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t around this time every year, the first tech magazine (in the world, probably) to the festival season rolls around. give away Hollywood blockbusters on DVD, the Starting in October and running a first to offer a CD magazine, and the first to start little into the new year, these few including a free (Fast Track). months see an increase in activity Every month, from here on, in the form by vendors and manufacturers. of Digit TV we’re going to give you as much Everywhere you go you’re bombarded with video content as we can, and try and share the discounts,A special offers, and other catchy and knowledge and expertise that we are privileged innovative alliterations that all basically say the to receive. Like Digit 3.0, Digit TV will also same thing — buy me. evolve based on your feedback, so make sure to The consumer electronic and personal send us some. technology segment specifically, sees entire This month, Digit TV is dedicated to buying product ranges being refreshed, older stock guides, across multiple categories, to help you get being sold off at rock bottom prices and out of the confusing maze and make informed buzzwords flying about like nobody’s business. decisions because you actually understand the For the everyday buyer, this amounts to being underlying technology, instead of just parroting Robert Sovereign-Smith, Editor stuck in a maze of choices, with no clear what people tell you. Plus, since it’s a video DVD, indication of what’s good, what’s value for you don’t need a PC to view it — just pop it into money, and what isn’t. any DVD player. You and I alike, spend the few precious We also have a web exclusive, in the form of a holidays we get with our families at the local PMP test online at thinkdigit.com, so we haven’t electronic mall, gawking at all the goodies, forgotten our online patrons either. listening to all the sales pitches that every mall With three more (Work, Play and employee is only too eager to subject you to, Learn), all of you should have enough multimedia getting more confused by the minute about which content for every aspect of your life that to buy. technology covers. There are a tonne of prizes to So how do we go from feeling like the little be won everyday of October, so make sure to find white mice that are made to run mazes in labs, the contest page inside. to informed customers? Reading and surfing Last month, our career webinar generated helps, but everything you’ll find online is usually a lot of interest, so we’re going to make sure outdated in months, and sometimes weeks or you get more of the same from here on — again, days during festival season. All of us can Google details inside. for reviews and comparisons, visit sites like I want to stress, however, that all of this thinkdigit.com, or read magazines like Digit for comes to naught if you don’t share feedback information, but is that all we need? with us about the initiatives we’re taking. There Every month, from Although we offer you the best information are two things I’d like to make sure of: one, that here on, in the form of possible by rigorously testing products, to help we continue to share knowledge, and two that Digit TV we’re going you get value from every last Rupee you spend; it’s we stay relevant by understanding your needs. still not enough. As I said last month in this space, So make sure you write in whenever you have to give you as much we’re not as committed to imparting information something to say. video content as we as we are to sharing knowledge. It’s the same can, and try and share reason why today’s newspaper is tomorrow’s the knowledge and cupboard lining, but this issue of Digit will expertise that we are command a long shelf life in your home. Over the past few years we’ve seen privileged to receive video become the desired form of, not just entertainment, but learning as well — the spike in video content online is testament to this. Some of you will have noticed that we’ve been carrying videos that have been made completely in-house by Digit over the past few months. Although this is still in a teething phase, and know we have a long way to go, we decided to launch “Digit TV”. This is another in a long lists of “Firsts” that Digit has done over the years. [email protected] For those of you don’t remember, Digit’s other firsts include the first magazine in India to include DVDs, and later the first to dual-layer; we were

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 1 October 2009 • Volume 9 • Issue 10

Managing Director Sales and Marketing To advertise Dr Pramath Raj Sinha VP Naveen Chand Singh Printer and Publisher Product Manager Navneet Miglani South East Kanak Ghosh Business Manager Chandan Sisodia Vinodh Kaliappan Jayanta Bhattacharyya Assistant Brand Manager Arpita Ganguli Publishing Director Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Asheesh Gupta Marketing Communication Thomas Varghese Mobile: +91-97407 14817 Phone: +91-93318 29284 Co-ordinator, Scheduling, Phone: +91-80-2554 6370/73 +91-33-2231 7344/46 Editorial MIS and Ad-sales Aatish Mohite Editor Fax: +91-80-4151 8330 North Robert Sovereign-Smith West Pranav Saran Production and Logistics Editor-at-large and Online Architect Sr. GM - Operations Shivshankar Hiremath Sachin Nandkishore Email: [email protected] Ahmed Shaikh Production Executive Vilas Mhatre Email: [email protected] Phone: +91-93126 85289, Head - Copy Desk Logistics M P Singh, Mohd. Ansari, Mobile: +91-99203 48755 +91-11-4160 8655/56/57/58 Nash David Shashi Shekhar Singh Writers Phone: +91-22-2437 2214/19 International Aditya Madanapalle, Circulation and Subscription — Sales Fax: +91-22-2448 2059/1123 Navin Chand Singh Siddharth Parwatay GM - Circulation Milind Prabhughate Email: [email protected] Test Centre Co-ordinator Vijay Mhatre Mobile: +91-99013 00772 Manager - Test Development and Customer Service Prerana Panchal, Sourcing Michael Browne Vrushali Londhe, Pushpa Mahar, Shabana Advertisers' index Manager - Testing and Processes Shariff Rossi Fernandes Client Page No Kingston 17 Reviewer Kumar Jhuremalani Abacus 13 KYE-Genius 3 Trainee Reviewer Rohan Naravane Customer Service: Airtel Back Cover Leo Securities 129 +91-22-4078 9612/13/14 Design AOC 39 LIC 109 Creative Head Kabir Malkani 19, 47 Lipap 133 Art Director Rohit A Chandwaskar Head Office: Editorial, Marketing Bank Of India 11 Map my India 37 Lead Designer Vijay Padaya and Customer Service BSNL 9 Mitashi 55 Senior Designer MV Sajeev Nine Dot Nine Interactive Pvt. Ltd CareerNet 93 RX Infotech 137 Illustrators Shrikrishna Patkar, C/o KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30, Chip Tech IT 43 Sagarmatha 153 Chaitanya Surpur Vashi (Near Sanpada Railway Station), D-link Inside Front Cover Sandisk 31 Sr. Photographer Jiten Gandhi Navi Mumbai 400 703 5, 83, 89 Spice Jet Inside Back Cover Multimedia Phone: +91-22-4078 9666 Ebay 72, 73 21 Project Head Robert Sovereign-Smith Fax: +91-22-4078 9540, +91-22-4078 9640 KG Hosting 159 Topgun 75 Content Head Aditya Madanapalle Kingmax 27 Transcend 25

Cover Design Jayan Narayanan Cover Photography Manas Parekh

Tell us what you feel about Digit Products reviewed this month Each month, Digit walks through the technology maze to Bazaar...... 48 ASUS K40IJ ASUS Rampage II Extreme bring you the most relevant, and the most researched Cooler Master Elite 334 ATi ASUS K50IJ ASUS Rampage II Gene Radeon Edition Cabinet ASUS U6 Bamboo ASUS Striker II NSE stories. If you have an opinion about anything published NWZ-W202 ASUS UX30 Biostar G41D-M7 in Digit, or about technology in general, please write to 2GB Dell Adamo Biostar TA785GE 128M [email protected] A-DATA Nobility NH92 250GB XPS 1340 Biostar TA790GX A3+ External Hard Drive Dell Studio XPS 1640 Biostar TPOWER I45 Product testing Acer F900 Smart-phone Gateway ID 5801 Biostar Tpower X58 Want your product reviewed by Digit? Seagate Barracuda LP Gateway NV48 DFI UT X58 Lanparty Contact our Test Center at ST32000542AS 2TB HCL Z39 ECS A785GM-M [email protected] Western Digital Scorpio Blue HP EliteBook 2530P ECS A790GXM-A 500GB HP ProBook 4410S ECS G41T-M2 on DVD APC Back-UPS RS 550 Lenovo IdeaPad Y550 Gigabyte EP43T-UD3L To submit and suggest software for CoolerMaster NotePal Color Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 Gigabyte EP45-UD3R inclusion in Digit DVDs, write to Infinite MSI GX620X Gigabyte EX58-Extreme @thinkdigit.com Epson Stylus TX550W MSI X400 Gigabyte EX58-UD3R ASUS SDRW-08D1S-U Sony VGN-SR46GD GIGABYTE EX58-UD5 Help! Linksys WRT320N Sony Vaio VGN-Z48GD Gigabyte MA785GM-US2H For subscription or copy-related issues, Samsung Jet Digital Camera test.....80 Gigabyte MA785GPMT-UD2H send an e-mail to [email protected] Samsung Marine Canon Digital IXUS 100 IS Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P Revo R3600 Canon Digital IXUS 110 IS Gigabyte MA790GP-UD4H Endorsements / reprints Philips GoGear Mix 2 GB Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS DX48BT2 Interested in ordering article reprints, Apacer AU380 MP3 player Canon PowerShot A1100 IS Intel DX58SO or using our logos? Contact SatGuide P360 Canon PowerShot A480 Jetway HA07 Ultra [email protected] VU 40-inch Intelligent TV Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Jetway I43GM1-HG LTV-40i Canon PowerShot SX200 IS Jetway PN78VM2-LF Business enquiries Gigabyte GK-KM7500 Fujifilm Finepix A170 MSI 790GX-G65 For any business-related enquiries, contact iPod Shuffle Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR MSI G43M2 [email protected] Sony A330 DSLR camera Fujifilm FinePix J27 MSI K9N2 Diamond test...... 62 Fujifilm Finepix S1500 MSI K9N2 SLI Platinum News and new product launches Acer Aspire 3810T Nikon Coolpix L20 MSI KA780G To announce new product launches, and press releases, Acer Aspire 4736 Nikon Coolpix P90 MSI P43 Neo3 email us at [email protected] Acer Aspire 5536 Nikon Coolpix S220 MSI P45 Diamond Acer Aspire 5738G Samsung ES55 MSI P45 Neo2 Disclaimer: For every Digit contest, there will be only one winner, unless Acer Aspire 5738Z test...... 90 MSI X48C Platinum specified otherwise. In the event of a dispute, the Editor’s decision shall be final. Acer Aspire 5810T ASUS M4A78-HTPC/RC MSI X58 PRO Printed and Published by Kanak Ghosh, for Nine Dot Nine Interactive Pvt. Ltd. C/o KPT House, Plot Alienware M17x ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO MSI X58M 41/13, Sector 30, Vashi (Near Sanpada Railway Station), Navi Mumbai 400 703 Apple Macbook Air ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO XFX 790i Ultra Editor: Sujay Nair, C/o KPT House, Plot 41/13, Sector 30, Vashi (Near Sanpada Railway Station), Apple Macbook Pro 13” Asus M4A79T Deluxe XFX X58i Navi Mumbai 400 703 Apple Macbook Pro 15” ASUS Maximus II Gene Zotac GeForce 8200 Printed at Printed at Silverpoint Press Pvt. Ltd, Plot No. A, 403, MIDC, TTC Industrial Area, Apple Macbook Pro 17” ASUS P5Q Premium Zotac 790i Ultra SLI Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400709 ASUS F82Q ASUS P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi @n Zotac nForce 780i SLI ASUS G50 ASUS P6T Deluxe ZOTAC X58

2 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Contents Enter 8 Inbox Readers’ Letters 12 Industry Connect Bala Parthasarathy, MD (APAC) – Snapfish 14 Buzz HP’s DreamScreen, Microsoft’s open source initiative and more

Connections 24 Web Watch From anonymous browsing to Monopoly, insights into your world online Digital Life 32 Drool maal 36 Tech Treats Groovy gifting ideas for Diwali Welcome to Gizmoland Find your wayy throughthro gh allal thetht e productproduct Sci Tech releases, offers andand discodiscountsdis ouunntsts ththisis DiwaDDiwaliiwalli 40 How stuff Works Flash drives and their working principle explained 44 How stuff Works Get to know how LCD panels and the newer LED TVs work Toolbox Workshops 106 Anonymous Browsing 108 your drive using Paragon Drive Backup 110 Make your own font using your handwriting

4 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Contents Tried and Tested 113 Tips and Tricks 120 products tested •Microsoft Offi ce 2007 48 Bazaar •Ultra Explorer Acer F900 A-DATA Nobility NH92 •YouTube 250 GB •Google Cheat sheet 16 page Epson Stylus TX550 • Special And many more... and more... 130 Q & A Your questions, our answers Street smart 138 Agent 001 The best gaming and HTPC casing and power supply options 62 142 Price watch Dell Alienware Mx17 The latest prices for your reference ASUS Bamboo U6V MacBook Pro Esc And many more... 146 Pimp my gadget Personalise your precious gadgets Game Reviews: 80 Digital Cameras 150 Batman: Arkham Asylum A total of 16 digital cameras were 152 TRINE tested in the Digit labs this month 154 G.I. Joe: The RIse of Cobra 156 Unwind 158 Community

Young Indian Innovators 90 Enter More than 50 motherboads benchmarked from all 18 The smallest categories of innovations pile up today to create tomorrow’s world.

www.thinkdigit.com/d/pmp_test

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 5 DVD Contents Digit Video Tutorials Gaming Astronomy 160 3Dstudio Max Video Games • Counter Strike • Anarchy Online • DVDFlick A Sci-Fi MMORPG • Foobar2000 • Ashes 2009 • Pictomio • Darkest of Days • Quake3 • Mini Ninjas • Windows Movie Maker • F1 Racing 3.2 • Omega and the End of the Tips & Tricks Game Trailers Universe • Last.fm Scrobbler • Assassin’s Creed II • Dark Matter • Subtitle Workshop4 • DiRT 2 • Dark Energy, the Accelerating • ManicTime • Kingdom Under Fire II Universe and the Big Rip • Productivity Meter • Mini Ninjas • TimeSnapper Professional • Spore Hero Introduction to Computer Science Educational Tools Casual Games • Binary Numbers, Programming • Stellarium 0.10.2 • Orbital Snake Languages, Working in , As an intelligent robotic “snake- and Programming in C ship”, pick your way through • Secure File Transfer, Variable abandoned space stations, Types, and Arithmetic Operators feasting on scraps of debris • Standard Input Functions, Boolean Expressions, and Loops • Candy World Adventure The Fate of Lillians Tome I 1.01 Game Theory • Creatrix • Introduction to Game Theory • Advanced Pathway Painter Entertainment • Draw Fire 1.0 • Putting Yourselves into Other • Asynx Planetarium 2.5 Music • Duck Dodgers 1.0 People’s Shoes • BoneLab 1.0.2.46 • Universica • Fire And Ice 1.0 • Iterative Deletion and the • DeadLine 2.36 • CIA • Germy Roundup 1.0 Median-Voter Theorem • Flash Card Factory 1.0 • Last Spring • HangARoo 2.052 • FreeMind 0.8.1 • Looking for a Way Out • Mario Remix 1.0 Aircraft Systems • Geometry 2.8.2 • Namouche • Mystery Island II Engineering • GraphCalc 4.0.1 • Occidente • Orbital Snake 2.0 • The Origins of the Space Shuttle • Guitar Chords 2.2 • Galaxy • Ultimate Sonic 1.0 • Space Shuttle History • MaxType Lite Typing Tutor • 100 per cent Rush • Yetisports Gore 1.0 • Orbiter Sub-System Design • MB Brain Teasers 1.10 • Mind Asylum • Zelda Forever 1 • Power Tab Editor 1.7 • Nights and Days • Rapid Typing Tutor 2.9.6 • 7 Improvisations Screensavers • Science Data Reference System • Quiet Life Vol 3 • Free Fire Screensaver • Scratch • Binary Mind • The Matrix Screen Saver 1.11 • The MagicBook 7.0 • Amazing Bubbles 3D Screen- • Virtual Morse Key 2.5.39 HD Trailers saver 1.2 • Voca 4.3 • Art & Copy • Licking Dog Screen Cleaner • WordWeb 5.52 • Inception Screen Saver 2.0 • World Wind 1.4.0 • Legion • Don’t Touch My Computer Epi- • WorldWide Telescope 2.2 • The Blind Side sode 2 1.22 • Zero Spelling 5.0 • The Fourth Kind • Sim Aquarium FreeTank 2.6 Operating Systems • The Wolfman • Matrix Trilogy 3D Code Screen- Qimo saver 3.4 Videos Qimo is a operating Videos • Distant Suns - Grand Tour 3D system designed for kids. Based • Adjustable liquid eyeglasses • Lego Star Wars Screensaver on Ubuntu, Qimo comes pre- • Happy design Experience the Star Wars uni- • Digital Talking Parrot installed with educational games • Nature’s designs verse in lego animation • The Amazing Spider-Man 3D for children aged 3 to 60 • Digging up dinosaurs Screensaver • Engineering and evolution • The Space Travel Screensaver 1.0 • Militant atheism • Super Mario World Screensaver 1 • “Mathemagic” • Super Mario Kart Screensaver 1 • How technology evolves • Flight over sea 3D • The world’s deepest caves • Aquarium • Wiring a web for global good • Dolphins and Whales • Wireless electricity • Batman Begins 3D • Faux nostalgia • 6 Days • Electric Sheep 2.6.6 • Gumbasia • Rain Cast 2.0 • Neurosonics Audiomedical Labs • gPhotoShow 1.6.3 • Piece • Moonlight City 1 • Tanzanian love story • Living Marine Aquarium • The Crossing Guard • Dream Aquarium 3D • The Forest • Pac-Man • Perfect Runaway 1

