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Treo 750v review roundup
While we in the US sit sadly, sans Treo 750v, the first round of reviews and hands-on are coming in from Europe on what may be one of the sexiest smartphones around. Everyone's got a hands-on or review of some kind, and we're sure that you're far too busy tapping out SMSes to read 'em all, so we're going to boil 'em down for you. Treonauts enjoys the lighter weight (15 percent, its says) on the new 750v, and the folks at Shiny Shiny point out that some users may actually miss the now-gone antenna as some folks used it to grip whilst retrieving the phone from a pocket or purse. Pocketinfo has a lengthy review (with some very large photos) and likes it overall, but laments the lack of WiFi and a better cam. Finally, CNET weighs in as well with its minute-long video, and digs the rubberized exterior -- something that we had to add on previously with those adhesive egrips stickers. Enjoy your new Treos, European Vodafone subscribers, because remember: here in the States, our Treos still all have stub antennas whether we like it or not.Read - Shiny ShinyRead - CNETRead - TreonautsRead - PocketinfoRead - TreoCentral
BlackBerry Pearl review roundup
Well that was quick. Looks like our own Boy Genius wasn't the only kid on the block to get his hands on the BlackBerry Pearl a few weeks early. Reviews aplenty are already extolling the virtues of the much anticipated phone, and while it's not all roses, the Pearl sure seems to do a lot of things right. What's getting the most love seems to be the utterly small -- for a QWERTY-ish smartphone, at least -- form factor, but the bright screen and bevy of software features get a lot of love too. Not everybody is stoked about the execution of the video and music players, but the reviewers at least didn't seem to be overwhelmed by any extra complexity introduced by the new stuff. CNET astutely notes that the phone lacks WiFi, which isn't much of a departure for RIM, but misses the mark set by some of the Pearl's smartphone compatriots. The SureType keyboard has just as many perks and annoyances as ever, but that's to be expected, and there's no arguing over the size savings the Pearl manages because of it. Overall, we're seeing good things for the Pearl and proud parent RIM, and as their media feature sets and design chops improve they might just have a shot at the consumer market yet. Read - BusinessWeek Read - International Herald Tribune Read - New York Times Read - CNET Read - PC Magazine
Apple Mac Pro review roundup
So everyone even remotely in the loop knew that it was just a matter of time before Apple tossed an Intel processor (or two) into its desktop Mac, and now that the deed is done and the Mac Pro is out on the street, reviewers have the scoop on whether the revamped Mac is worth your while. There seems to be echos of praise stemming from the quicker, or shall we say, "snappier," Intel chip versus the 'ole PowerPC-based processors, and the much-anticipated addition of extra hard drive bays and a secondary optical drive helped to improve on those prior limitations. Of course, Rosetta apps still lag behind on the new chips, but this will probably become a non-issue as more programs get that Universal touch. Although there didn't seem to be many complaints, the biggest gripes came from the uninspiring graphics performance versus similar PC-based GPUs (no surprise here), and the disappointing reality that built-in AirPort / Bluetooth modules aren't standard on a "professional" machine. We're sure there's a select few still bound and determined to keep plugging along in OS 9 as long as possible, but for those interested in seeing how this Intel-equipped Mac fared, these guys have done the work for you. Read - Ars Technica Read - Anandtech Read - ZDNet Read - Bare Feats Read - MacInTouch Read - Epic Empire
