Asus Zenbook UX31

 Want a laptop that's a wafer-thin square of aluminium with more power and storage than a MacBook Air, but for £400 less? That's the promise of the Zenbook, one of the first notebooks to meet lntel's full Ultra book spec.

From a distance, it could easily be mistaken for an Air, but the Zenbook is shinier, more industrial and not as smartly dressed, with a mismatched lid and body. That said, the build quality is spectacular. It's cold to the touch, at least at first - beryllium alloy heatpipes under the skin turn the case into a giant heatsink for the CPU. This means it warms up around most of its surface area when in use, without developing a hot spot when you use it on your lap for a while.

The Zen book uses Intel's HD graphics for 30 rendering, which means it's tuned for high-speed video editing at HD resolutions and can run new games, albeit at very low graphics settings. It's just a shame that the high-resolution screen is pale and lacking in contrast. Asus' flattery of the MacBook Air continues in the pricing- there's also an 11in model for E850 – but this Core i7 model offers exceptional performance and value.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in america , Asus , Asus Zenbook UX31 , computer , europe , laptop , NES 2012 , notebook , ultrabook , usa , Zenbook UX31

Samsung Series 9

 The uniquely sculpted body of Samsung's Series 9 isn't just elegant, it's the thinnest.
The difference between this and the Vaio is fractions of a millimetre, though, so it had better have something else to distinguish itself. The good news is that it does.

The screen, for starters, is so bright it can be used in direct sunlight, and there's a good six hours of charge in the battery, which puts it a close  second to the Sony in terms of how long you can use it for.
The 900X3A was launched a little while ago, though, and newer rivals such as the Asus Zenbook have since emerged with better and faster processors for the same price. If all you do is surf the web and read spreadsheets, you may never notice the difference. But compare its performance in anything more processor- intensive, such as video encoding or gaming, and it will become apparent. Not that the Samsung isn't up to these tasks - it's just that the others will outperform it.

While this is a nice- looking machine, it feels flimsy next to the Zenbook and Air. There's a bit of give in the plastic keyboard, which serves as a reminder that it is possible to go further than is healthy with those weight -loss programs.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in america , computer , europe , laptop , NES 2012 , Samsung , Samsung Series 9 , Series 9 , ultrabook , usa

Acer Aspire S3

With a bladelike body, bright screen and a Core i7 processor, the Aspire S3 has almost everything you'd want in an Ultrabook. But its big selling point is its price. On the face of it, you get pretty much what you get with the Sony, plus just over a thousand pounds. For the Ultrabook to become the computer of the next decade, there will need to be more laptops like this.

That doesn’t quite tell the whole story, though, because the S3 isn't without drawbacks. Its body is plasticky, and while it may not look cheap, neither does it have the super-sleek design kudos of the Zenbook or Air. Similarly, the screen is decent enough but lacks the pixel density and exceptional colour performance of its peers. 

Compared to almost any other Windows notebook, the S3 would be an out and out winner. But the standard of competition for Ultrabooks is outrageously high already, and things are only going to get better. However, Acer may have one more card to play: right now, the extra £90 for an equivalent Zenbook is well worth paying, but the S3 has fallen in price by £100 in less than two months since launch. If it continues to drop like that it will become a far more convincing proposition.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Acer , acer aspire s3 , america , aspire , computer , europe , intel core , laptop , s3 , Sony , ultrabook , usa , windows , zenbook

Sony Vaio Z

Thin and light often means slow and shoddy when it comes to 3D processing, but the Valo Z confounds that expectation.

It doesn't meet the full set of specs lntel requires to use the Ultrabook branding, but it has something none of its rivals do: a plug- in graphics card that gives it the power of a desktop PC when docked. The dock uses a proprietary connector that combines both the Thunderbolt technology used in Apple's MacBooks and a USB3.0- compatible port. Hook it up and it takes the role of charger, Blu-ray player and graphics card. The AMD HD6550M inside the dock won't run Battlefield 3 in super HO, but it's exponentially better than the lntel HD3000 graphics that feature in the laptop itself (and every other machine tested here), making the Vaio a viable desktop replacer.

