We’re turning away from our traditional review format for one day this week, October 15th. It’s something called Blog Action Day, and is an annual event for bloggers to talk to the public about a single topic. Last year’s topic was global warming, this year’s is poverty. Poverty is an increasing problem in the world that we live in, and there are plenty of ways you can spread the word to help. It may sound complex, but there are simple things to do as well. You can donate your blog’s daily earnings to a charity, foundation, or donor like Kiva.org microloans and The Global Fund. Watch the video below and do your part. We’ll be back on this topic on Wednesday.

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Continuing our ConnectInterviews series on new and innovative products, we talked with Kyle Thornton, Category Manager, Ultra-Light at HP. We asked him about the future of “netbooks”, the HP Mini-Note 2133 and what makes their product better over others on the market today such as offerings from Asus and Acer.

1. Can you introduce to the ConnectReviews readers your position at HP and a little bit about yourself?

Kyle Thornton – I’m the Category Manager, Ultra-Light within the Business Notebook group. My category includes business notebooks, tablet PCs, and Mini-Notes that are 12” or smaller.

2. This category of small notebook computers called “netbooks” has become increasingly popular, who do you think this form factor applies to?

The HP Mini is ideal for those that have craved an ultra-portable (less than 12”) full-functioning notebook at an affordable price point. Until now, this was not achievable. Our entry into this market was primarily focused in serving the requirements of the Education market segment…not the consumer market. We’ve collaborated with our Education Advisory Council for years in bringing a product like this to market for some time. The Education segment has wanted an ultra-portable for some time now, but the high costs were not allowed by their shrinking budgets. Because of this, they had been drawn towards cheaper, but bigger notebooks…that were also a generation or two behind in technology. It is ideal for students that need a fully functional notebook PC that won’t weigh down their backpacks or take up too much space on their desktops.

Having done all this work for the Education Segment, we were somewhat surprised from the interest that we received from our SMB and Enterprise customers. Traveling professionals find the HP Mini to be a convenient “grab-and-go” secondary PC. Now that the price has come down dramatically, it is no longer just “executive jewelry”.

3. Why didn’t HP decide to go with the Intel-based Atom processor and go with the VIA processor instead?

Once we committed to this market, it was important that we meet this year’s Education Harvest Season. This is a period (usually Feb-Jun) when the Education public sector purchases their computer hardware…and they use the summer to prep and deploy the computers before their new school year starts. Intel’s Atom was not announced until July 2008, so, we would have missed this year’s Harvest Season. Based on some notable successes, it was the right decision. As for refreshing technologies, HP selects the appropriate choice based on multiple factors…such as time-to-market, technology trends, costs, and the right fit for the platform.

4. I noticed the 2133 Mini-Note does not have the option for a solid state disk drive (SSD). However, where do you see this technology going? Do you have any plans to include such a drive in a future netbook product from HP?

Actually, in the very near future, an 80GB SSD option will be available for those that require the additional durability and can afford the high price tag. We expect this option to be around $900. As for lower capacity SSD’s in the 8-16GB range, we are currently evaluating them. One thing to consider is that hard drives still provide the most capacity for the dollar…and many customers still value the higher capacity.

5. What makes the HP 2133 Mini-Note better than other netbooks available on the market today?

The HP Mini offers many HP Professional Innovations that are normally reserved for our higher-end business notebooks. Features such as anodized all-aluminum casing, scratch-resistant acrylic panel over the LCD, HP DuraKeys (UV coating that protects the keys and helps them look newer for longer), HP 3D DriveGuard (accelerometers on the hard drive to protect the data from sudden jolts and drops), spill-resistant keyboard, metal alloy hinges, HP Panel Protection System, HP Recovery Manager (quickly recover the system and data in the event of a hard drive crash), HP FastCharge (charges battery to 90% in 90 minutes), HP Smart A/C Adapter, and HP Total Test Process (multi-tiered product validation process which includes more than 95,000 hours of testing per platform. I challenge anyone to find such a comprehensive list on other Netbooks or Mini-notes.)

