3RD Space Vest Lets you Feel Bullets in FPS Games

A company called TN Games announced a new gaming peripherals at E for All this week in LA. This vest is the first peripherals of this sort that I have seen. The vest uses compressed air to allow you to feel the bullets, explosions, and touches in your games. Imagine feeling the bullets hit you in FEAR, or feeling a tap on your shoulder in a horror game. The vest is called the 3RD Space Vest and is set for availability on November 21 for a mere $189. From the looks of the images I have seen the vest looks like something Special Forces would wear. How exactly the vest connects to your computer isn’t mentioned, but I would suspect USB.

Systemax Venture S925 Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
Systemax's Venture S925 budget desktop PC is based on an older architecture design that puts it at a bit of a disadvantage to newer systems. Sure, it's not as fast as the Core Duo's or Athlon processors, but it gets the job done for a reasonable price.

Pros

* Dedicated Graphics Card
* Relatively Inexpensive

Cons

* Older Pentium D Processor
* Lacks FireWire
* Slower Memory

Description

* Intel Pentium D 925 Dual Core Processor
* 1GB PC2-4200 DDR2 Memory
* 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 20x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE Graphics Card with 256MB
* AC'97 Audio with Stereo Speakers
* 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0 Ports, 9-in-1 Media Card Reader
* Vista Home Premium

Guide Review - Systemax Venture S925 Budget Desktop PC

The Systemax Venture S925 is actually a fairly dated system. Rather than the newer Pentium Dual Core or Core Duo processors, it uses the Pentium D 925 dual core processor. Even most of the AMD Athlon 64 X2 processors are a better choice for performance than this. On the other hand, it should do just fine for most general and Internet applications. The one gigabyte of memory is typical for a budget system, but it is a somewhat slower PC2-4200 speed. This will let it run the Vista operating system OK, but with some slowdowns.

Storage wise, the Venture S925 is a mix. The 250GB hard drive is a bit smaller than the standard 300GB found in budget desktops. This is still a good amount of space for applications and digital media. The dual layer DVD burner is a bit faster than the standard 16x models used in most systems, but it isn't going to save much time when burning a CD or DVD.

The graphics are a bit of a surprise though. Most budget systems rely on integrated graphics processors that have very limited performance. The Systemax Venture S925 instead uses a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce 7300LE PCI-Express graphics cards. This does give it a bit of a benefit over integrated solutions as it doesn't use up system memory and has a bit better 3D performance. Don't expect too much though as this is a very low end graphics card and is not suitable for things such as 3D gaming.

All of this makes the Systemax hard to place. It generally falls slightly behind most budget desktop systems in terms of performance and storage, but it has the dedicated graphics. The nice part about it though is that it is generally less expensive than many other companies offerings.

Lenovo 3000 J200 Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
Lenovo seems to have once again forgot the consumer oriented focus by producing the Lenovo 3000 J200 as more of a low cost business PC than as something to be used in a home. There is almost no reason this should be considered for a purpose outside of a business.

Pros

* Excellent Lenovo Product Support

Cons

* Small Hard Drive
* DVD Burner Not Standard
* Lacks FireWire

Description

* Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140 Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 80GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 48x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
* Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
* HDA 7.1 Audio
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0 Ports
* Vista Business

Guide Review - Lenovo 3000 J200 Budget Desktop PC

When Lenovo purchased IBM, they kept the ThinkCentre for business systems and introduced the Lenovo 3000 J series desktops as a consumer alternative. The latest 3000 J200 models seem to have lost that focus.

The Lenovo 3000 J200 is powered by an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2140 processor. This is a decent processor for a low cost system, but is a step below the Core 2 Duo models in terms of performance and efficiency. The one gigabyte of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory is typical of most budget desktop systems but it restricts the level of performance with the newer Vista operating system.

Storage is probably the weakest area of the Lenovo 3000 J200. It only comes with a paltry 80GB of hard drive space. This may be fine for a business desktop that deals just with productivity software, but it is tiny compared to the average 300GB of space from most other budget desktops. To make matters worse, Lenovo ships the system with a 48x CD-RW/DVD combo drive. Sure, it can playback DVDs, but cannot record to the format. The cost difference between a CD-RW/DVD drive and a full DVD burner is almost non-existent these days.

Graphics aren't that far off as every budget system tends to use an integrated graphics solution. The Lenovo 3000 J200 uses the Intel GMA 950. This is fine for standard 2D applications but lacks any performance for 3D and doesn't have the improved video playback features of the new X3100. A PCI-Express slot is available for an after market graphics card.

At least Lenovo has one of the highest rated support groups in the industry to back up this product. There is pretty much little reason for consumers to look at this system over much more powerful and feature packed desktops available on the market.

HP Pavilion a6200n Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
In terms of a budget desktop system, it is pretty hard to get something better than what the HP Pavilion a6200n offers. Sure, some might have more storage space, more memory or slightly faster processor, but for an all around desktop computer it is hard to top for the price.

Pros

* Strong AMD Dual Core Processor
* Two Full Gigabytes of Memory
* LightScribe Compatible Drive

Cons

* Lots of Trialware

Description

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Dual Core Processor
* 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 360GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer With LightScribe
* NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE Integrated Graphics
* HDA 7.1 Audio
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0, Two FireWire, 15-in-1 Media Card Reader
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works 8, Roxio Creator, autoProducer, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - HP Pavilion a6200n Budget Desktop PC

The HP Pavilion a6200n doesn't really set itself apart in any particular area, but what it does is provide a complete overall package that is above average in just about every aspect. This makes the system a strong overall choice for those looking for a system that can do just about anything without breaking the bank.

Powering the Pavilion a6200n is the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+ dual core processor. This is probably one of the highest rated Athlon processors found in this price segment and gives it very strong overall performance. This is matched up with two full gigabytes of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory that provides it with a a very smooth experience even with the Vista operating system.

Storage is a bit above what most budget desktops offer. The 360GB hard drive is slightly larger than the average 320GB size, but its not really much of a difference. It still will provide plenty of hard drive space for applications and digital media files. The dual layer DVD burner handles all the playback and recording tasks of CDs and DVDs. One plus is that the drive also supports burning labels directly to LightScribe compatible media.

One thing that HP didn't skimp on with the Pavilion a6200n is the peripheral ports. Many companies are now not including FireWire ports with desktops. This is a shame because this is the easiest way to move video from a digital camcorder to the PC for editing. Thankfully, HP has included two such ports with the system.

There is a bit of a downside to the Pavilion a6200n though. HP has preinstalled a large amount of trailware onto the system. This causes the desktop to be a mess of icons and slows down the system from lots of unnecessary applications. Just be sure to delete those that you don't need to get a small performance boost.

Gateway GT5622 Retail Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
Gateway's GT5622 is certainly a budget desktop computer system for anyone needing to use very memory intensive applications. The three gigabytes of system RAM clearly outpace most desktop systems and it doesn't sacrifice much in terms of features.

Pros

* Three Gigabytes Memory
* Larger Hard Drive

Cons

* Lacks a FireWire Port

Description

* Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2160 Processor
* 3GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 400GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 18x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
* HDA 7.1 Audio with Stereo Speakers
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0, 15-in-1 Media Card Reader
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works 8.5, Power2Go, McAfee Internet Security

Guide Review - Gateway GT5622 Retail Budget Desktop PC

Gateway has a pretty astonishing release for the budget market with the GT5622 system. It comes packed with a total of three gigabytes of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory. Most budget desktops still come with only a single gigabyte and a few now offer two. By having this much, the system rarely needs to rely on virtual memory when using the most memory intensive applications with the Vista operating system.

The processor choice for the Gateway GT5622 is not uncommon for a budget system. The Pentium Dual-Core E2160 is a competent one for the price range. It doesn't have quite the power of the new Core 2 Duo's or Athlon 64 X2s, but runs smoothly for most applications.

Storage is also quite surprising for the GT5622. Most budget desktops come with around a 300GB hard drive. The 400GB hard drive isn't a dramatically huge jump consider the terabyte drives available on the market, but it is still one of the largest you will see in a budget system. The dual layer DVD burner is standard and takes care of all playback and recording of CDs or DVDs.

The graphics system is a bit dated. Rather than using a newer chipset with the X3000 or X3100 integrated processor, it uses the much older Intel GMA 950 processor. Performance wise, it isn't that much further behind, but it does not feature much of the enhancements made to improve video playback ability. Of course, there is room for a PCI-Express graphics card for those needing better 3D support.

There is only one real major flaw with the Gateway GT5622, and its something that many budget desktops are doing as well. That is the lack of a FireWire port. This is the easiest way to move video from a digital camcorder to the PC. So it is an important thing for those wanting to do desktop video work.

OCZ ATV Turbo 4GB Flash Drive Review

Features & Specifications

OCZ quotes read and write speeds for its OCZ ATV Turbo flash drive 33-35MB/s and 26-30MB/s respectively. The storage capacity for the drive is 4GB and it works with Windows and Mac computers. The rubber housing is shock and water-resistant and the drive has an orange LED on the back of the drive flashes when the drive is working. OCZ also covers the drive with a lifetime warranty.

Benchmarks & Testing

To test the OCZ ATV Turbo I used HD Tach, Sandra XII, transferred files to and from the drive while timing the operation. I also washed, and dried the drive with some laundry to see just how durable it was. The first test was Sandra XII’s removable storage benchmark. This test showed that the OCZ ATV Turbo had a drive index of 7740 ops/min and an endurance factor of 19.70. The Corsair Flash Survivor that I recently reviewed had a drive index of 9575 ops/min and an endurance rating of 16.4 for comparison.

