NBreviewZ

Verbatim 240GB SATA III Review

2012-07-31T07:38:00.003+07:00

Verbatim's SATA III (6GB/s) solid state drive is quite different than the SATA II version. In fact, build quality aside, the Verbatim 240GB SATA III is nearly identical to the Kingston HyperX 3K.

This SSD distinguishes itself from the others with an extremely thick and heavy aluminum enclosure that acts like a giant heat sink for the internal components. In fact, out of all four SSDs in this roundup the Verbatim SATA III was the only one that didn't develop a hot spot that was too hot to touch after hours of repeated benchmarking.

This drive still generates heat, but the heat is spread across the entire surface of the drive rather than being concentrated in a single spot near the center of the drive.

The specifications for the Verbatim 240GB SATA III SSD are as follows:

Model: 3SSD240 (47379)
Form Factor: 2.5" (9.4mm thickness)
Capacity: 240GB
Memory Type: MLC
Interface: SATA III
Controller: SandForce
Weight: 97g
Advertised Max Sequential Read: Up to 550 MB/s
Advertised Max Sequential Write: Up to 510 MB/s
MTBF: 2,000,000 hours
MSRP: $200
Average Retail Price: $180

Report: SSDs Are “No Threat” to Hard Disk in Notebook Sector

2012-07-30T21:58:00.002+07:00

The death of Hard Disk-based notebooks in favour of Solid State Drives has been greatly exaggerated, according to analyst group IHS iSuppli.

The research group’s main argument about the lack of market dominance by SSD devices? Price. On average, the price of a notebook with 500 GB HDD is between $450 and $550 while an SSD based device with far less storage capacity — such as the MacBook Air with a 64 GB storage — comes in at the $999 price point.

IHS said that in the first quarter of 2012, notebooks with SDD storage and high-end hybrid HDD devices had only three percent of the market share. Below is a chart that outlines market share based on storage medium and capacity.

“The market-share rankings show that SSD-based notebook PCs like Apple Inc.’s MacBook Air presently pose no threat to the much larger universe of HDD-based mobile PCs,” explained Fang Zhang, IHS’ resident storage analyst, in a statement. “SSD-equipped notebooks are faster, more lightweight and sport a thinner profile—some of the characteristics that make them popular and desirable to consumers—but they are also more expensive and feature less overall storage space. The price of a MacBook Air with just a 64GB solid state drive can reach $999, while an HDD-based notebook PC at that price can boast significantly larger storage space.”

To summarize IHS’ findings, until the price premium on SSDs are reduced, and the drives offer comparable storage to hard disks, domination by the mechanical drive isn’t going to end any time soon.

AMD APUs 2nd-Generation details

2012-05-17T07:51:00.001+07:00

Today, AMD (Advanced ) launched the second generation of it's AMD A-Series Accelerated Processing Units (APUs) targeting mobile markets, ultrathins devicesand All-in-One HTPC products, and so AMD publish a press release includes specifications, features and performance compared with precedent generation, with an improved design over the previous generation featuring a lower TDP and faster integrated GPUs, thanks to the new HD 7000 Series graphics inside, check out the PR.

New 2nd-Generation "Trinity"architecture:

2nd-Generation APUs specifications compared:

2nd-Generation AMD APUs Features:

Double the performance per watt of the previous generation;
The AMD HD Media Accelerator with a unique set of technologies designed to optimize video quality available with premium and Internet video content, and accelerate video file conversion;
An increase in CPU performance of up to 29 percent with higher processor speeds thanks to the next-generation AMD "Piledriver" CPU core with 3rd-Generation AMD Turbo Core technology, where power is dynamically shifted between the CPU and GPU depending on application needs, effectively providing a more responsive experience that can boost CPU frequencies to up to 3.2 GHz;
AMD Radeon HD 7000 Series graphics for an increase of graphics performance up to 56% over the previous generation. Combined, the CPU and GPU cores deliver more than 700 gigaflops of computing performance - several times more than the fastest x86 CPUs - to boost performance of hundreds of applications;
Up to 12 hours of battery life through CPU and GPU power enhancements, with clear battery life leadership in notebook form factors.