6 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com DVD Contents Tools Productivity • Atlantis Multimedia Enterprise • Text Suite Pro with M ArcSoft Total Media 3.5 Go-00 3.1-10 Player 1.1 3.5.5530 A media hub that combines TV, Go-OO is an • PolyEdit Lite 5.4 video recording, photo editing, OpenOffi ce. • 3.3 and media conversion in one org fork that • CrossLoop 2.51 easy-to-use program. You can features • Effective Meetings 1.7.5.4 watch and record TV shows, edit faster load • EZ-Format for Excel 7.2 photos or video, listen to music, and response times, and several rip CDs to MP3 and much more. features not included in the Developer It’s everything you need packed standard version of oOo • Bat To Exe Converter 1.5 in one versatile and easy-to-use • Corel WordPerfect Offi ce X4 • WinPenPack Flash • Express Accounts 2.08 • Open Xava • Orange HRM • 3D Developer Studio • Microsoft Offi ce Accounting • Web CEO Free Edition Express 2009 • Silverfrost FTN95 5.30 • BillQuick Lite 2009 • B*Gallery 3.2.1 • PortableApps Suite • PersonalWebKit 3.3 • inFlow Inventory Software • ActivePerl (Windows) 5.1 Free Edition 1.2.3 • JAlbum 8.4.1 • OpenOffi ce.org Portable • PHPTriad 2.2 • Microsoft OneNote 2003 • MoreMotion Web Express • Adempiere ERP • AceHTML build • ZWCAD 2009i • SmartDraw 2009 52 • Bloodshed Dev-Pascal • Jamstix 2.5.2 • OroTimesheet 6.12 • KompoZer 0.7.10Nvu 1 • PDF Studio 6.0 • OrgPlus Professional 8.0 • PageBreeze HTML Editor • Delcam Exchange 6.0 • EasyBilling 2.6.1 • Ghost Installer Free DIGIT TV • OSG Composer CAD 1.2.1 • SurveyGold 8.0 • CSE HTML Validator Lite 10 Visual Buying • DV Mixer Pro 1.5 • 4ASoft Agenda 9.01 • Web Dwarf 2.5 • Photo Pos Pro 1.72 • Label Flow 4.3 • MyGeneration 1.3.0.3 Guides • Real-Draw Pro 5.2.3 • Nitro PDF Professional • Hex Edit Free 3.0F • Mobile Phones • Flash Effect Site Builder Platinum • OneStep Accounting Standard • JCreator LE 4.50.010 • HDTVs 12.06 Edition 4.0 • Source Edit 4.0 revision 3 • Cameras • Pazera Video Converters Suite • ProShow Producer • SiteGenWiz 1.5 • PhotoShine 3.2 • PDF-XChange Viewer • XMLBuddy 2.0.72 • PMPs • Avant Media Player 3.4 • Proteus Lite 6.7 • Notepad++ 5.4.5 • External Storage • JetAudio Basic 7.5.4 • PDFCreator 0.9.6 • HTML-Kit Build 292 • Laptops • Ultimate Business Plan • PHP Designer 2007 • Internet • Business Functions 1.52 • Install Creator 2 build 28 • Camcorders • LuckyWire 1.0.0.2 • Project Engine Personal • WordPress 2.8.4 • TomTom Home 2.7.0.1785 • Ultra Hal Text-to-Speech • Graphic Cards • CoffeeCup Photo Gallery Reader 1.0.5 Mac • Motherboards & CPUs • Hermes P2P 3.0 • 3S Accounting 3.2 Artlantis Studio • P2P Rocket 1.4 • ReadPlease 2003 1.1 Artlantis Studio is the fastest • SmartFTP Client 3.0.1043 • Microsoft Project 2000 Update stand-alone 3D rendering • DAP 9.6 SR-1 9.0 application developed • TVTrigger 1.1 • RationalPlan Project Viewer especially for architects and • Memeo Send 1.0 3.15.1 designers • Advanced OPC Data Logger • Netpas Distance 2.5 build • NeoOffi ce 3.0 Patch 7 • Meteor Share 2.3 • Fleet Maintenance Pro Deluxe • Google SketchUp • FrostWire 4.18.1 11.0.0.21 • MacJournal 5.1.4 • TubeMaster++ 1.2 • Volutive Free Invoicing & • Blender 2.49b • Hulu Downloader 2.3.8.21 Inventory 1.3 • Cenon 3.9 • TurboFTP 6.00.735 • Health and Safety Manager Lite • Hoecker-Plot 0.8.1 • Web Site Maestro 7.6 Edition • Art of Illusion 2.7.2 • Email File Transfer Protocol • Speak 1.8.84 • Paintbrush 2.0.1 Server 1.0.1.3 • CyberCafePro Client • Geo3D 2.5.8 • BookmarkAssistPro 1.2.2 • Buyertools Reminder • VDownloader 1.0 • Smartworks - Project Operating Systems Planner Reader 1 • React OS System • FreeOCR 1 • Ultimate Boot CD • OPTIsend Print 2.6.1 • OmniFormat 7.9 • Back Track • CrashPlan 7.27.20009 • Auction Sentry Standard • Hulbee Desktop Standard • PPPCD 1.51 • SilverFast Ai Epson 4870 • Abdio PDF Reader 5.4 • eWriterPro 2.0 • Label Designer Plus Deluxe • SilverFast Ai - Minolta 9.5.0.1 • eDocPrinter PDF Pro 6.48 • 101 Clips 9.02 • Moo0 RightClicker 1.31 • Digital Dictation 7.5 • Photocopier Expert 6.59 • DoneEx XCell Compiler

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 7 Catching more fi sh Microsoft going open source? Bala Parthasarathy, MD - To fi nd out more, read Buzz for technology Enter Inbox 12 Europe and APAC, Snapfi sh 14 news doing the rounds

I have been reading Digit DVD with the virus updates for the past 3 years but is another source for false this is the first time I am positives. Anti-Virus software writing to you. You are doing with poor registry matching a great feat by publishing mechanisms, is liable to flag this magazine every month. perfectly innocent software as I heartily appreciate your being infected. This is likely to efforts. Yours is the best tech happen when any source with magazine in India. I have read a large number of software other magazines, but I find interfaces with the computer. yours the most fascinating. I We download the contents of have a few complaints and I the DVD on secure machines, hope you would take care of from reputable web sites, them: and scan the contents before 1. Your idea of providing burning. We suggest that you Unboxing Videos is very report the false positives to good. But the videos your Anti-Virus provider. themselves look very of five years I have few how it is presented. If you Aditya amateurish. Sometimes the suggestions such as please like tech contests, flip over to camera goes out of focus. provide big fonts and make page 141 for a chance to win Thanks for this issue. Sometimes the presenter’s the fonts darker and I beg loads of prizes over the course I think of ‘more’ you guys face is visible reflecting on you to do this because the of this month. You will have provide ‘more and more’. the polished surfaces of font now is making too to answer one tech question Web awards just made the products. Sometimes stressful to read the article a day. There must have been surfing more easier. Face the video gets blurred and and when referring “readers some freak mix-up with the recognition technologies it gets unstable. I didn’t letters section” in Digit for database, and you are the first just stole my heart. CPUs expect such quality from past few months I noticed and only casualty thus far. were good priced, better you professionals! complaints about fonts to Medic! performing and best tested. 2. Please change the DVD be changed but the problem Robert Thanks for Tips and Tricks interface. It is boring. still persists! I suggest you on Browers. Netbooks were 3. Please provide a stable to provide fonts as in August I bought the latest awesome and cheap. I agree version of Digit Software 2008 issue... September 2009 issue. I with Editor’s view on WWW. Archive as soon as possible I also want you to had the DVD containing It just gave all information (one like the 2006 bring back sections like Graphics Applications Pack but made everyone lazy. version). “crossword” and “take a virus checked through Avast It just like spoon feeding. 4. In the Price Watch crack” which are really Digit’s and it reported the presence Thanks for reviews on section, the pictures unique features and it makes of a Virus in your DVD. I am Wolfenstien. Digit has of the components are zero cost to bring back in sorry to inform you about tested almost everything. I mismatched with the text Digit. I was shocked to see this Virus. Your DVDs were of think it is time to go bigger. in the previous versions. Digit Reader’s Meet held at use till now. Now I am afraid Can you guys test different Please take care of that. Coimbatore because since my of them. Please render service OSes please? Please can 5. And finally, I want to know hometown is Kangayam for to society by providing Virus- you provide Fasttrack on the name of the person past five years. I’m studying . languages like Fortran,Cobol who deals with the Agent in Coimbatore only. I also N.S. etc. Can you please revist the 001 section. I want to registered at “Digit reader’s Gaming Special issue? I will congratulate him for those meeting at SMSGUPSHUP The “Customization” section eagerly wait for next issue. brilliant recommendations. referring coimbatore only” in the DVD is responsible Mayur Gaikwad Keep up the good work. but the meeting was held for the virus alert. Some of L. Chandrahas without me! the software (eg: bbclean) The Fast Track to Freeware Sathiya Moorthy are explorer.exe shell had a big comparison of the Thanks for the feedback. I replacements for Windows. different distros. Testing hope you’ll like the ones we’ve We are constantly striving As many viruses start by OSes does not make sense given this month, and we will to improve our content, and disabling explorer.exe, because of the suitability continue to improve. some anti-virus for each of these OSes. Each Robert applications flag OS is meant for particular the software as purposes, and it is not The September issue was a virus. This is really an apples to apples really great right beginning known as a false comparison. We do include from the Editorial strongly positive. Anti- developer related content supporting “Understanding Virus software in the magazine, try out the comes from challenges not with very Developer section on the the ease offered by info at sensitive heuristic Work DVD. fingertips” was excellent scanning will Rossi and the cover story about flag a number of “Web awards 2009” also viruses on the In June 2006 I got my remarkable. As a reader DVD. The other first Digit only by accident.

8 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Inbox Young Indian Innovators A Digit initiative, and platform to recognise Feedback the contribution of innovative Indians in the Let us know your feedback at 18 fi eld of technology www.thinkdigit.com/d/oct09

Since then I never missed any LETTER OF THE MONTH issue. At that time I didn’t defi nitely going into my all time favorites. It have PC at home. In 2007 I I am a long time admirer and reader of Digit and am glad to say a very satisfi ed one was prepared and presently in such a manner brought PC and then as you at that. Over the years I have seen Digit evolve that even a novice like me could get the most said somewhere in Digit Fast in accordance with the current technologies, from it. I would like to extend my heartfelt Track, installed Windows the specifi c needs of the existing scenarios and gratitude to the entire team at Digit for a job XP as its Free in India just most importantly the views of its readers. This superbly done. like Linux. I used all those has made Digit my (and I am sure many others) I wish the entire team best of luck for the great (free in India best choice for a complete and satisfying future and keep up the fantastic work. I’m a only), many cracks, tricks. technological review. big fan. But during that time Digit The introduction of Fast Track was another Syed Faheemuddin was only magazine who milestone innovation from Digit. Comprehensive made me to use freeware and Compact, it gave us readers an in-depth and stop using those other knowledge of a particular topic every month. Thanks for the vote of confidence; it’s always Free softwares, by giving By far, for me, Digit has always been in the nice to get positive feedback. alternatives to all proprietary forefront of its genre with Fast Track backing Robert softwares, and telling the it up adequately. Digit has continued to importance to use of it. deliver the goods this month too, especially www.thinkdigit.com/d/pmp_test Finally in June 2009, three the Web Awards and the articles on various years after my first Digit, I web browsers, but this month’s Fast track completely removed Win XP, was absolutely fabulous. The “Fast Track to Photoshop, CorelDraw, Media Wireless Technologies” blew my mind away. It has answered every question I ever had about encoders and many others from wireless technologies especially mobile phones. my hard disk and also from It was very helpful and informative, and it most backup CD and installed Linux MINT 7 GLORIA from June 09 DVD. Credit is only yours. Thanks a Lot. Last month it the web awards. I am using First burn the contents of Indian culture and it is was a great issue for new bee home basic. a .iso file to a CD in case of still thriving.) Please print like me in the world of Linux. Now i want to use Linux. As a live distro such as Moblin, the Month of publication I was very happy. But what I am new to all this can you Android, or in this month’s in Big fonts at a particular about this issue. Completely just help me out. I want to case, ReactOS, BackTrack or location, say at the right disappointing. Nothing is there. use both Linux and Vista Qimo. Place the CD in the DVD top corner and print it Not a single software, or even a simultaneously. Can I install drive, restart the computer there itself at this fixed article related to Linux. I know Linux over Vista? Please and hit [F12] to load the Live place for every issue. Make you’ll say there is gOS, Moblin provide sufficient information CD. The distro should boot in, the life simple and reduce but in 16 GB it’s nothing. You along with setup for Linux. and usually you can install the time wastage . are again tempting me to try I also faced problems in distro if you like it using a GUI 2. Bring back the old Digit all that 16 GB software stuff using distros such as Moblin installer from the desktop. To Archive search, the job by installing Windows xp. I and Android. I dont know dual boot a distro, go to Start of a novice is not worth am thinking that do I made how to use them. I think you > Run > discmgmt.msc finding a place in your mistake by shifting to Linux. I should provide sufficient on your Vista system, and SW. Have you not tried don’t have internet connection literature to use softwares use the GUI to create around before offering theis to at home. Its very difficult to you provide with DVD. I 2 GB of free space - more if your readers? Readers are install any new software and also want to make partition you plan to use the Linux finding it useless. update system. What about in my hard disk. Is there distro regularly. Then, when 3. Avoid printing in too the “Digit Software archive”. any software like partition selecting a target partition for small a font size. Those Please give it, the original not magic for Vista. Please cover the Linux installation, choose who wear specs or having V2. Sun Virtual Box was also wireless mobile bradband the partition you just created. visual impairments find it for windows platform and services in your issue. I am The last issue’s Tips and Tricks difficult to read. what about me. I think you still waiting for a detailed section has a detailed feature Thank God, you have are biased about OSes. Please article on windows 7. walkthrough of Moblin. Thanks discontinued printig Digit on give some more space to Open I want to thank team digit for writing in. glossy paper. peoples also. BTW you are from bottom of my heart for Aditya It is surprising how these great. All the best. doing great work. There is escaped consideration of a Pravin Vibhute no doubt that you guys are I have a few complaints: person of Information society. amazing. I am very excited 1.You have stopped printing RS Bhattacharya I am yet another fan of about October issue. Fast track Month of Publication on Digit. One thing I like most is superb and is of great help DIGIT Cover. Is there any Digit should be bought about Digit is diversity in to ones with non-technical reason for that ? This gives when relevant, regardless of content. With each issue you backgrounds. I am very a chance to the sellers to the month. The archive is get information about lots of impressed by your fight against dupe a customer. (The on it’s way back, and we’ve things. Your september issue piracy. I am doing my level culture of troubling and made some changes in the is awesome. Content in the best to promote it. Keep it up. cheating each other in font. Hope you’ll notice the DVD is also great. I think Rohit Tripathi round robin fashion is differences. you wasted a lot of in Kanpur rampent now a days in Robert

10 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Web awards DreamScreen Industry Connect Read Digit’s September 2009 HP’s latest photoframe with social issue for options on photo printing networking capabilities, internet radio and and all the best web sites around media player Catching more fi sh We spoke to Bala Parthasarathy, Managing Director – Europe and APAC, Snapfi sh, Hewlett- Packard on its plans for the Indian market.

