off at his house, and they came the next morning. My package has finally arrived. Boy, I was giddy.

The first thing I did was open the package of accessories. Everything was there, as expected, including notebook lock. In retrospect, I am delighted by the error. I realize that there will be times that you'll have to leave my notebook is attached to some video projector system or during an event, the blockade and only helps me feel a little safer. But I parentheses.An digital camera battery can charged access the dell D610 USB port?

Finally, after much personal and spiritual ceremony, I opened the package portable. After wading through the two brochures, media 4 (Vista Ultimate, drivers and Diagnostics, McAfee Antivirus and Roxio Creator), and two AC adapters, finally made through the laptop.Also,dell dell latitude D610 battery replacement had a highest 4400mah capacity,it can supply 5-6 hour power.

I was impressed with the build weight and feel of this team - only that it feels much better when you keep yours and knowit. The body is built from a very robust magnesium alloy that is absolutely wonderful to celebrate. Note, however, dell latitude d610 battery ,that the LCD bezel and the area under the keyboard (the edge black housing to the speakers and keyboard) is plastic, not magnesium. I'm not sure why not just build the entire chassis in the alloy as I think would have a better feel to the whole thing. However, feels very solid, and you have the immediate feeling that this baby is going to last you a long time. I can attest that there is absolutely no flex in the upper deck, except when grab both ends and turn left and right. But even then, the flex in no way affects the screen. Not undulations here and anywhere. The hinge action is excellent, and allows me to open and close the system with one hand - the basis of not lift when you open it.

Discount 14.80V latitude D610 series battery is a rechargeable , li-ion , replacement dell latitude D610 battery . 2200mAh dell latitude D610 series batteries have full one year quaility assurance and 30 days money back gurantee !

However, is heavy. I thought we had become accustomed to the weight of my X1000, and I thought they really did not have a laptop unless heavy I would climb to 17. "But in general, the weight has not been that much of a problem for me since I already used to load about 15 pounds of office supplies in my backpack.

Unfortunately, dell latitude d600 battery,construction is not without minor flaws. First, there is a small difference between the lid and base when the laptop is closed, giving an inch and a half wiggle when you press the two together. Not too big an agreement, except that spoiled what would have been otherwise almost perfect build.

Sony MiniDV DCR-TRV50 review

2008-05-26T20:43:00.000-07:00

Imaging Device : 1/4" 1,550K Gross Pixels, Advanced HAD™ CCD

Video Actual : 970K

Still Actual : 1,390K

F : 1.8-2.2

Focal Distance : 4.2-42mm

35mm Conversion : 48-480mm (Camera Mode) 40-400mm (Memory Mode)

Filter Diameter : 37mm

Optical Zoom : 10X

Digital Zoom : 120X

Focusing : Full Range Auto/Manual

Minimum Illumination : 7 Lux (0 Lux with NightShot® Infrared System)

NightShot Infrared System : Super NightShot®, Color Slow Shutter

Shutter Speed : 1/4-1/4000 (AE Mode)

Memory Mode : Yes, 1360 x 1020, 640 x 480

MPEG Movie EX Mode : Yes, 320 x 240, 160 x 112

Viewfinder : Color (180K)

LCD : 3.5" Color (246K)

Accessory Shoe : Yes (Intelligent)

Portable Printer Capable : Yes

Video Input/Output : Yes/Yes (Special and S-Video)

Audio Input/Output : Yes/Yes (Stereo)

i.LINK DV Interface (IEEE1394) : Yes, 4 Pin

USB : Yes

USB Streaming : Yes, 320 x 240 ( up to 30 FPS)

Headphone Jack : Yes (Mini, Stereo)

Mic-Input : Yes (Stereo)

White Balance : Auto, Outdoor, Indoor, Hold

Exposure : Yes/Dial (24 Step)

Power Consumption (VF/LCD/VF+LCD) : 3.4W/4.5W/4.8W

Battery Code: NP-QM91D

Sony's MiniDV DCR-TRV50 is their upgrade to the popular DCR-TRV30. The camcorder is a standard form factor, with many neat features and good still quality. From its professional Carl Zeiss lens to the 3.5-inch LCD, and everything in between, the DCR-TRV50 screams quality. It is unequivocally Sony's top consumer model, and well worth the expense. Power battery code : NP-QM91D.

The DCR-TRV50 MiniDV Handycam Camcorder gives you a huge, easy-to-view color LCD and massive megapixel resolution, making it the odds-on favorite for delivering exceptional-quality digital video, digital audio, and digital still images every time you turn it on. This unit also features Sony's revolutionary Network capability through its Bluetooth adapter which allows you to connect to the internet without the need of a computer (adapter sold separately).

The Sony DCR-TRV50 has a 1/4 in. 1.5 Mega Pixel HAD CCD. The effective video pixels used is 970K while the still is 1,390K, but more about the still performance later. The DCR-TRV50 has a 10x optical, 120x digital zoom while the horizontal resolution is rated at 530 lines, the top for the MiniDV format. Mini DV digital recording format delivers 3X color bandwidth of VHS and lower signal to noise ratio compared to analog formats and provides stunning video performance.

The CCD in the TRV50 is of enough resolution to capture 1,360 x 1,020 digital stills onto the included 8 MB Memory Stick--about a 1.38-megapixel image and sony NP-QM91D. That resolution is currently tops in the digital-camcorder world (the digital still resolution of camcorders hasn't risen nearly as fast as that of digital cameras), and is good for prints up to about 6 by 9 inches. As far as video is concerned, Sony claims the high-resolution CCD translates into a video resolution of around 530 horizontal lines.

An upgrade of the DCR-TRV50 over the DCR-TRV30 is the addition of a touch panel LCD screen. The LCD is 3.5 in. and 246K pixels. The camcorder also has a color viewfinder. If you have an area that is under or over exposed or an area that you want to put in focus all you have to do is touch on it an the camcorder adjusts automatically. This is a great intermediate between automatic and manual control. It gives the inexperienced user a way of tackling the camcorder controls which can be very daunting.The camcorder usb can be used in sony laptop battery.

The DCR-TRV50 includes wireless Bluetooth connectivity, just like the MicroMV DCR-IP7. In fact, the DCR-TRV50 has the same Bluetooth functions as the DCR-IP7BT and the DCR-PC120BT. In addition to digital stills, you can record pretty poor quality, 160 x 112 resolution MPEG video to the Memory Stick or you can store 320 x 240 resolution MPEG video. Sony makes up to 256 MB memory sticks currently. Unlike other MPEG1 movies, MPEG Movie EX will allow you to record uninterrupted to the full capacity of the Memory Stick media. For example, the 128MB Memory Stick media will record up to 85 minutes of non-stop MPEG videos.

The DCR-TRV50 adds USB streaming, which has also been added to many other Sony digital camcorders. This feature allows the user to hook the camcorder up to their camcorder and stream 320 x 240 video, NP-QM91D battery, effectively using the camcorder as a web cam. This feature can be used to shoot video for emails, for the web, or for videoconferencing.

compaq presario r3000 review

2008-05-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

Designed to appeal to consumers looking for value and productivity in a notebook computer, the Compaq R3000 Series is reasonably priced. The entry-level model, R3000T, starts at $949 and includes numerous connectivity options.

Backed by Compaq's one-year limited hardware warranty, the R3000 (original battery code is: HSTNN-DB02 )series offers a host of configuration options and add-ons. With integrated ATI Radeon 9000 graphics and integrated Broadcom 54G wireless, the R3000 is well-suited for the mobile professional or student who doesn't mind lugging around eight pounds, and the casual gamer who doesn't need the highest settings in the latest games. Its powerful JBL Pro speakers, DVD and CDR/W combo drive and 15.4-inch screen make this an excellent choice for multimedia use as well.

The full spec for the laptop is:

• Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3200+

• Memory: 512 MB DDR

• Hard Drive: Toshiba 80 GB 4200 RPM

• CD/DVD Burner: LG 4X DVD+RW/R & CD-RW

• Screen: 15.4" WXGA widescreen (1280x800)

• Video Card NVidia GeForce4 440 Go 64 DDR

Features:

• Alps touchpad. dedicated scroll pad, deactivation button

• parallel port, monitor-out, s-video-out

• JBL Pro speakers, volume control and mute buttons

• microphone socket, headphones socket

• built-in 56K modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11g wireless

• firewire port, three USB ports, notebook expansion port

• memory card reader: SD, MS/Pro, MMC, SM

• three-hour compaq presario r3000 battery which is less long than a digital camera battery

• Operating system Windows XP Home

Compaq’s R3000 line of Pentium 4 notebooks is a solid performer with good looks and good features. While lacking some of the bells and whistles of other “multimedia friendly” competitors, its minimalist styling is both sleek and functional. Backed by Compaq’s one-year limited hardware warranty, the R3000 series offers a host of configuration options and add-ons. With integrated ATI Radeon 9000 graphics and integrated Broadcom 54G wireless, the R3000 is well-suited for the mobile professional or student who doesn’t mind lugging around eight pounds, and the casual gamer who doesn’t need the highest settings in the latest games. Its powerful JBL Pro speakers, DVD and CDR/W combo drive and 15.4-inch screen make this an excellent choice for multimedia use as well.

At over eight pounds it certainly isn't the most portable laptop available, but the weight compares favorably to competing products. If you're looking for a sturdy laptop that is somewhere between ultra-portable and a desktop replacement, Compaq's R3000 line, while not being flashy or innovative, is a good choice.

Features and Design

While Compaq offers the R3000 ( compaq presairo r3000 battery )series with several different configurations, our test machine for this review featured an Intel Pentium 4 processor at 2.8GHz and 512MB of PC2700 DDR memory. Our 15.4-inch widescreen model also included a 40GB Hitachi 4200RPM hard drive, ATI's Radeon 9000 integrated graphics processor, and an internal Broadcom 802.11b/g mini-PCI card. Compaq sells the R3000 series with Microsoft's Windows XP Home operating system or, as our system was configured, with Windows XP Pro.

Opting for a different design than some other laptops, Compaq has placed most of the expansion ports and interfaces on each side of the machine instead of at the rear. Those annoyed with having to turn a computer around or awkwardly reach behind it to plug in a USB device will appreciate Compaq's design choice here. The only interfaces at the back of the computer are the legacy devices — a VGA monitor port, a parallel port, and a telephone modem. Although we had no use for it, we were happy to see a parallel port since many new laptops don't include one, yet many people and businesses still have parallel-only printers.

The front of the computer features a button for turning the internal wireless on or off, and amber lights indicating hard drive activity, system power, and AC/power. The system power button slowly flashes when in standby mode which is useful if you have closed the lid and can't remember if you turned the power off or just went to standby. Also featured on the front panel are speaker grilles hiding the included JBL Pro speakers and a pushbutton to release the cover latch. The solid screen hinges and unique lid latch really gives the Presario R3000 (replacement battery code : compaq 346970 001

)
a quality feel. We really liked this mechanism as the u-shaped metal latch was easy to open and release and kept the lid tight when closed.

With many competitors offering multimedia buttons on their laptops, the R3000 only offers the aforementioned volume buttons. Compaq's keyboard utility configures the F-keys to be used as multimedia keys, but you have to push them in conjunction with the Function key. Since many media applications such as Winamp have keyboard shortcuts anyway, we found Compaq's solution here to not be very useful and didn't like having to use a two-key combo.

Software and Upgrading

Compaq includes the usual “free” software with the R3600 bundle, and as is the case with other manufacturers, much of it was unwanted. But Compaq also does something that we haven't seen with many other manufacturers: they provide a system restore disk with only the operating system and don't force you to install the bundled third party applications. The company earns some nice points here because while we didn't want all of the “junk” they gave us, it was easy to get rid of.

