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However much desk space you have it seems never to enough, if you have a tower or mini tower you can probably move it under the desk, a lot of panels have a USB hub but that still leaves the problem of the keyboard and the mouse.
Here I am looking at a small keyboard and a mouse that looks more like a pen in a holder than the traditional rodent. I laid this on top of my standard keyboard and its about 2/3 the size. The actual dimensions are 28.5x14x.7cm, the last figure is at the key end the back can be up to 3.5cm if you use the tilt supports. It runs on two ‘AAA’ rechargeable batteries which you charge when needed by a retractable USB to micro USB lead (supplied).
Recycling unwanted goods can be big business for some people.
What do companies such as Samsung, HP, Toshiba, Logitech, Acer and Canon have in common? That is apart from the obvious IT connection shared by these companies. To save you the bother of indulging in some wild guessing while providing me with the lead in for this particular report, I will provide the answer to my own question. All the aforementioned companies feature in a recently published Top Ten listing.
If you move around then the most important things with a notebook/tablet are good battery life and unless you spend a good bit of time in the gym the weight of the unit or to be precise the lack of weight, this unit from ASUS ticks both boxes.
This ASUS Zen Book measures 32x22x1.2cm and weights 1344grams. Firstly as a normal notebook the slight copperish tinge to the lid, base and keyboard surround means no nasty fingermarks to show. Sadly this does not apply to the standard shiny black around the screen. The left side has a USB port, SD Card Slot, two pin hole LEDs with explanation, volume rocker and finally on/off button. The front and back are clear. The right side has DC input, USB port, USB 3.1 port, mini HDMI out and 3.
Version 2 of Power PDF from Nuance is an update that has also been designed to take into account the latest features in Windows 10 including touch screen technology.
Keeping track of vulnerable and elderly family members is the aim of this next product from Acticheck.
Activity type products, often in the form of wristbands, continue to be a popular item. Generally these types of devices concentrate their functionality on providing the user with data dealing with the wearer’s lifestyle and current medical issues. This data can then be used by the host subject for their own needs. But this is not the only approach adopted by a wristband product used when tracking the wearer’s physical condition.
Time for some Match-3 action with a sprinkling of Hidden Object game play as you try to keep the peace between humans and dragons in this next title.
If like me you enjoy a good manual then this unit should make you happy. The manual I saw was in PDF format – sadly not something to read in the bath – and it is 156 pages with 144 pages before the safety and warranty pages, bliss.
If you purchase this unit I assume that the manual will be in print as the camera I had for just one week came without a box just the component parts in bubble wrap. While you might purchase the unit ‘body only’ I was sent an 18-135mm lens with it as the latest 155mm lens is not yet available. Certainly a unit to attach the neck strap to securely as it weighs 1140grams. It is 14.5x12x9cm with the lens collapsed and fully extended it increases the first figure the length to 20.5cm.
This next product adds WiFi functionality to a Powerline solution.
While WiFi is often the chosen option of many when setting up a home network with the minimum of disruption, this method is not always totally suitable for certain dwellings with walls getting in the way and blocking the passage of the wireless signal. In such instances you might prefer going with a solution that helps circumvent the problem caused by blocking walls while still retaining some of the benefits of WiFi.
This is a portable speaker system that can sound great indoors as well as out. This is a Bluetooth and 3.5mm system that looks stylish and has a battery that lasts well over the claimed eight hours even when playing via Bluetooth.
The Edifer MP700 bluetooth speaker measures 29x10x6.5cm with handle down with handle raised its height is raised from 10cm to 16.5cm, the unit weights 1569grams. My first joy with this unit was that the User Manual was bigger than the safety instruction manual. The second joy was the sound quality initially from 3.5mm lead and once I read the manual – ten small sides – via Bluetooth and later via NFC. While the manual is not large it is clear and has plenty of illustrations.
This machine uses pod coffee from Lavazza and they do a huge range so you should find at least one you like, it also has a fool proof milk frother jug as part of the unit now there is no longer an excuse not to have a perfect Cappuccino at home.
The Lavazza A Modo Mio Fantasia coffee machine measures 32x17x27cm, the last figure needs some extra clearance as the mechanism to insert the pods requires this to be lifted to move the used pods to the internal storage area and this adds around 12cm to the height. Do remember to empty this regularly as it also contains waste coffee from the pod and otherwise it can overflow.