The next test was HD Tach which showed the OCZ ATV Turbo had an average read speed of 27.9MB/s and an average write speed of 23.5MB/s. To compare the Corsair Flash Survivor had an average read speed of 23MB/s and an average write speed of 20.6MB/s. That makes the OCZ ATV Turbo quite a bit faster than the Corsair drive.

For the final test, I copied a folder with 944MB of data in it to the OCZ ATV Turbo and then copied the same folder from the OCZ ATV Turbo to the system drive and times the process with a stopwatch. Writing the folder to the OCZ ATV Turbo took 1-minute and 9-seconds, copying the folder from the OCZ ATV Turbo to the system drive took right at 41 seconds.

The OCZ ATV Turbo is certainly fast, but the drive promises shock and water resistance as well. To test the shock resistance I threw the drive onto concrete as hard as I could. The OCZ ATV Turbo worked without any issues after throwing it down repeatedly. To test the resistance to water, I ran the OCZ ATV Turbo through a full washer cycle in the pocket of my jeans. When the load was done, I found the cap had come off the OCZ ATV Turbo at some point in the wash cycle. I plugged the OCZ ATV Turbo into my computer expecting it to be ruined. However, the OCZ ATV Turbo performed flawlessly after its washing.

After the run through the washer, I put the drive back into the jeans for a dry cycle on high heat. Once again, when the load was dry, I found the cap to the OCZ ATV Turbo had come off at some point. Fortunately, the OCZ ATV Turbo still performed flawlessly. The cap covering the USB port comes off frequently in instances like this, which could lead to failure of the drive. My review sample survived without issue though, and most likely yours will too. Overall the OCZ ATV Turbo is the fastest flash drive I have tested to date and is durable enough to stand up to the rigors of the daily grind.

Webster's New World Dictionary on USB Drive

At some point, everyone needs a dictionary for something, especially college students. What most of us in today’s high tech search based world don’t want to have to do, is thumb through old-fashioned paper pages looking for the definition we need. Centon Electronics has the alternative we need to a normal dictionary. Centon has the full Webster’s New World College Dictionary fourth edition available on a 4GB or 2GB flash drive. The software allows for automatic searches of the word you are looking for. A misspeller’s dictionary to help you find the word you need even if you can’t spell it. The price for the 4GB version is $64.99 with the 2GB version selling for $42.99.

Everex Impact GC3052 Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
The one thing really going for the Everex Impact GC3502 is its very low price. This is probably one of the least expensive desktop PCs available on the market. The addage of you get what you pay for is very evident here. The system has limited performance, storage and operating system. The Impact GC3502 should only be consider for those needing limited word porcessing or Internet access only in a PC.

Pros

* Very Inexpensive
* Low Power Consumption

Cons

* Extremely Limited Performance
* Small Hard Drive
* Limited Home Basic Operating System

Description

* VIA C7-D (1.5GHz) Processor
* 512MB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 80GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* VIA Chrome9 HC Integrated Graphics
* AC'97 Audio and Stereo Speakers
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0
* Vista Home Basic, OpenOffice 2.2, Cyberlink DVD, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - Everex Impact GC3052 Budget Desktop PC

The Everex Impact GC3502 is clearly one of the least expensive desktop available on the market today. And that's about the most that can be said for this system. In order to offer it for such a low price, lots of features and performance were removed.

Rather than an Intel or AMD processor, the Impact GC3502 relies on a little known VIA C7-D processor. Now, this is a very low power consumption processor that helps reduce energy consumption, but it also lags significantly behind even the AMD Sempron and Intel Celeron processors for performance. Add to this that it only comes with 512MB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory, and this system meets the bare minimum specs to run the Vista operating system.

Storage is drastically smaller than what one would find in a consumer desktop system. While most have roughly 300GB in storage space, the Impact GC3502 uses a very small 80GB drive. This will limit the amount of programs and digital media that can be stored on it. Thankfully, it does come with a dual layer DVD burner.

Graphics are pretty much passable for Windows and that's about it. The VIA Chrome9 HC integrated processor will eat up some of the precious system memory and has very limited features for 3D. Don't expect to replace this with a expansion card though as it isn't really possible.

Software on the system is a mixed bag. Everex has included the full OpenOffice 2.2 suite for word processing, spreadsheet and other productivity needs. Of course, this is a free application that anyone can readily download. On the other hand, it comes with the Basic version of Vista that limits what applications can be run.

The end result is a PC that is more functional as a basic word processor and Internet browser than a full fledged desktop PC.

eMachines T5234 Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
EMachines just isn't keeping up with the budget desktop market as it once did. The T5234 is somewhat underpowered compared to many others on the market, but at least it isn't lacking as many items as some other systems. The one thing going for it is its low cost that makes it a good choice for those on a tight budget.

Pros

* Relatively Inexpensive
* Includes Stereo Speakers

Cons

* Lower Rated AMD Processor
* Lacks FireWire

Description

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Dual Core Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Integrated Graphics
* AC'97 Audio With Stereo Speakers
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0 Ports, 15-in-1 Media Reader
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works 8.5, Power2Go, McAfee Internet Security

Guide Review - eMachines T5234 Budget Desktop PC

AMD processors have become extremely popular with manufacturers for budget systems. EMachines was one of those companies that was using the AMD processors fairly early on, but they seem to be lagging behind in development now after their purchase from Gateway. Take the T5234 desktop. It comes supplied with a Athlon 64 X2 4000+ rated processor. This is a fine processor, but with the recent price wars many companies are using 5000+ or higher rated models now. This puts it at a disadvantage to other budget desktops. The 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory is normal, but it will restrict multitasking in the Vista OS.

Storage wise, the eMachines T5234 is pretty much average . The 320GB hard drive is sizable and can hold plenty of programs and digital media files. Of course, drive sizes are getting a bit larger but most people don't use up this much space. A dual layer DVD burner handles the tasks of playing back or recording CDs and DVDs.

Graphics are dated with the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE, but they are acceptable for standard 2D and light 3D work. Those wanting more for graphics can install a PCI-Express graphics card in the available slot. Be warned that the power supply is limited though and can't handle the high end cards.

Like many other budget desktop systems, eMachines has decided not to include a FireWire port on the system. This is a big flaw as it is the easiest method for transferring video from a digital camcorder to a PC.

The one big thing going for the eMachines T5234 is the price. The system is significantly lower than many other budget systems on the market. Thankfully it doesn't drop too many features in order to meet this price.

Dell Inspiron 531 Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
The versatility of the Dell Inspiron 531 is certainly one of its greatest aspect. The customized system can be selected with a setup that can match exactly what the consumer needs. The problem is that this customization requires much more effort by the consumer and can quickly escalate the price above consumers intended budgets.

Pros

* Includes 19" Dell Monitor
* Highly Customizable

Cons

* Many Features That Should Be Standard Are Not
* Price Can Quickly Exceed Budget Category

Description

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Dual Core Desktop Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE Integrated Graphics
* Dell 19" SE198WFP LCD Monitor
* HDA 7.1 Audio
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet
* Eight USB 2.0 Ports
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works 8.5, McAfee Security Center

Guide Review - Dell Inspiron 531 Budget Desktop PC

The Inspiron 531 can come in a wide variety of configurations from budget all the way up to performance oriented. For this review, we are looking at a standard configuration that fits into an under $750 budget with a monitor.

The Inspiron 531 is based upon the AMD Athlon X2 line of processors compared to the 530 that uses Intel processors. This makes the 531 a better choice for those looking at a budget priced system than the 530. In this case, it comes with the Athlon 64 X2 5000+ dual core processor that provides it with strong performance, but not quite up to the Core 2 Duos. Dell puts in a standard 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory that lets it run Vista OK, but it would be better to see it with 2GB for smoother performance.

Storage is average for a budget desktop. The 320GB hard drive provides it with a good amount of space for programs and digital media. Of course, larger drives are available, but they quickly add to the cost. A standard dual layer DVD burner handles playback and recording of DVDs and CDs.

One nice aspect of the Dell desktops is the inclusion of Dell's strong lineup of LCD monitors. For this setup, they include the 19” SE198WFP wide screen LCD. The graphics are driven by the NVIDIA GeForce 6150 integrated graphics that lack any real 3D performance for gaming, bit a PCI-Express graphics slot is available for upgrades.

One big problem with the Inspiron 531 though is the lack of many standard features such as a FireWire port or media card reader. These are standard on many desktop but require an extra cost for inclusion here. This may make customization nice but can quickly cause the price to get outside of a budget size.

Compaq Presario SR5262NX Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
The Compaq Presario SR5262NX is pretty much the epitome of what one gets out of a budget system. It has about all the features one would expect but doesn't have much that really sets it apart from others in either a good or bad way. At least it should run smoothly with the two full gigabytes of memory.

Pros

* Two Full Gigabytes Of Memory
* LightScribe Drive For Labelling Compatible CD/DVD Media

Cons

* Has Lots Of Trialware Installed
* Lacks FireWire Port

Description

* Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2160 Desktop Processor
* 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 300GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner with LightScribe
* Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
* HDA 7.1 Audio
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0, 15-in-1 Card Reader
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works 8, Roxio Creator Basic, autoProducer, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - Compaq Presario SR5262NX Budget Desktop PC
Much of the Compaq Presario SR5262NX desktop is what one would expect to find in a desktop PC these days. It doesn't use the newer Core 2 Duo processors but an older Pentium Dual-Core E2160 processor. It should be plenty for most individuals though. They do ship it with two gigabytes of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory that is still not as common but becoming more so. This lets it run the Windows Vista operating system without much of a problem.