6. Looking ahead, can you tell us about the future for similar products from HP?

HP is playing to stay in this emerging category. As far as talking in specifics, we don’t discuss unannounced products.

Thanks for your time.

TV tuners are all the rage these days, turning your computer into a fully functional TV but letting you record your favorite TV shows directly to your computer’s hard drive. Today we’re taking a look at the Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick. How does it pan out compared to the EyeTV Hybrid and other TV tuners on the market? Read on to find out.

The Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick is a small USB stick that has a USB connector on one end, and a coaxial input on the other end. It’s no bigger than a flash drive which means it’s perfect for your MacBook or MacBook Pro laptop. It supports both ATSC digital (up to 1080i) and analog over-the-air standards, in addition to a breakout cable that splits out into S-Video, composite video, and stereo audio via a 1/8″ mini-jack. Also in the box is a Pinnacle remote control, but with a poor button layout it isn’t worth using. Worry not, it also supports the Apple remote included with new Macs.

It includes the Elgato EyeTV Lite software, which is perfect for viewing, but its limited features make the software somewhat tedious to use. We recommend upgrading to the full version for $39.95. It’s so worth the extra money.

We liked that Pinnacle included an antenna, unlike the EyeTV Hybrid (which on the other hand, includes the full version of the EyeTV software). The antenna worked great and picked up most of the ATSC HD channels that can be received in our testing area.

Overall, the Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick is a great choice for those looking to view TV on their Mac in high-definition with basic recording skills. For advanced users, we recommend updating to the full version of EyeTV 3. The Pinnacle TV for Mac HD Stick is available today for around $125 with free shipping at Amazon.com.

Pros

• Excellent reception.
• Antenna included.

Cons

• Limited EyeTV Lite software.
• So-so remote.

System Requirements: Macintosh® computer with a PowerPC® G4, G5 or Intel Core® processor (For HDTV reception, a Dual PowerPC G5 or an Intel Core Duo processor is required), Mac OS X v10.4 or later, Free USB 2.0 port, 256 MB RAM (512 MB required for HDTV reception), Hard disk with minimum 1 GB free space (20 GB recommended for TV recording), CD or DVD drive

When the Apple aluminum keyboard came out last spring, it instantly became my favorite keyboard. Can the Das Keyboard unseat this reigning champion? See after the jump to find out.

Many keyboard connoisseurs regard one type of keyboard the greatest of all time, the IBM Model M. The reason that people adore the Model M so much is because it uses mechanical switches, which give a tactile feel, and loud sound when a key is pressed. Most modern keyboards just don’t match up to the feel of these old keyboards, but, with the help of products like the Das Keyboard and the Matias Tactile Pro, which we reviewed last year, there is hope for those searching for that “clicky” feel.

This is where the Das Keyboard comes in. It features the mechanical switches that so many like, without sparing the modern features of a keyboard. Also, these switches allow for what is called the “n-key” rollover, which allows 12 key presses to be registered simultaneously. The casing of this keyboard is a shiny black plastic, with blue accent lighting, common in many consumer electronics. This is very prone to fingerprints, which is why a microfiber cloth is included with the keyboard to keep it clean at all times. In addition, there is a 2-port USB hub on the keyboard, which is perfect for peripherals such as a USB mouse, an iPod or other PMP, or a flash drive.

The Das Keyboard comes in 2 unique different models, both work with Windows, Mac, and Linux and do not require the use of extra software. While the core experience is the same, the “Ultimate” model with no printing on the keys caters to the geek audience. If you’re not into this look, they offer a fully printed normal model as well.

Pros

• Great, tactile feel when typing
• Sleek design
• USB hub

Cons

• Bigger than most keyboards
• Some people may not like the tactile feel or the loud sound the mechanical switches create.
• Hefty $130 price tag

We received a few of the new Marware iPhone 3G cases to take a look at. Do they do justice to the new iPhone 3G? Find out after the jump.

As a note, one thing is the same for all of the products from Marware. They all come with an invisible plastic cover for the screen of the iPhone. Personally, I didn’t install the cover, but I assume it works similarly to InvisibleShields or any other invisible covering for the iPhone. This is definitely a nice touch because the screen is, hands down, the most important part of the iPhone for any user.

