The NVIDIA(R) Quadro(R) FX 4500 SDI is available for shipping as announced by PNY Technologies(R), Inc .It is the newest in the line of high definition graphics-to-video solutions and has been integrated with broadcast and video applications. This integration helps in to produce high definition live-to-air 3D graphics, broadcast news, traffic and weather graphics, 2k digital film playback and digital uses.

The NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 SDI features standard and high definition output with a 512MB frame buffer and a dual link SDI.This features helps in integrating into applications like CNBC and BBC resulting in 3D broadcasts and serving ones production needs. According to Jeff Brown, general manager for NVIDIA "The NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500 SDI is already being adopted by a number of these customers for their next generation HD/SDI platforms."

It also delivers compressed 8-, 10- and 12-bit SDI from programmable graphics to provide real-time HD-SDI output and is available for shipment. One can visit the official site for more details http://www.pny.com/products/quadro/fx/4500sdifx.asp

The second in the new DX series announced by Gateway Inc is the Gateway DX210 tagged as “Digital Entertainment for Maximum Value”. This PC is also perfect for those on a budget like individuals, students and small enterprises. It promises a complete multimedia solution and is perfect for ripping and burning music, editing photos, playing online games and managing home finances. Thus meeting the requirements of the average user beautifully.

Like DX 110 is it equipped With a wide range of connectivity options, it include six USB 2.0 ports, one IEEE 1394 FireWire(R) port and integrated 10/100 Ethernet for networking capability. ATI Radeon X300 dd animated color and rich aspect to games, photos and video. It also equipped with Cyberlink PowerDVD and Nero 6 Suite.

The Gateway DX210 runs on fast 64-bit Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 processors supporting Hyper-Threading Technology(3) making multitasking a breeze. It also features DDR2 SDRAM and large SATA hard drives making it a great buy. 6-bay uBTX chassis reduces noise, provides cooling and makes it a highly reliable system. Priced at $549.99 is promises perfect home solution. www.gateway.com.

Continuing with our coverage of Gateways Inc new PCs it’s now DX Series (Gateway DX110 and DX210) turn. We will for now cover DX110 which offers a vide variety of customization option. This makes it perfect for individuals, students and small enterprises that have budget constraints.

The Gateway DX110 desktop PC is ideal for everyday computing like email, web browsing, Microsoft office etc . It is run on 64-bit Intel(R) Celeron(R) D processors and ATI Radeon X300 based integrated graphics making is different form other entry level pcs. With a wide range of connectivity options, it include six USB 2.0 ports, one IEEE 1394 FireWire(R) port and integrated 10/100 Ethernet for networking capability.

Users can also take full advantage of its large 80GB disk space which can be upgraded to a whopping 160GB. It also features an integrated high-definition audio supporting 7.1 speaker arrangements for pulsating sound .The Gateway DX110 PC starting price is only $449.99 and is available now on on their website. www.gateway.com

The California based company Gateway Inc. has just announced its new range of Pc models for small enterprises and individuals. One such being the FX510 Series, a high performing model with brilliant graphics keeping the gamers in mind. Equipped with the Intel(R) Pentium(R) Extreme Edition Dual Core 955 processor and latest technology ,the Gateway FX510 Series is for those with a limited budget but who don’t want to compromise on quality.

FX510 is equipped with standard 7.1 audio supports however users can upgrade to creative(R) Sound Blaster(R) X-Fi Audio card. With Intel(R) Viiv(TM) technology and Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP Media Center Edition 2005 the Gateway FX510 promises to deliver. Gateway has also thrown in its award winning high definition LCD monitor which can be used in landscape or portrait mode. The series have been designed to to handle fast processors and high graphic and are housed in an advanced 7-bay, quiet and cool BTX chassis.

