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Star Wars: The Old Republic Goes Free To Play

Subject: General Tech | November 21, 2012 - 07:14 PM |
Tagged: Star Wars, pc gaming, gaming, free to play, F2P

Bioware announced on Friday that its Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO is now Free 2 Play. As a result, my productivity over the weekend suddenly dropped dramatically (heh). The subscription option is not gone entirely, but players are now able to create characters up to level 50 without paying anything. This approach is similar to the way World of Warcraft and Star Trek Online handle the Free to Play model.

Star Wars The Old Republic Screenshot.jpg

Installation is simple, and is just a matter of walking through a few standard steps and accepting the EULA. While the initial download for the installer is small, you cannot jump into the game until you download all of the assets -- and Star Wars: The Old Republic is far from a lightweight game with an asset download of about 25GB required to play (plus future smaller patches).

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As a free subscriber you get access to the entire game, but there are several other limitations that might just annoy you into purchasing a subscription. If you are vigilant, it is possible not to pay anything. Some of the larger restrictions include XP-rates, number of characters per account, medical probes, reduced reward choices, and not being able to sprint until level 15 of all things (!). After level 10, the rate at which you gain experience points is reduced compared to paying subscribers. As an alternative, you can purchase XP boosters to make up the difference. Unfortunately, you cannot purchase it with in-game currency. At least it’s another one-time charge instead of paying every month for a subscription. The number of characters per account is restricted to two, so you will need to delete one or pony up for a subscription if you want to play as additional classes to get their stories. That’s unfortunate, but not a deal breaker and something that Star Trek Online also does. Medical probes allow you to respawn in the same area as opposed to respawning at a medical center. This would not be so bad if it was not for the biggest issue I have with the Free To Play version: getting around the game takes forever! With a quick travel that has a 2 hour cooldown and not being able to sprint until level 15, it takes a long time to get from mission areas and back again. This became especially evident on Coruscant where walking from the taxis to the senate tower in particular was a slog.

With all the major limitations out of the way, I will say that the game is just as good as my friend has been trying to tell me since launch. In particular, SWTOR is really fun, and I would even go as far as saying it is addicting. While it is not KOTOR 3, it is really close and definitely fills in a gap. It definitely encourages you to go for the subscription option but it is enoyable enough that the restrictions are worth putting up with, however annoying.

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When I started out, the combat took a bit of getting used to, as you move around with WASD, aim the camera with the mouse, and also right click to attack. With ranged weapons it will likely not be an issue but when you are running in with a lightsaber, it may take a bit of training before you hurt the enemies more than yourself (heh). I wish that there was a keyboard key to auto-target the nearest enemy, especially since my companion just loves to walk in front of me when I'm trying to target someone with the mouse (KOTOR did combat that way, from what I remember). The force abilities of the Jedi Consular are satisfying indeed.

(Hint, if you go with the Jedi Shadow option as I did when you chose an advanced class, you get a free double bladed lightsaber in a backpack that shows up in your inventory--the game doesn’t make this clear at all and it took me reading on a forum after looking around the game for a couple hours trying to find a double bladed saber that is required for some of the Jedi Consular’s abilities... It ended up being in my inventory the whole time, d’oh).

You can grab the game from Bioware’s SWTOR website. If you are a Star Wars fan, I encourage you to try it out for yourself. The download is huge but ultimately worth it. Just keep an eye on the time as otherwise you may look up and notice it’s 5 AM and you missed all the Black Friday deals!

What do you think of SW:TOR?

Source: SWTOR

Dear Intel, please get someone other than Curly to name your systems

Subject: Systems | November 21, 2012 - 06:49 PM |
Tagged: nuc, Intel

Intel's rather poorly named Next Unit of Computing is much more impressive than it sounds.  In a 4" x 4" x 2" box is a Core i3-3217U on a QS77 Express motherboard, two DDR3 DIMMs, a mini-PCIe Intel 520 Series SSD and a WiFi card which gives you performance far above any Atom powered micro machine.  Connectivity includes Thunderbolt, HDMI and up to 5 USB 3.0 ports and it is powered by a small 65W external brick.  The Tech Report were impressed by the overall performance, especially when trying out PC Perspective's favourite shooter from 2004.  At an MSRP around $300, this is a great choice for someone who needs more power than an Atom based machine but doesn't want to pay the premium for a full laptop.

