COvERSTORY Work. Party. Relax 100+ Product Reviews for Every Need Whatever you want to do, there’s an electronics gadget or product out there to make your life more convenient. We delve into the key technology innovations powering these devices today — Anil Chopra
t’s amazing how technology becomes technology is evolving across various types a part of our daily lives so of products. This is essential in order to quickly that we end up get a wholistic view about what sort Itaking it for granted, as of technologies are “in”, what’s if it always existed, and then becoming obsolete, and what’s start demanding for more. still evolving and will become This never quenching thirst hot in the near future. After for more is what drives all, you don’t want to end the technology industry up buying a product that to introduce ever-better would become obsolete products and technologies. tomorrow, nor would you But as they say, that the want to spend out of proof of the pudding lies in your nose for a technol- eating it. That’s why this time, ogy that’s still evolv- we bring you over a 100 product ing (unless you have reviews that reflect this innova- money to blow away tion and help you in all your tasks, of course!), and whether you’re working, partying, or will soon become much relaxing! Incidentally, these products more affordable. were also nominated for NDTV’s prestig- ious Gadget Guru Awards, for which PC- Let’s look at what’s Quest was the official knowledge partner. happening We first conducted comprehensive tests Wearable Displays enter on these products so that NDTV’s jury of the market, but the technology tech experts could identify the winners. In is not quite there yet: Imagine having this issue, we’ve carried reviews of most displays that you can wear just as you wear of those products to help you choose the your specs, only to get a virtual 3D world best one for your needs. right in front of your eyes. It’s no longer science fiction. So you don’t need to scan through zillions of websites New products like Epson’s Moverio wearable display to identify the right product to buy. It’s all here, in one are gradually turning this into reality. Simply wear the single reference guide. We’ve divided the products across display and get immersed in your own private world around 20 different categories and for various budget of entertainment. Watch movies, play games, surf the points, right from those that would catch the fancy of the web, shop, and much more, all in private. While this uber-rich to those for price sensitive buyers. technology is available today, it doesn’t work as smoothly While you scan through various product reviews that as it should, but the way things are moving, it should suit your needs, it’s also worthwhile to understand how become widespread soon.
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SATA 3.x, USB 3.0, and Micro USB have become common from regular to micro-and now Nano-SIMs, but the service ports on devices: Be careful about the device you’re buy- providers are just not able to keep up with the pace. Today, ing. If it only has lower version ports (SATA 2, USB 2.0, or you might end up waiting for a month before the service standard USB), then it’s best to look at other options. SATA provider can give you a nano-SIM. So consumers end up 3.x for instance allows hard drives and solid state drives finding other ways of cutting their existing SIMs down to to attain up to 6 Gbps throughput—double of SATA 2. size. Likewise, USB 3.0 allows up to 5 Gbps throughput against Virtualization to Keep personal and official data 480 Mbps given by USB 3.0. Likewise, micro-USB ports on separate: Another technology one can look forward to in devices are becoming very commonplace in most devices, smartphones is virtualization to load multiple operating especially for connecting phone chargers. systems, or segregate your personal/private and official Voice/Gesture recognition is the next big thing: If data. Plus, such powerful specs are also allowing vendors touch and multi-touch is the ‘in’ thing in most devices to enable multi-tasking in their products. today, then voice and gesture recognition will become Vendors adding NFC support, which is pointless if the default interactive technologies in the near future. Al- there’s no eco-system to support it: Near-Field Com- ready, you’ll find TVs that can be controlled with hand ges- munciation is gradually becoming common in high-end tures or voice. There are hybrids and convertible laptops smartphones, but as of now, there’s very limited use for it that let you swipe the screen without actually touching it. in India. So unless there’s a change in the eco-system, this In the future, you’ll find 3D webcams mounted on laptops technology won’t really pickup. that’ll let you play games without touching the screen. Wireless charging: This technology has recently made Make way for robots: Yes, robotics is gradually enter- an appearance in smartphones and we sincerely hope it ing our daily lives with companies like Milagrow have will become commonplace so that users are not always introduced robots that can clean your windows, give you a hunting for wall outlets to plug in their chargers. massage, etc. Battery backup still an issue:Speaking of charging, Android in cameras and other devices: Google’s popu- though smartphones are becoming ever more powerful, lar Android OS is moving out of the confines of smart- their batteries aren’t. We don’t think vendors are doing phones and tablets and into other devices. Samsung’s enough to improve battery life. So even the most powerful Galaxy Camera is based on Android. Amkette’s Evo TV is a smartphones require daily charging if you use even some box that runs Android, and converts any TV into a smart of their basic features like web browsing or WiFi. Why can’t TV. Likewise, Linux distros are making it possible to build vendors think out of the box to tackle this problem? Maybe credit card sized computers, like the Raspberry Pi. they could embed solar panels in smartphones to elimi- Another trend worth noting is that