The rest of the Vaio is less exciting, however. The carbon fibre body may make it lighter than the metal Zenbook, but it feels flimsy and unstable with it. That might not matter if it weren't so expensive, but you can buy a MacBook Air and a proper gaming desktop PC for less. Which means that, impressive as it is, the Vaio remains off - limits to people with only one house.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 3D , amd , america , computer , europe , laptop , macbook , pc , Sony , Sony Vaio Z , ultrabook , usa , Vaio , Z

Dell Alienware

M17x Alienware’sfirst 3D Capable gaming laptop

• Choose NVIDIA® graphics and the 120Hz 3D panel option for in your face 3D Graphics. 
• Put yourself in the action with an optional 17", full high-definition (HD) 1080p display.
• Power through hard-core games and intense applications with the latest Intel^® Core™ i processors.

KillerGraphics

·        You'll be duckingfor cover with hyperrealistic graphics options powered by your choice ofNVIDIA® or AMD graphics. Looking for another dimension? Choose NVIDIA graphicsand the 120Hz 3D panel option for an in-your-face 3D experience. Your 3D gamesand Blu-Ray content have never looked so real! Note: Optional Blu-Ray driverequired to view Blu-Ray content.

NVIDIA 3D Vision Capable

Change the way you game with an Alienware® M17x powered by NVIDIA 3D Visiontechnology. Imagine playing over 400 existing PC games, watching Blu-ray 3Dmovies or catching the latest sporting event streaming online, all in HDstereoscopic 3D. Now you can do all this with the all new Alienware M17x.

KillerView

Regardless of what's on your screen,it's going to look amazing on the M17x. If you like to crank up the resolutionsettings or you're an HD junkie, upgrade to the optional 120hz full-HD displayfor the ultimate viewing experience. Want to hook it up to a larger display ortelevision? The M17x has you covered with easily accessible HDMI ports, onemini display port, and a VGA port. With this much flexibility, domination hasnever looked so good.

Beyond the Performance

Plug into your larger screen television or displays using the HDMI 1.4 or themini display port outputs. If you are strapped for space, don't worry. Justutilize the HDMI Input port to connect any HDMI device and use the display onyour M17x. For ultrafast data transfers, use the new USB 3.0 ports. For greatsound, enjoy Audio Powered by Klipsh® on the M17x.

DominatingSpeed and Intelligent Power

Search anddestroy with options such as the all new second-generation Intel^®Core™ i7 Processors. Need extra power? Intel^® Turbo Boost 2.0technology automatically speeds up your processor for added performance. Wantto stay unplugged for a while? Available NVIDIA Optimus technologyautomatically adjusts your graphics power to the task at hand (Optimus™ technologynot available on 3-D Enabled units). End result: On demand power withoutsacrificing battery life or performance.

AlienTouch: TouchPad Controls — Customize your touchpad's sensitivity to help prevent accidental contact and activate virtualscrolling to enable vertical and horizontal scrolling with just a simple touch.

AlienFX: Lighting Controls — Choose from an arrayof color and transition effects across distinct zones, including the keyboard,touch pad and more.

AlienFusion: Power Management — You decidewhen you need maximum performance or when to scale back for more everydayprograms.

The  Dell Alienware is available for 1499,9$

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Alienware , america , computer , Dell , Dell Alienware , games , gaming , gaming computer , gaming laptop , nvidia , usa

HP ENVY Beats Edition

Rock it for real with the HP ENVY Beats Edition, which delivers the bestsound available in a notebook. Turn heads with a brushed aluminum cover,soft-touch surfaces, and a red backlit keyboard. Speed through work with theIntel Core^™ i5 processor with Turbo BoostTechnology, switch between apps faster, and create like the pros with AdobeElements photo and video editing software. Plus, hear music the way the artistsintended with Beats Audio^™, only from HP.

Througha unique collaboration with music industry innovators like Dr. Dre andInterscope Records’ Jimmy Iovine, the HP ENVY¹⁴ Beats^™Edition delivers the ultimate entertainment experience. 

FeaturingBeats Audio and a brilliant 14.5" diagonal HD BrightView display, the stylishENVY¹⁴ Beats^™ lets you see and hear like the pros. Italso gives you plenty of power and built-in software to create like one, too. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in america , Beats Edition , computer , ENVY Beats Edition , HD Bright View , HP , HP ENVY Beats Edition , intel core i5 , laptops , usa

CM Storm Trooper Case

Continuing the cases reviews line is the CM Storm Trooper.

