Laptop Review: Lenovo IdeaPad U260

Looks are everything

Laptop Review: Lenovo IdeaPad U260

THE Lenovo IdeaPad U260 is for those who appreciate beauty rather than brawn.

At first glance, the U260 seems like it could pose a challenge to Apple's MacBook Air. It felt really light in my hands, weighing in at just 1.35kg, and fit perfectly in a small bag.

I was afraid its petite nature would affect the display, but found the size of the screen just nice - you won't have to squint while reading. The high-definition (HD) screen has decent colour contrast, while its matte display effectively reduces glare even when used in bright areas.

Adding to the feeling of a classy package is its minimalist but appealing design, with nice touches in its magnesium-aluminium body and leather palm rest. It looks like Lenovo was going all the way when designing this one.

Not that it's just about the looks. The U260 is more than capable of handling most tasks, with the processor running quite fast without noticeable lag during testing, and never getting particularly hot to the touch.

The glass touch pad is responsive and smooth, and large enough to support the multi-touch functions. The "island-style" keyboard - like a Mac, with each key separate - is wonderfully tactile.

Still, the U260 does have its drawbacks. It seems that in following the design of the MacBook Air, Lenovo's offering also incurs similar drawbacks, such as its unreachable, irreplaceable battery. It doesn't help that the battery only lasts for about three-and-a-half hours.

It is also rather surprising that the laptop only comes with two USB ports instead of three when it clearly has the space for it. Neither does it have an SD card slot - a pain if you take a lot of photos.

On the whole, while it might leave hardcore gamers and other heavy users underwhelmed, it is a good catch for most typical users. And a very pretty one at that. Hazwan Norly



- Runs on Windows 7

- Camera: 0.3-megapixel

- Processor: Intel Core i7 with Intel Turbo Boost Technology

- Connectivity: 2 USB ports, dedicated WiFi switch, Ethernet port, headphone jack, power jack, VGA, HDMI port

- Screen: 12.5-inch HD

- Priced from S$1,799


by Hazwan Norly

05:55 AM Feb 18, 2011


Source: www.todayonline.com

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The Sanyo PLC-XD2200

Sanyo plays its green card

by Hazwan Norly
04:00 PM Jan 31, 2011

SO YOU'RE a card-carrying tree-hugger who happens to be in the market for a projector. Here's an energy-saving one by Sanyo for your consideration.

The Sanyo PLC-XD2200 is a portable business projector with reduced power consumption. This environmentally-friendly gadget, which complies the European Union's directives for restrictions of hazardous material and energy efficiency, consumes just 0.7W of power in standby, effectively using 5 to 11 per cent less power than Sanyo's previous models. In ECO mode, the lamp in this newer model lasts up to 6,000 hours, twice as long as conventional models.

Interestingly, you can check the operating time of the lamp over the Web, with its ethernet LAN (RJ 45), and receive warning notifications via email. It is also possible to remotely turn the projector on or off, or switch input signals.

But don't worry, none of these green credentials affects the performance of the projector, which has a brightness of 2200 lumens - fine for use in schools and at home if you're into movie marathons, although it was designed for meeting rooms.

Never used a projector before? This user-friendly projector comes with an auto-setup function that searches for the input signal, then automatically corrects the resolution and keystone by detecting the incline of the projector.

The Sanyo PLC-XD2200 retails at $999.

Source: www.todayonline.com

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Eat, drink and get techy

Gadget must-haves for your reunion dinner

by Hazwan Norly
Updated 01:10 PM Jan 31, 2011

THE best bit about Chinese New Year has to be the reunion dinner: Gathering at one house, enjoying a delicious spread and simply catching up. Here's a list of gadgets that will help you and your relatives to enhance the experience.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910

Stuck on the other side of the world and unable to make it home for the reunion dinner? With the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C910, you'll still be able to see your parents and relatives in real time.

The Mac-compatible C910 webcam is a simple plug-and-play webcam ready with iChat, Photo Booth and FaceTime. With this webcam, you can make full video calls in HD 720p, or even record full HD 1080p videos and easily upload them to Facebook, YouTube and Twitter once you download the necessary Logitech software.

The webcam features premium autofocus - even in extreme close-ups of up to 7cm - and two microphones to deliver clear audio. If you don't even have time to shoot a video, you can snap a few 10-megapixel photos and email them to your parents, just so they know you're okay.

The C910 retails for $159.



Sony Nex-5 Gold

What's a reunion dinner without some nice photos to share? And the Sony Nex-5 now even comes in an auspicious gold colour, perfect for Chinese New Year.

This small 14.2-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS Sensor camera will fit perfectly in a small bag so you won't feel like you're lugging around a dumbbell. Despite the size, it shoots DSLR quality photos and you can even change lenses to suit most situations. The camera also has a HD movie recording function for moments that photos alone cannot perfectly capture - like when everyone is gathered for a hearty "yam seng".

