With processor, graphics and storage technologies rushing ahead at breakneck speed, this year’s holiday shoppers will have more tech on tap for less money than they could have dreamed a year ago. Ultra-premium hardware that used to be reserved for dream systems, like solid-state drives, has plummeted in price, and computers that started as inexpensive toys, like netbooks, have sprouted more and more features, turning into real, viable PCs. Here are a few unique systems to make sure to check out on store shelves.
Tag Archive: Harmon
Harmon/Kardon Intros Three New AV Receivers
Audio and video gear maker Harmon/Kardon has introduced three new AV receivers, each featuring HDMI 1.3a, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, and an enhanced Bridge II iPod docking system that can play, control, and charge iPods (except for the shuffle). The new receivers also sport a “groundbreaking” onscreen menu system designed to make it easy for users to setup and use the systems.
Notebooks Leap to Core 2 Duo
The stars have aligned, the PR firms have stretched and flexed and assumed their stances at the starting line, and bang!—today the announcements of new Core 2 Duo-powered notebook and portable systems leave the gates in a mad dash for your wallets. These Core 2 Duo systems are, for the most part, Core Duo systems retrofitted with Intel’s newer Core 2 Duo technology—and in many cases virtually no other specs have changed from their earlier incarnations. And many are, for the moment, available only in Japan. But still—Core 2 Duo, right? Whoohoo!
XM Radio Goes Hog Wild
It’s another XM Satellite Radio news day as they announced plans to enter the motorcycle equipment market. Their first entry into this space targets the Harley-Davidson crowd as an accessory feature for some of their 2006 touring models.
The Advanced Audio System, which XM says has been designed for Harley-Davidson by Harmon/Kardon, is an AM/FM/XM-ready/WB/CD-MP3 system which utilizes 20 watts of power per channel. It has a high resolution display with adjustable background color which can show the playing XM channel as well as artist and title.
Toshiba’s New Notebook Lines
Toshiba Satellite M45 Notebook Series
The new Toshiba M45-S165 is priced at $1049 and features a 15.4-inch LCD display using Trubrite technology (licensed by Sony), an Intel Celeron M CPU, Windows XP Home, 512MB of memory, an 80GB hard drive, and 802.11b/g wireless networking. The system weighs about 6Lbs.
The M45-S265 adds faster processors, and an integrated media player that lets you play DVD’s or CD’s without booting up the system in computer mode. It also features a larger 100GB hard drive. The M45-S355 adds 1GB of memory, and a 5-in-1 media card reader.




