It’s a gloomy and rainy Saturday morning here, but it’s getting warm, so that’s a good thing. I’ll take warm and rainy over cold and snowy anytime! Anyway, here’s the news from our friends around the world:

Quick Links:

PowerColor HD 5750 Go Green @ techPowerUp

Altitude – PC @ LanOC Reviews

NZXT Panzerbox @ LanOC Reviews

InWin Diva MITX Case @ TechwareLabs

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Mionix NAOS 5000 Review

Antec P183 Advanced Mid Tower Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

SteelSeries Xai Laser Mouse

Lian Li PC-T1R Spider @ techPowerUp

Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 1GB Review  @ XSReviews

CoolerMaster GX Series 750 Watt ATX Power Supply Review

Thermaltake SpinQ VT CPU Cooler Review @ Legit Reviews

CeBIT 2010 Coverage with more than 100 pictures on 11 pages

Enermax MODU 87+ 600W PSU Review on Technic3D

NZXT Hades @ techPowerUp

ASUS HD 5870 Matrix 2GB & ASUS HD 5870 "V2" Sneak Peek @ Hardware Canucks

iXBT Labs Review: AMD Athlon II X2 215 Processor

Zalman CNPS10X Performa CPU Cooler Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Win a Dell XPS Laptop with OC3D and Dell Outlet.

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Mionix KEID 20 Review

Razer Imperator Gaming Mouse @ TechwareLabs

COGAGE TRUE Spirit LGA1366 Heatsink Review

iXBT Labs Review: MSI 770-C35 Motherboard

akasa NeroS heatpipe CPU cooler Review @ XtremeComputing

Jetway NC96 NC96-510-LF @ Phoronix

MSI HD 5870 Lightning @ techPowerUp

ASUS Crosshair IV Formula AM3 890FX Motherboard Sneak Peak @ Hardware Canucks

Razer Imperator Gaming Mouse and Vespula Mouse Mat Video Review

AZZA Helios 910R Case Review

Radeon HD5830 DirectX-11 Gaming Performance @ Benchmark Reviews

CoolerMaster 690 II Advanced vs. CoolerMaster 690 @ Ninjalane

Asus Maximus 3 Extreme @ Bjorn3D

Enhancing Your Dual Boot System @ TechwareLabs

Cooler Master HAF 932 AMD Edition Full Tower Case Review @ Legit Reviews

Silverstone Fortress FT02 90 Degree Motherboard Case at Modders-Inc

Logitech Wireless Keyboard K350 Review on Technic3D

Zaward Golf Fan II Review @ Tech-Reviews.co.uk

Prolimatech MK-13 VGA cooler

Noctua NF-P14 FLX 140mm Fan @ Rbmods

iXBT Labs Review: 59 CPU Roundup

Axle GeForce G210 512MB Review at Overclockers Online

Intel H55/H57 Round-up: Full coverage for Core i3 and i5 @ InsideHW

Facebook launches payments between friends service

Storage Related:

Imation M-Class 128GB SSD
Quote: With SSDs becoming more popular and with newer operating systems finally offering native support, it is only natural that more and more companies would be stepping into the ring with products. Today, HardwareLogic has the Imation M-Class 128GB SSD for review, and is one of Imation’s many entries into the SSD market.
Link: http://www.hardwarelogic.com/articles.php?id=5629

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Title: Ineo Technologies I-NA314Ue – Review
Article Clip: Being a computer enthusiast, i often use accessories to get my work done. I have a lot of files which i keep on about 20 hard drives and sometimes it takes me a while to find the right hard drive with the right files. There are few accessories on the market which will let you to plug your hard drive in and browse the files with in. Those accessories are very much valuable in the geek world. Today we are going to take a look at one of these accessories, I-NA314Ue by Ineo Technologies.
Article Link: http://umlan.com/reviews/hardware/h113.html

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Everything USB is pleased to announce our in-depth review on Seagate BlackArmor PS 110 Portable USB 3.0 Hard Drive review.
Storage is critical in today’s technologically advanced home and business. Some would say more storage is better, others would say performance is king, but what would you say if you could have both performance, capacity and portability in one simple and attractive kit at a generous price? Today we’ll review Seagate BlackArmor PS 110 – the world’s first truly portable USB 3.0 hard drive – over the fastest consumer storage interface available.
http://www.everythingusb.com/seagate-blackarmor-ps-110-usb-3.0-performance-kit-18298.html

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G.Skill PC3-18400 (2300MHz) PI Series 4GB Kit
QUOTE: "When I think of memory companies that want nothing but speed, only a few really come to mind and one of them would have to be G.Skill. While so many companies these days produce high end memory, we only really see a few leading the pack and when I say that I mean we see the same few companies ahead of everyone with most other companies playing catch up when it comes to speed.
While most companies are sitting around the PC3-17600 mark these days, G.Skill as always has kicked it up a notch with a PC3-19200 kit and a PC3-18400 one which we have on hand today. Like most high performance memory kits at the moment, the modules are aimed at P55 platforms due to them coming in dual-channel packets."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3175/g_skill_pc3_18400_2300mhz_pi_series_4gb_kit/index.html

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Kingston SSDNow V+ Series 128GB Solid State Drive
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/kingstonvplus_1
Quote:  The Performance Upgrade Kit is a great way to purchase the Kingston SSDNow V+ Series 128GB SSD. Not only do you get the drive, but you get an external enclosure, mounting rails, and additional cables to allow you to connect your new SSD to just about any system. You might not need all of these extras, but for the difference in price you might as well get the bundle.

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Asus TS Mini Home Server Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/asus_ts_mini_home_server_review/
Article Snippet:
"Today I’m going to take the Asus TS Mini home server for a test run and see how it performs when integrated into a typical home network. Since this is a product designed for the home market, it should be easy to setup and maintain, operate quietly, and be small enough to not be in the way of other electronic equipment."