First up in our reviews is the new Marware SportGrip for iPhone 3G. This product was the one we were looking forward to the most, as having a covering on the iPhone constantly is the best way to protect it from any undesireable cracks in the beautiful glass screen of the iPhone. Coming in pink, white, and black, the SportGrip appeals to a large group of people (especially thirteen year old girls with the pink case). We got our hands on the black model, and all I can say is that it loves to attract dust. However, it’s easy to clean off. Just a quick swipe with your hand and any stuck-on dust is quickly removed.

The grippiness of the SportGrip could use to be improved, but all in all, it gave the iPhone a more solid feel in my hand. On the other hand, it did take away the sexy and slim feel of the iPhone without any cases. The buttons of the phone are accessible through rubber buttons on the case which work well and press the buttons without exposing them to the outside world (minus the ringer switch which has its own opening in the case).

All in all, the Marware SportGrip performs well and for $19.99 offers a cheap way to protect your new $200+ investment.

Next is the C.E.O. series. We’ll start with the C.E.O. Glide. I got my hands on a red Glide, but the product also comes in white and black (black being the most attractive, by far, in my opinion). Regardless of which color you choose, the Glide is made out of (fake) alligator leather. This is instantly a turn off to me, in addition to the hideous red colored version I received. If you want to stand out like a sore thumb (even if you are a woman), feel free to purchase the red Glide.

However, back to the main point. The C.E.O. Glide has no ability to clip onto anything and is about a quarter’s diameter wider than the iPhone itself. This makes the Glide not so stealthy in your pockets. I would, however, reccommend the glide as a great option for women who want to carry their iPhones in a purse and not worry about other things spilling or scratching your new toy. One major issue I do have with the glide is that there is a Velcro closure. I don’t like Velcro anywhere near my easily scratchable electronics, but that’s just me. However, one nice feature I did find with the Glide is that the same Velcro strap that closes the case acts as a pull tab to easily remove the phone from its case. This makes life easier while trying to get to your ringing phone.

The C.E.O. Glide is best fit for people who don’t want to carry their phones in their pockets but instead place them in a bag. Also, avoid the red (and even white) models. They’re not too attractive. In addition, the $25 price tag is not justified by the case, so buy this only if you think you’ll really enjoy it.

Finally in our trio of reviews is the C.E.O. Sleeve. The Sleeve was my favorite out of the three cases due to its attractive design and overall simplicity. Constructed from real leather, the Sleeve simply sandwiches the iPhone between two microfiber walls. This offers great protection and an attractive design. This case is also the only case to feature a clip. You can attach a clip if you desire, or you can leave the sleeve as is. It is virtually the width of the iPhone so you’re not adding too much bulk if you want to put your iPhone in your pocket. However, the included clip allows for you to clip your iPhone onto a belt or pocket which can prove convinent while accessing your phone.

You can also purchase other clips for your case, such as a rachet mount that allows you to turn the phone on its clip in any orientation. These can be purchased through the Marware website.

The C.E.O. Sleeve is definitely a case to consider when looking for protection for your new investment. The $25 price tag is definitely justified by the design of the case and overall quality.

Make sure to check out all of Marware’s new cases at their website. A handful of their iPhone 3G cases are also available at Amazon.com.

1. First of all, how did you get your start in the gaming PC business?

Shortly after graduating from high school in 1991, I enrolled at Mount Royal College in Calgary, and in three months I realized that the computer science courses were lacking in substance. For me, learning WordPerfect for DOS as a prerequisite was not inspiring.

I remember it like it was yesterday: I was quite bored after high school, and sometimes I would roll out of bed at 11 a.m. with no desire to go to class. Luckily, my fiancé inspired me to take a major risk—I started Voodoo with $1,500 on a credit card and an $85 ad in the newspaper. After selling eight computers in my first week, I simply stopped showing up to classes. I didn’t even bother to drop out.