"The latest OEM notebooks, ultrathins, All-in-Ones and desktops based on the new AMD A-Series APU enable the best video and gaming experiences, highly responsive performance with AMD Turbo CORE, and accelerate an ever-increasing range of productivity and multimedia applications -- in sleek, stylish designs at price points that make sense," said Chris Cloran, corporate vice president and General Manager, AMD Client Business Unit. "Our 2nd-Generation AMD A-Series APU is a major step forward in every performance and power dimension, allowing users to enjoy a stunning experience without having to give up the things that matter to them most. This experience doesn't stop at mainstream notebooks. It carries over into affordable ultrathin form factors featuring the latest in AMD Radeon graphics."

Unmatched Mobility
With more than 12 hours of 'resting' battery life, AMD is now an industry leader in notebook battery-life performance. The 2nd-Generation AMD A-Series APU delivers increased levels of performance, while consuming half the power as its predecessor.

In ultrathin form factors, AMD enables an uncompromised visual experience thanks to a power-efficient and premium AMD Radeon graphics engine. Consumers can expect to see ultrathin notebooks based on dual-core 17-watt and quad-core 25-watt AMD A-Series APUs. These products will be easily identifiable by aluminum-styled VISION Technology stickers at a range of competitive price points.

"We are excited for the introduction of the 2nd-Generation AMD A-Series APU and are confident it will continue the great work Microsoft and AMD have done together on the A-Series APU," said Aidan Marcuss, senior director, Windows Business Planning, Microsoft Corp. "We look forward to seeing the A-Series APU in action with Windows 8 to deliver a great user experience across a variety of hardware."

AMD Perfect Picture HD - An image, video processing and display technology that automatically makes images and video better with color vibrancy adjustments, edge enhancement, noise reduction and dynamic contrast fixes;
AMD Steady Video Technology - A technology that enables smooth playback of jittery video content with a single button click thanks to plug-ins for popular Web browsers and multimedia applications;
AMD Quick Stream Technology - A new technology that prioritizes video streaming on PC systems for a smooth, virtually uninterrupted video stream;
True HD video chat with up to four people at once;
AMD Video Converter - A video compression engine for fast conversion and sharing of media files across multiple formats and devices;
Full decode support for H.264, MPEG-2, VC-1, MVC, DivX and WMV.

Gaming Leadership
The 2nd-Generation AMD A-Series APU builds on AMD's legacy of gaming leadership with an increase in graphics performance of up to 56% over the previous generation and support for:

AMD Eyefinity Technology - For the first time, this immersive technology is available from an APU without the need for a discrete graphics card;
Performance-leading DirectX 11 graphics architecture and 1080p gaming a life-like level of detail;
AMD Radeon dual graphics support that delivers a performance boost of up to 75 percent when adding a discrete graphics card to the APU. The AMD Radeon dual graphics option also offers support for DirectX 9 for older game titles, and uses new AMD CrossFire Technology Profiles for easier updates.

Availability and Technical Details
AMD has a record number of design wins with companies like Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba based on our 2nd-Generation AMD A-Series APUs and VISION Technology from AMD, with mainstream and ultrathin notebooks as well as embedded solutions, available beginning today.

Corsair Performance Series Pro 256GB

2012-05-15T23:06:00.003+07:00

Shortly after the Plextor M3 review went live, I received numerous emails asking us to review Corsair's Performance Series Pro. Your voice was heard and we went and asked Corsair for a review sample, and here we are with the results.

There aren't too many Marvell SSDs on the market so the Performance Pro stole my attention immediately. When testing a SandForce drive, you pretty much know what to expect. Only Intel uses in-house firmware whereas the rest use the firmware that SandForce provides. That limits differentiation a lot. When it comes to Marvell, things are a lot more open and interesting. Firmwares are often proprietary and that's why you never know what to expect. Several readers pointed out the similarity between Corsair's Performance Series Pro and Plextor's M3 & M3 Pro. Maybe all Marvell drives don't carry an in-house firmware after all? Read on to find out if that's true and see how the Performance Pro fares in our tests.

credit : http://www.anandtech.com

Intel Has 7nm & 5nm in R&D Pipeline

2012-05-15T13:32:00.001+07:00

When a company like Intel releases a brand-new micro-architecture, it's pretty-much become a given that we'll be impressed. Sometimes, performance sees a nice boost, and the constant shrinking of the transistor size just boggles the mind. But despite how impressive any new launch is, Intel always has something even more impressive in the pipeline, continuing the progression we've come to expect.

