Monthly Archives: August 2010
Sony Ericsson – Xperia X10 mini pro
The Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini pro is a superb smartphone. It is innovative and well built, though right at the outset we should note that it runs Android 1.6, which puts it somewhat behind the leading edge of devices running versions 2.1 and 2.2. It also has a 600MHz processor where its top-notch rivals…
HTC – Wildfire
HTC prides itself on having some of the most feature packed smartphones on the market, but the Wildfire is something different. Specifically designed to be a low cost smartphone, it nevertheless runs Android 2.1, which puts it almost at the top of the tree as far as Android is concerned. Of course, at a relatively…
Samsung – P580
The Samsung P580 is a business grade laptop that isn’t going to win any prizes for looking good or showing off fancy features. But it is a solid performer. The 15.6-inch screen delivers 1366 x 760 pixels and has a non-glossy finish as befits its business focus. This means there is no reflectivity from lights…
Panasonic – DMC-TZ10
The Panasonic DMC-TZ10 has the look and feel of a digital camera that has been designed by metal workers rather than the usual bunch of electronic engineers. For starters your eye is likely to be drawn to the machined aluminium of the Leica lens housing. Or at least it will if you buy the black…
Avanquest – TurboCAD 17 Deluxe
It’s hard to believe that the first edition of TurboCAD saw the light of day in 1986, but it’s usually a good indication that a product has found a solid position within the market when 24 years roll by and it’s still pouring out updates. The latest yearly edition of the cut-down version of TurboCAD…
HP – Scanjet Professional 1000
In a technological age where the emphasis is increasingly on becoming more compact and user-friendly while still maintaining high quality and a myriad of features, it’s perhaps not surprising that scanners are now receiving the attention previously lavished on cameras, printers and computers. HP’s Scanjet Professional 1000 is specifically targeted at the business person on…
Synium Software – Mac Family Tree
In the main, genealogy software is notable for two things: its popularity (no-one likes to pass up a good family history/mystery) and the awfulness of the interface. Web-based services had made some progress here but much of the software has limped along behind, like an old-fashioned database wearing a suit from the charity shop. We’re…
Canon – IXUS 300 HS
Over the years Canon has managed to pack an enormous array of features into its never-ending series of IXUS cameras. Generally speaking this seems to be the electronic equivalent of squeezing a pint into a half-pint pot, as IXUS has always been small and compact. The IXUS 300 HS that we are reviewing is a…
Gateway – GT350 F1
Remember Gateway and its garish black and white boxes? Well, times have changed, and the fancy boxes are long gone. Moreover, Gateway is now the business arm of Acer, with the Gateway GT350 F1 server the newest member of a family of products aimed at the small to medium-sized enterprise. A server in the traditional…
EA – Need for Speed World
Need for Speed is one of the biggest racing franchises video gaming has ever seen. Throughout its long and somewhat chequered history, the series has put a number of different spins on its arcade oriented style of racing, often dabbling with illegal street racing and police pursuit in some form. There’s nothing like going flat…