Laptops/PCs/Apple

If you are like me and have old PC’s that you would happily give to charity – my oldest is Windows 95 – but worry about the wrong people getting access to data on its hard disc, then I may have found a solution. This is really intended for business use on the grounds of cost.

Once again my trusted LG flat panel monitor is put into cold storage as I check out a new release from AOC.

They say “Every Cloud has a silver lining” but perhaps that lining should be chrome.

A not so small Android Tablet that is advertised as useable in one hand. Certainly for those with smaller hands this maybe a slight problem. It is however a near 8inch screen and means normal web pages display without any problems.

When putting good money on the line for a PC that will meet the demands of high-end games or other applications such as intensive photo-editing it makes sense to get an equivalent high-end monitor. The 27 inch q2770Pqu from AOC’s professional line, having a native resolution of 2,560 x1,440 WQHD, good colour rendition and a wide range of connectivity options will meet these demands as well as being a possible option for those planning upgrades.

This is a large screen All In One device – not a print/scan/copy – but an Android device built into the screen of this 24inch offering so you have touch. If you wish you can connect any other PC or notebook to the screen using HDMI to get a large display.

An Android Tablet with an added plus it can be used when Wi-Fi is not available so it can be a phone or with the correct service with Mobile Data. So what does this recent offering from French company have to offer the user?

The Prestigio Multipad 4 Diamond 7.85 3G is an Android tablet with a number of installed apps aimed at business users. Having both 3G and Wi-Fi, it will enable the user to keep in touch virtually anywhere while on the move and, in addition, will be able to handle movies and music for leisure time.

Looking at this panel alongside others of a like size makes it look tiny. It isn’t but the borders around the screen are so despite it being a 22inch panel that offers full 1920x1080 display it still looks a lot smaller and takes up less space.

A Chromebook is an option to a standard Android Tablet. It works in much the same way and the biggest problem it had at first launch of not being able to work offline is now overcome although there are currently less options than with other Android offerings.

On the face of it a similar device to the WD My Cloud reviewed a few months ago. Two Terra Bytes of storage available for you to share across your Network. However due to various initial problems a lot of time was spent before all was perfect.

This is a smaller notebook offering from Gigabyte that comes with Windows 8. Whilst I did all the necessary updates this time I resisted the offer to upgrade to Windows 8.1. I instead completed my review with just what was delivered and the updates.

This is a Touch Screen Unit from AOC, it is also an Android unit in the same case, however it can also be used to connect to a PC/notebook via D-Sub or HDMI and if you add the supplied USB cable this gives you a PC/notebook with full touch screen ability.

While ruling the roost on tablets and smartphones, touch screens have yet to do more than scratch the surface with computer desktop monitors.

The Android operating system and touch capability go together like fish & chips even when served up on the desktop.

A lot of my time recently has involved showing screens of one device on another device (Mirroring) this is a young task and the solutions sometimes do and sometimes don’t work. This tiny device from Kingston is rather better at transferring data between two incompatible devices.

I have looked at several different Kindles, the HDX7 breaks new ground in that apart from it being an excellent book reader – the thing Kindle started as – it is now almost a full Android tablet so the screen is in colour at 1920x1080.

Last year I attended a press event and requested to review a couple of monitors from one company. The first one to arrive is the subject of this review.

The last unit from Gigabyte had a problem with battery loss when not in use so one of my first jobs here was to charge this fully and then leave it, four days later it still had 99% so no problems there. Maybe it was the lid colour that was bright yellow this is a more sober orange.

Marketed as a way of saving the overweight placed on a number of children’s backs with all the text books they have to carry to a from schools a 8 inch Android tablet and a Bluetooth Pen could be the future to save later life back problems.

This rather nice unit from Philips turns any PC or Notebook of recent vintage into a touch unit with the aid of any normal connection method and a USB lead, so all your finger messages are transferred from the screen to the PC.

If you are considering Windows 8.1 for you next PC then it really should have touch and this offering from HP has it. Windows 8 was made for touch so if you can change your working style then this could well be a good way to adapt.

This is an Android device that will fit in a larger pocket. It has one huge difference in that it can only be used in portrait mode as there is no way to flip the screen into landscape mode. This may or may not matter but it is certainly different.

Certainly a unit to be considered as a Desktop replacement, it is large and heavy and for me anyway does not sit comfortably on the lap. It is however very fast and powerful. One feature I have not come across previously a yellow lid.

As a store within a store, Kobo offers readers a viable alternative to that available from the Amazon Kindle family. Kobo even offers a full fledged tablet option.

This is – as you may guess from the name – a 24inch panel. I have yet to look at any offering from AOC that I would not be happy to put on my desk and use daily and this offering is no exception, a well-made unit with excellent response.

This can be lighter than an Android Tablet, however it runs Windows 8.1. The transformer part is a near full size detachable keyboard so all your Windows programs should run and it comes with Microsoft Office installed.

For some reason this is classed as a business product. For that reason I am told it comes with Windows 7 Pro but also Windows 8 upgrade ready on the unit at no extra cost so you can choose. I was sent the non-touch version.

These days’ kids seem to be using such devices before they can walk. So the age level suggested seem almost pointless to mention. The only mention on the box is a circular road sign with a picture of a young person and a red line. The age beside it is 0-3. 4+ is mentioned on the side of the box, at four most children know far more.

I am told that the Android Tablet will replace the PC as the way we all connect to the world. Certainly as they get faster, have more memory and get screen resolution nearer to that we all have on our PC’s then this could well come true.