The D300 family of machines also features support for the Trusted Platform Module providing security with high levels of data encryption. That feature will allow the new bare-bones system to be used in IT departments or large enterprises. The manufacturer says that the small bare-bones system is ideal for industrial control applications, smart traffic control systems, security and surveillance systems, commercial terminals, and other applications where a small compact size is desired.

The D300 computer measures 236 mm x 182 mm x 50 mm and features the Intel HM77 Express chipset. The machine supports Core i3, i5, and i7 processors with a TDP of no more than 35 watts. The computer system has two SO-DIMM slots for RAM supporting up to 16 GB of DDR3-1333/1600 RAM. The board used inside the machine also has a pair of mini-PCIe slots allowing the installation of additional peripherals.

The front panel of the computer features ports for a microphone and headphones, two USB 3.0 ports, and two serial COM ports. A version the machine is also available that lacks those COM ports. The back of machine has three additional audio connectors, a pair of Ethernet ports, four USB 2.0 ports, and the DVI, VGA, and HDMI connectivity. Pricing for the machines will depend on the package chosen and will be announced at a later date.

[via Giadatech]

Matrox is looking to solve that problem with its new TripleHead2Go Digital SE multi-monitor adapter. Using this, it will allow you to use a multi-monitor display supporting up to three DVI monitors even if your machine only has a single video out. Matrox says that TripleHead2Go – which is compatible with machines using DisplayPort, Mini DisplayPort, or a Thunderbolt port – works with a “wide range of GPUs” running on Windows or Mac computers, but didn’t get into specifics as far as what those GPUs actually are.

TripleHead2Go comes complete with Matrox PowerDesk, which boasts a number of features that give you more control over your multi-monitor setup. One of the features Matrox focuses on in its announcement is Bezel Management, which “compensates for the gap in an image resulting from the bezels of adjacent monitors.” Three monitors not enough for you? If you’re using a Windows PC, you can take advantage of Multi-GXM support and connect two TripleHead2Go adapters, allowing you to use up to 6 monitors at a time.

On Windows, TripleHead2Go is compatible with monitors running resolutions up to 1920×1080 at 50Hz, while on Mac, the highest you can go is 1360×768 at 60Hz. TripleHead2Go will be available sometime next month – Matrox didn’t give a specific release date – and will cost $279.00. In the US and Europe, these multi-monitor adapters will be available directly from Matrox, otherwise, you can find them at any certified Matrox seller.

The new video card is based on the Kepler architecture, which NVIDIA claims is the world’s fastest and most efficient GPU design. NVIDIA says that the K5000 is the most powerful professional-class GPU ever created for Macintosh users and the video card is aimed at designers and digital content creators. The GPU supports Cinema 4K resolution of 4096 x 2160.

The video card has a new display engine that is capable of driving up to four displays at the same time. The Quadro K5000 is equipped with 4 GB of graphic memory promising faster interactivity when using design and content creation applications. NVIDIA’s Kepler architecture promises to allow content creators to run key creation applications up to twice as fast and with lower power requirements than Fermi-based Quadro 4000 video cards for the Mac.

If a single Quadro K5000 isn’t enough power, the design of the video card supports two of the K5000 GPU’s in a single Mac Pro, sort of like SLI support for gamers. The GPU supports OpenGL, OpenCL, and CUDA. How much does all this power cost? The estimated retail price for the video card starts at $2249. Performance certainly has a price.

Amped Wireless claims that its UA1000 High Power Wireless-N 500mW Directional USB Adapter provides up to ten times the wireless output of standard wireless adapters. It has two high power 500mW amplifiers for increased transmit range, two low noise amplifiers for increased receiving capabilities, and a high gain 5dBi dual polarity, directional antenna for concentrated single direction WiFi signals.

The US2000 High Power Wireless-N Directional Dual Band USB Adapter delivers up to six times the wireless output power of standard adapters and operates in 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz modes. Its dual band technology avoids interference to ensure top speeds.

The adapters work with both PCs and Macs. The UA1000 is priced at $79.99, while the UA2000 is $99.99. Both are available now for pre-orders.

[via Engadget]

The Matias Tactile One Keyboard is built unlike other keyboards made today. Each of its keys use an individual Alps Mechanical Switch for better and faster typing with the feel of Apple’s legendary Extended and Extended II keyboards. The keys are also flat, wide, and sculpted to fit the curves of your fingertips.

And for those who type really fast and experience ghosting, such as when letters are missing from what you actually typed or additional ones show up, the Tactile One offers anti-ghosting circuitry or n-key rollover. This way you can type as fast as you’d like and the keyboard will keep up.

The Tactile One is powered through a USB cable, no need for batteries. It offers three USB 2.0 ports, although it doesn’t charge your iPhone. The keyboard comes in either a Mac or PC version for $199.95 with pre-orders starting now to ship in May.

