Posts with tag reviewed
Don't sweat it, we're not going to quiz you on the specs from Samsung's NV40 -- after all, this puppy was introduced way back in January of the year 2008. Nevertheless, the 10-megapixel shooter has finally arrived at PhotographyBLOG's labs for review, so let's dive right in. Simply put, the NV40 isn't a revolutionary step above the NV20, though that wasn't seen as necessarily bad. It was noted that the image stabilization worked quite well, but captures were still noticeably noisy even at ISO 200. The unit itself felt like a premium product, and the Smart Touch interface was highly praised, but reviewers just couldn't find a way to stomach the £199 ($385) price tag with such disappointing image results. Check out the full review for yourself before passing judgment, but it sounds like Sammy just barely missed the mark with this one.
MSI's GX600X TurboBook gets inspected, reviewed
Surely you remember that G600 that MSI showcased at CeBIT, right? We know you're sitting in stunned silence just thinking back, so we'll move forward anyway. The crew over at TweakTown managed to get ahold of the GX600X TurboBook, and rather than just frolicking in fields of flowers with it, they put this puppy to the test. Unlike the vast majority of MSI lappies, this particular one manages to stand out somewhat, with a relatively loud design and a fairly potent set of components to boot. Reviewers found it to be a "peak performer" with "excellent overclocking capabilities," and while the logos may catch a few eyes, these critics felt that those very decals may deter folks from buying an otherwise solid machine. Nevertheless, head on down to the full review -- you may find yourself surprisingly attracted to an MSI. Imagine that.
[Via I4U News]
[Via I4U News]
Acer's 18.4-inch Aspire 8920G laptop gets reviewed
First things first: just in case that headline didn't really sink in, this is an 18.4-inch laptop. In other words, those of you with even the slightest of back problems should probably just pass this one right on by. If you're still with us, however, you'll likely be totally engrossed by Laptop Mag's review of the Acer Aspire 8920G. The larger of the two second-gen Gemstones was said to feature a "gorgeous" Full HD display, impressive audio output, a respectable webcam and plenty of power under the hood. They also found the unique CineDash Media Console to be quite effective, save for accidentally activating the multimedia hub on occasion. Overall, critics deemed the lappie a "stellar" machine, but we'd certainly recommend browsing through the review just to make sure you're really interested in picking up a slab this gigantic.
Falcon Northwest's portable FragBox 8500 gaming rig gets reviewed
Oh yeah, you've options oozing everywhere for a bona fide gaming desktop that takes up some serious square footage in your domicile, but what about those looking for a potent portable? And we're not talking laptops, either. Falcon Northwest's FragBox 8500 -- which sports a chassis that hasn't changed much in years -- was recently reviewed by the folks over at PC Magazine, and put simply, it was deemed a "game system without apologies." Checking in at $1,895, critics found the internals to be "neatly put together," the unit as a whole satisfactorily mobile and yes, they confirmed that "you will definitely be able to play the DX10-heavy versions of Crysis and World in Conflict at very decent frame rates." Did you hear that? They said Crysis. Head on down to the read link for the full review of the Editors' Choice-awarded machine.
ASUS Lamborghini VX3 reviewed: not nearly as fast as the car
Last we heard of ASUS' Lamborghini VX3, we were watching it get lapped by the smorgasbord of other kit introduced at CES. Still, there's something to be said for a 12.1-inch ultraportable wrapped in sexy hues and accented with leather and Lambo badges -- unfortunately, "fast" isn't it. According to a recent test run over at CNET, the VX3 build quality was second to none, the style touches were easy to adore and the keyboard was surprisingly satisfactory. Unfortunately, the system faltered in more critical areas; partially due to the amount of bloatware that came loaded on, the 2.5GHz T9300 had a tough time surpassing other machines in benchmarking, and for folks hoping that the battery life would help negate that point, critics only yielded 67-minutes during a DVD playback test (and just 2-hours "in anecdotal use"). Even with the sluggishness, the VX3 may not be a bad choice if priced right, but considering the $3,299 sticker, we'd expect this thing to hold the pole position.
AMD triple-core Phenom X3 review roundup

Read - HotHardware (...the X3 8750 should also appeal to modders on a budget.)
Read - MaximumPC (Basically, it's a quad core with one core turned off.)
Read - TweakTown (...a perfect choice to replace Athlon 64 X2s...)
Read - PCPerspective (...isn't a slam dunk in performance or value...)
Read - Bit-Tech (...Phenom X3 8750 is a good processor in isolation...)
Read - Computer Shopper (...a worthy choice for Athlon X2 owners on a tight budget...)
Dell's 22-inch Crystal LCD monitor gets reviewed, panned
It seems as if Dell reckoned that the Crystal's boyish good looks would be enough to push it into the hands of style-obsessed nationals everywhere, as a scalding review over at Maximum PC asserts that little else beyond that is actually going for it. Said to have exhibited "absurd glare, low grayscale range and fussy touch-buttons" the 22-inch stunner frustrated critics beyond the point of forgiveness. More specifically, the glare was said to be so bad while watching dark scenes in a film that it "destroyed the picture." To its credit, it did manage to present ultra-vivid colors and an accurate dynamic contrast, but those two bright spots were far from being enough to overcome the negatives. Needless to say, the unit did well to fetch the 5 out of 10 score that was bestowed upon it, and based upon what we're hearing, we'd highly recommend checking one of these out in person before buying this thing on appearances alone.
Panasonic's flash-based HDC-SD9 HD camcorder gets reviewed
Although Panasonic's HDC-SD9 is mighty, mighty small, reviewers over at CNET felt that it fell short in a number of key areas. For starters, Panny included a few quirky design choices; for instance, removing the battery requires the LCD cover to be open, but doing so can also turn the camera on unless you place it in a different mode. Granted, the minuscule size didn't leave the outfit too much to work with, but if you're easily flustered by these kinds of niggles, you can run far, far away right now. As for image quality, critics noted that still shots were marginally better than awful, but capturing full motion HD clips was something it did manage to do relatively well. Overall, no one handling this critter was enthusiastically shouting for joy when all was said and done, so do yourself a favor and eye the review down there before clicking that order button.
Zalman's ZM-M2020W Trimon 3D monitor gets reviewed
Zalman may be far from being a household name, but a stranger to 3D displays it isn't. The company's latest 22-incher not only packs a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution panel and a bundled set of glasses, but it features the ability to render graphics in 3D. The eager critics over at Trusted Reviews had a nice sit with the device, and when all was said and done, the ZM-M2020W was seen more as a building block for revision two than a runaway winner as it was. On the upside, it did manage to render some pretty phenomenal scenes in 3D -- and even managed to change the reviewer's perception of the technology -- but the overly glossy screen and steep price tag kept it from being recommended without hesitation. Still, if you're willing to pay the premium to fit into the niche, by all means, give the full review a once over in the read link below.
GamePark's GP2X F-200 handheld gets reviewed
We know, most of you even remotely interested in the F-200 either already own one (and you're playing it right now, aren't you? Don't lie.) or are waiting intently for the Pandora. Nevertheless, the cats over at Ars Technica managed to wrap their paws around the GP2X F-200 and give it the full review treatment -- needless to say, impressions were (fairly) positive. Immediately recognized as a "hybrid of Sony's PSP and the Nintendo DS," the gaming handheld possessed a bright, clear LCD, somewhat "tinny" speakers and the ability to chew through batteries without shame. Still, aside from a few minor niggles, the critics found it to be "well worth the $170 price tag for the emulation capabilities alone." Hit up the read link for the entire review, but don't even bother if you're looking for excuses to hold off.
Nike+ SportBand gets reviewed
For those breaking into a sweat trying to decide whether or not the Nike+ SportBand is really worth your hard earned dollars / euros / pounds / Schrutebucks, simmer on down. The runners over at the Stuff offices have snapped one up and tossed out their two pence. Summarized as a "Nike+iPod system without music," the unit was given fairly high marks all around. It was noted that calibration was highly recommended before taking on the London Marathon, but that setup was a real lesson in simplicity. Design wise, most everything was kosher save for the detachable face (Link USB drive) that may not fit perfectly in slim laptops sitting flush on a table and the non-backlit display that proved difficult to see at night. Believe it or not, critics still found the SportBand to be a joy to use despite the aforesaid quirks, but given the drawbacks, we'd certainly recommend trying out a pal's before throwing down for your own.
ASUS Eee PC 900 review roundup

Read - CNET review (8.7 out of 10)
Read - Trusted Reviews review (...the Eee PC 900 still represents staggering value for money.)
Read - Stuff.tv's video review
Casio's Exilim EX-Z200 gets reviewed
Casio's Exilim EX-Z200, which broke cover at CES earlier this year, has been taken in to review by the shutterbugs over at PhotographyBLOG. Sporting a 10-megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom and a 28-millimeter wide-angle lens, this pocket-friendly point-and-shoot proved to be a love / hate affair in its finest form. Despite being loaded with features and relatively easy to operate, the Z200 still delivered subpar image quality; more specifically, noise and smearing of fine details were quite evident even at ISO 200, purple fringing was obvious in high-contrast scenes and the painfully slow shutter speed left critics woefully underwhelmed. Overall, the digicam seemed to stumble in the areas that matter most, and with the plethora of alternatives out there, it sounds as if your hard-earned dollars could be better used elsewhere.[Thanks, Mark]
iriver's W7 portable media player gets reviewed
Yeah, we had our fun just toying with the W7 at iriver's CES booth earlier this year, but the lucky souls at Pocketables were able to secure one long enough to write up a full-blown review. Straight out of the packaging, critics found the design to be attractive enough, albeit a tad chunky; particularly with this device, we'd say opinions on sexiness will vary widely depending on what floats your boat. Nevertheless, reviewers found the touch panel easy enough to navigate, and thankfully, the perceived audio quality was dubbed "great." Those interested in the video capabilities will be delighted to know that all was well on that front too, as the slew of welcome extras (FM tuner, text viewer, e-dictionary, etc.) were all praised. Now, if only this critter would show up in America, we'd have yet another solid choice when it comes to pocket-friendly media players.
[Thanks, Jenn]
[Thanks, Jenn]
Sony's Alpha A350 DSLR gets reviewed
For some, tossing around phrases like "live preview" and "flip-out swivel screen" would be enough to sell Sony's Alpha A350, but we know you're more discerning than that, right? Right. Truth be told, Sony's feature-packed Alpha only turned out okay -- not great -- during a review session with the folks over at CNET. Still, the unit did offer a sturdy feel, a fantastically useful LCD monitor and satisfactory color / dynamic range. Unfortunately, the extra $200 or so you pay for 14-megapixels (over 10MP on the A300) wasn't deemed worthwhile, as the extra processing "exacted a performance toll" in real-world use. The bottom line? These critics felt the Rebel XSi would be a better bet if you're just looking for a nice resolution bump, but for the vast majority of folks, you're likely better off snagging the A300 and putting your leftover dough towards a decent piece of glass.





