So, what should we know about the Trooper?  The CM Storm Trooper is:

• The first full tower chassis with two 90 degree rotatable 4-in-3 HDD modules
• The first with an easy-to-carry handle, and hidden tool box for storing private goods
• Removable dust filters on bottom and top intakes
• A built in fan controller for cool and quiet operation
• Supports up to 14 hard-drives for future upgrades
• Convenient external 2.5” HDD/SSD X-dock
• Supports high-end hardware, XL-ATX Mainboards and Quad SLI/CF with dual slot VGAs

·        AvailableColor: All Black
Material: Steel body, Front Mesh/ Plastic bezel
Dimensions: (W) 250 x (H) 605.6x (D) 578.5 mm
(W) 9.8 x (H) 23.8 x (D) 22.8 inch
Net Weight :13.7 KG / 30.2lbs 

·        M/B Type:Micro-ATX, ATX, XL-ATX
5.25" Drive Bay: 9
3.5” Drive Bay: 8 (convertedfrom 5.25” bay by two 4-in 3 HDD modules)
2.5” Drive Bay: 13 (convertedfrom 5.25” bay by two 4-in 3 HDD modules)

·        Cooling System :

Front:	120 mm LED fan x2 (1200 RPM, 17dBA)
Top:	200 mm fan x 1 (1000 RPM, 23 dBA)
Rear:	140 mm fan x1 (1200 RPM, 19 dBA)
	(converted to 120 mm fan)
Bottom:	120 mm fan x 2 (optional)
Side:	120 mm fan x 2 (optional)

·        Expansion Slots 9+1
I/O Panel USB 3.0 x 2 (internal), USB 2.0 x 2, e-SATA x 1, Audio In andOut ( Supports HD audio)
Power Supply Type Standard ATX PS2 / EPS 12V
Maximum Compatibility CPU cooler height: 186 mm / 7.3 in
GPU card length: 322 mm / 12.7 in

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in CM Storm , CM Storm Trooper Case , computer , computer cases , mid tower case , Trooper Case

Aerocool Syclone II Black Edition

The Syclone II case is a “stylish” design chassis with astrong personality. Its “aggressiveness”  is what every gamer looks for in a gamingcase!

This case is solidly constructed in 0,6 mm Japanese steeland beautifully finished both inside and out. Not only the chassis isbeautifully finished in all black (interior and exterior) color, the “PCIcovers”, “MB plate”, “removable HDD cage” and “Screw-less kits” arehigh-lighted in blue (Syclone II Black) or red (Syclone II Red) colors to makethe case unique and stands out from the others. The combination of this uniquechassis finishing and glossy front panel with LEDs give this case a stunninglook!

The Syclone II case is designed with “user-friendly” conceptin mind and it gives gamers great expandability and versatility. Its “screw-less”  features and pre-drilled holes on the motherboardplate for cable routing holes are also protected by high quality rubber toprevent cable damages from sharp edges. A CPU hole is also pre-drilled on theMB plate for ease of cooler assembly and removable.

This chassis offers great expansion capabilities. It cansupport 4x5 1/4" devices, 1x3 1/2" device (external) with converterbracket (included) and 6xhard drives. The chassis is also deep enough tosupport long high end VGA cards up to 400mm in length (when the middle HDD cageis removed). With the middle HDD cage installed, the chassis can support longVGA cards up to 290 mm in length.

It maximized airflow with 3 fans including front in-take 14cm fan (included), back exhaust 12cm LED fan (included) and 12 cm or 14 cm sidepanel fan (optional). A removable PSU dust filter is included to prevent dustentering your computer.

The Aerocool Syclone II can also be found in a red variantcolor.

The bottom line is that the Aerocool Syclone II BlackEdition can be any gamers dream being a seriously eye catcher.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Aerocool , Aerocool Syclone II Black Edition , africa , america , asia , Black Edition , case , computer , computer case , europe , gaming , Syclone II , Syclone II Black Edition , usa

Corsair Graphite Series 600T Mid Tower Case

After I’ve told you about the Corsair game keyboardand mouse I want to tell you about a computer case to go with or gaming maniaor to build your dream computer.

Buildinga Great-Looking, High Performance System Has Never Been Easier

The GraphiteSeries™ 600T makes it easy to build a world-class gaming system. With excellentcooling from the dual 200mm fans, eight PCI-E expansion slots to accommodatemultiple graphics cards, and plenty of room for large, power-hungry components,the Graphite Series 600T can handle just about anything you can throw at it.

Mid-TowerSize, Full-Tower Features

The GraphiteSeries 600T is a mid-tower in height, but inside it’s positively cavernous.Easily accommodate even the longest graphics cards in the industry due to thereconfigurable hard drive bays. The increased space behind the motherboard trayallows clean, uncluttered cable routing. Up to six hard drive caddies, each ofwhich can accommodate SSDs and standard mechanical disks, sit below the four5.25" tool-free optical drive bays. If that weren’t enough, you can removethe top panel 200mm fan and install a 240mm radiator and dual 120mm fans for aquick watercooling upgrade.

Featuresfor Builders

Corsair innovatedcable routing with the Obsidian Series™ cases, and the Graphite Series featuresthe same ingenious design. Pre-cut holes in the motherboard tray with rubbergrommets and plenty of room behind the motherboard to route cables for a clean,uncluttered interior. The optical drive bays are tool-free, the side panelseasily detach with the built-in latch mechanisms, and the integrated fancontroller allows you to choose between quiet operation or maximum coolingperformance.

Features include

• Twin 200mm cooling fans with white LEDs for excellent cooling
• Eight expansion slots provides you flexibility for multiple graphics card solutions
• Unique cable routing holes guarantees you a clean and clutter-free installation
• Integrated fan controller, for up to four fans, gives you the choice of noise vs. performance
• Tool-free optical drive installation makes building your system faster than ever
• CPU backplate cutout makes upgrading your CPU heatsink easy
• 2.5” and 3.5” hard drive compatibility for up to 6 drives — straight out of the box!
• Two year warranty with Corsair’s world-class customer service and technical support

AboutThe Graphite Series

The GraphiteSeries provides full-tower features in a mid-tower sized case, with an emphasison performance and style. Whether you are an expert or on your first build, theGraphite Series is designed from the ground up to provide you with anincredible building experience. The Graphite Series proves that ahigh-performance case can be highly functional and look good doing it.

The case is available to buy direct from the Corsair site for 159,99$ .

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in 600t mid tower case , africa , america , asia , australia , case , computer , Corsair , Corsair Graphite Series 600T Mid Tower Case , europe , gaming , Graphite series , usa

Saitek Cyborg Mouse

Wecontinue our gaming keyboards and mouse reviews with the Saitek Cyborg mouse, which is probably themost interesting and eye catching mouse that this author has ever seen.

Saitek is a company, new to the peripherals market,that wants to make a name on the gaming segment.

The Saitek Cyborg Mouse has 2 options : one with awire, another with a 3200 dpi laser sensor.

The scroll wheel isvery accurate. As a bonus,we can adjust the resistance with a switch locatedon the bottom of the mouse.And it is illuminated with a red LED. Atthe left sidewe have three additional buttons and a fully programmable multi d-pad. Macros canalso be assigned , thanks to SaitekProgramming Software that is very intuitive and simple to use.

Saitek Cyborg allowsyou to save three different profiles in the mouse memory tointegrate a greater numberof functions and commands, profiles can be changed directly from the mouse, from the top left key, andit is equipped with three different LEDs. There canbe saved an unlimited number of profiles on the PC,their changes beingmade this time in the system tray icon.

In this mouse the new element is the adjustable size. The little engine insidethe mouse makes the Saitek Cyborgto shorten or stretch to fit perfectlyin the hand of everyone, without any dangerto resize spontaneous.

For an excellent contact withthe substrate, this mouse hasavailable seven feet,five normal and two extra wide. SaitekCyborg has dimensionsof 50 * 50 * 50mm, and weighs 817grams. It connects to the PC via USB 2.0.

TheSaitek Cyborg Mouse is yours for only 60$.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in africa , america , asia , asutralia , computer , cyborg , Cyborg Mouse , europe , gaming mouse , mouse , Saitek , Saitek Cyborg Mouse , usa