Storage wise, the system comes with a pretty average sized 300GB hard drive. This was once a lot of space, but now notebook drives are reaching these capacities and desktop models can reach the terabyte level. Still, it should provide lots of space for programs and digital files. It comes with the now industry standard dual layer DVD burner to handle playback and recording of DVDs and CDs. One nice benefit of the HP influence on the system is the inclusion of LightScribe on the drive that lets it burn labels directly onto compatible media.

Graphics are driven by an Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics processor. This is typical for a budget system and uses up some of the system memory to handle graphics tasks. It would be nice to see a newer GMA X3100 for improved video playback performance, but that isn't something that will reach the budget market for a while. There is a standard PCI-Express graphics slot for those looking to upgrade but be warned that the power supply probably cannot handle a higher end cards power requirements.

One other disappointing aspect of the Presario SR5262NX and many other budget desktops is the lack of a FireWire port. This prevents the system from interfacing with many digital camcorders on the market without adding a separate expansion card.

Acer AcerPower FH 4401 Budget Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
Acer's new AcerPower FH model of desktop computers are really designed as low cost business desktops, but it also could server double duty as a decent home desktop PC. It comes with a newer Core 2 Duo based processor over the more common Pentium Duo's or Athlon 64 X2s but sacrifices storage space and peripheral connections.

Pros

* Newer Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
* Two Full Gigabytes memory

Cons

* Relatively Smaller Hard Drive
* Lacks Many Peripheral Ports
* Limited Software

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Dual Core Desktop Processor
* Two Gigabytes PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* Intel GMA 3000 Integrated Graphics
* HDA 7.1 Audio
* Gigabit Ethernet Interface
* Six USB 2.0 Ports
* Windows XP Professional

Guide Review - Acer AcerPower FH 4401 Budget Desktop PC

The AcerPower FH lineup of desktops is very clearly directed at businesses looking for a low cost desktop option. That doesn't mean that this can't make a very usable home desktop system. Some of the features are very clearly targeted at business use. Take the Windows XP Professional operating system over the newer Vista. This may actually be a bonus for many people who don't want to migrate to the new OS yet.

In terms of performance, the AcerPower FH 4401 has lots of it for the price. Rather than using older Pentium D or Duo models, Acer has elected to use a newer Core 2 Duo E4400 dual core processor. This gives it an edge on most available budget desktops. Combine this with two full gigabytes of memory and the Windows XP Professional operating system and it should have no trouble handling multitasking.

Storage does suffer a bit over a traditional consumer system. Most budget desktops have 300GB or more of hard drive space, but the AcerPower FH comes only with a 160GB drive. This is large for a business system but still quite low overall for the market segment. At least they included a dual layer DVD burner over the more traditional CD-RW/DVD combo drive found in business PCs.

While performance is quite good, the business nature means that many smaller peripheral interconnects are missing. The system has six USB 2.0 ports, but lacks any FireWire connector or a media card reader for digital peripherals. They also elected to not include a modem with the system even though they are not used as frequently as in the past.

What this ends up with is a system that is a good fit for those needing strong performance but don't require much in terms of storage space or peripheral connectivity.

XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty Graphics Card Review

Features & Specifications

The XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card is the highest clocked 8800 GTS 320MB around with a core clock of 650MHz, a memory clock of 2.0GHz and a shader clock of 1500MHz. The card has 96 stream processors, 320MB of memory and is HDCP ready. Other features include TV out, RoHS, HDTV ready, SLI ready, Vista compatible and the card has dual DVI outputs.

Test Machine

Before we get to the benchmarks for the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card we need to look at the specifications of the test machine I will be using:

* CPU- Intel QX6850
* Mainboard- XFX 680i
* PSU- PC Power and Cooling 1KW
* Display- Dell 30-inch
* OS- Windows XP Pro

Benchmarks & Testing

With the upgrade of the CPU in my test machine, I also took the opportunity to change the games I typically review with some newer titles. The XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card will be tested using 3DMark06, FEAR, and Bioshock. The first test up is 3DMark06.

3DMark06

I ran 3DMark06 at default settings in both the NVIDIA control panel and in the 3DMark06 application. The test results for the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card were as follows:

* Total 3DMarks- 12717
* SM2.0- 5160
* HDR/SM3.0- 5014
* CPU- 5083
* Return to Proxycon- 42.387
* Firefly Forest- 43.620
* Canyon Flight- 46.006
* Deep Freeze- 54.280
* CPU1- 1.701
* CPU2- 2.430

To compare scores since the CPU upgrade is more difficult since the QX6850 outperforms the QX6700 in my previous test system and will skew the scores somewhat. Keep that in mind as you compare the numbers. The PNY 8800 Ultra OC card that I reviewed scored 13100 3DMarks, the ATI HD2900 XT scored11544 3DMarks, and the BFG 8800 Ultra OC scored 12966 3DMarks.

FEAR

The first gaming test up was FEAR, which is a game I have been testing with for a long time now. I used the FEAR in game test loop with all settings on max at a screen resolution of 2560 x 1600, 16x AF, and 4XAA. The test results were as follows:

* Min- 11 fps
* Avg- 21 fps
* Max- 63 fps

The percentages showed that 75% of the time frame rates were below 25 fps, 24% of the time frame rates were 25-40 fps and 1% of the time frame rates were greater than 40fps. I also decided to run the same test loop at the same settings save a change to 1920 x 1200 screen resolution. The in game test loop recorded the following data at these settings:

* Min- 19 fps
* Avg- 48 fps
* Max- 139 fps

The percentages showed that 5% of the time frame rates were below 25fps, 25% of the time frame rates were between 25 and 40 fps, and 70% of the time frame rates were greater than 40 fps.

Bioshock

The final game test for the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card was with a new game called Bioshock. I used Fraps to record frame rate data while playing Bioshock at a screen resolution of 18920 x 1200 with shadow maps on, high detail post processing on, high detail shaders on, real time reflections on, and distortion on. Fraps recorded the following frame rate data:

* Min- 15 fps
* Avg- 60.310 fps
* Max- 216 fps

Final thoughts

In the end there is little doubt that the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card is the best performing 8800 GTS 320MB graphics card you can buy. The card also came very near the levels of performance that you see on much more expensive graphics cards. If you are looking for a video card under $350 that can play most game titles maxed out at high resolutions under 2560 x 1600, the XFX 8800 GTS 320MB Fatal1ty video card is a fantastic buy.

Razer Announces Lycosa Gaming Keyboard

Razer announced a new gaming keyboard this week that will be available in November for $79.99. The keyboard is called the Lycosa and unlike the Barracuda keyboard from Razer, the Lycosa will be fully backlit. Razer is also giving the option of only backlighting the WASD keys. The key tops are non-slip rubber and you can program up to 15 profiles including macros to the keyboard. Response time is optimized with a 1000Hz Ultrapolling rate. One USB port, a headphone out jack and a mic in jack are included as well and the wrist rest is removable.

Logitech AudioHub Review

As a notebook user, I know that USB ports on most notebooks, especially if it’s a small notebook are lacking. Another thing that I don’t like on most notebooks is the poor speakers that don’t sound good. Logitech has a new product that takes care of both my notebook computer woes. The AudioHub is a 2.1 speaker system that uses a custom-tuned three-chamber system along with an integrated subwoofer.

One connection between the AudioHub and your notebook allows sound from your computer, music and movies to be heard through the AudioHub and provides connectivity for the three USB ports. The AudioHub isn’t USB bus powered and requires an AC adapter, which is a good thing in this case.

This means that the hub can support USB devices that draw higher power and full speed USB flash drives. The design of the AudioHub is very attractive and functional. The satellite speakers use a sliding design so you can position them directly to the side of most notebooks allowing for a more attractive look and keeping sound from being blocked by your notebook.

If you use a webcam with your notebook, the AudioHub includes a removable webcam stand that helps to get your webcam to a more comfortable level so you don’t have to look down at it while video chatting. The AudioHub is compatible with Mac OS X and higher as well as Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista. Power output is 15 watts total and the AudioHub has two two-inch tweeters and one three-inch woofer.

In use, the AudioHub sounds very good and offers impressive levels of bass with movies and music. The highs and mids are good and the bass is deep for such a small system. The volume knob is illuminated as well so you can see it in dark environments. The only problem I had with the AudioHub was that the two included USB cables weren’t exactly perfect.

The 2-foot cable was too short to reach the USB port on my MacBook, while the 4-foot one was too long, and I ended up with lots of extra cable lying on my desk. Overall, the AudioHub is a great device, fans of music and movies on their notebook will love the audio quality, and you gain two more USB ports, which is always welcome on a notebook.

Toshiba Satellite A215-S4747 Budget Laptop PC

The Bottom Line
Overall the Toshiba Satellite A215-S4747 is a very strong budget notebook computer system. Performance is quite good with a very large amount of storage space. Battery life could be improved and the power saving functions can be annoying but can be corrected.

Pros

* Extremely Large Hard Drive
* Lots of Peripheral Connection Options

Cons

* Power Options Can Cause Issues With Screen
* Battery Life A Bit Below Normal

Description

* AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-56 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 200GB 4200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) Display with AMD Radeon X1200 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
* Four USB 2.0, FireWire, ExpressCard/54 and 5-in-1 Card Reader
* 14.3" x 10.6" x 1.6" @ 6.3 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, Works 8, Ulead Movie Factory

Guide Review - Toshiba Satellite A215-S4747 Budget Laptop PC

One of the first things that most people notice about the Toshiba Satellite A215-S4747 is the amount of storage space that it has. Most budget notebooks tend to include a fairly small 80GB hard drive in them. Toshiba has included an extremely large 200GB drive providing plenty of space for digital media files and programs. Of course, it also features the very standard dual layer DVD burner for playing back or recording of DVDs and CDs.