While 22nm is the current hotness for CPUs, Intel has both 7nm and 5nm in the planning stages, with the latter set to release in about ten years - barring any complications. How the company will accomplish such a small process is yet to be seen, but it can be expected that the challenges will be enormous. In shrinking down to even just 22nm, there have always been hurdles to overcome. Power leakage remains an important issue, as it can reduce stability and also efficiency.

In many ways, the fact that we even have 22nm-based processors is impressive, but picture that size shrinking down even further, to about 1/4th. To help put this all into perspective, the thickness of a strand of human hair is 60,000nm, so at 5nm, it would require 12,000 transistors set side-by-side to equal the thickness of just a single strand of hair. Impressive, isn't it?

More impressive will be seeing these products actually being produced... if the obvious challenges will be overcome.

Source: X-bit labs

Acer aspire s3 for Ultrabook

2012-05-13T21:19:00.003+07:00

Acer tapped the Core i5-2467M for processing duty. While the base clock is just 1.6GHz, it can Turbo up to 2.3GHz, and thus performed better in most benchmarks than the 2.13GHz Core i7-640LM Arrandale CPU in our zero-point ultraportable rig. The S3’s lagging score in Quake III is no doubt the result of its single-channel RAM, which is particularly problematic in older titles. Conversely, its score in Quake 4 demonstrates the advances of Sandy Bridge’s integrated graphics, although the gaming chops of any ultraportable out right now will be pretty limited.

In our video playback test, the S3’s battery lasted five hours; it recharged to full capacity in half that time. Videos themselves looked crisp and color-accurate on the S3’s 1366x768 glossy screen if the screen was tilted just so. Otherwise, color and detail were diminished to varying degrees.

The S3 is unique among these Ultrabooks for featuring a mechanical hard drive, but it’s paired with 20GB of NAND flash for SSD caching, using Intel’s Smart Response Technology (SRT). Thus, your most-often used programs benefit from the SSD’s faster performance. The S3’s boot time of approximately 39 seconds, however, was a good deal slower than that of the SSD competition.

Acer also offers a $1,300 S3 model with a Core i7 and a 240GB SSD. But truth be told, the body is better suited to the lower-cost category, where it must make due with the modest praise of being a decent budget option.

basic specification

CPU	1.6GHz Intel Core i5-2467M
RAM	4GB DDR3/1333
Chipset	Intel UM67
Display	13.3-inch, LED-backlit, 1366x768
Storage	Hitachi 320GB HDD, 20GB SSD
Connectivity	2 USB 2.0, HDMI, headphone/mic, media reader, webcam
Lap/Carry	3 lbs, 0.3 oz / 3 lbs, 11.5 oz

Sprint Announces 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot

2012-05-12T07:42:00.002+07:00

The Sprint Announces 4G size 3.8 x 2.3 x 0.9-inch hotspot can connect up to eight devices. A 1.7-inch LCD display shows pertinent information such as battery life, network connection and the number of devices connected. A 32GB microSD slot has been added for easy content sharing with any DNLA-compatible device. The device can also be used as digital media server. Sprint claims that the Tri-Fi has a range of 150 feet outdoors and 115 feet indoors. The Tri-Fi’s 3600mAh battery can get up to eight hours of use and a maximum eight weeks on standby.

Video credit : http://blog.laptopmag.com

Mobile Monitor Field Monitor Pro 15.4-Inch Portable LCD Monitor Review

2012-05-11T16:24:00.003+07:00

Introduction

With the introduction of the laptop, the mobile office was created. You could take your show on the road and get some serious work done. Of course, you still had some limitations. Even today you have limitations; unless you want to carry around a laptop that weighs 10-15 pounds you are stuck with a small screen size.

Fortunately, you do not have to buy a gigantic laptop or one with an extended screen that will cost you an arm and a leg. Mobile Monitor Technologies has something that can help to overcome this limitation; the Field Monitor Pro.

