UMPC Reviews
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April 14, 2008: Review: iriver W7Comments: 13 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
This year's winner of CNET's Best of CES award in the MP3 and Portable Video category was the iriver W7, a widescreen (480 x 272) digital media player that features a touch-based interface, Flash Lite 2 support, miniSD card slot,...
April 4, 2008: Review: Web browsing on Sony mylo 2 (COM-2)
Comments: 6 | Categories: Handtop / Linux / Reviews / Sony
Though not marketed as its primary feature, web browsing on the new mylo 2 (COM-2) personal communicator is described by Sony as being "closer to the internet experience on a PC." This lofty claim is backed by the device's NetFront...
March 29, 2008: Review: Noreve Creative ZEN leather case
Comments: 5 | Categories: Accessories / MP3 Players / Reviews
If you read my Creative ZEN review but have been holding off on buying the player until ample protection for it became available, then it may be time to crack open your piggy bank. The leather tradition case from NoreveUSA.com...
March 14, 2008: Review: iriver E100
Comments: 36 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
At CES 2008, iriver unveiled a panoply of new digital media players it planned to release in various regions throughout the year. First out of the gate in select countries and scheduled for a U.S. debut by early April is...
March 12, 2008: Review: Apple iPod shuffle
Comments: 2 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
With last month's announcement of the 2GB Apple iPod shuffle came a hefty price reduction for the 1GB shuffle that has retailed for $79 since its September 2006 launch. Now just $49, the vibrantly colored flash player is still a...
March 4, 2008: Review: iriver Mplayer portable speaker
Comments: 16 | Categories: Accessories / iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
The iriver Mplayer, better known as the Mickey Mouse MP3 player, recently made a new friend. It's called the iriver Mplayer portable speaker, a precious 1.1-watt speaker that can connect to practically anything and isn't yet available in the US....
March 2, 2008: Review: Sony mylo 2 charging cradle (COMP-CR1)
Comments: 2 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews / Sony
One of the official accessories designed exclusively for use with the Sony mylo 2 (COM-2) is the charging cradle (COMP-CR1), which is advertised as a "simple and convenient solution for charging and powering" the personal communicator. The cradle is true...
February 17, 2008: Review: Samsung S5 (YP-S5)
Comments: 21 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews / Samsung
The Samsung S5 (YP-S5) was introduced last year as the more compact, fuller-featured successor to the previous year's K5, a groundbreaking digital media player equipped with a slide-and-tilt speaker that encouraged users to "share a soundtrack." But despite its rich...
February 12, 2008: Review: Nokia N810 Internet Tablet
Comments: 13 | Categories: Handtop / Linux / Nokia / Reviews
The newest Linux-based handheld in the Nokia Internet Tablet series is the N810. Launched in October 2007 at the Web 2.0 Summit in California, the N810 improves on its N800 predecessor by offering a handful of new functions, GPS receiver,...
February 4, 2008: Review: Creative ZEN
Comments: 36 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
Although it wasn't what many originally had in mind as a replacement for the Zen Vision:M, the applauded HDD-based DAP that debuted in 2006, the Creative ZEN has still been regarded positively for its wide array of features, brilliant 2.5-inch...
January 28, 2008: Review: Noreve AT&T Tilt (TyTN II) leather case
Comments: 0 | Categories: Accessories / HTC / Reviews
Since the TyTN II carry case I bought for my AT&T Tilt didn't end my search for the ultimate in protection and usability, I turned to NoreveUSA.com and its handcrafted leather tradition case. I've never been disappointed with Noreve cases...
January 21, 2008: Review: Fujitsu LifeBook U810
Comments: 34 | Categories: Reviews / UMPC
The Fujitsu LifeBook U810 mini notebook is part of the second wave of UMPCs running on Intel's new energy-efficient Ultra Mobile Platform. The U810, first introduced as the FMV-U8240 (and also known as the U1010 and LOOX U in other...
