With prices starting at around $1,000+, the Dell XPS 15 is not for the normal person looking for just a plain run-around laptop. The XPS 15 has a range of aspects that makes it great for all kinds of tasks including and especially gaming. I bought this laptop as I was heading to university to begin my Computer Science (games) course and it has served me extremely well since.

Aesthetics

The general feel of the laptop is nice. It has a sleek and curvy design which makes it fairly appealing to the eye and nice to handle. It is however quite heavy compared to other notebooks which doesn’t bother me too much but if you’re carrying it round all day then it could potentially be a pain.

Battery life

This is the main aspect that I think the laptop loses its last star in. The battery life is fairly poor and any extreme use will drain it very quickly. For example, if I was to watch a movie or play a gaming session, I would generally need to keep it plugged in if I was intending to use it for more than an hour and a half. The battery in my XPS is already due a replacement as it does not charge anymore. It has been used vigorously for near to two years but I was not expecting to need to replace it just yet. (Also not covered by warranty!)

Gaming

Since owning it, the laptop has managed to play every game that I have thrown on it. It can’t handle all of them on the highest settings, but can play them to a good quality on normal settings. I think games coming out over 2013 may start to catch up with it a bit, but I’m still confident it could run anything on at least the lowest settings for another year yet. The colourful and bright HD screen also makes graphics stand out nicely and crisp.

Webcam

There is a 2mp integrated webcam that comes with Dells webcam central suite. The webcam has reasonable quality and the webcam suite is easy and quite fun to use.

Keyboard

I have the laptop without the backlit keyboard and I regret not getting it now. It costs extra, but I think it’s well worth spending it to be able to type more efficiently in the dark. Apart from that, the keyboard itself is nice to use; the buttons are not too clunky or stiff and generally have a nice feel to type with.

Conclusion

Great for multi-tasking and gaming, good looking visuals and aesthetics but quite heavy with fairly poor battery life. Some of the optional upgrades would be worth considering.

Unlike the Canon Rebel line, this PowerShot is designed to be low cost and consumer friendly, but still packed with plenty of features. What makes this version interesting is the old fashioned optical viewfinder which actually has some advantages in certain situations. Furthermore, the Canon PowerShot boasts a number of other great features and conveniences for a price that is around $100 in many retail and online stores.

Most Notable Features

The Canon PowerShot has a number of great accessories that are perfect for the casual photographer. Here are some of the most noted features of this particular camera.

• 720 HD Video Recording
• 16 MP Image Sensor
• 5x Optical Zoom
• DIGIC 4 Image Processor
• Scene Modes, including Fisheye Effect, Toy Camera, Monochrome and more.
• 3” LCD Viewfinder
• Optical Viewfinder

The optical viewfinder is become more rare in digital cameras designed for the casual photographer. However, it does offer a couple of advantages in that screens are difficult to see in bright sunshine and the optical viewfinder allows for quicker shooting to catch those spontaneous moments when activating the LCD screen takes more time.

The scene modes are a nice addition that you normally do not find on such inexpensive cameras. From fisheye to monochrome effects, you can create your own unique look for each photograph that you take. The ample 720p HD video recorder and sizable 3” LCD viewer means a high quality video look can be achieved and properly composed as well.

What most people may react positively to is the ability to take outdoor photographs at very low shutter speeds that make for beautiful, almost art-like quality to the photographs themselves. Add to this the impressive 16 MP image sensor that adds more sharpness and clarity and the A1300 is a very impressive consumer model camera.

And in case the sheer number of features seems overwhelming, there is a handy help button that can assist anyone into taking the photos that they want. The Help feature runs through all the options quickly and easily. However, for those who simply want to take a quick photo, the optical viewfinder keeps things pretty simple as well.

Having said all that, the 5x optical zoom is nothing to write home about and the SD card must still be purchase separately which means that your memory space is somewhat limited. But when you consider the overall price of the camera and the number of features provides, these are small negatives to an otherwise very nice camera system.

For overall performance, easy to use features, a handy Help button that let’s you avoid continually referring to the manual and stunning photographic quality, the Canon PowerShot A1300 is certainly one of the better consumer model cameras to be found. The low price makes it almost a steal and the unique optical viewfinder actually makes things pretty simple as well.

We can highly recommend the Canon PowerShot A1300 as being the perfect camera for professionals who need a quick-shot model to capture spontaneous moments and for consumers who are looking for an inexpensive, easy to use and versatile camera for almost any occasion.

The name started as a joke, a rumor, something that was part of a YouTube video that was leaked a few weeks ago and many thought was fake. But now, Google confirmed that the Chromebook Pixel is very real. After introducing it on its own blog, now the new machine is displayed prominently on their web site along the other Chromebooks available.