They also include a version of Intervideo's WinDVD for watching DVDs and our model came with Microsoft's Works and Money 2004. One notable “freebie” in the packaging is a free month of T-Mobile Hotspot, which we used for high-speed Web access at coffee shops and bookstores during a few business trips.

There is only one device slot on the Presario R3000 battery models, occupied by default with the optical drive. With floppy drives a dying option, this shouldn't be an issue for most users, but we weren't able to find any internal floppy drives or additional batteries that fit in the slot.

The R3000 line has two DDR memory slots and can handle up to 1GB of memory with two 512MB sticks. Access for one slot is through the keyboard on the top (this is the one populated by default at the factory) and the other is through an easier to access bottom slot.

Removing or replacing the battery is a simple process with the quick-release lever and the hard drive can be removed with two small Phillips-head screws. One thing we really like about the Dell Inspiron 8600 and some other laptops we've seen is the quick release option to expose the processor fan or heatsink. This allows you to easily clean the dust out of the fins of the heatsink. Unfortunately the R3000 doesn't have such a feature, but the heatskink fins are exposed through a plastic grate, allowing them to be cleaned with a vacuum.

There isn't much besides the memory that can be easily upgraded. With the integrated graphics solution those thinking of future proofing their laptops for upcoming games may want to look at more upgradeable options.

Apple powerbook G4 laptop review

2008-05-23T19:39:00.000-07:00

In the past time,I always want to have a apple powerbook G4 laptop and a digital camera with a good digital camera battery like the other people.Today,i have a chance to come true it finally.And i collected some information:

12-inch powerbook G4 information

The arrival of the 12-inch PowerBook G4(high quality apple powerbook G4 battery) at the beginning of this year was big news. The Apple faithful finally got an ultraportable; in fact, the 12-inch PowerBook was (and still is) the smallest notebook ever to come out of Cupertino. But to pare it down to size, Apple cut a few corners from the original. This update retains everything we like about the design, but it addresses many feature shortcomings by adding a faster processor and graphics, room for more memory, and analog and DVI outputs. Bargain hunters will find that the just-announced 800MHz iBook offers similar portability and features (not to mention longer battery life) for $500 to $700 less, but pound for pound, no other Mac offers as much as the 12-inch PowerBook.
The 12-inch PowerBook is the smallest and lightest notebook available from Apple, albeit by a slim margin. It measures 1.2 by 10.9 by 8.6 inches and weighs 4.6 pounds. The more affordable 12-inch iBook is a few tenths of an inch bigger in all dimensions and weighs just less than 5 pounds.

Like most Apple notebooks, the 12-inch PowerBook resists categorization. It is notably heavier than most Windows-based ultraportables, such as the Dell Latitude X300, the HP Compaq nc4000, and the IBM ThinkPad X31, which also carry 12.1-inch displays. The comparison is misleading, however, because the 12-inch PowerBook has an internal media drive, putting it in a similar league as thin-and-lights, which despite the name, are slightly bigger and heavier than ultraportables.And apple powerbook G4 laptop battery is hi-capacity and cheap,maybe a battery replacement is also so good.No matter how you look at it, the 12-inch PowerBook strikes an excellent balance between portability and features.

The anodized-aluminum case feels very solid and seems to resist scratches better than the old titanium cladding. Some users have reported that the metal case gets toasty, but we didn't find it to be unusually hot. The 12.1-inch display, with a 1,024x768 resolution, opens and closes on a sturdy hinge. You can adjust the display brightness from the keyboard or in System Properties.

Apple has added a mini-DVI output port.

The updated 12-inch PowerBook now comes in two standard, and virtually identical, configurations. Both include a 1GHz PowerPC G4 chip, 256MB of memory, and a 40GB hard drive, expandable to 60GB or 80GB. The key difference is the optical drive: the model with the combo CD-RW/DVD-ROM starts at $1,599, and the one we tested with the SuperDrive (CD-RW and DVD-R/RW) costs $200 more. Beyond that, there are few configuration options.

Nevertheless, most users won't find the 12-inch PowerBook lacking,and they like stronger
apple powerbook G4 battery ,especially since Apple has addressed the few weaknesses in the initial version. You can now increase the memory to 512MB, 768MB, or 1.25GB. And both models use a faster graphics processor: the Nvidia GeForce FX Go 5200 with 32MB of DDR SDRAM. There's still no L3 cache, but Apple insists that typical users will never miss it, and we're inclined to agree.

Though the original 12-inch PowerBook had a mini-VGA connector for connecting to analog monitors, projectors, and composite-video devices, such as TVs and VCRs (via an included adapter), it lacked DVI or ADC outputs for digital flat panels such as the Apple Studio and the Apple Cinema displays. Apple has corrected this by adding a mini-DVI output. The corresponding mini-DVI adapters for analog (VGA) and digital (DVI) displays are in the box; a mini-DVI-to-video adapter for S-Video and RCA (composite) video gear is an extra $19. The remaining connectors include audio in and out (headphone), two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port, and 100Mbps Ethernet and modem jacks.

While these changes are significant, the 12-inch PowerBook is still missing a few features found in the larger and costlier 15- and 17-inch models, including FireWire 800, standard AirPort Extreme networking, a PC Card slot, and standard-size video outputs (VGA, DVI, S-Video, and RCA). An AirPort Extreme card will cost you another $99, but at least the 12-inch model includes Bluetooth.

Finally, the model we tested ran Mac OS X 10.2.7. Panther (Mac OS X 10.3) is also available for $20 until December 24, 2003. (Apple sends you the Panther discs; the installation is easy.) After that, the notebook will ship with Panther. The 12-inch PowerBook also has the usual assortment of Apple software, including the iLife bundle and third-party trialware.

On most CNET Labs test, the 12-inch PowerBook delivered the performance boost we expected to see: it was on a par with or slightly faster than the previous 867MHz model on our iTunes and iMovie 2.0 tests. (In iMovie, we convert a large movie file into QuickTime, and in iTunes, we convert a music file into MP3, timing each procedure.)

Apple powerbook G4 15-inch review

In the other side,15-inch powerbook G4 is also very well.

Three years after the popular Titanium PowerBook and
apple powerbook g4 titanium battery
debuted, Apple's new 15-inch PowerBook G4 improves on the original in nearly all areas except battery life. The notebook has the same sleek design as the titanium model but with an anodized-aluminum case and faster hardware. The $2,600 version includes a backlit keyboard that turns on when a room gets dark, a feature previously available on only the 17-inch PowerBook. In fact, this new model offers such an excellent combination of features and price that we wouldn't hesitate to recommend it were it not for reports from some early customers of display problems, specifically faint white spots on the screen. We didn't encounter this issue on our test system, and Apple says that it is investigating, but once it is sorted out, the 15-inch PowerBook will secure a position high atop our list of recommended desktop replacements. Like the Titanium PowerBook before it, the 15-inch PowerBook hits a sweet spot in size. It's big enough for a wide-screen display (1,280x854) yet small enough to carry with you. The 15.2-inch screen fits snugly in the PowerBook's 13.5-inch width and 9.5-inch depth, but the unit measures a mere 1.1 inches thick. Both sides of the lid contain internal antennae for AirPort Extreme, otherwise known as 54Mbps IEEE 802.11g wireless networking.

And apple 15inch,17inch powerbook G4 computer,apple powerbook G4 battery and battery charger have past test.So they are better than the others.

Asus Eee PC 900 (white, Windows XP) Review

2008-05-23T01:16:00.000-07:00

The Eee 900 Series was officially launched in Hong-Kong on April 16, 2008 for 513 USD and in the UK on May 1, 2008 for £329 (approximately €410, $650 including VAT). The system was launched in the US for $549 on May 12, 2008. The Eee 900 series dimensions are a little larger than the 70x models – measuring 225 × 165 × 35 mm (WxDxH) and weighing around 1 kg. The machine has a multi-touch trackpad that allow two-finger scrolling and zooming via a "pinch" gesture and is available in Linux and (in some markets) Windows XP configurations. The Linux version is called the EeePC 900 and comes with a 20 GB SSD 6 Cell eee pc battery, while the Windows XP version is called the EeePC 900 Win and has a 12 GB SSD.

There has been some controversy regarding the battery supplied with the EeePC 900. Versions pre-released to journalists and reviewers were equipped with a 5800 mAh Eee PC battery, but the first retail versions in Hong Kong, UK and Singapore were shipped with a smaller, 4400 mAh (76% of that capacity) Eee pc battery. As a result of the objections to this, Asus provided a battery replacement program in Hong Kong[25] and Singapore,[26] but have yet to do so in the U.K.[27] The US version launched with the 5800 mAh battery.

Product Summary

The good: Bigger screen in same small package; new touch pad gesture controls; long battery life.

The bad: Not as much storage space as the Linux version; same old Celeron CPU as original Eee PC; keyboard just as cramped.

The bottom line: The 9-inch Asus Eee PC 900 adds a bigger screen and a larger capacity solid-state hard drive than its 7-inch precursor, but the new price has passed the point of an impulse purchase.

Specs: Processor: Intel; RAM installed: 1 GB DDR II SDRAM; Weight: 2.2 lbs

When we first saw the diminutive Asus Eee PC back in the fall of 2007, we were duly impressed by its capability to mix small size with a small price, and rightly predicted it would be popular with consumers and influential with other PC makers (although, to be fair, the OLPC XO and Intel Classmate first blazed the same trail in the education space).

At the time, we said the Eee PC could be the perfect secondary or travel laptop as long as expectations were kept modest, and we found its small screen, Celeron processor, and tiny flash-based hard drive adequate for Web surfing and working on office documents. Later the Eee added different colors and Windows XP, but other systems, such as HP's 2133 Mini-Note were already expanding on the original concept with bigger screens, more storage, and sharper designs, while keeping the price fairly reasonable ($599 for a Mini-Note versus $399 for the 7-inch Eee PC).

Just as the original Eee PC started to feel a bit dated, Asus comes out with an updated version, called the Eee PC 900. Although it occupies only a marginally larger footprint than the original, this new model finds room for a 9-inch screen, accomplished by moving the tiny speakers away from the sides of the lid, leaving more room for the display. With a much more reasonable 1,024x600 resolution (the 7-inch screen was a paltry 800x480), the new Eee PC 900 feels more like a laptop and less like a portable Internet appliance.

While the RAM has been bumped from 512MB to 1GB, and the onboard storage from 4GB to 12GB (or 20GB in the Linux version), you're still stuck with the same 900MHz Celeron processor. With new mobile CPUs from Intel and Via on the way, and more powerful mobile processors available in the Lenovo U110 and MacBook Air (both of which admittedly cost nearly $2,000), that's starting to look dangerously dated, especially now that, at $550, the Eee PC has passed the point of an impulse purchase.

Price $549

Processor 900MHz
Intel Celeron M

Memory 1GB, 400MHz DDR2

Hard drive 12GB SSD

Chipset Intel 915GM
Graphics Intel 915GM (integrated)

Operating System Windows XP Home

Dimensions (WDH) 8.9x6.5x0.9 inches

Screen size (diagonal) 8.9 inches

System weight / Weight with AC adapter(Cannot charger for digital camera battery) 2.2 /2.6 pounds

Power 6 cell 4400mAh battery(you can buy a uk replacement laptop battery for your original notebook batteries)

ibm thinkpad t40 laptop

2008-05-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

ibm thinkpad t40 laptop

The IBM ThinkPad T40 (see ibm t40 battery) is one of the best notebooks we've seen major, winning our Editors' Choice in this category. The wide range of features on our test unit includes only the 80 GB hard drive, Bluetooth and Gigabit Ethernet capability, as well as a period of nine cell battery that provides an excellent battery life in the category, 5:40.