The system is based around the AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-56 dual core mobile processor. While this isn't as fast as the newer Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors, it does a respectable job at most general application tasks that users have. The 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory is about standard for this price segment and lets it run OK with Vista as long as not too many applications are open.

The Toshiba Satellite A215 notebook chassis also provides a lot of options for external peripherals. The system features a total of four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire port and the newer ExpressCard/54 slot. This is a good deal more than what many budget notebooks offer users.

This brings up probably the biggest issues with the Satellite A215-S4747 notebook. The battery life with all these features is a bit below average, but the power options are also set so that it can cause issues. Essentially the power options within Vista are set such that if the system is inactive for a short period of time (1 to 2 minutes), it will go into the sleep or hibernate modes. This can be annoying as it requires waking it up again, but it can be corrected by adjusting the power options to a longer period.

Sony VAIO VGN-NR160E/S Budget Laptop Computer System

The Bottom Line
Sony's VAIO NR160E/S is a surprising entry for the budget notebook segment. The system retains some of the features of more expensive VAIO notebooks such as its keyboard and even packs in good performance. The only real drawback is that it feels a bit cheap on the exterior compare to Sony's other notebooks and the competition.

Pros

* Lots of Hard Drive Space
* Very Good Keyboard

Cons

* Only Has Smaller ExpressCard/34 Slot
* Plastic Feel Is Bit Too Cheap Compared To Other VAIO Notebooks

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) Display with Intel GMA X3100 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wireless
* Four USB 2.0, FireWire (iLink), ExpressCard/34 and 3-in-1 Media Reader
* 14.2" x 10.6" x 1.5" @ 6.2 lbs.
* Windows Vista Home Premium, MS Works, Click to DVD, Norton 360

Guide Review - Sony VAIO VGN-NR160E/S Budget Laptop Computer System

Sony's new VAIO NR160 is a very surprising entry from a company that makes primarily expensive systems. On a whole, they did a very good job with this new system. While the exterior has a bit too much of a plastic feel that isn't as nice as some other budget systems or even Sony's other models, it does offer a solid computing experience for the price.

The NR160 is based around the Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 dual core mobile processor. This provides it with a good level of performance without using too much power and is definitely a step up from older Intel or AMD's current mobile processors in terms of performance. It is matched up with a full gigabyte of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory that lets it run the Vista Home Premium operating system alright, but with some slowdown with multiple applications.

The storage is one of the real bright spots on the Sony VAIO NR160. Most budget notebooks still feature a fairly small 80GB hard drive. Sony packs the system with a 160GB drive that doubles what most companies are offering. This problems extra space for all those digital media files or programs that one might have. The dual layer DVD burner can also handle the tasks of playing back or recording DVDs or CDs.

Sony is known for its strong LCD panels and the one in the NR160 is definitely very good. Color and contrast are above average for the price segment. It doesn't have the high resolution of its more expensive notebooks, but most people won't really notice or care.

It is nice to see that Sony is including features such as the new ExpressCard format into the NR160 notebook. It is just a shame that they decided to use the smaller 34mm rather than 54mm design. This will restrict the number of expansion card products that can be used with the system.

Lenovo ThinkPad R61 Budget Laptop Computer

The Bottom Line
Lenovo's ThinkPad R61 chassis brings a new level of sturdiness to low cost notebook's thanks to its new roll cage design. This is great for those looking for a reliable portable system, but the lack of other features standard to laptops in the same price range make it a less than stellar choice overall.

Pros

* New Sturdy Roll Cage Design
* Excellent ThinkPad Keyboard

Cons

* Only 512MB Memory
* Can't Burn DVDs
* No FireWire Port

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 512MB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) Display with Intel GMA X3100 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56kbps Modem, Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11a/b/g Wireless
* Three USB 2.0, One Type II PC Card Slot
* 14.1" x 10.2" x 1.5" @ 6.4 lbs.
* Windows XP Professional

Guide Review - Lenovo ThinkPad R61 Budget Laptop Computer

10/16/07 – Lenovo has done a major overhaul of their ThinkPad line of notebooks and that made it all the way down to the R series. The R61 uses the new roll cage design chassis that improves the rigidity and reduces the amount of flex. This is a great bonus to an already superbly reliable platform originally developed by IBM.

The ThinkPad R61 has a fairly powerful Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 dual core mobile processor at the heart of it. This is an excellent processor for such a low cost setup. The problem is that Lenovo has decided to ship only 512MB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory with it. That amount works OK for limited application use with the older Windows XP Professional operating system, but it really needs at least a full gigabyte for those looking to use it more heavily.

Storage is a bit disappointing on the ThinkPad R61. The 80GB hard drive is about normal for such a low cost laptop computer system. Most notebooks come equipped standard with a dual layer DVD burner, but Lenovo has chosen to include a CD-RW/DVD combo burner instead. Sure, it can playback DVDs and burn CDs but that cuts out an important feature most consumers would like to have.

There are other minor gripes with the system design as well. For example, the system lacks a FireWire port that is useful for importing digital video from a camcorder or the use of the Type II PC card slot over the newer ExpressCard format.

Even with all of this issues, the Lenovo ThinkPad R61 still is a solid general purpose laptop computer system. With a few upgrades, it will definitely provide a low cost platform that will last for a longer time than most budget notebooks.

Lenovo 3000 N200 Budget Notebook PC

The Bottom Line
Lenovo's 3000 N200 notebook has pretty much all the features one would expect to find in a low cost system plus a few others. The problem is that the system doesn't really set itself apart from other laptops on the market.
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Pros

* More Compact Design
* Integrated Fingerprint Scanner and Security

Cons

* Limited Software Bundle

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer DVD Burner
* 14.1" WXGA (1280x800) LCD with Intel GMA X3100 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wireless
* Four USB 2.0, FireWire, ExpressCard/54, 4-in-1 Media Reader, Fingerprint Scanner
* 13.2" x 9.7" x 1.4" @ 5.8 lbs.
* Windows XP Professional

Guide Review - Lenovo 3000 N200 Budget Notebook PC

10/15/07 – Lenovo's 3000 N200 notebook doesn't look all that different from the previous N100 model. It has received a number of updates to its core but it still strives to be a solid all around budget notebook system. It is now powered by the newer Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 dual core mobile processors that give it a good amount of performance without using too much power. This matched with a full gigabyte of memory lets it run smoothly with its Windows XP Professional operating system.

Storage is pretty much what one can expect from a low cost notebook. The 80GB hard drive is usable but not as large as more expensive notebooks. It should do fine if you don't need too much storage space for digital media files. The dual layer DVD burner allows it to playback or record CD and DVD media. A 4-in-1 media card reader also is there for use with flash media cards.

One nice thing Lenovo did with the 3000 N200 has to do with the screen. The notebook comes in 15.4 and 14.1-inch sizes. Thankfully, they have two different chassis designs suited for each one. In the case of the 14.1-inch screen unit being reviewed, it is smaller than the traditional 15.4-inch notebook. Many companies tend to use the same 15.4-inch case but use the smaller screen with larger bezel.

The problem is that the Lenovo 3000 N200 just doesn't really set itself apart from other budget notebooks. Sure, it has all the base features but there isn't any standout items that really make it a must have or problems that make it one to avoid. It also lives in the shadow of the reliable and popular ThinkPad series of notebooks.

HP Pavilion dv6605us Budget Laptop Computer System

The Bottom Line
HP's Pavilion dv6605us notebook is a low cost notebook that offers a very good set of features for those needing a solid general purpose computer. It may not be the fastest, cheapest or have the most storage, but it is good all around.

Pros

* Spacious Hard Drive
* Good Features For The Price

Cons

* Has Lots of Trialware
* Not As Quick As Core 2 Duo Notebook Offerings In Similar Price Range

Description

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 160GB 5400rpm SATA
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner With LightScribe
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) LCD And NVIDIA GeForce 7150 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
* Three USB 2.0, One FireWire, ExpressCard/54, 5-in-1 Media Card Reader
* 14.1" x 10.1" x 1.7" @ 6.2 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works, Muvee AutoProducer, Roxio Creator Basic, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - HP Pavilion dv6605us Budget Laptop Computer System

HP has pretty much used the AMD line of notebook processors for the majority of their budget oriented notebook systems. This is true for the Pavilion dv6605us notebook that uses the AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 dual core mobile processor. It isn't as fast as the Intel Core 2 Duo processors that are making their way into lower cost notebooks, but it does perform well enough for most computing tasks. The 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory will let it run the Vista operating system alright as long as not too many applications are open at once.

Storage is one of the better aspects of the Pavilion dv6605us. Most low cost notebooks still use the 80GB hard drive sizes. HP has installed a 160GB drive into this notebook, doubling the size of an average budget laptop. This allows the user to fit more digital media files and programs onto the system. The included dual layer DVD burner also has the ability to burn labels directly to LightScibe compatible media. Rounding out all of this is the 5-in-1 media card reader.

Graphics in the budget notebook market are generally one of the last things that manufacturers tend to look at. The 15.4-inch LCD screen is pretty standard for most notebook computers. The included NVIDIA GeForce 7150M integrated graphics is a step up for 3D graphics over the common Intel graphics, but it still prevents pretty much any real 3D gaming.

HP unfortunately is like most of the companies and offsets the costs of budget computers and installs a large amount of trailware applications. These tend to slow the system down a good deal which is a nuisance for most computer buyers. It would be nice to see them remove many of them to make the Pavilion dv6605us an even better laptop.

Gateway M-6823 Retail Budget Notebook PC

The Bottom Line
Gateway's M-6823 is an outstanding budget notebook system with some incredible features. The extremely large hard drive dwarfs the capacity of most competing notebooks and provides plenty of space for media files. It falls short from being perfect though due to some minor but key features.

