It's good. Really good!
(Credit: Josh P. Miller)Las Vegas-A few weeks ago we reviewed the Dell UltraSharp U2410, and while its performance was great, there were a couple of issues that kept it from setting the world afire.
On Thursday at CES, Dell unveiled it's new 27-inch UltraSharp U2711. While its design is heavily based on the U2410, there are a few key changes that elevate U2711 above Dell's previous great, but flawed offering.
First up is the U2711's super-high 2560x1440 resolution. It's the first monitor we've reviewed with a sub-30-inch screen with a resolution that high. Most 27-inchers we've reviewed top out at 1920x1200.
Second, the U2410 suffered from static dithering on its two RGB presets. This imperfection however was not duplicated on the U2711.
Check out the full review to see just how close to perfection the U2711 comes.
Kind of looks like the XL2370's more "square" cousin.
(Credit: Samsung)LAS VEGAS-Anyone who has paid any attention to my recent monitor reviews knows I have a certain affinity for the Samsung SyncMaster XL2370.
So you can probably imagine my delight when on Wednesday Samsung announced what seems to be a followup to the XL2370, the PX2370.
At first glance the PX2370 looks similar to the PX2370, albeit with what may be a thicker profile. I'll be able to confirm this on Thursday when I get a good up close and personal look at it from the show floor.
One of the most unique features is the proximity sensor which automatically turns the monitor off when no one is near it. Kind of creepy, but cool.
Some of the other key specs of the PX2370.
- 18mm design
- 5,000,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio (Static Contrast Ratio 1000:1)
- 2ms (GTG) video response time
- Analog RGB/DVI/HDMI inputs
- 1920x1080 resolution
The PX2370 will be available in April from Samsung
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
Kodak ESP 7250
(Credit: Kodak)Keeping in line with today's announcement of the Kodak Slice, Kodak also introduced the ESP Office 6250 and the ESP 7250-- two new all-in-one printers that encourage users to capture and share digital snapshots with friends and family.
Kodak ESP 6150
The latest offerings improve upon previous models with beefed up 802.11n Wi-Fi, built-in Ethernet, and a higher capacity paper input tray that can hold up to 200 pages. Shoppers interested in the highest quality prints at the lowest cost will certainly appreciate Kodak's newest XL Black Ink Cartridge that produces 70% more pages than the standard. The company also introduced an improved Color Ink Cartridge with 10% more ink.
Finally, both the ESP 6150 and ESP 7250 give Smartphone users the ability to print directly from any WiFi-enabled device using the new Kodak Pic flick application.
The ESP 6150 and ESP 7250 will be available in April 2010 for $230 and $200, respectively.
Canon Pixma MX870
(Credit: Canon)LAS VEGAS--Canon rings in the New Year with four new all-in-one printers built for the home office and small business crowd. The Pixma MX870 ($200), Pixma MX350 ($150), Pixma MX340 ($100), and Pixma iP2702 ($50) all sport a similar design to their predecessors with 2.5-inch LCD screens, Easy-Scroll jog dials, PictBridge USB support, and Ethernet/Wi-Fi connectivity, but we're particularly interested in Canon's newest software enhancements: Auto Document Fix and Auto Photo Fix II.
All four models include Auto Document Fix that improves on the printers' scanning performance by automatically sharpening and blackening text documents to increase their readability. The feature also removes the background on media documents like magazines or newspapers that also makes pages much easier to read.
Amateur photo enthusiasts will also appreciate the Auto Photo Fix II on all four new models, as well. We've tested the first iteration of this software on previous models and found that while it won't take the place of a solid Photoshop job, but its Multi-Zone Exposure Corrections and other improvements in face detection and auto-sharpening can be valuable assets for quick corrections.
Canon also recently announced the Easy-PhotoPrint EX application for the Apple iPhone--the free app is compatible with all new Canon multifunction printers and lets you wirelessly print pictures from your handset.
More photos of all four models are available after the jump.
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
LaCie)
Last year, LaCie introduced three key-shaped USB storage devices that combined the convenience of portable storage with protection around the plug for added durability. At this year's CES 2010, LaCie is back again and showing off two new USB keys: the LaCie CooKey and the LaCie WhizKey.