According to Marc Demars, Gateway's senior director of product marketing the FXs series is designed "To satisfy demanding gamers and digital media enthusiasts, we're offering the most powerful technology options available today in our new Gateway FX510 Series desktops,"

The Gateway FX510 series are availble now and one can visit the official site fro more detals.
Prices vary from model nos:
US $1099.99- FX510S , FX510X - US $1999.99 , FX510XL-US $2999.99

This one's for the publishers. Well, you can start a publishing business with it if you wish. Primera Technology unveiled its new Bravo XR-Blu Disc Publisher, claimed as the world's first automated CD/DVD duplicator and printer with Blu-ray Disc support.

Bravo XR includes integrated robotics, a color direct-to-disc inkjet printer and importantly, Pioneer's BDR-101A Blu-ray Disc/DVD Recorder. To enable you to write BD media, software based on Sonic Solutions is bundled with the duplicator.

This new release will be capable of writing single-layer discs - up to 25 gigs of data. Of course, if you're more interested in dual-layer support, you can choose to wait for the next version, which can give you as much as 50GB of writable space. With a blazing fast USB 2.0 connection compatible with Windows 2000/XP, the Bravo XR comes with SureThing CD Labeler software as well.

Priced at US $5,995, the Primera Bravo XR-Blu Disc Publisher will be available in April this year. You can also catch it on display at the German CeBIT from March 9-16, 2006 (Hall 1, Booth D77). More details are available from Primera's website.

Gigabyte technology officially acknowledged its storage device which is promised to be “Blisteringly Fast”. i-RAM, is a solid state-storage device that plugs into your motherboard's SATA port, it supports up to four DDR SDRAM modules. It also promises to release million users from the shackles of slow processors and enhance the performance of tasks. The core of the i-RAM is Xilinx Spartan-series FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that translates Serial ATA requests into requests to random access memory.

i-RAM can not only boot windows 13 times faster but is also equipped with a Li-Ion rechargeable battery that can power the device for about 16 hours when a PC is shut down. once connected it behaves like a normal hard drive without the need for additional drivers or software. Gigabyte first demoed the i-RAM at Computex last summer, and cards have finally made their way to the North American market.

Specs:

Gigabyte equips the i-RAM with four DIMM slots, each of which can accommodate up to 1GB of unbuffered memory.
The card is sold without DIMMs, giving users some flexibility in how it's configured. However, most will probably want to shoot for that 4GB maximum.
To allow users to unplug their systems for periods of time and to protect against data loss due to a power failure, i-RAM comes with a rechargeable lithium ion battery that packs 1600 milliamp-hours of power, it can keep four 1GB DIMMs powered for more than ten hours.

The only drawback being that it has been priced at an exorbitant price of $500!!

Iomega announced an affordable Network Attached Storage (NAS) option for its StorCenter Pro NAS 400r Server, called the Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 400e Expansion Chassis. This new add-on is targeted at the small-and-medium business segment.

Users can add up to three 400e Expansion Chassis units to a Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 400r server, with each expansion adding 1 terabyte of storage space to the host NAS device. Thus, a user can initially go for a 400r server which comes in capacities of 640GB to 1.6TB, and as the data needs grow, additional expansion chassis can be added, 1TB at a time.

Connection to the 400e chassis is via Ultra 320 SCSI port to the StorCenter 400r server, with additional 400e being added by daisy-chaining. All participating hard drives can be configured in RAID 0, 1 or 5 configurations. In addition, logical RAID volumes can span across multiple 400e expansion chassis.

The Iomega StorCenter Pro NAS 400e Expansion Chassis comes with a price tag of $3,399 per unit, and will be available in late February 2006. Available online at Iomega's store.

4GB on the go. That's what Qrisma's new one-inch portable hard disk drive has to offer. It's packaged in an anti-vibration and heat dispersible enclosure for durability. A highlight of this HDD is the 90-degree swivel USB (supports both 2.0 and 1.1 standards) connector - perfect if your USB outlet is positioned awkwardly. The unit draws power from the bus, which means there are no AC adapters to lug around. It's true plug and play supporting both the PC and the Macintosh.