After a hands-on with the peripheral, it seems very well built and I honestly wanted to walk out with one. Playing Modern Combat 3 on my phone would be so much better with a controller. They didn’t know if it was directly compatible with MC3, but gave us a list of many other popular titles, such as: Asphalt 5 HD, No Gravity, Silverfish, Zenonia, and 150+ more.

And just like many of the other wireless controllers already available, you can undock your device from the controller, hook it up via HDMI to your TV, and play games with a truly console-like feel. The only thing missing is a pair of built-in quality joysticks. Expect the controller to retail for approximately $60, and hit shelves before April of this year.

The app lets you connect to any number of Windows or Mac computers that have the free LogMeIn client installed. This can be good for troubleshooting a client’s computer, checking on download progress, or controlling a media center PC.

There’s also a LogMeIn Pro option that costs $12.20 a month that gives you added functionality, including access to your desktop computer’s complete file structure for transferring files to and from your iOS device, integrated cloud services like Dropbox and Google Docs, and a HD video streaming feature that works with Windows PCs.

If you’ve paid for the previous LogMeIn Ignition service then you’re automatically grandfathered in to get all the new Pro features for free. The app is available now at the iTunes App Store.

In preparation of all things digital, GameFly made a smart move this year in purchasing the download site Direct2Drive. What once started as a mail rental service, GameFly has expanded greatly in services offered. GameFly’s acquisition of Direct2Drive meant a joint library of titles as well as the ability to offer digital downloads. A joint library of titles means an expansion of GameFly’s current offerings, or more games! The spawn of this merger of catalogs is called Unlimited PC Play.

Today is the day PC users have been waiting for – the public beta of GameFly’s PC client has launched. GameFly members can download the new client and gain access to a selection of games free of charge. If you’re a fan of publishers like THQ, UbiSoft and Capcom, Unlimited PC Play may just be what you’re looking for to pass the time between dinner and opening presents this week. Although it still has some growing to do in terms of titles available, GameFly has gained a spot against big players like Steam and OnLive.

[via Kotaku]

Connectivity for the drive includes a USB 3.0 adapter and Firewire. The drive comes loaded with software for automatic, continuous backups with encryption for all the files. The drive also has an illuminated display that shows how much space is left on the GoFlex at a glance. The new GoFlex has the same modular interface design as the line has always had and new interfaces will be coming for things like Thunderbolt and others.

The GoFlex can also be used with a home interface to make the drive a network drive. Inside the case of the external HDD hides 3.5-inch standard HDDs. The drive is made to be used on either Mac or Windows machines. 4TB of storage is enough space for 2,000 HD movies and gobs of music or photos.

The LPC-125LPM has a VGA port, ExpressCard/34 slot, RS232 ports, an internal mini PCIe slot, and a partridge in a pear tree. It’s got a rough and tumble hard case surrounding it and comes standard with a few brackets so you can mount the device to your wall or right on to the back of your giant display. The LPC-125LPM also comes with a power interface which controls the system shutdown and startup when power to the device is interrupted. Lightening strikes, car crashes, and skateboard jumps. Mount this little guy anywhere.

What this device is meant for is machines that’ll be sitting in industrial settings, kiosks, big fabulous signs, and all manner of oddball machines that we the normal everyday consumer might never think of. Here’s my question for you – what would you use such a tiny computer for? Furthermore, what looks more appealing to you knowing the price, the design, and the abilities of both – the LPC-125LPM at $895, or the Apple Mac mini June 2011 refresh at $999? As a reminder, this price gets you the Mac mini with a 2.0GHz quad-core Core i7 inside, 4GB or RAM, and twin 500GB hard drives – plus Thunderbolt port and WiFi and what I’m certain is a design made to be out in the open instead of tucked away as the Stealth, as the name makes plain, is supposed to be.

You know which one I’d pick.

Choose wisely!

A decal set has turned up over on Etsy from a vendor called openandclose. The sticker set was specifically for a MacBook notebook and the stickers were printed to look like Lego blocks with the labels on them for the keyboard.

The label set was made using special material called Avery MPI. This is a cool way to get that geeky Lego style keyboard look without sacrificing usability. Apparently, there was only one set of these available, but perhaps you could talk the seller into offering more.

Magellan is a big name in the GPS market and the firm has announced a new GPS device specifically for geocache hunters called the eXplorist GC. The device has a built-in database of the most popular geocache locations around the world.

The eXplorist has special interfaces to make sorting the locations easy to do and promote a sense of community. The handset has logs and graphics like smiley faces and merit-based awards to show off. The device is powered by a pair of AA batteries and can run for 18 hours straight per set. It uses a SiRF starIII GPS chipset with 3-meter accuracy. The eXplorist GC will ship in April for $199.99.

The adapter is called the AT-DP400 dual link DVI to Mini DisplayPort Converter. The converter is USB powered and works with Mac or PC systems. The device is specifically designed to work with the 27-inch iMac computer with resolutions up to 2560 x 1440. The screen connected to the adapter can be used as a main display or have the desktop extended to it.