It is clear the company wants to make this into a big deal, but is it really? Chromebooks have not sold all that well so far, especially compared with how much tablets have taken off in the market, so is the Chromebook Pixel likely to change this? Let’s review some of the features and see where that might leave us.

First, the main advantage of this new laptop, and the main feature they keep pushing in their marketing material, is the display. They clearly show that this is a brand new display with a much higher definition. According to the site, the screen provides 239 pixels per inch, compared with 118 for traditional laptops.

This makes the screen much crisper and more pleasant to look at. When watching small text or fine images, it means less jagged edges and a better definition.

But the new features do not stop there. The Chromebook Pixel also has a touchscreen, which is a rare sight in the laptop world. Finally, it also comes with a completely redesigned backlit keyboard, with keys that are easy to use and convenient to type on.

But while this is an impressive machine, there are some caveats.

First, the very concept of a Chromebook is that you do not have access to any local apps. Chrome apps have some limited ability to store offline data, but for the most part, all of your work is going to be done while connected to the Internet, using Google services like Google Drive, GMail, and so on. So if you do not have constant web access, this is not the laptop for you. If you need specific software such as Microsoft Office, this also is not the device for you.

The second issue is that the processing power inside of these systems is always lower, since everything is going to be done through an online interface. So should you buy the Chromebook Pixel? The first question you should ask is actually, is the Chromebook way of doing things right for you? If yes, then the Chromebook Pixel may actually be the best choice out there.

Up for review is the 4GB version of the XBox 360. It has a black matte finish and comes with a matching black wireless controller. It’s kinect ready for hands-free gaming. You can pick one up for less than $200.

At A Glance

The XBOX360 is a cool looking console with some snazzy heat sensor buttons and a nice design. It is all black and has a nice polished finish which does attract a bit of dust; but that’s not a major fuss. The games on it are great and it’s a fairly speedy and good performing console.

Aesthetics and Design

As mentioned previously, the XBOX360 is a nice looking console and it can either sit standing up or lying down. It is highly recommended that you lie the console down however because if it gets knocked down while standing up the disk can come lose and get scratched.

The power button is easy to use and again looks quite cool. It is activated by heat rather than being a click button, so this is a nice extra feature. The disk tray open button also has the same functionality. The console is designed well with a lot of space for air to be released and thus stop any problem with overheating. Users should always remember to leave plenty of space around the XBOX for this air to be released though.

Controller

The controller is quite large and chunky which could be annoying for people with smaller than average hands. Apart from that it is decent to grip and comfortable to hold. The battery pack on the rear can sometimes fall out if you knock the controller too hard which can be a pain sometimes.

With decent batteries, you get plenty of hours of game time before they need charging. A recommendation would be to purchase a plug and play kit which retails at around $10-15 to stop the need of constantly buying batteries.

Interface

When the XBOX is loaded up it has a very pleasing to use and look at interface. There are clear labels for all the options and nice tabs to flick between your different locations. The color scheme is also done very well to make the whole dashboard look appealing and pleasing to use. The only downside is that it can sometimes be a bit slow if the XBOX gets quite hot or if you have inserted a disk.

Google has become synonymous with innovation lately with projects that go further than what we would expect from a search engine. First they came up with their own phone, then the self driving car, and last year they amazed many when they talked about Project Glass, a new gadget that would bring the web to your eyes, wherever you went.

It quickly generated a lot of buzz, but the company remained tight lipped about their secret innovation, until now. Google has just released their website along with a YouTube video showing the glasses in action along with the various features you can expect from this new gadget. Once again, all the news media are talking about it and the site even describes how you could get your hands on a pair.

For those who have not kept track, Project Glass brings in a pair of glasses that anyone can wear, but which also includes a small computing device on the side. By using a tiny display in front of your eyes, the mobile device will display information to you as you walk around the world.

At first people did not know how well that would work, but now we have actual video and pictures of the experience. It seems like the interface was well integrated inside the glasses, and optimized for such a small display. Nothing was left out, and even notifications can be clearly seen with the device.

The external appearance seems to also have been upgraded since the early prototypes leaked. Nothing says geek like big bulky glasses, but this pair looks sleek and the mobile device is small enough to be elegant.

The most important part though is the features that are available to you while on the go. These includes taking a video, photos, sending a message, reading notifications, asking for directions or even information about a specific subject.

It seems like Google Glass takes input from both voice commands and a side button on the gadget itself. Now if you do want to try these out, you have a chance of being among one of the first people to get them.

The company is asking folks to tweet a specific hashtag along with the reasons why they want to use Google Glass, and if they select you, then you will be allowed to buy a pair in one of the first shipments of the product. According to the buzz around social networks and the fact that this hashtag is now trending everywhere, it seems like a lot of people are interested.