Nash David [email protected] What has Snapfish planned for India in the near future? Anyone who has been keeping a close watch on the online photography space in India would acknowledge that Snapfish has etched out an enviable success story within its inaugural year in India. With a robust economy despite the meltdown, upgrade and enhance our product and service offerings. Hence, an unprecedented internet penetration rate and the express we have a mechanism on our web site through which customers globalisation of the Indian consumer, Snapfish had always can share their feedback. envisioned an all-digital-photography landscape for India. We indeed have ambitious growth plans for the Indian market that What is unique about Snapfish that you expect users comprises business alliances, interesting product integrations to be drawn? Especially with Google Picasa and Yahoo and emphasis on product innovation in order to deliver Flickr for storage and numerous others allowing print, distinguished service to our customers. what is Snapfish’s USP? We have recently launched the Snapfish application on two of the latest imaging phones by Sony Ericsson – C903 and Being one of the early players in the industry, Snapfish has been C510 Cyber-shot. Both the phones come with the pre-installed an integral part of the industry evolution for over a decade. Snapfish application, which allows users to click pictures Hence, Snapfish is in the best position to understand and and directly upload them on www.snapfish.in from the phone. address the needs of the digital consumer today and is therefore Moreover, the application also allows users to order prints of the leading player in the online photography space globally. their pictures and get them delivered at their doorstep. We Further, operating under the aegis of HP we have been able to have also partnered with eBay India, the leading eCommerce scale down our costs considerably. We don’t anticipate any marketplace in the country, in our attempt to enrich the major competition since we offer the best quality products at user experience of the online shoppers by offering them the the best price and also have the largest array of products in the convenience of uploading and sharing their memories as well as online photography space comprising over 25 photo products. creating personalised products instantly. Some of our popular products include greeting cards, canvas prints, collage posters, photobooks, collage photo mug and Tell us more about your print labs and how you deliver photo calendars. prints to the end user? We have state of the art photo printing labs that house HP’s Tell us some interesting consumer trends in the recent Indigo, Design Jet and RPS printers. We have tied up with past. How do you see consumers responding in the near leading logistics companies to have the orders shipped to future? anywhere in India. Never relying on the crystal ball, Snapfish has always taken cues from consumer and market research data in order to Is the model for Snapfish India specific to India or does predict future trends. With the handset industry witnessing a it follow the global HP network? mega pixel explosion, camera phones are becoming the digital Snapfish follows the same business model globally. cameras of the future and the number of people relying on their camera phones to click spontaneous pictures is bewildering. What do consumers do if they are not pleased with the Moreover, the basic premise of our business is to help people print quality? share, print and store their photos no matter what type of gadgets they use to click pictures. Hence, we have already As part of the HP family, impeccable print quality is in the started work in this direction, initiating interesting partnerships Snapfish DNA. All the photos at Snapfish are printed using with handset manufacturers such as Sony Ericsson for printers and have a shelf life of over 100 years if kept exposed Snapfish application integration into their phones. This would and over 200 years if they are kept protected in an album or in address the needs of the digital consumers who have already a glass-protected photo . However, consumer feedback is started looking for ways to integrate the click, share and print very valuable to us as it gives us an opportunity to continually phenomenon into a single device.

12 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Pehle aap Small is beautiful The internet is buzzing with rumors LG has introduced a new – XPION Buzz that the Sony Ericsson Xperia 3 will be X30 which is based on the ION available in January 2010, and might platform and is priced very competitively be out before even the Xperia 2 at approximately Rs. 23,500

While most such services Their new foundation it automatically generate distorted seems is an effort to get more HP DreamScreen letters, making them difficult for commercial companies to anyone but a human to discern, participate in open source brings Facebook, wireless media and Pandora to reCAPTCHA goes about it ventures. As they state on their differently. FAQ page: any corner of your home With reCAPTCHA, every time “We believe that commercial P has launched a you prove that you are a human software companies and the new PC-companion you are effectively helping the developers that work for them media player, the process of digitising printed under-participate in open source DreamScreen, documents. Instead of using projects.” Hwhich connects easily to a better and better algorithms Sounds familiar. Isn’t that wireless or wired network to to generate better distortions exactly what Microsoft did with bring photos, music and video which can only be recognised its own open source submission? into any area of the home. The by humans, reCAPTCHA As taken from the blog of a screen also transforms social instead uses portions of scanned Linux kernel developer about media and web information documents which failed to Microsoft’s Hyper-V kernel into consumable, bite-sized get recognised by the OCR drivers code submission: HP’s DreamScreen pieces. (Optical Character Recognition) “Over 200 patches make Before moving on into the Systems Group, HP. “With HP algorithms used to digitise it. up the massive cleanup effort press release, here’s our own DreamScreen, social media, Many times these can easily be needed to just get this code bite-sized piece of what you need web services and digital recognised by humans. into a semi-sane kernel coding to know: It comes in two models entertainment can be enjoyed in With the support and style (someone owes me a bit with 10-inch and 13-inch screens more areas of the home.” resources of Google behind bottle of rum for that work!) respectively, has 2 GB of built-in The HP DreamScreen features reCAPTCHA, it is possible for the Unfortunately the Microsoft memory, touch-sensitive controls a piano-black design with a project to reach an even higher developers seem to have on the frame, Wi-Fi connectivity, vibrant, flush glass widescreen gear. With all Google services disappeared, and no one is USB ports, memory card reader, display. The DreamScreen 100 using reCAPTCHA, and with answering my emails. If they do built-in speakers, a 3.5-mm (measuring 10.2 inches) was more resources from Google to not show back up to claim this audio jack, and a remote control. designed to fit perfectly on a make reCAPTCHA more easily driver soon, it will be removed in The software available includes nightstand or dresser. The HP available and implementable, it the 2.6.33 release. So sad...” Snapfish for photos, Pandora for DreamScreen 130 (measuring is bound to see an increase in The open source community internet radio, Facebook, a media 13.3 inches) is ideal for kitchen adoption. is one of instant feedback and player and a clock as well. counters and coffee tables. Projects such as Google continuous change, where and Google News Search projects continually get forked already use reCAPTCHA to help and die out. Microsoft just To read the complete story visit http://thinkdigit.com/d/67432/ in digitising a great volume of jumped into the deep end of the scans of old books, magazines pool. and newspapers. Word by word, Their new foundation is Without further ado, here’s Pricingg and reCAPTCHA aims to digitise a aimed to be an organisation the full press release from availability large part of past documents much like , Gnome and HP: The 10-inch HP DreamScreen which right now only exist in KDE, however one which caters People now can stay current 100 is available today in the print, making more and more of to a much broader spectrum of with Facebook friends and United States for $249 (Rs. our history indexable, searchable, software projects. photos, listen to Pandora 12,000 approx), while the and accessible to a greater public. Another citation from their Internet radio, share Snapfish 13-inch DreamScreen 130 is FAQ, which seems almost personal photos and enjoy their expected to be broadly available Microsoft unveils new satirical, Poe’s law could have music and pictures from home later this year for $299 (Rs. open-source initiative come in here: networked PCs(1) with a new 14,500 approx). If you can’t beat them, join “Specifically we aim to work category of connected screens them! with particular projects that can from HP. The HP DreamScreen, Googleg acquires Seems to be the new Microsoft serve as best practice exemplars a companion to the PC, connects reCAPTCHA strategy. After coming to the of how commercial software easily to a wireless or wired reCAPTCHA, another one of spotlight recently for donating companies and open source network to bring photos, the internet’s most innovative around 20,000 lines of code to communities can effectively music and video into any area projects in now in Google’s the open source community, (to collaborate.” of the home. The screen also grasp. help Windows run on Linux The cojones! While the transforms social media and web Not only is reCAPTCHA virtualisation platforms), they foundation does include information into consumable, an effective device for security have now started a new open members of the open source bite-sized pieces. against spam, it also manages source foundation CodePlex, not community, it is questionable “Constant, always-on access to accomplish a mission, to to be confused with their open how much experience Microsoft to friends, information and convert a large volume of printed source code sharing web site of could possibly have gained about entertainment is a common literature to text. the same name. collaborating with open source expectation today,” said Satjiv communities during its singular S. Chahil, senior vice president, To read the complete story visit code dump which it failed to worldwide marketing, Personal http://thinkdigit.com/d/15767/ maintain.

The new Samsung Omni PRO B7330 will come with Windows Mobile 6.5 OS The Samsung Star S5233w will launch in India with WiFi; will cost around Rs. 12,000

14 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com A new hope The affordable quad Star Ocean: The Last Hope was a game that was AMD has released the fi rst of its kind sub $100 Buzz launched for the Xbox 360, but will now see the quad core processors. The Athlon II X4 620 light of day on the PS3 in Feb 2010, as it was and 630 are 45nm manufactured quad-core announced by Square Enix, the developers processor, previously codenamed Propus

Indian govt plans cheaper, the sound quality is also with it accounting for a mere XrossMediaBar and head over to block all Internet much better. The government 16.2 per cent. to the videos section to watch a telephony for security could work out an agreement Out of all the statistics, the movie. purposes with the main players in this only one which caught us off This feature could be Cheap international calls over regard. Consumers should not guard was how dominant Orkut especially handy for games with VoIP (Voice Over Internet suffer as a result of government’s was. We had no doubt that it checkpoints that are too far and Protocol) may soon be a inaction,” Mukhi added. would be the market leader, but few in-between. We have also thing of the past for Indians The jury is still out on the the amount of share it has is found ourselves sometimes as the Intelligence Bureau has necessity of such an extreme staggering, considering how few wishing for a feature like this asked the premier telecom step. On the one hand, the people we know who prefer it to when travelling in a crowded body, the Department of important of security cannot Facebook now. train. As playing the game Telecommunications (DoT), to be taken lightly any more Apart from India, only Brazil becomes impossible, the option block all Internet telephony until in the light of recent events shares such high Google usage, of pausing it to listen to music security systems to trace the across the world; on the other with it topping the list at 29.8 per and then resume the game same are in place. hand, curbing advances in cent of all Internet usage in that later, right where we left off, is The Intelligence Bureau is technology that enable better country. absolutely fantastic in our books. of the view that currently, India communications do not benefit So why is Google so Round of applause here, please? does not have the capabilities to anyone. What’s your take? popular in these two emerging Apart from that, the other track internet telephony calls – economies? ComScore has a big change is that the PSP Go both domestic & international It’s offi cial: Indians possible explanation. comes with a proprietary cable – and had asked the DoT find an love Google, Gmail, “As it turns out, there are now. Gone are the days of using “early solution to this issue in the Orkut, Google Maps, interesting similarities between just any micro-USB cable you interest of national security”. YouTube and Blogger Brazil and India as emerging have handy with your PSP; Sony The ‘recommendation’ comes Here at Digit, we are all Internet markets,” Alex Banks, in the wake of last year’s 26/11 absolutely addicted to Google managing director of comScore attacks in Mumbai, where the products. Everyone uses Gmail Latin America. “Google’s terrorists used this medium for as their default client, Google prevalence in these markets can communication. Maps is the default mapping perhaps best be explained by “The terrorists used net engine for us and let’s not even the fact that the time at which telephony as they were aware get into the realms of actual these markets really began to that India did not have the search and video-sharing. We all develop and flourish was around technological capabilities to do know who dominates there! the same time that Google was a live trace of such calls,” Cyber So it doesn’t come becoming a major player in the security expert Vijay Mukhi told as a huge surprise to us search landscape. As a result, Economic Times. “In the US and when ComScore says that Google became the dominant is back to its ‘use our cables and Europe, all players who offer Google and its product constitute Internet brand in these markets make us rich’ nonsense again. and its success appears to have Part of the reason for this Post your comments at bled from search into other might be the fact that the PSP http://thinkdigit.com/d/98531/ areas of the Web like social Go does not come with a TV-out networking.” port like the older versions. The VOIP services have provisions an amazing 28.9 per cent of the GameSpot reviewers surmised that allow governments to track share of total time that Indians It’s Go time for PSP Go that the new proprietary port these calls. Many of them have spend online. Apparently, of The guys at GameSpot UK might double up as a TV-out also installed equipment at their the total 21,799 minutes that got their hands on the new port – with another proprietary premises to monitor VOIP calls Indians (aged over 15) spent on PlayStation Portable Go – the cable that you will have to buy, upon orders from governments.” the Internet (at work or home) latest version of the handheld of course. According to a report in July 2009, 6,294 of those were console from Sony – and have Both the reviewers were also by telecom regulator TRAI, used on navigating Google sites. just posted a detailed unboxing impressed with the build quality consumers used over 130 million Google accounted for video of the same on their site. of the PSP Go, noting that the minutes of Internet telephony 88.4 per cent of all searches A couple of things stand slider mechanism feels good, the in the January-March quarter conducted, and had out in the video, with the most analog nub has more resistance, of this year. This report also commanding share of time promising new feature being the the chrome buttons on the edge adds that 34 ISPs in India offer spent in social networking with inclusion of the ability to pause feel better than the plastic ones net telephony services in India Orkut (68.2 per cent), maps with your game. In the old PSP-3000 of old, and overall, the console legally. Google Maps (63.9 per cent) and and all previous versions, the has a ‘solid, but lighter’ feel to it. “This is a good move and multimedia with YouTube (82.8 best you could do was quit the One line in the review did it will also make the ISPs per cent). It also commanded game if you wanted to perform bother us though: Apparently the compliant to law,” Mukhi told slightly less than half of all time some other task, such as PSP Go can be synced up to only rediff.com. “We cannot obviously spent in the blogs category with watching a video. But in the new PCs and not Macs. Is this Sony’s stop all the players as there are Blogger (47.6 per cent) and email PSP Go, you can simply pause way of welcoming the iPod thousands of them but it can with Gmail (46.8 per cent). the game (although it takes a lot Touch to the world of handheld help to a large extent by blocking The one disappointment for of time to do so), go back to the video game consoles? all the main players.” Google would be the fact that “This will hit consumers its photo-sharing service Picasa Check out the PSP Go video at very badly. Not only are the calls has simply not taken off in India, http://thinkdigit.com/d/47687/

Nokia N86 to get face detection fi rmware upgrade Palm has decided to do away with Windows Mobile OS and work towards their own Palm WebOS in the future