Expect the unit to be priced in the $100 range. Availability is yet to be announced.

Product website: Qrisma Portable HDD

(via OhGizmo)

Western Digital has started shipping its latest high-capacity WD Caviar SE16 500-gig Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive, ideal for video editing, graphic design and others. Delivering 7,200 RPM with a huge 300 MB/s transfer rate, the Caviar SE16 is equipped with a 16MB cache and Native Command Queuing (NCQ).

Boasting lower power consumption, the drive resits hard drive wear due to heat providing more reliability. This is because of the cooler operating temperature of the drive.

When it comes to drive operating noise, the WD Caviar SE16's noise levels so low that it cannot be heard by the human ear in home/business environments. However, if you were to be in a sound-proofed room then you may hear some of it. Low noise levels are possible due to the WhisperDrive technology which features an efficient power driver design.

Shock Guard protects the drive from damage due to bumps/vibrations while it is running. Seek noise is reduced by the SoftSeek technology that streamlines read/write seeking algorithms. Bundled tools include Data Lifeguard and Tools.

The Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB SATA hard drive carries a price tag of $349.99 and is available from WDStore.

ATI has thrown the gauntlet into nVidia's camp with the new Radeon X1900 series of high-end graphics cards. There are four models in the X1900 series. The X1900 XTX is the undisputed champ. It's the fastest consumer-line graphics power your money can buy today. The other models include the X1900 XT, The X1900 CrossFire, and the X1900 All-in-Wonder. A brief summary of the cards follows:

X1900 XTX

• 650 MHz core clock


• 1.55 GHz memory clock


• 512 MB GDDR3


• MSRP $649


• Available today

Radeon X1900 XT

• 625 MHz core clock


• 1.45 GHz memory clock


• 512 MB GDDR3


• MSRP $549


• Available today

Radeon X1900 CrossFire

• 625 MHz core clock


• 1.45 GHz memory clock


• 512 MB GDDR3


• MSRP $599


• Available today

X1900 All-in-Wonder

• 500 MHz core clock


• 960 MHz memory clock


• MSRP $499


• Available today

Read the complete specifications for the X1900 in the extended entry.

Product website: ATI Radeon X1900

NEC Japan has launched the NEC ValueOne MT series of desktop PCs. The ValueOne comes in two streams: Basic (4 models) and Advanced (3 models). The Basic series features the AMD Athlon 64 3500+ and higher processors and the Advanced series features the latest Intel dual-core Pentium D 830 3GHz and higher processors.

The entry level model in the ValueOne MT Basic series has the following configuration:

The basic model goes on sale on the 27th of January, 2006 and costs 58,485 Yen. You can upgrade to a AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor 3800+, a GeForce 6600GT, 1000GB (500GB * 2) HDD etc. at an added price.

The entry level model in the ValueOne MT Advanced series has the following configuration:

The basic model goes on sale on the 27th of January, 2006 and costs 68,565 Yen. You can opt for a Celeron D 346 3.06GHz, a nVidia GeForce 6600GT, up to 1500GB of HDD etc.

You can customize your order directly off the web at NEC Direct.

Alienware is known to have the most powerful computers around whether it be desktops or notebooks they build mean machines that are truly out of this world (pun intended).

They are calling their newest desktop the Alienware MJ-12 7500 "the ultimate dream machine with innovative performance and graphics capability." Sounds great, you'll have to find out for youself (unless Alienware wants to send us a review machine that we can keep afterwards).

It looks pretty alien based on the specs that include dual-core AMD Opteron processors, NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics card, and Liquid Cooling. Build you own configurations here. Be prepared to shell out $1,500 for the basic build.

If you thought AMD's Athlon 64 FX-60, with a clock speed slower than its predecessor FX-57's clock, is slower than the latter, think again. The FX-60 is a spanking dual core processor which means two cores running at 2.6GHz - that's what I'd call raw power.

