BenQ Joybook S41 (Intel Santa Rosa)

BenQ's latest Joybook, the S41 leads the company's charge of notebooks refreshed with the Santa Rosa platform. Aided by NVIDIA's DirectX 10 compatible GeForce 8600M GS graphics chipset, can this notebook be one of the bargains of the year?

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Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R (Intel P35)

Gigabyte updates its S-Series of motherboards with the Intel P35 chipset and introduces their new Ultra Durable 2 design. The GA-P35-DS3R recaptures the old magic of the GA-965P-DS3 as a great budget board with an incredible appetite for speed. Check out the full review right here.

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ASUS EN8600GT OC Gear 256MB DDR3

Tweaking your graphics cards is now as simple as turning a knob with ASUS' OC Gear edition of the GeForce 8600 GT. We tried our hand at fiddling with this new product and here's what we found.

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Invest Fair 2007

"Invest Fair '07 is the largest investment exhibition organised by . The event is supported by the Singapore Exchange and Bursa Malaysia. The fair will be held from 25th - 26th August 2007 at the SUNTEC Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Level 4, Exhibition Hall 404, from 10am to 6pm.

It is an event for investors to learn and be educated on the latest financial products and services, identify investment trends, understand the market outlook and hear from the experts as to how, where, when and what to invest in. With over 50 seminars, a lucky draw with attractive prizes, an investment game as well as panel discussions moderated by Channel NewsAsia presenter Melvin Yong, the fair is expected to draw a crowd of over 15,000 visitors. So be sure to mark it on your calendars and stop by!"

Visit HERE for more info!

This is a great event if you are interested in any kind of financial investments. Even if you are not, it makes for a great experience to gain some knowledge on the topics. Find about about market trends, and how it can affect you.

Dell XPS M1330 Review

The Dell XPS M1330 is considered by many to be a breakthough in design, which I agree. It sure beats the traditional functional but boring design, which looks no different from other notebooks. This is certainly a plus point for Dell fans out there.

What is also nice is that, this notebook is light and thin. It proves that Dell has been listening to its consumers. Finally, you can show off your Dell at Starbucks instead of trying to hide it from the next table using a Sony Vaio.

The design is not totally flat, but with curves at the sides and corners. It is a sloping design, with the front thinner than the back. I would think that it aims to promote a better typing posture. Weighing in at approximately 1.7 kgs, this 13-inch notebook is definitely in the ultra-portable category. You can have 3 different colours for the lid of this notebook, which is available in red, white or black. This would definitely widen its user base to include women who likes using a trendy looking notebook. It is no surprise that the majority of female notebook shoppers tend to go for the looks of a notebook first before even looking at the specs.

The design is very nice in its entirety, although if you want to be picky, the touchpad could be larger for easier usage, especially if you got big fingers. Also, there are only 2 USB ports, sufficient for many people, unless you plan to attach more than 2 USB devices at a single time. This point aside, this is a rather highly equipped notebook. The beauty of buying from Dell is that, there is always a high level of choice when it comes to customization - getting what you want, instead of settling for what the manufacturers want to give you.

Just take a look at the following options, and you will get excited about getting what you wish for:

Processors

Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processor T7500 (2.20GHz, 4M L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processor T7300 (2GHz, 4M L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processor T7100 (1.80GHz, 2M L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB)
Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processor T5250 (1.50GHz, 2M L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)

Operating System

Genuine Windows Vista® Ultimate
Genuine Windows Vista® Business
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium
Genuine Windows Vista® Home Basic

Memory

Up to 4GB shared4 Dual Channel 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM provides blazing performance.

DDR2 dual channel5 memory offers excellent performance and bandwidth. This memory architecture is designed to help to improve overall system performance and help reduce power consumption. As demands from processors, graphics and networking increase, DDR2 is the standard in notebook memory.

Graphics

Intel Graphic Media Accelerator X3100

NVIDIA GeForceTM Go 8400M GS with 128MB dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory

Screen

Optional:
13.3" UltraSharpTM WXGA display with TrueLifeTM
2.0 MP camera (standard CCFL display)

13.3" UltraSharpTM WXGA display with TrueLifeTM
0.3 MP camera (optional WLED slim & light display)

Hard Drives

Up to 160GB6 configured with 5400 RPM SATA hard drive.

