If you’re in the market for a new netbook, you might want to buy now – rumour has it that Intel is considering upping its prices for the popular Atom N270 processor.
According to reports over on Digitimes, the CPU maker is looking to increase the wholesale cost of its Atom N270 chip to Chinese OEMs due to upstream component shortages. The 1.6GHz processor may even be increased to match the price of its newer 1.66GHz brother the N280 – despite the newer chip having a higher clock speed and significantly faster bus speed for the same power draw.
While Intel hasn’t yet confirmed or denied the rumoured increase, it’s certainly true that demand for the processor has skyrocketed. With manufacturers pumping out netbook after netbook all based around the Atom N270 chip, it’s not hard to imagine that demand has outstripped Intel’s expectations – and that is all too likely to lead to a shortage in the channel as Intel retools to meet demand.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ Bit-Tech
Intel Atom Price Rise Rumoured
Nextgear-Note M350W Series, Another Hybrid SLI Notebook From Mouse Computer
Last Week Mouse computer announced the m-Book D900, a hybrid SLI notebook with a Core 2 Duo CPU. Today Mouse Computer launched another one, the Nextgear-Note M350W Series, also powered by a Core 2 Duo CPU (P8600 or T9550), 4GB of RAM, 320 or 500GB of HDD, DVD Multi or Blu-ray burner, NVIDIA GeForce 9100M / 9600M GS Hybrid SLI with 512MB of VRAM, a 18.4” LCD Full HD LCD and a price tag between 119,700 Yen (€90 to 149,000 Yen (€1130).
Source : AkihabaraNews
Zeebo: A Console For The Developing World
Startup company Zeebo is launching a brand new video game console in developing nations around the world. Started by the company Qualcom, a cell-phone processor and chipset manufacturing company, they are hoping that people in these nations will want to play video games as much as those in first world countries. The big kicker about the system though, other then it’s low cost of around an estimated $200 US at launch, is that the only way to purchase games for the system is digitally through cell phone networks where absolutely no subscription is required. They are hoping this method will curb piracy.
The company’s main target market are countries such as India, Brazil, China and Eastern Europe. Technical specifications for the system are compared to those of a Nintendo Gamecube. It features low power consumption (about 1 watt), RCA plugins capable of a resolution of 640 x 480, three USB slots and is about the size of the Xbox 360 power adapter.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ Neowin
Gigabyte GV-N96TSL-1GI Geforce 9600GT Rev.B Videocard Review
It’s easy to mistake the Gigabyte GV-N96TSL-1GI videocard for one of the many Geforce 9600GT’s that have been on the market for over a year… after all, one Geforce 9600GT is the same as the next, right? Wrong!
This isn’t an old 9600GT GPU making a comeback with 1GB of GDDR3 memory, this new Geforce 9600GT graphics card from Gigabyte uses the ‘revision B’ nVidia ‘G94′ GPU; it’s built with a smaller manufacturing process, has a physically smaller silicon die, uses less power and consequently runs cooler. Reduced power consumption made it possible for Gigabyte engineers to make the GV-N96TSL-1GI Geforce 9600GT videocard completely fanless. The great thing about passively cooled videocards are that they’re excellent for media center’s, particularly HTPC’s that sit next to the television. The last thing you want to hear while watching a movie is the whine of a VGA cooling fan after all.
- Gigabyte GV-N96TSL-1GI Geforce 9600GT Rev.B Videocard Review
- Silent Cell 2 Passive Videocard Heatsink
- nVIDIA GeForce 9600GT Revision B GPU & Power Draw
- Overclocking Report and Test System Specs
- Videocard Benchmarks: 3DMark Vantage
- Videocard Benchmarks: FEAR
- DX10 Videocard Benchmarks: Call of Juarez
- DX10 Videocard Benchmarks: Lost Planet
- DX10 Videocard Benchmarks: Crysis
- Advanced Videocard Benchmarks: FEAR AA/AF
- Advanced Videocard Benchmarks: Crysis AA/AF & Conclusions
Mac Pro 2009 Quad-Core And Eight-Core Get Reviewed
Apple unveiled the new Mac Pro computers early March. The new Apple Mac Pro 2009 are based on the Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” CPUs and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB. There are two new Mac Pro computers to choose from. The Quad-Core Mac Pro starts at $2,499 and the 8-Core Mac Pro (2x Nehalem) starts at $3,299.
Macworld has published a review of both new Mac Pro machines.