With the Sony Nex-5 Gold you will also no longer need to move back to capture all your relatives in one shot, thanks to the built-in 3D sweep panorama function.

The Sony Nex-5 Gold will be available in February for $1,299.



Polar FT7

Some of the food prepared for reunion dinners isn't really the healthiest. Then there's the fact that you've wolfed down three to four servings. So here's a gadget to help you lose the extra pounds you're sure to put on.

The watch-like computer gives you clear, simple training guidance to give you an easy start to heart rate-based training. Using heart rate variability gathered from your biodata, the EnergyPointer lets you know if your workout leans more towards improving your fitness or burning fat.

Confused? Not to worry - the gizmo also gives simple information like the amount of calories you're burning. All this will be connected to your own training diary at polarpersonaltrainer.com via the Polar FlowLink data transfer unit (sold separately for $89 at Athlete's Circle). You can use this diary to analyse training results, get online training guidance, interact with other people and see their training load status.

The Polar FT7 package comes with the FT7 training computer, WearLink+ transmitter and a quick guide for $199 (Corrected at 1:00 PM Jan 31, 2011).



Epson Ultra-Portable EB-1750

While the adults retire for a good night's mahjong, the children - and non-gambling adults - can catch a movie. But rather than crowd around a television, why not watch your flicks on the Epson ultra-portable EB-1750 projector instead?

The projector is small and will be able to fit in a normal laptop bag. You can even watch movies straight from your portable hard disk instead of having to lug a notebook around. Also, Epson's powerful 2600-lumen lamp will project a clear image even in broad daylight, without using as much electricity as you might think.

It also has an auto or manual keystone adjustment feature so the pictures don't get distorted no matter the angle you set the projector up at.

It only weighs 1.66kg so you won't break your back carrying it to your relative's place if the reunion's there. And when it's time to go, Epson claims no cool down time is required, so you can simply switch off the EB-1750 and pack it without having to wait for the heat to dissipate.

The Epson Ultra-Portable EB-1750 retails for $1,599.

Source; www.todayonline.com

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Smartphone review: Motorola Defy

One tough Android


Smartphone review: Motorola Defy

by Hedirman Supian
05:55 AM Jan 28, 2011

RUGGEDISED devices tend to look clunky and ugly, don't you think?

The Motorola Defy ($528) defies that stereotype by packaging a tough Android smartphone in sleek aesthetics. It feels very compact and surprisingly light in the hand.

The Defy has matte black backing and a glossy screen. Its 3.7-inch display is layered with scratch and impact resistant Corning Gorilla glass so you can throw it in your bag, along with your keys, yet not have to worry about it getting scratched.

The responsive capacitative screen is bright and sharp enough for outdoor use. Our only niggle were the touch-sensitive keys (for the standard home, search, menu and back buttons) placed below - we kept activating them by accident while using the touchscreen display.

The headphone jack and micro USB port on this dust- and water-resistant smartphone are protected by rubberised covers. We tried plonking the smartphone into a glass of water and it escaped unscathed. But we reckon it won't survive a few laps in the pool, even if you stuff it snugly into your skin-tight trunks.

The Defy has 2GB of built-in storage, while a micro SD slot is also available for storage expansion. It runs on an 800MHz processor and seems relatively snappy in day-to-day use. However, the smartphone got particularly sluggish each time we tried activating the 5-megapixel camera. Video capture was only limited to VGA quality, not the high-definition quality we're used to seeing from the latest, cutting-edge phones - but you do get the option to record videos with some funky colour effects.

The user interface feels a bit dated since it runs version 2.1 (commonly dubbed Eclair) of the Android operating system. Fortunately, an upgrade to version 2.2 will be rolled out in the second quarter of the year. We found the dedicated 3G mobile hotspot app that allows you to share your 3G connection with WiFi-enabled devices a bit spotty, refusing to share our connection at times and deactivating itself at random.

Battery life was decent, with the device surviving a normal workday with regular usage of multimedia playback, 3G and WiFi for email, Web browsing, hotspot sharing and GPS via Google Maps.

Consider the Defy if you're looking for a durable and resilient Android smartphone that won't make you cringe every time you look at it. Hedirman Supian

Source: www.todayonline.com

Motorola Defy Android Phone (T-Mobile)

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Tablet Review: Huawei Ideos S7

Huawei's Ideos of a tablet


Tablet Review: Huawei Ideos S7

by Trevor Tan
05:55 AM Jan 28, 2011

Competitors scoffed when Apple released its tablet, the iPad. Now, product manufacturers the world over are eagerly pushing out tablets of various sizes. The Huawei Ideos S7 ($499) is one of the newest tablets to enter the market.

Looking at the S7, you can't help but notice its resemblance to the Apple iPhone 3GS, except that the former is bigger and sports three (not very responsive) buttons in front instead of one.