the number of nate the charging problem forever. If this feature is already Indian players in the gadgets space has increased consider- there and works beautifully in some wireless keyboards, ably. Besides well-known names like HCL, Intex, Reliance, then why not in smartphones? Vendors, are you listening? etc, companies like Micromax, Spice, Milagrow, etc are Expect More from Budget Phones: Good news is that also making a name for themselves by introducing prod- smartphones of yesterday are becoming budget phones ucts at compelling price points. of today. So you can buy a sub-10K phone (or even sub-5K in some cases) with all the bells and whistles that used to Smartphone Revolution be the pride of more expensive smartphones—like WiFi, Multi-core wars: If you’ve been in the IT industry long Bluetooth, 3G, and even multi-touch. enough, then you’ll remember the MegaHertz and Giga- Hertz wars in desktop CPUs. This later shifted to multi-core Key Innovations in Cameras wars followed by performance per watt wars. Now, the The mega –pixel count in digital cameras has gone up to same thing is happening in smartphones, only faster. In 50x even in prosumer cameras, and doubled in DSLRs from less than two years, the race has shifted from higher speed 12 MP to 24 MP. Moreover, most camera manufacturers CPUs to dual and now quad core CPU based smartphones. are busy outdoing one another in creating full-frame and Greater Memory, Larger Screen Sizes are in: Memory mirrorless cameras, which is good for buyers as it makes and storage capacity are also increasing, with support for these devices more affordable. up to 32 GB becoming commonplace. The hardware specs are becoming so powerful that the software on smart- WiFi and Bluetooth Enabling Wirefree Access phones is trying to play catch-up. Besides CPUs, screen to Audio, Videos, and Photos Across Devices sizes are increasing and touch technology has nearly re- Tired of hooking all those wires before you even think of placed the keypad. Smartphone vendors have also shifted enjoying your new home theatre system? Or did you wish pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] A P R I L 2 0 1 3 PCQuest 23 COvERSTORY Read This Before Making Your Next Purchase! Prominent vendors share decision-making criteria for evaluating different products, as well as why you should purchase the product at all in the first place
Kenichiro Mori Sudhindra Holla Rajeev Singh Rajiv Rao Managing Director, India Country Country Head and Director SMB Olympus Imaging Manager - Axis GM, BenQ India - Lenovo India India Pvt. Ltd. Communications
5 Things to Consider When Buying a Portable Computing a security camera. The important ones that need to be considered Product are – HDTV, Varying light and weather conditions, Various viewing Brand, performance, weight/size, price and warranty angles, storage capacity, Intelligent alarm system —Rajesh Goenka, VP Sales & Marketing, Rashi Peripherals —Sudhindra Holla, India Country Manager - Axis Communications (focused on security cameras) 5 Things to Consider When Buying an Ultrabook Utility, Budget, Functionality and features, Convenience, mobility, Durability, Hard Drive, Battery Life, Screen Size , Resolution, design and colors Operating system and Quality Connectivity - Kenichiro Mori, Managing Director, Olympus —Toru Hasegawa, Managing Director, System Sales Division, Imaging India focused on compact cameras) Panasonic India Why an SME Should Go for a Camera 5 Reasons Why an SME Should Buy an Ultrabook SH (on security cameras): SMBs need to be aware that physical Extreme Portability and Mobility, Ever-ready Response, Business- security is an important aspect. A security camera can help them class security and IT administration, Full PC Performance, and monitor the activities in and around the office premises round Intuitiveness the clock. This would be a onetime investment that will last for a longer period, rather than employing security personnel with 5 Things to Consider When Buying a Camera limited benefits. A well-designed surveillance system is capable There are various aspects that one needs to focus on when buying of generating alerts that can help prevent a crime.
you could stream your favorite movie from your PC all the screen into a touch-enabled one. Keyboards are emerging way to your HD TV without having to extend wires all over with a touchpad built in, so that you don’t require a sepa- the house? Well now you can buy products that allow you rate mouse. Keyboards are also becoming solar powered, to reduce the clutter of wires while connecting different so you don’t need to keep charging them all the time or devices. WiFi is no longer constrained to laptops and rout- replacing their batteries. ers and Bluetooth is no longer limited to wireless headsets, In graphics cards, the trend of putting two of them laptops, and phones. Today, vendors are building WiFi side by side is fading with nVidia having introduced a and Bluetooth into audio products, printers, cameras, and single card with two GPUs, which does the same thing even media streaming devices. This allows different types at much lesser power and space consumption inside of devices to connect to each other without the hassles of your machine. creating a clutter of wires or worse still, searching for the Storage technologies are also making waves. Hard right connectors and adapters to connect various devices drive capacities have shot through the roof with Hitachi to one another. introducing HDDs with a whopping 4 TB capacity. Like- wise, the cost per GB in SSDs is coming down and making Peripherals, Components and Accessories: them more affordable, but they’re still nowhere near the Lots of innovative peripherals, components and accesso- HDD price points. But if you still want SSD like perform- ries are coming out that would make your life simpler and ance with your existing HDD, then add a cache SSD such more convenient. as SANDisk’s ReadyCache along with your existing HDD There are sensors that can convert your non-touch and enjoy much better performance. Even flash drive and