The Field Monitor Pro is a thin, light (relatively) LCD display that uses Display Link's USB video out technology. The 1280x800 resolution matches many current laptops/netbooks, while the number key pad included will be a welcome addition for many users. You get all of this and a couple of extra USB ports for around $300. Is this worth the extra weight and cash? Let's move on and find out.

Package and Contents

The Field Monitor Pro has a great external surface. It is slightly rubberised which gives it a pretty good resistance to fingerprints, scratches, and also makes it easy to grip.

When you first look at it the Field Monitor Pro, it looks a little like a laptop. It only takes a second look to know that is not what you have. The Field Monitor Pro (which we will call the FMP from now on) hinges in the middle. This hinge also allows the monitor screen to rotate around for better viewing, or for a second usage model (which we will show you in a minute).

According to Mobile Monitor Technologies, the FMP is aimed at the accounting world. As such, you get a number pad. To be honest with you, I think this feature will work out for other fields as well (like typing IP addresses for IT techs).

The FMP also gives you a pair of USB ports to make up for the one that it uses off of your laptop. Right next to this is the brightness controls.

On the opposite side you have the power button, the power port and the USB plug. Pretty simple really.

As we mentioned, the FMP has a rotating hinge in the center that allows you to rotate the screen to be swivelled around for a better viewing angle. It also allows you to completely spin the monitor around and lay it flat down. This allows you to do one of two things; you can hang it from the wall using the mounting holes or stand the FMP up.

The FMP is a nice looking product that although simple in design and execution, is still very well put together. We hope that it performs well once we connect it to our test device

Display Link Drivers

The installation of the drivers for the FMP is very simple. Once you get them installed they integrate with the Windows display properties fairly well. There are a couple of items you need the drivers for, but honestly, these are more direct tweaks (like optimizing for video playback) than anything else.
Performance

The FMP works very well as a secondary monitor on the go. The display can look a little washed out at first, but a couple of taps on the down brightness button takes care of that. Mobile Monitor Technologies also went for a non-glare screen over one of the more common (now) clear coated screens. This makes the image seem less sharp and bright when compared to a display that does have this coating.
We also tried a number of other items to fully test the performance of the FMP. It worked well for most items, but failed in anything that required a high frame rate. Photoshop was good with the exception of some color saturation issues. However; TV, YouTube, and any kind of gaming was not so good.

It seems that even the most average video has a frame rate that exceeds the ability of the FMP's refresh rate. As such, video and games just seems to stutter no matter what.

Still, the FMP is not being sold as a gaming or even as a video editing monitor. It performs great at what it is intended for and the number pad is an added bonus.
Final Thoughts

The FMP is a nice product with an excellent profile for entry into the market place. Although it is not going to fill the gamer or videographer's needs, it is great for working with images, spreadsheets, remote-desktops and much more. After running with it for more than 30-days, it has become a permanent part of my daily gear.

You won't find this at Newegg.com yet, but you can find it for $249.99 on Mobile Monitor Technologies' Website. This might seem like a lot of extra money for a 15-inch monitor, but when you consider the portability of the Field Monitor Pro it is not that big of a stretch. This new product is also a great addition for the new line of ultra-thin laptops and slates coming out.

Tablet Outlook 2012: What's Expected from Apple, Google, Microsoft

2012-05-11T07:34:00.003+07:00

Summer 2012 promises to be the season of tablet experimentation on a grander scale than ever.

Just about every tablet maker, including Apple, is rumored (or expected) to announce (or launch) a new tablet version within roughly the next four months. The devices are likely to be smaller in the case of Apple and bigger in the case of Amazon.

Google is expected to announce an inexpensive tablet with hardware maker Asus at the Google I/O conference in late June, while a Windows RT tablet from Microsoft and new-found partner Barnes & Noble could be on tap for late summer or fall.

Click to ZoomWith so many different reports of new tablets surfacing, it's time to take stock of what's coming.

To begin, here are some general themes seen by analysts for what's coming in the next quarter:

- Apple will grow stronger, even with new competitors like Microsoft. That's not a hard conclusion to reach, since Apple took 59% of the global tablet market in 2011, according to IDC, which expects Apple to dominate the tablet market through 2016, at least.