The adapter is HCDP compliant and it also supports the 2560 x 1600 resolution that 30-inch LCDs use. The adapter will also let PS3 and Xbox users connect the consoles to the iMac without additional hardware at a resolution of up to 720p. The adapter is up for pre-order for $199 and is expected to ship on March 10.

The Rebel9 Pro chassis is a midi ATX case with nine 5.25″ drive bays, six of which are external. It has top IO ports with a pair of USB, and single eSATA, mic and headphone ports. The case is drilled on the rear for water cooling and has an integrated cable management system. Optional cooling fans can be added to the front, side, back, and top of the case.

The Nightfall is also a midi ATX case with five external 5.25-inch drive bays, five internal 3.5-inch bays, and top IO connectivity. The front panel of the case is aluminum and the air inlet has blue LEDs for style. The chassis is drilled for water cooling and has integrated cable management as well.

PVR software is included with both products – Pinnacle TVCenter Pro 5 in the case of the PC tuner, and Elgato’s EyeTV Lite with the Mac tuner – as well as a telescopic TV antenna and mini remote control. A travel bag is also supplied.

An integrated signal booster will, according to Pinnacle, allow for high-quality viewing even in areas with weak signal. Both tuners are compatible with standard-definition content as well as HD, and the PC version is compatible with Vista Media Center.

Available from September 21st, the the PCTV HD mini Stick will be priced at $119.99 and the TV for Mac HD mini Stick at $129.99.

The X-Fi Go! has ” EAX Advanced HD 4.0 and OpenAL support for gaming, in addition to X-Fi’s 24-bit Crystallizer enhancement and CMSS-3D processing”. The USB 2.0 device also has 1GB of flash storage which comes pre-loaded with applications like WaveStudio and Alchemy.

The Creative X-Fi mobile sound card is available in Singapore, no word yet on US pricing or availability. The device sells for around $56 US in Singapore, so we can more than likely expect similar pricing in the states.

[via Electronista]

The drive is bundled with a USB cable and backup software.  This includes Intech Hard Disk SpeedTools Utilities for Mac OS 8.6-X, ProSoft Engineering Data Backup III for Mac OS v10.2.8 or later and NovaStor NovaBACKUP for Windows 2000 or later.  Prices are as follows:

• 500GB w/32MB Data Buffer, 7200RPM – $169.99
• 640GB w/32MB Data Buffer, 7200RPM – $189.99
• 1.0TB (1000GB) w/32MB Data Buffer, 7200RPM – $209.99
• 1.5TB (1500GB) w/64MB Data Buffer, 7200RPM – $319.99
• 2.0TB (2000GB) w/64MB Data Buffer, 5400RPM – $419.99
• 2.0TB (2000GB) w/64MB Data Buffer, 7200RPM – $439.99

Available now, each of the OWC Mercury Elite-AL Pro USB 2.0 Dual-Drive’s comes with a two-year warranty. They work with both PC and Mac systems.

The machines – called the Open Tech Home and Open Tech XT – will be priced at $620 and $1,200.  While the former has an Intel dual-core Pentium CPU, 3GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600 CT graphics and 500GB of storage, XT upgrades to an Intel Core 2 quad-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 graphics and a 640GB drive. 

According to an Open Tech Inc. representative who would only describe himself as being “on the legal team” and give his first name as Tom (citing concerns with “the ruthless sharks that are swimming around” in what looks likely to be a reference to the Apple/Psystar case), Apple’s EULA contains “conflict” between parts limiting what hardware (i.e. Apple only) the user can install OS X onto and what rights the user has “to modify a system for his personal use”.  In effect, the company is attempting to distance itself from the criteria of the case that Apple brought against Psystar; no mention of OS X or Apple is used on the Open Tech Inc. website, and they merely provide the capability to run OS X rather than install it for you.

However, even if the company succeeds in avoiding Apple’s legal team (which is still nowhere near assured), their desire for secrecy could nonetheless lead to trouble acquiring sales.  “Tom” refused to disclose whereabouts the company is located (its .tk domain is is hosted on a domain on the South Pacific island of Tokelau, and the WHOIS information ends at a Netherlands domain registration company) and there is only a single email address to contact them. 

[via ZDNet]

The card has hardware decoding of high-definition video.  ATI PowerPlay is built-in, which dynamically adjusts the 775MHz core GPU speed and card voltages to suit the usage environment, and like the rest of the HD 3800 series cards AMD are promising up to twice the processing performance-per-watt compared to earlier versions.

The ATI Radeon HD 3870 Mac & PC Edition uses a PCI Express 2.0 slot and should be available in late June at Apple retailers.  It’s expected to be priced at around $219.

[via Geekzone]

Yanes confirmed that the only difference expected between PCI Express 2.0 and 3.0 is with regards the electrical specifications.  The actual hardware itself will stay the same, with PCs using one socket and servers two. 

The 3.0 standard is not expected to be fully decided until late 2009, with testing scheduled for the second half of 2010.  Then, of course, manufacturers actually have to start using it.  Still, this is good news for anyone considering a big component upgrade over the next couple of years, but wanting their purchase to fit future motherboards.

