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Logitech has taken the desktop set to new levels of functionality with its new diNovo kit.
Often when making a decision about a new computer, two components tend to get overlooked. As these items provide the main method for the user to communicate with the computer, it is not surprising that many quickly decide that a replacement keyboard and mouse should be placed at the top of their wish list for future purchases. Fortunately there are plenty of alternatives available.
For those who are fed up being tethered to a headset this solution may suit, however if you work with others they will either have to put up with hearing your conversations or you will need to use an earpiece and that rather negates the advantage.
This is a circular disc unit 8cm across, the centre 2.5cm is a surprisingly clear spear the speaker grill is actually 4.5 of the unit. From the top (back of the unit) a mini USB plug fits in and there is a space for an optional (supplied) earpiece. There are three buttons on the face surround and a blue LED at the bottom front of the unit with a small - but powerful - microphone fitted into the side of the unit.
Despite its USB roots, the iPod Shuffle can be fully integrated with the other members of the family.
Sometimes a product passes you by, however a friend has these speakers and his hearty recommendation caused me to ask to look at them.
I used the with three different PC's and three notebooks, in five out of six cases I was more than happy with both the quantity and quality of sound they gave. Logitech V20 speakers Inside the box is a 25x18x6cm toughened zip up case and this contains the pair of speakers 16x8x4cm and a very small user guide, that's it, no CD nothing else.
Forget cables, forget wireless connectivity, there is an alternative that involves the minimum of effort.
This product originated as probably the best word processor around, mind you it was a DOS product and I am talking a very long time ago, Bill Gates had not even got far into world domination.
After installation - you only use CD1 or the three provided - at the first run you have a choice to make which of four interfaces do you want to use. The choices are WordPerfect mode, Microsoft Word mode, WordPerfect Classic mode (that's the DOS product that ruled the word 5.1) or Legal mode. I suspect most today will choose Microsoft Word mode as at schools and colleges that is what is mainly taught.
Converting content on VHS tapes to DVD media is within everybodys grasp with a product such as Grabster AV150.
Patience can sometimes be rewarded as my experiences with this next product proved. Grabster AV150 comes with the claim of being able to convert VHS tapes to DVD media. I must admit that my initial attempts to get this product to work were a complete failure. This is where the patience comes into the picture. Let me explain.
Not only is this available on a two CD offering but also on a DVD designed to be used on a standard DVD player, so with the latter no PC required.
X3 is not a term of affection used by SMS addicts but a way of avoiding using the number 13 for the latest version of a product such as CorelDRAW X3.
Although perhaps not the dominant force it once was in the graphics market, the arrival of the latest version of Corel's flagship product is still a worthwhile event. (either a marketing ploy or a means of avoiding the superstition attached to number 13) is aimed at professional, business and other users who want powerful graphics tools at a reasonable price.
This Fujitsu Siemens unit is truly two items in one case, it is a rather nice small but powerful notebook computer and also probably the best Tablet PC I have used.
It is 23x17x3.5cm and weights in at only slightly more than a kilo. I was sent it with a DVD RW super multidrive that is likely to add around £190 to the price however as this connects via USB any CD or DVD that connects this way will work and with large format pen stick drives around any software you want to install could firstly be copied to a pen stick drive using a CD from any PC.
Earphones are fine for personal MP3 listening but for group purposes you really need a set of portable speakers.
Rumour has it that later this year we are all going to be heavily involved in supporting England's football team in its efforts to make progress towards World Cup glory and the financial rewards it will bring. No doubt many will be seen wearing the appropriate football shirt and sporting rosettes and the like while waving flags and decorating their cars and homes.
Certainly one of the more mature products for the PC, I first used version 1.2 when of course it came on 5.25 inch floppy discs, then some years ago they pioneered the change to CD.
LCD screens with fast response times are becoming more affordable as can be seen with the LG Flatron L1732P unit.
For a long time my main computer display was handled by the original Flatron CRT monitor from LG. Sad to say that monitor has now departed the scene, taking with it its built-in set of USB ports, after providing many years of excellent service. Currently acting as a temporary replacement is another Flatron model. This is the LG Flatron L1732P unit.
Strange no one wants a notebook reviewed in January but there is a glut in March! Here I am looking at Intel Centrino Duo processor in an Acer Aspire 5672 notebook.
The notebook is 35x27x4cm and weights around 3kilos. I would probably say this was a desktop replacement as it most likely be too large for most to carry around regularly. It has a 15.4inch screen and the default resolution is 1280x800, there is a ATA Mobility Radeon X1400 graphics chip, the unit can support dual displays and there are both analogue and digital outputs. The screen surround is 25.5x35.
There are alternatives to Microsoft Office and one such offering comes from Corel.