- Google will attempt to regain control of a pure Android tablet. Having seen Amazon, with its Kindle Fire, and Barnes & Noble, with the Nook tablet, selling forked versions of Android that lessen dependency on Google services and apps, the company will want to step up its control over the mobile operating system it created.

- More vendors will lower the prices of their tablets to compete with the $200 Kindle Fire and the Nook.

- More LTE-based tablets will emerge, offering faster wireless connections, even though customers currently prefer Wi-Fi-only models. A move to LTE will become even more likely once wireless carriers announce shared data plans, possibly this summer, that enable users to share smartphone and tablet data, possibly even across a workgroup or a family.

- Tablet sizes will vary widely, with touchscreens ranging from 7 to 13 inches diagonally, although a 10-in. form factor will be dominant. The iPad has a 9.7 in. screen.

Here's what's on tap for this summer, in order of likely timing:

This month: Barnes & Noble and Amazon have already kicked off new TV ad campaigns for their current Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire models -- both of which have 7-in. touchscreens. They're hoping to appeal to people shopping for graduation gifts and to clear out inventory to make room for forthcoming models, analysts said.

May or June: Amazon is expected to launch a tablet that's larger than its 7-in. Kindle Fire, but IDC analyst Tom Mainelli said it's not clear whether it will be a 9.7-in. or 8.9-in. device.

Late June: In an announcement that will probably take place at Google I/O, Google is expected to unveil a $200 tablet called Google Play that will run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) using a Tegra 3 quad-core processor.

The Google Play would be built by Asus, possibly co-branded with Google or purely branded as a Google product. Its biggest distinction would be that it runs plain vanilla Ice Cream Sandwich, not the versions of Android seen in the Nook and the Kindle Fire.

August: Dominant tablet maker Apple is expected to launch a smaller version of the iPad, according to reports in Digitimes and elsewhere on Wednesday. These reports say the smaller iPad will be a 7-in. model, although Mainelli said it could be 7.8 in., just shy of two inches smaller than the current iPad.

Mainelli said the reports of a smaller iPad have credence. A smaller iPad, he said, "will help Apple gain traction in regions [like Japan] where the 9.7-in. tablet has been slower to take off because consumers think it's too big."

A smaller tablet would also enable Apple to offer a tablet at a lower price, possibly in the range of $299 to $349, while still maintaining to its historically high profit margins, Mainelli added.

"Once Apple owns every price point, from $299 to $829 [for the 64GB new iPad with Wi-Fi and 4G LTE connectivity], it's going to be very, very difficult for Android tablets and Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets to compete with Apple," Mainelli said.

Even today, Apple's prices have come down, with the 16GB, Wi-Fi-only iPad 2 model selling at $399, Mainelli added. That level of pricing is attractive to "cash-strapped consumers as well as educational buyers, who are embracing the iPad in a major way in some regions," he said.

By late summer, Microsoft is expected to make clear its plans for Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets, even if the devices don't ship until fall or later. Any announcement on that topic is expected to clarify whether Barnes & Noble and Microsoft, who recently became partners, will cooperate on a Windows tablet.

Also this summer, wireless carriers, such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T, are expected to provide more options for data packaging, where one monthly data plan would cover service across multiple devices, such as a tablet with a smartphone. That kind of data packaging could open up interest in LTE-ready tablets, offering the promise of faster video streaming and browsing.

Mainelli said Verizon is reported to be the first to offer such a data package. An AT&T executive at the CTIA conference also said tablets that combine Wi-Fi and LTE for an affordable price are in the planning stages. AT&T sold out of its Pantech Element tablet, a Wi-Fi-and-LTE device with a price tag of $399. Today, an iPad with LTE and Wi-Fi costs $130 more than a Wi-Fi-only model, not including the cost of a monthly service plan.

"Once carriers start offering the ability to use one data plan across multiple devices, then LTE on tablets become very interesting," Mainelli said.

In addition to whatever new tablets may be announced in the coming months, there are other notable tablets that we know will begin shipping over the summer. They include the Toshiba Excite, the largest tablet at 13.3 in. and 2.2 lbs. It will go on sale June 10, starting at $650 for a 32GB model. It runs Android 4.0 and uses an Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor.