Pros

* Very Large Storage Capacity
* Built-In Webcam

Cons

* Lacks FireWire
* Labelflash Media Difficult To Find

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 250GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner With LabelFlash
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) LCD with Intel GMA X3100 Integrated Graphics and 1.3Megapixel Webcam
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g Wireless
* Three USB 2.0, ExpressCard/54, 5-in-1 Media Card Reader
* 14" x 10" x 1.5" @ 6.3 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works, Cyberlink Power 2 Go, McAfee Internet Security

Guide Review - Gateway M-6823 Retail Budget Notebook PC

10/13/07 – The Gateway M-6823 retail notebook has a lot to offer for its price. Most notable of these features is the storage. Most budget notebooks tend to come with 80GB hard drives, but Gateway managed to put a 250GB drive into the M-6823. This provides three times the storage of a budget notebook and lets it have space for even large media files. The Labelflash compatible dual layber DVD burner is also a nice addition, but the media is extremely hard to find especially compared to the more common LightScribe labelling system.

Powering the Gateway M-6823 is the Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 dual core mobile processor. This is a good mix between performance and power usage that is becoming more common in budget systems. It is matched up with a full gigabyte of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory that lets it run Vista alright as long as there aren't too many applications open.

The 15.4-inch widescreen LCD display is the most common size for a budget system and does a good job. The newer Intel GMA X3100 graphics do help improve video playback on the screen and does 2D graphics just fine, but like most integrated graphics lacks any performance for 3D applications. Gateway has even included a 1.3 megapixel webcam into the bezel of the display.

All of these features add up to an extremely spectacular system, but it is marred by one major flaw. With all of these great items, Gateway failed to include a FireWire port into the system. This prevents anyone with a digital camcorder with FireWire from easily importing the video into the notebook. So if that's an important feature, you will want to look at other alternatives sadly.

Everex StepNote VA2001T Budget Notebook PC

The Bottom Line
The Everex StepNote VA2001T is certainly a very affordable notebook computer system with fairly average setup. It does have the advantage of a higher than average resolution for its 15.4" display, but the lack of expansion ports and the Vista Basic operating system really limit what one can do with this laptop.

Pros

* Inexpensive
* Higher Resolution Display

Cons

* Only Uses Vista Home Basic Operating System
* Lacks FireWire Port And Card Expansion Slot

Description

* Intel Pentium Dual Core T2080 Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 15.4" WXGA+ (1440x900) LCD Display and VIA Chrome9 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11b/g
* Three USB 2.0
* 14.1" x 10.7" x 1.5" @ 5.3 lbs.
* Vista Home Basic, Cyberlink DVD, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - Everex StepNote VA2001T Budget Notebook PC

10/12/07 – At first glance, the Everex StepNote VA2001T looks like a really strong budget notebook. The problem is that it lacks a number of key features that actually put it behind most other budget notebooks.

Powering the Everex StepNote VA2001T is the Intel Pentium Dual Core T2080 mobile processor. This is an older processor design that was common is budget notebooks, but many companies are moving to more power and efficient Core 2 Duo models. This puts the system behind most budget notebooks in terms of performance. The 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory is average and should let it use the Vista OS alright.

Storage is pretty much what you would expect for notebooks in this price range. The 80GB hard drive isn't large but meets the needs for most consumers. It also comes with a dual layer DVD burner for playing or recording DVDs and CDs.

One area that looks good is the StepNote's VA2001T display. Most 15.4” notebooks tend to have a 1280x800 resolution. Everex has managed to put a 1440x900 display that gives it more graphical workspace. The problem though is that they have linked this display up with the VIA Chrome9 integrated graphics. This is fine for 2D displays, but lacks any real 3D graphics performance or even features to improve video playback.

The big problem though is the lack of peripheral ports. The VA2001T lacks any FireWire, Type II PC Card or ExpressCard slots. This limits it to just a few USB peripherals. It also doesn't come with any form of media card reader.

All of this plus the Vista Home Basic software means that it really is only fit for a purpose looking for a low cost general purpose computer. After all, there are other laptops with more features for just a little more money.

Dell Inspiron 1520 Budget Notebook PC

The Bottom Line
Dell's Inspiron 1520 notebook will appeal to those looking for a stylish and customizable notebook computer on the cheap, but the overall base features and price put it a bit behind much of the competition. Dell has also had some issues with quality control with some of the system cases due to the color process.

Pros

* Avialable in Eight Different Colors
* Strong Dual Core Mobile Processor
* Customizable

Cons

* DVD Burner Is Not Standard On Budget Models
* Quality Control Issues

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2
* 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 24x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) LCD Display with Intel GMA X3100 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
* Four USB 2.0, One FireWire, ExpressCard/54, 8-in-1 Media Reader
* 14.1" x 10.6" x 1.7" @ 6.4 lbs.
* Windows Vista Home Premium, MS Works

Guide Review - Dell Inspiron 1520 Budget Notebook PC

One of the key features of Dell's new notebook lineup including the Inspiron 1520 is the choice of colors. For an extra $50, users can select from one of seven colors other than the basic black. The drawback is that some colors may cause delays in shipping and some colors have had reports of issues with the exterior cases by users.

One of the bright spots of the Inspiron 1520 is the processor. Dell has decided to use the Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 for the majority of its budget range. This is a solid dual core processor that provides excellent performance for the cost. Users who want to pay more can upgrade to the new T7000 series processors but it will greatly increase costs. It is matched up with 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory that is average for this segment and will let it run Vista.

Storage is where the Inspiron 1520 needs some help though. Dell insists on using the 24x CD-RW/DVD combo drives with the base budget models rather than using a more common dual layer DVD burner standard. The cost difference between the two is negligible. The 80GB hard drive space is about average for this price segment though.

Dell has used the newer Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor for the 1520. This is definitely an improvement for video playback functions, but it still lacks any form of 3D punch for gaming. Of course, 3D gaming is something that no budget notebook will really be able to deal with.

Overall, the Dell Inspiron 1520 isn't really that radical of the notebook system. The color options and customization is nice, but the selection for base components puts too much effort by the user to get a system that is comparable to others available on the market.

Compaq Presario V6620US Budget Notebook PC

The Bottom Line
The Compaq Presario V6620US is a near identical twin to HP's Pavilion dv6600 series of notebook computers. Even though it has a different brand name on it, the V6620US is a solid budget notebook offering that makes for an excellent general purpose notebook computer system.

Pros

* Lots of Hard Drive Space
* Strong Offering For the Price

Cons

* Not As Quick As Newer Intel Core 2 Duo Budget Processors
* Has Lots of Trialware Installed

Description

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core TK-55 Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 160GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner with LightScribe
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) LCD with NVIDIA GeForce 7150M Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless
* Three USB 2.0, One FireWire, ExpressCard/54, 5-in-1 Media Reader
* 14.1" x 10.1" x 1.6" @ 5.7 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, Works, AutoProducer Basic, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - Compaq Presario V6620US Budget Notebook PC

Compaq's new Presario V6600 line of notebooks is essentially identical to the HP Pavilion dv6600 line of notebook PCs. This is useful to know as consumers can pretty much look at either of the two models and be getting the exact same system.

Powering the Presario V6620US notebook computer is the AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 dual core mobile processor. This is a fairly strong offering from AMD that will work well for most computing tasks, but it isn't as energy efficient or powerful as the newer Intel Core 2 Duo processors starting to make it into the lower cost notebooks. The one gigabyte of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory is average for the market segment and lets it run Vista Home Premium alright, but don't expect to be multi tasking much without upgrading.

Storage is very strong for the budget oriented Presario V6620US. The system ships with a very large 160GB hard drive that is double the size of most notebooks in this price category. That gives plenty of room for storing digital media files that can quickly eat up space on a notebook computer. The DVD burner also supports LightScribe media for burning labels directly to the media.

The graphics and display for the Presario V6620US is common for the budget market. It uses the GeForce 7150M integrated graphics that severely limit its 3D capabilities, but is perfectly fine for other computing tasks.

All in all, the Presario V620US is a solid budget notebook offering that has a lot to offer for its price. This is definitely a system to put on the short list, and if you can't find the Presario, remember that the Pavilion dv6600 models are nearly identical.

ASUS F5R Budget Notebook Computer System

The Bottom Line
The ASUS F5R is marketed as being an "affordable" notebook computer, but its cost is on the higher end of the budget segment. Add to this the bare minimum memory, the Vista Basic operating system and the ASUS F5R just doesn't cut it in such a competitive market segment. There are better options available for an equal or even lesser amount.

Pros

* Includes 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
* Bluetooth Built-In

Cons

* Only 512MB Of Memory
* No FireWire Port
* Vista Home Basic Operating System

Description

* Intel Pentium Dual Core T2080 Mobile Processor
* 512MB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 80GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 15.4" WXGA (1280x800) LCD with Radeon Xpress 1100 Integrated Graphics
* 1.3Megapixel Webcam
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, 802.11b/g Wireless and Bluetooth
* Four USB 2.0, ExpressCard/54, 5-in-1 Media Card Reader
* 14.2" x 10.3" x 1.4" @ 5.8 lbs.
* Vista Home Basic

Guide Review - ASUS F5R Budget Notebook Computer System

10/9/07 – The ASUS F5R offers some unique features for a low cost laptop computer system. For one, it features a 1.3 megapixel web camera built into the LCD display bezel. It also packs into it a Bluetooth transceiver into the system that lets it communicate with various peripherals. This certainly makes it more useful for the business traveler than the system is geared towards, but there are a number of problems.