Dell has been facing a declining market share, with arch rival HP overtaking it in general PC sales. The upcoming Inspiron refresh is expected to be the company’s push back for the lucrative notebook market, while Alienware is left free to explore the “edgy, maverick style that resonates with gamers.” According to the report, the gaming team is currently working on new Alienware case materials.

While arguably a niche range, gaming PCs punch above their weight in the computing world. Although richly priced, Dell credits their XPS and Alienware lines as shaping PC design trends and influencing mainstream buyers. Dell has given no indication of when the XPS Gaming Desktops range will be phased out.

[via Electronista]

The resemblance to an Apple Airport Extreme is not just skin deep; the Time Capsule is basically that 802.11n WiFi router with an added hard-drive. That means you get three gigabit LAN ports, one gigabit WAN port, a USB port and WiFi in a/b/g/n flavors. You can choose between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, which is useful if you already have a WiFi network you want to keep using: set the Time Capsule to 5GHz and while you lose out on backward compatibility with some WiFi devices, you won’t be plagued by interference. When we said the Time Capsule was just an Airport sharing casing space with a hard-drive, we weren’t quite accurate; Apple has packed the power brick in there too, meaning the power cable is just that, a cable.

Aside from the device itself and that cable, the typically-minimalistic box contains an installation disc (with software for both Mac and Windows) and the usual clutch of quickstart and warranty booklets. On the disc is the latest version of the Airport utility, v5.3, and a walk-through setup guide that manages to make installing a new router relatively straightforward. You can also choose to add the Time Capsule as a bridged device on an existing network, if you’re happy with your current router, or should you be replacing an Airport Extreme it’ll clone the old settings.

Windows users (for whom XP SP2 and Vista are catered for) get the short end of the stick: the Time Capsule shows up as another volume in the network folder, ready to have files copied across. You can add a password but that’s pretty much it. It’s when you use the Time Capsule with Leopard’s Time Machine app that things get clever; like the rest of us, Apple knows that it’s not enough to slap a chunk of storage down and expect people to religiously backup to it, you need to make things relatively automatic.

The updated software basically lets Time Machine work with the new, network-attached drive as if it were a local one. As with any fresh backup, the first time you run it takes an age as Time Machine copies everything across to the Time Capsule’s hard-drive. Gigabit is your best option here – we found it took roughly an hour to copy 10GB using the wired connection – as, despite the claimed speeds of 802.11n, it would definitely be an all-night operation carried out wirelessly. Of course, subsequent backups only transfer the changed data; Time Machine kicks in each hour (or sooner if you prod it manually) and squirts the altered files across to the Time Capsule’s storage.

In a sense, that could be the end of the review: Time Capsule sits quietly – there’s a low-noise fan in the base but things still get toasty warm – archiving your data until the fateful day you want to perform a restore. However people expect more from network-attached storage, and it’s here that the Apple device is less comprehensive.

As an all-in-one unit, upgrading the internal hard-drive isn’t really catered for. Yes, 500GB or 1TB should see you happy for a while, but if you’ve a few computers backing up to the Time Capsule the space will eventually dwindle. Thankfully the USB port can handle an external hard-drive, which shows up as a separate volume, and you can even plug in a USB hub and add a number of drives. We had no problem hooking up a USB hard-drive and a flash memory key; they were recognised on all the connected machines, both Mac and Windows. There’s no provision, though, for setting up an impromptu RAID array. You can’t mirror the internal hard-drive to an external one, nor can you address all the free space as a combined volume.

The USB port can also handle a printer, letting all networked computers send documents to the same machine. It’s not a print server, though, and we managed to cause it a few headaches by trying to simultaneously print from a number of computers: while dealing with one, the others bounced back with error messages about the printer not being ready, rather than being queued up. Really, asking the Time Capsule to share a printer is only sufficient for home use where print jobs are sporadic; it’s just plain inadequate in a busier environment.

Unlike many network-attached drives, the Time Capsule won’t act as a media server either. Apple TV units don’t recognise the storage, and although you can move your iTunes library onto it there’s no provision for multiple users to all access it at the same time. Hopefully both of these features could be introduced with a firmware update, as they’d turn the Time Capsule into a true media hub.

Anyone looking for something more for their money right now, though, could find better options elsewhere, whether they’re more interested in RAID redundancy, media servers or advanced drive management. The obvious alternative that comes to mind is Drobo, which has all three – however, it also has a $499 price tag (that’s what you’d pay for the 1TB Time Capsule; the 500GB version costs $299) and that’s before hard-drives or an ethernet interface. A better comparison is perhaps Buffalo’s LinkStation Pro Duo, the 1TB version of which you can currently pick up for around $300.

Shop around, then, and you’ll find similar, not as elegant as Drobo perhaps, but with some of the same functionality, and for the same price or cheaper than Apple are asking for the Time Capsule. The biggest clincher, though, is software support: right now, Time Machine won’t backup to any NAS but the Time Capsule, and despite the hardware being basically the same as that of the Airport Extreme, it won’t see a USB drive plugged into that either. Apple earns a big black mark for that one.