Optical Storage

Integrated Slot-Load DVD+/-RW Drive7

Weight & Dimensions

Weight: Starting at 1.79 kg
Width: 31.8cm
Height: 2.21cm – 3.38cm
Depth: 23.8cm

I/O Ports

2 USB 2.0 compliant 4-pin connectors
IEEE 1394a
RJ45 Ethernet port (10/100)
External Modem via USB
Video: VGA
Video: HDMI
ExpressCard 54 mm slot
8-in-1 removable memory card reader
Audio jacks: Stereo in & headphone/speaker out (x2) dual digital array mics

Obviously, this is a very well equipped notebook, satisfying even the most avid road warrior. Performance wise, it should not disappoint either. It is pretty near the top of similarly equipped ultra-portables, and battery life on the standard 6-cell battery pack lasts for about 2.5 hours. If you are going on a long flight with this notebook, a 9-cell battery pack is advised, and carrying a spare battery would not hurt either.

HP TouchSmart PC - Videos

New generation PC from HP with touchscreen capability embracing the Vista O/S. Pretty interesting concept of a total media entertainment center. It is an all-in-one PC concept. People with space constraints should find this interesting. However, traditional expandability as in the PC norm is limited as expected. That being said, the integrated sofware driven features definitely has a "WOW Factor".

Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth Headset Review

The Samsung WEP200 Bluetooth headset is perhaps the smallest I have come across. Weighing in at just 9g, this feather weight headset is made in Korea, and not China. Some people might feel this is of better quality.

It is so light that you can hardly feel it is there, it is easy to forget you are wearing one. This headset is different from the norm of a "ear clip" design. It employs a "ear plug" design with a rubber ring which will stay firmly attached when worn. Just to make sure you get a comfortable fit, it comes with interchangeable rubber attachments in small, medium and large fitments. There are no issues to fit ears of all sizes.

One physical feature which I liked is the large multi-function button which is used to make and receive calls. No confusing buttons here, which is good for user friendliness. There is also an up/down button conveniently located on the side to control the volumes. The design is simplicity at its best. It is a perfect choice for people looking for a small and light weight headset that is simple to use. This is a bluetooth headset, which means you can pair it up with most phones that has a bluetooth capability. I paired it up with both a Samsung Z720 and Nokia N95 with no problems at all. After the initial paring is done, it even auto connects should the signal drop off, after you remove it from the charger for instance.

Talking about charging, the charger that came with this unit is innovative as well. It is in fact a storage case with charging pins where you can put the WEP200 to charge it. It looks great as well. The audio quality is considered good for voice calls, although there is no noise cancelling feature on this headset. You can stream MP3s as well if your phone supports it, but don't expect stereo quality. It is not meant for this purpose. That being said, having a talk time of 4 hrs and standby time of 70 hours, this is a pretty good headset for "life without wires". Personally, I love using it.

Motorola Showcase in New York City

This is a video clip showing the Motorola product showcase in NYC. I think it makes for great viewing especially if you are a fan of the Moto mobile phones. I like the upcoming Z8 model. I think they nicknamed the "banana phone" to an interesting effect.

Good Review on Nokia N95

This is an excellent review of the Nokia N95 Multimedia phone from YouTube. One of the most detailed reviews I have found. It gives both potential buyers and owners of the N95 a great insight into the functions of the phone. Check it out and let me know what you think.

Review of Acer Aspire 5920G Notebook

The first thing you will notice about the Acer 5920G is the sheer physical size of the unit itself.

This is not a small laptop, nor is it an ultra-portable.Weighing in at almost 3kg, it is more suited as a desktop replacement. That being said, the design is a very trendy and modern one. Of course, taste is a personal thing, but most people will like it as it is unique and different from other laptops. It does stand out from the crowd. It is more of a wedge shaped laptop with curves, and it serves to break away from the traditional design of squared off and sharp edges.

This laptop brims with quality wherever you look. Some people have commented on the greysih and cream coloured interior to be ugly. Those might be the people who can't accept changes, and too afraid to break away from the norm of having a stark black laptop. Too bad for them, as the light cream coloured inside of this laptop is a much welcome change from the norm, and I think it looks great.


The one thing that you will soon realize with this laptop is the specs, and thus the value for money. For the same amount of money, you will be hard pressed to find a similar speced laptop.

It is a pretty high end machine. Let's take a look at the specs here and you will have an idea what I mean. It has the latest core 2 Duo technology with 2GB of DDR2 RAM, which ensures that you will not experience any slow down running the preloaded Vista OS. It also has a 8600M-GT dedicated graphics card with 256MB, which means it will also satisty the mobile gamer, and will run even the latest games with no issues. There is also a 160GB SATA hard drive and dual-layer DVD/RW drive which provides the primary storage options. This is really a value for money machine, considering the retail price of USD$1520. It is not in the same league in overall quality as a Sony Vaio for instance, but for the price, you are getting a lot already.

Mercedes C-Class Review

The brand new 2008 Mercedes Benz C-Class is one of the most anticipated new cars in the small cars luxury segment. In local showrooms, it is in the midst of being launched.

