Showing posts with label Laptop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Laptop. Show all posts

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Cygnett's Art Series iPhone Covers Feature Aboriginal Design



Australian digital accessory designers
and manufacturers Cygnett have released a series of iPhone and iPod covers featuring designs from world-famous and iconic artists.  The ICON Art Series was inspired by Cygnett’s passion for creativity, art and design.
World-renowned Australian Aboriginal artist Ronnie Tjampitjimpa was one of three artists chosen for the ICON Art Series accessories. A fully-initiated Pintupi man, Tjampitjinpa is considered an innovator and one of the grand masters of the Central and Western Desert Art movement.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Microsoft Surface Pro Shipping February 9th In U.S. And Canada For $899

If you have been hoping to pick up a Microsoft Surface Pro this month as
your late Christmas present, you may be disappointed, since the shipping date has been pushed back slightly, to February 9th, in both the United States and Canada, along with several accessories to please anybody’s ‘wants’ and ‘needs’.
The Surface Pro is the high-end edition of the Microsoft Surface, sporting Windows 8 Pro (unlike the Surface RT which comes bundled with Windows RT), and will be available in two models: a 64GB version for $899 and a 128GB model for $999, if you have more music, pictures and video files to store, or are just a power user who regularly runs lots of programs. Both of these drives are solid state, therefore these machines should be able to boot Windows 8 in a matter of seconds, making the Surface perfect for those on-the-go-users who are looking for a great mobile and slimmed-down working environment.
3286.Surface_Pro
On February 9th as well, Microsoft intends to ship several accessories for both Surfaces, starting with an external Touch Cover, a screen cover that converts into a keyboard, which already ships by default with the Surface RT. For stylish users, the Redmond company is also releasing the Touch Cover Limited Edition, featuring unique laser-etched designs in several distinct colors. These are, however, quite expensive, selling for $129.99 in the United States and in several other countries shortly, although Microsoft hasn’t detailed which markets it intends to reach with this stylish – albeit expensive – product.
8512.Surface_031_typecover_6489B5D8
For customers wishing to purchase a Surface RT, Microsoft is also making available, on February 9th, a standalone version without the Touch Cover keyboard, allowing users to choose other forms of input if they wish, such as a Type Cover, which features physical keys instead of a touch keyboard.
3817.Surface_095_66C63E94
Microsoft promises more announcements soon as the February 9th launch date approaches, although little is known about what might be unveiled:
“We’re extremely excited to share more about Surface Windows 8 Pro and the growing Surface family of products. We’ll have additional information as we get closer to Feb. 9.”


Tuesday, January 22, 2013

iPad 5 Design Leaked by Foxconn Staffer – Report

Apple’s next major iPad upgrade will adopt design elements akin to the diminutive iPad mini released in October 2012, according to
a Chinese source citing a Foxconn employee.

Customers have responded extremely well to the diminutive tablet computer, and Apple now seems poised to implement some of its benefits on the larger iPads.

The fifth-generation iPad has already been rumored to adopt a thinner bezel and sloping edges much like the smaller iPad mini.


An insider from Hon Hai Precision Industry (which owns Foxconn) is now spilling the beans on Apple’s chosen design for the iPad 5, as the media refers to it.

Originally quoted by My Drivers (a Chinese IT site), this Hon Hai insider is reportedly a Foxconn employee. Foxconn assembles most of Apple’s portable gadgets, including the iPhone and the iPad.


Patently Apple cites the source as saying that “the iPad 5 is to sport a new design that will adopt narrow bezels and chamfered edge corners. The end result will have the new iPad 5, code named ‘sapoxx,’ look more like a magnified iPad mini.”



If the rumors are true, Apple could have the fifth-generation iPad ready for us this spring.

The Cupertino mammoth seems to have accelerated the refresh cycle of its tablet computers, likely in response to demand, as well as the competition.



The same thing is reportedly about to happen on the smartphone front. Up until this week, Apple was rumored to plan the launch of two new iPhone models. Many analysts believe one of them will be a low-end phone that everyone can afford.