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A-DATA PC3-17600 (2200MHz) Gaming Series 4GB Kit
QUOTE: "There doesn’t seem to be a single memory company standing still at the moment; every week we’re getting a press release from someone that they’ve released a new high speed kit. PC3-16000 seems so last year all of a sudden as PC3-17600 has become the number high end users want.
Today we’ll be looking at an A-DATA kit which is part of the Gaming series. While we haven’t seen anything from the Gaming series before, hopefully the modules follow the same winning formula that we’ve seen on previous kits of A-DATA memory."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3181/a_data_pc3_17600_2200mhz_gaming_series_4gb_kit/index.html

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Axus FiT RAID 500 Storage Device Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/axus-fit-raid-500-storage-device-review/

Quote: “I myself have not played around with a RAID setup as I’ve never had more than 1 of the same hard drive kicking around to try it out. I have seen RAID in action and some of my buddies love to have RAID setups, but I’ve never really looked into it until now. When asked what I wanted to look at next in terms of product reviews, I wanted to look at a storage system with redundant capabilities. In my head I thought some sort of RAID system. Bob got back to me and asked if I wanted to look at a RAID enclosure made by a company called Axus. I got to choose between a 3-disk setup and a 5-disk setu p, naturally I choose the 5-disk setup known as the FiT 500."

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Tsunami Ultimate II 3500 Review  @ XSReviews

Review Link: http://www.xsreviews.co.uk/reviews/cases/tsunami-ultimate-ii-3500/
Quote: "While we’re reviewed some pretty expensive and feature heavy hard drive enclosures and NAS drives in recent weeks here at XSR, not everyone wants something so complicated and all encompassing. What of those that want something that’s far more plug and play, far more simple and most importantly far cheaper. For those perhaps the Tsunami-Tech Ultimate II 3500 is what you’re after. Let’s find out."

Mobile Related:

BELKIN Iphone 3G/3GS Leather Folio Case @ PCShopTalk
Quote:
"For the Iphone 3G and 3GS there are a lot of cases on the market, from different materials; not all of them offer complete protection: for example, some of the cases do not cover the main Iphone button which can become damaged after a while because of dust accumulation. In this review I will take a look upon the Belkin Iphone 3G/3GS Leather Folio case made from leather, which offers complete protection to your phone and looks extremely well when it is closed."
Link: http://www.pcshoptalk.com/content.php?280-BELKIN-Iphone-3G-3GS-Leather-Folio-Case

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X2 Snowboarding –iPhone Game Review

Even though the Winter Olympics are over you can still become a virtual Shaun White with today reviewed  iPhone game – X2 Snowboarding. This digital snowboarding game comes from X2 games and combines impressive game play with graphics are on par with those found on PSP games.

Link: http://www.mobilitydigest.com/x2-snowboarding-iphone-game-review/

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Lenovo ThinkPad T410 Review:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Lenovo-ThinkPad-T410-Review/

Lenovo proved at the Consumer Electronics Show in January that it wasn’t messing around when it comes to latest generation of notebook technologies. The company has a vast array of options, from tiny to huge, and they span the gamut from casual road warriors to hardcore business users. There’s also a machine or two in there for the gaming and multimedia crowd, though you probably wouldn’t guess that the ThinkPad T410 was in that category at first glance. This machine, along with the T410s, T510 and W510, received notable upgrades just last month, with Intel’s latest Core i5 and Core i7 processors hopping on board to give the classically tough and plain ThinkPad line a much-needed breath of life.

The T410 that we’re reviewing today is a ThinkPad through and through. From top to bottom, side to side, there’s no mistaking that this is a member of the iconic ThinkPad family…

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Top 10 Essential (And Not So Essential) Car Gadgets

If there are two things that we guys really like, it’s cars and gadgets. And when you combine the two and give us gadgets for our cars, well, that’s Heaven on four wheels.

Link: http://www.thebachelorguy.com/top-10-essential-and-not-so-essential-car-gadgets.html

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Review: Destinator 9 for iPhone

The iPhone version of the application brings a rich, featured filled GPS client complete with real time traffic updates, on-board maps, voice guided directions, extended POIs and more.

link: http://www.geardiary.com/2010/03/12/review-destinator-9-for-iphone/

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This Week’s Best iPhone Apps

In this week’s bipolar app roundup: Foursquare, squared! Slow ISPs, tattled on! Videos, easily streamed! Street Fighter fans’ high standards, met! Twitter apps, set free! Your entire life, documented! Your every plan, shared! And more…

link: http://gizmodo.com/5492332/this-weeks-best-iphone-apps

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Audio / Video:

QNAP NMP-1000 NETWORK MEDIA PLAYER REVIEW @ APH NETWORKS

Description: When I started to plan the upcoming review schedule for APH Networks early last month, the influx of new network media players onto the market really caught my attention. Providing more digital media integration
with your living room audio/video equipment than ever before, long gone are the days when we were restricted to watching certain videos on our computers only, or swapping a bunch of CDs every time you wanted to listen to those songs on the big system. Last month, we reviewed the Patriot Box Office network media player, which delivered excellent media compatibility for a very low price of admission, but failed to provide the kind of experience users would come to expect for a home entertainment device. Inevitably, there are compromises due to its cost. At the same time, I also began testing QNAP’s NMP-1000 network media player. QNAP is known for making absolutely brilliant network appliances in both performance and reliability, such as the QNAP TS-439 Pro network attached storage system we examined back in September last year. But here’s the thing: The QNAP NMP-1000 retails for $400 at press time — effectively four times the price of products such as Asus’ O!Play and the Patriot Box Office as aforementioned. It is probably no surprise that you are wondering at this point what makes the NMP-1000 so much more expensive than other products that carry out pretty much the same tasks. And you know what? I was asking the same question before I got my hands on these products as well, haha. Is the QNAP NMP-1000 truly the ultimate, no compromise, fully featured high performance network appliance with multimedia features for the home user to justify its price tag, or will it fail to hold its own against the competition? To answer all these questions and address everything else in a detailed and thorough manner, well, let me present to you this week’s review!

