Rats. Just when we thought that someone had figured out how to make a winning UMPC configuration for consumers, out comes a review to pan it. While the Samsung Q1EX sounds good on paper with its 7-inch resistive touchpanel with 1,024 x 600 resolution, 1.2GHz VIA Nano processor, 4.5-hour battery, and $775 price tag; Laptop Mag was unimpressed when it came to go-time. Unfortunately, Laptop found text entry to be too much of a chore thanks to the loss of the thumbpad used on previous Q1-series UMPCs and the lack of a digitizer that severely impacts the unit’s ability to accurately recognize handwriting under XP Tablet Edition. Boot times were slow and battery life was poor at just two hours compared to the 4.5 hours stated. Sure, you can add a dock with keyboard (pictured) and optional 6-cell battery (bringing the price to $977), but at that point, you’d be wise to look at the latest in wee netbooks offering bigger screens, the same power, and longer battery life at half the price.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Samsung Q1EX UMPC reviewed, dismissed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading Viliv S5 MID detailed impressions, now with video!

Filed under: Handhelds

Viliv S5 MID detailed impressions, now with video! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

While the world waits for a tried-and-true navigation app from Apple, XRoad is taking advantage of the situation by offering up its G-Map app in the interim. Kicking Tires decided to take the new software for a spin, and while the map quality took a pretty harsh beating, the overall offering was highly praised. More specifically, not every street name was present during testing, meaning that you had to rely implicitly on the turn-by-turn instructions if you weren’t familiar with your surroundings. Outside of that, however, it seemed to nail all the important points. Accuracy, routing, ease of use and design were all smiled upon, and it seems critics gave the street name snafu a bit of a break with the hope of future updates solving the issues. If you’re still a touch hesitant to drop your hard-earned cash, give that read link a gentle tap.

[Thanks, Ronald]

Filed under: Cellphones

XRoad G-Map iPhone navigation map gets reviewed, patted on the back originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lenovo’s curiously cute IdeaPad Y650 has been shipping out to multimedia lovers everywhere for just under a month now, but if you’ve been holding tight until a legitimate review hit the tubes, here’s your sign. Computer Shopper managed to get ahold of one of these 16-inch beauties, and while it was disappointed in the lack of a Blu-ray player and 1080p screen option, it generally had positive things to say. The screen, though limited in resolution (1,366 x 768), was deemed “brilliant,” and the gesture-enabled touch pad was also a joy to use. It was found to be “surprisingly light” for a machine this large, and the attractive pricing made it all the more, um, attractive. All in all, it seems the Y650 is a solid choice for those looking for decent power, good looks and a large panel, but gamers and high-def junkies should probably turn their eyes elsewhere.

Filed under: Laptops

Lenovo’s 16-inch IdeaPad Y650 reviewed: not bad at all originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Mar 2009 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Yeah, we already heard that Dell’s Phenom II-equipped XPS 625 was a solid value, but what does that really mean? The testing fiends over at HotHardware sought to find out, and after putting this gaming beast through more tests than it ever wanted to endure, they mirrored most of the earlier (positive) sentiments. In fact, it was found to boast one of the best price-to-performance ratios out there, and the “minimalist” software installation definitely earned brownie points in our book. One thing that bothered critics, however, was the excessive amount of noise. We too have noticed that Dell’s ginormous XPS towers — which, by the way, reviewers also found to be unnecessarily heavy and unwieldy — can emit some serious decibels under heavy loads, but you’d think the engineers in Round Rock would’ve figured out a solution by now. Still, those quirks are probably small hassles to deal with given the savings compared to similar rigs, but we’d highly recommend digging into the read link just to be sure.

