LCD vs CRT monitors

One of the advantages of LCDs over cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors is lack of flicker. CRTs produced eye-fatiguing flicker if the refresh rate was set below 70 hertz (Hz).

The refresh rate that many LCD monitors use, however, are set to run at 60Hz. This is fine for flicker-free images on LCDs.

These flat-panel monitors use different technology for their display of images, so the old rules for flicker-free monitor operation no longer apply.


Anti-spyware protection
DO you need an anti-spyware program in addition to antivirus? Probably so.

While antivirus software makers have added anti-spyware protection to their packages, antivirus is still their forte, and the anti-spyware packages on the market have been protecting against spyware longer.

To get rid of spyware, download the free Windows Defender if you’re a Windows user. Also consider Ad-Aware.

External hard drive back-up
THE cheapest way to back up the data on your hard drive today is with another hard drive.

Either an external hard drive, which connects to your computer using a USB or FireWire port or an internal model will suffice.

Remember when budgeting for data storage to think about buying twice the amount you’ll need – half for your files and programs, and the other half for the backup of those files and programs.

Virtual computers cut cost
Microsoft has quietly unveiled Windows Server 2008. Intended primarily for businesses, Windows Server 2008 offers virtualisation for the first time in a Microsoft operating system.

Virtualisation, dubbed Hyper-V by Microsoft, allows one computer to act as though it is many. Each virtual computer is protected from the others on a machine.

Virtualisation helps companies save cost by reducing the number of computers they might otherwise devote to several tasks. – dpa

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NEC Powermate 3020

The all-in-one Powermate 3020 brings elegance and flexibility to your computer table

NEC calls it a hybrid computer. I call it a godsend. Several other computer manufacturers had flirted with the idea of incorporating the computer monitor and the CPU into one, seamless unit, but those were bulky (and to be fair, quite impractical) units.

With the advent of LCD monitors, the task got even more complicated as the slim design of the monitor made it a designer’s nightmare to fit all the peripherals and keep it looking cool.


NEC Powermate 5000 series, which was launched last year, cracked the design conundrum and set the bar really high in terms of melding style and functionality into a seriously sweet looking package.

And recently, they launched a new line, the P3000 series, which aims to deliver sophisticated digital home entertainment experience to the [grateful] user.

The first product out in this series is the P3020, which features a 15.4" wide Dual Lamp LCD screen coupled with NEC Super Shine View EX for bright, vibrant images.

The all-in-one computer is powered by AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual-Core Processor TK-57, 1.9GHz ultra high-speed computing for low power consumption.

It’s gorgeous to look at: all white and sleek, weighing in at only 3.9kg, with a bar to make it easy to carry around. The speakers are on either side – slim but boasting good sound fidelity. And there’s only one cable for the entire unit – both the keyboard and the optical mouse are wireless, so you can keep things uncluttered. And it’s slim – less than 5cm thick.

Slotted in somewhere is a DVD-RW super multi drive, 4 USB ports, 1 IEEE 1394 port, a 13-in-1 card reader, 802.1b/g Wireless LAN, Gigabits LAN 10/100/1000 mbits/sec, topped up with a 160Gb harddisk with 1Gb DDR2 RAM on board. Phew.

NEC has also thrown in two gadget pockets that clip on to the monitor to store stationeries and CD-ROMs.

The hybrid is preloaded with Windows Vista Home Basic and easy video editing software, though the review unit also had Office 2007 suite.

It’s a joy to use the Powermate P3020. It powers along quietly but with a jaunt to its stride, handling the usually sluggish OS with practised ease. The monitor displays crisp, clear images, and the wireless keyboard and mouse are a pleasure to use.

The use of dedicated buttons/shortcut keys and a built-in joystick on the keyboard take only minutes to master. Ditto the zoom function on the mouse – you can use it to blow up different parts of the webpage or document with ease.

Don’t you just hate it that your iPod needs a USB power source to charge? If you are like me, and dislike having to leave your computer on specifically for this purpose, then NEC Powermate 3020’s USB charging capability – even with the system switched off – is extremely useful.