I hear some people commented that it looks like a shrunk down S-Class. I certainly can agree with that, with some similar styling cues. It looks well composed, sporty and meaner than a BMW 3-Series. The C-Class has moved a little more upmarket.

What is similar too according to Mercedes Benz is that buyers can expect the same level of quality as found in their flagship S-Class series, which is a good thing. This means that, the quality do not get a toned down effect with even the basic models of C-Class. 3 key elements of major improvement with this latest incarnation in the C-Class lineup are bigger interior space, quieter cabin with better sound proofing, and a much more rigid chassis. It is reported to have high strength steel which makes up 70% of the body structure.

The marketing slogan they use for the C-Class is "Agility Control". Simply put, this car is better behaved over rough patches and bumps, giving you a smoother ride, much like the S-Class. This includes the selective damping system which automatically adjusts the suspension set-up in accordance with the condition of the road – giving you a consistently high level of driving enjoyment. As an option, you can specify the ADVANCED AGILITY* package with special sports mode which allows you to choose a particularly sporty suspension response or a distinctly comfortable one at the touch of a button.

You can choose between five different petrol engines for the new C-Class. The entry-level version comes in the guise of two 4-cylinder models with supercharger: The drive in the C 180 KOMPRESSOR and the more powerful C 200 KOMPRESSOR is provided by a 4-cylinder supercharged engine.

Thanks to a new engine management system and a modified piston profile, output and torque have been increased. For instance, the C 180 KOMPRESSOR delivers 156 hp and maximum torque of 230 Nm. The C 200 KOMPRESSOR produces a magnificent 184 hp and 250 Nm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 9.9 and 8.8 seconds, with a top speed of 220 and 230 km/h respectively.

You can have the C-Class in either 5-speed or 7-speed automatic transmissions. Both are smooth to use, and have a manual overide mode should you choose to engage in more sporty driving. In the 7-speed transmission, seven forward gears constantly provide optimum engine speed and deliver virtually imperceptible gear changes.

When changing down, the 7G-TRONIC – unlike other automatic transmissions – delivers extra-fast mid-range sprints by skipping individual gears. By simply nudging the selector lever, you can also shift gear manually.

At least for the moment, it looks like Mercedes has got a winning ace on their hands. Compared to its immediate rival - the BMW 3 series, the C-Class seems to be the leader to beat.

Review of Nokia 8600 Luna

The Nokia 8600 Luna. From the name, you could probably tell, there is something special about this new creation from Nokia. It is dark and mysterious, and brims of quality as well. With materials used such as opaque smoke glass and stanless steel, it sounds like parts that is more suited for a racy car rather than a phone.

Well, at least the price tag of around USD$750 at launch sounds equally sophisticated. Think of it as a premium item, a designer collection, like Lexus is to Toyota and aimed squarely at consumers with deep pockets. At140g, it is elegantly light. With the smoked glass, it sure exhibits a certain touch of class. Glass? Yep, and how durable to drops and shocks, we don't know as yet.

I think Nokia has really gone to make sure the finest details are not overlooked in the presentation of this phone. Hold the phone in your hand, and soon you will realize that keypad is special. It has a pulsating light that mimicks your heartbeat. Some people say this thing seems "alive".

Well, that is a good attraction to get enough attention to this phone. What about the real deal? In effect, this is a light weight slider phone. No flimsy sliders here. Firm and positive sliding action, which is good news. Maybe this phone is designed with female consumers in mind, as the keypad might be a struggle for males, especially if you got big fingers. This can be good or bad news. Maybe, you can say Nokia is very focused in their marketing with this phone. Very targeted, very specialized.

Think of it as a designer item, you get class, elegance, quality, but the bare essentials with few bells and whistles. This is no N95. If you are looking for a powerhouse of a phone in a small package, you are looking at the wrong phone. The N95 in the Nokia range might suit you better if that is what you want. Just look at the specs.

I mean a 2-inch screen isn't exactly amazing, along with a measely 128MB of internal memory with no expansion card slot, you are having a very streamlined phone. No expansion capabilty whatsoever. I think this is a limitation, as there is just so much data you can store on the phone before you are forced to delete files when memory runs out, which happens quickly.

Sure, you have the usual PIM features, web browser and email functions, but nothing new and innovative to win any awards. The 2MP camera included is nothing to shout about, with no auto focus and flash. Taking pictures less of the perfect lighting conditions will mean blurred images and frustration. The problem of not having an integrated internal antenna means that to listen to FM radio, you still need to plug in a headset or earphones. With just over 3 hrs of talk time, and limited potential in its feature set, it just falls short of being the phone to have, apart from the chic factor.