* Link: http://aphnetworks.com/reviews/qnap_nmp_1000

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Plantronics Gamecom 777 Surround Sound Gaming Headset Review on Technic3D

Link: http://www.technic3d.com/article-1044,1-plantronics-gamecom-777-surround-sound-fuer-gamerohren.htm

Translation Link: http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3a%2F%2fwww.technic3d.com%2Farticle-1044%2C1-plantronics-gamecom-777-surround-sound-fuer-gamerohren.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

Quote: "The Plantronics Gamecom 777 Surround Sound Gaming Headset arrived Technic3D. With full 5.1 Dolby surround sound capabilities, the GameCom 777 Stereo Headset will let you hear your opponents before you actually see them, so you can fire off crisp, clear orders during your next line of attack? The GameCom 777’s 5.1 Dolby technology gives you the surround sound effects of a five-speaker setup by using digital signal processing that electronically simulates five speakers in a virtual room. This and more see you in the following Rewiew."

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Title: Patriot Box Office Media Player
URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8335&Itemid=40
Quote:

I must admit that I am kind of spoiled. My primary media box is a full PC running XBMC and so I have come to have high expectations from my media device. I don’t think I am alone though in my expectations. However the Box Office does definitely have price in its favor, and if you can overlook some of its UI shortcomings you will get an inexpensive device that is well built, quiet as a mouse (even after playing 1080P video), power friendly and very small. . .

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Arctic Sound E361 Earphones and the link to the review is:
http://www.topreviewshop.com/arctic_sound_e361_earphones
"The Arctic Sound E361 earphones are advertised to work equally well with mobile phones, digital music players and computers. Let’s find out if these Swiss earphones live up to the reputation Arctic Cooling has earned in other markets."

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Arctic Cooling E361-BM Earphone
Review  Link : http://www.bayreviews.com/electronics/2445-arctic-cooling-e361bm-earphone
Quote : "I recently had a chance to check out these head phones by Arctic Cooling and I have to say, they are awesome. If you like bass, this is a must have. It also has outside noise cancellation so you can enjoy your music even more."

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Assorted Stuffs:

‘So did you order an iPad yet?’
Yesterday Apple started accepting pre-orders for the iPad to be delivered in the US on April 3. Did you pre-order an iPad yesterday? If so, which one did you go for?
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/03/so-did-you-order-an-ipad-yet/

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Gaj-it Weekly Round Up of Gadget News and Reviews

1. iPad UK Launch Date: April 2010 – But How Can You Buy the iPad Earlier in the UK?

2. Street Fighter 4 iPhone/iPod Touch App Released & Available to Buy!

3. YouTube Switches On Mobile Advertising

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WIN the perfect formula – ASUS Crosshair III Formula Motherboard
DESCRIPTION:
"It’s competition time again. We have teamed up with ASUS UK to give one lucky reader the chance of winning an ASUS Crosshair III Formula Motherboard worth over £150."
LINK: http://www.vortez.co.uk/contentteller/content_page/win_the_perfect_formula_asus_crosshair_iii_formula_motherboard.html

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A List of PC Game Classics Available Free of Charge
http://www.techspot.com/guides/258-free-pc-game-classics-list/
Major game companies don’t hesitate to charge an arm and a leg for new releases, with most launching around $60 these days. As much as you enjoy lining up outside the local GameStop at 3AM to embrace the latest shooter, parting with 60 big ones hurts a little inside. It doesn’t help that many developers rub salt in the wound by lacing titles with DRM mechanisms — but let’s not go there.
Alternatively, there are tons of free games online, but very few are worth playing (yeah, we’re looking at you Obama Alien Defense). What you may not be aware of however, is the wealth of older commercial titles freely available, just waiting to be discovered.
Dozens of old school favorites like Doom and GTA can be had at no cost. We’ve compiled a brief list of popular titles from yesteryear that you can download absolutely free of charge — and that’s something to appreciate in an age of hidden fees and fine print.

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Proluma Deluxe Triple LCD Stand
QUOTE: "Since the release of Eyefinity, we’ve seen a larger push for multi screen setups. Sure, the technology has been around for years and years; I was using a dual 17" CRT setup back in the day myself which was always fun. But what ATI have done is make the technology a bit more mainstream. Sure, Matrox did it a few years ago with the TripleHead2Go, but they don’t have the same weight as a company like ATI.
Eyefinity has brought with it a more mainstream push for multi screen setups. What we’re seeing is companies working on getting bezels thinner and other ways to make the technology simply better. Something that was lacking was high quality monitor stands for three-monitor setups. Having a look around eBay we found some cheap ones that promised support for 24" monitors, but didn’t actually support them. You can find a few floating around the U.S. market, but they’re extremely expensive and it doesn’t help people in other parts of the world."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3176/proluma_deluxe_triple_lcd_stand/index.html

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, ‘Kaspersky Internet Security 2010 Review’
Top notch features at a reasonable price.
The Full Article can be viewed at
http://tbreak.com/tech/2010/03/kaspersky-internet-security-2010-review/

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DIY Guides: Exploring CPU Performance in Windows Vista vs. Win 7

"Stuck with an older PC that runs slow in Vista? Upgrading to Windows 7 might breath new life into that PC and extend its useful life. In this DIY Guide PCSTATS is going to compare the performance of a handful of AMD and Intel processors running under Windows Vista to Windows 7, with an eye towards answering this question; "Will upgrading to Windows 7 breath new life into older PC hardware previously sluggish under Windows Vista?"

URL:  http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2507

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Core i7 Six Core CPU Coverage:

Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Intel 980x Gulftown.