Have Apple failed to sprinkle their magic across backup, then? No, not at all: if you’re a Mac user who is less than organized when it comes to data management, Time Capsule could be ideal. It’s very much a set-and-forget solution, with straightforward setup and the reassurance of Time Machine making sure you never lose your files. Advanced users may sneer, but for the legion of Mac owners who up until now have never bothered backing-up, Time Capsule could be just the medicine.

[rating:3.5/5]

Unboxing video

The hardware is unaltered from when I last reviewed the Linutop, so you still get an all-aluminium case measuring 3.66 x 1.06 x 5.9-inches and weighing just 9.9oz (280g), containing an AMD Geode LX700 processor, non-upgradable 256MB of RAM, 4 USB 2.0 ports, VGA-out, 10/100 ethernet and audio in/out. Aside from the RAM, there’s no internal memory; instead, Linutop provide a 1GB USB memory stick containing the modified Xubuntu OS, preinstalled software and room for your own files. What’s been fettled, then, is the software: Linutop quote boot time has been halved, improved media playback including digital TV capabilities added (via online stream or a hardware DVB-T dongle), PXE boot (simply add a single line to the startup config file to boot from the network) and more.

If you’ve read my original reviewthen you’ll know that boot time was a significant issue for the Linutop: it took around two minutes, and there were no ‘sleep’ or ‘standby’ options to avoid that. Thankfully whatever OS changes have been made have almost halved that; v1.2 takes around 1m6s from plugging in the power (there’s no switch, you have to yank the power cord) to the desktop being ready to use. Not exactly instant-on, but far more comparable to the sort of low-end systems users may be used to. You’re still presented with the settings screen, but now there’s more choice in display resolution, including catering for widescreen displays, and this time changing resolution and keyboard layout (then restarting) worked as it should. Similarly, running multiple programmes or switching between settings is quicker and seems to stall the CPU far less than when I tried it last. There’s a pause loading programmes, yes, but only a minor one and well within expectations.

Firefox, the Gaim instant-messenger and AbiWord word processor are still preinstalled, but they’re joined by the VLC media player which can handle just about any media format thrown at it. Video can be played full-screen, another improvement in v1.2, and you’re able to stream video and audio files from external storage, Web TV or shared Windows folders across the network. The Linutop is also compatible with Skype, although – I’m told for reasons of keeping down size – it’s not preinstalled; you need to download the installation script from the Linutop Wiki yourself. Straightforward, yes, but you’ll only know about it if you visit the Linutop blog. There’s a useful readme file stored on the USB key that outlines DVB-T use, network boot, system recovery and more, but again no link to it – it really needs to show up on the desktop, or even better automatically open when you boot the Linutop for the first time.

Without it, you’d easily be at a loss as to how to access the digital TV functionality, which would be a shame because it works relatively well despite the system’s Spartan specs. There’s no dedicated software; just plug in the USB tuner (Linutop supplied me with a Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T, complete with tiny aerial) and type ‘scandvbt’ in a Terminal window. You need to tell it your country and then, confusingly, identify your nearest regional broadcast tower (for which I had to look online), but after that it automatically scans the available channels and loads them as a playlist into VLC. You can then reorder and delete them, but you have to remember to save the playlist before exiting as the software won’t do it automatically.

Like all TV tuners, your mileage will vary more with signal quality than anything else; needless to say, when supplied with a reasonable signal (through an installed aerial rather than the portable one included) the Linutop managed both window and full-screen playback with no problems. One issue with the lack of dedicated software is the absence of a signal-strength gauge; there’s no way of telling whether moving the portable aerial around would have a beneficial effect on image quality. I tried using a Freecom USB tuner but the Linutop would not recognise it; there is a scant list of compatible hardware on the project Wiki.

With VGA-out the only way of connecting a display, you’re limited if you want to hook the Linutop up to a TV or other large display. It’s a shame, because it would make a compact and functional alternative to a normal DVB set-top box. When I asked Linutop about this, they pointed out that most flat-panel displays have VGA among their connections and as such they’ve no plans to add S-Video or similar. However, I was told that HDMI “could be interesting” as a future development. There has also been some interest in the PVR community as to using it as a MythTV frontend, although consensus is that the hardware would only support standard rather than high-definition media. There’s no option to record DVB-T TV directly on the Linutop.

Of course, the home market is only one area Linutop are aiming at; the silent, low-power (no more than 5-6W) device is ideal for digital signage and presentations. There are new options for looped webpages, photo presentations and Flash, and you can set these to automatically run on boot so as to minimise user involvement.