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"Intel has crammed a pretty capable PC into a box that will fit into the palm of your hand and dubbed it the "Next Unit of Computing." With its Ultrabook guts, we think it should've been called the Ultrabox. Whatever you call it, though, the NUC offers a possible glimpse at the future of desktop PCs"

Here are some more Systems articles from around the web:

Systems

Source: The Tech Report

Nine Middle Weight PSUs battle it out

Subject: Cases and Cooling | November 21, 2012 - 04:18 PM |
Tagged: PSU, modular psu, corsair, Chieftek, cooler master, zalman

The 600-700W range is very popular with enthusiasts who either have a pair of fairly powerful GPUs or a single top of the line GPU, as they don't quite need a kilowatt class PSU.  X-bit Labs put together a roundup which features 9 PSUs from Corsair, Chieftek, Cooler Master and Zalman some modular and some with permanently connected wiring.  It was the Corsair TX650 which received the Recommended Buy award though Cooler Master came close to winning as well.  Some of the other models fared poorly thanks to the lack of proper voltage regulation or in one case fan regulation.  Check out the full review here.

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"We would like to talk about nine power supply units from the most popular 600-700 W wattage range, which represent six different series of devices from four manufacturers: Chieftec, Cooler Master, Corsair and Zalman."

Here are some more Cases & Cooling reviews from around the web:

CASES & COOLING

Source: X-bit Labs

"It's better than Far Cry 2"

Subject: General Tech | November 21, 2012 - 03:13 PM |
Tagged: far cry 3, uplay, ubisoft, gaming

Being better than Far Cry 2 is not a difficult achievement but absolutely necessary if you want to entice PC gamers to pick up the third instalment and according to Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN that bar has been surpassed.  While they are not in love with the mystic portions of the main quest they were fans of the dialogue and the fact that you are not a silent protagonist.  While you start with a single gun there is no reason you can't kill and skin a goat to make yourself another holster so that you can carry a second.  You'll have to wait a while longer to blow up crocodiles with claymores for yourself but in the mean time you can live vicariously through this review.

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"It’s also layered in skill trees, and a (largely superfluous) inventory, to make this game feel like it has a lot more going on than some other open-world shooters we could mention. The result is a little Skyrim-with-guns, yes, but in Skyrim I never caused two bandit jeeps to crash into each other, only to set fire to half of the jeep passengers with the flamethrower, and watch the other half be eaten alive by giant lizards. No, sir."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Gaming

Source: Rock, Paper, SHOTGUN

Starcraft 2 World Championship '12 Spoiler: South Korea Wins

Subject: General Tech, Shows and Expos | November 21, 2012 - 02:58 PM |
Tagged: starcraft 2

Starcraft is one of those franchises which fit the spectator game mold. The action can start as early as two minutes in and either player could buckle and break at any moment. Spectators anticipate how chosen tactics will interact before the players are privy to all the required information and appreciate the skill of the execution as it happens.

Enough tournaments are held throughout the year that many upper-tier players need to choose where they will participate. The South Korean GSL and American MLG are two of the most popular tournament organizations but when developer-publisher Blizzard hosts an international tournament with $250,000 USD of prizes it instantly proves its worth.

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The 2012 Battle.net World Championship wrapped up from Shanghai, China over the last weekend. Competitors from 14 countries on five continents clashed until we were left with South Korea taking Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

There was not too much Terran love present this year with just four of the 32 finalists needing to construct additional supply depots. Quarterfinals saw an even split between Protoss and Zerg which eventually paired down to a Protoss versus Protoss finale.

The Gold Medalist PartinG received a PartinG gift, heh heh, of $100,000. This prize makes him the second-highest earning Protoss competitor behind Korean MC of team oGs.

Blizzard has already booked next year’s tournament to coincide with BlizzCon 2013 which will return after its 2012 hiatus.