January 2, 2008: Review: Noreve Samsung P2 leather case
Comments: 6 | Categories: Accessories / MP3 Players / Reviews / Samsung
With the recent Bluewave firmware update adding increased Bluetooth functionality and seamless mobile phone integration to the Samsung P2 digital media player, most users are probably finding it more difficult to leave home without the touch-based device in their pockets....
December 28, 2007: Review: Raon Digital Everun
Comments: 7 | Categories: Reviews / UMPC
The Everun is Raon Digital's second entrant into the UMPC market. When the variously configured series was introduced earlier this year, many were intrigued by the hardware keyboard, optical mouse, and built-in accelerometer and pleased to learn that unlike the...
December 19, 2007: Review: HTC TyTN II (AT&T Tilt) carry case
Comments: 12 | Categories: Accessories / HTC / Reviews
One of several differences between the HTC TyTN II and the AT&T Tilt, its US counterpart, is that the HTC-branded carry case isn't included with the Tilt. Disturbed that an official case (my favorite kind of accessory) was being withheld...
December 18, 2007: Review: Samsung P2 (YP-P2)
Comments: 16 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews / Samsung
Samsung's newest digital media player, the YP-P2, was recently awarded the sixth spot in TIME Magazine's list of the top 10 gadgets of 2007. Its touch-based interface, large widescreen display, and Bluetooth support certainly make it worthy of the honor...
December 11, 2007: Review: Tumi T-Tech Flow accessory tote
Comments: 9 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews
One of my new favorite travel bag collections is T-Tech Flow by Tumi, a luxury baggage company internationally renowned for its self-professed "design excellence, functional superiority, and technical innovation." I've been a Tumi fan since about 2001 but only discovered...
December 3, 2007: Review: Toshiba gigabeat T400
Comments: 11 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
When the gigabeat T400 launched in September 2007, Toshiba was confident that its 4GB flash player would be the answer to the "call for a change in the status quo." The T400's H2C sound technology, WMA Lossless support, and affordable...
November 25, 2007: Review: Sony Walkman cradle (BCR-NWU3)
Comments: 19 | Categories: Accessories / MP3 Players / Reviews / Sony
The Sony Walkman cradle (BCR-NWU3) is part of the wide selection of official Walkman accessories currently available for the S610 and A810 series of digital media players. The cradle is designed not only to charge and sync, but also to...
November 20, 2007: Review: HTC Advantage X7501 as mobile entertainment
Comments: 18 | Categories: Handtop / HTC / Reviews
If the HTC Advantage X7501 is touted as "the most powerful mobile office," can it also succeed as an equally powerful mobile entertainment center? Just about any device these days can amuse you for 15 minutes while standing in line...
November 19, 2007: Review: Sony Vaio TZ Instant Mode
Comments: 4 | Categories: Reviews / Sony / Vaio TZ
Most modern Sony Vaio notebooks are equipped with Instant Mode, a feature that allows users to watch DVDs, listen to music, or view pictures without booting up the system. Some, like the TZ series, also have dedicated AV buttons for...
November 11, 2007: Review: Fujitsu U810 executive leather portfolio
Comments: 10 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews / UMPC
Shortly after unboxing the Fujitsu LifeBook U810, I returned to the company's online shop to browse its selection of carrying cases for the mini notebook. The one that had already been recommended to me by several readers and that immediately...
November 5, 2007: Review: Treo 650 & 700 short antenna
Comments: 10 | Categories: Reviews
If you've been looking with disdain at the long antenna on your Treo 650 or 700 smartphone since before Palm introduced the visibly antenna-less 680 last year, then you probably already know about the short antenna created by Tomer Litvin....
October 28, 2007: Review: Sony A810 Walkman
Comments: 50 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews / Sony
The A810 Walkman is the flagship model of Sony's newest video-enabled digital media players. Available in 2GB (A815), 4GB (A816), and 8GB (A818) versions, the device is slightly larger and more expensive than the S610 Walkman because of its all-metal...