The tablet has a 7-inch 800x480 touchscreen and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1GHz processor. It runs the Android OS 2.1 operating system and supports Bluetooth and WiFi. You simply need to insert a SIM card into the device to get online. Yes, you can make calls with it.

There are two cameras, one at the back and another in front for your video call needs. But the quality of both pictures and videos taken on this tablet is forgettable.

At 500g, the S7 feels almost as heavy as the iPad. Comparatively, the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab weighs only 380g. But the construction of the S7 feels sturdy. The tablet even has a pullout hinge that can be used as a stand so you can watch 720p high-definition movies on the S7 comfortably.

The user interface is neat and clean, and if you've used an Android device before, you will have no problem navigating around.

Given that the S7's touchscreen is resistive (compared to the capacitive screens favoured by most tablets), it is responsive enough for most tasks, such as web browsing and playing Angry Birds. But light taps will be pretty much ignored.

With Android Market pre-installed, you can immediately start downloading all the applications you need. But I am puzzled by Huawei's decision to run S7 on Android 2.1; Froyo (Android 2.2) would have been a better choice. Thus, you are stuck with running applications from the S7's 4GB internal memory and unable to utilise the microSD card slot.

Although I did some Web-browsing, checked emails, made some calls and played games throughout the review period, the S7 was left idle most of the time. However, it only managed to last four hours before displaying the low-battery alert. Luckily, you can easily swap the battery with a new one when needed. Trevor Tan

Source: www.todayonline.com

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Mouse Review: Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse

Bend it with a touch


Mouse Review: Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse

by Trevor Tan
05:55 AM Jan 21, 2011

HAVING a small, portable mouse often comes at the expense of style and usability. This is not the case with Microsoft's new Arc Touch Mouse ($89).

The Arc Touch is about 1.5cm at its thickest point and slips easily into any bag compartment or even your pocket. A magnetic USB nano transceiver is snapped underneath the mouse. With its symmetrical design, it caters to both right- and left-handed people.

You can't use the mouse when "flattened". To turn it on, bend it until you hear a click. The rubberised bend is curved enough for your palm to cup the mouse comfortably. The only complaint is there is no space for your pinky, though you could just stick your pinky under the mouse.

Instead of a conventional scroll wheel, you scroll using a touch-sensitive strip. Tap on the top and bottom of the strip to access the Page Up and Page Down functions, respectively. Haptics technology on the strip simulates the usual bumps of a conventional scroll wheel.

You can also double-tap the middle of the strip to perform a middle-click, which can be assigned to do different tasks for different applications. For example, when using IntelliPoint software, I assigned the middle click to perform the "back" action.

However, there are no such luxuries for Mac users. In fact, when you first connect the transceiver to your Mac, the mouse is recognised as a keyboard. Don't fret though, as the mouse will still work just fine. You just cannot assign the middle-click to do specific tasks.

The Arc Touch, with its Blue Track technology, is able to work on virtually any surface - the only time it failed to function was when I used it on a clear glass surface.

As using a transceiver takes up one valuable USB port on your laptop, I wish the mouse were Bluetooth-equipped instead. But then maybe it would not have the six-month battery life on two AAA batteries as claimed by Microsoft. TREVOR TAN

Source: www.todayonline.com

Microsoft Arc Mouse - Black
Microsoft Arc Wireless USB Keyboard for PC and Xbox 360 (Black)
Microsoft Arc Mouse - Blue

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Gadget Review: iTwin

How to access your home PC from the office


Gadget Review: iTwin

by Trevor Tan
05:55 AM Jan 21, 2011

EVER needed to file an urgent report, only to realise you've left an important document on your home computer? Now, with iTwin ($139) - created by a local firm of the same name, which is funded by A*STAR - you can retrieve that file wherever you are.

This 50g gadget, which looks like a double-headed USB thumbdrive, comprises two USB dongles linked by a proprietary L-shaped connector. iTwin allows you to create a peer-to-peer AES-256-encrypted connection between two computers.

Simply connect one end of iTwin to each computer, which must be connected to the Web. The iTwin program will have installed itself instantly. Next, place the documents you want to share onto the newly-created virtual iTwin drive. You should be able to see the shared files on the iTwin drive of your other computer.

Note that there is no storage space on iTwin - it simply serves as a virtual cable between two computers.

I did a file transfer between my computers at work and at home. With both machines on a wired connection, the transfer reached speeds of up to 5MB per second. It took about 20 minutes to transfer a 520MB folder containing 200 pictures.

With Dropbox and other cloud storage services, you may wonder if you need iTwin. But for the sake of security, it is always better to have sensitive documents reside on your own computers rather than in a server somewhere across the Pacific. If you lose one half of iTwin, you can also remotely disable it so no one can access your files.

iTwin works seamlessly on Windows XP, Vista and 7. Unfortunately, you cannot use it on Mac OS X. TREVOR TAN

Source: www.todayonline.com

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