Quote: Intels Gulftown is the tock to the i7 tick. Have we got unlimited power within our grasp?
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/intel_980x_gulftown/1

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PC Games Hardware has reviewed the Core i7-980X, Intel’s first 6-core Gulftown. We ran benchmarks in applications and games to check the performance of the new processor. Furthermore we took a look at the overclocking capabilities as well as the new Boxed Cooler.

http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,699873/Core-i7-980X-aka-Core-i9-Review-of-the-six-core-Gulftown/Reviews/

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Intel I7-980X Gulftown Six Core Processor Review @ Tweaknews
Article Url: http://www.tweaknews.net/reviews/intel_i7-980x_gulftown_processor_review/
Article Snippet:
"The Intel I7-980x being reviewed today is one of those products coming onto the market that you know know is more of a 32nm victory lap rather than a product that is trying to leap-frog the competition. With nothing in sight that could even touch the Nehalem in terms of performance, the Gulftown adds to an impressive performance market lead that will not be superceded by anyone but themselves for some time to come."

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Intel Core i7 980X 6 Core Gulftown CPU Review

Without a doubt, the Core i7-980X is a fast CPU, the fastest out of the box CPU available. The 980X has a retail price of $999, meaning it will replace the 975X in Intel’s lineup. In terms of applications that will take advantage of the 6 cores, there are many game manufacturers working on optimization for multiple cores and with the support for DirectX 11 multithreaded rendering speeding up performance in games that support it, the Core i7-980X CPU to the next level, allowing for higher level of detail and more animations in games that support multi-threading. . The new CPU cooler allows the retail purchaser to overclock the CPU more than the traditional Intel cooler that doesn’t provide much leeway due to thermal margins.

Review Link: http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/motherboards/2024_15.html

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Intel’s new Gulftown Six Core CPU meets LN2 Extreme Cooling
QUOTE: "I’ve been chomping at the bit to have an opportunity to torture this latest offering. With whispers of massive headroom for overclocking, more tolerance for extreme cooling and performance to die for, it’s enough to get any tech-head excited.
For this article we will be torturing this latest offering from Intel over a variety of multi-threaded applications at pre-determined speeds as well as seeing how much further we can push the cooling before we start hitting cold bugs (most Bloomfields stopped operating around -90 to -100 degrees celcius)."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/3178/intel_s_new_gulftown_six_core_cpu_meets_ln2_extreme_cooling/index.html

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Intel’s Core i7-980X Extreme Edition – Ready for Sick Scores? @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/intels_core_i7-980x_extreme_edition_-_ready_for_sick_scores/
Quote: It’s official. We’re now entering the six-core realm, thanks to Intel’s Gulftown. The first model, Core i7-980X, is more than capable of delivering the sick scores that our title suggests, and along with it, we can begin to see some major benefits of the 32nm process. To sweeten the deal further, Intel even includes an effective new CPU cooler.

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Intel Core i7-980X 32nm LGA-1366 Six Core CPU
QUOTE: "In the current market our CPUs are multi-core. It is almost unheard of to have a CPU with a single core, unless you are buying a netbook or a very low-end system. Starting at the mainstream level the dual core is king. You find them in all shapes and sizes. Moving up, AMD has their tri cores. From there both AMD and Intel have quads and finally Intel has the quad with Hyper Threading; the 8 thread monster called the Core i7.
Well, Intel is looking to add a new level at the very top. This is a 6 core, 12 thread behemoth called Gulftown. Once it hits the retail channels it will be the Core i7-980X. But Gulftown is more than just 6 cores on a CPU die. Intel has moved to 32nm and also stuffed in some new instructions (including AES encryption)."
For more information, please visit – http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/3177/intel_core_i7_980x_32nm_lga_1366_six_core_cpu/index.html

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Intel Core i7-980X Extreme 6-Core Processor:
http://hothardware.com/articles/Intel-Core-i7980X-Extreme-6Core-Processor/

The new Core i7-980X Extreme is an interesting animal, however, that requires much explanation. Although its branding implies that it may be just a simple speed-bump over the previous flagship Core i7-975 Extreme, the 980X is actually a totally different beast. Come on by and take a look…

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Intel Core i7 980X Extreme 6 Core Gulftown Desktop CPU Video Review

Well Intel Has done it again folks and they now bring to the table the first Six-Core CPU to the desktop market. The Core i7-980X is codenamed Gulftown and replaces the Core i7-975X CPU in Intel’s lineup as their top of the line CPU. Gulftown is their first 6-core consumer CPU to hit the market. This also marks the separation from the mainstream i7 CPUs as the new CPU requires the X58 chipset and won’t work on the LGA-1156 CPU Socket found on the P55/H55/H57 etc chipsets. This CPU is also an Extreme Edition CPU, meaning that it is unlocked and can be overclocked higher by changing the multiplier as well as the BCLK upwards. This CPU will become publicaly available in a few weekes from the release of this review. Want to see the fastest CPU available? Check out the review.

Review Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggDpMHB4bI4

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Today Intel launched a new CPU based on their newest 32nm process technology codenamed "Gulftown". It is an "Extreme" CPU both in name and price – weighing in at 3.33 GHz (base, Turbo hits up to 3.60 GHz) with six individual cores (and thanks to HyperThreading that means twelve threads) and 12MB of shared L3 cache, the Core i7 980X Extreme Edition will set you back a bit over $1000 when it hits e-store e-shelves this week.

We put it to the test against the identically clocked (and nearly identically priced) Core i7 975 Extreme, and a handful of other $500+ processors to see how it competes in today’s applications (we threw in a Phenom II for good measure, too).

So how does this beast perform today? Read on to find out!

http://www.hardcoreware.net/intel-core-i7-980x-extreme-six-core-cpu-review/

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TITLE: Intel Core i7-980X Gulftown Processor Review @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Intel offers something for everyone, as their extensive product line can prove. The chipmaker produces desktop, notebook, server, and personal digital appliance CPUs, Ethernet and WiFi network processors, and countless co-processor units. Keep this in mind as Benchmark Reviews presents the Intel Core i7-980X processor, a six-core Westmere 32nm CPU. Codenamed Gulftown, this 3.33GHz Extreme Edition processor features an unlocked clock speed multiplier with twelve computing threads and a 12MB cache. Built for the Intel X58-Express enthusiast platform, Benchmark Reviews tests the BX80613I7980X retail part in gaming, computing, and overclocking performance.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=475&Itemid=63

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Hardware Canucks is pleased to present our review of the new Intel Core i7-980X Gulftown Six-Core 32nm processor.