16 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Young Indian Innovators Thinkdigit.com Exclusive The best PMPs reviewed this Diwali. Go to TED Talks thinkdigit.com/d/pmp_test and read the Watch videos on exciting and exclusive test online innovative ideas on Digit DVDs

unique code. Tiny deviations in the circuit, which have no effect on the device otherwise are encoded as a binary sequence (1s and 0s) and makes each IC unique. Priti Ranadive Even as the number of computing cores increase, software applications are slow to catch up. With dual and quad-core computers becoming commonplace, a lot of thought and effort needs to be put into Anand Agarawala designing a software to take full advantage of the performance stacking of objects, and tossing increases which come with documents to a printer, or USB parallelism. drive; commonly used files can Ranadive’s tool enables even grow in size, making them software to keep up with the easier to find. multi-core revolution. This Agarawala’s application, created automatic parallelization tool as a Masters’ project, has even helps convert legacy source been presented at TED Talks code to parallel code and and has significantly evolved exploit the advantages offered ith the advent the brightest minds from this ever since. of the internet, country and to garner your the very concept opinion on the most influential Farinaz Koushanfar of freedom is innovation. As such, we With rampant piracy brewing Wsomething that has undergone conducted a poll at http://www. around us, it’s quite easy to significant change. Concepts thinkdigit.com/yii, allowing you duplicate software – with such as open source software, to browse through profiles, and or without the internet. Yet, and copy-left licences are vote for your most deserving hardware piracy, although a certainly no invention of the candidate. lesser-known phenomenon, internet, yet without it, their No innovation is can be perhaps much more very model becomes infeasible. insignificant; in today’s world, damaging. ICs could be used Today, most popular web sites, the inventor of the socket is as anywhere from innocent video be it Wikipedia, Flickr, YouTube responsible for our computers players to high grade weapons. or even Twitter, are populated switching on, as the one who Koushanfar’s technique with user-generated content. discovered the transistor. The uses a unique ID to lock each Technology advances smallest of innovations pile chip so that it cannot be used Priti Ranadive freedom and nurtures it. up today to create tomorrow’s without either a redesign, or Your computer alone can be world. a code from the designer of by multi-cores. Arguably, this the source of information, Here are some of the the circuit, making hardware this tool’s best feature is that entertainment, and even participants: piracy a tough nut to crack. it requires little or no manual income. Yet, we are still Her method uses inherent effort, and stands to offer great constrained by the physical Anand Agarawala manufacturing imperfections, performance gains and reduce world we live in, and even As operating systems progress, as a base for creating the the execution time of the the best internet connections we tend to see a move towards code. This can be successfully cannot assuage a hostile interfaces that emulate the implemented in the field of government. real world. Anand’s software bioinformatics in applications In August, this year, BumpTop takes it several such as protein folding, weather we celebrated the 62nd steps forward in this regard, prediction, mathematical anniversary of our and turns your desktop into a simulations among others. Independence Day. To realistic 3D physical-desktop- Such fields stand to gain a lot commemorate this occasion, like environment. by being optimised for parallel we decided to compile a list We are used to interpreting processing. of some of India’s youngest the reality around us as physical The young Indian innovator innovators. Some of India’s objects, and by displaying with the most innovative and brightest and youngest minds, objects inside your computer. influential creation is... who have unveiled innovations BumpTop removes extraneous that are bound to influence the layers of interpretation. Objects Pranav Mistry shape of things to come. on your BumpTop desktop This young innovator has Our goal was to introduce obey similar rules of placement, already garnered much fame to you (our readers), some of and interaction, by allowing Farinaz Koushanfar and attention around the world

18 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Young Indian Innovators SixthSense in Digit MC9500 Read the May 2009 issue of Digit to Motorola’s recently launched know how Mistry’s SixthSense works handheld computer

Our other candidates Trilokya and Champak Bora Transmitting music signals through normal house wiring. Sudhakar Sah Efficient load-balancing of phases in 3-phase power supply units. Mansukh Prajapati “Mitti Cool”, a refrigerator made entirely of clay. Sendhil Mullianathan A new model of economics based on consumer psychology. Tanzeem Choudhury Device for analysing an automatic social networking connection by recording and interpreting data from multiple sensors. Sumeet Singh Better heuristic detection of viruses based on how they spread. Prithwish Basu Algorithms for decentralised (“ad hoc”) networks that can operate without the need for a base station. Anurag Dod Founder of first Indian crawler based search engine: guruji.com Pranav Mistry Sanjit Biswas Cheap Wi-Fi routers that can adjust to changing network environments for be done in person. While the best performance. internet may be teeming with Prem Singh Automated remote-controlled robot called “BSF Robot” that can help in the latest information, it’s often search and rescue operations. beyond reach. Whether you are shopping at a store, or on the Tapan Parikh Information services for small business owners that are centred around way home, there are many times mobile phones instead of computers. when the plentiful information Krishnan Kutty Solutions to make driving safer using multiple sensors. on the internet can be of real use, but it’s just not available. Vijay Krishnan Founder of Infoaxe, a web memory search engine that allows you to The ‘SixthSense’ device, make your web browsing history (and thus your habits) accessible and aims to make everything you searchable across computers. see around you an intractable interface. When you pick up Sundar Iyer Cheaper and better caching solutions for routers. a carton of milk at a store, it Anand Raghunathan A mobile security co-processor to make data and communication on mobile can tell you its fat content, and phones safer. how well it’ll go with your diet, or when you pick up a book Harimohan and Manoj Saini Optimised car designs eliminating differential gears by adding a fifth at the store, it will project its wheel. rating from , along with comments, and references. If Ashok Maliakal Next generation, low-powered flexible displays. you’re on vacation and need to Master Moxad Pinakin Thaker Model for utilising waste sewage for useful purposes such as generating snap a picture, you need not electricity. worry, just form the right gesture and it will take a photograph. Shetal Shah Safer ambulances and military transport vehicles for people with head Draw an ‘@’ symbol in the air trauma. and check your email. The best T. Sony Roy Cheque authentication system using ‘inkless’ fingerprint; ErPaper, erasable part is that the device would not cost much more than a mobile and reusable paper; Cool imager, instant photograph development device phone in the future. for use in photo-vending machines. In most demonstrations of amalgamated reality, we Suhas V. Shinde A novel new architecture of delay line resulting in 95 per cent power saving see artefacts superimposed and blended with the live and 65 per cent area saving. world. Pranav’s vision takes augmentation to the world for “SixthSense” which he calls SixthSense takes a backwards way we interact with physical outside computers. We a “wearable gestural interface.” approach. A previously objects, making it easier for see many films depicting a Some of the most brilliant mentioned innovation, people to adjust to a computer future where every device is a innovations we see today BumpTop tries to mimic the interface. ‘SixthSense’ on the computer embedded, where have to do with changing other hand turns your newspapers show flexible the way we interact with www.thinkdigit.com/d/pmp_test physical world into one displays, and your retina is devices. As technology large interactive entity, the key to your entire life. becomes a larger part of redefining not only the way This vision in comparison is life, and gets a larger share we interact with technology, much more real. Why wrap of our income, it becomes but with everything. every toilet paper in an OLED even more important how While technology has touch-screen when instead the we interact with technology, entered every field of our life, gestures can be recognised by a as we now do so more many tasks such as acquiring computer with a camera? Why often. daily-use consumables, upgrade the world when you In this respect, for example, still need to can upgrade yourself?

20 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Your web Track your digital life From anonymous browsing, Bing to Get to know where you spent all your time, Monopoly, insights into your world from web sites visited, applications used, to Connection Mobile Watch 24 online 28 the games you played

Opera Mini v5 locate people in your contact released To read more on the Hero, go to list, find emails in your inbox More than 30 million people http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/hero/ or search in any other area use Opera Mini as the mobile in Hero. Its SenseUI focuses browser of their choice to the actual point of typing, on three primary principles: browse more than 12 billion a minor irritant. To get the Make it Mine, Stay Close and web pages. Undoubtedly, browser on your phone, simply Discover the Unexpected. if there is an award in this direct your phone’s existing That’s just R&D fluff for widget category, it would go to this to http://m.opera. customisation and easy access. browser. Opera Mini offers com/next to download Opera a near desktop browsing Mini 5 beta. Camera or phone? experience and is taking this We’ve seen many ridiculous a step further with its latest HTC’s Hero debuts specifications in our time. version that includes a variety The most promising Android Add to that another one. Why handset, the HTC Hero has anyone would need a 12-MP finally arrived. Considering camera in the first place, and the recent hike in taxes, that too in a phone, is well you’ll have to dig deeper beyond us. Understandable, if into your pocket to get it’s a DSLR, but in a point-and- one, especially if you’re in shoot or a cellphone, it’s just an Maharashtra. While it will be overkill. Yet, here we have the priced at Rs. 31,990 across new Samsung M8910 Pixon 12, India, Maharashtra users will all ready to dazzle the Indian have to shell out Rs. 34,600 audience. (that’s an extra Rs. 2,600). “Speedy access to the If you’re not on Airtel’s camera mode, fast shutter network and you’re in speed and quick browsing, face Maharashtra, it would be tag and photo tag sorting are a double blow to know some of the key factors that that Airtel is offering HTC’s Hero powered by Android consumers are looking for in its subscribers 100 MB including A-GPS, gravity-sensor, their mobile phone cameras. download free of charge for 3.5-mm stereo headset jack, Samsung Pixon 12 holds six months. Services such a 5-MP autofocus camera and the answer to these pressing as portfolio manager, hello expandable microSD memory. consumer needs and more,” Tabbed browsing now on your mobile tunes, weather channel phone and mobshare will also be For more on the Samsung Pixon, go to of features, including tabbed available to the users of HTC http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/pixon/ browsing and speed dial. Hero on the Airtel network. Version 5 beta also has some The phone features interesting UI improvements. bevelled edges with an angled HTC Hero also includes a said Sunil Dutt, Country Head, The overall look and feel of bottom and is contoured to dedicated Search button that Samsung Telecom Division. Opera Mini has changed quite fit comfortably in your hand. goes beyond basic search, The 12-MP CMOS sensor is a bit and is now optimised It’s designed to ensure a providing you with a more ably supported by a 28-mm for both keypads as well as convenient conversation too. natural, contextual search wide-angle lens with autofocus, touchscreens. We tried the It fits perfectly along your face. experience that enables you xenon flash and power LED browser on the Samsung Jet The HTC Hero is built to last to search through Twitter, flash. Almost every feature you (S8000) touch phone and and has an anti-fingerprint were impressed with the screen coating for improved browsing experience. You’ll smudge resistance and a longer find a Google search bar next lasting, clearer display. The to the navigation bar which white HTC Hero includes an is convenient. The speed industry-first, Teflon coating, dial and tabbed browsing resulting in an improved, work fabulously well and the durable white surface. response of the on-screen With its 3.2-inch HVGA QWERTY keyboard was display, the HTC Hero is impressive too. Web pages are optimised for web, multimedia rendered quite well and only and other content while require a double tap to zoom in. maintaining a small size and The cursor was a little buggy; it weight. It also boasts a broad appeared one character before variety of hardware features

For a feature tour, go to http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/opera5/ A camera you can call from

Facebook’s user base now swells to 300 million; reportedly the web site is making money for the first time Crasher Squirrel on its way to becoming an internet meme e-book readership increases by 53 per cent this year Google feels the heat for digitising books Microsoft sues parties responsible for ads filled with malicious code

22 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com DLDC Mobile Watch Statutory warning -Siemens Networks’ Downlink dual carrier Tech addiction ‘harms’ learning, according to upgrade gives upto 0.6 Mbps transfer rates on researchers at Cranfield School of Management existing EDGE connections

can think of is thrown into this indicated. Funnily, the lot, including tracking touch press release talked a lot Watch an exciting video on the twitter phone at http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/twitphone/ autofocus, geo-tagging, wide about what the company dynamic range, Smart Auto is doing with Windows statement, for instance: “The US telco could soon allow mode, image stabilisation, Mobile, given the occasion! announcement of LG’s first users to call each other over Beauty Shot, and face, smile But first, the new phone: The Android-powered Twitter. “Twitter’s popularity and blink detection. It can’t LG-GW620 features a 3-inch comes only a week after the demonstrates that people are cook your meals yet, but a little resistive touchscreen (320 world’s third largest mobile looking for simple, short ways training should get it there x 480 pixels, 256k colours) phone company announced to connect globally. too. As for video recording, and slide-out QWERTY that it would be introducing Now in beta, Jajah’s new three new Windows Mobile @Call service allows you to smartphones in the next few tweet your way to a call,” wrote weeks. These developments Jajah’s Hadara in a blog post. underscore LG’s commitment To initiate a call, you simply to offering greater consumer tweet a reply to the person choice in the expanding you want to talk with and category”. add the @call. For example, if you would like to call @ Twitter Calls username, tweet: @call @ Twitter has managed to garner username. Make sure there is significant publicity in recent a space between the two user times. If India’s junta didn’t names and that no additional know what Twitter is, Shashi text is added to your message. Tharoor did let them know. Jajah will call you and your Move over 140 characters, friend and connect the call. LG’s GW620 powered by Android you’ll soon be able to talk The @Call service is currently over Twitter, that too without restricted only to US numbers spending a fortune. On and requires users to be the Pixon 12 can handle 720 keypad to meet the growing one hand where the Indian eligible for the Beta. To check x 480 pixels at 30 frames per needs of consumers who rely government plans to block if you’re one of them, log in to second. All of this data can on their mobile phones for all internet telephony for your Jajah account. Under ‘My be stored onto a microSD more than just making calls. security purposes, a telecom Services’ in ‘My Account’ page, card of up to 16 GB. The The device benefits from an service provider in the US is you will see ‘Twitter Calls’. If screen is another impressive this doesn’t appear, and you aspect of the phone: The Follow this story at would like an invitation, send 3.1-inch AMOLED resistive http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/LGGW620/ an email to [email protected]. touchscreen renders 16 The service has maintained the million colours at a resolution that was busy bringing phone calls to twitter shorty spirit here too by of 480 x 800 pixels and comes created from the ground Twitter. A new beta service imposing a 2-minute talk limit with an accelerometer for up to take advantage of the being launched by Jajah – a on the @Call service. auto-rotation purposes. The many mobile applications ‘resistive’ part is a bit of a put- and services developed by off, but Samsung’s TouchWiz search leader Google. “The 2.0 UI does run pretty well on LG-GW620 will appeal to first- those. Overall, for a price of time smartphone customers Rs. 29,990, this one seems like by offering a new and different a good camera with a phone kind of user experience,” attached to it. said Dr. Skott Ahn, President and CEO of LG Electronics LG marries Android in Mobile Communications a Win Mo hangover Company. “Our objective is It’s been a long time coming, to provide a wide selection but LG’s love for Windows of smartphones to satisfy the Mobile phones has finally diverse preferences of today’s waned enough for it to feel consumers. This Android the itch and stray to Google’s phone is just one of many Android OS. The company smartphone models we plan has officially debuted its to introduce worldwide in first Android-based mobile the years ahead.” And this phone, the GW620, which stress on diversity throughout comes with a touchscreen the press release makes us and slider keyboard. The wonder why LG is so adamant phone will be released soon, on making sure people know but the price has not been it still loves MS. Take this

Facebook’s user base now swells to 300 million; reportedly the web site is making money for the first time Crasher Squirrel on its way to becoming an internet meme e-book readership increases by 53 per cent this year Google feels the heat for digitising books Microsoft sues parties responsible for ads filled with malicious code

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 23 Twitter Granny Rememberthemilk.com 104-year old Ivy from the An Adode Air notifier and an effective to-do list. It UK has over 45,000 followers on works in sync with various mobile platforms and Connections Web watch Twitter! Google Calendar

A curious case for one of those nodes. The PHP about just about anyone. single person. The Yahoo Query anonymity files act as repeaters to all the Consider you access a Language API manages the Traditionally darknets have Javascript clients out there. The random Twitter profile. After extension’s data backend. always been regarded as Javascript is the one doing all installing the add-on, all you Identify is therefore the dark underbelly of the the communication between need to do is hit [Ctrl] + [I] programmed to look up info internet, but now it seems clients. If, for instance, a chat and it will build a detailed profile for any page that has the as if accessing a darknet will were to be sent out, it would comprising various identities rel=”me” code in the source. be as simple as having a web be dispersed among the The ‘me’ annotation is browser. HP researchers darknet users. There is part of the XFN (XHTML recently demonstrated a going to be encryption Friends Network) and darknet - essentially a closed involved too. The best FOAF (Friend of a Friend) private network - that can be part is once you close markups, which are accessed through a browser. your browser, your crawled by the Google Some earlier darknets such as footprint vanishes Social Graph API. The tool Freenet, and WASTE have instantly. It should be can be very useful to learn gained notoriety for having interesting to keep an more about people and all sorts of objectionable eye on this to see if any their trademark internet content supported by the veil productive applications handles. Running it on of anonymity they provide. do come out of it. your own profile can be These darknets need a client shocking or perhaps even to access them. Finding such People research disappointing if it fails to clients installed on laptops simplified get the lowdown on you. would often raise alarm bells An interesting This way, it helps you fine for security authorities as extension we came across tune your profile if you they can be used for virtually a while back was Identity want a more integrated untraceable communication whose description is at web presence. Or help aiding even terrorists. once scary and promising; people in disassociating The HP researchers however depending on which side profiles that they don’t say darknets have their of the fence you look at it. Identify using ‘me’ links to track profiles want linked together. The legitimate uses. Their creation The extension is a social media of that person on other social only hitch is that it requires aptly named ‘Veiled’ can be marketer or compulsive social networking web sites. How does some work by the developers used for anonymous whistle networker’s dream come true. it do this? It uses two APIs. The and doesn’t work really well blowing and will also bring But this means it may be a cyber first is the Google Social Graph currently. anonymous communication stalker’s punching bag as well. API. This Google project started to the mainstream. Darknets The extension can amazingly more than a year ago identifies Monopoly in the sky maintain anonymity by track identities of individuals pages that form profiles of No, we’re not talking about scattering files as fragments across various social network / people and tracks linkages Airline Moguls. We’re talking across thousands of servers. media sites and create a profile between pages connected to a about one of the world’s most They also use something known as onion routing that tunnels communication through a network of relays so web sites can’t determine your location. In a podcast with Security Wire Weekly, Matt Wood one of the developers of Veiled said, “We’re leveraging what browsers have become lately, to access some of the functionality offered by darknets”. A simple PHP file is supposed to connect the client to the rest of the darknet. The user on the other hand has to just go to a URL. The PHP file downloads Javascript code into the browser. To understand this concept imagine a whole bunch of servers with this one PHP file on them. All of these PHP files together create the infrastructure for the Veiled darknet. Clients will then connect to each Monopoly city streets