With 1MB Level 2 cache in each core, the FX-60 is quite similar to the dual core Athlon 64 X2 4800+ (which runs at 2.4GHz core speed). Compatible with socket 939 boards, this is also an overclocker's dream come true.

It's pricey, at US $1,800 (£820). More details from AMD as usual. For a full review, check out IT Reviews.

G-Technology Inc. has launched three new high-performance models as part of its G-DRIVE Mini line-up. The new models carry 60, 80, and 100 GB, spin at 7200 RPM, sport an 8 MB cache, and connect via Firewire 800, Firewire 400, or USB 2.0 (see the quick facts table). Simply attach a G-DRIVE mini to your computer, initialize, and you’re ready to go! Setting one up couldn't be any simpler.

The drives have been designed keeping just one factor in mind: "portability." It's ultra-light, compact, ac-adapter free, and comes in a sturdy aluminium enclosure. A leather carry case is thrown in as well.

Another highlight of these drives is the new Silent Cooling Technology. All G-DRIVE minis feature a “fan-less” cooling system and are designed to silently dissipate heat for superior reliability and data integrity. So, you need not lose sleep worrying over your bits.

As a benchmark, every 100 GB holds up to 7.5 Hrs of DV footage, or 50 Hrs of DVD Mpeg2, or 25,000 MP3 files, or 50,000 Digital Photos. The G-DRIVE Mini 7200 RPM drives are available now with prices (US MSRP) starting at $249. It's a worthy addition to your kit.

Product website: G-DRIVE Mini

If you are on the look out for a mouse that could be used in extremely sterile conditions, IKEY has the perfect product for you. Yes, the new AquaPoint mouse from IKEY is meant for use in situations where cross-contamination is a strict NO. It's designed to survive a deluge of any kind. You still get the "clicky" feeling of a regular mouse, so that you don't feel out-of-place.

Its optical insides allows the AquaPoint to function on nearly any surface, while its rugged, silicone overlay, polycarbonate frame and solid-state engineering, all ensure the AquaPoint a long operating life.

The AquaPoint waterproof mouse is now available in the UK exclusively through FB Peripherals Ltd (Tel: +44 (0) 118 966 7407, Web: http://www.fbperipherals.com/)

Warning: Not for everyday home use!

Hurrah! I Got great news for Mac users. Sling Media, Inc. a digital lifestyle consumer electronic product company has recently announced
Sling Player for Mac. Now with the latest sling media player you can watch and control your home television from any where in the world through an internet-connected Macintosh computer.

Just like the SlingPlayer software for Windows-based computers, SlingPlayer Mac also delivers the ability to watch living room TV programming; all you need is just a broadband Internet connection and you are connected to home TV virtually from anywhere in the world.

With this great technology software consumers have the power to manipulate the home television source, including the ability to change channels and navigation menus by the software’s On-screen remote controls. These are not the only features of software, if a customer has a digital video recorder (DVR) they can enjoy those added features including the ability to pause, rewind or fast forward live TV or watch recorded content stored on the DVR.
Sling Media will deliver SlingPlayer Mac in the second quarter of 2006 at a suggested price of $249.99 SlingMedia

Taiwan based First International Computer (FIC) - today announced ultra small, ultra quiet, entertainment PC the GE2. Built on the latest Intel Core Duo processor, attempts to find its place in the consumer living room by integrating into the home entertainment center.

The 8-inch computer runs on Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition and is equipped with Bluetooth, 7.1 Channel Surround Sound, and a Personal Video Recorder. http://www.fic.com.tw/

The GE2 Computer was launched during CES 2006 and sells for $499-$999 depending on configuration.

Four users and one PC. What do you do when all have to use the PC at the same time? You might want to check out NComputing's new Xtenda X300 Desktop Expansion Kit, which allows up to four simultaneous users on a single PC.