October 24, 2007: Review: HTC Advantage X7501 keyboard
Comments: 16 | Categories: Handtop / HTC / Reviews
One of the most unique features of the HTC Advantage X7501 is its detachable magnetic keyboard. Since nearly everything about it—size, usability, comfort—has generated commentary from users and interest from curious consumers, I'd like to offer my take on it...
October 21, 2007: Review: Sony S610 Walkman
Comments: 64 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews / Sony
The S610 Walkman series is one of Sony's first portable media devices to support video playback. Available in 2GB (S615F), 4GB (S616F), and 8GB (S618F) capacities, the flash player is also among the company's new generation of products that finally...
October 14, 2007: Review: OQO Model 02
Comments: 58 | Categories: Reviews / UMPC
The OQO Model 02 was introduced at CES 2007 as the world's smallest Vista-capable personal computer and began shipping to customers (sort of) in late March. The award-winning UMPC was updated with better specs and reduced prices in early September...
October 10, 2007: Review: Sony Vaio TZ (TZ170N) performance
Comments: 28 | Categories: Reviews / Sony / Vaio TZ
The Sony Vaio TZ ultraportable notebook series is available with 1GB or 2GB of RAM and either a 1.06GHz (U7500) or 1.2GHz (U7600) Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Since I mentioned "zippy performance" in my first impressions piece and I...
October 8, 2007: Review: Apple iPod nano (3G)
Comments: 14 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
The third-generation iPod nano, one of four new and/or updated iPods announced at Apple's "The Beat Goes On" special event, was released in early September 2007. The first nano capable of playing video, it was also the first device to...
October 1, 2007: Review: Sony Vaio TZ carrying pouch (VGP-CP11)
Comments: 3 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews / Sony / Vaio TZ
The Sony Vaio VGP-CP11 carrying pouch is the only official case designed for the Vaio TZ ultraportable notebook not sold at Sony Style in the U.S. It's a shame, really, because not only does the CP11 come with a coordinating...
September 23, 2007: Review: Kenwood Media Keg HD30GB9
Comments: 15 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
Kenwood may not be known for digital audio players in the U.S., but its Media Keg series has a respectable presence in Japan. In fact, two new additions are already poised for release next month. But unless you need the...
September 18, 2007: Review: Sony Vaio TZ keyboard
Comments: 3 | Categories: Reviews / Sony / Vaio TZ
One of the most striking design elements of the carbon-bodied Sony Vaio TZ ultraportable notebook is its keyboard. Although often described as being MacBook-like, the shallow and generously spaced keys can actually be traced back to the Vaio X505 series...
September 11, 2007: Review: Sony Vaio TZ leather case (VGP-CKTZ2)
Comments: 9 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews / Sony / Vaio TZ
The Vaio Leather Carrying Case (VGP-CKTZ2) sits at the top of Sony's line of accessories for its TZ series of ultraportable notebooks. Available in black and champagne gold, the leather case is luxurious, elegant, and slim. But all that style...
September 3, 2007: Review: Sony Vaio TX & TZ series neoprene case
Comments: 9 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews / Sony / Vaio TZ
Sony advertises its Neoprene Protection Case (VGP-CCTR/J) as "the perfect fit in size and style for your TX series notebook." It can also accommodate the slightly larger (10.9" x 7.8" versus 10.7" x 7.7") Vaio TZ, Sony's newest ultraportable laptop...
August 20, 2007: Review: Nokia N800 Internet Tablet (Part 2)
Comments: 32 | Categories: Handtop / Linux / Nokia / Reviews
Picking up where we left off . . . Now let's take a look at the Nokia N800's internet capabilities, communication features, multimedia functions, productivity options, comfort and ergonomics, and battery life. Feel free to revisit Part 1 if you...