Of course, that set of technology is not cheap. At 5.3 pounds, the T40 is the lightest incorporate the review unit. To be thinner, IBM became the first company to reduce the media bay of 12.5 mm to 9.5 mm in height. The only drawback is that you can burn DVDs are not immediately available, but must shipping in May. One deficiency is that the T40 lacks a FireWire port.

The T40 not only includes a pointing stick and touch pad, comes bundled with three different caps TrackPoint. E includes, as always, a small light on the keyboard cover.

The thinkpad t40 battery has an apacity of 4400mAh and a volt of 11.1V.

The T40, either first or second in each test program that ran. The unity of 802.11a / b wireless module retains a signal at 200 feet, second only to Dell. With the T40, IT managers can choose between 802.11a / b, 802.11b, 802.11go more wireless solutions from Cisco LEAP, a property that offers wireless security. To make matters worse, IBM offers a wide range of management capabilities and security tools.

Performance
Business Winstone: 29.8
BatteryMark: 5:40
Wireless type: 802.11a / b
Wireless range: 200 feet

Technical Support
3-year warranty (parts and labor). 2 years in the place of service, $ 98. Toll-free technical assistance, 24 / 7.

Ibm thinkpad t40 series Laptop Batteries replace OEM Part#: 02k6699 , 08k8195 , 08k8214 , 92p1011 , 92p1060 , 92p1075 , 92p1087 , 92p1089 , replacement for ibm thinkpad r50e 1834-xxx , thinkpad r50p 1832-xxx , thinkpad t41 2374-xxx , thinkpad t42 , Ibm thinkpad t42 battery notebook computer ..

I have been T-40 for four weeks. With the power settings set at "word processing" I usually get six to 7-1/2 hours of run time. With Bay Ultra Slim Battery installed too have been able to work all day and some work in the afternoon and still said that I have 3 hours left. It has a 1.4 PentM and is very snappy. Product quality is very high; exactly what I expect from IBM. The 1400x1050 resolution with the ATI9000 video is a pleasure to work with them. Found my cad applications quickly and gives me a lot of screen real estate to work. Knight also runs Jedi Outcast wonderfully. The only problem is that I'm having with the Intel wireless PCI card. It keeps turning itself off, even if the plug on energy ,my digital camera battery can connect to ibm thinkpad t40 notebook for charging in addition.

Sales Representative said that he did not want extra programs on it, the teams that came to him with a 80g hard drive and 1G of RAM - that the purpose was to add the Linux operating system, dual boot, and use this equipment for businesses. The product was delivered earlier than promised (YEA!). However, the task bar does not appear - either higher or lower sides. The only way to arrive at the base WindowsXP programs reclycle was open bin and use the pull-down menu. I made a recovery. CD-ROM and the computer then kept hanging. Battery indicated 3 1 / 2 hours, promised not 6-8. Telephone time with technical support is three full days trying to adjust the system before putting them on Linux.

Then I was told that ibm thinkpad t40 battery did not honor the warranty if I added another operating system. Finally I had to insist on-site support that I have paid. They phone person there helped me more than 10 minutes to tweak the system that others did in three full days of support. I still do not have Linux, because I'm reluctant to void the warranty after paying three thousand dollars for the scrapbook. It seems to be working well now, although not better than my other two laptop (a Compaq and Toshiba), which will cost about $ 1200 each and have half the memory and Intel Celeron and AMD Athlon unlike Pentium processors M of the ThinkPad.

The processor (more than a year newer than the other two) is not significantly faster, even without extra programs - the others are busy. I have not had time to verify that the hardware came to her, as the sound card, graphics, etc.

I have not received any documentation with the machine as to what came to him, or things that I paid extra as 3-yr . onsite support and 3 years. additional warranty. ibm thinkpad t40 battery must pass stringent quality control tests (such as UL ,ISO900x ,UC etc.) that ensure they will fits your laptop computer well .

About HP OmniBook 6000 Notebook PC

2008-05-20T21:21:00.001-07:00

HP Omnibook6000 basic specs

Pentium III 700 MHz processor with SpeedStep technology

14.1" TFT active matrix display

128 MB RAM, expandable to 512 MB

12GB disk (IBM DARA-212000)

6X DVD drive (Matshita DVD-ROM SR-8174)

floppy drive (either floppy, DVD, or optional second Omnibook 6000 battery can be in the lone modular bay; the floppy can also attach via cable to serial port when the bay is occupied)

12.4"x10.4"x1.26", 5.0 lbs.

ATI Mobility MI1 video card with 8 MB

ESS Maestro 3 sound card

integral 3Com 3C556 mini PCI combo 56K V.90 modem and 10/100 ethernet card (currently only the ethernet, not the modem, is working under Linux)

two PCMCIA bays (Texas Instruments PCI 1420 CardBus PC controller)

USB port (Intel 82371AB/EB PCI to USB Universal Host Controller)

Infrared port

PCI bus

The keyboard is full size and supports, simultaneously, a track point and a Synaptics touchpad (these work fine under Linux). At the time of purchase it was one of the thinnest and lightest laptops(hp laptop batteries) available with a 14.1" inch screen.

The hp omnibook 6000 external ports are

modem

Ethernet

PS/2 keyboard/mouse

serial

parallel

video out

headphone-out

microphone-in

audio line-in

infrared

docking connector

About hp omnibook 6000 and hp omnibook 6000 battery ( the same with hp f2019a battery )

This new high-octane entry in HP's line of corporate laptops wraps a thin, handsome, dark case around Intel's latest mobile processor, a Pentium III-1000. The package also includes a high-resolution screen, dual pointing devices, a giant hard drive, and a steady, easy-to-navigate keyboard. On the front of the case is a single multipurpose bay that holds a parade of optional add-ins, ranging from the included floppy drive or 8X DVD-ROM drive to a second battery, a CD-RW drive, a SuperDisk drive, a Zip drive, or an 18GB second hard drive. A combination button/slider release on the side makes it easy to hot swap media.
The Omnibook 6000 is extremely pricey, and it doesn't run appreciably faster than notebooks with slower processors. Its PC WorldBench 2000 score of 168 is only 5 points above the average for PIII-850-based systems running Windows 2000. Also, HP's skimpy support policies continue to lag behind the industry standard of unlimited free technical help.

If you specify notebook PCs for your company, Hewlett-Packard understands the complexities you face in identifying a vendor and a set of products that meet your end-user and business needs. That's why HP is committed to delivering a comprehensive notebook PC family that meets both sets of requirements.The HP OmniBook 6000 notebook PC combines all the best features of HP's current product line with an entirely new design for high-performance business computing. This notebook PC offers the reliability, compatibility, industry-leading security, and low cost of ownership your IT department can't afford to compromise, plus the performance, expandability, portability, and ergonomics your users are demanding - all in an upscale, professional-looking package they'll be proud to take with them.

The Omnibook 6000 measures a relatively diminutive 1.5 inches tall and weighs 6.5 pounds without peripherals. Despite its high-speed processor, it seems to run cooler than many laptops--after several hours' use it remained comfortable to the touch. The hp omnibook 6000 laptop battery lasts an above-average 3.3 hours. The 15-inch screen's native resolution of 1400 by 1050 will suit Web designers, graphics pros, and anyone else who needs a roomy display. It's easy to adjust the volume using the Omnibook's external controls, but its unimpressive sound keeps it from being a great multimedia machine. The smoothly designed case includes a user-upgradable hard drive (just remove two screws), a festive-looking purple eraserhead, and a slightly smaller-than-average touchpad with two sets of mouse buttons. HP now includes a floppy drive and a parallel port cable, so you can use the floppy along with another device in the bay. Documentation consists of one thin manual that covers the basics. On the desktop, HP offers links to a variety of Internet-based tools offered by HP partners for backup and synchronization.

As one of the first laptops with Intel's new 1-GHz mobile processor, the Omnibook 6000 has cachet to spare--not to mention handsomely understated looks and all the usual bells and whistles a well-heeled executive might expect in a high-end portable. Just be prepared to shell out commensurate bucks.

Buying Information ( we'll review digital, camera and digital camera batteries in other articles.)

Laptop HP Omnibook 6000

PC WorldBench 2000 score of 168; Pentium III-1000/700, 128MB of SDRAM, 256KB L2 cache, Windows 2000 Professional, 15-inch active-matrix screen, ATI Rage P/M Mobility graphics with 8MB of SDRAM, 30GB hard drive, 8X DVD-ROM drive, built-in V.90 modem and network interface, touchpad and eraserhead pointing devices, 8.1-pound weight (including floppy drive, floppy drive cable, AC adapter, and phone cord). 1-year parts and labor warranty; free 24/7 toll-call support ends after 3 years.

Olympus E-500 camera review

2008-05-19T20:16:00.000-07:00

8.0 million pixels with Full Frame Transfer CCD

6.4cm/2.5” HyperCrystal LCD (215,250 pixels)

Supersonic Wave Filter for dust protection

Light and compact penta type design (for classic SLR look)

Single AF, continuous AF and manual focusing

49 area AE sensor

ESP, centre-weighted average and spot exposure meteringplus high light basis and shadow basis spot metering

Professional AE lock functionality

Sequential shooting at 2.5fps in HQ (1/8) and SQ JPEG format up to the full memory

card capacity when using high-speed media, such as SanDisk SDCFX (Extreme III)

IR Hybrid Type Cut Filter for equalisation with human eyes

1/3 EV ISO steps

TruePic TURBO image processor

21 scene programme and scene select programme modes

Dual slot for CompactFlash/Microdrives and xD-Picture Cards : can well edit in laptop with laotop battery charger

Built-in pop-up flash

User-friendly menu with detailed and simplified display

Weight: 435g, size: 129,5 x 94,5 x 66mm

Compatible with the complete range of Olympus E-System lenses and many

accessories 1600mAh Li-ion 7.4V rechargeable Olympus BLM-1 battery

As digital photography has gained popularity and become affordable for just about everyone, increasing numbers of photographers are demanding the higher quality and flexibility that only an SLR camera can offer, with the availability of interchangeable lenses, external flash systems and other accessories. Now, with the Olympus E-500, the promise of creative digital SLR photography is within everyone’s reach.

The Olympus EVOLT E-500 is one of the bargains among entry level digital SLR cameras. The E-500 is an alternative for the budget-conscious over Canon's EOS 350D and Nikon's D50. The camera comes with a Supersonic Wave Filter, large 2.5-inch LCD monitor and a full range of shooting modes and functions. Though not the most minute in its class, the E-500 holds a slight ergonomic edge over the popular EOS 350D. The button layout on this shooter, as compared with its predecessor the E-300, is logical and well-thought out. Its four-directional buttons double as dedicated keys for white balance, autofocus, ISO and metering,a well designed digital camera battery.

Shooting options on the E-500 are numerous and varied. This dSLR offers a breathtaking total of 15 scene modes typically available on point-and-shoots, along with four advanced shooting setting. Canon's EOS 350D and Nikon's D50 pale in comparison with only six scene modes to match. Other features on the E-500 include a new 49-division light-metering senso, rechargeable BLM-1 battery.

You can continue shooting without flash at about 0.5-second intervals in both JPEG SHQ and RAW formats. With flash, timings obtained were approximately doubled. We measured the file-write time for the E-500 on our ultra-high-speed 1GB CompactFlash card to be around 4.2 seconds when shooting in RAW and one second faster in JPEG SHQ. With a maximum resolution of 3264x2448 pixels, images can be saved as RAW, TIFF or JPEG in three quality settings, with compression levels ranging from 1/2.7 to 1/12.