Powering the ASUS F5R is the Intel Pentium Dual Core T2080 mobile processor. This is bit of an odd selection as more and more budget oriented laptops are featuring the full Core 2 Duo processors that even support 64-bit software. The big issue though is the 512MB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory with it. This is half what the average budget notebook comes equipped with and is the bare minimum for running even the Vista Basic operating system. Don't expect much in terms of performance from this with some significant upgrades.

Storage isn't as bleak for the ASUS F5R but it isn't something that sets it apart for other budget notebooks. It comes equipped with an 80GB hard drive that is an average size and a dual layer DVD burner. It also has the requisite 5-in-1 media card reader found on most notebooks on the market.

Connectivity is a bit of hit and miss. The system does feature Bluetooth and mentioned above along with the usual fast Ethernet, modem and 802.11b/g wireless. It also comes equipped with the newer ExpressCard/54 expansion slot. With all of this, it fails to include a fairly standard FireWire port for use with digital camcorders.

Acer Aspire AS5050-5954 Budget Notebook Computer System

The Bottom Line
Acer's Aspire 5050 laptop is a fairly standard budget notebook offering on the market. It does provide a smaller and lighter profile than the average, but its performance and features are pretty much middle of the road. By not updating the platform with some newer features though, costs are low making it a more affordable laptop option.

Pros

* More Compact Design
* Generally Less Expensive Than Similarly Equipped Notebooks

Cons

* Lacks FireWire Port
* Uses Older PC Card Slot Vs. Newer ExpressCard Slot

Description

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-53 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 120GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* 14.1" WXGA (1280x800) LCD Display and Radeon Xpress 1100 Integrated Graphics
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wireless
* Three USB 2.0, Type II PC Card, 5-in-1 Media Card Reader
* 13.4" x 9.9" x 1.4" @ 5.3 lbs.
* Vista Home Premium, PowerDVD, CD-Maker, Norton Anti-Virus

Guide Review - Acer Aspire AS5050-5954 Budget Notebook Computer System

10/8/07 – Most budget notebooks tend to be either 15.4 or 17-inch models. Acer's Aspire 5050 uses a more compact 14.1-inch screen that gives it a more portable size and weight. This makes the system a good selection for someone who wants a low cost system that they will be traveling frequently with.

In terms of performance and features, the Aspire 5050 falls in the middle of the pack for budget laptops. It is based around the AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-53 dual core mobile processor. This is a bit slower than the more common TK-55 processor model, but the difference is not noticed by most people. The 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory is standard and should let the Vista Home Premium operating system run alright as long as there aren't too many applications open.

Storage is a bit better than average. Most budget notebooks tend to use 80GB hard drives. Acer installed a 120GB 5400rpm drive into the Aspire 5050 that provides it with 50% more storage than the average budget laptop. A standard dual layer DVD burner is also included that lets it playback or record CDs and DVDs.

If there is one area that the Aspire 5050 really needs improvement, it is in the connectivity. The system has three USB ports, but fails to include any FireWire ports. This means that system can't easily connect to most digital camcorders. It also uses the older Type II PC Card slot rather than the newer ExpressCard for expansion.

The upside to all of this is that the Acer Aspire 5050 tends to have a price below many newer budget systems on the market, making it a decent choice for those on a tight budget.

RiData 16GB 1.8-inch Solid State Flash Drive

The Bottom Line
The RiData 16GB solid state flash drive is a welcome addition to the notebook storage market, but it will have limited appeal. It certainly will benefit systems by extended battery life with its low power consumption and quick file access, but the limited space and high cost will certainly detract many from using such a drive.

Pros

* Very Low Power Usage
* Extremely Fast Access Times
* Durable Design Due to Lack of Moving Parts

Cons

* Very Expensive
* Limited Storage Space
* Average Sustained Transfer Rates

Description

* 16 Gigabytes Storage Capacity
* 1.8-inch Notebook Form Factor
* IDE/ATA-6 Ultra DMA 5 Interface
* 40MB/s Read, 35MB/s Write Performance
* .5W Power Consumption

Guide Review - RiData 16GB 1.8-inch Solid State Flash Drive

The RiData 16GB SSD flash drive is the first such product from RiTek. The 1.8-inch drive uses the ATA-6 interface that allows it to be a drop in replacement for notebooks that uses the standard drive size.

First off, the 16GB of storage space of the RiData drive is very limited. The average install size for Windows XP can range from three to four gigabytes in size. This may be why many notebook companies are looking to use solid state as primary storage and having a secondary hard drive unit.

One of the big draws to solid state drives is their extremely fast access times. In fact, during testing of the RiData 16GB SSD, the flash drive was roughly ten times faster at accessing data on the drive. This can greatly improve performance for tasks that require frequent data access. The interface speed is limited to 40MB/s though, and this means that sustained transfer rates are not really any better than a normal hard drive. Many ask me if this will speed up a cold boot of Windows, and the answer is yes, but not by very much.

The real major advantage of the RiData 16GB SSD drive is power consumption. The average notebook hard drive draws roughly a half watt of power when idle and up to three or more when fully running. The solid state drive on the other hand consumes less than a half watt of power regardless of its active or idle state. This can greatly extend the battery life of a notebook system, something extremely important for ultraportable notebooks that have limited space for batteries.

Of course, the cost of solid state drives is still quite high, and that is no different for the RiData drive. This is really a drive for those willing to sacrifice space and cost for battery life.

Shuttle XPC G2 3200B Small Form Factor Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
On the whole, the Shuttle XPC G2 3200B provides a solid small space desktop computer experience, it just doesn't really offer much new in the platform and isn't as competitive as it should be with pricing.

Pros

* Full Desktop Components
* Space For PCI-Express Graphics Card

Cons

* Relatively Expensive

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Dual Core Desktop Processor
* 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 20x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0, Two Firewire, 22-in-1 Card Reader
* 11.8" x 7.9" x 7.3"
* Vista Business, MS Works

Guide Review - Shuttle XPC G2 3200B Small Form Factor Desktop PC

Shuttle's XPC G2 3200B is designed as a small space business platform. There are other models that are available for consumers as well, but in general they tend to be a bit more expensive than regular sized desktops. The G2 3200B has a wide variety of configurations available as they are all custom built to order based upon Shuttle's XPC barebones kits.

In terms of performance, the XPC G2 3200B does performance quite well thanks to it use of all desktop components. The Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 however is a budget oriented dual core desktop processor. This is perfectly fine for general purpose computing, but a bit anemic for more processor intensive tasks such as digital video or PC gaming. At least it includes two full gigabytes of PC2-5300 DDR2 that lets it run smoothly even with the Vista operating system.

Storage is quite good for the XPC G2 3200B. The 250GB desktop sized hard drive is about average for what consumers will see in a desktop system. There is a 22-in-1 card reader that fills up the second available 3.5” hard drive bay. This can be removed and replaced with a second hard drive for those needed more storage. A speedy 20x rated dual layer DVD burner is included for optical storage.

One of the nice things about the Shuttle XPC line of computers is their graphics. While the XPC G2 3200B comes with the standard Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics, it does have space for a standard desktop sized PCI-Express graphics cards. This is especially a bonus over the slim desktop system designs that force users to find half-height graphics cards that are very limited in selection. The case still does have its limits and many of the newer high end graphics cards can't be used due to power and space restraints.

Polywell MiniBox 965Qx Small Form Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
Polywell's MiniBox 965Qx provies a solid all around computing experience. With its standard desktop components, it provides plenty of performance in a relatively small package. It is also customizable for those that may not need two LCD monitors or what to switch around features.

Pros

* Dedicated 3D Graphics Card
* Plenty of Hard Drive Space
* Twin LCD Monitors

Cons

* No Software Included
* Above Average Price

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo E6320 Dual Core Desktop Processor
* 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* Two 250GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drives
* Sony 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer DVD Burner
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT Graphics Card with 256MB Memory
* Twin 19" (1280x1024) LCD Monitors
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Eight USB 2.0, Two FireWire, 9-in-1 Memory Card Reader
* 14" x 9" x 11"
* Vista Home Premium

Guide Review - Polywell MiniBox 965Qx Small Form Desktop PC
Polywell's MiniBox 965Qx desktop uses their traditional cube style case and replaces the older AMD based system with the more current Intel Core 2 architecture. It doesn't use the latest chipset, but does provide support for many of the desktop processor models. Powering the base configuration is the E6320 dual core processor that provides it with plenty of power. It is matched up with two full gigabytes of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory to let ot run smoothly even with Vista.

The MiniBox cube design allows it to have space for a number of full sized desktop components and this really benefits the storage space. Polywell even packs in two 250GB desktop hard drives to provide it with a surprising 500GB of total storage space. It also provides a 16x dual layer DVD burner from Sony that is definitely a step up from notebook style burners in many small form factors. This gives the MiniBox a clear edge in storage or most mini PCs.

In addition to the storage space, Polywell packs in a lot of graphics features into its 965Qx. The system can fit a standard PCI-Express graphics card. In fact, they have included a NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT Direct X 10 compatible graphics card in the system. It isn't the fastest card out there, but is sufficient for most needs and casual PC gaming. The main reason for this though is to drive the two 19” LCD monitors that come with it. This dual monitor setup can be useful, but one can downgrade to a single monitor setup if needed.

All of this does come at a bit of a price step over many other small PCs. Most mini and slim PCs cost less, but don't have as many features. Of course, Polywell generally does not include any software packages installed on their PCs beyond the base operating system.

Lenovo ThinkCentre A61e Small Desktop Personal Computer

The Bottom Line
Lenovo's ThinkCentre A61e is a new generation of small business desktop that delivers good performance on extremely low power consumption. This makes it a strong chocie for those looking for an energy efficient machine, but the features make it only an average overall system.