Filed under: Desktops

Dell’s Phenom II-equipped XPS 625 benchmarked to the hilt originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 02:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If all goes according to plan, Samsung’s more-than-a-netbook NC20 is just a day away from its official American release, and, on this momentous eve, Laptop has graced us all with a full review of the thing — or the Korean version, at least. We’ve been following the NC20’s buildup closely, as it looks to slot in between flimsy netbook and a proper ultraportables in terms of size but at a sub-$500 price that’s decidedly more Eee than X300. The review seems to echo that sentiment, with its VIA Nano processor found to be at least on par with Intel’s Atom, if not slightly faster, and the 12-inch, 1280 x 800 display quite pleasing to the eye — despite its glossy sheen. That (relatively) large size gives room for a comfortable keyboard, but overall this is a bit bulkier than its competition; heavier too, clocking in at 3.4 pounds with a 6-cell battery compared to about 3 pounds for a similarly powered Mini 12. Overall it sounds like a great device for those looking for a netbook with a little more to love.

Filed under: Laptops

Samsung’s NC20 reviewed ahead of US release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If all goes according to plan, Samsung’s more-than-a-netbook NC20 is just a day away from its official American release, and, on this momentous eve, Laptop has graced us all with a full review of the thing — or the Korean version, at least. We’ve been following the NC20’s buildup closely, as it looks to slot in between flimsy netbook and a proper ultraportables in terms of size but at a sub-$500 price that’s decidedly more Eee than X300. The review seems to echo that sentiment, with its VIA Nano processor found to be at least on par with Intel’s Atom, if not slightly faster, and the 12-inch, 1280 x 800 display quite pleasing to the eye — despite its glossy sheen. That (relatively) large size gives room for a comfortable keyboard, but overall this is a bit bulkier than its competition; heavier too, clocking in at 3.4 pounds with a 6-cell battery compared to about 3 pounds for a similarly powered Mini 12. Overall it sounds like a great device for those looking for a netbook with a little more to love.

Filed under: Laptops

Samsung’s NC20 reviewed ahead of US release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

If all goes according to plan, Samsung’s more-than-a-netbook NC20 is just a day away from its official American release, and, on this momentous eve, Laptop has graced us all with a full review of the thing — or the Korean version, at least. We’ve been following the NC20’s buildup closely, as it looks to slot in between flimsy netbook and a proper ultraportables in terms of size but at a sub-$500 price that’s decidedly more Eee than X300. The review seems to echo that sentiment, with its VIA Nano processor found to be at least on par with Intel’s Atom, if not slightly faster, and the 12-inch, 1280 x 800 display quite pleasing to the eye — despite its glossy sheen. That (relatively) large size gives room for a comfortable keyboard, but overall this is a bit bulkier than its competition; heavier too, clocking in at 3.4 pounds with a 6-cell battery compared to about 3 pounds for a similarly powered Mini 12. Overall it sounds like a great device for those looking for a netbook with a little more to love.

Filed under: Laptops

Samsung’s NC20 reviewed ahead of US release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

There’s not much that can be said about the 17-inch version of the MacBook Pro that hasn’t already been said about the 15-incher (and to some extent, the MacBook). Still, the big, big brother of the family has a few key differences that make it stand out from the rest of the gang. The first being its non-removable battery, built out of tech which Apple claims will result in groundbreaking lengths between charges. The second difference, available only as an option, is a non-glossy display — an addition which many have pined for since Apple’s full throttle decision to move to extremely high-glare screens. Are these changes compelling enough to induce users to upgrade? Will previous 17-inch fans find a slam dunk or a dud underneath the unibody exterior? Read on for the full scoop.

Continue reading MacBook Pro 17-inch unibody review

Filed under: Laptops

MacBook Pro 17-inch unibody review originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DDR3 modules aren’t exactly new or anything, but given just how low the prices of big time kits have become, we figured it prudent to pass along one of the most thorough shootouts on the subject that we’ve seen. HotHardware grabbed a few DIMMs from the labs of OCZ Technology, Corsair and Kingston, threw ‘em all in a Core i7 rig (not simultaneously, silly!) and benchmarked the lot until they literally fell asleep at the keys. The results? We’d love to tell you which sticks came out atop the pile, but that would just be spoiling the fun for you, now wouldn’t it? Give the read link a look if you’re ready for the action.