On Monday, however, reports started to emerge that Apple was actually planning to launch three new iPhones in 2013, one of which is dubbed “Math.”

Like others, we believe there’a a good chance the rumor is fabricated, and that includes the name of the alleged 4.8-inch handset – “iPhone Math.” Videos of ipad 5

Asus VivoBook S300 Touchscreen Notebook Unveiled

Asus has unveiled an new addition to their range of notebooks with the launch of their new Asus VivoBook S300, which
is equipped with a 13.3 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
The Asus VivoBook S300 can be powered by a choice of Intel processors, and weighs 3.9 lbs and measure roughly 0.8 inches thick, sporting 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and  Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
Asus VivoBook S300
The Asus VivoBook S300 is also fitted with a 44Whr battery, 1 x VGA port, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 xHDMI and a set of audio jacks, together with a range of storage solutions offering either 320Gb or 500GB of space, all running Windows 8.
Unfortunately no information on pricing or worldwide availability has been released as yet, but as soon as information comes to light we will keep you updated as always.
Asus VivoBook S300

Asus VivoBook S300 13-inch Touchscreen Notebook Unveiled

Asus has unveiled an new addition to their range of notebooks with the launch of their new Asus VivoBook S300, which is equipped with a 13.3 inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
The Asus VivoBook S300 is a 3.9 pound laptop that measures about 0.8 inches thick and has many of the hallmarks of an ultrabook, but which will probably be much cheaper than any ultrabook Asus sells.
Asus VivoBook S300 13-inch Touchscreen Notebook Unveiled
The VivoBook S300 can be powered by a choice of Intel processors, and comes with 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and  Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
The Asus VivoBook S300 is also fitted with a 44Whr battery, 1 x VGA port, 2 x USB 2.0 ports, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 xHDMI and a set of audio jacks, together with a range of storage solutions offering either 320Gb or 500GB of space, all running Windows 8.
It measures 13 x 9.2 x 0.83 and will be available with processor options including:
  • Intel Celeron 847 ULV
  • Intel Pentium 987 ULV
  • Intel Core i3-2365U
  • Intel Core i3-3217U
  • Intel Core i5-3317U
  • Intel Core i7-3517U

Asus VivoBook S300 Price & Availability

Asus hasn’t announced a price or release date yet, but you can pick up the 11.6 inch model in the US for $500, so I wouldn’t expect the 13.3 inch model to sell for much more than that.

 

Review Gigabyte U2442N Notebook

It has been a while since we tested a Gigabyte model. The Taiwanese manufacturer is famous for its motherboards and peripheral devices. Gigabyte also offers a small selection of tablets and notebooks.

The Ultrabook creator, Intel, prophesised a boom in the Ultrabook market in the near future and many manufacturers, including Gigabyte are investing in this area. The new Gigabyte U2442 is a second generation Ultrabook which runs on the Ivy Bridge architecture.
The U2442 series has a 14-inch display, and places alongside Ultrabooks like the HP Envy 14 Spectre and the Acer Aspire Timeline Ultra M3. The notebook is not equipped with ULV components, but with a fast Core i5-3210M and the middle-class GeForce GT 640M graphics card. Officially, the U2442N cannot qualify as an Ultrabook with this hardware and only its sibling, the U2442V (identically equipped but with a ULV CPU - Core i7-3517U) can wear the title.
The rest of the hardware is similarly potent: 8 GB RAM, a 128 GB SSD and a 750 GB hard disk. This hardware is top class, which brings us to the price: (starts at) 1200 Euro (~$1555) for the U2442N. Other Ultrabooks are similarly expensive, so we will see what the test model can do in the following review.