Each kit comes with one PCI card, three RJ45 output ports and three terminal boxes to connect using a CAT5 cable. After you set it up, the PC and the three X300 terminals run simultaneously and independently of each other, removing the need for separate server software. The only hitch is that the users must be close to the host PC - anywhere between 25 to 35 feet.

Some of the things that stand out in the X300 are:

Acer America Corporation today introduced three notebook series, the TravelMate 8200, the TravelMate 4200, and the Aspire 5670, based on the Intel Centrino Mobile Technology Duo platform, otherwise known as "NAPA."

What does "NAPA" mean to you anyway? The offical name for the NAPA platform is Centrino Duo, and includes the Mobile Intel 945 Express chipset, the Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Wi-Fi PCI Express MiniCard and the Intel Core Duo processor (or Yonah). The advantages: a higher FSB (667 MHz), high speed DDR2 support (533/667 MHz), Serial-ATA, lower power consumption, and an advanced cache design to speed up things even more. The performance curve just went several notches higher.

Back to the Acers. The new notebooks offer higher performance while using thirty percent less power than their siblings.

The TravelMate 4200 is the dual-core solution for the not so rich. It offers a taste of dual-core technology, but compromises on the other pieces of hardware to stay within budget. But, it's a good start.

The Aspire 5670, on the other hand, will blow you away. Sporting an Intel Core Duo processor upto 2.16 GHz, an Intel 945PM Express chipset with dual-channel DDR2 533/667 MHz memory, a dual-band tri-mode 802.11a/b/g Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Wi-Fi card, an ATI Mobility™ Radeon® X1400 with up to 512 MB of HyperMemory, a Serial ATA HDD of up to 120 GB, Acer CrystalBrite™ 15.4" wide screen and a slot-load 8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive, the Aspire 5670 is truly everything for everyone.

The TravelMate 8200 goes beyond the Aspire 5670 by offering a carbon-fiber reinforced cover that guarantees protection from daily wear and tear, and shines with sophistication. With an array of communication and security solutions, the high-end TravelMate 8200 will drive you to the peak of success.

With these laptops, Acer is targeting demanding business professionals, ultra-mobile users, and advanced multimedia customers.

Manufacturer wesbite: Acer Corporation

The Acer Ferrari F-20 LCD monitor is the latest offering from the Acer stable. Following the huge success of the Acer Ferrari laptop, Acer is venturing into new territory hoping to replicate its success. "Technical sensibility with stylish ingenuity," is how Acer describes the F-20.

So, what does this dark beauty from Acer have to offer? For starters, a generous 20-inches of screen space, which with the advanced Acer CrystalBrite technology guarantees a great visual experience. Internally, this is accomplished by preventing the diffusion of surrounding light, minimizing distortion, quick response times, and excellent resolutions. Outstanding features of the F-20 are a native resolution of 1680 * 1050, a quick 8 millisecond response time, and a contrast ratio of 800:1 - all contributing to a visual treat.

The design sports a very stylish look. There's a clearly visible Ferrari logo to cause your neighbor envy. The red semi steering wheel that acts as the base of the monitor shows the extent of the collaboration between Acer and Ferrari.

And, that's not all. The F-20 also doubles up as a Digital Home solution. There is an integrated - and sophisticated - Media Module to connect any Media Device plus a fully functional integrated TV Tuner including Remote Control. The monitor is mainly targeted at professionals who demand high visual detail and also at gamers.

The monitor is currently available through Acer authorized resellers throughout North America. At 599$, it's sure to cause a dent in your pocket.

Manufacturer website: Acer Corporation

Look out Apple, Dell has entered the 30 inch LCD marketspace with the new Dell UltraSharp 3007WFP. This incredibly large desktop monitor has a native resolution of 2560 x 1600 and is the perfect monitor for CAD-CAM, 3D modeling, video editing, and desktop publishing applications. It's also ideal for multimedia, video and gaming purposes.