After a year or so, we landed a successful workstation contract with a large marketing company. I then acquired a heritage home more than a century old in downtown Calgary with a small shed in the back. We renovated the site and restored the old character of the building. We ripped the old kitchen out and built a new manufacturing space which we coined the “Quote Kitchen.” Even though we had to cram way too many people into our old 900 square-foot house, it was an incredibly cool place to work.

Eventually we realized that our passion was around gaming. At the end of each night we would lock up and hang around playing games like Wing Commander, when we first started, and eventually led to competitions playing games like Command & Conquer. We even had a trophy that we’d pass around to whoever was the C&C champion of the week. Over the years we built some lifelong friendships, and Voodoo has always been an inspiring place to work.

2. Where do you see computers in general in 10 years?

Computers are becoming a seamless part of our everyday lives. The word “computer” will be somewhat obsolete as we will eventually no longer go to a specific device to perform the tasks we need to perform. Our lives will be filled with devices that have some sort of processor inside, and rather than worrying about what they do, they will simply make our lives easier.

3. Do you believe that PCs still have a stronghold in the gaming industry with the introduction of products such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360?

Any time you get new consoles and new content coming to consoles, people always talk about the death of PC gaming and they do that prematurely. I don’t believe for one bit that PC gaming is in trouble. I think that it’s just changing. It’s not dying, it’s just changing. If you drill down the numbers PC gaming is actually growing. The genres and distribution model of the games is changing.

The other thing about PC gaming that’s changing is the need to create platforms that are stable and that just work. Lately it’s been to the point where companies have been launching new GPUs and new initiatives like multiple GPUs in a system without really factoring in the overall stability of the machine. That was a big blow to PC gaming, the lack of stability, especially after Vista, but now we’re starting to see a change for the better. Companies are starting to push back to ensure that new technologies being launched are stable and running up to our standards.

4. When and how did the collaboration between HP & Voodoo start?

In late 2004 we realized that there was a ceiling to our growth. More competitors started to jump into the space, and even though we felt we offered some advantages, we couldn’t ignore them. We reached a point where it became a challenge to innovate based on our volumes. Even though we were first to market with certain technologies, vendors would eventually make them available to everyone in order to facilitate volume. We could either follow our competition by going downstream and increasing our volume, or we needed to come up with another strategy to innovate. Thus it made sense for us to partner with a larger company.

Prior to partnering with HP, Voodoo had discussions with other companies, as well. But because HP is the only PC company with a true heritage of innovation, and because innovation has always been important to us at Voodoo, HP was our No. 1 choice. There’s no doubt that HP has embraced the Voodoo brand. It has given us the freedom to express ourselves and stay true to our roots.

We know that as time goes on the one thing that will bring value to shareholders of HP is innovation. I believe we play a significant role in the innovation at HP.

5. Is there anything that makes HP or Voodoo gaming products different from the rest on the market?

Since the beginning of the HP Voodoo acquisition, we have been crystal clear about our strategy: to bring together Voodoo’s first to market innovations and design with HP’s R&D to create the most exciting PCs ever. Even though the HP Blackbird 002 was launched in September of 2007, it is still a product beyond compare. This speaks volumes to the level of engineering and innovation that we put into the Blackbird, and HP’s commitment to excellence. What we offer is the perfect combination of performance, quality, and innovation.

6. Do you have any final thoughts on HP’s direction with VoodooDNA and future products?

Over the past few years we have experienced a few really big moments: joining the HP family, creating a start-up business within HP, launching Blackbird, and more recently introducing the Omen and Envy 133. Now, Voodoo products are no longer going to be stand-alone entities, but rather they have been welcomed into the greater HP catalog.

Ultimately, this means that Voodoo and Voodoo-influenced products will be easier to buy, faster to get, they will feature local service, and they will have the full power of HP’s marketing and sales channel behind them. The bottom line is we have ignited the brand and sparked big excitement; so we are now integrating our organizations to fuel our growth. We’re lucky to be part of an organization that appreciates everything we have built and accomplished so far.