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KM (focused on compact cameras): Instead of sending a 5 Reasons Why SMEs Should Buy an AIO PC physical product sample to showcase product, an image can be RR: The adoption of AIOs by SMBs has been increasing drastically sent to buyer (for e-retail businesses like eBay, Flipkart, etc. where and there has been a major shift towards this new form factor. people buy after just looking at the product images) Some of the key reasons why an SMB should buy an AIO are as follows: Space constraint, Power & UPS Saving, Cable Savings, 5 Reasons Why a User Should Buy a Camera Aesthetics, and Technology KM.: (1) To capture memories in static visual form, which can remind them about the passage of life. How to Select a Home Theater Projector (2) To capture memories in day-to-day life in the simplest possible Things you need for a projector: A viewing room, Cables, and manner. Internet access (3) Cameras also fall under the category of fancy gadgets/style STEP 1: CHOOSE between LCD & DLP projector statement/status symbol etc. which are in demand today. STEP 2: CONSIDER projector room for brightness (4) Users cannot get desired image quality with other available STEP 3: DECIDE on lamp light as per viewing habit options such as mobile phones. STEP 4: UNDERSTAND resolution for imaging (5) The need for documenting quality images for various purposes STEP 5: CHOOSE the right cables for connection like sharing on social networking websites. Official need like STEP 6: READ reviews and ask your sales staff submitting proofs of claims. Legal needs like marriage certificates, — Rajeev Singh, Country Head and GM, BenQ India property registration etc. 5 Reasons Why an SME Should Buy a Projector 5 Things to Consider when Buying a System-on-a-Chip/PC-on- TH: (1) Projectors are mainly useful to put across a message to a a-Stick large gathering because the screen size can be adjusted as per the Graphics and CPU performance of the SoC, Interfaces available, requirement. RAM capacity, Openness of chip platform and drivers, Price (2) Projectors help a great deal in giving the effective presentations —Eben Upton, Executive Director, Raspberry Pi Foundation to the clients and engaging the audience. (3) For the ambitious entrepreneurs and heads of small and mid- 4 Reasons Why a User Should Buy a PC-on-a-Stick sized businesses who aim to expand their business and travel EU: Compared to a PC, these products are often around, the investment in a light weight projector is a well worth to Cheaper, Smaller form factor, Lower power, Able to interact directly showcase all aspects of their business with just a plug in. with external sensor and actuators (4) Projectors are very useful for imparting training and learning sessions to the employees at the small and mid- sized offices. 5 Things to Consider When Buying All-in-One PC (5) Projectors are quite useful when the space is a constraint; you Screen Size, Expandability, Durability, Communication, Ports can make a screen size as per the availability of the space just by —Rajiv Rao, Director SMB - Lenovo India placing the projectors near of far from the screen.
standard microSD card capacities have shot through the even those devices have become cheaper. Today, you can ceiling and touched 64 GB. easily buy a decent tablet for less than 10K. Raspberry Pi and similar devices are enabling vendors Computing Devices Get a Makeover to build PCs on a flash drive sized stick. This will take com- Plain vanilla desktops are becoming obsolete and plain puting to a whole new level. vanilla laptops might also follow suit. Fancy AIO desktops are now becoming commonplace and you’ll find some Higher Resolutions and Better 3D Experience really beautiful products like Lenovo’s IdeaCenter A70 or in TVs and Projectors HP’s Envy 23 TouchSmart. Most AIOs and even laptops now Vendors are busy trying to make your TV experience more support HD screens and are made of Gorilla Glass to make immersive. For instance, there are 3D TVs that will work them more durable and scratch resistant. On the laptop with passive 3D glasses or no glasses at all. Ultra HD reso- front, hybrids and convertibles are becoming popular lution has finally entered in TVs. Though it’s atrociously allowing users to carry a single device that can work both expensive, but it’s paving the way for the future of TVs. as a tablet and a laptop as per their convenience. In fact, Even projectors are building 3D capabilities as we saw in hybrids with detachable screens have built batteries in an offering from Panasonic. both the screen and the keyboard to allow for much These are some of the innovations taking place to greater battery backup. Expect thinner and lighter models make your life easier whether you’re working, partying, or to hit the market in the coming months. It’s unlikely that having fun. You’ll read about products that offer most of they’ll be able to eat into the tablet market share because the above technologies in our story this time. pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] A P R I L 2 0 1 3 PCQuest 25 COvERSTORY Desktops, Laptops, Tablets ASUS Taichi 31 Hybrid: Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook: he performer hybrid! Sleek, Stylish and Flexible! — Aishwarya Singhal — Kirti Sharma This new offering from Dell is high on looks and design. It supports Intel Core i5-3317u 1.70GHz processor and runs on the latest Windows 8. Its display is surrounded by a thin silver bezel, which gives the Ultrabook a very trendy and attractive look. The display rotates on the hinge placed in the middle of this silver bezel. The flip hinge design enables smooth transition from laptop to tablet and back. The Ultrabook boosts of 4GB memory and a 128GB solid state drive. It further has a 12.5 inch LED Backlit Touch Display with True Life and an HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has a 1.3 MP standard webcam combined with dual digital-array microphones, which Price can capture videos at 1280x1024 pixels. TheUltrabook’s Performance keyboard is a sure short