The feud between YouTube and Warner Music is slowly reaching an end Files created with are soon to be searchable, only for the ones with the option

24 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Webapp for making charts Head over to lovelycharts.com and make everything from flowcharts, process diagrams, mind maps, network diagrams or just about any SectionConnections Opener Web watch kind of chart

popular board games has since it launched to the world been virtually recreated into in that unexpected comic For more Bing’s visual search feature, go to a mega-sized masterpiece as book format. To celebrate the www.thinkdigit.com/d/bing Google and Hasbro teamed occasion – albeit two weeks late up to launch Monopoly City – Google has unveiled the new address-cum-search bar Silverlight installed. What you Streets. The game allows users stable version of their browser, ‘Omnibox’ of Google Chrome are presented with first is a list to compete in a live, worldwide Chrome 3.0. The version has gotten a much-needed tweak of different categories such as version of the popular game, numbers seem to be ticking to help users distinguish a search movies, cars and US presidents. creating the biggest Monopoly by faster than we can report result from a Wiki page and a site In our case, we went for ‘Greatest tournament ever played. And them, with Chrome 2.0 being you entered from a bookmark Movies’ and were taken to the yes, you can theoretically launched just four months ago; in its drop-down menu. The next page. Here, we were shown buy any street in the world! still, who’s complaining? solution? A simple little icon at a grid of 9-columned thumbnails However within the first few According to StatsCounter, the start of the URL. The one big of various movie posters. It’s days of launch (on September the browser already has 7.39 disappointment, of course, is the got a nice CoverFlow kind of 9) there were hardly any per cent of the market share lack of extensions in this new feel to it and feels very Apple streets available for us to buy. in India, making it a force to release. Looks like Google still in most ways. The scroll bar, A new player will start off reckon with. So what does the has some creases to iron out. funnily, starts at the bottom with a whopping three million new version have in store for and you have to scroll upwards, Monopoly dollars – it seems us? Google Chrome Product Bing goes visual where the columns are fading like inflation has caught on in Manager Anthony Laforge Microsoft has launched a new into. Scrolling upwards, felt the board games too. With this, wrote a long post on of the feature in Bing that couldn’t a bit like scrolling albums on you can initially buy a street or official blog about the same, have come at a better time. We HTC’s TouchFLO interface or make an offer to a street owner and here are the salient points: were trying hard to remember Win+Tabbing through Windows to buy it off him. The huge Faster browsing: This new the name of a movie about an Aero, where you can see the money to start off obviously release of Google Chrome is African-American cop who is current item clearly and check means that the streets will cost faster than ever, a lot too: Downing Street in the improving by UK will cost 231,000 Monopoly more than 150 per Dollars, while Pennsylvania cent in Javascript Avenue will cost 2 million. performance since Pedder Road an upmarket the very first beta, Mumbai road was last valued at and by more than 400,000. Yikes! Of course, you 25 per cent since can always offset those prices the most recent by collecting rent from hotels, stable release. football stadiums, skyscrapers, New Tab Page: castles, etc. The speed-dial There is a bit of a weird on the New Tab rule thrown in, though, page of Google where if someone makes you Chrome has been an offer and you don’t reply one of its most within seven days, the offer popular features is automatically accepted and now it’s more Searching for no matter how low it is. So customisable unfamiliar terms potentially, you will have too. You can is easy with Bing’s to log in every day and if now rearrange Visual Search someone spams you with a thumbnails of lot of offers, you might just your most-visited stand to lose your property. websites by simply Hopefully, there will be a fix clicking and dragging your sent to investigate a murder in out obscured previews of the or some workaround for this. mouse. a racist town, but couldn’t even upcoming items. Pretty soon, The interface too is buggy, but Additionally, you can pin remember who the actor was. we found what we were looking thousands are already addicted. thumbnails to a spot so they Visual Search basically puts up for: In The Heat Of The Night. So go ahead and join the game don’t disappear even if your a whole bunch of images related Hovering the cursor over it that has turned the globe into browsing habits change. What’s to different categories, making it and at the top of the page – one giant game board! more, you can hide parts of the easy for you to locate those ‘It’s under the search bar – gave the page you don’t want to see, or on the tip of my tongue’ things related info: name, genre, rating Chrome 3 in one year even opt for a simple list view of that you just can’t recall. The and release date. One click On September 2, Google all your most visited web sites. feature has not been activated and the regular search results Chrome finished a whole year Omnibox gets icons: The for Indian users yet, but if you page for the movie opened up. just change your location to Pretty impressive. The same For more on the browser, go to US (top right corner), you will kind of visual search is possible www.thinkdigit.com/d/21123 be able to access it for now at for various other things, such www.bing.com/visualsearch. as products search, books and And yes, make sure you have cars.

‘Publish as a Web page’ According to research firm Forward Concepts, besides appealing to the power traveller, small, low-cost netbooks benefitted from the economic slump

26 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Slimtimer.com SlifeLabs.com A nice alternative to time sheets, Feature Has a paid time tracking software it lets you create tasks and even for Mac, but comes with several share them with your coworkers limitations and those you report to Track your digital life Find out how you spend your time in the digital sphere – the web sites you visit, your computer usage pattern, the applications you used most

start eating into our mainstay? There is a Fruitful Time Productivity Meter Siddharth Parwatay tremendous loss of productivity that happens The Productivity Meter application stores [email protected] due to unstructured time management. information locally as opposed to Rescue Whether you are a student, blogger, tech Time which sends info to remote servers – enthusiast, or a professional who works from suitable if you want your data to be close at o one can debate the fact that most home, knowing where you spend your time is hand. The reports are generated on a local of us spend half our lives in front very important. server at http://127.0.0.1:7885 and the of a computer screen. We play, interface can be accessed through a web socialise, interact and occasionally Time Tracking browser. The software lets you track data doN a bit of work among other things in the You can now keep track of your time by using for different users on the same computer. digital world. But often at the end of the day a host of applications and online services. Most of us browse as part of our work, and we find ourselves complaining “where has all These applications sit in the background and so just knowing that a browser was running the time gone?” When you rewind your day it keep track of your activities. The applications for a specified time doesn’t really tell you literally seems like you got up, got some work will generate contextual reports comprising much. With tagging domains, you can tell done, read some stuff and suddenly. Before graphs and tags to help you get a handle on productivity meter that the thinkdigit.com you realize, it’s 10 pm! how you spend your time. and Intel.com domains are for “research” on What happens when our pastimes processors. Apart from domains, you can tag Imaging: Shrikrishna Patkar

28 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com MyIntervals.com An ideal tool for small businesses that bill by Klok Feature the hour, it’s a powerful web-based project This nice little app built on the Adobe Feature management tool that combines time tracking Air platform works as a great time and task management with powerful reporting tracking tool for project management

DO this Make a movie of your day’s activities With Time Snapper Professional, you can take automated periodic screen captures of your activity all day. The software runs in the background and keeps taking screenshots at intervals which you specify. The default is every 10 seconds. During playback, TimeSnapper even allows you to flag notes for certain patches of activity. You can choose to filter by certain programmes such as Winamp or Firefox. The software also tells ManicTime in action you how productive you have been. To do this, specify the applications, domains and specific programmes and even window titles. mouse over any of the fragments in the window titles you consider productive. So, if The interface is pretty simple and lets you timeline a more detailed note pops up. you tag Wikipedia.org as productive, it will view your activity by time periods ranging However, you need to keep tagging the calculate the percentage of time spent on from a day to a month. You can even choose activities in the tags timeline to make any sense Wikipedia as your productivity. But the most to view activities within a specified selection of how your time was spent. You also have the fun part is watching your day unfold in video. within each day, say 9 am to 8 pm. This way option to Tag away time, which is interesting Go try it out! you’ll know the active and idle time (overall as it lets you track time spent on taking calls and per hour), time distribution between or going for lunch. All tweaking such as how forums, top games being played on Xfire and applications and web sites, and lastly tagged much time idle should be considered away etc. top downloads. time data. To try the application head over to can be done in the Tools & Settings tabs. The Games for Windows Live (GfWL) also lets fruitfultime.com. statistics tab allows for pulling up a wide range you follow your game trend. If you’re an Xbox of custom stats. Rescue Time solo The software Send your feedback at www.thinkdigit.com/d/oct09 Rescue Time has a cloud based interface. Its consumed around client is called the Data collector, so users 30 MB of memory who are touchy about their data being sent to even while running in the background, which 360 gamer and want to port your GamerCard remote servers will cringe at this one. Unlike was considerably higher than any of the other data to forum signatures, you can use other applications, this one is certainly easy to tools. You can download ManicTime from mygamercard.net or similar other services. set up. While configuring your profile, you can manictime.com, or find it on this month’s specify productive and distractive activities. It DVD. Music Tracking also lets you set goals. For instance, “I should If you’re one of those who listens to an Games Tracking obscene amount of music, you probably know For many a large part of “playtime” what the value of music tracking software consists of playing games. Two is. Those of you who don’t, well then it’s popular applications to track about time you discover. With music tracking your gaming pattern are Xfire and software such as scribbler from Last.fm, Gamespy Comrade and perform you’ll know details of your listening habits. a host of different functions. You The application will tell your favourite artists can keep tab of games you play on and tracks among other things. The data can your PC and also other associated be sliced and diced further to show overall information. The software creates charts or by specific time periods such as last auto-generated profile codes that three months or last one week. So the next Rescue Time being nosey about what you were upto show of your gaming hours, rig time someone asks you what your favourite config, and other stats that you can song is, all you have to do is look up which spend more than 4 hours per weekday on embed into signatures on gaming forums. track has the highest play count. The only very productive time. If I exceed 4 hours, send Since Xfire has a community associated with catch is that you need to register with the me an email at the end of the day”. One of the it, the application can be used not only to web site before you can begin scrobbling your advantages of having your data sent across view your statistics, you can see interesting music tastes. Still, registering has its own is the ability for rankings and comparisons stats about your friend network, your favourite benefits like the aspects of social networking with other users, which can be fun. Rescue servers, uploaded screenshots, friend’s game that are found on the web site. If you have time will tell you where you stand in terms of play statistics, private messages from Xfire’s been using a dedicated music player for efficiency when compared to average users. listening to your music, the scrobbler will The tool can also be configured to ask you Record keystrokes pick up your listening history instantly what you were up to in your idle time. Want to find out how many keystrokes you and post it on your profile. Apart from just make in a day? We found this impressive app tracking, the web interface will give you useful Manic Time that lets you do exactly that. Head over to recommendations for music based on the Manic Time has all the functionality with a http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/debuggable/. songs you scrobble. Many of the generated decent interface. One drawback is that the The application rests in your taskbar and charts can be embedded on other web pages. application depends heavily on user input. shows you a little pop-up of how many Also there is the option of doing fun stuff ManicTime’s interface is broken up into keystrokes you make in a day. If this gets with the RSS feed of your music listening for four time lines viz. Browsing, Application, annoying, simply turn off notifications. Turn example putting the feed onto your blog or notifications on when you want to keep track! Computer Usage and Tags. By rolling the twitter account.

30 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Xxx xxxxx Tech Treats Reach out to your geeky and not-so- Digital life Drool maal 36 geeky friends this Diwali

Nokia N900 The Nokia N900 is designed to bringing mobile and desktop computers closer, in terms of experience. One of the primary focuses in this device is the ability to heavily multi-task, so the device does not slow down if you get a call while surfing the internet and want to dig into the contacts you have to message. There is a touchscreen interface, as well as a full QWERTY keyboard that slides out. Under the hood is an ARM Cortex-A8 processor, 32 GB of RAM with 768 MB of virtual memory that essentially gives applications over 1 GB of memory to work with. The device will use a customised version of the Linux OS called Maemo, on the heels of Google’s adoption of Android, another Linux-based mobile OS. The device is available at around €500 (Rs. 35,200)

Surface Tension The Surface Tension Arcade Table is an innovative approach to furniture. Surface Tension manufactures tables with a large touch screen interface, and a computer built in to the table itself. The Arcade edition of this coffee table has two set of full arcade controls and comes with over 60 retro games, and any game that is compatible with MAME can be installed later on. Windows XP is used on the machine, so you can install any software you want and use the table as a regular computer. Additionally, you can play movies, browse through photos and surf the internet all with a great 1200 by 700 mm touch interface. The Arcade edition is available for £2,999 or Rs. 2,39,690 from www. surfacetension.net

32 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Drool maal Give us your feedback at www.thinkdigit.com/d/oct09/

Canon Powershot SX20IS The Canon PowerShot SX20 IS is a follow up on the well recieved Canon Powershot SX10, which they released last year. The camera brings pro features to the point and shoot domain, with easy to use functionality, but leaving the option for a pro to manipulate settings manually. The camera packs in a 1 by 2.3 inch sensor with a 12.1 MP count, a staggering 20X optical zoom, 1280 x 720 full HD movie recording, and an continuous shoot feature that let’s you shoot till you fill up the card. The camera is priced at $400 (Rs. 19,300)

Fender 57 Champ Custom Fender is bringing back an old classic amp, that would put any buyer in the same league as the best of rock legends. Eric Clapton, no less, used this particular model to record Layla. The materials used for the amp are the same used when the amp was originally made, and the entire piece is hand- wired. This is not an imitation, or a mass-produced abomination, you can own an authentic piece of rock history for $1,000 (Rs. 48,500)

Samsung LN65B650 This astonishingly large (65-inch) CCFL backlit LCD TV from Samsung is sure to give those large Plasma screens a run for their money. The TV boasts of a propriety Auto Motion Plus 120Hz refresh rate and a 4 millisecond response time, with a full HD 1080p resolution. This reduces blur during the action scenes of a movie, but users can customize the blur settings. The [email protected] suite can stream wireless content, or play clips off YouTube, among other connectivity options. What is really appealing is the power consumption, as the device meets the latest Energy Star standards, something that not too many Plasma screens can claim. The TV is available for $6,000 (Rs. 29,300)

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 33 Drool maal Zune update Next generation Wii Microsoft recently released the Zune Rumoured to have HD graphics and 4.0 software update that features a brand new motion controller quickplay and smart DJ

GigaPan Epic 100 The GigaPan is a set of robotic systems that lets users take astoundingly large images using an automated robot. The device is a mount with a clicker that carefully moves a camera, and takes as many shots as the user specifies, in a grid, and stitches the photos together resulting in large, very detailed panoramas, with tremendously large megapixel counts (called GigaPixel by the site). GigaPan systems was teasing the world with some amazingly detailed shots put up on their website, and a product is finally out in the market. The GigaPan Epic 100 is available for $449 (Rs. 21,720)

