Windows 7

In addition to the company's Slider PC7 computer, Samsung's high-end Series 9 laptop was one of the CES 2011 standouts that we wanted to go back and take a look at. Many have billed it as a Macbook Air killer, and though we wouldn't go quite that far, the comparison is certainly a valid one. The Series 9 sports a sleek design that will likely turn just as many heads as the afore-mentioned Cupertino competitor.  Read More

Looks like Panasonic has got some serious competition in the rugged tablet arena in the shape of the Motion CL900 from Austin's Motion Computing. The new tough kid on the block has been shock-proofed, is dust and moisture sealed, and benefits from a Gorilla Glass multi-touch display and Vertak bonding. Upon release it will be powered by Intel's next generation Atom processor, have durable solid state storage and Wireless-N connectivity. Let the battle commence...  Read More

Research has shown that over 80 percent of netbook owners believe that good sound is important, yet I think it's fair to say that most netbook speakers are not really very good – offering about the same audio output quality as a smartphone. Toshiba has revealed that its new mini NB520 netbook sports a pair of Harman/Kardon speakers and Dolby Advanced Audio technology, to give users the kind of rich audio experience usually reserved for much bigger devices.  Read More

There seems to be a different computer solution for every desktop and network problem – from home systems to home built machines to those that serve the business community. The Xi3 Corporation claims that its scalable, modular system offers a somewhat different approach to the rest of the field. Each palm-sized cube features interchangeable and adjustable boards for maximum adaptability, Dual Core processing power and low power consumption.  Read More

MSI's Wind Top Professional and Entertainment All-in-One computers are to be joined by a new Classic model. The super quiet AC1900 is said to have low power requirements, and benefits from a high performance processor, good sized storage, Wi-Fi wireless connectivity and a DVD drive.  Read More

In the 2002 movie Minority Report, part of the “way out there” 2054 technology was a computer system that Tom Cruise navigated his way through via arm and hand gestures. That technology – minus the holograms – has now officially arrived 44 years ahead of schedule, thanks to the design team at tech firm Evoluce. With support from Microsoft, the company has created prototype software which allows Microsoft’s Kinect gesture-based video gaming platform to control Windows 7 applications. PC-users will likely soon be able to “swim” through Google Earth images, write on-screen messages in the air, and surf the Internet without cramping their mousing hand.  Read More

Lenovo has unveiled an elegant, ultra-portable addition to its IdeaPad range. Along with the company's first 12.5-inch display, the 0.7-inch (18 mm) thin IdeaPad U260 features leather-like trim surrounding the keyboard and touchpad, a choice of ultra-low-voltage (ULV) processors to help extend unplugged usage and Dolby surround-sound to complement high definition movie capability.  Read More

Twenty-five years ago this month, Microsoft released an extension to its Disk Operating System (DOS) that gave users a graphical, mouse controlled environment with which to interface with their computers. Bundled with the new setup were a few applications like a drawing program, a simple word processor, an appointment calendar and a clock. Each program could be launched in its own box - or window - and tiled around the display screen. It wasn't a noted success but marked the start of a technology snowball that sees Windows currently being used on nearly 90 per cent of the world's computers.  Read More

Differentiating between the model numbers that make up the HP Mini lineup can be tricky, perhaps even more so with the competing Inspiron Mini series from Dell out there. The new HP 5103, however, does have a lot under the lid to make it stand out.  Read More