BenQ manufacturers a range of monitors for different situations including this business model
Designed for a business environment, the BenQ BL-2405 model is a 24-inch backlight monitor with the capability to act in portrait and landscape modes depending upon your needs. This combination of display screen and adjustable stand has dimensions of 503 x 579 x 213mm in portrait orientation and 392 x 579 x 213mm when used in landscape mode. There is also an option to wall mount the unit if desk space is a problem.
The word convertible brings my mind to cars where the roof opens out and in a way turning a Notebook into a Tablet is much the same transformation. This Pavilion unit from HP can be a standard Notebook however push the screen back through 180 degrees and you have a Tablet.
The HP Pavilion X360 Convertible laptop/tablet computer measures 32x22x2cm and weighs 1660 grams, the viewable screen is 29.5x16.5cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 13 inches the native screen resolution is 1920x1080.
Turning your digital images into a slideshow has never been easier with this next product from MAGIX.
Our love affair with all things digital has resulted in many terabytes of storage space, whether of the local variety or that situated in the virtual expanse referred to as the Cloud, being taken up by our personal collections of digital photographs. While readily available via various approaches, it does seem rather wasteful if these representatives of our personal memories are left to gather a form of digital dust, caused by faded memories, through the lack of use.
As you can probably guess from the title, The Trilogy: Princess Isabella is a collection of three games featuring Princess Isabella who has somehow got on the wrong side of an evil witch intent in doing as much mischief as she can, These titles, in chronological order, are the Witch’s Curse, Witch’s Curse 2 and The Rise of an Heir. In each case, GSP has bundled the Collector’s Edition of the game with accompanying bonus items.
For those who need a larger screen than even the largest phone can offer and need to be able work when out of Wi-Fi range then a Tablet such as this sold by Vodafone may well solve all your needs just don’t hold it to your ear for answering a phone call.
It is 25.5x15.5x.7cm and weighs 450 grams. The viewable screen is 21.5x13.5cm which gives the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 10.1 inches. The native display is 1920x1080. The edges and back are silver grey with the standard shiny black for the front which unfortunately does show finger marks. The edges are very smooth with on/off and volume rocker towards the top of the right side and the base as well as the left side having nothing. The top has 3.
Data is valuable. It is up to you to ensure it is fully protected especially when it is being transported.
Call them what you will – whether flash drives, thumb drives or whatever – these items have certainly made it easier to physically transport data between locations and computers. However this functionality brings with it an increase in the possibility of this data being lost either accidentally or being misappropriated by others.
The Ambiano Premium Stand Mixer, ref. 68007, will go on sale in Aldi stores nationwide and online as one of the company’s “specials” on 20th October. It is a solidly build traditional food mixer which comes with extra accessories to increase its versatility.
Employing a 1000W direct drive motor for reliability the machine offers eight different speed settings from slow for gentle mixing or kneading up to a high whisking speed. The rotary switch also offers a pulse setting. It certainly appears to be robust enough for all domestic food preparation tasks and it had no problem in kneading dough even though, in the instruction book, there is a warning against overheating. The mixer, which is available in red, cream or champagne, is provided with a 4.
While top of the range SmartPhones are in the middle hundreds there are a few ‘more basic’ offerings often with older operating systems that are available for say £50. So what can you expect to get for well under one hundred pounds?
One such is the Obi MVI which looks a little different simply because the top is flat and the base is curved. It has – like some other phones – a skin over the Android 5.1.1 operating system their offering is called Cyanogen. It is a little different in that all the Apps are displays in groups under the initial letter so in a way you can move quicker to what you want.
This is the latest version of the backup software that has protected me for many years. They do two versions one you purchase outright and other a 12 month subscription which of course will give you lots of updates during the year.
I usually just install the latest version on my work machine and continue my regime of weekly full backups. Being a belt and braces person, I also do separate backups for emails and for any work in progress files.
Kaspersky Internet Security 2017 forms one-third of the company’s latest batch of protection software for PC, Mac and mobile users.
As with Kaspersky Total Security 2017 reviewed recently, this software product is available for different numbers of devices on a one or two year subscription basis. Depending upon your needs, you can purchase this product to cover 1, 3, 5 or 10 devices using a mixture of Windows, Mac, iOS and Android platforms.
The Philips 27-inch 272B7QPTKEB professional monitor with its quad HD resolution incorporates a pop-up web cam and is targeted at meeting the needs of business both in terms of performance and space.