Pros

* Very Low Power Consumption
* Relatively Low Cost

Cons

* Lacks FireWire Port
* Limited Expansion Choices

Description

* AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 Dual Core Desktop Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* ATI Radeon X1200 Integrated Graphics
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0 Ports
* 10.8" x 9.5" x 3.2"
* Vista Business, ThinkVantage Suite, RecordNow!, WinDVD

Guide Review - Lenovo ThinkCentre A61e Small Desktop Personal Computer

10/1/07 – One of the big selling features of the ThinkCentre A61e small desktop system by Lenovo is its power usage. Their advertising claims that it can conceivably run off solar power. While this may be possible in some areas under the right conditions, I doubt that it would really be possible. So, how does this system use so little power? It comes down to their choice in processor.

The ThinkCentre A61e uses the newer AMD Athlon X2 BE-2350 dual core processor. This is a new core design that was based off the older Athlon 64 X2 cores but uses a smaller die size and lower voltages. This lets it perform quite well without using too much power. The drawback to this processor however is its performance. It does not quite meet up to the performance levels of the higher rated AMD desktop cores currently available. Still it does perform quite well at general purpose applications such as those used in a business system.

Even though the ThinkCenter A61e is really aimed at business looking to reduce their power conumptions, they have finally updated their business line of computers. Previously they would always include a CD-RW combo drive, but they break that traditional by including a dual layer DVD burner. This makes it much more attractive to general consumers. Admittedly, the 160GB hard drive is a bit small for a consumer system.

The biggest drawback to the ThinkCentre A61e though is its expansion capabilities. The system does have six USB 2.0 ports, but it lacks FireWire used by many camcorders for digital video. The half-height card slots also limit what cards can be installed.

HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen LCD Display Review

Features & Specifications

The HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen LCD Display has a 1680 x 1050 native resolution at a 60Hz refresh rate. The typical contrast is 1000:1 with up to 300 nits of brightness. The gray-to-gray response time is 5ms and the display has integrated speakers on the rear. Input options include VGA and DVI-D with HDCP capability for protected high definition movie formats. HP includes both a VGA and a DVI cable with the monitor.

The screen is glossy and uses HP’s BriteView technology to enhance the clarity and color of images on screen. On the rear of the display is a pair of USB ports for connecting other peripherals. The display measures in at 18.9 x 20.5 x 11.3 inches and weighs 19.8 pounds unpacked.

HP w2207 in Use

After extracting the HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen LCD Display from the package and connecting it to my PC via DVI I fired up Underworld Evolution to test the image quality for movie watching. The display performed very well with nice sharp colors that were natural and lifelike. Black levels were good and pixilation in gray transition areas was minimal.

The integrated rear speakers are decent enough for integrated speakers. Mids and highs sounded good, but bass was lacking. The speakers are mounted on the back of the display so they don’t mar the attractive look of the front of the display and the speakers have 2W x 2 of power.

HP made it very easy to rotate the screen from landscape to portrait mode by simply gripping the sides of the HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen LCD Display and turning the display. The content on screen automatically adjusts to the orientation change with included software.

The stand for the HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen LCD Display only has adjustment for height and tilt. The stand can raise the display by about 4-inches. This was plenty of height for me at 5’ 10”, but if you are taller than I am you may well find you need to look down at the display. The base of the display stand is flat and designed to allow you to stow your keyboard under the monitor to clear off your desk.

I also played Bioshock on the display and found that the screens response time is more than adequate for PC gaming. I noticed no ghosting or smearing of on screen images during my game play. Users looking for a display for normal computer work will like the fact that the 22-inch screen offers enough screen real estate to get tow documents on screen at once. In all at an MSRP of $360 the HP w2207 22-inch Widescreen LCD Display performs very well. Taller users may find they need to invest in a display shelf to raise the monitor up to more comfortable levels.

IronKey Launches Secure USB Flash Drive for Enterprises and the Military

IronKey Inc., a provider of secure portable computing products and Internet security services, announced today the launch and availability of the IronKey: Enterprise Special Edition, a secure flash drive designed for use on sensitive government, military and enterprise networks.

"We have been working closely with numerous enterprises and government agencies to develop an IronKey that retained the military-grade hardware encryption and nearly indestructible design of the original IronKey, but that can be easily deployed in extremely sensitive and restrictive network environments," said David Jevans, CEO of IronKey and Chairman of the Anti-Phishing Working Group. "And that is what the IronKey: Enterprise Special Edition is, a device designed to protect the most critical data assets of our government, military and enterprise customers."

The IronKey: Enterprise Special Edition, like all of IronKey's product family, has been designed to be the world's most secure USB flash drive, using onboard hardware encryption to protect the gigabytes of files that can be stored on the device. No software or drivers need to be installed on your computer to use an IronKey. A password is used to unlock your IronKey, and this is verified in hardware. If an IronKey is lost or stolen, attempts to unlock or tamper with the IronKey will trigger a self-destruct sequence, ensuring data is kept confidential.

Designed For Government, Military & Enterprise Networks

Designed for use on sensitive networks, the IronKey: Enterprise Special Edition automatically performs dynamic drive mapping to function seamlessly in enterprise environments with network-mapped drives. It does not include Firefox, Secure Sessions, Secure Updates or the IronKey Password Manager that ship with the consumer version of the device, making it ideal for military, government and enterprise deployments where there are strict requirements about use of browsers and networking connections.

IronKeys can easily satisfy most organizations' network management policies and interoperate with enterprise management and endpoint security products from the industry's leading providers and the IronKey Enterprise Security Alliance. The IronKey Enterprise Security Alliance is a partnering program that brings together vendors from different parts of the security and portable computing infrastructure to help create new highly secure enterprise and government solutions that can work across a variety of computing platforms including Windows, MAC, and Linux.

The IronKey: Enterprise Special Edition features include:

* Hardware-Encrypted USB Flash Drive: With its strong hardware AES cryptography and authentication, there is no need to install additional hardware, software or drivers.
* No Administrator Privileges Needed: Unlike many other encryption products, the IronKey does not require Administrator privileges on Windows XP or Vista.
* Designed for Enterprise Networks: The IronKey performs dynamic drive letter mapping for use in enterprise environments with network-mapped drives.
* Tamper-Resistant and Waterproof: The IronKey is designed so that it cannot be physically tampered with or disassembled by a determined hacker. The IronKey has also tested, passed, and exceeded military waterproof standards (MIL-STD-810F).
* Easy to Inventory: Each IronKey has a unique, easy-to-read serial number, making it easy for IT managers to inventory the devices.
* Assists in Regulatory Compliance: The IronKey helps organizations meet regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, Sarbanes-Oxley and GLBA.
* Rugged and Durable: Unlike plastic USB drives, the IronKey's rugged metal casing is filled solid with epoxy, making it both tamperproof and waterproof.

HP Pavilion s3120n Slimline Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
HP's Pavilion s3120n slimline desktop system is a great overall value for those looking to get a small form factor desktop. While it may not be one of the fastest small form factor systems on the market, it certainly comes packed with features and is more the capable as a general purpose PC.

Pros

* Wireless Network Adapter Built-In
* Relatively Low Cost
* Pocket Media Drive Bay

Cons

* Slower AMD Athlon X2 4200+ Processor
* Half-Height Expansion Slots Limit Card Choices

Description

* AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Dual Core Desktop Processor
* 2GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner With LightScribe
* NVIDIA GeForce 6150 Integrated Graphics
* HDA Audio
* v.92 56Kbps Modem, 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11b/g Wireless
* Five USB 2.0 Ports, One FireWire, 15-in-1 Memory Card Reader
* 13.9" x 4.2" x 10.9"
* Vista Home Premium, MS Works 8, Roxio Creator, Norton Internet Security

Guide Review - HP Pavilion s3120n Slimline Desktop PC

9/27/07 – While most small form factor systems tend to use the new Intel Core 2 Duo desktop or mobile processors, HP has decided to stick with the AMD Athlon 64 X2 line of desktop processors. For the Pavilion s3120n system, it uses the X2 4200+ dual core model. This definitely puts it at a disadvantage in terms of processing prower compared to many of its competitors, but it still is plenty for most user applications. The two full gigabytes of PC2-5300 DDR memory allow it to run smoothly even with the Vista Home Premium operating system.

Storage with the Pavilion s3120n is excellent. The system comes with the 320GB desktop sized hard drive that provides plenty of space. If you need additional space, the front of the case has a slot for an optional HP pocket media drive. This is essentially a external notebook sized drive that docks easily in the supplied drive bay. Optical storage is handled with a standard 16x dual layer DVD burner that also supports burning labels to LightScribe compatible media.

Graphics wise, the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 6150 does provide better 3D graphics support than the Intel integrated solutions, but it still will not really handle most 3D PC games. There is an available PCI-Express x16 graphics slot, but it is limited to only using half-height designed cards that can be quite difficult to find.

One of the big surprises with the Pavilion s3120n though is the networking. The system comes with a built-in 802.11b/g wireless networking adapter. This makes connecting the system up to an existing wireless network a breeze and allows more freedom in placing it in the house. Of course, there is still a 10/100 Ethernet and v.92 modem for those requiring wired networking.

Gateway S-5405S Slim Business Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
The base configuration of the Gateway S-5405S slim desktop system is very much geared towards being a low cost small business system. Unfortunately it lacks a number of features standard on many competing systems. Of course, one can customize it to better match their needs, but it does add to the cost.