Source: Liquipedia

A light in the quantum cryptography tunnel

Subject: General Tech, Networking | November 21, 2012 - 02:15 PM |
Tagged: quantum encryption, security

One of the biggest hurdles to implementing quantum cryptography has been vaulted, with researchers finding a way to transmit the key over a non-dedicated connection.  Previously because of the inherent noise in a fibre channel transmitting general data the key would be lost and so a separate fibre channel was needed which only the keys were able to transmit but thanks to researchers at Toshiba’s Cambridge Research Laboratory it is now possible to send the keys on existing fibre which also carries other data.  They have created a detector which can open for a mere 100 millionths of a micro-second and receive the key, with the detection window being so quick there is not time for noise to interfere and the wrong photon be detected as the key.  The Register reports they can transmit keys over a line running at 500kbps for 50km and still have the key properly detected.

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"Traditionally it has been necessary to use dedicated fibre to send the single photons (particles of light) that are required for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). This has restricted any applications of quantum cryptography technology to specialist and small-scale systems in banks and high-level government, essentially because of the extra inconvenience and cost required in allocating a dedicated fibre strand for quantum key distribution."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Tech Talk

Source: The Register

Deals for November 21st - Acer Predator Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge Gaming PC

Subject: General Tech | November 21, 2012 - 01:17 PM |
Tagged: deals

Top deal

Acer Predator Intel Core i7 Ivy Bridge Gaming PC w/ 12GB DDR3, NVIDIA GeForce GT 630, 2TB HDD for $839.99 with shipping @ TigerDirect (normally $1000).

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Laptops

Dell Black Friday: 15.6" Vostro 3560 Core i5 Ivy Bridge Laptop for $554.00 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $750 – use coupon code 051348KD$Z8QDB).

12" Lenovo ThinkPad X230 Core i5 Ultraportable Laptop for $695.20 with free shipping @ Lenovo (normally $900 – use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY).

Dell Black Friday: 14" Latitude E5430 Core i3 Laptop + Free $100 Gift Card for $474.00 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $830 – use coupon code 051348KD$Z8QDB).

14" Dell Latitude E6430u Core i3 Ultrabook for $849.00 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $1,353 – use coupon code X?TWNHV1G8VMCB).

Desktops

Dell Black Friday: Vostro 270s Core i5 Ivy Bridge Slim Tower Desktop for $424.00 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $850 - use coupon code: 051348KD$Z8QDB)

Dell Black Friday: Vostro 270s Core i3 Ivy Bridge Slim Tower Desktop w/ (2) DUAL 20-inch LCD Monitors for $576.30 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $814.00 - use coupon code: LB5?4$ZKQRCL21)

Dell Black Friday: Optiplex 3010 Core i3 Ivy Bridge Mini Tower for $454.00 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $832.00 - use coupon code: 051348KD$Z8QDB)

Dell Black Friday: Optiplex 580 Dual-core AMD Desktop w/ Windows 7 Professional for $269.00 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $550 - use coupon code: 9LCDVNKFWTPT9P)

Computer Components

Seagate Barracuda 3TB 64MB Cache 3.5" Internal Hard Drive for $109.99 plus free shipping (normally $170).

Dell Black Friday: 30" UltraSharp U3011 2560 x 1600 IPS-panel LCD Monitor for $1,049.00 with free shipping (normally $1,400).

Entertainment

55" LG 55LS4500 1080p 120Hzへるつ LED HDTV for $899.99 with free shipping (normally $1,000).

40" Samsung UN40EH5300 1080p 120Hzへるつ LED HDTV + Samsung BD-E5300 Blu-ray Player Bundle for $599.00 with free shipping (normally $700).

37" LG 37CS560 1080p LCD HDTV for $399.99 with Free Shipping (normally $1,600).

Samsung HT-E5400 5.1 Channel Smart 3D Blu-Ray Home Theater System for $269.99 with free shipping (normally $399).

Accessories

Samsung Galaxy S III Smartphone [Verizon] for $59.99 plus free shipping (normally $200).

Source: LogicBuy

ADATA puts out the second version of their XPG Gaming RAM

Subject: Memory | November 20, 2012 - 07:44 PM |
Tagged: adata, DDR3-2400

For DDR3-2400 the Dual Channel ADATA XPG Gaming Series 8GB kit has decent timings @ 11-13-13-35.  Neoseeker's testing was not without problems however as Windows refused to boot at the full 2400MHz on their MSI Big Bang XPower II, instead they had to run at 2133MHz though the timings were tightened to 10.13.13.31 1T.  Performance fell in line with other similar kits at that speed, perhaps not at the top of the pack but certainly in the running.  They are out of stock at NewEgg, but you might be able to lay your hands on these fancy green DIMMs from another retailer.