Documentation remains a thorny issue; the Linutop Wiki remains the first signposted port of call, but it lacks the sort of “new user” information so necessary when dealing with an unfamiliar OS. The same NAS problem I experienced in May remains – searching the Wiki results in no guidance, the readme file details accessing Windows shares on other PCs but didn’t work for my LaCie NAS, the Xfce desktop environment support didn’t help and I was again left to the mercy of Googling for answers. Is it too much to ask for a simple “type in your username & password” script to make common setup issues like these straightforward? My request from last time still stands: a few bookmarks to basic Linux tutorials would go a long way in rescuing new users. Linutop tell me that they’re in the process of re-examining their Linux documentation to better cater for those new to the platform, but that they also prize the fact that the OS implemented is “standard” so as not to require changes from more adept users familiar with Xubuntu.

Despite all that, the upgrade to v1.2 is a significant one, and it certainly broadens the Linutop’s scope as a home PC. It’s interesting to look at the state of competition; in my initial review I compared the Linutop to a cheaper Dell Dimension desktop which far exceeded the former’s specs (albeit consuming many times the power even when idle), and the past few months have seen ASUS release it’s Linux-based Eee laptop. Although ostensibly aimed at significantly different markets, the Linutop and the Eee could both be viewed as basic home computers and here the Eee laptop (priced from $299) could edge ahead with what’s supposedly a particularly user-friendly GUI and battery-of course its battery-powered portability. When I put this to Linutop they confirmed that their target is more professional than home, and it’s true that in school, library and business settings the Linutop undoubtedly makes more sense than the Eee. It’s smaller and likely more robust, consumes less power and – most importantly – has access to the UBUNTU software library.

Would I still recommend the Linutop for a home user? Again, it’s a qualified yes. Just as some are buying an ASUS Eee as a second machine for when their kids are wanting to go online but the main PC is occupied, the Linutop makes for a great, low-maintenance system that, out of the box, can quickly get up and running. It’s also a decent Linux learning platform, with the backup that most mistakes can be erased with a simple restore of the USB stick (which you can do from an optional boot menu on restart). For a home looking for their first computer, I’d still lean toward a full, traditional PC, if only for the flexibility it brings, but anyone else – particularly business or library/public service users – should certainly consider Linutop’s offering.

Thanks to Linutop for the loan of the unit; it’s available now for €280, while the v1.2 OS can be downloaded from the site by existing owners.

[rating:3.5]

Spec-wise the Zonbox edges out the Linutop, with more USB ports, 4GB of in-built storage and double the RAM.  That should get rid of some of the pregnant pauses while the low-power CPU churns, which marred my experience; sure enough, ArsGeek found it relatively painless.

The online storage is a bone of contention for many – after owning the Zonbox for two years you’ll have paid around $410 when you take into account the subscription charges (or $377 + tax + shipping for the Linutop).  That compares poorly with, say, a basic Dell desktop PC that can be picked up for $359.  As ArsGeek says, though, the security of an encrypted, off-site and – most importantly – automatic backup probably makes the Zonbox more useful for tech-shy home users.

If you find yourself pressed into tech admin duty every holiday or visit to the parents, it’s well worth a read of the Zonbox and Linutop reviews to see if a more basic product might serve your family better.

The Zonbox [ArsGeek]

Running at 2.13GHz, the low-power Core 2 Duo is coupled with 4MB of level 2 cache and 512MB GeForce 7650 GS graphics card, together with 1GB of RAM and a 500GB hard-drive.  Packed into that encyclopedia-sized casing is also a DVD rewriter and of course Vista (in this case Home Premium), all for $1,392 over in lucky Korea.

LG [via Electronista]

The reason, of course, is that Linutop (the company) suggest that Linutop (the computer) is an ideal replacement for the noisy, power-hungry PC that sits in libraries, offices and homes and is rarely used for anything more strenuous than surfing the web, tapping out emails and scribing the occasional letter. In such a case, rather than toddling off to any of the “pile ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap” manufacturers how much better would it be to have a small, simple, light, silent and energy-frugal alternative.

Inside the box – which is frugal brown cardboard with no logos and nothing to make it photogenic – sits the Linutop itself, a 1GB Kingston DataTraveler thumb-drive with the OS preinstalled and a Europlug wall-wart. Inside the Linutop things are a little more interesting: an AMD Geode LX700 with scant 256MB of RAM, as well as four USB 2.0 ports, headphone and microphone sockets, 10/100 ethernet, VGA and a socket for the DC power supply. The casing measures a dinky 9.3 x 2.7 x 15 cm and weighs just 280g, and is reassuringly all metal.

There are no printed instructions, and I’m not sure if that’s the general user experience or just my review unit. However, on the base of the device there are pictures indicating which devices plug in where; I’m no Linux geek but I do recognise a VGA socket when I see one! To emulate the average home user I plugged in the power (there’s no switch) without the USB stick plugged in; after a hardware BIOS check it forlornly sat telling me there was no OS. A restart (requiring the power to be yanked out) with the stick in place and we got further.

Well, further, yes, but slowly. Booting up took an age, close to two minutes before the desktop appeared, and with no standby or hibernate options apparent the choice would be to leave the Linutop switched on or suffer the molasses each time it was switched on.