Case

Smooth hinges
Smooth hinges
Made in Taiwan - the manufacturer is quite proud of this fact as can be seen by the large sticker on the top right of the screen. Our first impression is neutral: the silver-grey case is made of synthetic material and aluminum, yet it does not look as flashy as most competitors and may even be slightly drab. Thankfully, this is very practical as dust and smudges would be far more visible on darker (and even high-polished) cases.
The bottom of the laptop is made of only plastic, yet it offers good sturdiness. The chassis bends slightly under the keyboard when excessive force is applied. With the exception of this, the test model is as sturdy as a laptop with a metal chassis. This is especially impressive as the U2442N is a mere 21 mm thick and weighs 1.69 kilograms/3.72 lb. (and without the HDD - a mere 1.59 kilograms/3.5 lb.). Overall, the test model is very mobile. However, if the display bezel was thinner (between 1.5 and 2.7 cm), the mobility could be increased further.
The back of the display is made of polished aluminum, as promised by the manufacturer. This ensures that the display is quite sturdy. Thanks to the well-designed hinges, the laptop can be opened with one hand. On the other hand, when the laptop shakes, the display wobbles. We did not find any workmanship flaws like sharp edges, which results in the Gigabyte U2442 receiving a good score in this section.
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Connectivity

Like many other notebooks of 2012, the Gigabyte U2442N has two USB 3.0 interfaces. In addition, the laptop offers two USB 2.0 ports and this should satisfy most users. It is a real pity that the test model lacks a (Mini-) DisplayPort interface, but the user is provided with both a VGA and a HDMI interface.
The test model has no optical drive, ensuring that all ports have sufficient space on the case. The layout chosen by Gigabyte is well thought out and practical: Gigabit-LAN, the power outlet and both display interfaces are placed towards the back of the case, whereas the USB ports (two on the left, two on the right) and audio jacks are placed towards the front. All the interfaces and the card reader, which can only read SD cards, can be used without issues.
Front side: no ports
Front side: no ports
Left side: GBit-LAN, VGA, 2x USB 2.0, Microphone, Headphones, Kensington Lock
Left side: GBit-LAN, VGA, 2x USB 2.0, Microphone, Headphones, Kensington Lock
Back: no ports
Back: no ports
Right side: SD card reader, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Power outlet
Right side: SD card reader, 2x USB 3.0, HDMI, Power outlet
1.3 megapixel webcam
1.3 megapixel webcam

Communication

The Intel Centrino Wireless-N 2230 is a mini PCIe WLAN module, which offers features and performance appropriate for a middle-class device. The Multi-Stream technology (2x2) makes it possible to transmit and receive up to 300 MB/s, but only on the usually overcrowded 2.4 frequency. The model does not support the 5 GHz frequency which means that users are limited to just one band on IEEE 802.11b/g/n networks.
The U2442N also has Bluetooth 4.0 (provided by the same module). This new standard of the wireless technology has a special Low-Energy mode and is supported by many modern Smartphones.
As usual, a small 1.3 megapixels webcam is installed in the display bezel. It may not take sharp pictures but it suffices for use with Skype or similar programs. The integrated microphone is of similar quality, and, in most cases, the user will not require an additional microphone.

Accessories

We did not expect this: the manufacturer offers a typical delivery (manuals and a driver CD) and includes a stylish leather bag. Although the material is not very high-quality, most users will be happy about this small extra which ensures more protection for their device.
The software extras are scarce. Thankfully, this means that the user will not have to uninstall unnecessary test versions. The obligatory Adobe Reader and Starter edition of Microsoft Office 2010 are pre-installed and can be accessed via desktop shortcuts.

Maintenance

Few upgrade possibilities are a characteristic of compact notebooks. This applies to our test model as well. The bottom of the model has a flap, which is secured by a single screw, and covers both RAM slots. These slots are already occupied and upgrading to 12 or 16 GB is only possible after removing the installed modules. All additional components, including the integrated battery, cannot be removed easily.

