Admittedly it can be hard to shop for a tablet at times if you have particular needs. For example Apple and Android tablets aren’t for everyone. Many users specifically need a tablet with Windows on board, particularly business users. As good as some of the alternatives can be, there is still no real substitute for a full windows working environment. Thankfully Toshiba’s WT200 is here to fill that niche.

This 10 inch capacitive touchscreen tablet has a decent  1366 by 768 resolution which would be on the low side for a notebook PC but seems quite serviceable in a tablet form factor. As you would expect, the screen is capable of auto-rotation to adjust the display orientation. While it sports a feature which can automatically adjust the screen brightness, you’ll generally want to use it maxed out unless you’re in a particularly low light situation.

In terms of battery life you can  realistically expect over four hours of use with full screen brightness, an active wifi connection, and the machine actually working that time. It has an ‘eco’ mode that can help adjust everything to extend that some more too.

The Intel Atom N2600 1.6GHz powering the unit is the sort of high-efficiency low-power CPU you might find in a netbook PC but is just as at home in a tablet, though it limits the power you can expect from the gadget. With 2GB of RAM and Intel GMA 3600 graphics integrated, you’ll find decent performance. the 64GB SSD helps keep things from getting too sluggish, ensuring rapid boot times.

You can’t quite use this tablet like you would an ultrabook or desktop PC but if you keep your multitasking to a minimum and avoid power-hungry applications you’ll be in good shape. At that point the software becomes noticeable though. The Windows 7 operating system that comes pre-installed is great on most hardware, but isn’t in peak form on an Atom powered tablet. The touch screen controls can be a little clumsy at times and make the tablet seem more suited to Windows 8 due later this year, which is designed more for touch screen in mind.

If you really need to use a windows tablet, this is a decent option. It will integrate well with the rest of  your windows computer ecosystem, and  brings some of the flexibility and security of Windows PCs to a tablet form factor. It ought to work out even better if you can get Windows 8 installed in the future too. At its core it’s effectively a netbook in a touchscreen tablet`s clothing, for better or worse.

We’ve already taken a look at Intel’s new Ivy Bridge CPUs last month. Now AMD is sending a return volley in their battle for CPU dominance. The latest and greatest from AMD – the Trinity APU is here now. Its fast, cool, and efficient. It’s got some graphics tricks up its proverbial sleeve. Most of all its here to give Ivy Bridge a run for its money.

Engineered with a similar emphasis on efficiency as Ivy Bridge, these new processors are ideally suited for the ultraportable market, which seems to be rapidly becoming increasingly popular. They feature up to double the per-watt performance of the Llano APUs from only a year ago.

A big focus here is the graphics power built into the chip, including the AMD HD Media Accelerator designed to optimize your HD video experience. Sure the CPU aspect has a power boost and it is nice and snappy, but the onboard GPU horsepower of  Radeon HD 7000 lends its acceleration to a growing app library – most of which are apps you probably already use, like Adobe Flash and most popular web browsers.

“Long battery life tops the list for many laptop buyers and with the new second generation AMD A-Series APU boasting outstanding battery life, our customers will be thrilled,” said Bai Peng, Vice President, GM of IdeaPad notebook business, Lenovo Group. “The new second generation AMD A-Series APUs give our customers the freedom to unplug and lead a digital entertainment lifestyle filled with music, video, photos and applications when in the office and on the road.”

With these Second-Generation AMD A-Series APUs entering the market to compete with Intel’s Ivy Bridge product, it can only mean great things in store for computer buyers this year. “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 ultra-thin form factors featuring the latest in AMD Radeon™ graphics.” says Chris Cloran, corporate vice president and General Manager, AMD Client Business Unit.

With ultraportables getting such love from all the manufacturers, the performance boost offered by these new chips will mean we won’t have to sacrifice performance for portability or efficiency. We’ll be able to have power, battery life, and portability, all the same package but with the added bonus of marketplace competition. I expect some interesting machines to start appearing later this year. You early adopters will want to keep an eye on Future Shop for availability of AMD Trinity powered machines as early as late june.

That is not to say that this is the first Game of Thrones video game ever made, and it is certainly not the first fantasy themed RPG but the developers at Cyanide Studio have worked closely with George R.R. Martin to make sure this is faithful to the Game of Thrones universe, and is a somewhat fresh take on what could otherwise be any other typical fantasy themed RPG. The game retains all the complexities that hardcore RPG fans will love without `dumbing it down`too, which is a somewhat novel approach in the current video game ecosystem.

This game isn’t all about shooting, or exploring, or grinding. This game is all about story, characters, power struggles, mysticism, and political intrigue. That is the foundation which makes the whole Game of Thrones universe a success and that is clearly where the focus is for the game.

