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Nikon Coolpix AW110 and S31 ruggedized cams see some action at CP+ (hands-on video)
You might figure that a climate-controlled exhibition center would offer a safe haven for even the most delicate of electronics, but with thousands of consumers getting handsy with these gadgets, many devices take quite a beating during a week-long trade show. No drop to the floor, counter crush or attendee sneeze is too much for these ruggedized Nikons, however. The Coolpix AW110 and S31 were both designed with wild lifestyles in mind, with waterproof and shockproof housings offering protection on land and under the sea. Our test location this week was limited to a display counter positioned front and center at Nikon's CP+ booth in Yokohama, so we can't speak to durability, but both offerings look convincing enough. With a sticker price of $350, the AW110 is certainly the higher-end of the two. We were particularly taken with the 3-inch OLED display, which looked fantastic -- it's perhaps the sharpest screen we've seen on any ruggedized model. The 5x internal zoom lens wasn't speedier than we expected, but it'll get the job done. The S31, however, looks very much like a child's plaything. And, considering the $120 MSRP (for a ruggedized camera, no less), it seems to be priced as such. We'll let you make that call for yourself, however -- take a closer look at both point-and-shoots after the break.
Nikon Coolpix AW110 and S31 deliver ruggedized shooting at vastly different price points
Looking to snap some frames from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam? Nikon's got you covered, with a pair of ruggedized point-and-shoots. The high-end model here, dubbed the Coolpix AW110, will set you back a whopping 350 bucks, while the S31 will run you about $120. Clearly, you'll be making some compromises if opting for the (significantly) lower-priced model. The AW110 sports waterproofing to depths of 60 feet, compared to 16.5 feet for the less-ambitious S31 -- the former will work just fine at many scuba depths, while the other model should have you covered for casual snorkeling expeditions. That $350 price tag will also net you built-in WiFi and GPS, a 3-inch OLED display, 1/2.3-inch 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a 5x (28-140mm), f/3.9-4.8 optical zoom lens. The $120 S31, however, includes the same sensor as its predecessor, the S30, with a 1/2.9-inch 10-megapixel CCD. It also includes a 2.7-inch LCD and it can sustain drops from up to 3.6 feet (compared to 6.6 feet for the AW110). It does include a rechargeable battery, however, while the previous-generation model required AAs. Both cameras will hit stores at the end of February, with the AW110 available in black, blue, camouflage and orange, and the S31 shipping in blue, brown, pink, white and pink. Catch a few more details in the press release after the break.
BenQ gifts Joybooks with Vista
Having decided that it would be marketplace suicide to continue offering an all-XP lineup while the rest of its competitors were loading their machines up with Vista, BenQ has joined a growing list of manufacturers in adding Microsoft's brand new OS to a trio of its Joybook laptops. As with most of the other Vista upgrades we've seen, specs on the R55V, S73V, and S31V remain almost identical to those on the models' non-"V"-labeled counterparts (the R55, S73 (pictured), and S31, respectively). To wit, you're still getting a Core 2 Duo processor and NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 graphics on the 15.4-inch R55V, while the 14.1-inch S73V maintains its predecessor's dual core chip and ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 video card. As you might expect, nothing much has changed with the 13.3-inch Joybook S31V either; it's still a Centrino Duo-based system featuring a 1.3 megapixel webcam and SRS TruSurround XT audio. Expect these models to hit foreign shelves sometime within the next few weeks (along with Vista itself, of course) for perhaps a slight premium over the older, dustier XP-powered notebooks.