The E-500's 1,500mAh Lithium-ion Olympus BLM-1 battery pack performed reasonably well in our tests. We managed to capture over 300 frames on a single charge with plenty of card formatting, picture review and use of LCD to check camera status etc. The E-500 has a built in "Supersonic Wave Filter" sensor cleaner that runs each time you turn on the camera (it vibrates 35,000 times per second to shake off dust)

The E-500 should secure Olympus a place on the lucrative consumer D-SLR shelf alongside the Nikon D50, Canon EOS 350D and Pentax *ist DL. It is a very well designed digital camera battery, combining excellent picture quality, outstanding performance and lots of creative versatility. The E-500 has so many features that it will take the real enthusiast some time to figure them all out, whereas relative beginners can simply leave the camera in Auto and get great results every time. We believe that this camera might well put Olympus back in the top three of camera manufacturers where they belong.

dell latitude d600 laptop review

2008-05-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

As with all its notebook lines, Dell has recently re-vamped the corporate Latitude range, giving these laptops a smarter look as well as the latest Intel mobile technology.

The Latitude D series is the top of the range, with the dell D600 laptop (capitable with dell latitude d600 battery )positioned by Dell as offering a balance between mobility and performance. The new range use Dell's Tri-Metal chassis design using aluminum, magnesium alloy and steel, to make the latest Latitudes lighter and thinner than previous models. Measuring 31.5cm x 25.6cm x 3.1cm and weighing in at 2.12kg, it also achieves its mobility goal.

If legacy connections and long battery life are what you need in a business laptop, the Dell Latitude D600 (original battery code:dell 6y270)delivers. The slim Wi-Fi-ready unit weighs 5.4 pounds and has parallel and serial connections for old office peripherals. For typists, the D600 provides both a low-profile pointing stick in the center of the keyboard and the more popular touchpad. The two sets of mouse buttons cater to polar-opposite tastes: The pointing stick's buttons are squishy and deep-depressing, while the touchpad's buttons are extremely stiff. In our battery tests, the D600 lasted just over 4 hours, about an hour longer than the average laptop.

If the old Latitude C600 was the comfort food of corporate computing, then the new Latitude D600 series would be the dessert. The silver D600 is a smaller, sleeker version of the gray C600, measuring 1.2 by 12.4 by 10.1 inches and weighing an easy-to-tote 5.3 pounds. It still includes an internal swappable bay that houses a second battery or one of various drives: CD, DVD, CD-RW, DVD/CD-RW, floppy, or a second 40GB hard drive.

Like the C600, the Latitude D600 series includes both a pointing stick in the middle of the spacious, comfortable keyboard and a touchpad centered in the wrist rest. There are four mouse buttons: two below the spacebar (you're supposed to use these with the pointing stick) and two below the touchpad. Three handy buttons for volume--Up, Down, and Mute--are located in the upper-left corner above the keyboard.

If you'd rather rely on an external keyboard and mouse, Dell's new D/View monitor stand ($69) and port replicator ($199) make it easy to connect them. And in a unique twist, the monitor stand lets you use the notebook's screen as your main monitor, though setting it up takes some getting used to. First, attach the notebook to the monitor stand, place that on the port replicator, then lift up the back of the port replicator (there's a hinge in front). Open your dell latitude d600 (dell latitude d600 battery )notebook and slide the system up or down until the display reaches eye level. Next, connect an external keyboard and mouse, and voilà--you have a desktop-PC-like setup. The two downsides to this setup: you might tire of looking at the laptop's keyboard propped up in front of you, and you might find the whole setup difficult to use.

The reviewed D600 came with the standard 30GB hard drive but bigger options are available - 40GB (add £40 + VAT) and 60GB (add £110 + VAT) - while sitting in the single modular bay was a 24x/10x/24x CD-RW drive. This modular bay can house a number of different drives, but if you are upgrading from a previous Latitude model, you have to buy new modular drives as your old ones won't fit the new D series.

The D600 is a bit disappointing on one front: speed. Not an aggressive performer for a 2-GHz/600-MHz Pentium M 755-equipped laptop, it earned a WorldBench 5 score of 81 in our tests, compared with a score of 89 earned by a similarly equipped Acer TravelMate 8000. The difference, however, should not be overly apparent when using mainstream applications.

The D600's documentation is not very convenient to access. We did not receive a complete printed users' manual, and electronic information is scattered throughout the Windows Help and Support Center. However, the answers are there if you don't mind searching.

Dell latitude d600 battery (aslo compatible with Dell latitude d610 battery) detail,To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark2002. MobileMark measures both application performance and battery life concurrently using a number of popular applications (Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Netscape Communicator 6.0, WinZip Computing WinZip 8.0, McAfee VirusScan 5.13, Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1, and Macromedia Flash 5.0).

You will like this dell latitude d600 latpop battery like your digital camera batteries

Dell inspiron 6000 laptop review

2008-05-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

Today is fine day,so i want to buy a laptop pack for my son.And a few days ago i have gleaned many information about it.

Dell inspiron 6000 review

I considered several systems for this purchase.The first was the dell 310-6321 laptop pack (dell 310 6321 battery). By far that was the system I recommended as I like dell inspiron series. However, the price tag was too much for my son to want to pay. The second option was a couple of inexpensive Acer Travelmate systems featuring both Centrino and Turion 64 systems. Although the Acer's were nice and the pricing was right, the quality of Acer products has never impressed my family and nobody really likes the curved keyboard. A few other options were the Asus Z80k, Asus Z71. I personally really like both Asus and Sony. But both Asus systems were declined because of the types of retailers offering the systems at competitive prices and their unfamiliarity to us. The Sony system was also turned down due to price after taking into account the amount of money to get the system up to 512 MB of ram and due to the 725 Pentium M.

After looking over all of the above models, we finally settled on the dell 6000 laptop,and i have a dell inspiron 6000 battery. Initially this was my last choice, although it had always been an option. As a current XPS2 owner who ordered through an Employee Purchase Program (EPP) just like my parents were about to do, I can say I'm still a little bitter about that massive $600-saving 35% off discount coupon that randomly appeared shortly after my purchase. One of the nice things about purchasing an inexpensive 6000D is that even when Dell does run better or worse promotions the amount of money that could be saved or lost is close enough that it's not going to make you mad in most cases.

Dell Inspiron 6000 D Specs:

1.6 GHz Intel Pentium M 730 (Sonoma), 533MHz FSB and PCIe x16 chipset

15.4 inch WSXGA+ LCD Panel (Samsung)

512 MB DDR2 400 MHz ram

60 GB Ultra ATA Fujitsu 4200rpm hard drive

64 MB ATi Mobility Radeon X300

Microsoft Windows XP Home

24x CD-RW/DVD (Sony)

Intel 2200 b/g internal wireless card

6-cell lithium ion battery

4 USB ports

1 IEEE 1394 FireWire port

Secure Digital I/O card slot

1 PCMCIA card slot

2 front facing speakers

VGA output

Optional S-Video and composite video out with adaptor cable

Audio-out (headphones) and Mic-in

Integrated 10/100 network Ethernet card

Internal 56k modem

4 year on-site service warranty

Maybe i need one more dell inspiron 6000 battery.

Why buy Dell?

Unlike the Fujitsu, Sony, Acer, HP, and other models under consideration Dell provides the best balance of cost, performance, and quality in my eyes. Like I've said before, I absolutely hate their ugly plain grey laptops, but these new restyled Inspiron systems are very pleasing to both look at and use. I've also been very happy with nearly every aspect of my XPS2 system.

If you're a college student or someone looking to get a laptop for college it's important to read this paragraph. One of the biggest reasons for my brother to buy a Dell is because of all the agreements they have with his college and the fact that there is a service depot right on campus! If you're a college student you can't ask for any better than that. Also, when it comes to warranty plans Dell has the best offers through their Educational/Employee Purchase Program (EPP), especially on a 4 year plan. It's far more affordable than any other competitor under consideration and the on-site service with the warranty is great. I've spoken highly of Sony's service before, but not even their 5 day motherboard battery terminal repair on my GRZ630 can compete with a technician fixing a system onsite so you're not without your computer for a while. Another plus is that it's not exactly easy to deal with UPS depending on where you're living at college (dorm, apartment, etc.). Onsite makes things much easier, and for the cost through EPP it's highly reasonable.

If you do not want a warranty or are not going to use this system for college, it is a good idea to catch one of those big coupon deals that come out through the Dell Home section. I'm not particularly fond of warranties myself, but during college it's a big deal to have a constantly functioning system for me so I have no choice. Another important option is to check with your credit card company to see if they extend the warranty coverage of products you buy. This is becoming more and more common with credit cards and is a good way of avoiding paying a premium for extended warranty coverage when it's not a high concern.

Where to buy?

You can only buy new and factory refurbished Dell systems from Dell.com. You can buy dell inspiron 6000 battery from online shop. Your college or employer should have a special member ID and link to get you access to EPP if you wish to buy from there. If you want a used system you can use the Dell outlet, EBay, or check local ads and college campuses to see if there are advertisements of systems for sale. I sold my GRZ630 very quickly by just using flyers at my college campus. It is not advisable to buy new Dell systems from EBay because they're normally scams or you'll end up paying more to buy there.

And my camera need a new digital camera battery, i will buy one.Ok, my family and i will have items that we want.

Dell Latitude C640 Reivew

2008-05-15T19:42:00.000-07:00

Dell's Latitude C640 series has long been one of our favorite thin-and-light corporate notebooks, thanks to its smart design, long battery life, speed, and terrific tech support, not to mention its thrifty accessories, which work across the entire Latitude line. We're not alone. According to Dell, the Latitude C600 line is the company's best-selling notebook line ever. The latest update to the line promises more of the same, including faster P4-M processors, ATI Mobility Radeon 7500 graphics chips, and--new to the thin-and-light category--blazing 5,400rpm hard drives, all in the customary great, slim case. Even though the C640's ValueWatch rating is only average, businesses looking for thin-and-light notebooks won't find a better combination of speed, battery(compatible Dell 6000 battery) life, features, and support.

The good: Fast; long battery life(Dell inspiron 6000 battery); reasonable price; excellent warranty; has modular devices that are compatible with other Latitudes.

The bad: Ho-hum looks; only one USB port; high-end models are expensive.

The bottom line: The Dell Latitude C640 thin-and-light notebook offers an unbeatable combination of speed and features.

General

Width: 12.5 in

Depth: 9.9 in

Height: 1.4 in

Weight: 5.4 lbs

Color: Black

Notebook type: Thin-and-light (4-6 lbs.)

Processor

Processor: Intel Pentium 4-M 2.0 GHz

RAM

Installed Size: 256 MB / 1024 MB (max)

Technology: DDR SDRAM

Storage Controller

Storage controller type: EIDE

Storage

Floppy Drive: 3.5" HD

Hard Drive: 30 GB

Hard drive type: Standard

Optical Storage

Type: CD-RW / DVD-ROM

CD / DVD write speed: 24 x

CD / DVD rewrite speed: 10 x

Display

Display Type: 14.1 in TFT active matrix

Max Resolution: 1024 x 768

Color Support: 24-bit (16.7M colors)

Input Device(s)

Input device type: Pointing stick

Telecom

Modem: Fax / modem

Max transfer rate: 56 Kbps

Protocols & Specifications: ITU V.92

Networking

Data link protocol: Fast Ethernet

Battery(Dell 75uyf 851UY 5081P)

Installed Qty: 1 (max)

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & support type: 3 years warranty

Service & Support Details: Parts and labor - 3 years

Operating System / Software

OS Provided: Microsoft Windows Server 2000

Software: Microsoft Office Small Business with Adobe Acrobat 5.0

The thin-and-light category is the sweet spot of the notebook world: a great mix of features, speed, portability, battery life, and price. The Latitude C640 series is a brilliant example of why that's so. It's larger than the ultralight Dell Latitude C400 but not as big and heavy as the desktop-replacement Latitude C800 series. But the Latitude C640 still has enough drive options for business users and won't strain your shoulder when you tote it.

