Monthly Archives: March 2010
MSI – GT640
Despite its reasonably compact size (360 x 260 x 36mm), MSI’s GT640-30UK packs quite a punch. The 15.4-inch screened GT640 is part of MSI’s G family of gaming notebooks: powered by an Intel quad core processor it has a well specified feature list and a price tag to match, but it’s not without its problems….
Capcom – MotoGP 09/10
The trouble with motorbike racing is that it just isn’t dangerous enough. Topping 200mph on two wheels, taking twisting chicanes as the world blurs past you, your knee-pad touching the ground through the corners… Major yawn-o-rama. It definitely needs to be spiced up a bit. Perhaps they could throw in some spikes that pop up…
iRiver – E200 16GB
On the face of it the iRiver E200 has a huge amount going in its favour. The player has a metal casing that gives it a supremely solid feel and the front is dominated by a four inch screen. As there are no hardware buttons on the front, and only a power button and control…
Magix – Movie Edit Pro 16 Plus
There’s plenty of fertile ground in between the useful but light functionality offered by Windows Movie Maker and the you-film-it-and-I’ll-edit-it all knowingness of Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. Movie Edit Pro occupies this mid-point, effectively competing with the likes Premiere Elements, and offers a worthwhile alternative. First the basics. This is a solid, better-than-entry-level video editing…
Spiderweb Software – Avernum 6
Avernum is the name of an underground fantasy realm of vast caverns and claustrophobic passageways. Once a prison for the miscreants of the Empire above, it eventually evolved into a prosperous society in its own right. Think Australia, but the opposite in terms of the sunshine, and with lizards instead of sheep. Not forgetting cat…
Sapphire – Radeon HD5850 1GB Toxic Edition
Cards based around ATi’s Radeon HD5850 core have been available for a little while so it’s perfect timing for Sapphire to add the HD5850 to its Toxic family of factory overclocked cards. And, as with all the family members, the card not only gets a tweak to the core and memory clocks but also a…
ViewSonic – ViewBook Pro
If there are two phrases that sum up what is most desirable in the notebook universe at present, they would be “ultra-slim” and “low voltage”, reflecting a fast-paced, eco-conscious business world where portability and battery longevity are paramount. ViewSonic has only recently made forays into the portable computer market and the ViewBook Pro was clearly…
Check Point – ZoneAlarm DataLock
Checkpoint has boosted its range of security software recently with the introduction of DataLock, a solution that addresses the very real problem of sensitive data that may be stored on a portable device such as a notebook finding its way into the wrong hands. Put simply, DataLock offers 256-bit enterprise-level encryption for a hard drive,…
Avanquest – Photo Explosion Deluxe 4.0
Photo editing software tends to fall into two categories; either detailed and complex programs for serious photographers and professional graphic artists, or fun and frothy means of enhancing family photo albums by using lots of effects and repackaging the images on calendars and T-shirts, etc. Avanquest’s Photo Explosion Deluxe 4.0 attempts to steer a middle…
XFX – Radeon HD 5670 1GB Video Card
XFX, one of Nvidia’s longest serving allies, moved to the Dark Side when ATi launched its ultra-successful 4800 series. In the time since, the firm has become an important Radeon partner, often beating longer established competitors to the punch when it comes to launch dates, stock allocation and pricing. The card we have in the…