With its effective viewing area of 596 x 335mm one can display three virtually full size A4 pages alongside one another or a massive spreadsheet and, in all cases, the 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolution ensures that small type is extremely readable. In addition, it enables one to present photos and other images in high quality with good colour rendition.
This is a DSLR in a body so small that you assume it isn’t. It comes with a 14-42mm lens and is smaller than even some small digital cameras, it has a neck strap it has a viewfinder and it has a flash shoe in normal conditions you might never use any of them.
The Olympus OM-D measures 12.5x7x8cm and weights 534grams. The right side has a neck strap anchor and a hinged door behind which any SD Card you use lives. The left side has the other neck strap anchor and a rubber bung over the external connectors. The back has a 6x4.
In the middle of July during the year of 64AD, the city of Rome was engulfed in flames with the Emperor Nero an interested spectator. Nearly two thousand years later a company, called Ahead Software released burning software named Nero after the long dead Emperor. A further ten years was to pass as Ahead Software metamorphosis into Nero AG and the company’s software took on the role of a multimedia suite while retaining the Nero name.
Released in Classic and Platinum versions, the 2017 edition of Nero contains a collection of tools to handle aspects of your digital life. This review is based on the Platinum version of Nero which is priced at £89.99. The classic version comes at £20 less with upgrades for both products available at 50% discount from any previous version.
Inspired by Slavic mythology, Eventide Slavic Fable is a Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game.
Just 12cm wider than an A4 unit this six ink inkjet offering might solve problems for those who need the ability to print A3 as well as A4. It can also print direct from a range of cards and memory sticks, connection can be via Wi-Fi, Ethernet or USB.
The Epson XP-960 measures 45x37x15cm however if you place this on a shelf you would need a few centimetres more on the last figure the height to add or remove items from the flatbed. You will also require around another 13cm in front for the paper output tray and TFT screen to open so 45x50x28cm should be the overall space requirements.
While Currys / PC Word sell products from various manufacturers, the company also offers some of its own products such as this set of headphones.
The Goji Wireless Noise-Cancelling Headphones forms part of the Currys / PC World’s family of in-house products. This set of headphones is of the over-the-ear variety. Included in the box with the headphones are a micro-to-standard USB charging cable, 3.5mm audio cable, instruction booklet and a draw-string soft carry pouch for keeping everything together when not being used and in transit.
Bob Marley is the name most think of when someone says Marley and I understand there is a connection to these headphones if only in the garish colours that some of the items in the range of headphones have in their colour choices.
This is a sober set of small on ear headphones. Sober was used as the colouration of two tone grey with a black and white striped cord is very sober in comparison to some of the headphones bearing his name. I have an average sized adult head and I was perfectly happy with these on zero expansion so they may be a little big for a child or small adult. There is a total of 3cm of expansion on either side.
Two items from the Homedics range that would not normally receive my attention, being Diabetic I know I must look after my feet but for those who do not, a device that may help, I am long past worrying about my looks the second might improve your complexion.
Badly fitting shoes or socks may cause your feet to rebel and if so you get rough or damaged skin on the soles of your feet and if so it needs to be smoothed away. The box says ‘easily buffs away hard skin for visibly softer feet’. It is 15cm from top to bottom, 7.5cm wide at the head end and 3cm wide at the same point. It weights 165grams. It runs on three ‘AAA’ batteries that are supplied.
Originally developed by Avid and now part of Corel’s extensive range of graphics products, Pinnacle Studio has recently been made available in its version 20 guise.
Depending upon your needs, this collection of video editing tools is available in a choice of Standard, Plus or Ultimate versions. Both 32 and 64-bit editions are available. I have been looking at the 64-bit downloadable version of the Ultimate product. The combined action of downloading and installing the Studio software was rather time consuming. While the process was taking place, I took the opportunity to watch a full movie on television.
There are two companies I think of who design specifically for the hard of hearing. In fact this is often the older person who not only has hearing difficulties but also sight problems, so it’s not only a phone to let you know someone’s calling but one so you can hear what they are saying.
The PowerTel M7510 is a flip phone so in your pocket it is 10x5.5x2cm and weighs only 108 grams, open it and the 10cm length becomes 19cm. The viewable screen is 5x3.5cm which those into the imperial diagonal measurement will call 2.5inches. It is capable of displaying nine lines of text. When phones like this first came out they were exactly that – phones - now they have a camera can play video and even have a sound recorder function.
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