| Sources Say New Windows 7 PC Buyers Will Be Able To Upgrade To Windows 8 Pro For $15 Posted: 16 May 2012 10:39 AM PDT  Whenever a new Windows OS rears its head, Microsoft alleviates the concerns of wary would-be PC buyers who may be tempted to put off purchasing a new computer for couple of months by offering them a free upgrade to the soon-to-be-released Windows flavor. That may grind to a halt with Windows 8; several sources say Microsoft will still give recent Windows 7 PC buyers a chance to upgrade, but only if buyers shell out another $14.99.
However, that $14.99 bucks will net users full access to Windows 8 Pro rather than the everyday Windows 8 OS, CNET's Mary Jo Folley and Microsoft-focused reporter Paul Thurrott report. Windows 8 Pro includes geek-friendly features like file encryption and virtualization support. It may seem a bit like double dipping, but according to Foley and Thurrott's sources, the offer will be available to anybody who buys a PC running at least Windows 7 Home Basic after June 2nd -- giving Home Basic buyers very low-cost access to Pro-level features. So, would you rather Microsoft continue the practice of giving away a base version upgrade for free, or do you prefer this route? Follow Brad on Google+ or Twitter |
| Netgear Launches 802.11ac Router, Announces Two New 802.11ac Devices Posted: 16 May 2012 10:14 AM PDT  Well, that didn't take long. Just a couple of days after Buffalo beat Netgear to market with the first commercially available 802.11ac router, Netgear's responded by launching not only the R6300 Wi-Fi router it's been teasing us with, but also announcing a second, slightly cheaper 802.11ac-enabled router and a 802.11ac Wi-Fi USB adapter.
The $70 USB adapter's a big point of interest, as widespread 802.11ac support in consumer devices isn't expected any time soon and Buffalo only released an 802.11ac media bridge. Netgear's adapter gives you the ability those vaunted 802.11ac speeds -- that's a theoretical max of 1.3Gbps, by the way -- wirelessly, as a Wi-Fi standard should be. Too bad it won't be available until the third quarter. As with the Buffalo router, the new Netgear routers include both a 802.11ac radio and an older 802.11n radio to support devices that use past 802.11g/b/n iterations. The n-class radio handles the 2.4GHz spectrum while the new tech operates on 5GHz. The $200 dual-band R6300 sports max n/ac speeds of 450Mbps/1.3Gbps, respectively, and the $180 R6200 rocks 300Mbps/900Mbps n/ac speeds. The more expensive model carries a pair of USB 2.0 ports; the R6200 is limited to one. The routers also include the usual lineup of Netgear features, include AirPrint and ReadySHARE support and various DLNA-related features. The R6300 will be available in stores this month, but as previously mentioned, you'll need to wait until the third quarter to get your hands on the R6200 or the Wi-Fi USB adapter. Follow Brad on Google+ or Twitter |
| Intel Upgrades Business Oriented vPro Platforms with Ivy Bridge Posted: 16 May 2012 05:58 AM PDT  When we think of Ivy Bridge, we conjure up images of decked out gaming rigs with high-end graphics cards and other burly hardware. And that's all well and good, but Intel's 3rd Generation Core processors are equally suited for IT and business end users, so it was inevitable that the Santa Clara chip maker would strengthen its vPro platforms with its latest and greatest processor technology.
"With the 3rd generation Intel Core vPro processor platform, Intel is leading the way into a new era, delivering the comprehensive and manageable computing solutions to business that enable them to deal with security threats, while providing the flexibility and form factors users demand," said Rick Echevarria, vice president, Intel Architecture Group and general manager, Business Client Platform Division. Intel's updated vPro platforms bring plenty of swagger to the IT and business crowd. Feature highlights include embedded security, remote management and automation, and of course killer performance thanks to the inclusion of Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture. 3rd Generation Intel Core vPro processor-based platforms are available now. Image Credit: Intel |
| Sony Reveals New Vaio S and Z Series Laptops Posted: 16 May 2012 05:35 AM PDT  It's raining Ivy Bridge laptops these days. Not a day goes by without a PC vendor announcing the launch of a bunch of laptops featuring 3rd generation Intel Core i processors. The latest to do so is Sony, which has announced updates to both its VAIO S and Z laptop families.