Dell 1691P battery Care

please take care of your laptop battery like your digital camera batteries

Please read the precautions listed below

Do not modify or disassemble battery.

Do not incinerate or expose dell latitude c600 battery to excessive heat, which may result in an exposure.

Do not expose battery to water or other moist/wet substances.

Avoid piercing, hitting, crushing or any abuse use of the battery.

Do not forget to take away your battery from the device if you will not use it for a long time.

Avoid short circuit of the terminals by keeping your battery pack away from metal objects such as necklaces or hairpins.

dell inspiron 9300 notebook

2008-05-14T19:02:00.000-07:00

dell inspiron 9300 notebook

By batteryinfo

Packing just about everything you'd want in a desktop-replacement laptop, the Dell Inspiron 9300 has an expansive 17-inch wide-aspect display, plenty of handy connections and drives, and a bevy of top-notch components, including Nvidia's robust GeForce Go 6800 graphics chip. Delivering nominally lower productivity performance than the prior Dell Inspiron 9300 battery model, the Inspiron 9300 provides a slightly improved gaming performance and a number of refinements, including Microsoft XP Media Center 2005, an optional TV tuner, and two additional USB 2.0 ports, for a total of six. It's not cheap--our loaded configuration costs $2,858--but we recommend it to home and business users who want power and features in a relatively portable rig.

The body of the Dell Inspiron 9300 battery is crafted out of sturdy and stylish magnesium alloy and measures 15.5 inches wide, 11.3 inches deep, and 1.6 inches thick; it has an attractive silver hue with white trim. At 8.2 pounds, the Inspiron 9300 is on the lighter side of robust desktop replacements, weighing more than a pound less than the HP Pavilion zd8000. Still, it's far too heavy for regular travel. With such a big case, the Inspiron 9300 can afford to include a big keyboard, though it lacks a separate number pad, which the HP Pavilion zd8000 has. The mouse buttons are downright huge, and the touch pad is adequately sized. The latter features arrows running along its right and bottom edges, outlining where to place your finger when using the software-enhanced pad to scroll through documents or Web pages. The Inspiron 9300's two speakers and internal subwoofer deliver crisp and rich sound, unlike the weak, flat strains that trickle out of most laptops. Better yet, because the speakers sit in the corners of the laptop's front edge, your hands won't muffle them while you're typing. Sandwiched between the speakers, a row of seven buttons lets you control disc playback and adjust or mute the volume. The buttons are handy, but we wish they let us play discs without booting up the system--a feature standard on other laptops. Though the Inspiron 9300 runs Media Center, the bundled TV-tuner box is rather bulky and probably too big to bring on the road.

Our test unit had a bright, vast 17-inch wide-screen display with a WUXGA 1,900x1,200 native resolution. It made newer games such as Half-Life 2 really shine, and we thoroughly enjoyed watching a DVD movie. We must note, however, that the antiglare coating on the Inspiron 9300's WUXGA screen creates a somewhat sparkly effect that's most noticeable against white backgrounds; we've heard from a number of irate users who have found this intolerable, so beware.

There's no dearth of ports, jacks, or slots: the Dell Inspiron 9300 offers FireWire, S-Video-out, VGA, and six USB 2.0 ports; 56Kbps modem, Ethernet, headphone, and microphone jacks; one each of Type II PC Card and Secure Digital slots; and a swank DVI port, should you want to connect the laptop to an even bigger digital LCD. Last, but definitely not least, the Dell Inspiron 9300 battery includes a cutting-edge multiformat, double-layer DVD drive, which is fixed and cannot be swapped out for another drive.

Like all of Dell's laptops, the Inspiron 9300 is extremely configurable; our Inspiron 9300 series review includes more details about the available components. At $2,858 (as of May 2005), the configuration CNET tested was quite expensive. Our test model had a blazing Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 graphics chip with an ample 256MB of dedicated video RAM; a power-saving 2.0GHz Pentium M processor; 1GB of speedy 533MHz system memory; a moderately fast 5,400rpm 80GB hard drive; and a giant 17-inch wide-screen display. Our Inspiron 9300 test unit flew through CNET Labs' benchmarks, so if you're low on dough, consider getting a unit with a slower, less expensive processor and less memory; if you're looking for a significantly less expensive, lower-octane desktop replacement, check out the Toshiba Satellite P35-S611.

Our test model featured a 2.0GHz Pentium M 760 CPU with a 2MB L2 cache--an extremely robust mobile rig which outscored many comparably clocked systems we've tested. It held its own in 2D application performance and edged out other powerful laptops on our latest 3D graphics tests; the Inspiron 9300 will undoubtedly deliver strong performance for office and content-creation apps. The Inspiron 9300 even bested the mighty Voodoo Envy m760 on our Half-Life 2 gaming benchmark, revving up to a speedy 64.60 frames per second, though it proved no match for our top gaming machine, the Dell XPS Gen 2. The Inspiron 9300's performance is more proof that a fast Pentium M coupled with Nvidia's latest and greatest graphics solution is a worthy competitor to a heavier, more unwieldy Pentium 4-based machine.

The Inspiron 9300 delivers exceptional design, features, and performance, but its warranty maintains the status quo. Dell backs the Inspiron 9300 with an industry-standard one-year warranty on parts and labor, available by mailing your laptop back to Dell; upgrading to three years of warranty protection costs $269. Toll-free telephone support also lasts for just a year. However, Dell offers a long list of warranty-extension options, including onsite repair, night and weekend service, and accidental-damage coverage, for up to $389. Since you'll be shelling out a pretty penny to get the Inspiron 9300, protecting your investment with at least a two-year warranty is a good idea. The best part of Dell's support Web site is the customer forum, where users can go to get help from other Inspiron owners and Dell reps who moderate the discussions. Otherwise, the site offers the typical knowledge base and downloads sections.

Power of Dell Inspiron 9300

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HP Pavilion DV1000 Review

2008-05-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

HP has dabbled with blue status lights before--check out the HP Pavilion zt3000--and the HP Pavilion dv1000's blue lights illuminate an entire row of handy buttons nestled above the comfortably large keyboard. In addition to the requisite power and volume controls, the Pavilion dv1000's DVD and CD(the same wiht the hp Pavilion dv4000) quick-play buttons let you play DVDs, CDs, or MP3s stored to your hard drive without booting up. To the lower right of the keyboard are menu control keys and tiny Back/OK buttons for navigating through DVD menus; additional playback controls run along the top of the keyboard. When couch-bound, you can use the included full-featured remote control, which HP has ingeniously stashed inside the system's single Type II PC Card slot--a handy storage spot (when not filled with another card).

The HP Pavilion dv1000 heaps on a generous helping of ports and slots. The left edge offers ports for 56Kbps modem, Ethernet, VGA, docking, and one USB 2.0 connection. In keeping with its consumer bent, the Pavilion dv1000 ships with Windows XP Home. HP's Quick Play application is the real star in the system's software lineup, however, allowing you watch DVDs or play music without booting up the operating system. Otherwise, the Pavilion dv1000 ships with a decent lot of software: a few Microsoft offerings, including Works, Money 2004, and Encarta Plus, as well as Sonic's RecordNow for burning CDs and InterVideo's WinDVD for watching DVDs when the system is booted up.

HP Pavilion DV1000 Battery life (Longer bars indicate longer battery life)
BAPCo MobileMark 2002 battery life in minutes

HP Pavilion dv1000 Battery 246
Sony VAIO VGN-A190 Battery 163
Dell Inspiron 700m Battery 143

Battery life analysis written by CNET Labs assistant lab manager Eric Franklin. To measure mobile application performance and battery life, CNET Labs uses BAPCo's MobileMark 2002. MobileMark measures both application performance and battery life concurrently using a number of popular applications (Microsoft Word 2002, Microsoft Excel 2002, Microsoft PowerPoint 2002, Microsoft Outlook 2002, Netscape Communicator 6.0, WinZip Computing WinZip 8.0, McAfee VirusScan 5.13, Adobe Photoshop 6.0.1, and Macromedia Flash 5.0).

The HP Pavilion DV1000 specs were as follows:

1.8ghz M Processor
512mb ram (512x1)
WinXP Pro
80gb 5400rpm HD
CDRW/DVD-ROM combo drive
Brightview Option
Intel 2200 b/g wireless w Bluetooth
6 cel battery
Remote Control
2 pair earbuds

Display and Graphics. The HP DV1000 with the "Brightview" option which is supposed to enhance color and contrast. This coating does indeed make the screen quite reflective, but it's not so bad in most viewing situations. I have read enough user reports on Brightview to convince me it does indeed increase color and contrast enough to justify the added glare. At first glance, the lcd appeared to very nice contrast and color. However, the screen turned into one of its weakest aspects. Once I started examining DVD movies and photographic images I found that the DV1000 exhibits some very annoying viewing angle behavior. When viewing such content, the lcd suffers from the dreaded "inverse color" effect in dark areas at VERY narrow angles.

The DV1000 has excellent speakers when compared to most notebooks on the market. It sports Harman Kardons, which are mounted slight upward angle that does indeed improve delivery of sound. Also, the unit has two headphone jacks which could prove quite handy when traveling with a companion.

Canon PowerShot A10 Camcorder review

2008-05-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

The PowerShot A10/A20 (bp-711)twins (list price $499/$599) were introduced, there was no doubt in my mind what cameras they were going after: the Olympus D-400/500 series, as well as the Fuji FinePix 1400/2400.

All designed and engineered to live up to Canon's high standards. On the high end, the PowerShot Pro90 IS incorporates a 3.34-megapixel CCD; 10X optical zoom lens with image stabilization; CompactFlash I and II compatibility, plus IBM's high-capacity MicroDrives; and no less than 12 (!) EOS-based shooting modes, including several manual options. Just weeks after the Pro90 IS, Canon introduced its second ultra-compact and ultra-cool digicam, the 2.1-megapixel PowerShot S300 Digital ELPH -- successor to the S100, but with a new retractable 3x zoom lens. Its OEM battery code : Canon BP-711

1.32-megapixel CCD delivering image resolutions as high as 1,280 x 960 pixels.
1.5-inch, color LCD monitor and real-image optical viewfinder.
3x, 5.4-16.2mm lens (equivalent to a 35-105mm lens on a 35mm camera) with a maximum aperture setting of f/2.8-f/4.8 depending on zoom.
2x digital zoom.
Automatic exposure control.
Shutter speeds from 1/1,500 to one second, with noise reduction for speeds slower than 1/6 second.
ISO equivalent to 100 (raised to ISO 150 in low light).
Built-in flash with five operating modes.
Manually adjustable White Balance setting with five settings.
Continuous Shooting, Stitch-Assist (panorama), and Self-Timer modes.
Images saved in JPEG format to CompactFlash (Type I) memory card, 8MB card included.
USB cable for quick connection to a computer.
Included software CD with Canon's Digital Camera Solution Disk (version 4.0) for Mac and PC.
Powered by four AA batteries or AC adapter (available separately).

DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compliant.
Li-ion rechargeable Battery Canon bp-711 .