A Rip Van Winkle character going to sleep in the 80s and waking up today would immediately notice a big difference with the leading Office applications. Actually lots of other differences would also be evident but for the purpose of this review lets concentrate on the main Office software.
This is a twin tuner PVR (hard disc recorder) with built in Freeview so you can record two channels at the same time, or start watching something from the beginning after its started, and, lots more.
There are lots of hard disc recorders about, some are analogue, a few are digital but this unit marketed by Evesham Technology has built in Freeview (so no other box is required) and best of all it can record two separate channels at the same time. Because of the loop through you can still watch an analogue channel at the same time.
Computers and Windows can develop a love / hate relationship. System Mechanic is a product that offers to alleviate possible problems.
This is a multi function unit, however for some reason even though it has a Fax HP decide to call it an All In One, this is normally saved for units without the Fax.
However the main feature of this unit is that it is the first tri mode unit on sale in the UK. The tri modes are USB, Ethernet and Wireless. I have recently reviewed an inkjet printer from Canon with tri mode but this - I am told - is the first tri mode All In One. It is 45x40x21cm, while it has a paper tray it is contained within the depth so these are the maximum figures you need.
If you like Jazz then like me you must enjoy these two offerings from the Naim label the first just released and the second nearly ten years old but still available.
The rise in the popularity of digital photography has seen the introduction of personal photograph printers such as the Photosmart 385.
The arrival of a new printer, for testing purposes, is usually followed by a period of hectic activity as boxes and the like are moved around in the vain hope of creating enough space for the printer and its accompanying packaging. I must admit that you can become quite skilled at this type of exercise but it does take up time and can increase the frustration level.
This is more than the title says as it is also a voice recorder, it is also small and gives around 10 hours on a single AAA battery and it is also very light.
You know you love your iPod, so why not make use of it as part of your home stereo system.
Turning your computer into a basic entertainment centre is within the grasp of everybody. But are the results what you might expect?
Computer TV tuners are getting smaller. The latest such device to arrive from Pinnacle is slightly larger than a USB memory drive. Appropriately this tuner goes by the title of PCTV USB Stick. Measuring 84 x 30 x 13mm (L x W x D), this device is coloured white. It slots into an available USB 2.0 port and has a connection socket for either a roof-top aerial or the supplied rod antenna.
Quite a powerful offering, 1GB of memory and a reasonably sized hard disc tend to make this more of a desktop replacement. However it still works fine on the road.
Strange how life works, no notebooks for ages then just like buses a glut. However this cannot be more different from the recently reviewed Dell offering, that was small and light, this is large and full featured. It is 35x27x3cm in overall size and weights 3kilos. The screen is 21x33cm giving the 15.4inch WXGA size that's 1280x800 resolution. It also has 128MB of dedicated video memory, ATI Mobility Radeon X700 PCI Express.
Giving ears a rest from headphones might be a step too far for some but Kensington hope its new speaker system might provide a suitable incentive.
While the iPod currently rules the mobile music arena with its stylish appearance, storage capacity and a hefty dose of street cred, it is hardly the most convenient way to listen to music in the home. It hasn't taken long for products to appear that have been designed to help in this respect. With its long association with Apple, it is not surprising that Kensington is one such company.
An extremely long name for such a small camera little bigger than a throwaway cigarette lighter but with the ability to take both video and still photos the latter at 1.3megapixels.
There are so many mice to choose from that it can be a difficult decision. Here is one that quickly became a personal favourite.
I have had the opportunity to try out numerous wireless mice from various companies such as Microsoft and Logitech. In most cases the kit would be made up of the mouse and a receiver unit that attaches via a lengthy lead to a USB port or with a USB flash device style receiver. However there are always exceptions and one such example is the Logitech LX7 Cordless Optical Mouse.
This is both a small and light notebook, however it has a more than acceptable 1280x768 screen resolution and it is probably small enough to fit in a poachers pocket
Sometimes it is hard to equate the product advertised with the one looked at. This is certainly the case here and while the differences are often small, working out 'what or why' is somewhat harder. After several requests something I saw last year arrived securely packed and well presented. All the extras in a box within a box and the notebook well protected in the bottom of the outer box.
Getting from A to B has never been easier for those taking the GPS route. Navicore has recently updated its product for the intrepid traveller.
Navicore is one of the companies leading the way in making Satnav technology an economic and easy to use proposition. Last year saw the introduction of Navicore Personal and this product has been quickly followed by Navicore Personal 2006 which offers several new features to the basic Satnav features. One aspect of the product that has not changed is Navicore's approach to the technology.
First a CD released today and then some recent news of the good things that are available some for free in the London area, finally a new EP from Jonny Boston.
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