Quote from the review: “he new Mac Pros, with their cutting-edge Nehalem processor technology, are able to execute more tasks at a faster clip, despite lower processor speeds. And their new internal design makes adding hard drives, memory cards, and PCI Express 2.0 cards easier than ever. Apple’s most expandable Mac is the pro platform for power users. With its improved graphics, memory bandwidth, and reduced memory latency, the 2.66GHz quad-core Mac Pro was faster than the 2.8GHz eight-core Mac Pro, and at $2,499 costs $300 less. It would be a fine purchase for anyone replacing an older Mac or buying a new one for the first time. That is especially true for people who work with processor intensive apps such as video or graphics.”
Source : I4u News
Apple Mac mini - nVidia 9400M Edition Review
An update to Apple’s Mac mini has been long-rumoured and much-awaited. While the previous generation system didn’t, and I would argue still doesn’t, have a rival in design stakes, the technology within its ever-so-stylish chassis was getting just a bit long in the tooth.
The latest raft of Mac mini’s bring the system back in line with the rest of Apple’s machines upping the base-line system configuration and adding some new top-end options. Not that those changes are particularly evident on the outside; this generation of Mac mini still uses the same basic chassis design as the first systems did back in 2005.
Apple is calling this generation of Mac mini the greenest ever and that philosophy isn’t just extended to the choice of components and manufacturing materials - more on which later.
Hawking Tech. HomeRemote Pro Wireless Video Camera Review
Recently we had the change to check out Hawking’s HomeRemote Pro Home Automation Starter Kit and were impressed by the easy installation and intuitive user interface. As mentioned, there are a number of add-on accessories to this system, and today we’ll take a look one such item, the Hawking HomeRemote Pro HRPC1 Wireless Video Camera. Will this camera take home automation and monitoring to the next level? Read on to find out.
About Hawking Technology:
Check out their website- www.hawkingtech.com
Hawking Technology, Inc., located in Irvine, California, is a leading manufacturer and marketer of connectivity solutions for home, workgroup, and corporate users around the world. Backed by over 15 years of experience in the Networking industry, Hawking is committed to creating and developing innovative ways to make networking easier, faster and more carefree for everyone.
Hitachi Ultrastar C10K300 The “Eco” 6Gbps SAS HDD
This morning Hitachi proudly announced the Ultrastar C10K300 6Gbps SAS HDD with a power consumption of only 3.1W in idle and 6.1W in operational mode. It has 64MB of buffer memory, a 10,000rpm speed for only 29dB.
Available soon these HDDs will be sold in 147GB and 300GB versions.
Source : AkihabaraNews
Sidewinder X8 Review
The previous rendition of Microsoft’s Sidewinder mouse was an aesthetically divisive beast at best.
The sharp, angular lines and sticky-out buttons were not to everyone’s taste but after a bit of use it became clear that it was actually very comfortable to use.
In our book, the Logitech G9 is the current pinnacle of gaming mice, but can Microsoft’s latest wireless change that?
The styling of the X8 is similar to that of the last Sidewinder but some of the sharper edges have been smoothed out and the round forward/ backward thumb buttons have been replaced with sleeker, flat buttons.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ TechRadar
Kingston Data Traveller 150 64GB Review
High-capacity pen drives are just plain awesome. I don’t know where I’d be without my trusty ol’ 32GB Rally stick on those long train/plane journeys where you’re desperate to avoid conversation with the crazy who’s sat next to me.
Rejoice then, for now we’ve got a slew of 64GB drives flooding the market and here’s Kingston’s offering. It’s red and chunky and full of gigabytes. But the problem is how much storage do you really need in a small pen drive?
The cost is the real clincher in this argument, and Kingston’s stick is no more expensive than its compatriots, but at a hundred clams it’s still pricey. If you need a lot of storage on the move, pick up a 250GB external 2.5-inch drive for around £60.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ TechRadar
Dell Studio 1525 Notebook Review
Sitting between Dell’s entry-level Inspiron and high-end XPS ranges, the Studio range offers a great mix of style and quality at a reasonable price. Until it’s replaced by the cunningly titled Studio XPS, you’ll still be able to get a Studio 1525 and, from our time with it, it’s well worth it.
The 15.4-inch screen on our review sample featured a 1440 x 900 pixel resolution, with crisp and clear image quality. Colours proved equally impressive, with LED backlighting helping with accuracy, in addition to conserving power. For an extra £140, you’ll be able to specify a high-definition 1920 x 1200 pixel panel – a pin-sharp resolution not often seen on machines under 17-inches.
Despite the relatively large screen, this machine is easy portable enough to take out and about with you. The 2.8kg weight is reasonable, and we found the slim chassis helps it to fit easily into laptop bags.
Click Here To Read The Full Article @ PocketLint