While it's uncertain how well such a large tablet will sell, analysts agree that the Excite 13 is a sign of a fairly staggering amount of diversity in the tablet market.

By Matt Hamblen, Computerworld

Data Analysis for the People

2012-05-10T16:46:00.001+07:00

Wolfram Alpha can now analyze data you provide, so you can do things like map out your e-mail relationships.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012BY TOM SIMONITE Audio »

Shows like Numb3rs and CSI have popularized the idea of experts solving problems using data analysis. Now the "knowledge engine" Wolfram Alpha wants to help nonexperts try their hand at it.

Social graph: The premium version of Wolfram Alpha automatically works out how to visualize data you provide, in this case mapping connections in an e-mail archive.

Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha looks like a Web search engine but can answer queries such as "how old is President Obama?" or "heart disease risk 50-year-old male." New features launching Wednesday allow users of a premium version to upload their own data to have Wolfram Alpha chart, visualize, and analyze it. The tools could appeal to those who feel swamped by spreadsheets, numbers, and lists, claims Stephen Wolfram, founder of the company behind the site, Wolfram Research. The premium version will cost $4.99 a month, or $2.99 a month for students.

Wolfram Alpha Premium can recognize certain types of data and even certain types of content inside a file. Uploading an archive from an e-mail mailbox will produce a diagram showing the connections between different senders (see image at top) or a chart showing your most frequent mail recipients. If a spreadsheet contains country or city names, Wolfram Alpha will automatically offer a shaded map (see page 2). It can even draw on its own data sources to enhance that visualization with information on population, GDP, or other factors. Users of the service can upload more than 60 different types of data, ranging from audio files and video to 3-D models.

At a briefing yesterday, Wolfram said his site's new capabilities will democratize the use of data analysis. "It's time to reduce the threshold for people doing things with data," he said. "If there's a question that can be answered by an expert using data that you have, then you can [now] get it automatically."

Wolfram said he believed that many people who don't normally tinker with data would do it if it were made easy enough. He drew an analogy with the early days of Google's search engine. "People might have said, there are very few reference librarians in the world, why on earth would there be lots of people that want to find things on the Web? It became so easy to do those queries that very many people did it, and the same thing is

Data map: Wolfram Alpha recognized that this data contained country names, and automatically generated a map. It draws on external data to make the shading proportionate to population, area, or other factors.

Wolfram Alpha

Lee Sherman, chief content officer at Visual.ly, a startup working on an automatic data visualizer of its own, says there is no doubt that there is a market for consumer-grade data tools. "The desire to visualize data in smart ways may have started in the scientific and academic communities, but it is now being applied in mainstream ways," he says, claiming that infographics and visualizations are becoming more common on TV news and in other media like the New York Times. That suggests consumers would be interested in making their own, were it made easy enough, says Sherman. "It's great that people like Wolfram Alpha are getting into this space."

Wolfram Alpha launched in 2009 with claims that it would transform how people got information on everything from calorie counts to celebrity trivia, but it has barely changed most people's habit of using Google to get all kinds of information. In response to a question from Technology Review, Wolfram said that Wolfram Alpha is already profitable, though, mostly thanks to deals like the one it struck with Apple to provide answers to Siri, the virtual assistant built into the latest iPhone.

Wolfram hinted that the technology being launched this week could lead to more such arrangements, but he didn't provide details. One possibility would be to enhance traditional spreadsheet applications, such as Microsoft's Excel. Giving such packages the ability to automatically analyze data would be a powerful upgrade.

BY TOM SIMONITE

Arctic Cooling has built the first integrated liquid and air graphics card cooler

2012-05-10T08:34:00.000+07:00

Arctic Cooling make some very nice products. They have been a real player in CPU cooling and GPU cooling with their Acceler coolers being some of the best and quietest coolers on the market. They have innovated further and on May 29th they plan to release the first self contained air and water combination cooler for GPUs called the Accelero Hybrid.

The specs are impressive.

It will be interesting to see how well this actually performs. Perhaps a review will be up on Vortez not long after release.