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"ADATA hopes to join the ranks of the big boys in the gaming memory market with their XPG Gaming v2.0 series of memory kits. We review the DDR3-2400 8GB dual channel kit and put head to head against the likes of G.Skill's Ripjaws Z, Patriot's Viper III and the Corsair Dominator GT to see how well it can compete."

Here are some more Memory articles from around the web:

Memory

Source: Neoseeker

ASUS, please offer us an alternative to IPS displays

Subject: Displays | November 20, 2012 - 04:33 PM |
Tagged: asus, PLS, lcd, 2560x1440, PB278Q, 27

Before they even turned the ASUS PB278Q on, Hardware Canucks had formed several opinions about the monitor; on the positive side the stand was very versatile and more stable than other 27" displays but on the negative side was the complete lack of an anti-glare coating.  The OSD was quite comprehensive, especially if you contrast it with some of the  high definition displays from Korea we have seen recently.  The overall performance of monitor was not quite up to the Samsung SyncMaster 27A850 which is another PLS display on the market, however you can get the ASUS display for at least $100 less which may make it the preferred choice of those needing something better than a TN display but can't afford the top model.

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"PLS panel technology hasn't been around for all that long but it has already made a lasting mark upon the display market. ASUS' new PB278Q puts this technology to good use in a 27" 2560 x 1440 WQHD monitor that is targeted towards gamers and professionals alike."

Here are some more Display articles from around the web:

Displays

Source: Hardware Canucks

Samsung's new 21nm Toggle TLC Flash based Series 840 SSDs

Subject: Storage | November 20, 2012 - 03:48 PM |
Tagged: Samsung, 840, tlc

As part of their review of the Samsung 840 250GB SSD, The Tech Report covers the specifics of the TLC flash memory which is used in the 840 series as opposed to the MLC we saw in the 830 series.   As well they show off some of the capabilities of the control software, which Samsung has dubbed the SSD Magician utility.  Of course from there the benchmarking begins which showed performance continually below the similarly priced 830 series which hurts the new SSDs on the price to performance chart.  Overall they are hard pressed to recommend the drive over the previous models, not only because of the performance but also the shortened lifespan of TLC flash.  As that flash technology matures we may see those concerns fade, as Allyn pointed out in his review.

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"Samsung's 840 Series SSD combines a next-gen fabrication process with an extra bit per cell to lower the cost per gigabyte. We take a closer look at the implications and see how the drive stacks up against the competition."

Here are some more Storage reviews from around the web:

Storage

Source: The Tech Report

AMD Never Settle Sweepstakes Part 1: HIS Radeon HD 7770 IceQ X 1GB CrossFire

Subject: Graphics Cards | November 20, 2012 - 03:09 PM |
Tagged: never settle, his, hd 7770, amd

AMD is really excited about its Never Settle campaign and the bundle packages it has built for the holiday season.  PC gamers looking for an uprade will defintely want to read up on the special promotion but we have another surprise for you as well - FREE GRAPHICS CARDS!

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AMD and HIS are partnering up with PC Perspective to hand out a pair of HIS Radeon HD 7770 IceQ X 1GB cards to a single winner, perfect for a CrossFire setup in your PC!

Not only do you get the cards in this sweet contest but you'll get the same software bundle as if you had purchased them at retail.

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That means a 20% off coupon for Medal of Honor Warfighter, a FREE copy of Far Cry 3 and a FREE copy of Hitman: Absolution!  (Which we happen to be doing a live stream of with even MORE stuff to give away!)

What do you have to do to enter to win this hardware?  It couldn't be easier:

  1. Visit your favorite PC Perspective pages like our YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter account.  You should subscribe, like and follow us, you know...if you want to.  We'd appreciate it!
  2. Check out the AMD Never Settle page to read up on the bundle and special offers they are running right now!
  3. Leave a comment here on this post!

That's it - we love our fans so we want to make sure EVERYONE gets a chance to win some free stuff! 

We will close the contest on Monday the 26th at 1pm EST or so - so get your entries in!  Thanks again for being a fan of PC Perspective, thanks to AMD for the great prizes and stay tuned for MORE contests and giveaways in the coming days!

Source: PC Perspective

Now Intel owns 3DLabs and they may be making better mobiles with them

Subject: General Tech, Mobile | November 20, 2012 - 01:47 PM |
Tagged: Intel, Creative, SoC, ziilabs

Ziilabs might not be a name you recognize now, but it is one you were likely familiar with at one time.  That is the current name of 3DLabs which was purchased by Creative back in 2002 and is now responsible for SoC development at Creative, especially integrating the StemCell media processor into the ARM chips which make the basis of the mobile processors.  Intel paid $30 million for physical resources and assets along with $20 million for patents, giving them the ability to move from their current solution for Atom processors, PowerVR to the StemCell architecture.  Could it be possible that with a stronger Atom that Intel might be able to power more cell phones and take a larger share of that market as well?  Check out more at The Inquirer.

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"CHIPMAKER Intel will license patents from Ziilabs and purchase assets from the UK based chip designer.

Ziilabs is a UK based subsidiary of Creative Technology focusing on system on chip (SoC) designs for smartphones and tablets. While the firm has yet to register on the public conciousness, it clearly has been on Intel's radar for a while and announced a $50m asset sale and patent licensing deal."

Here is some more Tech News from around the web:

Tech Talk

Source: The Inquirer

PCPer Live! Hitman: Absolution Game Stream - Win Games and Graphics Cards!

Subject: General Tech, Graphics Cards | November 20, 2012 - 01:06 PM |
Tagged: video, tahiti, radeon, never settle, live, hitman: absolution, amd

UPDATE: If you missed the event last night we have the full replay here for you!  Enjoy!

On November 20th on the PC Perspective Live! page we will be streaming some single player game action of the new Hitman: Absolution.  If you have never played a Hitman game before I think PC gamers will love the combination of action and stealth as well as some of the humor you'll find in the assassination attempts. 

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Image from Videogamer.com

Hitman: Absolution Game Stream

5pm PT / 8pm ET - November 20th

PC Perspective Live! Page

The stream will be sponsored by AMD and its Never Settle game bundles which we previously told you about.  Depending on the AMD Radeon HD 7000 series GPU that you buy this holiday season you could get as much as $170 in gaming content including:

  • FREE Sleeping Dogs
  • FREE Hitman: Absolution
  • FREE Far Cry 3
  • 20% off Medal of Honor Warfighter

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AMD's Robert Hallock (@Thracks on twitter) will be joining us via Skype to talk about the game's technology, performance considerations as well as making fun of attempts at effectively offing some fools.

Of course, just to sweeten the deal a bit we have some prizes lined up for those of you that participate in our Hitman: Absolution Game Stream:

  • 2 x Sapphire FleX HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB (!!)
  • 3 x Complete Never Settle Bundles (Sleeping Dogs, Hitman, Far Cry 3, 20% Off MoH)
  • 5 x Sleeping Dogs keys
  • 5 x Hitman: Absolution keys
  • 5 x Far Cry 3 keys

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Pretty nice, huh?  That's a LOT of games (as well as some Radeon graphics cards) and all you have to do to win is be present on the PC Perspective Live! Page during the event as we will announce both the content/sweepstakes method AND the winners!

Stop in on the 20th for some PC gaming fun!!

Source: PC Perspective Live!

Digital Storm Bolt Mini-ITX Gaming PC Review

Author:
Date: November 20, 2012
Subject: Systems
Manufacturer: Digital Storm
Tagged: video, mini-itx, Ivy Bridge, gtx 660 Ti, Digital Storm, bolt

A small, custom chassis

A couple of months ago Digital Storm contacted us about a new design they were working on that they claimed would easily become the highest performance, smallest custom PC on the market.  The result of that talk was the new Digital Storm Bolt, a system designed in-house by DS to target PC gamers that want a powerful PC without the bulk of traditional desktop designs.

Digital Storm claims that the Bolt is the "thinnest, most powerful gaming PC ever designed" and we tend to agree.  This is not chassis that you can buy off the shelf but instead was custom designed for this system and actually requires some very specific hardware for it to function completely.  Items like a 1U power supply, 90 degree PCI Express riser extensions and slim-line optical drives aren't found in your standard gaming PCs.

Available in several starting "levels" of configuration, the Digital Storm Bolt can include processors from the Core i3-2100 all the way up to the Core i7-3770K and graphics cards starting at the GTX 650 Ti 2GB and increasing to the GTX 680 2GB.  Our system came with the following hardware:

  • Intel Core i5-3570K @ 4.2 GHz
  • Low Profile CPU Heatsink
  • 8GB DDR3 1600 MHz memory
  • GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2GB
  • 60GB cache SSD + 1TB 7200 RPM HDD
  • Gigabyte GA-Z77N-WiFi motherboard
  • 1U 500 watt power supply
  • Windows 7 Home Premium x64
  • Custom DS Bolt Chassis

Starting cost for this configuration is $1,599.

Check out our quick video review!

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The box the Bolt ships in is pretty timid compared to some of the crates that have hit our office recently but that's just fine by me.  Due to the small size of the case though I have actually had some laptop boxes (the Alienware M18x comes to mind) that were bigger!

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There she is, the Digital Storm Bolt, a combination of custom steel case design and fingerprint-loving piano black paint.  Measuring just 14-in tall and 3.6-in wide the case is going to be able to fit and blend in places other desktops simply could not.

Continue reading our review of the Digital Storm Bolt system!!

Deals for November 20th - Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G Security IP Camera for $123

Subject: General Tech | November 20, 2012 - 01:01 PM |
Tagged: deals

Top deal

Cisco WVC210 Wireless-G Security IP Camera for $123.49 with shipping @ Cisco (normally $30 - 5% coupon code: HSDISH5).

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Laptops

15.6" Lenovo Ideapad Y500 Core i7 Ivy Bridge Gaming Laptop for $849.00 with free shipping @ Lenovo (normally $1,149.00).

14" Lenovo Ideapad Y400 Core i7 Ivy Bridge Gaming Laptop for $849.00 with free shipping @ Lenovo (normally $1,350).

Desktops

HP Spectre ONE 23-e010se 23.6" Core i5 Ivy Bridge Slim All-in-one PC w/ Trackpad for $974.99 with free shipping @ HP (normally $1,299.99 - use coupon code: DT1261)

HP ENVY 23-d060qd TouchSmart 23" 1080p Core i7 Ivy Bridge All-in-one for $974.99 with free shipping @ HP (normally $1,299.99 - use coupon code: DT1261)

Computer Components

Netgear R6300 Wireless-AC Dual-Band 450+1300Mbps Gigabit Router + USB Adapter for $240 plus free shipping (normally $270 – use coupon codeDUR77023).

Linksys E3200 Dual-Band Gigabit Ethernet USB Port Wireless-N Router (Refurbished) for $62 with free shipping (normally $120 - Use coupon code HSDISH5).

Logitech Touch Wireless Mouse T620 for $59 with free shipping (normally $70 - Use coupon code P83Q8GXNJK9Q0R).

Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 2TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive for $108 plus free shipping (normally $120 - Use coupon code VJ7$295NPV28MN).

WD My Passport 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive for $90 plus free shipping (normally $100 - Use coupon code VJ7$295NPV28MN).

Entertainment

46" 50" LG 50LS4000 1080p 120Hzへるつ LED HDTV for $699.99 with free shipping (normally $800).

46" Element ELDFW464 1080p LCD HDTV for $379.99 with Free Shipping (normally $500).

26" Westinghouse CW26S3CW 720p LCD HDTV for $164.98 with Free Shipping (normally $230).

Panasonic DMP-BD87 Blu-ray Player for $87.99 (normally $120).

Accessories

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W650 Silver 16MP Digital Camera for $88 plus free shipping (normally $158).

Canon PowerShot A4000 IS 16MP Silver Digital Camera for $100 plus free shipping (normally $180).

Source: LogicBuy

Western Digital releases 4TB Black series HDD

Subject: Storage | November 20, 2012 - 10:35 AM |
Tagged: WD, western digital, Black, 4TB, hdd

Today Western Digital announced their new 4TB Black Series HDD. This new drive boasts some features normally reserved for their RE (enterprise) series drives, such as dual processors and dual stage actuator tech. This 7200 RPM unit comes with the now standard 64MB cache and SATA 6Gb/sec interface. We will be reviewing a sample upon its arrival, but I suspect performance will be close to the RE series, albeit without the additional enterprise-specific features.

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The 4TB Black kicks off at an MSRP of $339. Hopefully we see some 4TB Greens and Reds out of Western Digital shortly - as those should be at a lower cost and be more suited to the typical mass-storage applications of such a high capacity drive.

Press blast after the break:

Source: WD 4TB Black Product Page

Dell XPS One 27 All-in-One System Review: Big Screen, One Wire

Author:
Date: November 19, 2012
Subject: Systems
Manufacturer: Dell
Tagged: XPS One, xps, windows 8, Windows 7, PLS, i7 3770S, GeForce 640M, dell, 27

The Dell All-in-One

 

Reviewers, at times, can be somewhat myopic.  I speak for myself in this particular instance.  My job as a writer is to test hardware on a daily basis, and as such I have a very keen understanding (or so I hope) of the intricacies of computer design.  If I need to build a machine, whether for test purposes or something that my wife can play Song Pop on, I have a near infinite variety of components that I can choose from to fit the needs of the project.  As such, we often forget that not everyone has that level of expertise.  Most people, in fact, just want to be able to buy something that not only fits their needs, but also simply just has to work.

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Dog is unimpressed with packaging.  UPS complained profusely though.

This is the reason why we have the Dells, HPs, and Lenovos of the world.  The vast majority of people out there are unwilling to build their own machine and support it themselves.  They neither have the time nor patience to dive in and learn the ins and outs of a modern PC and the software that runs them.  This is not a bad thing.  Just as I do not have the patience to learn how to sew, I still like wearing clothes.  At least during our podcasts.  For the most part.

We must also admit that we are moving well away from the typical beige box that dominated the 90s and early 2000s.  Manufacturers have a much better eye for not only functionality, but also aesthetics.  No longer do we have the hulking CRTs of yesteryear, and neither do we have the large boxes that are nearly indistinguishable from one or another.  Multiple form factors abound and these large manufacturers have design teams that pay very close attention to things like compatibility, power consumption, and thermal dissipation.  With these things in mind, they are able to create unique devices that not just serve the needs of consumers, but also just simply work.

Apple has been at the forefront of this type of design for quite some time.  This is a company that has prized fit, finish, and functionality far more than they have pursued cost cutting and homogenization.  This has lead to much higher margins for the company, and a nearly rabid following by the people buying their platforms.  We certainly can argue that they probably perfected the “all-in-one” machine back in the Macintosh days, and since that time they have not stood still.  The iMac was a further advancement in that field, but the introduction of relatively inexpensive and large LCD panels allowed them to further shrink the all-in-one.  It also allowed them to further sculpt the design into what we see today.

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Everything is nicely supported in the box.

Obviously people around the industry have noticed this trend, and noticed the devoted following of the Apple consumers.  It is hard to miss.  The world is a big place though, and surely there are people who crave the type of design that Apple pushes, but do not necessarily want to jump on that particular bandwagon.  Dell has recognized this and created their XPS One lineup of products.  Not everyone wants to run OSX and pay the Apple tax.  If this is the case for a reader, then this might be the product that catches their attention.

Continue reading our review of the new Dell XPS One 27-in PC!!

Deals for November 19th - 29-in Dell 2560x1080 21:9 Monitor for $629

Subject: General Tech | November 19, 2012 - 04:35 PM |
Tagged: deals

Top deal

29" Dell UltraSharp U2913WM panoramic 2560 x 1080 LED-backlit LCD Monitor for $629.10 with shipping @ Dell (normally $700 - 10% coupon code: VJ7$295NPV28MN).

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Laptops

13.3" Acer Aspire S3 Core i7 Ultrabook w/128GB SSD for $814.99 with free shipping @ BuyDig (normally $1,288.99 – use coupon codeDigFallSave15).

Desktops

Dell Pre-Black Friday: XPS 8500 Core i7 "Ivy Bridge" Desktop w/ Windows 8 for $668.99 with free shipping @ Dell (normally $843.99)

Computer Components

Netgear R6300 Wireless-AC Dual-Band 450+1300Mbps Gigabit Router + USB Adapter for $240 plus free shipping (normally $270 – use coupon codeUR77023).