The A10 and A20 share the same 3X optical zoom lens. The focal range of this F2.8 lens is 5.4 - 16.2 mm, which is equivalent to 35 - 105mm. While the lens itself isn't threaded, you remove a plastic ring around it to expose the threads to which you can attach the conversion adapter and other lenses.

One of the differences between the models is digital zoom: the A10 has 2X, the A20 2.5X.

A new digital signal processing IC in the PowerShot A10 (Canon BP-711) camera enables high-speed image processing and rapid data transfer through the cameras' USB interface. The PowerShot A10 takes advantage of this feature by offering a Direct Print mode that enables users to print hard-copy images using Canon's new CP-10 printer. Laptop AC Adapter.

The camera takes just over two seconds to extend the lens and prepare for shooting -- that's fast!Both cameras fared well in our macro test, with the A20's output being a little brighter than the A10 (both were shot at the same time). You can get as close as 16 cm (6.3") in wide-angle, and 26 cm (10.2") in telephoto modes on these two.The A10/A20 can move between high-res photos almost instantly on the LCD -- it's impressive.

Dell Inspiron 8600 Review

2008-04-06T18:22:00.001-07:00

Dell Inspiron 8600 Review

The beginning of the line, not upper part Weight Class

We are ready to work FutureMark 3DMark03 test - including all four games simulations, including DirectX 9 capabilities - and now we are seeing Codecreatures DirectX 8.1 works on the picturesque base in 1920 with the 1200 resolution 4X antialiasing enabled. This is not the fastest PC gaming performance we have ever seen, but we are looking at the 7.3 pound notebook.

In the Dell Inspiron 8600, introduced today is a direct supplier of the new desktop-replacement leader, and Dell offers several vendors a chance to showcase their latest and most Yes. In particular, he replaces the Pentium 4 - M processor found in seemingly identical Inspiron 8500 with Intel's power-saving 1.7GHz Pentium M, and offers in the Nvidia GeForce FX Go5650 AGP 4X graphics card with 128 MB of DDR RAM.

Add 512 MB of system memory DDR333, and the Hitachi 60GB Travelstar 7K60 hard disk with 8MB buffer, and 7200 rpm-speed, and Philips DVD + RW drive that can be replaced for a second battery or floppy drive, and you have one serious laptop.

(9/2/03 update: Although our early tests loaner is the production, rather than prototype block, a few readers who e-mail that Dell order pages list only on-4200. rpm hard drives for the Inspiron 8600, with 7200 rpm-Hitachi disk available. we contacted Dell, and reported 7K60 is new and not enough, but they can be ordered by phone, and that the Web site will be updated as supplies are becoming increasingly rich - Ed. )

And oh yes, in 1920, of resolution 1200, we mentioned. Here is a rating of the three options for Inspiron Given the wide-aspect ratio (16:10), 15.4 - inch-diagonal display; Dell calls the super-luxury screen UltraSharp WUXGA, with WSXGA + (1680 to 1050) and WXGA (1280 to 800 ) models are also available.

The wide format makes the Inspiron 8600 at the grave of the little things in the briefcase, but sensational letterboxed-DVD-look showpiece. This investment at $ 2820 (2570) 8600 a stellar example of a desktop replacement that in a pound or two lighter and better battery life than most of their competitors.

It is easier than it looks
In Inspiron measures 10.8 to 14.1 at 1.5 inches, which certainly cumbersome, but its 7.3 pound more comfortable in your lap than many of the 9 - plus-pound leviathans now call themselves lap. (The AC adapter little pieces of 1.1 pounds.)

Beautiful blue accents surround the silver-grey system, keyboard, which is both a pen and IBM ThinkPad-style keyboard with the mouse stick alternatives. Both work smoothly, even though the two mouse buttons for the pointing stick feel a bit soft, but when the stylus feel trifle difficult.

Along with the right edge of the keyboard, when some notebooks stack their start, end, PgUp and PgDn keys, Dell offers a convenient play / pause, stop, previous / next track buttons for CD and DVD use, and turn off the volume buttons above the function keys. Fortunately, the keyboard allows the Home, End, PgUp and PgDn keys, in addition to the cursor arrows, though their placement in the top right is a little used to produce (we found a knife in the upper right-hand corner for the Delete key, which is actually a couple of places inflows ).

Along the left edge of the system, you can find a microphone and headphones connectors, an IEEE 1394 port, and a PC Card slot. Parallel, serial, VGA, S-Video from, 56Kbps modem, 10/100 Ethernet, and two USB 2.0 ports on the back.

In Philips SDVD6004 2X DVD + RW drive, which also serves as an 8X DVD-ROM player and 16/8/24X CD-RW drive on the right - and, we were pleased to note, is not simplified and faster reading of a few of our well - worn baseline CDs than DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drives in the past few computers we tested. Pressing eliminates DVD burners and include an optional floppy drive ($ 59) or battery life by another two-thirds from the second lithium-ion pack ($ 129). In Inspiron 8500 configuration page offers a second, 40 GB hard disk for a modular bay ($ 249), but we do not see it listed in 8600.

Even just a standard battery, battery life is not half bad for such a high-powered computer: either a letter or watch a DVD, we regularly received two hours and 20 minutes unplugged operation, the optical storage and hard disk rather busy, and sticking to the top two of Eight screen brightness levels (the rest is rather dark).

Power of Dell inspiron 8600

Battery type of dell inspiron 8600 :li-ion

Chemistry: Li-ion Volts: 11.1V (Compatible with 10.8V) Capacity: 6600mAh Dimension: 226.90 x 66.80 x 24.40 mm Net Weight: 461g Color: Grey £ 39.21 + (S&H rates)

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Dell Inspiron 8500 review

2008-04-04T18:11:00.000-07:00

Dell Inspiron 8500 review

Product: Dell Inspiron 8500
Price: $ 2,436 direct
Technical Specifications: 2.4 - GHz P4-M, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 40 GB hard disk, DVD / CD-RW drive, 15.4 - inch display, two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire port, 7.1 kg . System weight
Company Information: 800-388-8542, www.dell.com

The best feature on a Dell Inspiron 8500 is a UXGA, 1900 - from 1200 resolution wide-screen display, and in the second only 3:32 batteries, and that the Pentium M - food Toshiba Satellite Pro M10-S405. But while the Dell model has received strong points batteries, it has lost points, not including wireless capabilities. (Dell expects to have a $ 49 wireless solutions available by the time you read this.)

In 8500, in silver-and-blue case is equipped with conveniently located multimedia control buttons, ports and slots. In the laptop has two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire port, but there is no floppy disk drive, although we doubt many people will miss him. Inclusion at the same time pointing stick and the touch pad allows you to select your favorite navigation method. The speakers' sound quality is fine for a table watching a movie, but like all notebooks we examined, you want to build on external surround-sound speakers for enhanced sound.

In 8500, his knockout screen, multimedia good scores, and impressive battery lifetime, is a universal laptop. In addition to wireless round of the package nicely.

Productivity
Winston Business: 23.2
BatteryMark: 3:32
Wireless type: None

Multimedia
Music: Photo: Video:

Overall, the Dell Inspiron 8500 handles multimedia tasks, ie. The combination of Easy CD Creator 5 for CD burning and MusicMatch Jukebox for ripping the chords, mp3 hard to beat. But even more impressive is the set of images-2000 years, and Microsoft Picture It! Photo 7.0. Video-editing software is limited to entry-level Windows Movie Maker. But limited video editing better than anyone, when you look at their materials 15.4 - inch UXGA screen.

When I bought my 8500 I was so happy with it. And you know that. I still am. I ordered it with 2.4Ghz Intel P-4 M, WUXGA, 1Gb RAM, Win XP Pro, 64MB NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 TM video cards, wireless 802.11 B / G, Bluetooth, the 24X CD read / write DVD-ROM combo drive, drive and the extra battery. (It provides about 3 additional hours, as well as CD / CD / Additional batteries are hot-swappable. "), I am so happy with it. I had no problems what. And if you want to go spilling water on it (see other people's reviews) , for its full withdrawal. I did that protects against water, fire and fall damage. Gets 3-year on-site service in the total care, 24 / 7 technical support by phone. (Free)-Key board is a bit clumsy, but if adopt it, and endanger gaskets that this will be nice and smooth! Overall, a good machine and good technical support. (If you order through your business, you can call to get corporate support and smart-Tech 's), I would recommend a Dell to anyone.

Power of dell inspiron 8500

Chemistry: Li-ion
Volts: 11.1V (Compatible with 10.8V)
Capacity: 6600mAh
Dimension: 226.90 x 66.80 x 24.40 mm
Net Weight: 461g
Color: Grey

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sony vaio vgn-s260 review

2008-03-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

sony vaio vgn-s260 review

Thin and lightweight laptops are increasingly popular among consumers who need a balance between portability and performance. The VAIO VGN-S260 is a thin and lightweight portable Sony adds that fresh design and includes a number of functions on board. The most notable feature is the impressive 13.3-inch LCD WXGA widescreen Sony XBRITE technology for exceptional image quality. His powerful performance combined with a battery of long-term and integrated multimedia features all packaged in a rugged magnesium alloy case, makes the VAIO VGN-S260 a perfect blend of powerful laptop and a lightweight ultraportable. While the S260 is elegant design and performance is very strong, it is still not the perfect laptop. The fan is very noisy and intermittent tour. The drums and rattles touchpad design is less than ideal.

Currently, Sony offers the S series in two models: the VGN-S260 with Windows XP Home Edition and the VGN-S270P with Windows XP Professional, for $ 1899.99 and $ 1949.99 respectively. A high price compared with other thin-and-lights Dell, HP / Compaq, Averatec and sold at about $ 1000 - $ 1400 price range.

sony vaio vgn-s260 battery

Chemistry: Li-ion Volts: 11.10V Capacity: 6600mAh Dimension: 206.55 x 70.70 x 19.60 mm Net Weight: 474.00 g Color: Black
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Acer Aspire 2023WLMi review

2008-03-21T02:24:00.001-07:00

Acer Aspire 2023WLMi review

There is a growing market for multimedia notebooks. This is partly fueled by the popularity of small form factor PCs and Microsoft software, including Windows XP Media Center Edition operating system, and now is being made among manufacturers of laptops in the event. A hybrid mix of desktop replacement, improved battery life, wide screen and decent speakers seem to qualify entry into this new category and the Acer Aspire 2023WLMi fits squarely in this space.

To be fair, the 2023WLMi makes it slightly to break this mold in a couple of positive ways. First, 3 kg is lighter in the end of the scale as far as portable Widescreen go, and second, it comes with "Acer Arcade" a utility that allows the machine to slideshow photos, play music or DVD through its own software menu, avoiding the need to start Windows. None of these aspects is particularly innovative, but they are welcome. The 2023WLMi also comes with Bluetooth built in - one more option for the majority of the 2020 range.

Apart from this, the rest of the 2023WLMi is fairly standard. Based on the Intel Centrino platform at its heart is a 1.6GHz Pentium M CPU with 512MB DDR RAM, 60GB 4200RPM generous hard drive and a 15.4in widescreen. To make up the other part of the rule is a Centrino 802.11b / g wireless network adapter, so you can stay connected in the home, office or on the move.

It also receives a DVD rewriter which can burn DVD-R/RW, DVD + R / RW, and DVD-RAM. Graphics are handled by a 128-MB ATI Radeon 9700 graphics chipset, so you must be able to play his favourite game on the move as well. There are also a large number of connectivity options, with three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire connector, S-Video out, 4-in-1 memory card reader, modem, a network port 10/100 PS / 2 and parallel ports.