Article URL: http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardware-canucks-reviews/29632-intel-core-i7-980x-gulftown-six-core-32nm-processor-review.html

Quote: It has been a long time coming.  Intel’s six core processors have been talked about since the Nehalem architecture was first introduced and with the Core i7 980X, Gulftown has finally seen the light of day.  Naturally, this new processor is expensive but with six physical cores and 12 threads, can it perform up to everyone’s expectations?

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Intel i7 980x (Extreme).
SNIP:
With the Intel Core i7 980x in hand benchmarks have been humming along. Strictly business gaming sessions (that’s our story), photo editing, and general computing have been eye popping. Some things have been flying by so fast that we had to re-check them just to make sure they actually happened.
With six cores (32nm) and 12 threads pushing the Westmere processors, 1.17 billion transistors sitting on a 248mm square die data isn’t the only thing pumping along. Once in a great while you get your hands on a game changing product that sets your blood pumping and the mind careening wildly along possibility paths previously unexplored. The Intel Core i7 980x is one of those products.
When the Core i7 965x hit the bench it was a thrilling day even for seasoned reviewers. At that time it meant upgrading your motherboard to LGA 1366, upgrading to (then) expensive DDR3 triple channel RAM, and purchasing a top end i7 965 that ran (at release) $1200. The thought of sitting on a cutting edge i7 965 was a daunting proposal. The i7 980x is an LGA 1366 drop in upgrade. If you’re sitting on a LGA 1366 platform already, simply flash to the latest BIOS, pop out the old processor and drop in the i7 980x and you will be running the top desktop processor on the planet.
In the short time we’ve had the Core i7 980x we’ve been flooded with benchmarks and fielding a lot of inquiries. We couldn’t comment on the i7 980x because of Non-Disclosure Agreements but one question we get asked almost daily is: ‘What’s the fastest desktop computer on the planet?’ All we could do under those conditions was point to the test bench and say with certainty, ‘That one.’
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=1801

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Intel’s dominance with the Nehalem Core i7s has been nearly complete, and yet a replacement will soon arrive in the form of Gulftown, a 32-nm, six-core monster with 12MB of cache.  How good is it?  Should it replace your Pentium 4?  Your Core 2 Quad Q6600?  We investigate.
http://techreport.com/articles.x/18581

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Intel Core i7-980XE Gulftown 6-Core 32nm Processor Review

Today’s processor technology is the result of years of innovative thinking put to action. For instance, Intel’s microprocessor architecture has proven that we’ve taken the first steps into an era where computers are capable of doing far more than just calculating a few spread sheets or playing video games.

There is a lot more unlocked potential from Intel and if you love your Quad-Core i7, then you’re going to love this! How about a 6-core Intel Core i7-980XE Gulftown 32nm Processor? That’s right! We’ve got Hexa-Core!

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/intel-core-i7-980xe-gulftown-6-core-32nm-processor-review/

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Article Title: Intel Core i7-980X Processor Extreme Edition Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1245/1/

Quote: "The Intel Core i7-980X Desktop Processor Extreme Edition was found to exceed our exceed our initial expectations, which says a ton. Having six physical processing cores created an amazing user experience when running multi-threaded applications. The enormous growth of HD media content in the home is driving the demand for computer systems that have the horse power to deliver an enjoyable user experience for the consumer. If you have ever tried to create a Blu-ray movie or just tried to transcode some HD movies you know how much time it takes to work on a project and that can be frustrating for those that do it often. With the new Intel Core i7-980X Processor you can improve productivity, save power and the best part is that it can be a drop-in replacement for those with existing socket LGA1366 motherboard. Anybody that runs multi-thread applications is sure to appreciate a six-core processor…"

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Hello All. It’s time for some interesting news from our friends across the web.

Storage Related:

24GB DDR3 and Windows 7 @BCChardware

Quote:Recently, Crucial launched 4GB and 8GB memory modules that allow more people to be able to load up their systems for some serious multi-tasking applications.  We will be briefly looking at two pair of 12GB kits in our test system that gives us 24GB of memory to play with.  This is a pretty solid chunk of kit and it will currently set you back close to $1,000.  The interesting thing to see is if we can bog down a system and make it bleed. . .

URL: http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8185&Itemid=40

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Title: Patriot Memory Torqx 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD) Review @ ModSynergy.com

Quote: "A few months ago, I had the chance at sharing with you about Solid State Drive (SSD) technology, but it was meant as a removable storage laptop application.  I shared with you about SSD technology, how it is an alternative to the conventional hard drive, but at the same time offering you the advantages of flash based technology.  I shared with you the benefits such as zero noise, low heat and substantially faster sustained transfer speed.  But I never had the chance to experience SSD in a desktop platform day in and day out.

That chance arrived thanks to the folks at Patriot Memory and now I’d like to share with you how my computing experience has changed over the past 3 months; I reviewed the Patriot Memory Torqx 128GB Solid State Drive (PFZ128GS25SSDR).  If you thought SSD wasn’t ready for primetime, you’re dead wrong."