New 10 Hottest iPad Cases

2012-05-09T17:01:00.002+07:00

Investing in the new iPad is much more than just purchasing a piece of technology. It’s an extension of you, and as such, should reflect your personality. That means dressing it up, while also adding some functionality, to match your style. You’re sure to find one here that suits you.

iLuv Professional WorkStation Portfolio

Time to get to work on your new iPad with the Professional WorkStation Portfolio. This keyboard case features a retractable kick stand and a detachable Bluetooth QWERTY keyboard that seamlessly connects to an iPad via Bluetooth. Adding to the traditional keyboard layout you'll find dedicated keys for important iPad functions.

Case Logic Sleek Folio for iPad

Case Logic's flexible polycarbonate folio, designed specifically for the 3rd generation iPad, folds into a variety of positions and viewing angles. Choose from Black, Ink, Phlox and Tannin colors adorned with a subtle geometric design on the outside. On the inside, soft, scratch-resistant material lines the inside cover of the Sleek Folio for iPad while the integrated magnet closure automatically wakes the iPad and sends it into sleep mode.

Targus Simply Basic

It's all in the name; the $29.99 Targus Simply Basic is a slip of a folio case that offers a slim, lightweight design. The magnetic on/off feature will come in handy, and a soft lining on the interior offers screen protection. The durable exterior easily wipes clean and protects your iPad from scrapes and bumps.

Cygnett Glam

Sometimes you need a little fire engine red in your life. The high-gloss Glam folio from Cygnett offers multiple viewing angles for watching movies, typing or flicking through iPhotos. Also available in Silver.

iLuv CEOFolio

Throw out your briefcase cause the CEOFolio from iLuv packs in everything you could need for a day of meetings. This portfolio includes a stylus holder and designated slots for A5 pads and business cards or credit cards. It even includes a retractable stand for in-plane movie watching or sharing a presentation with colleagues.

Scosche webKase

Sporting a weave design of polycarbonate strips available in black, blue, green, grey, red and yellow, the Scosche webKase works with the Apple Smart Cover. The webKase is shock absorbent and super thin so it won't add any bulk.

Targus Versavu Case

With the Targus Versavu you don't turn your case, you turn your iPad in the company's 360 degree rotating mechanism for viewing in both landscape and portrait modes. It also includes a storage slot for a stylus.The Versavu is available in Graphite Black, Charcoal Gray, Bone White and Calypso Pink.

XtremeMac MicroShield Silkscreen SC

Available in black, blue, clear, gray, pink, the XtremeMac MicroShield Silkscreen SC will cost you It protects the back of your 3rd generation iPad while the Apple Smart Cover takes care of the front.

iLuv Pangborn Art Collection

Your technical piece of art could be wrapped in real art with one of these three designs from famed designer Dominic Pangborn. The iLuv portfolio case is available in floral, landscape and abstract artwork designs

M-Edge SuperShell

Because you know Junior is bound to get his hands on your precious new iPad, protect properly with the SuperShell from M-Edge. Not only is it shock-absorbent, it's closed-cell form bounces.

Lenovo M72e and M92p Tiny: The Best Small Desktops

2012-05-08T20:37:00.000+07:00

Today, Lenovo is unveiling their new M92p line of business-oriented desktops. The M92p seems like a reasonable new iteration of the past, but the M92p Tiny? It may be awesomely small, but it packs some of today's hottest tech.

Based on the surprisingly popular IdeaCentre Q line of Lenovo desktops, the M92p Tiny is no nettop. This machine is the first of its kind that manages to pack in Intel vPro along with 3rd generation Intel Core CPUs. That means dual- or quad-core core i5 processors and better. Ivy Bridge power in one of the smallest desktops on the market!

Pack in a few DisplayPort dongles, and Lenovo is promising customers that they'll be able to hook up a whopping FOUR displays, all at the same time. That's a stunning achievement for a desktop of this size. At a press event recently, Lenovo showed off the attractive new machine, and the name fits.

See the picture on the front page? That's to scale - which means, this thing is smaller than a few golf balls. You'll be able to configure the M92p Tiny with either super speedy flash storage in the form of an SSD, or go with more afforadble regular hard drives. Security mavens will be assuaged by the TPM Security Chips.

The new M72e Tiny will be available in June starting at $499, while the M92p Tiny will hit the same day, but start at $799.

Credit : J.R. Nelson,