August 19, 2007: Review: Nokia N800 Internet Tablet (Part 1)
Comments: 13 | Categories: Handtop / Linux / Nokia / Reviews
The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet is advertised as a handheld device that lets you "take the internet to new places." Its high-resolution widescreen display and simple wireless connectivity solutions work together to enable quick and constant access to the best...
August 17, 2007: Review: Website load times on portable gadgets
Comments: 0 | Categories: Features / Reviews
A common complaint about web browsing on handheld devices and other portable gadgets is the speed (or lack thereof). Usually described as either "slow" or "sluggish," load times—even over a strong wi-fi connection—can often be more unpleasant than another typical...
July 30, 2007: Review: Vaja iPhone classic urbano pouch
Comments: 7 | Categories: Accessories / iPhone / Reviews
Argentina-based Vaja is well known for designing luxury cases for portable gadgets and consumer electronics. Combining premium leather, elegant designs, and the occasional sprinkle of Swarovski crystals, the company can easily command upwards of $300 for a single case. Fortunately...
July 29, 2007: Review: iriver Mplayer
Comments: 62 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? Based on the new 1GB Mplayer, my guess would be iriver. Originally commissioned by Disney for Hong Kong Disneyland, the iriver Mplayer has just recently become available in...
July 23, 2007: Review: FlipStart Labs FlipStart 1.0 (E-1001S)
Comments: 9 | Categories: Handtop / Reviews
An unbelievable four years after it was first announced and long after it was regarded as vaporware and urban legend, the FlipStart 1.0 (E-1001S) by FlipStart Labs finally began shipping in the spring of 2007. Was it worth the wait?
July 17, 2007: Review: Apple iPhone as UMPC Lite
Comments: 11 | Categories: iPhone / MID / Reviews
First unveiled at Macworld in January 2007, the Apple iPhone was announced by Steve Jobs as a combination of three products: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary new mobile phone, and a breakthrough Internet communications device. Since its...
July 10, 2007: Review: Samsung K3 (YP-K3)
Comments: 31 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews / Samsung
When Samsung unveiled its flash-based K3 digital audio player (YP-K3) earlier this year, it invited us to "imagine a slice of digital delight" and "imagine a slim design with big sound." Ironically, the company's deliberate use of the words "slice"...
July 2, 2007: Review: iriver clix 2 cradle
Comments: 15 | Categories: Accessories / iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
One of the most uniquely designed and stylish accessories made exclusively for use with the iriver clix 2 is its official cradle , which not only charges and syncs the player but also enables audio playback through its integrated speaker...
June 25, 2007: Review: Noreve Archos 704 WiFi leather case
Comments: 6 | Categories: Accessories / Archos / Reviews
Unlike a lot of portable gadgets these days, the Archos 704 WiFi portable media player (PMP) is bundled with a substantial set of accessories that includes a nice protective pouch. The only drawback to it is that it limits in-case...
June 17, 2007: Review: Noreve iriver clix 2 leather case
Comments: 4 | Categories: Accessories / iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
If you're on the prowl for a top-quality leather case worthy of your new iriver clix 2, premium accessory manufacturer Noreve has you covered (no pun intended) with its tradition leather case. Is it right for you? Read on to...
May 29, 2007: Review: iriver T50 and T60
Comments: 51 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
How many boxes of Toblerone chocolates do you think were involved in designing iriver's new T50 and T60 digital audio players (DAPs)? I'd say at least two, one each for this pair of low-capacity flash DAPs recently released in Korea...
May 20, 2007: Review: Archos 704 WiFi
Comments: 11 | Categories: Archos / Linux / Reviews
The Archos 704 WiFi is the latest and most likely final portable media player (PMP) in the French company's Generation 4 series. Sporting a 7-inch high-resolution widescreen display and weighing a hefty 1.38 pounds, it seems to tread rather precariously...
April 29, 2007: Review: iriver clix 2
Comments: 160 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
Anyone who thinks iriver isn't a formidable force in the DAP/PMP market obviously hasn't met the clix 2 (also known as 2G clix, clix2, clix, and clix gen 2), the recently improved and dare I say nearly perfect upgrade to...