The desktop – and yes, I know I’ll be lambasted for saying it – was Windows-like enough to make a straying Microsoftie feel vaguely comfortable, and the first window I was faced with offered the chance to pick settings for language, time zone and similar. Screen resolution is offered as a choice between that suitable for displays either bigger or smaller than 17-inches, and requires a restart to switch between. This, unfortunately, caused my first confusion: on restarting, the keyboard layout had mysteriously switched to AZERTY and I could find no straightforward way to change it back. In the end I plugged the thumb drive into the nearest PC and restored the default settings file from its backup folder as explained in the “Readme”; it would’ve been sensible to have a link to that explanation on the desktop.

Setup troubles aside, in use the Linutop is pleasantly simplistic. Firefox, GAIM instant messaging and the Abiword word processor are preloaded, satisfying each of the three usual tasks for casual users, and individually they start quickly. Problems occur when changing settings or running multiple programmes; sometimes the system freezes as it’s tiny processor busies itself, and yet with no hard-drive activity light or visual indication of what’s happening you’re left wondering if the system has crashed. To be fair, though, aside from that one keyboard switch the Linutop remained stable throughout.

For general use, then, there was little to make me wish for a traditional PC. I was able to surf, log in to my online email, listen to music loaded onto the thumb-drive and generally use the Linutop as “normal”. Trying to step outside that, however, proved trickier. Like increasing numbers of people, I’ve an external hard-drive hooked up to the network, and I wanted to access it and the media stored on it and perhaps even try network booting (i.e. run the Linutop without the thumb drive plugged in, with the OS on the remote storage).

All of a sudden I had a new found appreciation for Windows Explorer. I could find no simple option on the Linutop to map a network drive, and while I could access the NAS via its web interface and ftp that was less than ideal. Buoyed with the enthusiasm of the soon-to-be-educated I ventured online to find out what (presumably straightforward) commands might show me just how silly I was to have such trouble; half an hour later, royally confused, I gave up.

Herein lies my problem with the Linutop. At basic tasks, those installed and ready, it’s dandy. My tech-bored test subject used it without trouble and I’ve no doubt that there are Linux lovers out there foaming slightly at the mouth at the thought of a new toy to tinker with. For everyone else, however, the learning process is not so much a curve as a step; the lack of documentation, guidance or even a few helpful links to basic Linux tutorials meant I was left on my own to figure it out (or not). It gave me a sense of what it must be like for those people new to computers, and a new found empathy for their fear of breaking something and not knowing where to turn first.

These are very specific worries of course. If you’re a business with a Linux-savvy engineer then I can see the Linutop being a fantastic alternative to bulky, noisy and heat-generating PCs. Similarly, libraries and schools would probably jump at the chance to have such a resilient hardware platform, and given Linutop’s latest package deals (containing eight units) that’s obviously the market they’re catering for. I admire the green angle, too, with each device sucking up under 6 watts; considering the number of PCs that are left on continuously that could add up to a big environmental – and cost – saving.

Treating the test as a home user, though, and the outlook is not so rosy. Yes, given more time than permitted for review purposes I could have experimented further with Linux and probably taught myself at least the basics, but then I could do that with a free download of the OS and a spare CD, memory stick or hard-drive partition. At €280 plus VAT and shipping ($377 + tax + air freight for the US) it looks undeniably expensive when Dell will sell you a similarly screenless Dimension desktop for $359, which comes with a 160GB hard-drive and Vista.

It’ll be interesting, too, to see how it compares to Zonbu’s Linux PC, which is similarly fanless but relies on a subscription to Amazon’s S3 remote-storage service. That undercuts the Linutop, at just $99 if you take out a $13 to $20 monthly package, but in two years the cost of the devices will work out to about the same.

I’m really looking forward to see what the tinkering community comes up with using the Linutop, and while I might sound negative I think there’s definitely a market for the device. Displays, car PCs, office environments and anywhere low maintenance and simplicity are prized will prove ideal stomping grounds for the little silver box. It’s just a shame that the home market looks to be too hotly competitive for Linutop to stand out.

Many thanks to Linutop for the loan of the unit. It’s available now with worldwide shipping.

[rating:3]

The great news is that the Linutop is now shipping, priced at around £230 including tax and EU shipping ($444).  With a current draw of only 6W and that compact size, I can think of plenty of uses either around the home or office, or in the car.

Linutop [via Automated Home]

The company will also plant trees for each unit sold, buying into the latest eco-wheeze “carbon offsetting”, and use a European construction facility to reduce transportation effects.  Rob at Paperless Undergrad shocks economists and marketers everywhere by saying “bring it on” to the price increases potentially necessary to bring all this about, while ZDNet concern themselves with those naysayers who criticise the choice of Windows Vista quoting its appetite for power.

Frankly, while it might be even better to have a bring-your-own-OS system or something running an electricity-conscious Linux OS variant, at the end of the day you can’t really fault PC World’s decision.  To not provide what will inevitably be the Next Big Thing in software environments would basically slice it out of the running for the general public wandering the aisles.  The tech-minded might be willing – happy, even – to tussle with Linux, but this is a mainstream retailer and you can bet they sell a whole lot more PCs to people who wouldn’t have a clue what to do if the familiar Start button wasn’t in the bottom left corner.

