We all hopefully know the importance of backups. Then why with the majority of PC users only able to use Windows can the majority of backup packages not backup open files?
This is a DAB and FM radio, as supplied it works on mains but can be run on standard batteries or the proprietary ChargePAK from Pure.
The Pure One DAB radio is 21x14x7cm and the version I saw came in a creamy white colour. I understand it is also available in a TalkSport (black) version from . I also see from the Pure website there is a shocking pink version available. Amazon at £49.99 It has an 75cm 8 piece rod aerial that extends from the top of the unit and retracts into a recess. On the face towards the right side is a 5x1.
This is a small All In One product that can either be a USB or network device. Not as small as the DCP 315-CN (24/4/06) but it does have some of the same problems.
Just like the it has some rather good translation software however this review is about the ability to scan - copy - print and while the scan feature is used with the translation module that - to me anyway - is an add on to add value. DCP 315-CN Software installation is quite quick given that it installs Paper Port software (for scanning) before the printer driver and the total amount of hard disc used is just a tad over 300MB.

Published in
Misc
on
30 May 2006
This is certainly one of the smallest DAB radios around, but small certainly does not mean limited functionality as it also has FM and the ability to be an MP3 player.
It is 8.5x6x2cm and weights only 120grams. It has a 2.5x1.5cm three line two colour display in the centre of the face that is extremely clear and easy to read. This is surrounded by eight rubberised buttons that control the unit. All but two are very obvious as to what they do and the 32 page manual describes everything in detail so the job of the two buttons that have a picture of a beating heart and a sun beside them are soon explained.
I think this is the first colour laser printer that has fitted in the review space between my two PCs, all the inkjets and multi functions fit there as do most mono lasers but unit now colour lasers sit in the office doorway.
The unit is 38x32x39cm and while you would not want to walk a mile holding it moving it from one place to another is something any normal adult should be able to do.
Canon LBP 5000 The front has five LED's while the rear has connection points for network or USB cables the power input and on/off switch. So no display and it entirely relies on the LED's or Windows to tell you of any problems.
Philips have often been at the forefront of innovation and this MP3/Picture Viewer/Voice Recorder certainly stands out from the competition.
Do you find Sudoku too easy? I dont, however if you do or if you are bored by always having all the 1 to 9 numbers why not try Karuro.
Published in
Misc
on
21 May 2006
Do you like me think these are a pain the neck when walking behind one? However they do have a use and carrying a large notebook all the extras and some clothing etc for an overnight are just some.
I am not talking about shopping trolleys but bags designed to hold notebooks securely and to protect them if dropped. Some smaller models are designed only to be carried here I am looking at two that can either be carried or wheeled. The first from a company that makes bags and the second marketed by a computer company. Port Phoenix Trolley II Port offer free insurance against screen damage to your notebook when using one of their bags.
This Bluetooth keyboard and mouse set is stylish and offers that bit more for those who want the best on their desks.
The keyboard is 38x20x1cm the latter measurement applies to all but the back 4cm of depth where is expands to 2cm. I suggest you measure your keyboard to see the difference. It is described as an ultra flat keyboard, however if like me you were brought up on typewriters (manual) then you like a bit of tilt and with the lifts extended this is still possible.
Last years series of articles after the Dream Toys event in the autumn was well received. So in January I went to the slightly different Toy Fair, here are two items.
The Toy Fair is rather different to Dream Toys in that the items on show are aimed at next Winters sales and Dream Toys are immediate so while I requested a number of items to review these are the only two to have arrived so far. Kidz Labs - Super Magnets Stated as suitable for 5 years and upwards this is one of a range of fun educational products.
While these devices are no longer the huge sellers they once were they still do a job vital to many and the ability to work with Word and Excel files is an important feature.
The is 11x7x1cm, the thickness is probably nearer to 1.3cm in the centre but only 1cm at the edge. The weight is less than 150grams. It is predominately black with silvered edges and to me - a style dummy - looks smart. The screen is 7.5x5.5cm and works either in portrait or landscape at 640x480. Acer N310 pocketPC The operating system is Windows Mobile 5.01 software for Pocket PC Premium Edition.
This is a basic three ink printer in the supplied form, however it does not mean it is not capable of good image quality.
It's strange what manufacturers do to shave the costs of a printer. This basic printer is 42x22x12cm and is by no means heavy. It comes with a tri ink cartridge but you can buy a black cartridge as an extra should you print a lot of text pages. This cartridge does not replace the tri colour it sits alongside. A lot of manufacturers provide ½ toner cartridges with lasers and nowadays some provide ½ size inkjet cartridges for printers.
This is a 15x10cm photo printer and also comes with a digital camera. The camera has rechargeable batteries and takes power from the docked position on the printer.
I have seen such devices advertised but never tried one. Often people that have were not that pleased with the results
The system consists of a sender module and a receiver module. Both plug into SCART sockets. Each unit needs a power supply (supplied) and if you add a small 20 page manual that's about it. The sender module is marked 'sender' and in a simple scenario plug it into a SCART socket on the back of your TV. Whatever you are watching should be transmitted to the 'receiver' unit.
This really is small, imagine the desk space taken by an average notebook and now divide that in four and that is the desk space taken by this PC.
The unit is notionally 16x16x5cm. However it has a digital output and while a digital to VGA (analogue) converter is provided once you have plugged your VGA lead in that adds 8cm to the depth. However should you own a digital TV there is another way. The lead for this fits into a PS/2 type connector on the unit and this is around half the length of the Digital to VGA converter. The weight of the unit is around 1.2kilos.
DAB radios are becoming more advanced, features that only appeared on very high level offerings now are available on mid range systems, here the new offering from Pure-Digital the Evoke-3
The is 29x18x10cm the four sides being in a mid tone wood and the front and back beige plastic with a grill mesh covering the two speakers that dominate the front of the unit. The centre portion of the front has the control panel dominated by a 7x4.5cm LCD display, this can carry up to ten lines of text and provided you are looking at it from in front - give or take around 20 degrees - it is very clear.
Published in
Cameras
on
30 Apr 2006
This is a small camera but not as light as you may think, it definitely has a solid feel and when you look at the specifications you know why.
This is an 8mega pixel camera with 3.6 to 1 optical zoom, both figures are above the norm and the feel of the whole unit shouts quality. It is 10.5x4x5.5cm and weights close to 300grams. Lens fully extended adds 3cm to the 4cm width. The top of the camera has only the shutter control, the left side nothing, the base has solid battery and 32MB SD card behind a slide door and tripod anchor point.
I have seen several excellent small screen notebooks recently and this certainly does not buck the trend. 10.6inch screen but apart from that everything a bigger cousin might have.
This is an MP3/WMA USB player and voice recorder that is aimed at kids. Not only does it have 256MB of built in memory but can also play content on SD/MMC cards.
Dimension wise this All in One is tiny, weight wise it is very light, however despite some interesting translation software as a printer it can be very slow.
We all have blood pressure, thankfully most of us are in a normal range. However should you be one of those who have abnormal blood pressure than this may be of use.
The business end of the product consists of a cuff suitable for a 9 to 13 inch upper arm and a device that provides the air to inflate the cuff and measure the pressures as well as your pulse. These are stored in the unit. Of course after a while seeing three sets of figures on an LCD screen become only a mess of figures.
This is three products in one. On the face of it an upmarket Integrated Headset with MP3 player, also an MP3 player with earbuds, finally a rather good set of Headphones.
Firstly in it's smallest configuration it is 7.5x3x3cm and weights less than 50grams. It is basically an oversized pen drive in an 'L' shape as it is powered by a single 'AAA' battery (supplied) that fits in a pod that clips into the side so the measurements given are the maximum.
Very similar to look at as the 3310 but without the ability to connect wirelessly and in its favour probably around £70 cheaper.
The unit is 46x40x22cm and weights 11.9kilos. The figures include the paper tray and even the control panel and TFT screen when tilted. It is possible to store both A4 and 15x10cm photo paper in the multi use tray at the same time and you can direct both Windows and the control panel to use your choice.
For those who are fed up being tethered to a headset this solution may suit, however if you work with others they will either have to put up with hearing your conversations or you will need to use an earpiece and that rather negates the advantage.
This is a circular disc unit 8cm across, the centre 2.5cm is a surprisingly clear spear the speaker grill is actually 4.5 of the unit. From the top (back of the unit) a mini USB plug fits in and there is a space for an optional (supplied) earpiece. There are three buttons on the face surround and a blue LED at the bottom front of the unit with a small - but powerful - microphone fitted into the side of the unit.
Sometimes a product passes you by, however a friend has these speakers and his hearty recommendation caused me to ask to look at them.
I used the with three different PC's and three notebooks, in five out of six cases I was more than happy with both the quantity and quality of sound they gave. Logitech V20 speakers Inside the box is a 25x18x6cm toughened zip up case and this contains the pair of speakers 16x8x4cm and a very small user guide, that's it, no CD nothing else.
This product originated as probably the best word processor around, mind you it was a DOS product and I am talking a very long time ago, Bill Gates had not even got far into world domination.
After installation - you only use CD1 or the three provided - at the first run you have a choice to make which of four interfaces do you want to use. The choices are WordPerfect mode, Microsoft Word mode, WordPerfect Classic mode (that's the DOS product that ruled the word 5.1) or Legal mode. I suspect most today will choose Microsoft Word mode as at schools and colleges that is what is mainly taught.
Not only is this available on a two CD offering but also on a DVD designed to be used on a standard DVD player, so with the latter no PC required.
This Fujitsu Siemens unit is truly two items in one case, it is a rather nice small but powerful notebook computer and also probably the best Tablet PC I have used.
It is 23x17x3.5cm and weights in at only slightly more than a kilo. I was sent it with a DVD RW super multidrive that is likely to add around £190 to the price however as this connects via USB any CD or DVD that connects this way will work and with large format pen stick drives around any software you want to install could firstly be copied to a pen stick drive using a CD from any PC.
Certainly one of the more mature products for the PC, I first used version 1.2 when of course it came on 5.25 inch floppy discs, then some years ago they pioneered the change to CD.
Strange no one wants a notebook reviewed in January but there is a glut in March! Here I am looking at Intel Centrino Duo processor in an Acer Aspire 5672 notebook.
The notebook is 35x27x4cm and weights around 3kilos. I would probably say this was a desktop replacement as it most likely be too large for most to carry around regularly. It has a 15.4inch screen and the default resolution is 1280x800, there is a ATA Mobility Radeon X1400 graphics chip, the unit can support dual displays and there are both analogue and digital outputs. The screen surround is 25.5x35.