April 8, 2007: Review: iriver X20
Comments: 143 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
At CES 2007 in January, iriver unveiled an impressive lineup of new flash-based digital audio and portable media players planned for release throughout the year. Information and various images of many of them had already made their way to most...
March 27, 2007: Review: iriver S7
Comments: 9 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
Several months after iriver released its superb S10 digital audio player (DAP), it announced the player's younger, less-abled, weird-looking sibling: the S7. Obviously a step (three steps?) down from the S10, the S7 is said by some to be iriver's...
March 6, 2007: Review: Samsung Q1 keyboard
Comments: 8 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews / Samsung
About two months after I sent away for it, the Samsung Q1 portable USB keyboard (model AA-SK0TKBD) finally arrived. Normally priced at just under $100 in the U.S., this one was free with the purchase of any UMPC in the...
February 25, 2007: Review: Kohjinsha SA1F00A
Comments: 19 | Categories: Handtop / Reviews
Unlike in other industries, trends in technology rarely come full circle. The chances of, say, the MP3 player being replaced by the shoulder-sitting boombox are laughable at best. Yet it probably won't be long before acid-wash jeans or bell bottoms...
February 15, 2007: Review: Archos 604 WiFi (Part 3)
Comments: 9 | Categories: Archos / Linux / Reviews
Now that the source code for the Archos Generation 4 series has been released, there's no time to waste on summarizing what was covered in Part 1 and Part 2 of this review. Click on to see what the Archos...
February 6, 2007: Review: Archos 604 WiFi (Part 2)
Comments: 1 | Categories: Archos / Linux / Reviews
In Part 1 of this review, the Archos 604 WiFi showed off its sleek and shiny good looks with no restraint. But will it be just as impressive when we look past its appearance? Read on to find out whether...
January 31, 2007: Review: Archos 604 WiFi (Part 1)
Comments: 2 | Categories: Archos / Linux / Reviews
My Archos AV420 Pocket Video Recorder and I have been together since 2004. Over the years, my fidelity has been tested when new portable media players (PMPs) sashayed out of the French company’s door, but none has ever led me...
January 24, 2007: Review: Sony mylo bookstyle case
Comments: 4 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews / Sony
The Sony mylo personal communicator may never be fully embraced by the masses, but it was given the "Best of Innovations 2007" award in the wireless communications category at this month's CES 2007. Third-party accessory manufacturer PDair must have sensed...
January 18, 2007: Review: DialKeys and TIP on Samsung Q1P
Comments: 4 | Categories: Reviews / Samsung / UMPC
One of the current defining characteristics of a UMPC is that it comes preloaded with the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005 operating system. The OS has been around for years, but many desktop and laptop users still remain unfamiliar...
January 7, 2007: Review: Sony Vaio UX leather case
Comments: 8 | Categories: Accessories / Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
The official leather case (VGP-CCUX1) for the Sony Vaio UX series made its debut here in October, and now it's back for a full review. Here's what Sony says about it: "Designed specifically for the VAIO® UX Series Micro PC,...
January 2, 2007: Disappointing stuff about the Pepper Pad 3
Comments: 4 | Categories: Linux / Pepper / Reviews
You knew this was coming. From the moment I unboxed my Pepper Pad 3 (PP3) six weeks ago, I've been promising a review that was chock full of negativity. It may not be a great way to start off the...
December 18, 2006: Decent stuff about the Pepper Pad 3
Comments: 0 | Categories: Linux / Pepper / Reviews
Last week, Pepper Computer began sending out a pre-release of its upcoming software update (3.1) for the original Pepper Pad and the Pepper Pad 3 (PP3) to just about anyone who was interested. I'm not part of that group, but...
December 13, 2006: Review: Raon Digital Vega
Comments: 10 | Categories: Handtop / Reviews
When the first crop of UMPCs fell into the hands of reviewers this summer, high price points were among the most commonly cited drawbacks. Unlike some of the other complaints (lack of keyboard, size, etc.), the cost gripe was actually...
