Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Nokia 6255i Cell Phone

Nokia continues to provide a high quality and much desired product in their cell phone offerings and their 6255i flip top model does not disappoint. If you want a cell phone that is lightweight, attractive, and comes with scads of features, then this baby is for you.

Amongst flip phones, the Nokia 6255i is certain to be noticed by cell phone afficionados. No bare bones model, the 6255i comes loaded with the following standard features:
# Camera with flash and digital zoom

# Video recorder

# Streaming audio and video

# MP3 player

# Bluetooth wireless connectivity

# Voice dialing


Oh, yeah, the 6255i can also be successfully used to talk with someone too! This is almost an afterthought when you consider its terrific features.

Because of its popularity, no less than twelve service providers have signed on to sell this 4.4 oz wonder. Therefore, your choices of carriers are excellent; shop around and compare the best plans.

I have seen the 6255i offered for as low as $49 after rebates when a two year plan is purchased. Not bad when you consider that the model retails for as much as $299 when purchased separately. You may be able to find an even better offer when shopping online.

Other leading Nokia flip top models worth a look include the 6170 featuring a camera, video, and voice capabilities; and the 7270 featuring GSM capabilities. In all, Nokia remains a formidable competitor in the ever growing cell phone marketplace and the 6255i is a strong entrant.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Nokia-6255i-Cell-Phone/6508

Panasonic 42 Plasma Tv Th-42pwd7uy Reviewed

The Panasonic 42 plasma TV TH-42PWD7UY has the best gradation in the industry as well as superior contrast. This Panasonic 42 plasma TV screen is long-lasting compared to other tvs. Consumers are able to get an excellent picture without the use of hdtv.

The TH-42PWD7UY is reviewed as one of the top in the market. The picture quality is well worth the money spent. Because it is an industrial line model it doesn't come with a speaker or a remote. It might be complicated for beginners to understand the hook ups of this Panasonic 42 plasma TV. You'll get an amazing picture and top quality, but newbie's may want help to install it.

Beginners you may easily want to have the store set it up for you. Most retailers will do this. In conclusion this Panasonic plasma TV will give you the best for your money. The special features on this model are advanced beyond the average features offered. This is a tv that performs above the rest.



http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Panasonic-42-Plasma-TV-TH-42PWD7UY-Reviewed/5223

3 Hot Selling Notebook Computers

The laptop market is an overcrowded field with literally hundreds of offerings available to consumers. Some laptops are very basic models with Celeron processors while others are full blown multimedia powerhouses. Featured here are three top models from the “plain Jane” to the middle of the road, to the fully loaded.

Dell Inspiron 1200 – It is possible to purchase a notebook computer for considerably less than $1000 and Dell offers several models below this threshold including the Inspiron 1200. This particular model is the price leader amongst laptops especially when rebates are figured in. A recent Dell advertisement has been touting the Inspiron 1200 for just $499 after a $150For rebate is received. What do you get with this model? Not a whole lot: an Intel Celeron M Processor 350 (1.30 GHz/1MB Cache/400MHz FSB); Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition; 30GB Ultra ATA Hard Drive; and 24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive. Surprisingly, Dell does include wireless capabilities in the form of a networking card.
HP Compaq nx9600 Notebook – HP’s acquisition of Compaq has produced a nice line up of notebook computers including this particular model geared toward those consumers replacing their desktop computer. Retailing at just over $1300 [before $100 rebate] this midrange offering is nicely loaded as it offers a 17" screen; Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition; an Intel Pentium 4 Processor with Hyper-Threading Technology; a 40 GB hard drive; a 12 cell battery; wireless connectivity; and graphics oriented software.

Sony VAIO FS675P/H Notebookspacer – The Sony Vaio name is typically associated with high performing, high priced offerings. The VAIO® FS675P/H Notebookspacer fits the bill as this workhorse retails at just under $2000. Chief features of this model are: an Intel Pentium M Processor 750 (1.86 Ghz); Microsoft Windows XP Professional; DVD+R Double Layer/DVD+-RW; 1GB RAM; and a 100GB hard drive. The screen is 15.4" Widescreen5 LCD with XBRITE™ Technology and all of Sony’s top digital software for photography, video and audio are included as standard equipment.

All three models attract different types of consumers, but each model is a standout in its respective class. Consumers are the winner when it comes to shopping for a laptop as prices continue to drop, new features are added, and technology improves with every new model marketed.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/3-Hot-Selling-Notebook-Computers/4381

Dell Inspiron 600m Notebook Computer

After twelve years of owning desktop computers, I finally opted for a laptop so I would no longer be chained to my desk. After months of research and weighing various makes and models, I settled on the Dell Inspiron 600m Notebook Computer. This particular model has exceeded all of my expectations and at a price that is hundreds of dollars lower than many competing brands.