Filed under: Storage

DDR3 shootout pits OCZ, Kingston and Corsair against one another originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Razer’s Carcharias headset is yet another audio-related diversion for the input peripheral company, and as with its mighty impressive Mako 2.1 sound system, this here headset was remarkably solid. Originally announced at CES this year, this gaming headset is a multi-functional tool that works first and foremost as a two-way communication device for gamers who love to yap while fragging. Secondly, it can double as a really, really decent set of cans. The flip-down microphone can easily fold up and out of the way, and considering just how light these are, they can be worn for hours on end (trust us, we tried) without any sort of ear pain and unusual pressure on your dome.

The lengthy braided cable was slick, the in-line remote was a thoughtful touch and the headband was amongst the most comfortable we’ve had the pleasure of coming into contact with at this price point. When speaking with Razer CEO Robert Krakoff, he confessed that these were specifically designed to be worn comfortably for upwards of 10 hours, and we believe it. He also noted that customers were clamoring for deeper bass response in its headphone products, and yet again, it delivered in bringing the low-end to these cans. Not once did we feel the bass was magnified out of proportion, and while it’s obviously designed to let gamers feel the “booms,” we thoroughly enjoyed how it handled good ole rock ‘n roll.

All in all, we’re comfortable recommending these to PC gamers who could also use a new pair of headphones for music alone. At $79.99, these are solid enough to last you for quite some time, and the superior comfort level here is really what sets it apart. Razer may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think audio, but these are definitely worth a listen.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Razer Carcharias headset: unboxing and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Like a skeleton in the closet or a beating heart in the floorboards, many home theater enthusiasts are cursed by a barrage of remote controls, each with different shapes, sizes, and battery demands. Cheap multi-device programmable remotes help, but Logitech’s Harmony line has for years been something of a savior, elegantly hiding all your devices behind simple activities like “Watch TV” or “Play a CD.” The Harmony 1100 is the latest to join the lineup, and is in many ways the most elegant to look at and to hold. Sadly, though, it’s far from the most intuitive to use, and so is not exactly our favorite.

Continue reading Harmony 1100 remote review: a bigger screen isn’t always better

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Harmony 1100 remote review: a bigger screen isn’t always better originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Toshiba’s Qosmio X305-Q725, which was unveiled amidst a flurry of other gizmos at CES, boasts the same incredibly controversial motif as the higher-end X305-Q708, but with an MSRP of $2,700 (versus $4,200 on the Q708), it’s at least a wee bit more affordable. The benchmarking crew over at HotHardware decided to put this newer, marginally more affordable iteration to the test in order to see if it still performed under pressure, and by and large, it did. While it couldn’t go toe-to-toe with higher-end desktops, the GeForce 9800M GTX GPU, quad-core processor and SSD helped it to blaze through everyday tasks and hold its own in the gaming arena. Our biggest issue is the omission of a 1,920 x 1,200 display, but we suppose that’s why there’s the more expensive alternative. Hit up the read link for pages upon pages of test results and impressions.

Filed under: Laptops

Toshiba Qosmio X305-Q725 reviewed: a nice performer, but it’s still ugly originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading Cyber Sport Orbita Mouse review: It’s pretty weird

Filed under: Peripherals

Cyber Sport Orbita Mouse review: It’s pretty weird originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

HP’s Mini 1000 Mi has been up for order since CES, but for those still waiting (and waiting) for a proper overview of the system before buying in can finally say that their patience has paid off. The netbook lovin’ crew over at jkOnTheRun has taken the time to showcase the aforementioned machine on video, going over the basics, the not-so-basics and the pros / cons of ownership. We’re going to warn you up front, though — the clip is darn near 20 minutes long, so you’ll certainly want to snag some cookies and milk before diving into the read link. That said, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better look at the Mi software without actually removing your keister from your chair, so it’s probably worth your while.