Buffalo MiniStation 500GB USB 2.0 Portable Hard Drive for $59.39 with free shipping (normally $66 - Use coupon code VJ7$295NPV28MN).

WD My Passport Essential 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive for $90 with free shipping (normally $100 - Use coupon code VJ7$295NPV28MN).

Entertainment

50" Sceptre X508BV-FHD 1080p LCD HDTV for $399.99 (normally $800 - use mail-in rebate: http://static.highspeedbackbone.net/rebates/TD-7583.pdf).

46" Samsung UN46EH6030 3D 120Hzへるつ 1080p LED HDTV for $649.99 with Free Shipping (normally $900).

LG BP325W 3D Built-in Wi-Fi Blu-ray Player for $69.99 with Free Shipping (normally $80).

Accessories

Sony Alpha NEX-5N DSLR 16MP Camera w/ 18-55mm Bundle for $629 plus shipping (normally $694).

Nikon D3200 24MP Digital SLR Camera Bundle with 18-55mm Lens for $600 plus free shipping (normally $830).

Realspace Brakerly High-Back Leather Chair for $99.99 plus free shipping (normally $259.99 – use coupon code367597258).

True Innovations Leather Massage Chair for $59.99 plus free shipping (normally $149.99 – use coupon code367597258).

Konica Minolta PagePro 4650EN Laser printer for $179 plus free shipping (normally $499).

Free Reader's Digest Magazine (1 year Digital Issues)

Source: LogicBuy

Too big for comfort? The Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Subject: Mobile | November 19, 2012 - 02:48 PM |
Tagged: Samsung, galaxy note 2, phablet

Even with its overly large body the original Samsung Galaxy Note sold well, as it sported a large screen to go with its large body.  The second version now has a slightly larger screen of 5.5" and slightly smaller body but not enough to shrink the phone noticeably.  Apart from its size the other unique feature that the Note 2 has is the S Pen which allows you to draw and write on the screen, a feature that attracted many users to the original model.  Also worth noting is the graphics chip, instead of the more common Snapdragon this phone has a Exynos processor which is up to most tasks but when running apps which are optimized for the other graphics chips you may notice the quality degrade a bit.  TechSpot has a full review of this phablet right here.

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"The Samsung Galaxy Note II is big. Colossally big. It's important to get that description out of the way because anyone who sees or holds the Galaxy Note II will have no choice but to be taken aback by how large is the phone-meets-tablet.

The same predicament made doubters believe that the original Galaxy Note was too big to succeed, but millions of phones sold later, that proved to be a false prediction. The Galaxy Note II is a smooth and dynamic experience from top to bottom. It's probably too big as a phone or too small as a tablet for most, but many will find it's a comfortable compromise between the two form factors."

Here are some more Mobile articles from around the web:

Mobile

Source: TechSpot

MSI's Z77A-GD55 is a brilliant budget board

Subject: Motherboards | November 19, 2012 - 01:10 PM |
Tagged: msi, Z77A-GD55, lga1155

Right now on NewEgg, the LGA1155 MSI Z77A-GD55 is a great deal at $130 after MIR and comes with a free 8GB dual channel DDR3-1600 Ripjaws kit from G.Skill.  For that low price you get a pair of PCIe 3.0 16x slots, a single 4x and four 1x slots along with two SATA 6Gbs ports and four SATA II ports capable of RAID, 10 USB 2.0 ports and a pair of USB 3.0 ports.  Those ports, along with the array of audio and video connectors on the backplate should provide enough connectivity for the majority of users with space to upgrade. [H]ard|OCP are not fans of the Double-Click BIOS II, with this implementation being no worse than other MSI boards and they did have some problems with the Control Center software, however with the very stable performance and easy overclocking ability of the board they highly recommend it for anyone looking for a budget conscious Ivy Bridge system.

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"This motherboard might be a bit off-the-radar for most enthusiasts since it is a bit "down the scale." However, if you want a lot of bang for your buck, then look no further than MSI's Z77A-GD55. While it's somewhat basic in features it's overclocking performance is stellar for the price, which is very value oriented."

Here are some more Motherboard articles from around the web:

Motherboards

Source: [H]ard|OCP
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