The company seems especially proud of the new VAIO Z, which it touted as the "fastest ever notebook from Sony" in a press release. According to the company, the 2.6-pound VAIO Z owes that reputation to the fact that it combines 3rd generation Intel quad-core processors (select models) with third-generation SSD Flash RAID drives. Some models of this 17 mm-thick ultraportable laptop will come with a LightPeak-enabled Power Media Dock, featuring AMD Radeon HD 7670M, Blu-ray drive and extra USB 3.0 ports. Sony has also announced full HD displays and 3G/LTE connectivity, but they too will be restricted to certain models. The Vaio Z is not the only laptop in the struggling Japanese electronics giant's stable that's getting the Ivy Bridge treatment. Sony has also announced a similar update to the Vaio S series. The new VAIO S family contains a 33.7cm (13.3") S Series 13 laptop and a 39.5cm (15.5") S Series 15 laptop. According to Sony's press release, these models have been crafted with mobility in mind: "Available in a choice of 33.7cm (13.3") and 39.5cm (15.5") screen sizes, the slim, full-flat design of VAIO S Series 13 and 15 slip easily into a travel bag for quick access whenever you need it. reads Sony's press release. The series is elegantly styled in tough, weight-saving materials like magnesium, aluminium and carbon fibre (depends on model), with even S Series 15 models tipping the scales at below 2kg." All S series machines will feature a slot-in optical drive (Blu-ray Disc or DVD), backlit keyboard and a button-less touchpad with gesture control, whereas a new docking station with 500GB HDD and extended sheet battery will be optional. This is what the press release had to say about S Series specs: "3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7 quad-core processors (on selected S Series 15 models) are partnered by optional SSD storage and powerful NVIDIA® GeForce® dynamic hybrid graphics to make light of your daily work and entertainment needs. Selected S Series help you stay even more productive on the move with high-speed LTE/3G WWAN mobile broadband." There's no word on pricing and availability as yet, you can expect Sony to go ahead with the launch in the next month or so. In any case, we will keep you posted. |
| Roccat Introduces Savu, a Mid-Size Hybrid Gaming Mouse with 4,000 DPI Sensor Posted: 16 May 2012 05:12 AM PDT  Roccat's marketing mavens may have drank a gallon of Red Bull when typing up the press release for the company's new 'Savu' mid-size hybrid gaming mouse, a rodent "built to reign supreme as the new titan of optical sensor mice." Those are just some of the mighty big statements Roccat uses to describe the Savu, which wields a hefty 4,000 DPI optical sensor and supports the company's Easy-Shift[+] technology.
"The Savu is the planet's premiere mid-size gaming mouse – period," says René Korte, Roccat Founder and CEO. "We packed it with not only world-beating speed and comfort, but with a slew of innovations designed to thrill. The Savu represents our continued dedication to giving gamers the exact gear to fit their every desire." Towards that end, the Savu boasts a customizable lighting system with 16.8 million colors to choose from, a stats and trophy system (Roccat Achievements Display, or R.A.D.), lag-free gaming without any interpolation, seven programmable buttons, a perspiration resistant coating and side grips, macro manager, 20G acceleration, 1.8m braided USB cable, and other various bullet points. The Savu will be available soon around the world for $60 MSRP. Image Credit: Roccat |
| Broadcom Puffs Chest as Study Shows 30 Percent of Americans are Totally Addicted to Wi-Fi Posted: 16 May 2012 05:11 AM PDT  The funny thing about surveys is you always end up wondering who exactly participated, particularly when the responses are quirky. Perhaps some of you will think exactly that upon learning that a new study of nearly 900 Americans supposedly reveals just how dependent we've become as a nation on Wi-Fi connectivity. How dependent? Well, three out of every 10 survey takers said they simply can't go even just a full hour without a Wi-Fi connection. Exactly what would happen to them at the 61-minute mark is a mystery -- spontaneous combustion, perhaps? -- but what's interesting is just how important Wi-Fi has become in people's daily lives.
Try this on for size. For as many Starbucks as there are, 39 percent of respondents said they'd be willing to give up coffee for Wi-Fi connectivity, if they had to. Some 57 percent said they'd stay away from Twitter for a month in exchange for wireless Internet, 50 percent would avoid Facebook, and a full 60 percent claimed they couldn't manage a full day without Wi-Fi access before seeking out a connection (therapy might be more appropriate). "Wi-Fi has become the connectivity equivalent to coffee," muses Michael Hurlston, Senior Vice President, Mobile & Wireless Group, Broadcom. "But legacy Wi-Fi wasn't built to handle the explosion of video consumption and the growing number of wireless devices being used today. To satisfy peoples' dependence on Wi-Fi, we need faster, broader, further-reaching and more energy-efficient Wi-Fi - 5G WiFi." Suddenly the survey begins to make sense. As Maximum PC's Deputy Editor Gordon Mah Ung observes, this is all "a bit like the cattle industry doing a survey saying American's prefer to chickens." Valid point, don't you think? Vested interest or not, Broadcom's survey results are interesting, if not amusing for the fact that Wi-Fi has become so damned important in such a relatively short period of time. What are your thoughts on all this? Are you as addicted to Wi-Fi as some of the survey respondents are? How long do you think you could go without wireless connectivity for all of your stationary and mobile devices? Image Credit: Flickr (khawkins04) |
| ViewSonic's Super Thin VX2460h-LED Monitor Elicits Jealous Stares from Bulky LCDs Posted: 16 May 2012 05:09 AM PDT  ViewSonic this week rolled out its new VX2460h-LED monitor, a 24-inch LED-backlit display with what the company claims is the thinnest profile available for its size and class category. Whether or not there's a 24-inch monitor out there that's skinnier, no one's going to call ViewSonic's newest panel chunky, as the widescreen display measures a scant quarter-of-an-inch thick at the bezel (full dimensions are 22.87 inches (W) by 17.60 inches (H) by 7.64 inches (D) with stand).
We're not big on monitor specs because they're so easily manipulated and/or misrepresented, but for what it's worth, ViewSonic rates the VX2460h-LED as having a 2ms response time (GTG), 40,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio (1,000:1 typical), 250 cd/m2 brightness (typical), and 170-degree (H) by 160-degree (V) viewing angles. Connectivity consists of a pair of HDMI ports and a D-Sub (VGA) port that drive the Full HD 1080p screen resolution. It has On-Screen Display (OSD) controls, an anti-glare hard coating (3H), 3.5mm jack for audio output from HDMI source, an Eco-mode for up to 35 percent energy savings, and sRGB color correction technology. The VX2460h-LED will start shipping in late May for $199 MSRP and is backed by a 3-year warranty. Image Credit: ViewSonic |