The big challenge now is, how do we take the cool stuff we do, the innovation and engineering at HP, and combine it with the larger scale execution engines at HP to grow the Voodoo products globally, methodically, and meaningfully? Stay tuned for more.

We reviewed the Incase Slider Case for the first iPhone in April, and now we’re back to review the Slider Case for the iPod touch. It has the same great protection, but is redesigned for the thinner iPod touch.

Building on the success of the original Incase Slider Case, the Slider Case for iPod touch offers a sleek and ultra slim design, not adding too much bulk to the already thin iPod touch. Just like the Slider Case for iPhone, the case has rubber guardrails on the 1mm plastic walls for shock absorption on the inside, with a soft-touch or glossy finish on the outside.

The minimalist Incase design offers direct access to the display, headphone jack, sleep/wake button, and dock connector.

The case is available in black, white, red, orange, and rose for $35 from Incase and the Apple Store (retail and online).

Pros

• Same great protection as iPhone version.
• Available in both glossy and matte versions.

Cons

• None.

We’ve reviewed a fair share of EVDO modems over the years, from USB to PCMCIA versions. Most of them have been improved and redesigned to be more portable and compact, and that’s not stopping Sprint with the new Compass 597 USB EVDO modem.

Measuring in at only 1.2″ x 2.4″ x .4″ and weighing in at only .7 ounces, the Compass 597 modem is the smallest and lightest modem available, and it also includes the ability to store files on a microSD card, so it doubles as a USB flash drive. The Compass 597 supports both EV-DO Rev. 0 and Rev. A where available, so you always get the fastest speeds. For those EVDO nerds, there is also an antenna port for boosting your signal through the use of an external antenna (such as those from 3Gstore.com).

Personally, I’ve always loved EVDO modems, especially in places without ubiquitous Wi-Fi hotspots. Just pop it in and you’re good to go. Most of the latest EVDO modems also offer GPS functionality in addition to internet and email accessibility. No need to download drivers either, they’re built into the modem for both OS X and Windows operating systems, one of the coolest features by far.

We tested the Compass 597 modem in the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area here in California, and received speeds ranging from around 800kbps to 1000kbps down and 500 to 750kbps up depending on our area and signal level.

The Sprint Compass 597 by Sierra Wireless is available from Sprint for $49.99 with $150 instant savings and a $50 internet rebate (with a 2-year agreement).

Pros

• Excellent reception.
• No CD required for driver installation.
• Lightweight and compact.

Cons

• No unlimited plan available from Sprint.

Have you ever wanted to backup all your Windows PCs including your music, movies, and irreplaceable photos? What about storing all of your iTunes music in a central place so that every PC (and Mac) could access it? Want to access your content away from home, from any PC using an internet connection? If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, the HP MediaSmart Server is for you.

The HP MediaSmart Server comes in two versions, a 500GB and 1TB version, and can be expandable up to 4TB using hard drives currently available. We received the 1TB version over a month ago, and have been using it in our day-to-day workflow ever since. After unboxing the MediaSmart Server, we were surprised at how small and compact the unit was. It looks like a very small mini-tower, contrary to the rack-mount servers we all think about when we hear the word “server”. It runs Windows Home Server, Microsoft’s stripped down operating system designed to backup PCs on your network. Think of the Windows Home Server as a “set it and forget it” scenario. Plug it in, set it up, and leave it running somewhere in a closet or out of sight.

On the front of the MediaSmart Server, is a single USB port, and behind the door are 4 drive bays. On the back are 3 USB ports, an eSATA port, a Gigabit Ethernet connection, a Kensington lock slot, and a power button. You’ll notice that there’s no monitor, keyboard, or mouse connection. That’s because the whole setup process happens on the first PC you’ll setup with the server.

Setup wasn’t the easiest process for me, since there were some problems with my router (a D-Link DIR-655). Paul Thurott has a list of the recommended routers here. Once I got the server working properly with my network however, everything worked without a hitch. The Home Server Console software that’s installed in the setup process offers a slew of different customizations and features from user privileges to shared folders.