Link: http://www.modsynergy.com/review213.html

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Thecus N4100PRO: A Data-Treasure Cave @ InsideHW

“Since he became conscious being, man has collected and kept various stuff. First, those were material things like food, land, gold or money, and how the man became more modern and educated, information has become the most valuable and most wanted good. Because we live in a time of information revolution, it is no wonder that the hunger for digital information is inextinguishable…”

Article link: http://www.insidehw.com/Reviews/Storage/Thecus-N4100PRO-A-Data-Treasure-Cave.html

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Vantec NexStar Universal Storage Adapter Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/vantec-nexstar-universal-storage-adapter-review/

Quote: “Have you ever had an old IDE drive sitting around that you needed something off of, but you have seem to have lost the IDE cable? Well have no worries! The Vantec NexStar Universal Adapter will allow you to connect not only 3.5” IDE devices but 2.5” and 5.25” devices as well. This adapter also supports SATA devices and includes a 66-1-in card reader. Surely this device has enough to support your storage needs, read on further to find out more about it."

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Seagate Barracuda XT 2TB @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/seagate_barracuda_xt_2tb/
Quote: SATA 3.0 may have been available to consumers for the past couple of months, but the number of hard drive options out there are ultra-slim… just one. That drive is Seagate’s Barracuda XT. The question we’re looking to answer here is whether or not the $100 premium for SATA 3.0 is worth it, at least on a mechanical offering.

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A-Data T907 Jack Skellington 8GB Flash Drive

Link: http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/AData/T907_Flash_Drive

Brief:
A-DATA continues their Disney licensed series with the T907 Jack Skellington flash drive. Inspired by the movie ‘Tim Burton’s The Night before Christmas’, we take a close look at Jack to see if he brings joy or quiver to our hearts.

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OCZ Vertex 2 Pro 100GB SSD Review
http://www.techspot.com/review/242-ocz-vertex2-pro-ssd/
While we don’t expect solid-state drives to become mainstream just yet, they are by all means moving quickly in that direction. Current generation SSDs deliver more value than ever before, plus they have the speed advantage, features, and adequate capacity to become viable alternatives to standard disk drives to most users.

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Overclock3D have just published a new article titled: Synology DS410j NAS Station.
Quote: With the ever growing need for digital storage, Synology have released a new 4 bay NAS solution for the home and small business user. Look inside to see if it checks all the boxes.
Link: http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/storage/synology_ds410j_nas_station/1

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Kingston 128GB V+ Series SNV325-S2 SSD Review @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1197/1/

"Kingston Technology’s second generation of their SSDNow V+ Series of SSDs performed very well and was stutter free no matter what the task was that we threw at it on the desktop or in our notebook. The Kingston SSDNow V+ was said to have sequential read speeds of up to 230MB/sec. and write speeds of up to 180MB/sec. We were able to meet or exceed those rated speeds when using benchmarks like ATTO…"

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Kingston SSDNOW V+ Series 128GB Review And Benchmarks

Kingston has once again launched a new product, this time its an updated second generation SSD. Today we take a look at the specs and then perform some tests to see how well the new Kingston SSDNOW V+series 128GB SSD does against the competition. This is a very fast drive check out the video and see for yourself.

Review Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCa-T-R5ZKQ

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Kingston SSDNow V+ 128GB Solid State Drive Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/kingston-ssdnow-v-128gb-solid-state-drive-review/

Quote: “A little while ago we took a look at Kingston’s SSDNow V-Series 128GB solid state drive that was targeted at entry-level and mainstream users. Kingston had put out a V+ series drive which had better speeds and was targets at high-level users and corporate environments. Recently Kingston has developed a second-generation of the V+, which supports Windows 7 TRIM support, is available up to 512GB and provides faster performance over the previous version of the drive. Today we will be taking a look at the 128GB version of the drive."

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Gen-2 Kingston SSDNowV+ Series SSD SNV325 @ Benchmark Reviews

DESCRIPTION: Solid State Drive technology is developed for two groups of users: large-scale Enterprise environments and individual end-users. Kingston Technology has been in the business of satisfying enthusiasts and gamers for many years, and their SSDNow series of NAND-flash storage products has been the affordable solution for system upgrades. In this article, Benchmark Reviews introduces the second-generation Kingston SSDNowV+ Solid State Drive series. Based on the high-performance Toshiba T6UG1XBG processor, the Kingston SSDNowV+ SNV325-S2 delivers native TRIM support with a maximum rated read speed of 230MBps and write-to bandwidth peaking at 180MBps.

ARTICLE URL: http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=445&Itemid=60

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SanDisk 8GB Gaming Memory Stick Micro (M2) for Sony PSP Go @ Legit Reviews
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1143/1/

"Today, we look at the 8GB version of the SanDisk Memory Stick Micro (M2) designed specifically for Sony’s PlayStation Portable Go or PSPGo handheld electronic gaming system. The SanDisk M2 is not only an ultra-small IC recording media designed for the PSPGo, but it is also designed to work for the growing storage needs of highly compact, multifunctional mobile phones and cameras. The M2 card that we have today is designed to offer an easy way of storing downloadable games, movies, TV shows, pictures, comics, and music. Our package included a Memory Stick Micro M2 to Memory Stick PRO Duo adapter which allows gamers to go back and forth between Memory Stick M2 and Memory Stick Duo compatible slots…"

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OCIA.net has posted their review of the NZXT IU01 USB Expansion Kit. 

"In addition to their current case lineup, NZXT produces several different types of accessories, from cables to power supplies, cooling fans to fan controllers, and other case accessories as well. The item we have for review today falls into that last category, the IU01 USB Expansion module. As NZXT points out, the IU01 addresses an issue common to most gaming PCs, a lack of substantial power and expandability from front panel USB. While it is not uncommon for motherboards to have several USB headers, cases often only have one or two sets of front panel USB ports to connect to them. Some USB devices may also have higher voltage requirements than can be provided from the motherboard through a traditional USB port. This is where the NZXT IU01 can really help."

Direct Link:  http://www.ocia.net/reviews/nzxtiu01/page1.shtml

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Kingston SSDNow V Series 40GB @ Techgage
Link: http://techgage.com/article/kingston_ssdnow_v_series_40gb/
Quote: Want to make the upgrade to a solid-state drive, but prefer to avoid the high cost of adoption? Kingston helps ease that pain with its SSDNow V Series 40GB, a modest drive that features Intel’s NAND and impressive G2 firmware, which helps it deliver stellar performance when compared to an HDD, for an easy-to-stomach price.

Mobile Related:

MEElec RockMee II 8GB Portable Media Player Review @ TopReviewShop

http://www.topreviewshop.com/meelec_rockmee_ii
"With a list price of $129.99, the RockMEE II falls square in the middle of the price distribution for most 8gb flash players on the market. However, the RockMEE boasts a very enticing combination of features including a 3” TFT widescreen display and a MicroSD expansion slot. Is the RockMEE II user-friendly enough to make it worthy of consideration? Let’s find out."

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ASUS show off pictures of their DR-950 eReader @ eTeknix.com

Link – http://www.eteknix.com/news/asus-show-off-pictures-of-their-dr-950-ereader/

Quote:Ok, I’ll admit… I love to read books… There, I said it, I LOVE TO READ BOOKS. So long as it is not Twilight or some other book that foolishly tries to display romance and the unrealistic idea that there are 2 perfect guys for

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VIZO EZSurf @ LanOC Reviews
DESCRIPTION: Cooling is essential to any computer, but has become even more vital for those users running higher-end laptop models, such as gamers. The nature of the notebook is a hot one, and putting extra hardware and stress in little spaces only adds to the problem. We’ve reviewed many laptop coolers in the past, each with their own tactic to tackle a common enemy. The weapon of choice has always been fans, ranging in size, quantity, and speed. That is, until now. VIZO has introduced a new, fanless tactic to the arsenal of laptop cooling, and sent us a sample to try for ourselves.
ARTICLE URL: http://www.lanoc.org/review/hardware/laptop/2304-vizo-ezsurf

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BlackBerry Storm2 – For a Rainy Day
Category : Mobile Phones
Rating : 3.5 out of 5 Stars
Departing from its usual QWERTY-based devices, Research in Motion launches its second touchscreen BlackBerry device, the BlackBerry Storm2. With its predecessor being marked down significantly, we put the new Storm2 under close observation and present our findings in this review.
URL : http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/control.php?cid=24&id=3120&src=3rd

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Powermat Portable Wireless Charging Mat
Link: http://www.bigbruin.com/content/powermat_1
Quote:  The Powermat portable wireless charging mat can greatly reduce the number of chargers you need to power your devices… A good thing for when you are at home, and an even better thing when you are traveling. Instead of a jumble of cables and power bricks, you might only need the portable Powermat and its accessories packed neatly into its case.

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Asus Eee PC 1101HA Seashell Netbook Review
http://www.techspot.com/review/234-asus-eeepc-1101ha-seashell/
A little over a year ago netbooks were the emerging trend that had everyone buzzing. Now the so-called ‘internet tablet’ seems to be stealing that spotlight. But while these new devices have yet to prove themselves on a commercial scale besides maybe some niche business applications, netbooks have already found their place on the market, at least for now.

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Nitrox iConn+ iPhone Battery Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/nitrox-iconn-iphone-battery-case-review/

Quote: “One thing many iPhone users have complained about is the battery. If you are using mobile web, GPS, or an app that using the internet you will see your battery life start to die very quickly. For this reason many companies have made charging packing and iPhone cases that have batteries in them to charge your iPhone. Today we will be looking at the iConn+ iPhone Battery Case from Nitrox, a newcomer to the iPhone accessory market. Let’s take a look…"

Image and Video Related:

Acer P235H 23 Inch LCD Monitor Review @ RealXtreme.Net
Quote: "Come with us as we take a look at the Acer P235H 23 inch LCD monitor. To enthusiasts, this may seem like your average-joe flat screen monitor, while to many mainstream PC users this would be a dramatic upgrade. Check this monitor out with us as we give it a thorough once-over. You never know, it may surprisingly have a bit to offer that you weren’t expecting."
URL: http://www.realxtreme.net/review/23-inch-acer-p235h-lcd-monitor-review

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Samsung P2350 23" LCD Monitor Review @ HotHardware.com

Today we’re taking a look at one of Samsung’s most affordable displays. Just don’t assume its nominal cost equates to inferior quality right from the start. The SyncMaster P2350 is a widescreen LCD monitor that features Samsung’s Touch of Color (ToC) design, a piano black cabinet, a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 2 ms response time, and 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. This value oriented 23" monitor does not offer speakers or a ton of connectivity options, but its performance and low price tag promise to make it an enticing option for those who want the most bang for their buck. Keep reading as HotHardware takes a look at the P2350 to see if this screen has what it takes to be on your short list…

Samsung P2350 23" LCD Monitor Review:
http://hothardware.com/articles/Samsung-P2350-23-LCD-Monitor/

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Veho Muvi Micro DV Camcorder
The Veho Muvi Micro DV camcorder is a diminutive camcorder around the size of a large Bluetooth headset that records videos of 640 x 480 resolution.
URL : http://www.hardwarezone.com/news/view.php?cid=7&id=15548

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Western Digital Live TV @ t-break

WD Live TV is one of the easiest ways of getting your pictures and videos from your hard drive to your big screen.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/01/western-digital-live-tv/

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HP De-Branded 23-inch Widescreen LCD Monitor Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Review URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/hp-de-branded-23-inch-widescreen-lcd-monitor-review/

Quote: “So many people think that Computer Monitors are all the same, but really they are not. You cannot simply just go out a purchase a monitor and be done with it, especially if you have specific needs. Today we will be looking at a 23-inch widescreen monitor from Geeks.com which features 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution, a 5ms response time, HDMI input and integrated speakers. This display sells for just over $150, let’s see if it’s a good deal or not…

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Kodak Zi8 Review @ Digital Trends

"Although our first mini HD camcorder rodeo roundup crowned Cisco’s Flip UltraHD the reigning king of mini HD camcorders, six months can make a world of difference. Kodak’s new Zi8 bucks the leader by addressing many of its predecessor’s shortcomings, while systematically outdoing the competition on just about every feature. Combined with a reasonable $180 price tag, Kodak’s Zi8 now confidently struts it stuff as king of the ring."
Link to the review:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/product-reviews/camcorder-reviews/flash-memory-reviews/kodak-zi8-review/

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Samsung SyncMaster F2380 23-inch 16:9 Widescreen LCD Review @ PCSTATS.com

"The Samsung SyncMaster F2380 monitor isn’t based on either TN or IPS technologies. Instead it uses a LCD pixel alignment technology called Patterned Vertical Alignment (PVA). PVA panels offer better viewing angles than TN-based LCD panels, and better contrast ratios and response times than high-end IPS-based LCD panels. It’s a compromise that gives you the best of both worlds!"

URL:    http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2492

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Samsung HMX-U10 Pocket Camcorder Review

The pocket camcorder market is as popular as ever, because people want a simple and easy way to record videos on the go. As this market continues to mature, people are expecting higher resolution videos and additional features without taking away the ease of use. The Samsung HMX-U10 represents the first entry into this arena by Samsung  and, on paper, it sounds quite a bit more appealing than many of its direct competitors. Does it deliver? Let’s find out.

Direct Link: http://www.futurelooks.com/samsung-hmx-u10-pocket-camcorder-review/

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QNAP Network Media Player NMP-1000 Review @ Ninjalane
URL: http://www.ninjalane.com/reviews/storage/nmp-1000
Quote: QNAP has attempted to tackle this dilemma by taking their award winning NAS appliances and adding sound and video capability. It is really a natural progression for a NAS product, simply take the thing that is already storing your media files and allow you to play them anywhere with a network connection.

Printers etc:

Title: Samsung SCX-5635FN Monochrome Multifunction Printer Review at CCER
Link:http://www.ccereviews.com/reviews/samsung-scx-5635fn-monochrome-multifunction-printer/
Quote: The Samsung SCX-5635FN multi-functional printer is definitely capable of doing many things for the home or office. It is able to print a single sided Word document at 36 pages per minute or 18 sheets per minute in duplex, essentially saving you paper while not slowing down your print job. The level of detail on the scanning and capabilities offered through SmartThru Office and on the printer itself makes for a very versatile unit. You won’t have to spend time copying at one machine and faxing at another – it can all be done with the SCX-5635FN.

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Assorted Stuffs:

iPad’s Identity Crisis and Apple’s A4 CPU Showstopper:
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Apple-iPad-Hits-Misses-And-How-The-A4-Could-Impact-Mobile-Computing/

Apple has worked itself into a corner where people simply expect each and every new product release to change that product category for the better; to revolutionize things in a way that no other company has done so far.  On almost every front, the iPad doesn’t do that.  However,  what’s really interesting is Apple’s A4 CPU…

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Gaming Apple’s iPad: How Well Will Video Games Play on the Device? @ Digital Trends

"Given that Apple’s new iPad tablet computer runs nearly all of the iPhone’s 140,000 apps (over 20% of which are video games), plus can power even more advanced 3D graphical experiences as well as enhanced versions of these titles and first-run platform exclusives, let’s be honest. The question we should be asking isn’t whether or not the iPad will make a decent gaming device, but rather just how long it’s going to take for it to capture players’ imaginations and actually take off."
Link to the feature:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/games/gaming-apples-ipad-how-well-will-video-games-play-on-the-device/

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The Five Best Features of Apple’s New iPad Tablet @ Digital Trends

"In case you missed Apple’s iPad tablet announcement, it was quite the whirlwind. There’s a lot to digest, so for those of you who don’t feel like skimming through six different live blogs to get the gist, we’ve got the Clif Notes. Here are five of the most exciting features we think the new Apple iPad brings to market."
Link to the guide:
http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/mac-computing/the-five-best-features-of-apples-new-ipad-tablet/

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iDisappointed in the iPad @ t-break

In its current stage, the iPad is a let-down. There is so much more potential in a device like this.
The Full Article can be viewed at http://tech.tbreak.com/2010/01/idisappointed-in-the-ipad/

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Title: Is It Time to Move to Solid-State Storage?
Link: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/blog/162
"Everywhere you look, people are talking about SSDs (Solid State Drives) and their advantages. You may think that everybody has already replaced their hard drive with an SSD but you. This is far from the truth; what happens is that most memory manufacturers are putting a lot of effort on marketing SSDs basically because their profit margin on regular memory modules has dropped tremendously in the past few years. Add the price drop on memory itself, and SSDs seem to be a good idea for them to make more money. So a lot of people talking about SSDs don’t mean that everybody is using SSDs, but that manufacturers are pushing people to talk about them."

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10 Things I Love About Technology

Teaser: I’ve been reviewing my technology-related blog posts of late and I’ve noticed a particular trend that I find troubling: I seem to be a technology doomsayer. The overriding theme I’ve identified in my own writing about technology is one of skepticism and caution. My posts tend to focus on the problems that technology creates, not on all the wonderful things it has to offer. You might think that I’m a real technology Chicken Little, constantly screaming that the sky is falling. But the truth is that I am an optimist about new media. I’m constantly on my smartphone, checking email, updating my web site, posting blogs, and using Facebook, LinkedIn, and twitter in my work.

Click here: http://bit.ly/7q7r8W

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Is CES Slowly Going Away? @ ThinkComputers.org

Article URL: http://www.thinkcomputers.org/is-ces-slowly-going-away/

Quote: “I myself have been going to CES for 5 years now. For us here at ThinkComputers it is really the highlight of the entire year, we really don’t attend any other trade shows. We get to see the latest technology, new products and catch up with old friends, not to mention getting to spend a week in Vegas. Something really stood out to me this year during CES…it was very small! Also this year CEA (the company that runs CES) tried to kick out many exhibitors who opted to use hotel rooms instead of paying for a booth."