Pros

* Inexpensive
* Can Be Customized With Wide Range of Options

Cons

* No DVD Burner Standard
* Limited Hard Drive Space
* Lacks FireWire

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Dual Core Desktop Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 80GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 48x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
* Intel GMA 3000 Integrated Graphics
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Eight USB 2.0 Ports
* 15.2" x 17.6" x 7.1"
* Windows XP Professional, MS Works 8.5, Cyberlink PowerDVD, McAfee Internet Security

Guide Review - Gateway S-5405S Slim Business Desktop PC

Gateway's S-5405S slim desktop PC is very clearly targeted at businesses. This is evident from a number of key component decisions on the base configuration. For example, it comes with Windows XP Professional over the more common Vista Home Premium, has a relatively small 80GB hard drive and a CDRW combo drive rather than a DVD burner. This is generally not a problem with businesses that don't have a need for these, but it is an important consideration for consumers looking at it for a home or home office.

In terms of performance, the Gateway S-5405S uses full desktop components for its constructions. Rather than a normal desktop tower design though, the case uses a slim design that reduces the width. This does mean that the internal PCI-Express and PCI card slots use a half-height design that will reduce the available expansion card options. Performance on the whole does not suffer though as it still has the same desktop components that would be found in the normal sized S-5405D model.

Performance is decent with the Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 dual core processor and its 1GB of PC2-5300 DDR memory. Thanks to it running Windows XP, the memory is plenty for it to run smoothly, although an upgrade to 2GB is recommended if the system is going to be switched to using Vista instead. Those needing more performance can also customize the system to have a faster processor and more memory.

One of the big things going for the Gateway S-5405S is its low cost. This is a very inexpensive business desktop system. Of course, those savings can be quickly eaten up by the need to upgrade the various components from the base configuration.

Dell Inspiron E530s Slimline Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
Dell's Inspiron E530s slimline design helps reduce the overall size of the system but it retains much of the performance and features of its full sized version. This is a great low cost system for those looking to save a little desktop space but dont want to sacrifice performance.

Pros

* Full Desktop Components
* Relatively Low Cost
* Includes LCD Monitor

Cons

* Half-Height Card Slots Limit Expansion Possibilities
* Lacks FireWire Port

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo E4400 Dual Core Desktop Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 Memory
* 320GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive
* 16x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
* Intel GMA X3100 Integrated Graphics
* Dell SE198WFP 19" LCD Monitor
* 10/100 Ethernet
* Six USB 2.0 Ports
* 14.2" x 17.1" x 3.9"
* Vista Home Premium, Works 8

Guide Review - Dell Inspiron E530s Slimline Desktop PC

9/25/07 – Dell's Inspiron E530s is a slimmed down version of their standard E530 desktop computer system. Its slender case design helps reduce the size of the overall system, but retains all the desktop components found in its full sized version.

Powering the Inspiron E530s is the Intel Core 2 Duo desktop processor lineup. The base configuration includes the budget oriented E4400 that still performs quite well. It is matched up with one gigabyte of PC2-5300 DDR2 memory. This is sufficient for Windows Vista to operate, but users are recommended to upgrade to two full gigabytes.

Storage is quite strong with the Inspiron E530s. The larger slimline case has an advantage in the amount of space it can have for drives. This means it contains a full size dual-layer desktop DVD burner. It also can handle multiple desktop hard drives. Dell packs in a standard 320GB 7200rpm hard drive that is sufficient for most applications and has options for upgrades for those needing more.

Graphics wise, the Inspiron E530s uses the new Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics. While its 3D performance is still quite low, it does feature improved support for items such as streaming video that make it a good choice. There is a PCI-Express x16 graphics slot in the computer, but its half-height design severely limits the options of graphics cards that can be installed. Don't expect to get any high-end PC graphics cards that can fit in the slot.

Included with most Dell systems is their great lineup of LCD monitors. In the case of the Inspiron E530s, it comes with a 19” SE198WFP widescreen display. The best part however is the price for this package that is significantly lower than many comparable small desktop systems.

AOpen MiniPC MP965-DR Small Form Factor Desktop PC

The Bottom Line
AOpen's MiniPC MP965-DR is a good option for those looking for a small desktop computer system for general purpose use. It's small size, quiet and energy efficient design allow it to be used in almost any environment. Those looking to use it for a home theater or gaming will definitely want to look at option small form factor options though.

Pros

* Extremely Small And Lightweight
* Low Power Consumption

Cons

* Limited Expansion
* Relies Solely on Notebook Components
* No TV Tuner Option

Description

* Intel Core 2 Duo T7300 Dual Core Mobile Processor
* 2GB PC2-53300 DDR2 Memory
* Toshiba 160GB 5400rpm 2.5" SATA Hard Drive
* 8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Slot Loading Burner
* Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
* HDA Audio
* Gigabit Ethernet
* Four USB 2.0, 1 FireWire
* 6.5" x 6.5" x 2"
* Windows Vista Home Premium

Guide Review - AOpen MiniPC MP965-DR Small Form Factor Desktop PC

9/24/07 – The AOpen Mini PC MP965-DR is one of the smallest desktop systems available on the market. The reason that it is so small is that it is built from notebook components. This means that the performance is going to be less than that of a traditional desktop computer system and more on par with your average thin and light system. At least they are using the newer Intel Core 2 Duo processor lineup that uses the faster PC2-5300 DDR2 memory. On the plus side, if you are concerned about power consumption, the notebook components use much less power.

In order to fit in such a small package, the MP965-DR utilizes a slim notebook DVD burner as well as a 2.5” notebook hard drive. This limits the amount of storage available in the system and it is recommended that users select a larger 160GB hard drive with the 5400rpm spin rate. This will give the best overall performance from the system, but it still lacks compared to a desktop PC.

Don't expect much in terms of graphics with the MiniPC. AOpen has elected to use the Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics inside of the box. This means that it has very limited 3D capabilities and should not be considered for anyone looking at PC gaming even in a casual sense. This also highlights one of the issues with the expansion capabilities of the MP965-DR. Since it is so tightly integrated, there is no space for expansion beyond its limited number of USB and single FireWire ports.

One really disappointing aspect of the AOpen MP965-DR is the lack of an integrated TV tuner. This is an option with the kit itself, but it is not included as part of the system package. Users who want this feature must purchase and install it separately from the configuration tools.

Logitech G9 Laser Mouse Review

Logitech is one of the most well known manufacturers of gaming peripherals on the market. Many gamers will argue that Logitech makes the best gaming mice around. The Logitech G7 and G5 gaming mice were big winners for Logitech and worked very well for gamers of all skill levels. Recently Logitech released their latest gaming mouse called the Logitech G9 Laser Mouse.

Features and Specifications

Like the G7 and G5 gaming mice, the Logitech G9 Laser Mouse has on-the-fly adjustable sensitivity levels, but in a first for Logitech the G9 offers up to 3200 dpi sensitivity setting and a polling rate of 1000 reports per second. These two features combine to bring you no lag and fantastic accuracy and speed.

Logitech says that the mouse can withstand 20G of accelerating and read at a maximum speed of up to 45-66 inches per second. The sensitivity can be adjusted form a low of 200 dpi to a high of 3200 dpi. Logitech ships the G9 with two interchangeable grips. One grip is called the Wide Load for gamers who palm their mouse and the other is the Precision grip for those who control the mouse more with the fingertips. Logitech says that there will be other grips available for purchase later.

Like the Logitech G5, the G9 has a weight tuning system. Under the grip is a slide out weight tray that allows you to insert up to 28 grams of weight. The G9 also has large mouse feet that glide well over a variety of surfaces to reduce friction. One of the best features of the Logitech G9 Laser Mouse is the MicroGear scroll wheel.

The scroll wheel is very similar to what Logitech uses on the VX Nano and Revolution mice. A button on the bottom of the G9 allows you to change between free wheel and click mode. Whichever mode you are in, you can still use the mouse wheel click to execute commands in games. The software for the G9 also allows you to change the color of the LED lights and map commands to the buttons on the G9. The G9 requires the use of SetPoint to program the mouse, but features onboard memory so once you program the mouse the first time you can use it on systems without drivers.

Installation and Gaming

Installing the G9 required the installation of SetPoint and plugging the mouse into a vacant USB port. The software is straight forward and allows you to choose from lots of colors for the LED lights. Many of the LED light colors you can choose from look the same on the mouse. The reds tend to be more pink and I couldn’t find an orange that really matched the backlighting on the new G15 keyboard.

The two grips are easy to interchange and remove by simply pressing a button on the rear of the mouse and slipping the other cover over the pegs that lock it into place. The weight-tuning cartridge works well and makes a significant difference in the feel of the mouse while gaming.

The new scroll wheel on the Logitech G9 Laser Mouse is great for a gaming mouse. I didn’t find the free wheel mode to be good for me while gaming, it was hard to choose weapons with precision. However, the free wheel mode is fantastic for general computer work and makes scrolling long documents and web pages much easier.

The thumb buttons are located well and are placed where they are easy to reach, but not so close to your hand that you click them accidentally. The buttons on the G9 offer good feel and feedback when pressed. A button on the bottom of the mouse allows you to change profiles. You can also set LED colors for your profiles, which makes it much easier to remember which profile is where since the G9 can store up to five complete with keyboard macros.

The software is easy to use and if you have used SetPoint before you pretty much know how to program the G9. Gaming with the G9 is fantastic; I love the 3200 dpi sensitivity setting. While 3200 dpi is too much sensitivity for me in many game situations and for normal computer work, the setting is perfect for tasks like driving tanks if Battlefield 2142 where higher sensitivity makes controlling the vehicle easier. In all the Logitech G9 Laser Mouse is my new favorite gaming mouse and is easily the best gaming mouse that Logitech has ever made, which is saying a lot.