So far so good, and the £ 1180.88 you are getting a lot for their money. However, a good laptop is less about the application as it is about the features and, unfortunately, while the 2023WLMi has some very positive aspects, it also offers a good proportion of their disappointments.

A perfect example of this is the 15.4in widescreen, which is clear and crisp, but, personally, I believe that lighting a bit dull and lifeless. While this certainly aid battery life (more about that later), which makes the screen look a little wash. Also, the style is a mixture. Personally, I prefer to have laptops clean lines and adhere to a person of color but the 2023WLMi can not make a decision. Apagados silver on the outside, but with a hinge incongruous black, which are then treated within Dell-like black keys, screen and touchpad border. Apagados pointer silver buttons back to the track 2023WLMi exterior style, but that is placed above the shiny silver reflective front panel which houses the Arcade control buttons. It's all a little inconsistent. Even the typeface used in the Arcade buttons is capitalized while the text on the keyboard is case sensitive.
Battery of Acer Aspire 2023WLMi

Battery Type: Li-ion
Voltage : 14.8V
Capacity : 4000mAh
Color : Black
Dimension : 128.3 X 137 X 20mm
Net Weight : 414.5g

Asus Eee pc battery

2008-03-20T19:22:00.000-07:00

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dell Inspiron 1520 review

2008-03-17T18:43:00.001-07:00

dell Inspiron 1520 review

The update of popular E1505 Dell, the Inspiron 1520 has sparked interest in the notebook. It includes a complete upgrade of design, the new platform Intel Santa Rosa, and the best graphics card Dell has never offered in a notebook of this size. With this notebook, Dell has made a strong entry into the 15 "market performance. The 1520 has tangible benefits compared to other 15" notebooks that only offers the 8400M and resolution 1280x800 like HP dv6500t, and it tends to be cheaper than the same, as notebooks featuring Asus G1S.

As with all Dell computers, price and options for 1520 can vary greatly depending on your area. Here is the specification of the system as reviewed:

Microsatin completed by the spring green
Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (2.0 GHz, 800 MHz FSB, 4 MB cache)
2 GB of RAM to 667 MHz
HD 160 7200 rpm
256MB Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT
8X DVD + /-RW Double Layer Drive
Dell Wireless 1390 Mini Card 802.11g
15.4 "WSXGA + Display with TrueLife
Webcam integrated 2.0 MP
9 Cell Battery
Windows Vista Home Premium
"More DellCare Guarantee (three-year warranty complete with care and some" extras "to 10 GB of online storage)
My final cost was $ 1,640.55. I chose not to include Bluetooth or Bluray internal, but they are offered as an option in most markets. I placed the order on the phone that I found is the best way to ensure a speedy confirmation. Of course, the order confirmation is the only quick and convenient thing dealing with customer support from Dell.

Reasons for Buying

The 1520 is a new direction for me, in laptops. My last two were 12.1 "ultraportables, the 700 and the Dell XPS M1210. Although I prefer the small size in most cases, I am now much less travel and were really feel the need increasingly powerful graphics the game screen when real estate. I have seriously considered the Asus G1S but could not justify the cost. when Dell announced its new inspiration, I was sold immediately. I loved the ability to customize the Exterior and must admit that the choice of color was the hardest decision I had to do. The price was definitely good for me.

First Impressions

The 1520 comes in a very boring brown box in a very boring white Styrofoam shell. The following items were included in the box:

CDs of all the drivers and software installed
Information Product Guide
Contact Dell Guide
Dell Inspiron 1520 Owner's Manual
Creative ear buds
A / C Adapter
The ExpressCard remote mentioned in other reviews is not included by default, you need to ask when you order your system and can be charged for it. The first time I leave the laptop, I was shocked at how vibrant color reality is it brighter and richer than it appears in the images. I was using an M1210 and E1505 and 1520 looks far more important that the E1505 due to the absence of bumper-term deposits to break the outline. The design is really elegant and beautiful-I spent several minutes admiring the outside, even before I powered it up.

dell latitude d830 review

2008-02-28T22:57:00.001-08:00

dell latitude d830 review

This is a review of the Santa Rosa refresh Dell Latitude D830. First, let’s start with a little background of Dell’s Latitude series.

The Latitude series of laptops is part of Dell’s business line. As business machines, they are more focused on reliability, durability and subtlety (whereas the more consumer-oriented Inspirons tout more powerful media-centric features such as a high-end discrete graphics solution, dedicated media keys, more attractive price points, etc.).

Other series in this lineup include the Precision series (high-powered mobile workstations aimed mostly at high-end graphics professionals, particularly those with the need for 3D rendering) and the newly-released economy-class Vostro series, introduced to replace the now long-in-the-tooth business Inspirons. The Latitude sits squarely in the middle of both lines, providing a balance between high performance and price.

The Latitude comes in a wide variety of flavours, but for most people the choice really lies between the 14.1” 630, and the 830 which is the larger, 15.4” model. This model comes in as a desktop replacement, as its weight isn’t suited to lugging all around town.

The configuration I ended up getting was:

2.2GHz Core 2 Duo T7500, 800MHz FSB, 4MB L2 Cache

2GB DDR2-667 SDRAM

120GB 5400rpm SATA HDD

8X DVD±RW Dual Layer drive

15.4” WUXGA screen

256MB NVIDIA Quadro NVS 140M

Touchpad with integrated UPEK Fingerprint Reader

Intel 4965 WLAN (802.11a/g/n)

9-cell battery

Dell Bluetooth 2.0 (EDR)

Windows Vista Ultimate with media

4-Year Next-Business-Day Parts and Labor On-Site Response Gold Warranty

4-Year Accidental Damage Warranty

I also opted for a few accessories:

Logitech VX Revolution Cordless Mouse

Belkin Travel Surge Protector

Extra 90W AC Adapter

Western Digital Passport 120GB Portable Hard Drive

Interlink Electronics Bluetooth Remote Control

My total cost came to around $2,700, inclusive of shipping and taxes. This was a little more than I was prepared to spend, but I’ll go into more detail later on.

Reasons for Buying:

The reason I needed NEEDED to buy a new laptop was because my last Windows PC, the Compaq Presario X1000, was in serious need for repair. The hinges and power button action were cracked badly, the hard drive was heating up obscenely and the battery held a charge just longer than it took to hard boil an egg. I was, however, impressed with the high quality of the screen, in particular the high WSXGA+ resolution and the computer’s overall performance. I still had the MacBook Pro, but I wasn’t willing to sacrifice both performance and precious hard drive space on running two operating systems and maintaining project and work files for both OS’ on that same tiny hard drive. I work in advertising and events, and my primary use for the system would be Office 2007 Professional, especially Excel (for my cost estimates and budget controls), Project (for project management, especially critical when running multiple promotions and events at the same time) and PowerPoint (for presentations to clients). As I tend to take on other roles when needed, my computer had to be capable of handling Adobe CS3 (for rendering stage designs, advertising collaterals and other items), Premiere (for Audio-Visual Presentations)

I knew then that I would settle for no less than a 15.4” widescreen laptop with at least WSXGA+ or better resolution – preferring to move up to WUXGA. The system also had to be powerful enough to handle the load of specific software I needed to do my job without buckling or slowing down. Finally, my experience with the X1000’s flimsy plastic parts led me to look for a solid and durable, if not rugged build.

I was initially looking at three manufacturers:

Dell (on the primary recommendation of my wife, whose experience with them was top-notch),
Lenovo (First-hand experience with IBM Thinkpads was overall a good experience, not to mention the generally high reputation they enjoy with many people), and
HP (due to the overall aesthetic appeal and excellent after-sales service here in the Philippines.
On top of these three, I was also reviewing Asus’ latest laptops - in particular the G1. I wasn’t too sold on the look and feel of the current Toshibas, and I certainly didn’t like the “cheap” feeling I got with Acers.

The refresh came just in time for my purchase, actually. I was originally planning to get the Inspiron E1505 based on a recommendation from a friend, who has been a Dell user for a few years. Being from The Philippines (where Dell is neither a prevalent brand nor one with real significant retail market share), it was difficult for me to find and units to personally inspect. Ordinarily I would not have qualms with ordering a notebook I had never seen before, but I was getting worried with reviews of the E1505 being a bit on the chunky side. Thankfully, I found a reseller, CoolToyz, about an hour and a half from my house that would CTO various laptops and resell them in-store. When I found their website, I decided to drop by the store to check out the wide variety of laptops they had on sale. I was honestly not that impressed with the look and feel of the E1505, as it was bulky, felt a bit flimsy (especially the lid) and those white bumpers really rubbed me the wrong way. I had not considered the Latitude until I saw the D820 there, and I definitely liked its look and feel a lot more than the Inspiron, in spite of its subdued, very business-y appearance. Plus it felt like a tank (at least, compared to the 1505). With that experience, I decided the Dell laptop for me would be the Latitude series, in 15.4”.

Another unit they had in the store was the Lenovo Thinkpad Z61t. Now I loved the look and feel of this machine – almost enough to make me switch to the smaller screen size - but its relatively low resolution, lack of discrete graphics and ridiculously tiny touchpad turned me off. It was only when I read of the m and p variations did I start to take this series seriously.

Finally, there were the HP Pavillions in 15.4” and 17” models. Unfortunately, while I like the new look and styles of HP’s entire line of notebooks, their popularity made me reconsider. What good is a stylish notebook (assuming you buy it for that) if everyone and their grade school math teacher’s dog’s got it? Plus the lack of anything higher than WXGA+ on the majority of their notebooks made me scratch them off my list completely.

So that left me with only the Latitude and the Z61 Thinkpads to choose from.

Anyway, I was happy to hear that my cousin would be coming here for vacation in July – which gave me about two months to make up my mind and purchase the thing, taking building and shipping times into account.

And so began my obsessive quest to build my ideal workhorse. After fooling around with Dell’s online configurator for about three weeks, I was glad to hear that the D830’s would be given a Santa Rosa refresh – important to me as I wanted the improved battery life, and I wanted to future-proof it for at least three to four more years. Still, however, I held off on buying since there were still no options for discrete graphics. Finally, on the 15th of June, the new Latitudes received the nVidiaQuadros – in particular, the D830 got the NVS140m. I immediately picked up the phone and made an international phone call to place my order. Since I already knew exactly what I wanted, the call took all of twenty minutes. The CSR gave me multiple upgrades without my asking, such as the hard drive (I had asked for a 100GB), the Bluetooth card and the warranties (I had asked for 3-year business, he upgraded me to 4-year NBD with international coverage and Accidental Damage). All in all, it came to around 800 dollars more than I was willing to spend, but for the value I was getting (considering the relatively high price of components and accessories here in the Philippines) it was worth it. I also figured I was saving on international shipping so that gave me a bit more leeway.

I also told him that I was worried about the lead times on building and shipping as my cousin was set to leave in less than two weeks. He said he would try to expedite my case but could not promise anything. Amazingly, the accessories package arrived the following Tuesday, and the laptop package itself arrived two days later. Wow! All in under a week. That really blew me away.

Unfortunately, there was an error in the confirmation e-mail I received. The CSR had mistakenly added a Kensington Notebook Lock in my accessories order, and omitted the Interlink Electronics Bluetooth Expresscard Remote. I’ll address these issues later, under Customer Support.

Other than that, everything arrived as expected and in excellent time and quality. All I had to do now, was wait for my cousin to arrive... one week and counting...

Build & Design:

My wife and I picked up them up at the airport past midnight, and I could barely contain my excitement. We dropped them off at their house, and they came over the following morning. My package had finally arrived. Boy, was I giddy.