For several months I agonized over my next computer purchase. I knew I needed to be more mobile and only a notebook computer would permit me to take my "show on the road." Still, the decision making process was not easy as the number of different makes and models out there is mind boggling. Ultimately, I settled on a Dell in part because of previous good experience with the company as well as affordability of their product line.
The model I chose was the Inspiron 600m. As with almost everything that Dell builds, it is a "new" model; at least the 600m designation is. That is one of the confusing things about Dell and some other manufacturers: every month Dell introduces new models and you need a scorecard to compare one model with all the others. Fortunately, Dell's website allows you to do just that.

Key features of the Inspiron 600m include:

Lightweight: Just over five pounds.

Mobile Centrino Technology is standard.

14.1 inch screen

Pentium M 725 Processor

24X CD Burner/DVD Combo Drive

256MB DDR SDRAM 1 Dimm Memory

Wireless Network Card

Extended Battery

Microsoft Windows XP Home Addition

WordPerfect Productivity Pack

I kept my computer fairly basic but I did opt for the latest version of Norton Security, a surge protected cable, a wirless router, and a wireless mouse. I selected the wireless mouse as I thought the keyboard's mouse would be difficult to use. After two days I quit using the wireless mouse as I quickly got used to the built in one.

The screen is bright and the keyboard is solid. The mouse keys, however are noisy, almost clunky; you wonder if Dell could have used a quieter spring for each key.

The battery lasts at least four hours without recharging and when I do need to recharge I can go from nearly dead to fully charged in less than one hour.

For the price -- I paid just over $1100. for everything including shipping and local taxes -- the Dell cannot be beat. I haven't had to call customer service yet, so I cannot comment on that although in years past your call would be routed to a technician in India. This model comes with a standard one year limited warranty; I avoided a later sales pitch over the phone to get a three year warranty. Their top of the line warranty sends a technician to your house to fix your computer, so it can be option for those of you who do not want to ship -- and thereby lose the use of -- your computer back to Dell for repairs.

You will find the Inspiron 600m to be adequate for standard business work. Check out their myriad of other models if you do plenty of graphic design or if you need a larger screen. I am happy with the 14.1 screen, but you may prefer their 17" model.


http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Dell-Inspiron-600m-Notebook-Computer/4370

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Linsksys CIT310 Yahoo Phone

Yahoo hasn’t made as large of an impact on the world of VoIP as Skype or Vonage has, but that doesn’t mean it did not try to leave its mark. Using the popular Yahoo! Messenger service one can get pretty simple VoIP service that is also pretty cheap. However, if you don’t have a phone that works with the system you are limited to a microphone and speakers or a headset in terms of actually talking on the phone using the service.

That is where the Linksys CIT310 Yahoo Phone comes into play. It is the only official phone on the market that is designed to work in sync with Yahoo’s internet phone service. And it works with it very well. Installation is pretty simple: it plugs in through a USB port and there are minimal amounts of software you will need to install in order to get the phone to work.

Once it is installed, the Linksys CIT310 phone connects directly with your Yahoo Messenger. You can, for example, see when your friends are online through the handset on the phone (it is cordless, of course), you can set your online status, check the weather and use the Yahoo! yellow pages functionality (meaning you can search for businesses in your area right from the handset).

Calls made over the Linksys CIT310 are crystal-clear, much higher quality than you would get from a headset using the Yahoo! phone services. Unfortunately this clarity somewhat depends on your Internet connection, you’ll definitely need a high quality high-speed internet set-up (DSL, Cable, etc.) in order to use the phone properly. You pretty much need to keep the Internet connection clear, though, no major downloading or anything else heavy on the network going on when you are using the phone.

The handset on the Linksys CIT310 Yahoo phone is pretty powerful in terms of range. The range goes up to 100 feet and offers the same crystal clear clarity all the way for those 100 feet. Walls and buildings can cut up the range a little bit, but for the most part this badboy will go just about anywhere you want to go; it is a lot more powerful than many normal cordless phones.

In fact, the Linksys CIT310 not only has compatibility with Yahoo Messenger phone services, it also works as a cordless phone all of its own. It is a dual-mode phone, meaning that it can work not only through Yahoo Messenger but also just by plugging it into your phoneline.

At about 80 dollars the phone is a little bit expensive, but it offers plenty of functionality for the price. Especially since the Yahoo phone system it works with it pretty cheap: you can get your own phone number through Yahoo Messenger for a minimal $3.00 a month, and long distance services are only $0.02 for anywhere in the US, cheaper to some countries (like Canada, only $0.01 a minute). It is a powerful system and very portable, if you want to use Yahoo phone services the Linksys CIT310 Yahoo phone is an excellent addition.


http://www.nceita.org/linsksys-cit310-yahoo-phone.html

Microsoft Zune Review

Microsoft would badly like to take away Apple’s title as king of the MP3 player world, and the Microsoft Zune is their attempt to take the crown for itself. This is their first foray into the world of MP3 players, and only time will tell if the Zune line of products will one day be able to one day take the top spot.