The folks at NEC have even put in a enhanced night mode feature to lull you to sleep at night – it works a treat.

In real world use, the idea of having a separate keyboard is very practical, as a flip down model (as in laptops) can cause discomfort to users. The viewing angle and the ideal height for the keyboard may differ, and in keeping things separate, you – the user – gets to be in the ideal position.

I had no difficulty setting up the wireless keyboard and mouse connections and linking up to my wireless router. And though Windows Vista Home Basic is not my favourite OS at the moment, it was however, stable enough during the review period.

If you are keen to upgrade to Vista Ultimate (for the very cool but memory hogging Aero effect), make sure you at least double up the RAM or you could find things moving at a sluggish pace.

As a home entertainment device, the Powermate P3020 performs credibly. The DVD movie playback was smooth and stutter free, though the audio track sometimes got overwhelmed by the background sounds (a common enough problem with laptops, unless you hook it up to a 5.1. channel sound system).

In all, this is a very beautiful piece of equipment that can have pride of place on your now very empty table.

NEC Powermate P3020 series is now available at RM3,299 in all NEC authorised resellers.

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Sony VAIO NR 37G/S

LONGING for a Sony VAIO notebook of your own or searching for that one notebook to fulfil your basic PC needs?

Look no further. Sony has just come out with the latest VAIO NR 37G/S, which comes loaded with VAIO original software to make home entertainment fun.

The ergonomic design offers great comfort whether you are using it for work or play, which makes it a friendly notebook that is ideal for both families and individuals alike.


It features a natural design with rounded corners, complete with a soft dimple-finished top that is great looking and stylish. The notebook also offers easy connectivity for users with its high-speed USB interface and built-in Wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b/g, which means fast and easy access to wireless LAN networks wherever a 2.4GHz wireless LAN access point is available.

This enables the user to connect to any home network or hotspot at airports, hotels or even cafes for quick access to the Internet or emails while on the go.

At the heart of the new Sony VAIO NR37G/S is the advanced Intel Pentium Dual-Core Processor T2390, that promises quick performance at a fast processing speed of 1.86GHz.

The notebook also comes with a 200GB hard disk drive storage capacity and other specifications including a 1GB SDRAM, built-in stereo speakers, and a 19mm full-pitched keyboard with Intelligent Touchpad for ease of use.

It also incorporates the latest Microsoft Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (English version) with the Traditional Chinese Language Pack.

The home edition offers intuitive operation, advanced search capabilities and a speech recognition function.

In addition, it also includes a Windows Media Centre for total enjoyment of music, videos, photo playback and movies.

The Sony VAIO NR37G/S has a 15.4in-wide TFT colour LCD screen with a VGP-BPS9/B Lithium-ion battery that has a battery life of up to four hours.

Weighing 2.9kg with a dimension of 360x(31.4-37.8)x269.1mm, this notebook is easy to carry and fits effortlessly into most bags.

The Sony VAIO NR37G/S is now available at all Sony Style and Sony designated stores for RM2,788.

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Toshiba Stylish laptop solutions

IF you are in the market for a laptop that not only helps you get work done but also looks great, then check out Toshiba’s new offerings.

They recently launched the new Protégé M800 as well as the new Satellite M300 and A300 notebooks, which will suit every discerning user’s needs.

All the new models come with a breathtaking Toshiba Fusion Finish, a super-high gloss exterior that’s achieved with a special manufacturing process that involves fusing molten resin into the mould, producing a breathtaking metallic effect.


The word "fusion" also represents a combination of innovation, reliability and style in Toshiba notebooks. Add to this the unique Horizon Line design and you have a stylish notebook that everyone will desire.

The new Satellite notebook series include a high gloss, tactile keyboard, feather-touch multimedia buttons, flushed touch pad with chrome mouse buttons and a white LED-lighted Satellite logo.

"This new exciting range of Satellite notebooks is designed to appeal to consumers with discerning tastes and who demand a highly reliable and innovative notebook PC from an established brand," said Wong Wai-meng, senior manager of product marketing for Toshiba’s computer systems division.