winner. The glass-integrated trackpad Feature is smooth, roomy and looks very classy and luxurious. The Overall keys are very well placed and bouncy, which makes the overall typing experience fun and pleasant. The Ultrabook has an excellent sound quality. The sound The ASUS Taichi 31 Hybrid is the best-performing convertible remains surprisingly clear, without any distortion throughout. ultrabook in the whole lot of available ultrabook in the market. As far as the connectivity of the device is concerned, it The product operates on Windows 8 Pro OS, supported has two USB 3.0 ports and a power connector on the right by Intel Core i7 3517U processor at a speed of 1.90GHz side of the tablet. The left side consists of volume up and and a 4GB DDR3 RAM. It is a very powerful laptop with an down buttons, a headset jack, a sliding power switch and a innovative design of two screens placed back to back that can screen-rotation lock button. The Ultrabook has a carbon-fiber be used in four different modes – mirror, tablet, laptop and finish and a Corning Gorilla Glass for durability. The XPS dual screen. The display is full HD of 13.3 inch, 16:9 ratio at a 12 has one major drawback; it lacks ports like HDMI, LAN resolution of 1920 x 1080p. The outer screen is gorilla glass, and External Card Slot. It gives a decent battery backup of 5 which is scratch-proof, but prone to smears and smudges. hours. Overall, the Dell XPS 12 Convertible Ultrabook gives a The ultrabook is extremely lightweight at 1.57 kg for two good performance. screens. The design is sturdy on a brushed aluminum body which boasts of a light and sleek look, yet the broad bezel for Bottom Line: A well-designed ultrabook convertible with flip hinge the notebook screen is not very good. The audio quality of the design to make it easy to use it both modes. The screen protects the device, enhanced by Bang and Olufsen, is really good. Sadly keyboard by covering it unlike the Yoga. Missing HDMI port and card enough, the ultrabook’s battery life of only two hours doesn’t slot are a disadvantage, but great performance and 5 hours battery support its features at all. It comes with a chiclet keyboard life make it a worthy buy. amid backlight, 265GB SSD, integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, a 5MP camera and a stylus pen. The ultrabook is Wi-Fi Price: `89,990 and Bluetooth enabled. There are a numerous ports, two USB Key Specs: Intel Core i5-3317u 1.70GHz, Windows 8, 12.5 inch LED 3.0 ports, one micro HDMI port, one mini VGA port and a Backlit Touch Display with True Life and HD resolution, 4GB DDR3 SD/MMC card slot, but it lacks a LAN port. RAM,128 GB SSD, 1.3MP webcam; USB 3.0 port (2). The ASUS Taichi 31 Hybrid performs extremely well, and Pros: Very robust flipping mechanism, Full HD 1080p IPS Touchscreen. is way better than Sony VAIO 11 and Acer Aspire S7. But one Cons: One of the heaviest products in this category. No HDMI, LAN or cannot expect a good show for heavy graphics programs and External Card Slot, Expensive games. Bottom Line: The ultrabook deserves a try because of its innovative features and design of two screens placed back to back. Yet, one Price should keep a check for its price. Performance Feature Price: `1, 39,999 Overall Key Specs: Intel Core i7 3517U Processor 1.90 GHz, Windows 8 Pro, 13.3” 16:9 Full HD (1920x1080) Display, 4 GB DDR3 RAM, 256 GB SSD, Integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000, Web Cam, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Bang & Olufsen Audio, 2 x USB 3.0 port(s), 1 x micro HDMI, 1 x Mini VGA Port , SD/MMC card slot, Stylus Pen. Pros: Innovative use of the two 1080p screens, Great audio quality, Lightweight, stylus support, good performance, Dual Camera. Cons: Very expensive, No SD card slot, low battery life; Gorilla glass prone to smears and smudges, Broad bezel for notebook screen.
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Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 — Aishwarya Singhal
Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 is an AIO with a solid build and attractive design. The unique thing about its 27- inch multi-touch display LED screen is that you can tilt it upto 95 degrees viewing angle with just a gentle Price push such that it lays flat on table. Performance The AIO is powered by Intel Core i7 processor, Feature 8GB DDR RAM, and a 1TB HDD. Plus, it has Wi-Fi, Overall Lenovo high sense (720p HD) web camera, Bluetooth and BluRay Disc player. There is NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M Graphics to augment the visual effects. The user interface of the AIO is really good as it comes with a 10-point multi touch display. The AIO consumes nearly 111 watts on a high- usage scenario. In PC Mark7 test, it scored 2,672 which is average, whereas in the 3D Mark11 test, it scored 1,328, which is the highest score among all AIOs tested under this category. Price: `90,000 INR The AIO comes with a choice of Windows 8 or Key Specs: 10 point multi-touch display, 16:9 widescreen, Windows 7 Home Premium OS. Also, though the 1 TB WDC HDD, 8GB DDR RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT AIO is priced on the higher side, its overall style and 630M Graphics Card, 24.5mm (0.97 inch) Thickness, usability could appeal to some people. Lenovo High-Sense (720p HD) Web Camera, Bottom Line: For its impressive specs, solid and attrac- Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet LAN, Bluetooth, BluRay tive design, its huge LED touch screen, the PC stands Disc Player, Intel Core i7 CPU. out to be a great choice for families. Pros: Great build quality, 95 degree tilt, impressive specs Cons: Costly with average performance
Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 92: A Great Looking Option for SMEs — Aishwarya Singhal The Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 92 is an AIO operating on Windows 8 pro 64 and runs on third generation Intel Core i5-3470S processor at a speed of 2.90GHz. The desktop supports Price 10 point touch, 21.5 inch, 1080p HD LED Performance display with IPS wide viewing angle. The screen adjustment is a bit problematic as it fails to set Feature according to the seating position. Overall The AIO was not able to run PC Mark7 benchmark as it didn’t support the system’s graphics card. It did however score 1,295 in 3D Mark 11 benchmark test which is higher than HP Envy 23 but slightly lower than Lenovo A720. The AIO is optimized to run Microsoft Lync qualified VoIP. It is installed with a DDR3 SD RAM of 4GB which runs at a speed of 1,600 MHz and a hard disk drive of 250 GB. It comes with a HDMI port for easy in and out connectivity, two USB 2.0, two USB 3.0 and a card Price: `61,300 reader. The device comes with a spill-proof keyboard and weighs Key Specs: 21.5” W 1080p HD LED display with IPS, AMD 8.4 Kg. It consumes a total of 57 Watts on a highusage scenario. Radeon 6600A 2GB, 4.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 The device’s audio quality supported by Dolby Advance Audio, MHz, 250GB Hard drive, HDMI in/out for easy connectivity, is very good. Watching movies and playing games can be a good Spill-proof keyboard, Weight 8.4 Kg, DVD RW, Dolby Advance experience on this AIO. Audio 2; 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0, Card reader, HDMI Bottom Line: The AIO is a good buy at this price, though it is an average Pros: 1080p HD screen with 10-point touch. spill-resistant performer. It can be modified for the basic needs accordingly. keyboard Cons: Very glossy screen; Adjusting the screen is a little difficult.
Write to: [email protected] for more info. pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] A P R I L 2 0 1 3 PCQuest 27 COvERSTORY Desktops, Laptops, Tablets
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Write to: [email protected] for more info. pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] A P R I L 2 0 1 3 PCQuest 29 COvERSTORY Desktops, Laptops, Tablets Acer Aspire S7-191: Great Looks Panasonic ToughPad: The Toughest But Average Performance Tablet on the Block! — Chaitanya Tapase — Aishwarya Singhal
The innovative features of the tablet are in its sturdy and robust design. The tablet is built for the rough usage as it Price withstands water and dust, and is drop and shock proof from heights of up to 1.5m. The device is an average performer Performance with only a 5 hour battery backup which is a bit low for a tablet Feature of this class. The response time of the devive is average Overall compared to tablets like the Apple iPad which comes for a much lesser price. The video playback is also not very impressive. The Panasonic ToughPad is a high budget tablet with Android 4.0 ICS and works on 1,2GHz Marvel Dual Core CPU. The tablet has a 10.1-inch anti-glare and anti-reflective multi touch capacitive display and 1024 x 768p which makes it a pleasure to use under sunlight. The tablet works on a 1GB DDR and 2GB RAM and comes up with an internal memory of 16GB. The device has a 5MP camera with LED flash and a 2MP front-facing camera, both of which fails to give very good picture quality. This tablet is also enabled with 3G (HSPA+21Mbps), Wi-Fi hotspot that supports up to five A lot of premium ultrabooks are now out in the market trying devices, Bluetooth and GPS. Ports are not mentioned. to push the Macbook Pro out of the premier spot. Powered The tablet comes with a stylus (digitizer pen) that allows by a Sandy Bridge Intel Core i5 processor running Windows the user to tap, pinch and rotate with ease and speed. The 8 with the help of 4 GB of RAM, the Acer Aspire S7-191 most adorable feature of the tablet is its light weight which is certainly has the goods to do just that. The looks department highly commendable at only 0.99kg, making it a lightweight of this ultrabook is rather impressive, with the entire device yet tough tablet. made out of a single block of Aluminium, which makes for a rather elegant style. The 11.6-inch Gorilla Glass display Bottom Line: The tablet is worth buying for those who need to use a features a full HD resolution and multi-touch input as well. device under extreme conditions. This tablet will never disappoint you There are a plethora of connectivity options as well, which for its toughness. will satisfy the geekiest folks, and astonishingly all of this is fitted into a 12.2mm thick body. However, it scored a mere Price: `75,000 INR 3040 in the PCMark 07 test, which is quite poor. Key Specs: 1.2 GHz Marvell Dual Core CPU,1GB DDR 2 RAM, 16GB The 3D Mark 11 and the BatteryMark test results were Internal memory, Android 4.0 ICS, 10.1-inch Anti-Glare 1024 x no different, with the 3D Mark 11 score of 563 being much 768p Multi Touch Capacitive Display and Digitizer,5MP camera with lesser than systems with dedicated graphics cards and the LED flash, 2MP front-facing camera, 3G (HSPA+ 21 Mbps), Wi-Fi , BatteryMark test results showing only 2 hours of battery Bluetooth , GPS, micro HDMI. back-up life. The usability with the trackpad and Windows Pros: Robust build, drop and shock proof from heights of up to 1.5m, 8 gestures takes a bit getting used to, but that is true in water and dust proof, stylus support, Wi-Fi hotspot router that can case of every Windows 8 notebook. The ACER S7-191- support up to five devices. Extremely lightweight. 6640 includes a Bluetooth mouse, RJ45 to USB adapter, Cons: Speakers, low memory. mini-HDMI to VGA adapter, and a carrying case. Everything about the S7 Ultrabook screams quality other than the disappointing test results. Bottom Line: A very sleek, stylish, and thin ultrabook with a great display and responsive touch. Performance, however is average. Price Performance Price: `88,499 Feature Key Specs: Intel Core i5-3317u 1.7 GHz, Windows 8, 4 GB RAM, Overall 256 GB SSD, 11.6 inch 1920x1080p, Intel HD 4000 Graphics, Bluetooth, 2 USB 3.0, Micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, MicroSD Card Slot, Multi gesture keypad with integrated buttons, 1.3 MP webcam Pros: Beautiful looks & design, very light and thin (12.2 mm), Gorilla Glass, made from single block of Aluminium. Cons: Expensive, low battery life, typing on keyboard is inconvenient.