I backed up two PCs to the server, one running Windows Vista Ultimate with SP1, and one running Windows XP Professional with SP3 both connected via Gigabit Ethernet to my router. File transfer performance was excellent, and both PCs were backed up in less than two hours. Plus, instead of backing up the same redundant operating system files, the MediaSmart Server keeps one copy of the operating system files (say, for Windows Vista) and retains a master image of those files and backs up data that is different across all systems. One of my favorite features is the ability to back up your complete iTunes library onto the server, and access them from any PC or Mac computer, regardless of DRM.

All in all, the MediaSmart Server is a perfect way for a entirely Windows-based network to be backed up and stored in a central area so that all your precious memories are safe. The HP MediaSmart Server is available in both 500GB and 1TB versions for $559.99 and $709.99 respectively from Amazon.com.

Pros

• Easy setup.
• Expandable up to 4TB using current drives.
• External expansion with USB and eSATA.
• Fast Gigabit Ethernet connection.
• Ability to back up iTunes library.

Cons

• None.

Last February we reviewed the V-Moda Vibe earbuds. Now we’re taking a look at the Vibe Duos; the iPhone counterpart to the Vibe series. Do the Duos hold their own in the earbud marketplace? Find out after the break.

In one word, yes. I brought the V-Moda Vibe Duo earbuds on my vacation this summer for some extensive testing. All in all, I was impressed by the performance of these earbuds. However, the biggest feature upgrade from the Vibe series is that the Duos have a microphone attached to the audio cable. This microphone follows the iPhone earbud specification and when combined with the button next to the microphone, allows you to answer calls, talk, and end calls without taking your phone out of your pocket.

The Vibe Duo earbuds come with various sized earpieces and a carrying case.

While it’s illegal to have headphones on while driving in most states, the Vibe Duos perform excellently while performing virtually any task. However, this does mean that using these headphones as a hands-free device doesn’t quite cut it for use in the car. On the other hand, instantly switching from listening to music to answering a phone call is a breeze. Also, you can easily control your music using the control button on the microphone.

The sound quality of these earbuds is excellent, and if you’re an owner of an original iPhone (non-3G) the Duos will work with the recessed audio jack without an adapter. While the ambient noise reduction doesn’t rival Bose over-the-ear headphones, it holds it own quite nicely. Also, the audio cables are mesh-cable wrapped while proves more durable than plastic casing.

In the box you receive the headphones along with two colors of earbud fittings with three different sizes for each color. This allows you to select the best-fitting size for your ear, reducing the annoying possibility of the earbuds falling out of your ears. Also, you get a small leather pouch to keep the earbuds in.

You can purchase the V-Moda Vibe Duo earbuds from Amazon for $99.95. They are available in Nero (black), Chrome, and Gunmetal Rouge.

Pros

• Flawless music/phone controls
• Excellent sound quality
• Compatible with recessed headphone jack for original iPhone users

Cons

• Ambient noise reduction up to par, but not excellent.

We reviewed the Fujitsu ScanSnap S500M last year here on ConnectReviews and since then Fujitsu has managed to make it even smaller with the introduction of the new S300M. How does it perform compared to its predecessor? Find out after the jump.

According to Fujitsu, the S300M is the world’s smallest Mac-compatible duplex ADF scanner on the market today. It’s small enough to fit into a backpack or briefcase with its smallest side measuring in at a mere three inches. In addition, the S300M can be powered by USB so you don’t have to lug around a giant power brick to scan a document on the go. The S300M can scan duplex pages at speeds up to eight pages per minute (ppm).

To make the entire scanning experience a little easier for those who don’t want to read through an entire user manual, the S300M has a single button for scanning. You can also select your choice of PDF or JPEG file format for output allowing for greater flexibility in document management. The S300M also has a few nifty features to save on file size, including automatic blank page detection and deletion.

I was very happy with the quality and performance of the S300M scanner. Everything I fed into it was scanned quickly and with ease. This is by far the best scanning experience I’ve ever had on Mac. One page documents scanned in around seven to eight seconds, while larger multiple page documents ranged from one to two minutes depending on their size.

