This is the system that will be powering Cheapskate Labs for the foreseeable future.
(Credit: eCost)Well, I did it. After four years with a hulking, noisy, upgraded-to-the-limit Pentium 4 tower, I finally pulled the trigger on a new system. It's a refurbished HP Pavilion M9350F, which eCost has on sale for $619.99.
The specs on this thing are pretty unreal: a quad-core AMD processor, 6GB of RAM, a 750GB hard drive, a 512MB GeForce 9800GT graphics card, a TV tuner, and 802.11n wireless connectivity. No Blu-ray drive, but I honestly couldn't care less. I'm happy with the LightScribe burner.
I just hope that it's quieter than the jet turbine that currently sits under my desk. And I'm a bit concerned about overheating, which, according to a few user reviews I've read, is a problem with this model.
But I'll deal with that, if and when it occurs. This system lists for about $1,200, so $620 (plus $30 for shipping) was too good to pass up. I can't offer a hands-on recommendation yet, but I will say I've never seen a system as loaded as this one for such a low price.
Because this is a refurb, it comes with only a 90-day warranty. That doesn't bother me. In my experience, a desktop either works, or it doesn't. Any problems should manifest within those first three months.
Thanks to reader j_a_s_p_e_r for the heads-up on this deal!
(Credit:
Logitech)
Logitech just announced a new Mac version of its popular diNovo Keyboard, and we're eager to get our grubby little hands on a test unit. We've tried out the diNovo Edge, the diNovo Edge for Macs, and the Illuminated Keyboard with positive marks across the board, and we're sure this version will be no different.
The new diNovo keyboard promises to be the perfect companion to your Mac desktop, with all the buttons in the familiar Mac-style layout in a slim, easy-to-use layout. The keys themselves are part of Logitech's PerfectStroke system that allows for uniform tactile feedback across the entire surface of the key, making for a pretty comfortable typing experience.
In addition, this is a 2.4GHz wireless system that Logitech claims will last three years before you'll need to change batteries. And of course, the keyboard has an integrated wrist wrest that we all need to keep arthritis at bay. The Logitech diNovo Keyboard Mac Edition is available now for $99.99. Look for a full review from CNET coming soon.
(Credit:
NEC)
Companies are always looking for a gimmick to distinguish their products from the pack and, when the direct competition means the likes of Apple and Dell, they may well need all the help they can get.
That, at least, is the predicament Japan's NEC finds itself in where all-in-one desktop PCs are concerned. So what unique feature does it boast? A handle. Yes, NEC's "PowerMate P5000" series has grown a handle in what seems to be part of some odd trend that has seized part of the technology industry. Other than that, this "hybrid" PC's specs seem fairly unremarkable, with PCLaunches reporting a 17-inch screen, AMD Turion dual core processor, 4GB of memory, 200GB hard drive, and dual-layer DVD burner.
There's just one nagging question: Rather than lug around a desktop PC with a handle, wouldn't it be easier to just get a laptop?
(Credit:
SBCORE)
For years PC makers have tried to come up with a true all-in-one desktop, but more often than not their efforts look like a few components that have been glued together or presented in other impractical forms. There's at least one new model on the Korean market, however, that really does seem to live up to its billing.
The "All-In-One" computer from Seoul-based SBCORE appears to combine all its functions and features in one solid aluminum-finished block that houses CPU, screen and speakers, as well as Intel Core 2 Duo chips, up to 2GB of memory and the usual raft of desktop specs. Its 24-inch LCD also has full high-definition resolution so it can serve as a TV as well, BornRich notes.
Unfortunately for us, there's no word or pricing or whether it will be available beyond the Asian market. So in the meantime, we'll just be left to our own mutant devices.
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