Filed under: Laptops

HP Mini 1000 Mi gets video review originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Feb 2009 22:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sanyo’s Xacti line of pocket-friendly HD camcorders have been almost universally praised… when shooting outdoors. When trying to log clips in dim light, however, the story has been quite different. The outfit’s VPC-HD2000, which was unveiled at CES this year, came out looking decently strong from PhotographyBLOG’s review. The handheld packed in “more features than you’d expect,” but the lofty price tag kept it from being a real contender. Sadly, the poor low light performance was grandfathered in, though the broad range of selectable ISO options were appreciated nonetheless. All in all, reviewers seemed to hold back on giving their wholehearted recommendation due to its price and the so-so image quality; in other words, you should probably avoid this one until its successor comes out, after which the MSRP may better reflect the benefits.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sanyo’s Xacti VPC-HD2000 pocket camcorder gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 20:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

C’mon, did you really expect Archos to knock this out of the park on its first go? Okay, so we sort of did too, but we’re not baffled to hear that the Archos 10 could’ve used a few more days in the oven before hitting primetime. According to a review at Laptop, the unit does have one of the better software stacks, and the speedy hard drive led to some remarkably hasty boost times. That said, the $399 admission price puts it up against some pretty stiff competition, with the Aspire One D150 and the Eee PC 1000HE both offering up more longevous batteries and more comfortable keyboards. In the end, it boiled down to critics preferring the long life and comfy typing over the above-average software suite, but true Archos fanboys may be willing to overlook its drawbacks to still fall in love.

Filed under: Laptops

Archos 10 netbook reviewed: a little rough around the edges originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Many wondered whether the unique LiveSpeakR would ever break through the concept stage; clearly, it has succeeded in hitting mass production, and our pals over at TUAW were able to spend some quality time with it. Hailed as a “super cradle,” this device can latch onto an iPhone (original or 3G), iPod Classic and iPod Touch. Once attached, it can provide audio horizontally or vertically, depending on how you’d like to spin it. During testing, critics found the audio quality to be surprisingly nice, with them even being “astonished that such a big sound was produced by such a small speaker system.” As expected, bass notes were a bit hush-hush, but reviewers did appreciate the RF shielding that enabled iPhones to remain on while not introducing buzz. All in all, they felt it was a bargain at $129.99 (and even more so at the sale price of $99.99), but we’d suggest reading the full spill before handing over your hard-earned dollars.

Filed under: Portable Audio

LiveSpeakR iPod / iPhone sound system gets reviewed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 15:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

At last, after seeing it unboxed and fiddled with on camera last week, we’ve got out first in-depth review of the 10.1-inch Acer Aspire One D150, courtesy of Laptop. How does the Intel Atom N270-based machine fare? Excellent for its $350 price tag, although the keyboard and touchpad don’t compare favorably with the pricier Eee PC 1000HE or Samsung NC10. As for battery life, the 5800mAh-rated 6-cell had a very impressive 7 hour and 57 minute runtime, which is 49 minutes longer than the 1000HE and 38 minutes over HP’s Mini 2140. Of course, seeing as most consumers will end up with the 4400mAh batteries, a more likely estimate is 5 hours per charge. Additionally, the site had a Q&A session with Acer VP of Product Marketing Sumit Agnihotry, who said that $100 Aspire One with AT&T 3G deal is “only the beginning” and they’re developing a plan to offer discounted laptops with an hourly-use program. There’s also talk of incorporating NVIDIA’s Ion platform into future computers. Hit up the read links below for the full review and more deets from Agnihotry.

Read - Review
Read - Q&A with Agnihotry

Filed under: Laptops

Acer Aspire One D150 reviewed, AT&T 3G deal ‘only the beginning’ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Panasonic’s HDC-HS300 was unleashed amidst a flurry of other camcorders at CES this year, but according to Trusted Reviews, it won’t be hiding under the shadows of everyone else for long. Rather than bogging you down with details, we’ll just get right to the punch — critics didn’t hesitate to suggest that this “could well be the best [consumer] camcorder released all year.” The most important aspect (yes, we’re talking about image quality) was said to be “nothing short of stunning in virtually all conditions,” and low light performance was deemed “particularly amazing.” There were plenty of outputs, a swank touchscreen LCD and a very impressive cross-shaped array of microphones that could record 5.1 audio. Add all that up, and you’ve got a real winner; in fact, these guys suggested that even Canon’s stellar line of VIXIA camcorders should watch closely, ’cause the HS300 is stepping all up in that rarefied air.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panasonic’s HDC-HS300 HD camcorder reviewed, thoroughly enjoyed originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Feb 2009 05:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments