PC Magazine - 2009 04.pdf - Libertad Zero - Blog

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first looks Consumer eleCtroniCs Quick looks Visit pcmag.com for the full reviews of these and other consumer electronics products. RED denotes Editors’ Choice PROS CONS BOTTOM LINE SPECS SMARTPHONES DIGITAL CAMERAS PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYERS SPEAKERS BLU-RAY PLAYER GPS MEDIA EXTENDERS AT&T Quickfire $99 direct (with two-year contract, after rebates) l l l m m T-Mobile Shadow (2009) $150 street (with 2-year contract, after rebates) l l l m m Pentax K2000 $599.95 direct l l l l m Cowon S9 8GB, $199.99 list; 16GB, $239.99 l l l m m SanDisk Sansa slotRadio player $99.99 direct L l l m m Altec Lansing Expressionist Classic FX2020 $79.95 list l l l m m LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player $349.95 list L l l h m TomTom One 130-S $249.95 list l l l h m Blockbuster 2Wire MediaPoint $99 direct l l l m m • Comfortable QWERTY keyboard • Roomy LCD • Includes Web browser, IM, and e-mail clients • Solid multitasker • Attractive • Free calls via UMA-based Wi-Fi • Comfy hybrid QWERTY keyboard • Takes sharp pictures • Fast operation and autofocus • Help button provides useful information • Includes additional flash accessory • Strong audio file support • Touch screen • Built-in accelerometer • Video output • Line-in, FM, and voice recording • Excellent battery life • Compact design • Easy to use • No PC needed • Comes with a microSD card with 1,000 songs from Billboard charts • Affordable • Upward-angled for desktop listening • Intriguing, attractive design • Fast disc load times • Solid DVD upconversion • Supports Netflix instant streaming • Maps for U.S. and Canada • Easy to use • Text-to-speech • Live traffic updates 18 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION APRIL 2009 • Supports HD files, HDMI-out • Easy setup • Intuitive, simple user interface • Wi-Fi compatible • Useful remote • Finicky touch screen • Weak reception • Lacks a standard 3.5mm headphone jack • Poor Web browsing and video playback • Some UI-related snafus • Useless video-recording mode • Images can be noisy at or above ISO 800 • Camera recycle times slow down after a few shots in a row • LCD can’t be used as a viewfinder • Touch screen is not very sensitive • User interface can be difficult to navigate • Volume controls are disabled in some screens • Monochrome display • Can’t skip backward • No auto-off when no earphones are plugged in • Distortion at high volumes • No remote control • Speakers are hardwired to one another • BD-Live functionality requires external USB-based storage device • Some on-player controls are difficult to operate • Mounting bracket is a bit awkward to use • Low speaker volume • No SD card slot for map expansion • Limited selection of titles • Downloads take a long time • No WPA2 wireless The Quickfire misses the mark as a music phone, though it’s an effective Sidekick clone for those with AT&T. T-Mobile has smoothed over some of the rough edges of the original Shadow, but it’s still tough to recommend this device. Although the Editors’ Choice Canon EOS Rebel XSi produces better shots in low light, the Pentax K2000 has comparable speed and image sharpness—and it costs a hundred bucks less. The S9 is designed to resemble the iPod touch, but the player lacks the grace and Wi-Fi connectivity necessary to be a true rival. If modern radio hits are your thing, the tiny Sansa slotRadio player is a great value—1,000 songs (plus the device) for $100. Just be prepared for a no-frills listening experience. The FX2020 speakers are by no means powerful, and you don’t get a lot of bass. But a cool design and a low price make them ideal for the office. The BD300 is the fastest Blu-ray player we’ve tested, and its support for Netflix instant streaming is a nice bonus that comes with this solid value. TomTom’s new entry-level GPS offers a lot of bang for the buck from a navigation leader. Despite some limitations, the MediaPoint makes a nice complement to Blockbuster’s DVD and online offerings. GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA data networks; 2.8-inch, 240-by-320 TFT LCD; 1.3MP camera; 4.3 by 2.2 by 0.7 inches (HWD); 4.8 ounces. Windows Mobile Pocket PC; GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA data networks; 2.2-inch, 240-by-320 LCD; 2MP camera; 4.1 by 2.1 by 0.6 inches (HWD); 5.3 ounces. 10.2MP resolution; 2.7-inch LCD; accepts SD flash memory; 3.6 by 4.8 by 2.7 inches (HWD); 1.7 pounds. 16GB flash memory; 3.3-inch screen; 480-by-272 maximum resolution; supports FLAC, MP3, OGG, WMA, and WAV audio formats; 4.2 by 2.2 by 0.5 inches (HWD); 2.7 ounces. microSD card included; 1.5-inch screen; MP3 and WMA audio formats supported; 1.9 by 1.9 by 0.6 inches (HWD); 1.3 ounces. Computer speakers; two channels; 7.5 watts RMS per channel; 5 by 5 by 6.5 inches (HWD). Composite, component, and HDMI video outputs; Toslink and coaxial, HDMI, and stereo RCA audio; Ethernet port; 2.3 by 16.9 by 10.9 inches (HWD); 6.8 pounds. Supports Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard flash memory; 3.5-inch touch-screen display; 3.8 by 3.2 by 1.0 inches (HWD); 7.2 ounces. Remote control; 8GB internal flash memory; 802.11g Wi-Fi; two USB ports; composite, component, HDMI, and RCA outputs; Ethernet port; 1.0 by 8.0 by 8.0 inches (HWD).
Lenovo ThinkPad USB PorTaBLe SecUre drive Lockable, Portable Hard Drive Drive security is getting to be a hot-button issue; witness the recent story about a lost MP3 player with military data on it being resold in a pawn shop. The problem with so-called “secure” hard drives has traditionally been that they have too many limitations. This Lenovo external drive transcends those limitations by internalizing its security—it looks just like a plain old hard drive to Windows or Mac OS X. It’s hardware-encrypted (with 128-bit AES) and easy to use—what more could you ask for? At first glance, the 0.5-by-3.5-by-4.5-inch (HWD), 320GB Secure Drive looks like a USB numeric keypad. An LED indicator tells you the drive’s status, and the casing is clad in the same rubberized coating that gives Lenovo’s ThinkPad notebooks their distinctive and sturdy feel. You can add up to ten users (in addition to the administrator), each with a unique access code. That way, the drive can be passed from person to person while remaining secure, with each user having access to all the data on it. In testing, the Secure Drive scored very well on PCMark05, turning in 3,126—exceptional for an external storage drive. It was also fast in simple dragand-drop copying, taking only 52 seconds to transfer our 1.2GB test folder. To be sure, FireWire and eiZo coLoredGe cG222W A 22-inch Display for Imaging Pros The CG222W is not your typical 22-inch desktop monitor, nor does it claim to be. Instead, this display is aimed at photographers, graphics artists, and designers who demand consistent and accurate performance and are willing to pay a premium for it. The CG222W uses a 22-inch, wide-gamut S-PVA (Super Patterned Vertical Alignment) panel with a maximum resolution of 1,680-by-1,050 and a 16millisecond pixel response rate (black-to-white). In testing, the display delivered as promised. Color swatches from our DisplayMate tests were vivid and bright and appeared uniform across the color scale. Unfortunately, this monitor does not offer HDMI connectivity, but you do get dual DVI-I ports, as well as three USB ports. I was also very impressed with the CG222W’s viewing-angle prowess. Images remained clear and bright from all sides (horizontally and vertically) out to around 175 degrees. The main difference between the CG222W and mainstream displays has to do with color calibra- first looks BUsiNEss eSATA drives have the potential to be faster, but the Secure Drive pays no performance penalties for its security. At about $0.68/GB, the drive is a bit pricey. You can get a nonprotected 500GB drive for the same total price as the Secure Drive (about $0.44/ GB). But for its target audience, the extra security is worth the money. If you’re a businessperson who needs to pass sensitive data physically from one computer to another, or if you want to back up your files with another layer of security, the Secure Drive is a perfect choice.—Joel Santo Domingo tion. This monitor uses the more accurate (and more costly) ColorEdge technology, which calibrates by programming the monitor’s internal circuitry to change the way colors are reproduced on the screen. To take advantage of this, however, you’ll need EIZO’s proprietary Color Navigator software and a colorimeter. Although expensive, the CG222W is a boon to imaging professionals.—John R. Delaney Lenovo ThinkPad USB Portable Secure Drive (320GB) $319 list L l l l h Pros deadsimple security. Supports up to ten users. no software install needed. Mac compatible. nice keypad feel. Permanently attached USB cable. intelligently designed carrying pouch. Cons Pricey on a dollarper-GB basis. no software included. needs included USB auxiliary power cable for heavy write sessions. Some security experts may consider its numerical code system too simplistic. Click here for more. EIZO ColorEdge CG222W $1,499 list l l l h m Pros very good color quality. Great light grayscale reproduction. color calibration capabilities. Fully adjustable stand. Cons Lacks hdMi input. expensive. does not support auto-rotation. dark grayscale performance could be better. Click here for more. aPriL 2009 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION 19
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