"With its new design and sophisticated entertainment features such as REGZA-Link, built-in FM tuner, harmon/kardon speakers and more, this Satellite series will do just that."

The new Protégé notebooks also come with feather-touch multimedia buttons, flushed touch pad with chrome mouse buttons and a white LED-lighted Protégé logo.

"With its 13.3-inch clear SuperView screen and a weight of less than 2kg, the Protégé M800 is the perfect notebook for all road warriors. As with its predecessor, the highly popular Protégé M600, the M800 is not only lightweight, but it is also equipped with selected EasyGuard features, making it a highly ideal solution for notebook users who are always on the road." explained Wong.

"New features such as SmartFace log-on, business card reader and built-in FM tuner will make the Protégé M800 even more popular than its predecessor."

The new Protégé comes in cool pearl white or glossy mercury silver (selected countries only) with Toshiba Fusion Finish.

Actual features and specifications vary according to the model.

For detailed specifications, please check the specs sheet or log on to http://www.domoreinstyle.com.

All Toshiba notebooks are RoHS-compatible, effectively reducing the environmental impact by restricting the use of lead, mercury and certain other hazardous substances.

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HEWLETT-PACKARD HP 2133 Mini-Note PC

HEWLETT-PACKARD (HP) recently introduced the HP 2133 Mini-Note PC, also known as the HP Mini, a full-function, mini notebook computer. To deliver the broadest range of mobility solutions, the HP Mini serves as the first product in the mini-notebook PC category for HP

Featuring HP’s smallest mobile footprint and integrated 802.11a/b/g or b/g WLAN1 connectivity, the HP Mini is designed specifically for mobile youths and business professionals to play, learn and work anywhere – from the classroom, boardroom or café.


"Mobility is a pervasive lifestyle choice, and the launch of the HP Mini offers the ultimate in portability," said Danny Lee, country general manager, Personal Systems Group, Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn Bhd.

"Delivering a cost-effective, creative and powerful multimedia tool such as the HP Mini, HP is arming customers with a mobility solution that will better provide our customers with a complete computing experience, anytime, anywhere in the age of information."

With a starting weight of just 1.19 kg, the HP Mini features an 8.9-inch display and a large usable QWERTY keyboard to maximise productivity for individuals on-the-go.

For mobile road warriors and active lifestyle users, the HP Mini offers HP 3D DriveGuard to ensure hard drive data protection during daily travel and use.

The HP Mini balances design and functionality with a lightweight anodised aluminium, tamper-proof case with no visible screws for enhanced durability.

The HP Mini is packed with an impressive combination of features:

» A full-function PC that measures just 27 (at front) x 255 x 165 mm;

» Simple, refined design in anodised aluminium that is sleek and durable yet lightweight;

» Scratch-resistant 8.9-inch WXGA (1280x768 pixels) display with a user-friendly large keyboard (QWERTY), and touchpad;

» Ability to view video, still-image capture, web conferencing, or video-enhanced instant messaging with no additional hardware to buy or carry. The optional integrated VGA WebCam enables video and still-image capture which allows for the addition of photos and video clips to presentations, documents and email;

» Two battery solutions – 3-cell for lightest-weight configurations or 6-cell for extended battery life;

» Wireless technologies such as optional integrated Wi-Fi Certified WLAN1 and Bluetooth1, allowing users to access the Internet as well as communicate via email, IM, chat, VOIP and blogging. The wireless technologies also enable connections at hotspots as well as with Bluetooth devices such as printers, mice and headsets;

» HP DuraKeys features a clear coating applied over the notebook keyboard that protects the finish and the printed characters;

» HP 3D DriveGuard which protects the notebook’s hard drive against impact, bumps, or drops, thanks to its 3D digital accelerometer motion sensor which detects and notifies the system software of any sudden movement and sends a command to temporarily park the hard drive.

The HP Mini is available for purchase at a starting price of RM2,299 with the Microsoft® Windows Operating System.

For more on the HP Mini, please visit http://www.hp.com.my/media/mini

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