Warranty

Gigabyte promises 2 years global warranty for the U2442N. If the laptop should break down in a foreign country, the user can get it repaired on-site at a  Gigabyte shop. We could not find any information or offers pertaining to an extension of the warranty.
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Input Devices

Keyboard

The chiclet keyboard is installed nicely, if not perfectly, in the chassis of the test model. The workmanship and sturdiness are very good and it did not bend much even under immense force. We did not appreciate the cheap quality of the material of which the 15x15 millimeter keys are made. The integrated backlight helps the user type easily in the dark which is a positive. Gigabyte has used a standard layout for the keyboard (US keyboard for our test model).
The soft pressure point is noticeable while typing but, in our opinion, it does not provide enough feedback. The pressure point is paired with a short stroke distance (typical for notebooks). The typing experience was diminished due to the steady clattering of the keyboard which accompanies high-speed typing. We expected much more of a notebook of this price range.

Touchpad

The Smart-Pad made by Elan performs better in our review. The device measures 5.3 x 9.6 centimeters, and although it is not very large, it has some good qualities. The rough surface reminds the user of Lenovo ThinkPads and may not be to the liking of all users, but the sliding properties are amazing, even with sweaty fingers. The precision and offered features are also quite good. The touchpad supports the typical multi-touch gestures which can be individually configured or de-activated (the touchpad can be switched off by pressing Fn + F10).
A broad button below the pad performs the function of both mouse keys. The stroke distance is short, like the keyboard, but thanks to the strong pressure point the user can comfortably use the touchpad. A practical feature: pressing the right mouse button while the laptop is off will show the battery charge. The 5 status LEDs are used for this task as well as for showing the activity of the wireless module while the laptop is on.
Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad
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Display

Gigabyte has picked a matte WXGA++ display for its 14-inch model. The screen has a resolution of 1600 by 900 pixels which translates to a nice pixel density of 131 dpi. This provides the user with a well-sized work space and an acceptable font size.
At the maximum level, we measured an average brightness of 233 cd/m². Near the bottom of the screen, the brightness drops to a little above 200 cd/m², causing a slightly unbalanced illumination of 83 percent. However, in our use, this was only noticeable when looking closely and should not affect the everyday user.
239
cd/m²
252
cd/m²
247
cd/m²
230
cd/m²
237
cd/m²
239
cd/m²
208
cd/m²
220
cd/m²
221
cd/m²
Information
Gossen Mavo-Monitor
Maximum: 252 cd/m²
Average: 232.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 209 cd/m²
Black: 1.47 cd/m²
Contrast: 161:1
Distribution of brightness
Buyers expecting a high-quality IPS panel like in the Asus UX31A or UX32VD, will be disappointed by the simple TN screen (LG LP140WD2-TLD2) of the Gigabyte U2442N. Sadly, although the black value (1.47 cd/m²) and contrast (161:1) are decent, they just cannot match the values of a high-quality panel. This is a common problem for many notebooks like the U300s from Lenovo.
The limited color space coverage is another weakness. The sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, very important to photographers, are only partially covered. This means that the user would have to connect an external monitor for professional picture editing. In our test, we noted that the red shades were especially hard to differentiate from one another.
U2442N vs. AdobeRGB (t)
U2442N vs. AdobeRGB (t)
U2442N vs. sRGB (t)
U2442N vs. sRGB (t)
U2442N vs. U300s (t)
U2442N vs. U300s (t)
U2442N vs. UX31A (t)
U2442N vs. UX31A (t)
Outdoors
Outdoors
The matt display surface will not cause too many distracting reflections during outdoors use. However, the brightness, which is already quite low, drops 10% while the laptop is running on battery, making the use of the laptop outdoors in direct sunlight quite hard. We would have liked to have a brightness of at least 250 to 300 cd/m² for outdoors use. The Samsung 900X4C is a good example.
Viewing angles: Gigabyte U2442N
Viewing angles: Gigabyte U2442N
After finding so many weaknesses, we expected the TN panel to perform below average in the viewing angle stability test. Our suspicion was confirmed: even the slightest movements from a central sitting position can deteriorate the picture quality significantly. This applies to both horizontal and vertical viewing angles. The U2442N is not the ideal choice for viewing a movie with many friends.
Buyers who want to use an external monitor with the laptop should get one which has a HDMI interface. Although the VGA output is clear, the picture is tinted slightly yellow. The color settings in the graphics driver can be used to ameliorate this issue.