PSPGo Sony’s rationale for making the PSP Go seems to be to make a smaller, more compact and lighter device for pocket gaming. The PSP Go, which has hit the American markets early this month, sports a 16GB flash drive instead of the UMD memory, and a screen that slides up to reveal the controls beneath. The only means of distribution of games however, is the official PSP store, a new mini-game section of which has opened along with the launch of the PSP Go. The PSP Go sells for $250 (Rs. 12,130)

Compo del Cielo Meteorite Fragment Meteoritemarket.com sells a lot of space rock fragments. Most of the pieces for sale are tiny slices of a rock, that have been cut out from bigger stones. While those may be rare, hard to find and therefore expensive, if you just want to show off a big chunk of space rock, pick the Campo del Cielo fragments, which don’t look like they have been cut out from a larger piece, and there are pretty big pieces on sale too. This is a particularly large piece (over 5 KG) that is available for $700 (Rs. 33,980)

34 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Blood-powered lamp Drool maal A mysterious blood-powered lamp that debuted on Solar Bluetooth the internet requires you to break off its top, and let A solar Bluetooth head set released by few drops of blood trickle to emit an eerie glow Brando, stays on standby for infinity

Leica M9 The Leica M9 is a spectacular piece of craftsmanship. The M series has a long history, and this is one of the world’s smallest rangefinder cameras. Although the body is tiny, at 139x37x80 mm, the Leica M( manages to pack in a large 24×36mm sensor. The large and chunky dials make it easy for photographers to adjust the settings, and the M9 has a dial just for the JVC LT-32WX50 ISO settings. The Leica M9 includes a license for Adobe Lightroom in the JVC is debuting in the backlit LCD market and how. The LT-32WX50 package. You can pick one up for £4,850 (Rs. 3,93,300) is just 7 mm thin at it’s thickest point, and goes down to 6.4mm at it’s thinnest. This particular screen wouldn’t look ugly or intrude into space when mounted on a wall. The screen weights just around 5 KG. The LT-32EX50 offers full 1080p HD resolution, a 4000:1 contrast ratio, and displays 90% of Adobe’s RGB colour space. Be prepared to shell out US $ 3,000 (Rs. 1,45,711) though

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 35 iPod Nano Nokia Netbooks Feature The latest iPod Nano has The Nokia Booklet 3G will sell for less than a radio, video camera $500, have a 10-inch screen and built in and microphone GPS navigation chip

TV Video Game If you’re on a shoestring budget and you want to please kids less than age 12 this Diwali, gift them the good old TV video game that you get at every local toy shop. It comes with Tech Treats joysticks, a ‘gun’ and lots of games that can be Groovy gifting ideas for Diwali played on the – all for less than Rs. 500. Just pray that the kid hasn’t heard of the Xbox or PlayStation yet. Madhusudan Mukerjee Battery operated mobile charger [email protected] An emergency phone charger is what Getting your wallet travellers always need. You can get one for less (Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 2,500) than Rs. 160 in time for the Diwali holiday t’s that time of the year when the air is travel. These are pocket-sized, lightweight MP3/MP4 Player filled with festivities. Come Diwali, and and use 4 AAA batteries/pencil cells and are Every time you think you’re bombarded with discounts and compatible with most cell phone brands. Visit everyone’s got one, offers. So, if you have geeks for friends your local mobile store for the best deals on just remind yourself whoI prefer gadgets to sweets, here’s a list this one. that everyone who has of technological thingamajigs categorised already got one usually according to your buying power. Electric Kettle wants another, better It’s amazing how cheap one. Innumerable Starters (Less than Rs. 1,000) kitchen accessories have brands – Chinese got. The Bajaj Cordless et al. – clutter the The Shuffle still rules USB pen drives Electric Kettle comes market and spoil you Flash drives start from Rs. 200 (1 GB) all the between Rs. 799 to 899. for choice. Some of these are even below Rs. way to Rs. 4,000 (32 GB) and above. They Plug it in and you can 1,000. And then there’s the quintessential are bare necessity and can be stuff to show make tea, boil milk or iPod. The 1 GB iPod Shuffle is priced below around. One that stands out makes for a cool water in a moment. Give the Rs. 2,500 threshold and is going to make gift. The recently launched JetFlash V70 by your mom one, and then Settle for a Kettle your friends flip. You can even change the Transcend, with eco-friendly rubber makes it proceed to show her skin to the stereotypical pink for your sister or what a refreshing cup of tea you can make. girl friend. Or get it for your younger siblings to finally let them have their own private Hair Dryer listening device. Cheaper players are available There was a time for much less, if you’re not fussy about brands. when hair dryers were only meant for Cell Phone women. Although If there’s someone you can still gift who hasn’t got a your sister one, mobile phone yet, these days, even or has an old style Rubber drives are trendy and almost indestructible males sporting one – give him/her long hair use them. a colour screen cell highly durable, shock-resistant and dust and Hair dryers are way phone. The Nokia water-proof. These are available in different within budget – The Philips HP 4823 even 1209 (Rs. 1,500) colours too – 4 GB (Purple), 8 GB (Orange) while the Philips HP comes in feminine colours and the Nokia and 16 GB (Red) – and, best of all the prices 4823 is less than Rs. 1650 (Rs. 1,765) are highly competitive – Rs. 600, Rs. 900 and 700, Panasonic and Remington hair dryers are not only have Rs. 1,600 respectively. a little below Rs. 1000. colour screens, but Cell phones for starters offer other features Pop-Up Toaster Here’s one for Five things to remember when going hunting for gadget gifts the kitchen and 1. Make a List: First thing you could do is 4. Finding the best prices: This is the toughest whether your make a list of exactly how many people part. The most obvious thing to do would mom works you would like to gift something this be to leg it to a dozen shops and compare or not, it’ll be Diwali – and who they are. them for discounts and competitive prices. 2. Choose the right Gift: Everyone in your list But then, not all shops have everything. a welcome will probably have different tastes. If you Something more sensible would be to check convenience. like something, it doesn’t mean the one the various internet shopping sites. Check Usha Lexus you are gifting would like it. out online shopping portals. toasters come 3. Budget: Make a total of how much money 5. Wrap them up: This may sound inane but for Rs. 900 Get your daily bread faster you are going to spend on gifts– in fact it the truth is that gifts often lose their effect or less while would help if you came up with a when not wrapped up – or not Inalsa ones definite figure for how much you wrapped up well enough. And for hover around the Rs. 1,000-mark. In fact, are definitelynot going to spend some reason, we tend to gift gadgets considering that it is not just moms who toast this season. Don’t forget Christmas as we buy them – in shopping mall and New Year are fast approaching plastic bags. Don’t lose out on the bread, you can gift your dad one. and credit card interest rates are still element of surprise – cover it up and nasty in our country. watch them brighten up as it unravels.

36 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Smartphone radiation Feature cafegadgets.in A recent study on smartphone radiation found that An online shopping web site with T-Mobile’s MyTouch 3G, an HTC smartphone topped gadgets you could gift. Besides, the list of the worst radiation offenders. The Nokia shipping is free 9300i was found to be the least guilty of the lot

such as FM radio, speaker phone and a even plays MP3 tracks. You can plug it into Indulge... (Rs. 10,000 and above) torch light. Samsung even has a flip phone your PC, hang it on a wall or mount it on a with colour, radio and Bluetooth (E1310) shelf. This makes a good family gift; especially, 3G Phone that comes for a little less than Rs. 2,500. your mom, dad and grandparents. Since the Sony Ericsson has some economical models government is too and the best buy is the K33Oi (for Rs. Food Processor ushering in the 2,499) that has features such as MP3 player, A good food processor can work like a 3G era into India, Bluetooth, FM and a camera! Don’t forget to charm to make kitchen work less tedious. there’s nothing check out the new Nokia Xpress Radio 5030, Homemakers would always welcome a better than giving which looks great and costs just Rs. 2,300. multi-purpose chopper, grinder, mixer, juicer your loved ones a and slicer. Fortunately, they’ve all become 3G enabled phone, Since you can’t afford a Portable DVD Player remarkably economical. The Bajaj Platina PX packed with all their PS3 yet DVD players are now priced way below the 80F, for example, does all these and costs just favourite features. Rs. 2,000 mark and if you don’t want to gift Rs. 4,990. Another brand, Kenstar sells theirs The Nokia 5630 one of those, there are a variety of portable for less Rs. 4,580 – and this one even has an (for Rs. 13,000), Nokia 5800 Xpress Music DVD players that play MP3, MP4 - and even atta kneader. (at Rs. 14,350), the Sony Ericsson W995 (for have USB slots provided. A definite asset for about Rs. 25,000), the Samsung F480 (at Rs. the teens and tweens who are active on the Need the ATM? 15,200) – all give you great value for your party circuit. (Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000) money and are gifts to be remembered by. Emptying your wallet Digital Camera Gaming Console (Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000) Kodak has a couple of great cams up for grabs If you’ve got deep pockets – and they’re – the Kodak Easyshare C140 (8.2 Megapixel, all full – the Sony Wearable MP3 Player 3x optical zoom with face detection) and PlayStation 3 (at less Music players you can wear are all the rage the Kodak Easyshare C160 (9.2 Megapixel, than Rs. 25,000) and these days. Two years 3x optical zoom, face detection and a 2 GB the Microsoft Xbox 360 ago, Sandisk launched memory card) for Rs. (between Rs. 12,000 the Sansa Clip – a 5,490 and Rs. 6,590 and Rs. 15,000 as the wearable MP3 player respectively. Sony’s rates have recently been in 1 GB and 2 GB S930 is pretty good slashed) are awesome sizes and in a variety too, at Rs. 7,800. Turn gifts for your game-crazy of different colours. to page number 80 for cousins and friends. Put Their vacation will fly by Sony’s NWZ – W202 the Digital Camera test For people to remember in a few games with it once they get hooked on is an MP3 player where you can find you better and they’ll never forget to one of these built into the headset, even more options. the Diwali. with 13.5mm EX No dangling wires, no Headphones and soft Bluetooth contraptions Digital Photo Printer silicon ear buds. Two Save your friends and family the task of Smaller and more convenient than a laptop features make it special: lugging their cameras to the nearest studio. yet a netbook is packed with all the features • Zappin - You can zap through songs really Buy them a photo printer that gives them of a laptop and fast, listening to 4 to 10-second-clips to check studio-quality prints right in the comfort of more. For almost out if there’s a song you want to hear. their homes. Two great options in the market anyone today, • Jog Dial - Once you reach an interesting today are the Sony DPP-FP67 which gives whether student track, just press the ‘Jog’ button and you’ll be you 4x6 digital or professional, able to hear the full song. quality prints young or old, It supports various audio formats, has a with auto red- male or female, capacity of 2 GB and can be charged within eye correction, a netbook could 3 minutes. Here’s one gift that cuts across all exposure be a life-changing ages and genders – and is priced at Rs. 4,999. correction and gift. The Dell Acer, Asus and HP rule the a 2.5 inch LCD Studio 14 (for Netbook market in terms of Digital Photo Frame screen Rs. 41,970), the worldwide Why put everything on Flickr? Why not show for Rs. 6,990. A Samsung NC10 off all the dozens of pictures you took of your cheaper version (for Rs. 25,249), favourite people, your last pleasure trip and of the same is For amateur photographers who the ASUS S101H (for Rs. 30,500), the Acer your treasured memories up for display in Sony’s DPP-FP65 can’t wait for their prints Aspire at Rs. 21,820 – these are only some of your own home? Digital photo frames make for Rs. 5,990. the options you could choose from. The HP great gifts for Canon photo printers such as the Pixma Mini 1129TU is another cool one for just Rs. shutterbugs. IP1200 comes for as less as Rs. 1,855 while 24,700. For a detailed evaluation of the pros Transcend’s the better Canon CP 760 comes for Rs. 5,390. and cons of netbooks available in the market T-Photo 710C today, just pick up the September edition 7-inch digital Sony PlayStation 2 of Digit Magazine and you’ll know exactly photo frame So what if the PS3 is out. The Sony PlayStation which one to buy for your significant other. costs Rs. 4,399, is guaranteed to send kids and teenagers into One great thing about buying gadgets that has a 7-inch TFT throes of happiness. It is now available in less are a little expensive is that almost everybody display, 1 GB than Rs. 7,000 and is great for a first taste of allows payment in equated monthly This Diwali, gift them with memory and what gaming is really all about. instalments these days. digital memories

38 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com How LCD panels work How stuff works An in-depth look at how LCD and LED Sci-Tech 44 backlighting technologies work Flash Forays Madhusudan Mukerjee Positive Charge [email protected] Source Gate Drain Source Gate Drain Metal Metal Oxide Oxide n 1984, Dr. Fujio Masuoka of announced flash to the world. Today, Semi conductor Semi conductor is everywhere – pen p-type silicon p-type silicon drives, thumb drives, MP3/MP4 n-type silicon n-type silicon players,I digital cameras, PDAs, and virtually OFF ON all portable electronic devices that need to store data. In fact, they’re slated to replace How MOSFETs work hard disk drives pretty soon. the channel from the source to the drain. you apply a positive potential to the control This makes it unipolar because a single gate, electrons (being negatively charged) Inside a flash drive electric charge is enough to get the electrons are thrust through the layer of oxide Flash drives basically store data on an moving. (usually silicon dioxide) between the p-type electronically erasable programmable read The difference between the flash memory substrate. Some of these are pushed into only memory (EEPROM) chip. This has transistor and the typical MOSFET is the the floating gate and the electrons are then a lattice of columns (bitlines) and rows floating gate. Flash drives use FGMOS cells trapped there until forced out again. (wordlines). Each point of intersection is a (Floating Gate Metal Oxide Semiconductor The electrons enter the floating gate in cell. A typical flash chip contains billions of FETs) that are basically MOSFETs with two ways: such cells. Each cell is made of a transistor an additional gate. This is an electrically l Fowler-Nordhein Tunneling: This isolated gate, with one or more secondary is a phenomenon where electrons are gates deposited above it, also electrically emitted from a semiconductor into a isolated from it. This floating gate is dielectric or a vacuum when persuaded surrounded by resistive material. This way it by a powerful electric field. Unlike other is difficult for electrons to pass into the gate. forms of emission, electrons pass through Once they have entered, it also ensures they a barrier – instead of working around stay trapped until the bias is reversed. If it – because it has not yet lost its wave function and, decaying into the barrier, Word line thus heightening the probability of it emerging on the other side. l Hot Carrier Injection: If an electron Control gate or a ‘hole’ ( an absent electron) in a semiconductor can be made to gain Peeking into a Flash Drive sufficient kinetic energy to pass through Floating gate a barrier, the process is known as ‘Hot – a MOSFET, to be precise – which has an Carrier Injection’. additional gate called a ‘floating’ gate added Bit line on to it. n-source n-drain NAND and NOR flash Memory MOSFETs p-substrate The two most common kinds of flash A MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor memory are NAND and NOR. The Field Effect Transistor) is midway between Parts of an FGMOS transistor terms are from Boolean logic and a diode (two p and n type semiconductor layers) and a transistor (sandwiched HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FLASH DRIVE layers of p-type and n-type semiconductor layers). An n-type semiconductor releases Never lost your pen drive or got a virus infection 2. Put in a password: There’s plenty of electrons more readily, while and p-type in it? You’re kidding me. Given that they’re freeware on the web which allows you to semiconductors allow electrons to flown featherweight and getting tinier by the day, password protect your flash drive, thus into them easily. The MOSFET, however, chances of your flash memory device getting ensuring that only you have access to the is set up a little differently from the typical into the wrong hands are increasing day by data in it. day. And everybody knows how the ‘Autoplay’ 3. Encrypt the data: If you do this, even bipolar diode with a base coated with function in Windows gets trojans and worms after somebody cracks your password, the a layer of metal and oxide. The holes into the works. Here are a few tips to safeguard data will only look like gobbledygook to in the p-type layer prevent the excess your flash data: him. electrons from passing from one n-type 1. Buy a wire protected flash drive: Once 4. Anti-virus: Clean your flash drive of semiconductor (source) to the other a flash drive is write protected, data will malicious software every time you plug it (drain). But if we just let a positive voltage only get written if you disable the ‘write into a computer, using reliable anti-virus flow in from the gate, this creates an electric protect’ function. software. field. Now electrons start moving through