Whether or not this gadget will become popular and successful in the marketplace remains to be seen, since this is the type of item that can’t really be judged until you try it, but so far it seems Google has a potential winning product in its hands. No doubt that the next few months will be quite exciting as more details come out.

Sound systems: You can get the latest technology and the most wowing quality for the price of a car, or you can settle for a semi-decent low-tech model. There’s never been an in-between – until now. The Sonos Play:5 offers the incredible sound and wireless technology of Sonos at the relatively low barrier to entry of $400.

The Play:5 incorporates all that you’d like in a sound system into one sleek package. Wireless high-fidelity audio, wireless controls, expandability, and killer sound. But To understand this precision piece of machinery, you have to first understand the music industry.

The sound industry isn’t a cheap one. A single speaker from a company like Thiel can run you upwards of $7000. The best entire systems can run into tens of thousands of dollars. If you want the best surround sound there is, prepare to pay big – or you could read on about how you can do it more affordably.

The great thing about the Play:5 and Sonos in general, is that they use a propriatary system of connection and management that allows for infinite system possibilities. Each speaker they make has all the fixings built-in: Wireless, Control Capabilities. You can buy a single Play:5 for $400 and blast beautiful music into the night, or you can buy one for each room of your abode, and you can really rock the house, and they all sync with each other to create a really immersive experience.

Right out of the box, they can connect with your iPhone, or your iPad, your computer, or whatever you may have, and using their free app you have instant and total control over your system. Pump up the jams from the bathroom, or turn it off from bed. It’s incredibly cool.

The Most Important Part

As much as their is to geek out about in the wireless capabilities, nothing is cooler than the sound itself. The Play:5 is crisp and loud, just as music should be, and incorporates five powerful drives to give it a kick. Whether you prefer Handel, Billy Joel, or Jay Z, you’ll be blown away by the pure clarity of your music. The first time I listened to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Concert on the Play:5 I was shocked: It was so clear that I could hear random audience members cheering as if I were next to them at Madison Square Garden.

Some other nice features of the play:5 include internet radio streaming (Pandora, Sirius XM, Spotify and others), and design. Honestly, that’s what blew me away. They used a simple, utilitarian model when designing this, and it shows. The simple aluminum three button box o’ sound also happily fits in with my large collection of Apple devices.

One Thing To Note

It has built-in wireless to connect and easily interact with other Sonos speakers, but requires wired internet. That can also be a plus though, because it has a double port, which I use to bridge an ethernet to my Blueray player.

If you’re looking for incredible sound quality and expandability at a reasonable price, the Sonos Play:5 hits the nail on the head. It’s one of a select few rationally priced devices in a highly competitive industry, and it performs excelently while satisfying every nerdy and audiophile need I have. Thank you Sonos for convincing me to dump Vinyl, and go all-digital. What speakers do you currently use?

You may not have heard of GoPro before, as they unfortunately aren’t as popular as they should be. However, more motorsports professionals use GoPro’s HD HERO2 Motorsports Edition camera than any other camera in the world. The HD HERO2 Motorsports Edition camera is only one of GoPro’s great products, but it truly is a perfect solution for anyone with a passion for motorsports.

Hardware

For its generally affordable price, the HD HERO2 Motorsports Edition camera has some stunning internals. Featured inside these devices are a professional glass lens, a 2.3″ CMOS image sensor, an external microphone input, up to 32 GB of external storage capacity, 1080p recording capability, a USB port for charging and data transfer, and more.

Design

This camera is obviously designed for use in motorsports and will not be very attractive to the average consumer, which is why it is solely targeted to motorsports enthusiasts. GoPro, however, has other great cameras created for other purposes and the HD HERO2 Motorsports Edition still looks great from its mount to the camera itself.

Size

The GoPro HD HERO2 Motorsports Edition has dimensions of 3.9 x 3.9 x 9.6 inches and a weight of 1.7 pounds (27.2 ounces), so it is obviously not a very portable camera. This is very understandable, considering this camera is meant for use in motorsports and has not been designed for casual or other professional use.

Battery

An 1100mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery powers the HD HERO2 Motorsports Edition camera, offering approximately 2.5 hours of battery life. The battery life can be doubled to 5 hours, however, with the purchase of a Battery BacPac.

Conclusion

If you’re not into motorsports, this camera isn’t for you. There are so many reasons to look for another camera that has been designed with your needs in mind, and the HD HERO2 Motorsports Edition only has your needs in mind if motorsports is your thing, whether as a participant or a spectator. If you’re going to pass on this camera, the HD HERO2 also comes in outdoor and surf editions and GoPro carries many other great products to check out instead.

Here are some additional images: