Recent Comments:
Ask Engadget: Best LCD monitor under $400? {Engadget}
Jul 17th 2008 10:20PM Correction to my comment above: "it's not very expensive, so it's probably _not_ a bad deal"
Ask Engadget: Best LCD monitor under $400? {Engadget}
Jul 17th 2008 10:19PM I'd actually like to counter this one. I recently purchased a 226bw and was unhappy to discover the whole "bait and switch" controversy afterward. Samsung originally made the entire monitor, including the LCD panel, and all was well. After a successful run of monitors and good reviews, they proceeded to split production among themselves and at least two other LCD panel manufacturers, both of whom make displays whose performance is sub-par compared to the native Samsung displays.
What results is a "luck of the draw" when purchasing one: you don't know if you'll get a genuine Samsung, or one of the lame knock-offs. I was one of the unlucky folks, and my panel has poor color accuracy (even after repeated attempts to calibrate it manually and with a Spider2 puck). It also has a posterization effect whenever gradients move across the screen, possibly due to the monitor attempting to improve its response times, I suppose. I has been difficult for me to use the monitor for editing photos with any accuracy, both in color and in brightness.
Is this monitor worth the money I spent? It's not very expensive, so it's probably a bad deal. But be wary of the rave reviews you'll read online. Many are either a) old (posted during the initial run of genuine Samsung panels), b) have been posted by people who are now lucky enough to get a genuine panel, or c) have been posted by people who read the good reviews and are convinced that the display is great, but they can't tell the difference.
Unfortunately, Newegg is smart enough to know not to accept returns on LCD displays, so I was stuck with this crappy version. If you can purchase a 226bw from a dealer who accepts returns, go for it. Some intertube searching should help you reveal who actually made your panel. Hopefully this will allow others to make an informed decision. Good luck!
Sensor vest promises to affirm that we're always stressed out {Engadget}
Jul 7th 2008 10:22AM Hey, it's Hem Dazon from the cantina!
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Hem_Dazon
Nokia 6205 flip official for Verizon {Engadget}
Jun 13th 2008 9:50AM I'm glad you're publicly bashing the Verizon UI. I've been using my Moto E815 for 2.5 years now, and though I'm due for an upgrade, I can't bear the thought of dropping the traditional Moto UI for VZW's awful experiment in anti-usability.
Staples to stock Flexplay self-destructing DVDs {Engadget}
Jun 2nd 2008 9:47AM Very few "standard" DVDs are cheaper than $4. As for your second option, I don't think legal forms of media can compete with the "price" of illegal methods.
Staples to stock Flexplay self-destructing DVDs {Engadget}
Jun 2nd 2008 9:45AM I could be wrong, but I believe that 2nd-gen DVD players require two lasers: one for HD media (blue) and one for traditional media (red). I don't think the blue laser can be used for traditional DVDs.
SanDisk's 8GB Extreme III Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo clocks 30MBps {Engadget}
May 29th 2008 9:53AM Now if only Sony would drop the stupid format and embrace the SDHC standard, which typically costs half the price.
How would you change Canon's Rebel XSi? {Engadget}
May 24th 2008 10:22AM That's pretty funny. You'll never get CF slots as the format is on its way out. There aren't even pro Canon cameras that have dual CF slots - the only thing close is the 1DmkIII, which has a CF and an SDHC slot. Those slots are expensive, so no prosumer camera like the Rebel series will get dual slots.
How would you change Canon's Rebel XSi? {Engadget}
May 24th 2008 10:18AM Some of it's been said already, but SDHC > CF. I own an original Rebel (and I own several CF cards), but I recently bought a HF100 video camera, which uses SDHC. My experience with SDHC has been better than that of CF.
Compact Flash is a relatively old and slow format compared to SDHC. Many modern laptops have an SDHC slot but no support for CF because the cards are literally too big. I also get better performance from my SDHC class 6 card - the card has less electronics in it than CF, allowing for more improvements via the reader. Also, one of CF's biggest advantages in the past - being compatible with PCMCIA slots with only a pin convertor, is quickly disappearing as laptops drop those slots in favor of ExpressCard.
BTW, Canon has begun migrating its high-end cameras to SDHC as well, as it has done with the 1DmkIII, which supports both CF and SDHC. I imagine that eventually everything will transition to the newer, more "compact" format.
Wooden mousepad works great with wooden mice {Engadget}
May 22nd 2008 9:55AM I've always had problems using optical mice on wood-veneer surfaces ... I wonder if actual wood would show the same issues. If that were the case, buyer beware!