40 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Brave NAND mass production How stuff works Jennifer Lopez’s new album titled Toshiba and SanDisk plan to mass Brave will be sold on a chick- produce NAND flash chips on 20nm- looking 1-GB flash drive class process technology

NAND NOR on a block wise basis, where a collection let’s figure out how flash drives perform IN IN OUT IN IN OUT of bytes makes a ‘page’ and a collection their individual tasks. 0 0 1 0 0 1 of pages makes a ‘block’. Actions are performed in chunks and therefore NAND Erasing 0 1 1 0 1 0 is unsuitable as a replacement for the ROM Since none of the Floating Gates (FG) 1 0 1 1 0 0 in your PC which needs random access at contain negative charge to begin with, all 1 1 0 1 1 0 the byte level. the bits will be set to ‘1’. Ergo, if you want to erase a programmed cell, you’ll need NAND and NOR functions permit a variety of How flash drives work to set it back to ‘1’ – or rather, compel the Boolean operations Any data storage device must be able to FG to empty itself of electrons. Applying a are immensely useful for the creation of perform the three basic actions of Write, voltage (between about 9V and 12V) from universal Boolean operations. Read and Erase. Whether it’s NAND the source to the control gate along a Word NAND – which is short for ‘Not AND’ or NOR, reading, writing or erasing are Line would cause the electrons trapped in refers to the Boolean logic operation all controlled entirely by the voltage the Floating Gate to break out and ‘tunnel’ that says that if any one input is false, combination applied to the WL and the to the Source and the p-type substrate. The the conclusion is true. Since computers BL. In the case of flash drives, it’s all about Floating Gate is now free of electrons and only understand zeroes and ones, in the setting the status of a cell to ‘charged’ or set again to ‘1’. language of electronics, if any one input is a ‘not charged’ – or alternatively, sensing 0 (zero), the output must be a 1 (one). NOR whether the floating gate in individual Programming (short for ‘Not OR’) is a Boolean which is cells is set to 0 or 1. If a floating gate has Given that all the cells are already at ‘1’, true if none of the inputs are true – i.e. if electrons, it hinders the flow of electrons programming a blank flash memory device any – or both – of the two inputs is a one through the transistor (from the control gate becomes restricted to setting a cell to the (1), the result is a zero. Both of these can to the silicon element), thereby allowing binary ‘0’ value. To write into a flash drive, be used to make NOT, AND, OR XOR or less than 50 per cent of the current to pass then, a high voltage (about 7V) is applied XNOR, and so they’re called ‘Universal through – implying a zero (0). Similarly, if to the Bit Line (the Drain) and a higher Gates’ – and that’s what makes them useful. there is no negative charge in the Floating one (around 12V) to the Word Line (the NAND and NOR gates are so designed as Gate impeding the flow of current, more Source). Electrons will now flow from the to function in the above manner. As you can than 50 per cent is allowed to pass Source to the Drain. Typically, some over- see in the figure, the Control Gate in every through – indicating a one (1). This can excited electrons will jump and tumble be controlled by deliberately manipulating into the FG (remember the ‘Hot Carrier the voltage applied at the Source, Drain or Injection’ process?), getting trapped there, Control gate to change the delta value If giving a negative charge. Turn the power the drive hasn’t been used at all – or if it’s off and the electrons still stay there, thanks blank – all the cells are set to ‘1’ because to the insulation of the oxide around the the flow of electrons is unhindered. Thus FG. Thus, entire blocks of cells can be the state of the flash cell is determined by programmed into millions of sequences of whether or not the Floating Gate contains zeroes and ones, literally, at the speed of electrons or not. If it does it’s programmed, light. if it doesn’t, it’s erased or blank. The changing voltage at every cell is measured Reading by a flash Memory Sense Amplifiers which When a current is passed from the Control NOR and NAND gates use a differential amplifier to measure the Gate (about 5V) to the Drain (about 1V), cell is connected to the horizontal ‘Word disparity between the voltage generated by the current begins to flow between the Line’ (WL). The ‘Bit Line’ (BL) connects all a particular cell current (the flash Bit line two. The voltage is not high enough to the drains together – which is actually the voltage) and a reference voltage value. If the bump electrons into the FG if it is not data bus of the chip. The Source Line (SL) Bit Line voltage is higher, it implies that the negatively charged but high enough to connects all the sources to the ground. ‘Data Out’ signal is pulled to a logic high detect insulation or conduction at every (binary digit 1) and conversely, if it is lower, cell. The cell sensor tracks the current NAND vs NOR the ‘Data Out’ signal is pulled to a logic low flow and identifies whether a particular NAND and NOR basically differ in (binary digit 0). Having understood this, cell is conducting or remains insulating. architecture and they both have their pros Accordingly, it arrives at a and cons. NAND has its cells arranged in a binary code of ones (1s) series – like a NAND gate – and therefore Word line for every conducting cell lets you erase and write data faster, uses less and zeroes (0s) for every space (about 60 per cent of a NOR flash) insulating one. because it doesn’t need so many ‘grounds’, Control Gate cuts down on costs and is more robust Thin Oxide Layer Types of flash than a NOR flash. NOR-flash memory, on Floating Gate drives the other hand, has every cell connected When it comes to flash to the ground in parallel to the bit lines storage devices these and another end to a bit line. This parallel days, NOR flash takes a connection is an advantage as every byte Drain Source back seat and it seems to can be addressed individually. Yet, NOR is Current flow NAND all the way. Two slower in writing and erasing but quicker Bit line basic forms of NAND than NAND in reading data. NAND flash Negatively charged electrons are the preferred form requires that you read, erase or write data This one is set to zero of storage in solid state

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 41 How stuff works Wafer thin Say hello to mSATA Kingmax unveils the world’s The new standard geared towards smallest flash drive with a near wafer-thin drives, it will support maximum capacity of 4 GB 1.5 Gbps and 3.0 Gbps transfer rates

devices today: Single-Level Cells (SLC) and MLC, it is even possible Multi-Level Cells (MLC). to store more bits than Send your feedback at two in a single cell. As www.thinkdigit.com/d/oct09 Single-Level Cells the sensitivity to voltage An SLC flash is so designed as to store only deltas gets better, the flash drive simply At the rate we go about juggling data in our one bit-value per cell. So, for example, if needs to be able to detect 2N states in the flash drives, the average drive should wear the memory is being read, each cell can cell (where N = the number of desired per out really fast. Luckily, SLC flash drives provide either of two values, depending cell). So, for example, if you want each deteriorate only after about 100,000 write/ on the voltage level – 0 (zero) if the cell is cell to hold 4 bits, you’ll need to be able to erase cycles – which could last decades, programmed or 1 (one) if the cell is blank identify 24 (or sixteen) voltage states in the unless you insist on rewriting all day and or erased. Thus, the cell sensor in SLCs has cell – viz. 0000, 0001, 0010, 0011, 0100, night for several years at a stretch (MLCs only two voltage levels to bother about. 0101, 0110, 0111, 1000, 1001, 1010, 1011, last for only about 10,000 such cycles). 1100, 1101, 1110, 1111. Deleting data is different. When you erase data, the drive doesn’t really erase it, but Reference points SLCs vs. MLCs only marks a set of pages as ‘invalid’ and Let’s take a better look at the differences stops showing them up when you open the between SLC and MLC flash drives. drive folder on your screen. It then waits MLCs take longer time to read and write until you write in some data, removes the data because it needs to track more minute data from the ‘erased’ cells and puts the gradations. SLCs can read and write data new bit values into them. This reduces the 1 0

Distribution of cells Vt much faster. However, an MLC flash can wear and tear and increases the lifespan of 1.0 V 2.5 V 4.0 V 5.5 V 6.0V hold double the number of transistors the drive. The SLC Flash detects a zero or a one based on the on the same wafer size as compared to an Of course, not all drives delete the Threshold Voltage of the cell SLC flash. This allows greater density and same way. Some poorly built flash drives thus, more memory on the same size chip have high Write Amplification factors – bringing down the cost per MB. Cheap which is a technical way of talking about Multi-Level Cells thumb drives or pen drives, therefore, how much ‘writing’ actually happens. Manufacturers, like Intel, use the same prefer MLC. Therefore, if you transistors for their SLC and MLC flash. The SLCs, want to change just difference is in how data is stored or read. In however, score a few pages of data, the case of a Multi-Level Cell, every cell can on one parameter the drive will erase represent four states: – lifespan. Every the entire block a) 00 (two zeroes) indicate that the cell is flash drive that contains those fully programmed has a limited pages, make the b) 01 (a zero and a one) represent a number of erase/ changes and write partially programmed cell programme the new block in, c) 10 (a one and a zero) show that the cycles. This is thus increasing the cell is partly erased because the number of times d) 11(two ones) indicate that the cell is silicon oxide ‘tunnelling’ happens. fully erased material that is This reduces the In short, an MLC can store two bits used to separate lifespan of the drive. of information with no difference in the Floating Gate from other parts of the To put it briefly, MLCs have a high density requirements of space or power. While cell suffers wear and tear with the repeated and can hold more data at cheaper costs and the minimum and maximum voltage stay ‘tunnelling’ of electrons during erasure smaller sizes, while SLCs need less power, are the same in SLCs and MLCs, there are or programming. By and by, the material more durable and allow faster writing and more gradations between the two voltage dissipates and electrons don’t move about erasing of data. Choice a particular kind of levels, making the drive sensitive to smaller the way they should. Note that reading does drive would depend on your requirements. variations in voltage, allowing it to register not reduce life of the flash memory because Flash memory is not without two bits per cell. This, of course, would the process does not involve the passage of its drawbacks. Some cells get entail better programming algorithms, electrons through the oxide, only detection unintentionally programmed while exact placement of charge and better charge of voltage difference. programming other adjacent ones ( a sensing to detect the amount of charge All SSDs erase in blocks (groups of phenomenon called ‘Program Disturb’). on the floating gate more precisely. In an pages) and write in pages (groups of cells). Sometimes the threshold value is misread and a ‘1’ is recorded instead of a ‘0’ (called ‘Read Disturb’). Charge may leak Reference points out of the FG, affecting data retention. Some question the ability of flash drives to store information when it comes to less than 30 nanometres. Manufacturers all over the world are working to better the existing technology and eliminate the drawbacks of both, MLCs as well as 11 10 01 00

Distribution of cells SLCs. For all practical purposes, NAND Vt will do for the average consumer for 1.5 V 3.5 V 4.0 V 5.5 V 6.5V the next few years at least. Flash is the MLCs give you two bits for the price of one future.

42 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com How stuff works A 4-inch flexible OLED display of QVGA Ennova announced a USB flash drive resolution with a curvature radius of 2 that packs a OLED screen which also inches was showcased at CES doubles up as a fingerprint scanner How LCD panels work

Terry Relph-Knight at least half of the original [email protected] light from the back-light is blocked. However, more iquid Crystal Displays (LCDs) significantly, when the cells have their advantages for both are closed they do not block TVs and computer monitors. all of the light. The ratio of However, there are two things light passed, between the Lthey haven’t done as well as CRT; high on and off state defines the contrast and colour depth/accuracy. displays contrast ratio (note – This however is set to change with the contrast is always a ratio, not introduction of LED back-lights. To see an absolute measurement). In why requires a look at how ‘traditional’ the older type of LCD panel LCDs work. the CCFL back-light remains LCD panels use the variable polarisation on at a fixed brightness all the of electronically controlled liquid crystal time (it may turn off during Spectral plot of a CCFL back-light taken from the manufacturers cells to vary the amount of polarised light power saving) and has no that will pass through the panel. In other effect on the contrast ratio, brochure. The light output is extremely uneven with large spikes at words, an LCD panel is composed of a which is determined entirely various frequencies large number (a typical 1,600 by 1,200 by the on/off ratio of the liquid crystal back-light reaches the viewer. computer monitor has 5,760,000 cells) of panel (ignoring the effect of ambient light Very recently there has been something tiny, voltage controlled, light valves. The cells reflected from the internal structure of the of a backlash against fluorescent lamps themselves are neutral density; they pass or LCD for the moment). since they contain mercury, which is block all frequencies of visible light more poisonous and tends to get released into the or less equally. To provide the sensation of The Fluorescent lamp environment when old lamps are thrown variable colour each pixel consists of three Fluorescent lamps for general lighting were away. of these cells, with individual red, green and introduced commercially in 1938 and were Fluorescent lamps work by ionising blue filters placed in front of each group of first used in large quantities to light factories a column of low pressure gas (mercury three cells. A wide range of colours can be during the Second World War (commercial vapour) causing it to glow with ultra-violet produced by varying the relative amounts LEDs became available in 1968 and blue light. The inside of the glass tube containing LEDs were not introduced until the late the gas is coated with a mixture of RGB LED backlights deliver 1990’s). Fluorescent lamps are significantly phosphors that react to the ultra-violet light brighter, darker and more more efficient than incandescent lamps and by emitting light in the visible spectrum. colourful displays small fluorescent lamps (Compact Florescent Various mixtures of phosphors are used in Lamps with electronic ballasts – CFL) have the tubes to give an approximation of ‘white’ of light passing through each of the three been heavily marketed in recent years as light with some variation. For example cells making up a pixel. Ambient light can ‘energy saving’ lamps. Conversion efficiency “Warm White” tubes have more red while be reflected from a plate behind the cells, of electrical power to radiant power varies “Cool White” tubes have more blue. The or a back-light can be used for a brighter, between 17 and 21 per cent compared to less spectral output of a fluorescent lamp is emissive, display. Most displays used these than 5 per cent for the filament incandescent surprisingly uneven. days have a back-light and until recently lamp. The luminous efficiency of CFL The CCF lamps used for LCD back-lights this would have been a Cold Cathode sources is typically 60 to 72 lumens per watt, use a high voltage to start the ionisation Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) compared to 8 to 17 lumens per watt for of the gas while the tubes used for general One of the weaknesses of LCDs is low incandescent lamps. lighting run at lower voltages and use a contrast. When the liquid crystal cells are In back-light applications, efficiency momentary heating coil. As far as the colour fully open (in the off state with no voltage (regardless of the type of light source) is low range or gamut of LCDs is concerned, it applied), they do not transmit all of the because a lot of light is lost passing through is the uneven spectral response and the light from the back-light, for one thing the the diffusers, polarisers and colour filters, range of light frequencies emitted by the light passes through a polarising filter, so perhaps only 5 per cent of the light from the tube phosphors that limit performance. Early CCFLs used similar phosphors to the Jargon Buster • Polarization - a property of waves that describes the orientation of their oscillations. • Ionization - is the physical process of con- verting an or molecule into an ion by adding or removing charged particles such as electrons or other ions. • Dead pixels - They could occur on LCDs when Photomicrograph’s of two pixels from two LCD panels from different manufacturers. The images are the screen is damaged or put under pressure. blurred because they are shot through the anti-glare front diffuser. Nevertheless it is still possible to see that the two panels use different cell geometries