December 5, 2006: Delightful stuff about the Pepper Pad 3
Comments: 10 | Categories: Linux / Pepper / Reviews
Even though my first Pepper Pad 3 (PP3) was equipped with what I assume was a defective screen, my experience with the device over the past few weeks hasn't been soured. I still have a meaty list of everything it...
November 30, 2006: Review: Creative Zen V Plus
Comments: 46 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
True to its name, the Creative Zen V Plus (ZVP) is literally the "plus" version of the Zen V flash-based digital audio player. The ZVP has all of the features of the V . . . plus an FM tuner...
November 26, 2006: Review: iriver S10
Comments: 119 | Categories: iriver / MP3 Players / Reviews
When the diminutive iriver S10 digital audio player (DAP) made its debut on tech sites in September, many were disappointed (though not surprised) that it would be available only in South Korea. Most believed the DAP would eventually make it...
November 5, 2006: Review: Creative Zen V
Comments: 69 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
With Christmas less than two months away, now might be a good time to explore an alternative to the iPod Shuffles and Nanos that will no doubt be stuffed into many a stocking this year: the Creative Zen V. The...
October 27, 2006: Review: Sony mylo personal communicator
Comments: 9 | Categories: Linux / Reviews / Sony
When the Sony mylo was announced in early August, I wanted it immediately. I don't really know why, as I was neither interested in the mylo's biggest selling point (instant messaging) nor included in the target demographic (18-22 year olds)....
October 19, 2006: Review: Gamepark Holdings GP2X
Comments: 9 | Categories: Linux / Reviews
If you're one of the legions of PSP fanatics who has never seen a UMD in person, you probably already know a lot of about the GP2X, the Linux-based handheld gaming system and portable media player created by South Korean...
October 13, 2006: Vaio UX180P extended battery: Part 2
Comments: 3 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Now that you've seen the extended battery for the Sony Vaio UX series, it's time to check out its performance. Using the same parameters from my reviews of the standard battery, I ran several drain tests under various usage scenarios...
October 5, 2006: Vaio UX180P on vacation
Comments: 2 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
An obvious advantage of the Sony UX series over, say, a subnotebook or UMPC is its size. Unlike any other gadget running a full version of Windows XP, the UX Micro PC is so small and light that I carried...
October 2, 2006: Review: Leather pouch for Treo 650
Comments: 0 | Categories: Accessories / Palm / Reviews
I've mentioned my obsession with gadget cases before, right? The Smartphone Experts VP7 is a slide-in top pouch made of soft leather and other materials. It's designed specifically for use with the Treo smartphones currently (and soon to be) on...
October 1, 2006: Vaio UX180P extended battery: Part 1
Comments: 3 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
In my 3-part UX180P standard battery review, I spent well over 100 hours charging/draining the included li-ion battery (VGP-BPS6) to basically just confirm Sony's stated rating of 2.5 hours. Now, thanks to the kindness of a reader known to many...
September 28, 2006: Review: Treo 650 CrystalCase
Comments: 1 | Categories: Accessories / Palm / Reviews
Soon after the Black Tie Treo 650 arrived at my door, I began the eternal quest for accessories. Even though the device was bundled with a hard case that I eventually grew quite fond of (and now use exclusively), at...
September 26, 2006: Nokia N70: Built-in 2MP camera
Comments: 4 | Categories: Nokia / Reviews
Last month, I took a look at the Nokia Nseries N70 smartphone and mentioned the integrated 2-megapixel camera (one of two cameras built into the phone) as its most notable feature. Today, I'll see just how "notable" it really is....
September 23, 2006: Vaio UX180P reviews: All in one place
Comments: 5 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Here's a consolidated list of all my feature-specific reviews on the Sony Vaio UX180P Micro PC. The reviews also apply to most of the other models in the series; check out this chart to view their differences. Bluetooth dial-up networking...