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Acer Iconia W510: Iconic Indeed — Aishwarya Singhal The Acer Iconia W510 is an all-new atom based hybrid device with a screen that is detachable from the keyboard and can be used as a tablet. The device operates on a 1.8GHz dual core Atom CPU supported by a 2GB RAM on Windows 8 OS. Being Atom-based, it Price turns out to be an average performer.The device has a 10.1 inch, 1366 Performance x 768p multi-touch display which can be tilted up to 180 degrees to lay Feature flat on the surface with the keyboard. The feel of the device is not very Overall smooth and there is no multi-touch support either. However, the device has a very good display. The battery life of the device is remarkable, giving a 9-hour battery life on tablet and a 14-hour battery life with keyboard as it is supported with two batteries; one on the keyboard and the other one on the screen, which is a unique feature. The device is sleek and graceful with a sturdy hinge. The design is robust, yet the transition from a notebook to a tablet is effortless. The only negative point in its design is the cramped layout of the keyboard which makes it a bit troublesome to operate and also, heat up. Now, that is certainly a downside! The device comes up with 64GB storage, a 360-degree hinge Price: `42,990 INR keyboard dock, is Wi-Fi enabled and has a 3.0 USB slot. The device Key Specs: 10.1 inch, 1366 x768p multi touch display, lacks in providing a number of full-size ports. It is a super lightweight 1.8 GHz dual core Atom CPU, Windows 8, 2GB Atom-based hybrid device that weighs only 1.27 kg, thus differentiating RAM, 64GB Storage, USB 3.0. it from the other similar devices in the market. At such a reasonable Pros: Best Battery Backup (9 hours tablet, 14 hours price, the sound and the display quality of the device is brilliant. with keyboard) due to Dual Battery. Bottom Line: At such a reasonable price the device fulfils all the respon- Cons: Average performance being Atom processor sibilities that can be expected from a tablet-cum-notebook. A traveller based; Keyboard heats up a little from the bottom. must buy it for its lightweight and best battery life.
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11: An Amazingly Flexible Ultrabook! — Kirti Sharma This ultrabook from Lenovo is a perfect blend of an ultra-stylish look and super intelligent features. It supports a Windows RT operating system and runs on Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. It has an 11.6-inch 1366x768p capacitive multi-touch display, which is quite Price impressive. The Yoga 11 is just 15.6mm thick and has an Performance amazing battery life of 9.5 hours, which is the best among its Feature fellow convertibles. Its sturdy design comes with an Aluminum body Overall and a scratch-resistant plastic shell. The keyboard is great, durable, and has comfortable keys, but when used as a tablet, it gives an uncomfortable feel. The bezel around the screen could have been thinner. The ultrabook is preloaded with some really cool applications like Lenovo cloud storage, Kindle, Companion, Evernote Energy Management, Motion Control, Transition, and OneKey Rescue. Price: `61,790 The Yoga 11 has motion control, a feature that helps in operating through Key Specs: Windows RT, Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, gestures without touching the screen. With Lenovo Motion Control, you can 2GB DDR3 RAM, 64GB SSD, 11.6-inch 1366x768p flip through photos or rewind/fast forward music through simple gestures.The capacitive multi touch display, Nvidia Geforce navigation around windows 8 interface is quite smooth. As far as connectivity graphics, Bluetooth, 2 USB 2.0, HDMI, Wi-Fi, SD/ is concerned, it has two USB 2.0 ports for peripheral devices, an HDMI output, MMC card slot, motion control and a 3.5mm stereo mini-jack socket on the board. Its one major drawback is Pros: Very interesting and unique 360 hinge & that it has no LAN or microSD card slot. The yoga 11 even has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, design, Lightweight (1.27 kg), Excellent keyboard, a SD/MMC card slot, and a 1MP front-facing camera. Its power button is on the Excellent battery backup of 9 hours 30 minutes, front instead of inside, which means it can be easily turned on in any mode. The Motion control feature ultrabook produces a below average sound quality. Cons: Keyboard keys when converted to table gives Bottom Line: On the whole, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 is an extremely light and stylish an uncomfortable feeling, Bezel around screen is a ultrabook that manages to give an average performance. little too thick
Write to: [email protected] for more info. pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] A P R I L 2 0 1 3 PCQuest 31 COvERSTORY Desktops, Laptops, Tablets Dell Latitude 10 Tablet: An All Rounder Acer Iconia B1: — Aishwarya Singhal A great Multitasking tablet! — Kirti Sharma