The new keys feature the same modern design as their predecessors, but with subtle updates like faster transfer rates (up to 30MBps) and a reinforced handle on the key ring that also happens to be water and scratch resistant.
Both the WhizKey and CooKey are available now in four capacities from 4GB for $20 up to 32GB for $100. More pictures after the break.
... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
(Credit:
Valups)
One of the big tech stories of 2009 was the transition of the U.S. broadcast TV standard from analog (NTSC) to digital (ATSC). But while ATSC broadcasts offer crystal clear high-def images, they have at least one drawback: unlike analog broadcasts, digital TV is tough to receive if you're on the move. That means that even "portable" digital TVs have to be locked down with a carefully pointed antenna before you can really watch them.
Thankfully, Mobile DTV is aiming to change that. The new standard is optimized for small screens and access on the move. Several hundred Mobile DTV channels are slated to get a wide rollout across the U.S. this year. That will include mobile-friendly versions of existing broadcast networks (ABC, Fox, and so forth), as well as cable premium channels that can be accessed on a subscription or pay-per-view basis.
So what's the catch? You'll need to have Mobile DTV channels broadcasting in your area, and you'll need a Mobile DTV-compatible product to access ... Read the full post at CNET's CES 2010 blog
Each holiday season, millions of computers celebrate the holidays isolated and unappreciated for all the hard work they do throughout the year. Whether you just unwrapped a new PC or you're just looking to upgrade your old standby Windows XP or Mac G5 computer, we have the perfect accessories to complement your system.
From replacement keyboards and mice to reduce typing fatigue to aftermarket monitors that increase your workspace and external hard drives for more storage space, these peripherals are a simple and cost-effective way to show your PC the love it deserves.
Accessories
Best Printers
Best Storage Drives
Best Keyboards
Best Mice
Best LCD Monitors
Best Computer Speakers
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Dell's OSDs are some of the most well-designed and intuitive out there.
(Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)So, you've just unwrapped your shiny new computer monitor and you're most likely satisfied with what's sitting in front of you. Whether it be graphic design, playing a game, or just surfing the Web, it does what you need it to. But, can it do more?
You've browsed through the On Screen Display (OSD), noticed tons of confusing options, and don't quite know what they all do. This is where I come in. I'll detail some of the most important and least understood options of modern OSDs, and attempt to explain them to someone who's never gotten past the first menu before.
... Read More
(Credit:
Othmar Muehlebach)
Swiss designer Othmar Muehlebach conceived of a toaster that not only looks like an inkjet printer, but also toasts bread like one.
The gizmo has an iMac-esque stand and you can drop the bread on the tray at the top, which will then feed the slices into a slot where it'll be toasted. This design won a second-place Berner Design Award in Switzerland, but so far there's no sign of it going into production.
I wonder if there's a butter cartridge for this gizmo, and does anyone knows its tpm (toast per minute) speed?
(Source: Crave Asia via Boing Boing)
The original SheevaPlug computer
(Credit: Dong Ngo/CNET)Six months ago, I had an exclusive First Look at Marvell's prototype plug-in computer, the SheevaPlug. Ever since, dozens of companies have contacted me about their applications. Most recently, CNET reviewed the Pogoplug from Cloud Engines.
That said, it didn't surprise me when Marvell announced Tuesday that 10,000 SheevaPlug units featuring Marvell CPU technology have shipped.
To celebrate this milestone, Marvell also announced Tuesday the launch of its worldwide Plug Computer developer competition, called "Free Your Imagination," to award the most innovative Plug Computing concept submitted.
You can participate or find out more about this competition at plugcomputer.org. This Web site is also the main Web resource for the plug application development community, where members can access software that facilitates the development of the SheevaPlug. Developers can also exchange ideas for free.
While the applications differ from one vendor to another, in a nutshell, Marvell's Plug Computer is a tiny unit, about the size of a small wall-plug power adapter. The little computer, despite its physical size, is equipped with Marvell's 1GHz processor and some 256MB of RAM. The computer also comes with a USB port and an Ethernet port to be best used as a network storage or an Internet-based cloud storage server.
One of the biggest selling points of the Plug Computer is the fact that it uses very little energy and therefore is the cheapest solution to offer users high-performance, always-on, always-connected, and environmentally friendly computing.