You’ll hear a lot about the other games being released today. There will be expensive marketing campaigns, and lots of buzz to get them attention. They’re good games, and they deserve lots of attention. The Game of Thrones RPG might get lost in that shuffle without such a massive push in the marketing department but if you’re a fan of the books or the TV series at all (and I know many of you are), you owe it to yourself to take this game for a spin too.

The latest Tom Clancy game from Ubisoft is nearly upon us. After a long wait, we’re only a week away from the release of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to sit down with the game, and its developers, in Toronto recently to preview what they have in store for fans.

The game was developed not far from a military installation so a lot of attention was paid to realism and faithfulness. A lot of the tech you see in the game may seem like something from the distant future yet it is all based in reality and projections from current technologies already in development. The developers insist the game isn’t as futuristic and speculative as you might think when playing it and it represents a face of warfare technology that is just around the corner.

When playing the game, you can go through the campaign alone, with your allies being handled by the game’s artificial intelligence. It works just fine that way, but I was warned that I should really play the game with a squad of friends – that its a dramatically different experience when you have to work with other humans who may not be in as perfect sync as the computerized players.

The game will feature support for both PlayStation Move and Xbox Kinect controls too which were a little interesting. Ubisoft has vowed that all Tom Clancy games going forward will support Kinect and its nice to see them experimenting with what’s possible here. It is not quite as fluid as controlling the game through a traditional gamepad but there is potential for a little novel fun here, even if just when you’re playing with the gunsmith feature and the shooting gallery.

Photo courtesy of Craig Galbraith

Overall the game looked like a lot of fun. I was mostly excited for the multiplayer aspect, which I had already seen through the game’s beta test, but after seeing more of the campaign I am a lot more excited to take that aspect for a spin after next week. I’ve already got my eye out for who, on my friends list, will make a worthy squad-mate to join me in the fight.

Lets be honest here. We all love shiny new toys. They look great. They’re fun to play with and show off. Its one of the reasons you’re probably reading this blog to start with. Well tomorrow a new shiny toy will hit shelves; the Microsoft Xbox 360 special edition chrome wireless controllers in blue (pictured), red, and of course in silver.

You may have been lusting over that gold C-3P0 themed controller included in the Xbox 360 Star Wars Kinect console bundle. Fortunately you don’t have to splurge for a whole new console just to get your own mirrored finish controller any longer. All three versions of this new controller will be available at Future Shop as of the 15th of May 2012.

I’ve got my hands on one and they’re quite beautiful. Sure its basically the same Xbox 360 controller we already know and love but the finish on these is gorgeous and definitely pops to make a bold visual statement.

The chrome controllers also feature the popular revised transformable D-pad too, which can be set to either an articulated, or flush button mode with a simple twist. If you play a lot of fighting games, or other titles that rely heavily on D-pad accuracy, this is certainly the feature you’ve been looking for.

Another small detail that you may notice if you`ve been using old Xbox 360 controllers is the new style thumbstick on these controllers. The old style has a graduated indentation on the surface to aid in grip with four tiny dimples to help with grip and orientation. The new thumbsticks replace this with a ridge around the perimeter and more sharply indented surface, allowing for better grip and control. Its a small, subtle change, but a welcome one worth looking for in new controllers.

There is a whole genre of home computers out there that you may not even be aware of. They’re called, as you might have guessed by the title of this post, HTPCs. The acronym stands for Home Theatre Personal Computer. Think of it as a computer set up specifically for connecting to your home theatre setup – particularly your living room TV. Its all about using the power and flexibility of a modern computer to drive your home entertainment through your home theatre system and as you might imagine, there are a lot of opportunities once you have such a setup.

If you’re tired of having multiple boxed jacked in to your home theatre system, each there to perform a solitary task, an HTPC can be ideal to consolidate all of that within one hardware package. It can serve as an all-in-one entertainment box that is flexible enough to grow and evolve with your needs. Some of the tasks I use mine for are watching live TV, a PVR to record TV shows, Watching digital movie files, Viewing photos, Listening to music, Watching Blu-Ray and DVD movies, and even playing games. These days there are several off-the-shelf solutions for doing a handful of these tasks with one box, but there are few options that can handle them all, and still allow near endless possibilities for customizing and extending.

Most modern computers feature HDMI connectivity which makes setting up an HTPC a lot easier. You can simply plug a computer in to your PC with an HDMI cable and you’re ready to go. If you want to record live TV you’ll want to install a TV tuner which can be as simple as plugging in via USB, depending on the model you opt for. To me, recording live TV is a killer app as it saves me from renting a PVR box from my cable provider, and adding more hard drive space is cheap and easy. I even love being able to customize the TV guide as much as i want, like hiding all the channels I never watch.

There are a lot of good software packages you can run for a great HTPC experience. Boxee and XBMC are two very popular options and offer a lot of great features. Personally I prefer the Windows 7 Media Center app that comes bundled in most editions of Windows 7. Chances are you already have it installed if you’ve got Windows 7. It does the best job at handling live and recorded TV and has the most user friendly interface with the least need to tweaking and customization. I can basically run it and forget about it.

You might find the idea of sitting down on your couch with a keyboard and mouse to control your home theatre experience to be unappealing. I would agree with you. There are a lot of other ways you can control this setup to make it look and feel like a regular home theatre component, not just a computer in your living room.

Programmable remotes can be good options if you have an IR receiver for your HTPC, and can greatly simplify your home theatre experience. Alternatively you can get a nice mini wireless keyboard controller, or even an app allowing control from a tablet or smartphone. Guests never even need to know that there is a PC running the show. Once you get everything set up right it can be a seamless experience with all the technology invisible, behind the curtain.

If you’ve got a PC you’re not using, or are looking for a new project, consider the often ignored realm of HTPCs. They can be a lot of fun and let you really take control of your home theatre experience. Many of us spend thousands of dollars on the equipment in our living rooms. Speakers, HDTVs, media players, game consoles, et cetera. When you consider how much thought you put into picking those components, and setting them up to your liking, it makes a lot of sense to build an HTPC to run it all with the same power and flexibility.

Do you already use a PC as part of your home theatre setup? Tell me about it in the comments!

I have used thin and light computers in the past but never one quite like this before. On paper it’s not unlike the MacBook Air from Apple but there are a lot of little differences to make this something a little more special, in my opinion. There are a lot of little details making this feel very much like a luxurious precision engineered machine that a lot of skilled work and refinement went into. It’s the sort of thing that will have any tech-lover drooling in awe.

The Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook is really something you’ll want to see in person to appreciate. Pictures and text simply can’t do it justice. Once you feel it in your hands you can appreciate the very solid build feel it has with its unibody duralumin enclosure having double the strength of aluminum. When you pick it up you’ll notice just how light it is at 2.6 pounds – lighter than a 13.3” Macbook Air. When you close it, you can appreciate it being a mere half an inch thick.

The 13.3” SuperBridge Plus widescreen display sports a glorious 400 nits of brightness. That’s twice as bright as the standard notebook screen making this usable even in direct sunlight. The screen is also thankfully anti-glare which makes it even more user friendly. If you’ve been using glossy screens which have become inexplicably popular as of late you’ll really notice the difference. Powered by Intel HD Graphics 3000, this tiny machine does a surprisingly good job in the visual presentation department. It even automatically adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient light levels to save you from eye strain.

The 128 GB SSD and 1.6 HGz Intel i5 2467m CPU make the computer pretty snappy too. It will cold boot Windows 7 in under 15 seconds. This is clearly an ultra-mobile work machine and designed for you to be able to just start it up and get straight to work in a hurry while being able to conveniently take it with you on the road. Even the power supply is tiny, with a flat mobile-phone-like form factor and weight, perfect for sliding into your laptop bag without any problematic bulges typical of the usual power bricks. The seven-hour battery ensures you won’t need to take it out of your bag too often too.

Its got all the other usual bells and whistles you’d expect; 802.11 abg/n networking, Bluetooth x3.0, Gigabit LAN, Micro HDMI, Usb 3.0, a memory card reader, et cetera. No shocks there. Nothing has really been left out. The biggest complaint I have is that the machine comes with a system recovery DVD while the unit understandably has no optical media drive. Would having the system recovery tools pre-loaded onto a USB drive or SD card have been too much to ask? That’s hardly a deal breaker and when you consider that its the biggest complaint I could come up with, you’ll realize how much I love this computer. Its possibly the nicest, most high quality PC I’ve ever used.

If you’re a fan of either the George R. R. Martin books, or the HBO TV series Game Of Thrones, you’ll probably want to take a look at the video game of the same name due to be released next week for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. I recently had the chance to sit down with the game and talk with Atlus (the game’s publisher) about the title and check out what they have in store for players.

First off, the game is not strictly canon to the Game of Thrones universe. While events in the books and TV series are referenced, this follows a separate tale taking place just after the events of the first book, A Song of Ice and Fire. The developers at Cyanide sat down with George R. R. Martin several times at his home over the past seven years to work on the story and make sure that the game was true to the original vision George had for his fantasy world.

It was great to see that the developers paid such reverence to the original literature and worked closely with its author to ensure quality in the game. It looks like story is a big focus in this game and it will be fun to see reactions by fans of the series. It’s difficult to discuss without revealing spoilers but after having some hands-on time with the title, I have a lot of faith that the writing in this game won’t disappoint.

The developers even worked with HBO to make sure that the game matched up closely with the TV show, borrowing the soundtrack, and even some of the actors for their likenesses and voices. Even the likeness of George. R. R. Martin apparently appears somewhere in the game, which is a good indicator just how reverent they are to him. That is a very good sign.