The tablet supports Dual-core 1.2GHz processor and has an impressive 8GB memory. Its 8 GB internal memory gives it an edge in performance, as compared to the other tablets in the same class. The Iconia B1 has an amazing 7-inch multi-touch display with a screen resolution of 1024x600 pixels. The p ixel density is quite good. It runs on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system. Its other features include Bluetooth, GPS and a microSD card slot. Being the most lightweight tablet below Rs. 10,000, it is most easily portable. The tablet is very good at multitasking and can run a few apps simultaneously. It doesn’t have a rear facing camera, but has a 0.3 MP front camera for video chats. Price This 7-inch tablet is a good device to play games on, and Performance it supports most of the popular games. However, there is a Feature problem here, and that is the presence of three navigation buttons on the screen all the time. The touch response of Overall the screen is also quite effective. The speakers too, give an amazingly good audio quality. The sound is quite loud, clear The Dell Latitude 10 tablet is an all-round tablet made for fun and has no distortion. Its build quality is below average, plus and productivity on the go. The tablet functions on Windows 8 there is no 3G SIM and the RAM is just 512 MB. The Iconia OS, supported by Intel Atom CPU 72760 clocked at a speed of B1 has a better productivity performance than other Android- 1.80 GHz and a 2GB RAM. The device is installed with a 64GB based tablets in the same league. It is a Wi-Fi only model, SSD. The tablet has a 10.1 inch screen, and comes with a 1366 which means it can connect to the internet only through x 768 IPS multi touch display, which is very good and user- Wi-Fi. This is the sole major drawback. It has a good graphics friendly with stylus support. performance. The colors appear clear and bright. Overall, Acer The tablet is slim and has a good build. It has a great grip Iconia B1 is a nice budget tablet with some really interesting due to the rubber on the sides. The body of the tablet is a and intelligent features, though its performance could have beautiful black, with glossy finish on the front and matte finish been better. on the rear side. The interaction of the device is intuitive and the Bottom Line: The most lightweight tablet below 10K, and one of the visuals are clear and bright. The device is Wi-Fi enabled and few to have a dual core processor and 8 GB internal memory, which comes with several ports such as HDMI port and only one USB give it an edge in performance as compared to other tablets in its 2.0, due to which the flexibility is limited, though it is enhanced class. Build quality is below average, there’s no 3G SIM and RAM is via lots of connectivity options through the docking station. just 512 MB. The features of the tablet include an 8MP rear camera with LED flash and Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 533 MHz. The device gives a battery backup of 4 hours on high-usage Price: `7,999 scenario. It can be further increased up to 8 hours through a Key Specs: Android 4.1 Jelly bean, Dual-core 1.2GHz processor, swappable battery of two cells to 4 cells, indeed a unique and 7inch, 1024x600p, multi-touch, Wifi, Bluetooth, GPS, 8GB internal, extra feature for a tablet in this class. 32GB external, 512MB, micro SD, mini USB, 0.3 mp front camera, The tablet weighs pretty light at only 0.95 kg, but lacks in 312 gms being compatible with 3DMark 11 performance test. It is an Pros: Excellent overall performer, lightweight average performer, yet gives a better performance than HP Cons: Build quality, 512 MB RAM, no 3G SIM Envy X2- another tablet running on the same processor. Bottom Line: Being an all-rounder tablet, the Dell Latitude serves all the basic purposes. It is a fun and productivity loving tablet on the go which makes it worth hankering for.
Price Price: `54,000 Performance Key Specs: Intel Atom CPU Z2760 clocked at 1.80GHz, Windows 8, Feature 2 GB RAM, 64 GB SSD, 10.1 inch 1366 × 768 IPS LCD Display, USB 2.0, HDMI Port, Wi-Fi, Stylus Pen, 8 MP Rear Camera with LED Flash, Overall Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 533 MHz Pros: Build Quality, Swappable battery to increase battery life, Display, slim, lots of ports through a docking station, stylus support, multi-touch Cons: Atom processor, Sluggish flash storage, Low performance
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HP Envy X2: An Atom-based hybrid Ultrabook! — Kirti Sharma The X2 in its name denotes it 2-in-1 function. The Ultrabook doubles up both as a tablet and a laptop. It’s easy to carry and reads just Price as well as a slate tablet and has all the other features of a laptop. It supports 1.8 GHz Atom Clover Trail Processor and runs on the latest Performance Windows 8. The Ultrabook further has an attractive LED-backlit IPS Feature display and an NFC connectivity. It has a superb design and build. Overall The hinge and docking mechanism is firm and secure. The sleek aluminum finish is strong and gives the Ultrabook a sturdy look overall. It’s extremely thin, but stands a little heavy at 1.4 kg. The laptop has a 2MP front camera and an 8 MP rear camera which is quite impressive. The Envy X2’s keyboard is a little bothersome. It does have well-spaced and bouncy keys but they are overly ‘sticky’. This leads to letter repetitions which can be a little frustrating during long typing sessions. The 11.6-inch display has a screen resolution of 1366*768 pixels. This Atom-based hybrid comes with a surprise element, and that is its detachable screen. The screen can be easily detached and Price: `62307 used as a tablet for playing games. It gives an overall good touch experience. The Ultrabook comes with dual battery that gives a Key Specs: 1.8 Ghz Atom Clover Trail Processor, Windows 8, power backup of up to 12 hours. It also has 2GB of RAM and 64 GB 2 GB DDR3 RAM, 64 GB SSD, 11.6 inch, 1366*768p display, of storage. There are no HDMI, USB or SD card slots on the tablet, 64 MB Intel Graphics Card, HDMI, Micro SD, Headphone, though two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI port, an SDHC card slot and a USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, 12 × 8× 0.77 inches, 1.4Kg charging point is available on the dock. Pros: Long Battery, Dual Camera (front 2MP, rear 8MP), Sleek design brushed with aluminium, Docking Hinge. Bottom Line: Overall, the Envy X2 gives a below-average performance. It does have some really innovative features like the NFC connectivity, detach- Cons: Atom processor, average performance, over-priced, able screen etc, but is highly over-priced. Heavy (1.4 kg with docket) as compared to Acer Iconia
