Digital Trends
Can you live on a netbook? Will Windows 7 run on one? These are two questions that many had been asking as we entered 2009. Well, I’ve been using Windows 7 on an HP Mini 1000, and I’m actually surprised to say that the answer to the first is a strong maybe, and to the second, a very strong yes. Let’s talk about my experiences with Windows 7 on the HP Mini 1000 netbook this week.
Living on a Netbook
The desktop rig has always been the traditional platform of choice for computer gamers, but that hasn’t stopped a number of companies from packing similar hardware into notebooks for players on the go. Vigor Gaming, a relatively new name in custom computers, announced a line of five new gamer-oriented laptops on Wednesday.
The flagship for their new line is the Atlantis Pro, a desktop replacement with a massive 20-inch WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) screen. It’s powered by an AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile processor with dual Nvidia GeForce Go 7950 GTX processors handling graphics, and a pair of 250GB RAID-0 drives for storage. Not surprisingly, it will set you back $2,799.
DVD mastering software developers Doug Carson & Associates (DCA) have announced that the first 3X DVd-ROM was successfully mastered and replicated on January 17 at Sonopress’ facility in North Carolina. (PDF)
What is 3X DVD? It’s a variant on standard red-laser DVD-ROM which uses HD DVD’s UDF 2.5 file system and (currently compromised) industry-standard AACS copy protection to offer up to 135 minutes high-definition video. However, this is not the same high-def video one might find on a studio HD DVD release: instead, it’s AVC or VC-1-encoded, 720p resolution video content. There’s no 1080i or 1080p support (although, of course, software and player-based upscaling is possible), and the 3X DVD-ROM discs are only readable by HD-DVD drives&mdash which 3X DVD-ROM proponents argue may give HD-DVD extra weight in the format war.
The first time I became conscious of audiophiles, I knew I wasn’t one. At least not then. I met someone who remains one of my key music buddies. Although he didn’t make a big deal out of it, he was an audiophile as well as a music lover, and so was his roommate. It was the roommate whose disdain made me aware of my shortcomings when I confessed that I had KLH speakers and a Kenwood receiver. “So,” he smirked, “do you enjoy your toys?” He then went on to rave happily about the hand-machined parts in his tonearm.
Sony announced Monday the availability of a new DVD burner geared towards Mac users. The new DRX-820UL/T is priced at $159.99 and available now.
The DRX-820UL/T, said Sony, has a vertical design and is equipped with both i.LINK (IEEE1394/FireWire compatible) and USB 2.0 interfaces. It comes bundled with burning software for both Mac and Windows operating systems. It also reportedly supports the industry’s fastest 8X DVD+R Double Layer (DL) recording speed, allowing users to record up to four hours of MPEG-2 video or up to 8.5 GB of data, music and/or images on compatible media in about fifteen minutes.
Dell yesterday announced a new entry level notebook targeted towards small business and educational institution uses. The budget minded Latitude D520 has a starting configuration price of $948 and looks to be available now.
The Dell Latitude D520, said the computer maker, has a starting weight of 5.24 pounds. It can be configured with a choice of Intel Core Duo or Celeron M processors, 14.1-inch or 15-inch displays and Wi-Fi networking capabilities. RAM options can run from 512MB up to 4GB, while hard drive storage space can span to a maximum of 100GB.
Dell Computer today announced its Latitude D620 and D820 notebook computers which feature slimmer and lighter designs than their predecessors, Intel Core Duo processors, and optional wireless broadband capabilities using either Verizon Wireless or Cingular Wireless in the United States, or Vodafone in Europe.
“As mobile computing has become mission critical for businesses of any size, Dell found that customers care about durability, security and constant access to critical business information,” said Alex Gruzen, senior VP of Dell’s product group. “These new Latitude systems address and exceed these customer needs in robust design, comprehensive security options, integrated mobile broadband and significant reductions from the prior generation products in weight and thickness.”
Plextor yesterday announced the availability of a new line of 16X DVD+/-R/RW CD-R/RW drives which also support DVD-RAM. The PX-750 series, consisting of the internal PX-750A ($89) and external PX-750UF ($139), will be in stores by the end of the month.
The PX-750 series, said Plextor, is their first drive line up to support DVD-RAM functionality for removable data storage applications. The drives reportedly deliver recording speeds of 16X DVD+/-R on single-layer media, 8X DVD+/-R on Double-Layer and Dual-Layer (DL) media, and 5X DVD-RAM. The drives also support 8X DVD+RW, 6X DVD-RW, 16X max DVD-ROM, 40X CD-R, 24X CD-RW, and 40X max CD-ROM. DVD+/-VR is supported for direct disc recording.
Plextor today said they were planning to ship shortly the industry’s first 18x DVD+/-R burner. The new PX-760A is priced at $119 and should be available in April.
The multifunction internal PX-760A, Plextor said, offers up versatile DVD/CD burning capabilities which reportedly get recording speeds of 18X DVD+/-R on certified 16X DVD+/-R media, 10X DVD+R on Double-Layer media and 6X DVD-R on Dual Layer media. The drive also supports 8X DVD+RW and 6X DVD-RW rewriting; 16X max DVD-reading; and 48X CD-R writing, 24X CD-RW rewriting and 48X max CD-reading.
Sony today announced details about the forth coming DRX-810UL/T external DVD burner. This unit, which is Mac and PC compatible, will be available in November for less than $150.
The DRX-810UL/T, said Sony, works with both PCs and Macs. It comes bundled with both Toast 6 Lite (Mac) and Nero (PC) software for storing and sharing of home movies, digital photos, and music at 8X maximum for DVD+R Double Layer recording speed, enabling users to burn up to 8.5GB of video, data, music or images on compatible media in about fifteen minutes.
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