The Zune offers an impressive 30 GB hard drive, meaning you can fit a whole lot of media on there. It’s got a decent sized 3 inch screen, good for both pictures as well as video. The graphical UI is pretty simple and straight forward, as well as nice to look at, so there isn’t too much of a learning curve when you first pick up a Zune and start playing all sorts of music and videos, as well as looking at your pictures.

It definitely looks pretty stylish and comes in three colors: black, white and brown. Nothing too terribly fancy but definitely appealing to the eye. This is all done in a package that isn’t too large and isn’t too small, it’s a pretty nice fit, actually. It is a bit bigger than a similarly sized iPod, but oh well.

Like the iPod the Zune comes with its own online store: the Zune Marketplace. Here you can buy all the music that you want and put it into place on your handy dandy Microsoft Zune. It runs following a set-up similar to Napster and other online music stores, part of the problem is, though, that currently there are no movies for sale through the Zune Marketplace, you can only buy music.

Another problem with the Zune is the fact that it isn’t backwards compatible with Windows Media Audio (WMA). Basically it only works with WMA-DRM 9.1 and up files; if you’ve got WMA-DRM 9.0 or less, well, it isn’t going to work with the Microsoft Zune. Even a bigger slap in the face is the fact that it doesn’t WMV files for movies. Considering that this is the official video format for the Windows Media Player and other Microsoft products, this really doesn’t make any sense to me. Since WMV is known for being able to produce high quality video playback in a smaller size than, say, the MP4, this is a real let down.

One of the highlights of the Microsoft Zune is its wi-fi compatibility. This makes it very simple to share files between two Zune players. Of course, both people have to have the Zune in order to do this wi-fi sharing, which means you’ll have to hope you have friends who also use the Zune to share. The shared files also have limited playback; you can only play them every so often.

At $250 the Microsoft Zune isn’t too badly priced, and it is pretty easy to use. The biggest drawback is definitely its playback support; it only supports some files and there are a lot of major file formats that can’t be played, particularly when it comes to video files.


http://www.nceita.org/microsoft-zune-review.html

Sony Playstation 3 Review

Ever since the launch of the original Sony Playstation all the way back in 1996 Sony has been a force to reckon with in the world of console games. The Playstation 2 only served to solidify its base as the premier gaming console out there. Now the Playstation 3 is the newest Playstation on the market.

The Sony Playstation 3 certainly has a lot to offer. It’s got a beautiful and slick design that makes it very attractive sitting there in your media center. It can both lie horizontally and stand up vertically, making it easier to fit in wherever you need it than ever. Just based on looks it is certainly a nice piece of technology.

Add to that excellent design plenty of functionality. It comes in two versions; one has a 30 GB hard drive and the other has a 60 GB hard drive, more than you are going to get on many notebook computers. That’s a lot of storage punch and definitely one of the highlights of the Sony Playstation 3.

Just as the Sony Playstation 2 was backwards compatible with Playstation One games, so is the Playstation 3 backwards compatible with both Playstation 2 and Playstation One games. This is really nice, no having to get rid of all your old games because they won’t work with your new console: they work perfectly with your console, no problem whatsoever.

Sony is of course behind the new Blu Ray technology which is hoping to win as the next generation of digital video technology (its main competitor is the HD-DVD), and the Sony Playstation 3 can play Blu Ray disks. Don’t worry, though, it is also backwards compatible with old school DVDs. In fact, hoping to boost sales of the new PS3 Sony is offering 5 free Blu Ray movies with the purchase of a Sony Playstation 3 these days.

The Sony Playstation 3 boasts unbelievable graphics, it also boasts excellent online play through the Playstation Network that is also 100% free. That means you can play games with other players with absolutely no cost, unlike some other major consoles out there. The online system is also built into the console; no need for any additional components.

There are a couple of problems with the system. For one thing, the controller doesn’t have any rumble capability (something which has been around since the PSOne). This problem will most likely be fixed, but it is somewhat of an annoyance if you are used to the rumble functionality. It uses BlueTooth technology for the remote, which is good, but it has no infrared port on the device, meaning that you can’t use a traditional universal remote for DVD watching; it has to be BlueTooth. These are a bit more expensive and this is a drawback for the PS3.

The biggest single drawback to the Sony Playstation 3 is definitely the price. It is the most expensive console by far on the market, and the games available on it still don’t set it apart from the pack compared to, say, the X-Box 360 or the Nintendo Wii. However the underlying technology is incredibly powerful and sophisticated, so there is definitely room for the games available to improve.


http://www.nceita.org/sony-playstation-3-review.html