The ScanSnap S300M from Fujitsu is available for just under $265 from Amazon.com with free shipping.

Pros

• Fast duplex scanning.
• Compact, portable package.
• Can be powered by USB.
• Simple one button design.

Cons

• Somewhat expensive.

It’s always been hard for me to find the perfect office chair after testing out the Think chair from Steelcase last year. I came across the Zody chair from Haworth just a few months ago, and it just might be the chair for you.

You probably haven’t heard of Haworth unless you work for an office design place or a cubicle designer, but the Zody is great for work and home. The Zody is available in eight different colors, and one is perfect for you.

Lumbar support system on Zody.

I’ve been testing this chair for the past three or four months and it’s been awesome. Ever since I switched to this chair, I simply cannot move back to the cheap Office Depot chairs of yesterday. According to the company, it’s the first chair to have a passive pelvic support and asymmetrical lumbar support system.

It’s also the first task chair to be endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association and the first task chair to be certified as a Cradle to Cradle Gold product. What does this all mean? It means this is a great chair, from a comfortability standpoint and an environmental standpoint. 77% of the chair is made up of steel and aluminum, two of the most recyclable materials on this planet, and 98% of the chair is recyclable.

Being a green nut, the chair is assembled using 100% renewable wind energy, equal to planging 194 acres of mature trees. This is a big plus in my book. The lumbar support allows you to achieve varying amounts of support on either the left or right side just by rotating the handle up or down. The arms are also adjustable in four different ways: in/out, forward/backward, up/down, and pivot left/right.

From a build quality view, Haworth didn’t cut corners on making this chair both functional and eco-friendly, but there was a little wiggle action going on in the chair pad, which became loose after about a month of day-to-day use.

I know this review looks like a bunch of marketing terms, but believe me, this chair could very well be a strong competitor to the Steelcase Think. Find the Haworth Zody at Sit4Less.com starting at just $549.99, it’s well worth the price.

Pros

• Eco-friendly.
• Extremely comfortable.
• Lumbar support.

Cons

• None.

We reviewed the 2707WFP 27″ UltraSharp LCD from Dell last October, and we were very pleased with it’s performance. Today, we’re taking a quick look at the Dell SP2208WFP 22″ LCD. It has a built-in webcam, and an HDMI port for connecting a high definition source. Does it lack any other features users have come to love? Read on to find out.
The SP2208WFP has a slew of inputs: the aforementioned HDMI port, a DVI-D port with HDCP, and analog VGA. The 22″ monitor has a resolution of 1680×1050 with a contrast ratio of 2000:1 and a 2ms response time, excellent for gamers. You also have the ability to connect a soundbar to the bottom of the monitor, complimenting it’s silver design. There’s also a built-in 4-port USB 2.0 hub.

We were very fond of the monitor’s color performance but we didn’t like the limited viewing angle. We also didn’t like that the stand wasn’t height adjustable or that the monitor cannot be used in portrait mode. No ghosting was visible in our gaming performance tests, thanks to the fast 2ms response time.

It would have been nice if the panel had a higher (1920×1200) resolution for HD sources connected through the DVI or HDMI connections. The built-in webcam was a nice touch however, eliminating the need for bulky external versions.

The Dell SP2208WFP monitor is available from Dell starting at $299, a steal for those still with a huge CRT monitor.

Pros

• Built-in webcam.
• High contrast ratio and response time.
• HDMI port for connecting high definition sources.
• Great performance.

Cons

• Non-height adjustable stand.
• Limited viewing angle.

Most custom-built PCs today have gaudy cases, with flashy blue neon lights, and LED fans. Antec is taking a different approach with the new minimalistic Mini P180 mini-tower case, which builds on top of their award winning P180 and P182 cases in a compact design, perfect for LAN parties. How does it perform? Is it worth the money? Find out after the jump.

Antec has had the “Perfomance One” series for a while now, with huge critical acclaim. The Mini P180 is the newest case in this superb lineup. This is the smaller version, but don’t kid yourself that it is a tiny case compared to most more expensive products.

