Publication History For : Paul Smart

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What is ‘The Bug’

Published in Entertainment on 17 June 2004
The name may make you think this is something to be avoided, on the contrary it is certainly something to be experienced. The only clue I will give here is that it’s manufactured by Imagination Technologies.

This is WordRead

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 16 June 2004
A nice idea, available elsewhere when you purchase separate programs. This incarnation is easy to use and does just what it says it reads your words to you, this is text to speech software.

BeatZKey!FM

Published in Entertainment on 9 June 2004
Perhaps not the most informative title but that’s what it’s called. There is a radio but that’s only a very small part of the whole package, and indeed also the weakest bit.

Intellisync

Published in Mobile Tech on 28 May 2004
In this case a utility is certainly a gadget as without it all my information would not be able to be read on a PDA. A small task perhaps but vital so this utility is a gadget to move my vital information.

Two Great Digital Cameras

Published in Cameras on 17 May 2004
Two different companies, two different cameras, both producing excellent images, about the only thing they have in common is that they both use the XD card format. The knowledgeable reader will now know which two companies.
The Nova range of TV cards both PCI and USB are not brand new but the current deal with ShowShifter is. So new that the two elements are priced in different currencies.

HP/Compaq nx 9110 notebook

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 10 May 2004
This is certainly a large notebook, and as such you would not need frequent visits to the gym if you carry it around a lot. However it is a genuine desktop PC replacement.
The nx9110 is 3.65kilos but has everything built in. The dimensions are 36x28x4.5cm and the screen is 38cm wxga (1280x800) in 32bit colour. The ATI 128MB mobility Radeon video is quite capable of driving an external screen as well. This notebook has 512MB of RAM with a 60GB (55.8GB) hard disc and a P4 3.2GHz processor. There is a DVD+RW drive (reads CD's fine) and 16bit sound.

Roxio Photosuite 7 Platinum

Published in Misc on 6 May 2004
Why buy a photo manipulation package when so many pieces of hardware come with one for free? In most cases these will be ‘lite’ or ‘SE’ versions that have restricted – in some way or other – use.

Palm Zire 21

Published in Mobile Tech on 5 May 2004
A handheld unit for considerably less than the psychological £100 price barrier puts this unit almost into the impulse buy sector. Is it a true handheld or simply a toy?
Space or lack of it makes a multi function unit almost essential. Having a scanner a copier and a printer all in the space normally required for just one device makes this a Soho users delight.
This radio is both DAB and FM. It looks solid as indeed it needs to be if it is to be used in the kitchen and during a substantial part of my tests that is exactly where I used it.
I have been a fan of DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) radio ever since the early days when the only receivers available were PCI cards, you needed a good aerial and this probably meant something in the loft. Now a normal telescopic rod aerial should be enough providing the area you live in has reasonable DAB reception. A quick check atwww.ukdigitalradio.com should tell you.

HP Tablet PC TC 1100

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 14 Apr 2004
To my mind this is exactly what the mobile user needs, a Tablet PC when on the move and a Notebook PC with keyboard when sitting down, both products in one unit.

Canon SmartBase MP390

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 11 Apr 2004
A good multi function machine can be the answer for those of us with limited space. Printing, scanning, copying and even faxing are all possible with the Canon SmartBase MP390.

Smart SCART

Published in Entertainment on 6 Apr 2004
If like me you have more SCART devices than sockets on your TV then this device is for you. If like me you have a bad back contorting yourself to insert SCART leads is not high on your list of joyful experiences then again this device is for you.
Even video recorders come with SCART sockets these days, not to mention DVD players, Digital TV boxes, Cable TV boxes, Camcorders and of course all those gaming systems. If you have a recent TV then you may have two SCART sockets, more likely it is only one. This black box is 18.5x7.5x3cm, on one end is the power adaptor input. The top has five SCART plugs.

HP Media Centre PC

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 5 Apr 2004
The only way to get a copy of XP with ‘Media Centre’ additions is pre installed from a manufacturer, here I am looking at one such offering from Hewlett Packard.
Not light, and not small, that just about sums up the negatives with this Hewlett Packard notebook offering and just for good measure the price is not that outrageous.

Palm Tungsten T3

Published in Mobile Tech on 30 Mar 2004
A new departure for a handheld device the ability to work landscape as well as portrait, this more powerful machine looks the part and I am sure will be every yuppies desire, that is if there are still such people.
With weight being an ever increasing factor, notebook designers cut whatever possible from the main unit, then they charge an extortionate amount for a docking station to allow previously allowed functionality.
To use this docking station you need one thing a USB port. To use it at full speed it needs to be a USB2 port. What you get on this docking station is 2 USB2 ports, PS2 ports for keyboard and mouse, a serial and a parallel port and finally an Ethernet port. All this means your notebook can travel with you for minimal weight and when you reach your home or office the docking station can be plugged in to give you all the functionality of a desktop PC.

PalmOne Tungsten E PDA

Published in Mobile Tech on 15 Mar 2004
Whatever flavour of PDA you use it is probably very different from a year or so ago. Certainly the Tungsten E has a lot more to offer at a greatly reduced price than when I got my 5X.

Epson Stylus Photo R200

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 12 Mar 2004
A photo quality inkjet printer with a bonus. The Epson Stylus Photo R200 can print text, photos and just for good measure given the right media it can even print on CD’s.

MP3 and more the Rio Karma

Published in Entertainment on 9 Mar 2004
A lot of fuss is made about the iPod when there are other machines about that are as able to deliver, and cost somewhat less. The Rio Karma is small in size and large in capacity. The clincher is that it has far better battery life.
This all purpose offering can print text pages clearly, reasonably quickly, print up to A4 colour images borderless nicely, and in fact could probably get the average small business out of a hole.
The i455 is a functional rather than stylish printer. The dimensions are 38x30x30cm the depth is extended by another 23cm when the front flap is down to catch output. In fact the unit looks very like a beige box. This is not a derogatory remark unless you are only interested in looks. As far as I am concerned the look of the output is all that matters, the look of the box is irrelevant.
Some of us need more than just a small notebook on our travels. Perhaps ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ is a bit over the top but, here are two offering that may help you keep everything together.
Kensington Saddlebag Plus Kensington are best known for there steel leads to keep items in place and to deter thieves. However they do other items and one such is the cavernous Saddlebag Plus. It is 42x24x16cm when sitting around, however there are lots of zips and Velcro fastenings along with a shoulder strap strong enough to lift a lot more than this product.
What can these devices be? The PC in the titles could be a clue but then maybe not. They are both small and indeed both considerably less than £100. One thing they certainly are not is printers.

PerfectPlay CD and DVD Repair

Published in Entertainment on 18 Feb 2004
How many of us have DVD’s or CD’s that are either unplayable, skip or stutter. The conventional isopropyl alcohol and gauze no longer solves the problem. The answer could be not to far away

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite12

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 17 Feb 2004
Yes I am a confirmed Corel user – since version 1 – someone like me with sparse graphical ability can produce okay output with the aid of the numerous gadgets in CorelDRAW.

Canon i80 Portable Printer

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 11 Feb 2004
Sometimes lack of size is vital, this is the latest portable printer from Canon. Should you have no power it can even print from batteries. It is not just USB but infra red and with an adapter Bluetooth.

Rio Nitrus MP3 Player

Published in Entertainment on 9 Feb 2004
When MP3 players first came out 32MB was considered large, Rio were there then, now at last they can be a good size and Rio are still there with the 1.5GB Nitrus.
Tablet PC’s have been around for the best part of a year and a half, so far the takeup has been at best lukewarm so does this second generation unit have something new to offer.

Philips Aurilium (PSC805)

Published in Laptops/PCs/Apple on 2 Feb 2004
Why would anyone use an external sound card with a PC? Believe it or not some PC’s are still not ‘multimedia’ and some notebooks have sound chips that belong only in the bin.