So part kudos, part critique – I can’t help but imagine this being one “good egg” among a sea of other machines, however, and it’ll take some pushing by PC World and their (often woeful) staff to highlight the green choice.

PC World

A bit of a bloater in comparison, Samsung unveiled the DM-Z10/180.  Now at 55mm thick it’s a full 25% broader than the Little LLUON, but we’ll overlook that in favour of its adapted Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor, 1GB of RAM and 250GB, 3.5-inch SATA hard-drive. 

More photos of these petite powerhouses after the cut.

TG Little LLUON and Samsung DM-Z10/180 [AVING]

[via Gamers.com]

To be announced soon, the first 24-inch desktop LCD that will sport HDMI compatibility. BenQ FP241W will be HD ready with resolution of 1920 X 1200, and amazing contrast ratio of 1000:1 and brightness ration of 500cd/m2. I can’t wait until it arrive to North America!

BenQ press release (in Japanese)

We’ve seen how the Macbook’s excessive heat can be used to cook your breakfast (which isn’t a good sign as far as computers go). But is Apple’s little gem alone with this heat issue, or are other Core Duo-based notebooks running just as hot as Apple’s well-publicized stove computer. Brian Krische wanted to know, so he put a Macbook and a Dell Laititude D620 to the test to see which laptop will scold your lap faster.

Using The Hills Have Eyes UNRATED as his test DVD and keeping his room at a steady 75 degrees F, Krische ran a number of tests to see how the two machines stacked-up to each other. After booting, the Macbook had a slight lead with an average 77.7 degree temperature, compared to the Latitude’s 77 degrees. By the end of the movie, however, the Macbook was noticably hotter than the Latitude, with an average temperature of 91.625 degrees on the top and 100.525 degrees on the bottom. By comparison, the Latitude’s temperature was 89.8 degrees on the top and 99 degrees on the bottom.

Part of the extra heat generated by the Macbooks can be attributed to the lack of cooling fans, which the Latitude does have. Even without cooling fans, that Macbook was only a few degrees higher, on average, than the Latitude, which means that the Core Duo’s heat could just be a side-effect of using that particular processor. While it won’t help your burned lap any, it’s comforting for Macbook users worldwide to know that they aren’t alone in this.

Krische onLine [via Gizmodo]

Well, it looks like it’s time to start drooling. Intel’s mobile Core 2 Duos (codenamed Merom) could be launching alongside their desktop brethren when the Conroe chips become available on July 23rd. Merom had originally been scheduled to debut in August, with general availability occuring at the end of that month. However, this new schedule means that we could easily see Merom chips ship by mid-August, getting the processors to consumers faster than anticipated.

The first set of Merom processors will be drop-in compatible with the “Yonah” Core Duo chips, meaning that you can simply replace the Yonah processor with a Merom one and, at most, you might need a BIOS update. These initial Merom processors will feature a 667 MHz front-side bus and clock in at either 1.66GHz, 1.8GHz (these two will feature 2 MB of L2 cache), 2.0GHz, 2.16GHz, and 2.33 GHz (these three will feature 4 MB of L2 cache). Prices for the new chips will run anywhere from $209-$637 (in lots of 1000, meaning that consumers will end up paying more), and the price of “Yonah” Core Duos should lower come September. So, get ready world; the Core 2 Duo is here.

[via Apple Insider]

If you’ve ever had a computer of yours used when you’re not around, you might want to take a look at this nifty little gadget. This two-piece USB Wireless PC Lock activates anytime you move out of range of your computer; the large USB section hooks up to your machine while the smaller tramsmitter is kept in your pocket. Once out of range, the receiver locks your computer until you return within 2 meters of the receiver or until you unlock the machine with your password. Either way, it’s a good way to keep those nosey co-workers away from your work.

Product Page [via Coolest Gadgets]

In keeping with our ever-expanding coverage on the future of Apple’s little music player, speculation has arisen (in the form of yet-another patent filing) that the next-generation Apple music machines will speak to you, announcing the song’s title and artist in a variety of celebrity voices. While it’s sort of creepy to consider having your iPod talk to you (is it really so difficult to just look at the song title, people?), this might be a great step forward in allowing iPods to be used by vision-impaired customers who can’t read the text on the iPod’s admittedly tiny screen.

The fact that the speech wouldn’t be performed by monosyllabic computer voice makes the feature more appealing overall. Apple is, apparently, going to some lengths to get celebrities on-board to lend their voices to the new concept, and Apple themselves is working on a system to mold these voices to speak any song title you can throw at them (though foreign-language tracks should prove to be most amusing to listen to). The actual processing is done on your PC/Mac by iTunes, where these new speech tracks are processed and loaded onto your iPod as audio tracks, which makes me wonder how much music space will you lose for these speech tracks to exist. Still, it’d be awesome to hear Darth Vader announce you death metal collection, wouldn’t it?

[via Gizmodo]