September 16, 2006: Vaio UX180P: Gripes and grievances
Comments: 11 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Since the day my UX180P moved in, I've spent a pretty indecent amount of time exploring its features and hardware components. To say that I'm obsessed with the device is certainly an understatement (check the reviews listed in the sidebar...
September 13, 2006: Final thoughts on the Zaurus SL-C3200
Comments: 0 | Categories: Linux / Reviews
I ended my last Zaurus post with optimism, writing that although I wasn't exactly enamored with the C3200, there was still time for it to pull out all the stops and change my mind. Well, you can chalk it up...
September 9, 2006: Getting to know the Zaurus SL-C3200
Comments: 1 | Categories: Linux / Reviews
The Sharp Zaurus SL-C3200 has been an overnight guest since Tuesday, and I must say that it looks quite at home on my desk. Despite its good looks, however, I'm not completely sold on the device. The Zaurus still has...
September 5, 2006: Overview of the Zaurus SL-C3200
Comments: 0 | Categories: Linux / Reviews
This article is part of the Quick Takes series. Quick Takes are based on short-term usage of various gadgets provided by Dynamism, the best place to find next-generation notebooks and consumer electronics from Japan and around the world. When the...
August 28, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P stand options
Comments: 9 | Categories: Accessories / Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
You are already well aware that unlike its Japanese counterparts, the UX180P's accessory bundle does not include the carrying stand. Apparently, it seems that Sony wants U.S. consumers to scrounge around for their own alternatives. So far, UX owners have...
August 23, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P Bluetooth DUN
Comments: 4 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Now that I finally have a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, I decided to test out the Bluetooth dial-up networking (DUN) feature of the UX180P. Assuming you know your carrier's settings, the process is really quick and easy. These settings can be obtained...
August 21, 2006: Nokia N70: Overview
Comments: 1 | Categories: Nokia / Reviews
Last year, Nokia unveiled its cutting-edge Nseries lineup at a Destination Media event in Amsterdam. Nokia, you may recall, was once the frontrunner in bar-shaped cell phones long before they were even called “bar-shaped.” Today, they've dropped out of the...
August 18, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P standard battery: Part 3
Comments: 8 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Well, it's been a long time coming but Part 3 of the UX180P battery review is finally done. If you haven’t already, you can read Part 1 and Part 2 now. For this string of tests, I enabled wireless options...
August 16, 2006: Review: Black Tie Edition Treo 650
Comments: 5 | Categories: Palm / Reviews
To celebrate its recent 10-year anniversary, Palm redesigned its bestselling and highly acclaimed Treo 650 smartphone and released an unlocked limited edition Black Tie Treo in June 2006. It sold out in a week. How “limited” the devices were is...
August 14, 2006: Final thoughts on the OQO 01+
Comments: 2 | Categories: Handtop / Reviews
Now that the 01+ is packed up and ready to be sent back to Dynamism, I’ve been mulling over my time with it and discovered a few highlights and lowlights I didn’t mention last time. Additional highlights Speaker I’m really...
August 11, 2006: Getting to know the OQO 01+
Comments: 0 | Categories: Handtop / Reviews
I've been using the OQO 01+ for a couple of days now and am beginning to get a real feel for what the device has to offer. If I had this unit before I got the UX180P, I know I...
August 8, 2006: Overview of the OQO 01+
Comments: 10 | Categories: Handtop / Reviews
This is the first installment in a multipart OQO 01+ review for my new Quick Takes series. Quick Takes are based on short-term usage of various gadgets provided by Dynamism, the best place to find next-generation notebooks and consumer electronics...
August 2, 2006: Review: ZVM external battery charger
Comments: 14 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews
The Creative Zen Vision: M is already equipped with enough battery life to easily keep you entertained from sunrise to sunset. However, if you're camping for a few days or on a long flight, it won't be long before your...