The first thing I did was open up the accessories package. Everything was there, as expected, including the notebook lock. In hindsight, I am glad for the mistake. I realize that there will be times I will have to leave my notebook attached to some projector or video system during an event, and the lock will only help me feel a bit more secure. But I digress.

Finally, after much personal and spiritual ceremony, I opened the laptop package. After wading through the two booklets, the 4 media (Vista Ultimate, Drivers and Diagnostics, McAfee Antivirus and Roxio Creator), and the two AC Adapters, I finally made it through to the laptop.

I was impressed with the weight build and feel of this computer – it just feels so much better when you hold it and you knowit’s yours. The body is constructed from a very sturdy magnesium alloy that is absolutely a wonder to hold. Bear in mind, however, that the LCD bezel and the frame of the keyboard area (the black border housing the speakers and keyboard) is plastic, and not magnesium. I’m not sure why they didn’t just construct the entire chassis in the alloy as I think it would have given a better feel to the whole thing. However, it feels very solid, and you get the immediate feeling that this baby is gonna last you a long while. I can attest to the fact that there is absolutely NO flex in the top casing, except when you grab both ends and twist it left and right. But even then, the flex did not affect the screen whatsoever. No ripples here, anywhere. The hinge action is superb, and I can easily open and close the system with one hand – the base does not lift when opening it.

It is, however, HEAVY. I thought I had grown used to the weight of my X1000, and thought I wouldn’t really get a heavier notebook unless I would move up to a 17”. But overall, the weight has not been that much of a problem for me since I’m already used to lugging close to 15 pounds of office stuff in my backpack.

Unfortunately, the build is not without its minor faults. First of all, there is a tiny gap between the lid and the base when the laptop is closed, giving about a millimetre and a half of wiggle when pressing the two together. Not too big a deal, except it spoiled what would have been an otherwise near-perfect build.

Keyboard Overview

Sleep (Fn) - Puts the OS to sleep.
Battery Meter (Fn) - Launches the Battery Meter, so you can check on the charge status and health of your batter(ies)
LCD Fill Aspect (Fn) - Switches between widescreen (16:9) and standard aspect (4:3) ratio displays.
CRT / LCD Toggle (Fn) - Cycles between LCD only, external only and simultaneous video displays.
Speakers - Stereo speakers. They’re pretty loud, too, for the most part.
Trackpoint and Buttons - For those who just can’t live without their beloved Thinkpad analogues, the trackpoint is here for you. Personally, I don’t use it that much due to its finicky sensitivity, especially the push-to-click option. This can be disabled, however.
Touchpad and Buttons - As with most laptops, nothing new to say here.
Biometric Scanner (Fingerprint Reader) - Used to log in various credentials for BIOS, OS and website access with a mere swipe of a finger. The built in TPM system allows up to 21 unique prints to be saved. So, that’s your ten fingers, your ten toes... and I don’t know... your nose, I guess. In practice, I found it to be a major boon for logging into Windows. Also, on occasion swiping my finger wouldn’t work. It would accept the data, and then I’d get an error message, stating that “there are no fingerprints enrolled for this user.” When I manually type my user name and swipe my finger again, however, it works just fine.
But my experience with the Vault and actually successfully using it to log in to websites has been mixed. With the former, I simply can’t get it to work properly. With the latter, it would work...sometimes. The dialog box would pop up only sporadically whenever I surfed to web pages with login screens. And, strangely enough, after I formatted and reinstalled Windows, the Private Information Manager (that’s the name of the program) would only work on Internet Explorer. How VERY strange. I’ve consulted with three Gold techs on this issue and none of them have been able to solve it yet. I certainly don’t want to have to format and reinstall my OS once AGAIN just to solve this problem.

One thing I forgot to mark in the photo is the built-in microphone. It’s that tiny little hole immediately to the left of the right screen hinge, above the Num Lock and Pause keys.

Status Lights

Power Status Light - Turns on when computer is on
Hard Drive Status Light - Blinks when data is being read from or written to the hard drive
Battery Status Light - Turns on steadily to indicate battery status, whether low or charging
Wireless Status Light - Turns on when Wi-Fi is enabled (see Wi-Fi Catcher)
Bluetooth Status Light - Turns on when Bluetooth is enabled (see Wi-Fi Catcher)
One key feature I wish this notebook had was a media card reader. I am glad that the generally useless (for me, at least) IR port was removed, but I also would have liked the option to replace the Smart Card reader with an SD/MMC/MS reader. Or, alternatively, use the front edge of the laptop and stick the reader there. Unless I’m unaware of a really good reason why businesses do not want this feature on their laptops.

lenovo thinkpad t61 review

2008-02-28T22:37:00.001-08:00

review of lenovo thinkpad t61

Standard aspect ratio business notebooks are becoming more difficult to purchase these days from different manufacturers, but Lenovo has pulled through for another generation with the ThinkPad T61. The 14" 4:3 T61 is one of the last models of its kind on the market, and it is still every bit as durable and refined as the models before it.

The Lenovo(IBM) T61 4:3 14.1" notebook is offered with a wide array of options, with processors spanning from the Intel T7100 to the T7800, ram up to 4GB, hard drive up to 200GB, Intel turbo memory, Intel Wireless-N, and either the 128MB nVidia NVS 140M or Intel X3100 graphics cards.

The following are the features of the 14" T61 being reviewed:

Screen: 14.1-inch SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) TFT Display,150 NIT, 200:1 Contrast

Processor: 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 (4MB L2 Cache,800MHz FSB)

Hard Drive: 100GB hard drive (Hitatchi 7k100 7200RPM)

Memory: 1GB x2 2GB Total (PC5300, 667 MHz, DDR2 SDRAM) 4GB max memory

Optical Drive: DVD+-R Double layer / DVD+-RW Drive

External Ports and Slots: Three USB 2.0, one ExpressCard slot, VGA, headphone / line-out, microphone-in, modem, 1Gb Ethernet

Wireless: WiFi (Intel 4965AGN 802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.0 w/ EDR

Graphics: nVidia NVS 140M (256MB)

Operating System: Windows Vista Ultimate

9-cell Li-Ion battery (10.8V, 7.8AH)

Dimensions: (WxDxH): 12.3" x 10.0/10.9" w/battery x 1.2-1.4"

Weight: 4lbs 11.1oz, 5lbs 11.6oz w/9 cell battery (6lbs 10.3oz travel weight)

Build and Design

Comparing the outside of the 14.1" T61 to the older T60, it's hard to figure out what all has changed. One clue that may stand out depending on how familiar you are with the hinge setup, is the left hinge is wider than the right hinge. Another subtle change that many diehard Thinkpad users will notice is the sticker has changed from being the older multi-color IBM logo, to just "ThinkPad Tseries". Other than that no visible changes have been made. Internally the 14" T-Series has gained a new LCD roll cage, which helps significantly to reduce screen lid flex, and ripples from pressing hard behind the screen.

Opening up the T61 another subtle but slightly odd change is the LCD is off center. If you are really picky about that sort of thing it may drive you insane, but I didn't even notice it after using the notebook for more than five minutes.

Structure wise the notebook is as strong as ever. Just like the T61p, chassis flex is not present, body panels don't squeak under hard pressure, and palm support is excellent for typing. The palm rest has been redesigned from the previous model, but it doesn't look much different without closer inspection. The front lip overhang has increased, and tasks like upgrading ram are a bit easier, since the palm rest seemed easier to slide off and reinstall.

Performance and Benchmarks

The T61 was an excellent all around performer, without any lag or delay opening programs or switching between programs. Much of this can be attributed to the amount of ram and the 7200rm hard drive which was configured with this model. Even tasks such as light gaming were possible with its business grade nVidia NVS 140M, comparable to the consumer nVdia 8400 GT.

Listed below are the standard benchmarks we run on our laptops to make it easier to compare models head to head.

wPrime is a program that forces the processor to do recursive mathematical calculations, the advantage of this program is that it is multi-threaded and can use both processor cores at once, thereby giving more accurate benchmarking measurements than Super Pi.

Windows Vista Experience Index: Vista Index 4.0

Processor 4.9

Memory (RAM) 4.8

Graphics 4.0

Gaming Graphics 4.6

Hard Disk 4.9

Screen

The only weakness of the 4:3 T61 is the screen in my opinion. The 200:1 contrast ratio really shows throughout normal use, with menus and other screen objects looking washed out. Some darker screens were difficult to view, with screen elements blending into the background. Brightness levels were acceptable for a 14.1" notebook, and I found my comfortable levels to be set at about 85%.

Viewing angles were average, with the colors tending to invert quickly on its vertical axis. Horizontal angles were better, keeping colors true to more extreme angles. Refresh times were also about average, with items like the mouse cursor showing some faint trailing on quick movement.

Keyboard, Touchpad, and Fingerprint Reader

The keyboard hasn't changed much, in fact it is the identical part number to the one found on the older T60. This is great news for those hoping that the trusted layout and feel stayed the same into the new model. Same goes for the touchpad and fingerprint sensor. With many keyboard reviews, you generally see that particular model being compared against the "ThinkPad Keyboard" and this really holds true. You can type comfortably for hours at this keyboard as if it was your desktop in front of you. The support under the keyboard is very sturdy, with absolutely no flex anywhere.

The touchpad, while being on the small side compared to versions found on other laptops, is still easy to operate. I find the semi-rough texture to be preferable to a polished feel for better control, and it seems to hold up longer to oils on your finger without getting too slick. The Trackpoint hasn't changed much over the years, and gives the same feel as it always has. The buttons for both the touchpad and trackpoint give a nice solid clunk when pressed, never needing to be forced to register the click. The fingerprint reader works great, although in general they take a while to get used to the swiping motion. If you have never used one before, it may be a few days before you get the single stroke login down pat.

Input and Output Ports

The speakers on the T61 (as with the previous ThinkPad models) are slightly below average. With the speakers pointing directly down on the lower edge of the palmrest, sounds were muted slightly. If you had the laptop on a soft surface like a bed, the speakers would be completely blocked. Peak volume levels were lacking for loud movie entertainment, but the headphone jack was an acceptable alternative. Sound output was clear and free of any hiss or other interference. A coax digital output is also available through the advanced or advanced mini dock for connecting to your home stereo.

Networking

This T61 was configured with the Intel 4965AGN wireless card, and in daily use it worked without any problems. Reception was always strong and clear if you were within reasonable range of the access point, and it never had any odd dropouts that would kill a long file download. Wired performance was also excellent with the onboard Intel gigabit interface, never giving any hiccups.

Heat and Noise

The T61 managed heat much better than the older T60 under normal use. In situations where the CPU and/or GPU would be close to an idle state, heat was dispersed passively through the chassis and keyboard with the fan turning on in small intervals. Under heavier loads the fans would come on more, but temperature levels stayed in acceptable ranges. Fan noise was minimal, with the 7200rpm drive almost always louder. Below are temperature overlays listed in degrees Fahrenheit:

Battery Of IBM (Lenovo) thinkpad t60

The 9-cell battery on the T61 got just over 4 hours and 30 minutes in testing, with screen brightness at 80%, CPU set to adaptive, and with light internet activity. This was a bit less battery life compared to my 15" T60 running XP, but the key difference seems to be that Vista is slightly more intensive in background activities. For in-flight entertainment, the T61 should be fine for getting through an entire DVD movie.

Conclusion

Being one of the last 4:3 notebooks on the market today, the Lenovo T61 is a clear winner for those who still haven't adjusted to the widescreen format choices. It offers a ton of power for the demanding business user, and you are still able to get most of the features available to the widescreen T61 models. Overall it's great to see Lenovo still notebook format as an option to its customers.