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020 32348057 / 9326727467 Write to: [email protected] for more info. [email protected] www.scrum-system.com pcquest.com twitter.com/pcquest facebook.com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] A P R I L 2 0 1 3 PCQuest 33 COvERSTORY Desktops, Laptops, Tablets HP Envy 23 TouchSmart — Kirti Sharma
This is a beautiful looking AIO with a large 23” HD display. It runs on third-generation Intel Core i5- 3470S processor and has 4GB of RAM. It also comes Price preinstalled with Windows 8. Powered by Nvidia GeForce Performance GT 630M graphics, the AIO provides decent graphics Feature performance. The AIO has an intuitive touch which makes Overall its usage even more interesting and easy. A standard wireless mouse and keyboard are provided with the desktop. The big optical wireless mouse like any other typical mouse has a scroll wheel and two buttons. The mouse overall is accurate and responsive. The large black keyboard on the other hand has regular style keys. It also has a plastic border which is black around the edge. The lower left corner of the back of the screen mainly consists of ports. The ports on the left side include two USB 3.0 ports, a card reader, microphone and headphone jacks. The back ports include a Price: `70,000 lock slot and four USB 2.0 ports. The right side of the screen consists Key Specs: Windows 8, 64-bit, Third-generation Intel of HDMI output, minus buttons to move through the menus, and a Core i5-3470S processor, 4GB of RAM, An Nvidia DVD-RW drive. GeForce GT 630M graphics card., 1 TB HDD, 23- The 23-inch touch screen supports 1080 x 1920 full HD inch touchscreen with 1080 x 1920 resolution, DVD- resolution. The AIO scored 3033 in PCMark 7, which is used for RW, Built-in Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n measuring regular productivity performance. It scored 1116 in 3D Mark for graphics. Both are average scores. Pros: Large 23” 1080p full HD, edge-to-edge glass display. 10- point multi-touch. sturdy and easily adjustable stand. Bottom Line: A beautiful looking AIO with a large 23” HD display, but Cons: Glossy screen. USB 2.0 ports. gives average performance.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon: An Excellent Business Buddy! — Kirti Sharma This offering from Lenovo is a perfect pick for the office-goers. It supports an Intel Core i5-3427u processor that is clocked at 1.8GHz and is power packed with turbo boost. It runs on Windows 7 and has Price a 14-inch 1600x900 pixel display. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon comes Performance with its signature black matte “ThinkPad” finish. It has a Carbon fiber Feature body that makes it look extremely rugged and ultra slim at the same time. The ultrabook has an excellent graphics display, which is due Overall to the presence of Intel HD 4000 graphics in it. The keyboard has well-spaced and comfortable keys. The fantastic backlit keyboard is also extremely comfortable for long typing sessions. It has an excellent touchpad, which adds to the overall working experience on the laptop. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has been very aesthetically designed. One interesting feature of the design is that the hinge, which is very durable, allows the screen to open until the ultrabook Price: `98,000 is completely flat. As far as the connectivity of the device is Key Specs: concerned, all the major ports are placed on the right and left side Intel Core i5-3427u processor clocked at 1.8GHz of the chassis. You can find a power jack, a Wi-Fi switch, and a with turbo boost, Windows 7, 14 inch, 1600x900 pixel display, USB 2.0 port on one side of the X1 Carbon, and a headset jack mini Intel HD 4000 graphics, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 256GB SSD, DisplayPort, USB 3.0 port, and a 4-in-1 media card reader on the UltraNav buttonless touchpad, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, SD Card Slot, other side. The ultrabook gives a power backup of five hours, which 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, FingerPrint Recognition, SIM card slot is extremely good and efficient. The viewing angles of the Carbon Pros: Excellent business laptop, lightweight for a 14” screen, X1 are good for a standard TN panel, but it would have been better Very slim (18.9mm), Very rugged due to carbon fiber, Spill- if the ultrabook was made available with an IPS display. resistant keyboard with “U” shaped keys, Good performance, Optional 3G WWAN Bottom Line: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon gives a good performance Cons: and is much ahead of its arch rivals like Dell XPS 12, 14, and Asus Expensive, Requires a USB dongle for Ethernet and VGA Zenbook, etc. Write to: [email protected] for more info.
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