August 1, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P standard battery: Part 2
Comments: 2 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
This part of the standard battery test review will cover results garnered under various multimedia scenarios (i.e., watching movies and listening to music). For a reminder about the testing parameters, please read Part 1 of the review. Videos If you...
July 26, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P standard battery: Part 1
Comments: 1 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
It's already a well-known fact that the battery life on the UX180P leaves much to be desired. Exactly how much is the topic of this installment in the feature-specific review series. This will be another multi-part review, as I still...
July 23, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P web browsing: Part 2
Comments: 1 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
In case you missed it, click here to read Part 1 of this review. Picking up where we left off... Navigating websites The most basic method of making your way through various websites is to use the pointing device and...
July 21, 2006: Review: 512MB Hello Kitty MP3 player
Comments: 30 | Categories: MP3 Players / Reviews
Yes, Hello Kitty is slowly making her way through every branch of the electronics tree. Diehard fans have been able to get their paws on household appliances, stereos, CD players, lamps, and TVs branded with the Sanrio character for years,...
July 20, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P web browsing: Part 1
Comments: 5 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Several days ago, I received an email requesting a description of the ability and ease of viewing/navigating a website on the UX180P. Since web browsing on the UX is a broad topic, I've decided to break this installment in the...
July 18, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P cameras
Comments: 2 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Next up in the feature-specific review series is another unique element that won't fail to impress: two integrated cameras. It's commonplace for just about every gadget to include a camera (or at least a camera add-on) these days, but you'll...
July 18, 2006: Power on the go: Universal battery pack
Comments: 3 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews
It used to be that the only way to squeeze extra minutes out of the batteries of my mp3 player, digital camera, portable DVD player, or laptop was to turn off the backlight, use the viewfinder, or lower the screen...
July 16, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P included accessories
Comments: 4 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Since I'm still discovering and learning more about all the UX has to offer, this addition to the feature-specific review series will focus on all the extra goodies that are included with the UX180P.* I'm a sucker for great accessories,...
July 13, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P keyboard
Comments: 3 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Find out how the UX180P's keyboard stacks up in this third installment of the feature-specific review series. The consensus about the UX keyboard is that it's handy for typing out short emails and URLs, but relatively useless for anything beyond...
July 11, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P orientation
Comments: 4 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
In this installment of the feature-specific review series, I'll take a closer look at the UX180P's screen orientation modes. Ease of Use The quickest way to switch from landscape to portrait mode is by pushing the dedicated button on the...
July 9, 2006: Review: Vaio UX180P screen
Comments: 4 | Categories: Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
This is the first of what will eventually become a series of feature-specific reviews of the Sony Vaio UX180P Micro PC. One of the first things you notice about the UX180P is its 4.5-inch wide SVGA touch screen. Size The...
July 7, 2006: Review: UX screen protector
Comments: 6 | Categories: Accessories / Micro PC / Reviews / Sony
Brando Workshop's Protector Plus screen protector is actually designed for PDAs, but it is apparently suitable for any device sporting a 4.5-inch screen. This one from eBay is marketed specifically as a UX protector (notice the sticker on the upper...
July 2, 2006: Review: ZVM docking station
Comments: 0 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews
The Creative docking station is one of my favorite ZVM accessories. Even though it duplicates the functions of the subpack/sync adapter supplied with the ZVM, the docking station enhances the enjoyment of using the player. It's not as travel-friendly as...
July 2, 2006: Review: Nintendo DS airfoam case
Comments: 0 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews
I've had this pink airfoam case for my Nintendo DS for about 8 months, and I still can't get enough of it. In addition to being incredibly well constructed, it's also nicely designed and a great size considering everything it...
July 1, 2006: Review: inMotion iM3c speakers
Comments: 0 | Categories: Accessories / Reviews
This is an old model but since it’s still available online and in stores, here’s a modified review of the Altec Lansing inMotion iM3c portable speaker system I wrote a few months ago at the height of my ZVM mania...