Xbox fans have seen a few Fable games come and go over the years as the franchise has evolved. It has become one of the biggest names in Xbox exclusive franchises due to its storybook fantasy world revolving around player choices and a good versus evil dichotomy. Fable Heroes extends this franchise with a new mini-installment. It is not quite a full sequel to the Fable games, but provides a fun casual opportunity for fans to enjoy the fable universe while we wait for Fable: The Journey to be released later this year.

Fable Heroes diverges significantly from the previous Fable role playing adventure games. If you’ve played the other Fable titles you may recall collectible dolls scattered throughout Albion. In Heroes you finally get to play as those dolls in arcade brawling action.

Its not an epic adventure this time around. You don’t have too many tough choices to make in order to shape the world. You can play with up to three friends to hack, slash, shoot and cast spells through toy-like versions of various memorable stages from Fable III.

The game-play is pretty linear, where players generally fight their way from A to B, surviving ambushing foes along the way without being burdened by the moral choices the franchise is otherwise well known for. There is a choice to make at the end of each level, leading players to either a boss battle or fun mini-game as a conclusion.

While you can play the game alone, and have a perfectly fine experience there is no substitute for playing with three other friends. Make no mistake, this is primarily a party game. The fun is designed around the combination of cooperative and competitive fun, while you work together to get through your journey, yet compete to see who can collect more coins along the way.

Overall its a fun game with that Fable charm we already love. Its going to be a lot of fun with friends and family, either sitting beside you or joining you virtually online through Xbox Live. Relax, pick a hero, have some fun. You don’t have to think too much beyond that.

Getting started

First things first. You’ll want to shut down your computer and unplug it from the power source before proceeding. Safety is important, after all. Disconnect all the wires and do your best to untangle them. This may take some time but if you do things right, it is time well spent.

Dust

Dust is a big deal for computers and unfortunately they’re practically dust magnets. Look around the vent openings. See any dust? You can bet there is more inside, clogging it up, and making things hot. If you’ve got a notebook computer, your options are limited here. just try to get as much dust out as possible. Compressed air and a flashlight can help here to some extent but always be sure to follow the directions on your compressed air and generally keep the nozzle at lest four inches away from your computer components.

With a desktop computer, it is ideal if you can get inside. If you’re not brave enough, then just use some compressed air to clean out as much as you can from the vent openings. While there is always some risk involved when opening up your electronics it’s pretty straightforward to open the side of your computer case. and get the dust out. Be warned that you should not open your computer if it will void your warranty. You should review your warranty information first check first and be sure it is safe to proceed.

If you’ve decided to get inside your computer, you can generally just use a screwdriver to take the panel off of the left hand side of the case. Once its opened up, try not to touch anything. Just look for any dust bunnies or fluff in the nooks and crannies and blast them with some compressed air. The more dust you can get out the better. Use a flashlight to take a good look around, making sure you’ve got dust out wherever possible, then you can close your case back up.

Keyboards

You’ll be surprised how much crud can build up between the keys on your keyboard and how dirty it can be. Think about how much you touch it. Think about how warm it usually is. Imagine all the bacteria building up, all the oils from your hands, all times you’ve touched it and not washed your hands. Gross but easy to remedy. First used some compressed air as directed to clean out as much debris as possible from beneath the keys. Try not to be shocked at how much comes out.

Next dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol making it damp but not dripping wet. Run that cotton swab around and over each key, changing swabs whenever one is too soiled to clean any more. Its going to take a few.

Mice

Similar to keyboards, mice build up dirt and oils from frequent use. Use a paper towel dipped in rubbing alcohol to wipe your mouse all over and get all that grime and oil out. You may need to use a fingernail to scrape off some of it or use some compressed air to get debris out of the sensor on the underside but other than that cleaning your mouse is pretty straightforward.

Monitors

You’ll want to use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your cloth. Do not use a paper towel or cleaning solution as it could ruin the screen. Consult the manual for further cleaning instruction. I’ve seen screens get ruined by improper cleaning before and it’s not pretty.  Regular dusting with a microfiber cloth ought to be penty.

Cables

Before we put everything back, think about that jungle of wires you had before. There’s no need for that. Using cable ties you can neatly bundle all of your cables to minimize the mess. Wireless products are great but we can’t yet get rid of wires completely. The next best thing is to use good cable management to keep the tangle of electric spaghetti out of sight.  You can even use a cable management system to help you keep them organized. It’s the sort of chore that can be a time investment at first but requires little to no time in the future.

Now, hopefully you’ve got a computer thats clean inside and out, and things are organized even underneath your desk. With things finally sorted out, you will notice that things feel more like new and even run better. You’ll find your computer runs quieter without all of that dust clogging it, your keyboard and mouse feel more like new, and even less dust collecting under your desk where all those wires used to let dust bunnies collect.