The 3007WFP has a brightness of 400 cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 700:1. You get a vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 178 degrees. Port wise, you get a DVI-D port, 4 USB ports, and a 9 in 2 media card reader.

The monitor is available at Dell now for $2199. Check out the product page for additional information on the new 30 inch monster from Dell.

This baby's on fire! Almost literally by the looks of it and seriously if you are in the market for a high performance desktop, Dell has just announced its limited edition XPS 600 Renegade.

This baby is the first system to support two new NVIDIA GeForce 7800 SLI graphics cards with quad SLI technology that can definitely speed up overall video performance. Deep within its very core is Dell's very own overclocked 4.26GHz Intel Extreme Edition dual-core processor. Storage can be maxed out at 10,000RPM 500GB drives and memory is up to 2GB 6667MHz DDR2 RAM.

Can't take the heat? Well each limited-edition XPS 600 Renegade will be custom pained by world renown artist Mike Lavallee of Killer Paint. You still have a couple of months more to save, this limited edition desktop will be available in the US in the spring of 2006. That could be anytime soon though and some are saying it could be ready by the end of this month so be prepared.

Mirus Innovations and Linspire today announced the availability of the Koobox range of desktop PCs which will come preloaded with Linspire Linux OS. Koobox PCs are based on AMD processors and come in three models - Essential, Multimedia and Performance. At the lower end is the $299 Essential Koobox which is targeted towards the student community. This machine comes with an AMD Sempron processor, 256 MB of RAM, 40 GB hard disk, CDRW drive, 5 USB ports and onboard sound and networking. The $399 Multimedia Koobox bumbs up the RAM to 512 MB, replaces the CDRW drive with a dual layer 16x DVD+RW drive and has a 160 GB hard disk. The high end $499 Performance Koobox is a killer machine based on AMD 64 bit Athlon 3000+ processor, which retains the other configurations of the Multimedia Koobox.

As open-source applications are slowly catching up with their Windows and Mac OS counterparts, Linux is expected to gain grounds in the desktop space too. Loaded with a complete Office Suite based on OpenOffice.org 2.0, Internet Browser, Email, IM client and a host of media players, Linspire Linux provides a full-blown desktop system at the fraction of the cost of other commercial operating systems.

Koobox computers come with a one year warranty. Customers can purchase an optional premium warranty for $29 and get toll free support and replacement parts. More details of the Koobox computers are at http://www.koobox.com

Cybernet unveiled its new space-saving PC, the ZPC-9000 at the 2006 CES. Not that space is a premium in offices, but it's cool to have one in a cramped dorm room for example. The ZPC-9000 is actually just keyboard-sized - it's that compact.

Processors up to Pentium 4 HT 3.2 GHz and 2GB of DDR 400MHz memory are offered. You also get Gigabit LAN, a 7-in-1 card reader (a must these days), 2 button touchpad which looks decent and a CD-RW/DVD drive.

The entire PC is fit inside a 104-key keyboard. It not only saves space, but also saves power utilizing only 120W power supply (as compared to 240-300W of desktops). Thanks to the removable hard drive and locking mechanism, you enjoy benefits of added security as well.

More info about Cybernet ZPC-9000 is available from Cybernet's website.

Infinium announced that it will be launching the Phantom Lapboard in the near future (to be precise, Q2 2006). The Lapboard is a wireless keyboard and mouse combo designed with the PC gamer in mind. The keyboard can be rotated 360°, and can be used by either left or right-handed players.

The Lapboard is also optimized for media access, and offers full size keys, an extended space bar and an inverted T for left/right handed players. I don't know about you guys, but it definitely looks appealing to me. Of course, it may take some time to get adjusted to ie (I use an Acer Future Keyboard and am accustomed to the large keys).

Well, Q2 2006 is far away. Let's wait and watch how this thing turns out. More details are available from Phantom Lapboard's website.