While most cases seem to be made of cheap, thin steel, the Antec Mini P180 feels like the most solid case I have ever used. The side panels are coated with a three-layer system (Aluminum, Plastic, and Aluminum). This helps to substantially cut down on the sound. Also, there is a 200mm fan on the top of the case, which not only improves the air flow, but runs quietly, due to the size. The ratio of heat to sound can also be controlled by a fan controller on the back, with separate switches for the top 200mm fan and the rear 120mm fans.

The Mini P180 also features 8 drive bays, including two removable 3.5” sections with 5 slots in total. These can be moved around to accommodate full size ATX parts, such as a graphics card in a MicroATX case. The front of the case has a 270 degree swinging hinge door, which hides the optical drives, fan filters, and power buttons. This door does not seem nearly as intrusive or useless as other cases I have seen. The front of the case also features 2 USB ports, audio out and in ports, and an eSATA port. The eSATA port comes with a converter cable to just plug into your motherboard’s SATA port, without any specialized hardware.

The interior of this case is where the Antec design really shines. The interior is complete flat black (in the black edition, which we reviewed), which while it looks great, isn’t the main point of focus. All of the design that went into the functionality of this case is immense. The removable hard drive bays make it simple to change a hard drive, and don’t require any screws. The drives are mounted on removable trays, with silicon grommets to help reduce the vibration coming from hard drives to prevent wear on the drive, and sound coming from the case. The cable management system is also great if you are obsessive about obtaining maximum airflow and looks by routing every cable meticulously.

While this case does not include a power supply, Antec shipped us this case also with a NeoPower 650watt power supply. This is a great power supply from my testing. Unlike other manufactures that don’t deliver the labeled amount of power, Antec pulls through. There is a modular cable system that allows you to plug in only the cables you need, which also reduces clutter and improves airflow. This power supply is also nVidia SLI certified, so it will work with dual video card setups.

Overall, Antec really has a great thing on their hands with the entire “Perfomance One” P series line of cases. Between the simple and elegant look of the case, and the great internal design, I would recommend this case to anyone looking to build a MircoATX computer.

The Antec Mini P180 currently retails for $160 without a power supply, and comes in white or black. Find it at Amazon.com here.

Pros

• Excellent cable management.
• Nearly silent.
• Stylish black interior.

Cons

• Price.
• No included power supply.

Okay, so you’ve probably heard of Plantronics, Aliph, Jabra, and Motorola, but have you heard of Cardo? Chances are you probably haven’t, until today with the Cardo S-800 Bluetooth Headset, the last and final piece in our Bluetooth headset week of reviews. It’s the cheapest of the bunch but does this sacrifice call quality?

The Cardo S-800 is a small Bluetooth headset with a slew of features that aren’t available on other headsets that we know of. It has some innovative features including Headset Location Buzzer, a Missed Call indicator, and a Hot Dial/Speed Dial, just to name a few. A full list is available at the Cardo website. There is also a multitude of buttons located on the headset, including a Control button for answering calls, and a multifunction wheel for other call features. The Power button is located on the right side of the headset, and was a little difficult to find.

“The S-800 is a classic in the making. Merging smart technology and top audio quality with an extraordinary iconic design is what the knowledgeable consumers expect from a high-end Bluetooth headset. Our new S-800 was designed to push the envelope and to provide the very best that a lab could offer. We expect that this unique headset will convert large audiences to embrace our new concept of Precision Design”, said Abraham Glezerman, CEO of Cardo Systems.

Again, we tested the S-800 using the same phone we tested all headsets with this week, the Nokia N95 8GB cell phone. Sound quality was good and there wasn’t any static audible during any of our test calls, loud and clear. We found that the Cardo S-800 didn’t fit firmly inside our ears and felt like it was falling out constantly. This may be since it doesn’t come with any different sized earpieces.

Overall, the Cardo S-800 is a decent headset for the price, find it for $79.99 in stores or $32 at Amazon.com.

Pros

• Slew of extra features.
• Good sound quality.
• No static.
• Inexpensive.

Cons

• Not the best fit.
• Different sized earpieces are not included.