44 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com How stuff works BenQ monitors in India Flexible displays To read more about BenQ’s LED monitors, LG showcased a 11.5-inch sheet go to www.thinkdigit.com/d/60724/ of flexible e-paper

phosphor formulations used on the tubes of tubes may be mounted in parallel behind back-lights. LED brightness modulation is used for general lighting. Recently CCFLs the panel. usually performed by driving them with a have appeared with modified phosphors to There are several ways to arrange and square wave and modulating the duty ratio give a greater display gamut, for example drive the LEDs in a LED back-light and these of the wave (pulse width modulation). This Sony’s Wide Color Gamut - CCFL (WCG- are known as 0D, 1D and 2D. technique does introduce its own problems CCFL) with a claimed gamut 30 per cent 0D simply uses a number of LEDs and a of RF radiation and the difficulty of actually larger than a conventional CCFL, but it looks diffuser system to evenly back-light the entire transitioning to a true off state. like these are going to be eclipsed by the new LCD panel, a direct replacement of the CCFL Of course, if a small high resolution panel RGB LED back-lights, at least in part because without any added functionality. could be made with a set of RGB LEDs at using LED back-lights reduces the amount of In a 1D back-light the LEDs are arranged every pixel, the LCD panel would not be mercury released into the environment. in horizontal rows behind the panel and can needed since the image could be reproduced By comparing the spectral output graphs be brightness modulated to achieve a crude entirely by brightness modulated LEDs. of the two types of back-light it is easy to degree of contrast enhancement. Large LED-only displays, where each group see that RGB LED produces higher peaks Lastly, in a 2D back-light the LEDs can of three LEDs is small compared to the for red, green and blue and covers more be arranged in groups (for an RGB back- overall display size, do exist and are used for of the visible spectrum. This results in a light also in sub-groups of red, green and applications such as advertising hoardings. considerable improvement in gamut can be blue) that can be individually brightness However, at the moment it isn’t practical to seen from looking at the gamut area plots. modulated, an improvement in contrast produce smaller high resolution displays over different areas of the display (as shown in this way, so the LCD panel is retained to RGB back-lights save the in the two photographs of an RGB back lit provide the required resolution and LED planet television display). back-lights are used to enhance the contrast RGB LED back-lights offer great (and improve the colour gamut). This is advantages in terms of power saving and Colour temperature achieved by dividing the display up into a longer service life than CCFL. According Previously the only way to adjust display quite low resolution segments, typically to Sharp, for example, their RGB displays colour temperature was to adjust the around 128 segments may be used. Within consume 40 per cent less power and offer individual gain of the red, green and blue each of these segments, contrast may be a back-light service life of 100,000 hours, colour channels driving the display. RGB enhanced by modulating the brightness about two thirds longer than regular LCD back-lights provide the opportunity to of all the LEDs in that segment. This does change the colour temperature of the back- mean there is some light spill or haloing light itself. In other words, the shade of the in the areas where the image on the LCD

Two photographs of identical LCD back lit driven with the same signal. On the left the LCD as well as the modulated 2D back-light is being driven with the image signal while on the right only the LED back-light is brightness modulated

This diagram shows the various gamuts of ‘white’ light provided by the back-light can changes abruptly from light to dark. Using different display types plotted as 2D areas easily be varied, for example from a ‘warmer’ more segments will result in smoother using the XYZ colour space reddish white – 5,000K, to a ‘cooler’ blue- contrast changes across an image. At the white – 9,300K. moment, the marketing departments of most TVs. To put this in perspective – if the display manufacturers are keeping quite display is turned on for 5 hours a day, this Contrast improvement using about the exact details of their RGB backlit is 20,000 days or over 57 years. LED back-lights displays, Sony for example will not say LCD panel contrast can be hugely improved how many LEDs they use or in how many Back-light layout by turning the back-light off. In this case the segments. Sony do say they use 2 green with The older panel designs with fluorescent idea of representing contrast as a ratio gets 1 red and 1 blue LED in their LED clusters. back-lights normally use edge lighting where a bit silly because the ratio of - some light - This compensates for the generally lower a CCFL is mounted near one edge of the to - no light - is infinite. However this really light output of green LEDs compared to red display. Light from the lamp is guided and only applies in a completely dark room. In and blue. spread across the back of the display using practice there is often a high level of ambient With computer monitors that are used a narrow wedge shaped light-guide. The light, which is reflected by the internal primarily to display business graphics its light is further disbursed using a translucent structure of the display, degrading contrast. debatable that there is any advantage in diffusion panel and a prismatic panel that LED back-lights can be turned on and off using the area based back-light dimming that helps reflected light to bounce around. very rapidly and they can also be brightness is being employed in the current crop of LED Some displays may use two CCFLs top and modulated over a wide range, neither back-light TV’s for contrast enhancement. bottom, or even on large displays a number of which can easily be done with CCFL This really only comes in to its own for photo

46 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com LG’s Jazz OLED screens LG adds Jazz Theatre Samsung reports around half the How stuff works and Jazz Atom its Jazz world’s cellphones will have OLED series LCD TVs screens in the next five years realistic images where there are large areas of shows as a sharp light and shade. spike with a much lower broader Contrast measurement – the yellow peak. specification game Consequently the Marketing people love numbers they can light from this type stretch or misrepresent to make their of ‘white’ LED is products look better and for displays, characteristically contrast ratio is one of those numbers. It a hard blue-white would seem that measuring contrast should light, due to the be straight forward, as mentioned contrast high blue peak. is the ratio between peak white and black. Spectral plot of an RGB back lit display compared to a white LED back lit Just to confuse However, as the ‘black’ level falls to lower things, Samsung display. The RGB plot shows clear peaks for red, green and blue while the and lower amounts of light it becomes more refer to the and more difficult to measure accurately. It is white LED plot has a sharp peak at around 450nM and a lower, broader, peak LED backlight possible to claim huge contrast ratios simply from 500 to 600nM – i.e. blue and yellow technology they by measuring black levels in a very dark use as LED-BLU room with the display or at least the back- colour drift as the temperature characteristics where BLU stands for Back Light Unit. light, literally turned off. of red, green and blue LEDs do differ. Typically, a blue plus yellow phosphor Measuring with a checker board pattern LED back-light will only manage a 71.6 of black and white rather than with the White LED back-lights and per cent comparative gamut (relative to entire screen black and white, allows for comparative gamuts NTSC). Experiments have also been done internal screen reflection and produces a Perhaps an obvious and relatively simple using a blue LED with distinct red and more realistic result. As does measuring with step in display design evolution is to take a green phosphors. When this LED design is a known amount of ambient light. conventional LCD panel and simply replace combined with the typical LCD filter sets and Typical contrast ratios for LCD panels are the Cold Cathode back-light with a white- colour matching functions, a reasonably wide on the order of 200 to 400 to 1, although light, LED back-light system. The advantage gamut of 91.9 per cent of the NTSC standard more recent developments in PVA (Patterned of doing this is that the electronics are gamut is obtained. Vertical Alignment) and S-PVA (Super simplified because the high voltage converter In comparison manufacturers using Patterned Vertical Alignment) panels provide required by the CCFL isn’t needed and the back-light designs with discrete red, green claimed contrast ratios of over 3,000 to 1 (i.e. environmental impact is at least modified and blue LEDs are claiming gamuts as better black levels). The old CRTs provided because LEDs don’t contain mercury. large as 123 per cent compared to the good contrast because, when properly White LED back-light displays often NTSC standard. adjusted, black level means the display emits no light. Give us your feedback at www.thinkdigit.com/d/oct09 Colour stability and temperature compensation do not provide the best in wide gamut Unfortunately, companies offering LED All colour displays have suffered from colour photo-realism. This is because the spectral back-light displays use different designs instability due to temperature change. With output of the the “white” light from the and don’t want to reveal exactly how CRT and the CCFL back lit LCD panels the LEDs is not very smooth and does not their products work, it may be difficult for approach, certainly before colour calibrating provide sufficient energy over a wide range the consumer to tell with certainty what a display, was to leave the display switched of frequencies. Most white LEDs are blue, the differences are between the various on and displaying an image for between half or ultra-violet light LEDs, with the addition products available in order to make sensible an hour, to an hour, to allow it to ‘warm up’ of a yellow phosphor in the lens cap, which choices. There is for example the significant and for the colour to stabilise. There was no converts some of the blue light into light difference between a ‘white’ LED back-light attempt in these designs to apply corrective at other frequencies, in the same way that and an RGB back-light. A display may even feedback for colour/temperature changes. a fluorescent tube phosphor converts the use an RGB LED back-light and as a result The light output of LEDs does vary ultra-violet wavelengths into visible light. offer a better colour gamut, but not apply markedly with ambient temperature and This is evident in the spectral plot (see – segmented brightness control to provide the in an RGB LED back-light this can result in white LED spectral plot) where the blue improvement in contrast.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 47 Shooting Stars Laps, notes and books 16 cameras tested. Tried & Tested Bazaar 62 Something for everyone 80 Capture more smiles this Diwali Cooler Master Elite 334 ATI Radeon Edition Cabinet A standard cabinet with fancy stickers!

n one side of knobs to keep the

Cooler Master’s drives in place, but Gandhi Jiten Manas Parekh, Photographs: Elite cabinet, we in vain. There’s a have Ruby – a 120-mm fan placed characterO many will associate in the front, but none with. On the other side, we at the rear – a little have a semi-transparent red disappointing. The Contact acrylic sheet. cabinet is bundled Cooler Master Like many Cooler Master with a 500-W power Phone: +91-9422501592 cabinets, there’s a meshed supply from Cooler Email: grill with a dust filter on the Master’s eXtreme [email protected] front, which can be easily series, that is Web site: www.coolermaster.com removed. The build quality known as a cheaper Price: Rs. 5,650 is above average. Oddly, only alternative to their one side panel has a screwless Real Power series Specifications design. On the inside, there of power supplies. Dimensions: 485 (L) x 187 (W) x are screwless panels with Even then, this 421 (H) mm power supply should Weight: 6 kg RATINGS be able to handle a 5.25-inch Drive Bays: 4 Features...... 7 power mid-ranged 3.5-inch Drive Bays: 7 Performance...... 6.5 graphics card such as I/O Panel: USB 2.0 x 2, 3.5mm Build quality...... 6.5 a GeForce 9800 GTX of person who just wants audio in/out (HD Audio supported) Value for money...... 6 easily. a cabinet to show off, this Expansion Slots: 7 It sells for Rs. 5,650, which could be your pick. If you are Power Supply: Cooler Master Overall...... 6.5 is a little over the top in our meticulous about your power RS500-PCARA3 (500W) opinion. If you are the kind supply, look elsewhere. Acer Tempo F900 Acer’s entry into the smartphone market Contact he F900 marks Acer’s Acer’s implementation the bundled earphones was Acer India Pvt Ltd. entry into India’s of their custom interface on about average, but we missed a Phone: +91-9818316575 smartphone market Windows Mobile 6.1 has a 3.5-mm audio jack. The 3.2-MP Email: [email protected] with a somewhat somewhat hit-and-miss affair. camera gives decent results of Web site: www.acer.co.in Tutilitarian look. Its most striking It isn’t very responsive and photos shot in day light. Price: Rs. 29,995 feature is the 3.8-inch multi-tasking with The call quality is average. 480 x 800 resolution more than three The high capacity battery belts Specifications screen. It works fine applications can make out a decent life of a day and a Network: Quad-band GSM, under sunlight, but it sluggish. There were half with moderate usage. At Rs. HSDPA at 7.2 Mbps isn’t very accurate a few occassions where 30,000, the F900 has nothing Screen: 3.8-inch 480 x 800 pixel when used with the operating system substantial other than the large Processor: Samsung S3C 6410 533 fingers. It takes some locked up. Internet screen. MHz processor time getting used to. Explorer is simply Memory: 128MB RAM, 256MB ROM Its touch-sensitive unusable to browse RATINGS OS: Windows Mobile 6.1 buttons at the full fledged web sites. Features...... 6.5 Professional bottom give a nice The accelerometer Performance...... 5.5 Connecitivty: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, vibrating feedback. is not very accurate Bluetooth 2.0, HSDPA, A-GPS The phone won’t either. The on-board Build quality...... 6 Camera: 3.2 Megapixel easily fit into any GPS chip works well Value for money...... 5 Battery: 1530 mAh pocket owing to its with Google Maps. The Overall...... 6 Dimensions: 117.5 x 63.5 x 12.9 mm large dimensions. audio quality using Weight: 150 g

Palm announces first quarter results: $164.5m net loss, 823k phones sold. Palm also said that it will stop developing Windows Mobile handsets from now, and just make their own WebOS based ones. HTC Leo’s runs a new version of TouchFLO UI over Windows Mobile 6.5. Will also sport a multi-touch capacitive 4.3-inch large display.

48 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Bazaar Return to the mothership Apple makes their Grand Central More than 50 motherboards tested for Dispatch multi-core processor 90 you. Get to know the board of your choice handling tool open source Seagate Barracuda LP A eco-friendly drive with mammoth capacity

he Seagate Barracuda reliability. Seagate positions this seconds for a 4 GB LP is a regular 3.5-inch drive to for low-power PCs for folder of assorted desktop hard drive home use and office networks files. that packs a punch as an internal storage solution. The Seagate Twith its 2 TB of space. It spins We observed no difference ST32000542AS at an odd 5900 rpm, which is a in vibration on this drive drive sells for lot slower than the typical 7200 as compared to the Seagate Rs. 16,700. A 2 rpm desktop drives. This slower Barracuda 7200.11 drive. TB drive from speed should mean better The noise levels were under Western Digital power efficiency and also better acceptable range. costs a few thousand rupees Contact In real world tests, the drive less. This drive probably will Fortune Marketing HDTach 32MB fi le took 43 seconds to copy a 4 GB help you save in the long run Phone: +91-11-26414468 Average Read (MBps) 95.6 file and 57 seconds to copy an on electricity bills, but you’ll be Email: assorted 4 GB folder. It took shelling out quite a sum to buy [email protected] Average Write (MBps) 85.7 the same 43 seconds to read it now. Web site: www.fortune-it.com CPU Utilization (%) 5 the 4 GB file from the drive. RATINGS Price: Rs. 16,700 Random Access Time (ms) 14.8 But a 4 GB assorted file was Read Burst Speed (MBps) 224.2 read slowly at 90 seconds. The Features ...... 7 Specifi cations SiSoft Sandra 2008 drive did not perform really Performance ...... 6 Capacity: 2 TB Drive Index, Read (MBps) 90.05 well in the internal file copy test Build quality ...... 6 Size: 3.5-inch Access Time, Read (ms) 14 -- which means copying data Value for money ...... 6 Rotational Speed: 5900 rpm Drive Index, Write (MBps) 81.19 from one partition to another Overall ...... 6 Buffer Size: 32 MB Access Time, Write (ms) 5 on the same drive. It logged 197 Interface: SATA 3.0 Gb/s seconds for a single file and 259 Dimensions: 147 x 102 x 26.1 mm Weight: 655 g Sony Walkman NWZ-W202 2GB Sony’s wireless formula to their audio players Contact Sony India ony recently skipping through many songs. Phone: 1800-11-11-88 introduced the The ‘Zappin’ feature helps Email: NWZ-W202. by automatically shuffling [email protected] Advertised as the through song clips, but you’ll Web site: www.sony.co.in “ Unwired”, it’s a have to be patient since each Price : Rs. 4,990 music player designed like clip plays for 5-7 seconds. a stereo bluetooth headset. The sound quality of this Specifi cations Looks-wise, it’s surely a head- player is decent. The highs and Capacity: 2 GB turner. The player is controlled mids were pretty clear. The Device Interface: USB 2.0 (mini- by means of a ‘jog-dial’-esque bass wasn’t very impressive. USB port on player) clickable roller. The dial is The output isn’t as good as Weight: 35 g pretty tactile. higher-end Walkmans, but File Format support: MP3, We observed what we very acceptable. Data transfer WMA, AAC think might be a flaw, while rates via the PC are average. It using it in motion. The in- surpassed its specified 12-hour RATINGS earphones would tend to continuous playback mark Features ...... 6 slip out of their ‘sweet-spot’ by almost two hours – a good Performance ...... 7 position; thus increasing thing in our opinion. price, or a Samsung S2 2GB ambient noise. Hence, we kept At Rs. 4,990, the W202 sells for half of that price. And Build quality ...... 6 adjusting the player back in is definitely expensive when with the flaws mentioned Value for money ...... 5 its place from time to time. compared to other screen-less above, we really don’t feel like Overall ...... 6 Secondly, swiping the jog-dial players. The new 4 GB iPod recommending this one over repetitively is irritating while Shuffle sells for around that the latter two.

their own WebOS based phones HTC Leo runs a new version of TouchFLO UI over Windows Mobile 6.5. It sports a multi-touch capacitive 4.3-inch large display

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 49 Bazaar ASUS introduces P7P55D ASUS launches the SV1T series motherboards for the skype videophone with wi-fi Core i5 and i7 processors and a touchscreen Samsung Jet A multimedia powerhouse he Jet is Samsung’s attempt at enticing people enthused about getting a multimediaT touch phone. At first sight, the Jet looks very cool in its black avatar and holographic back panel. Its shape and size make it quite comfortable to hold as well as to slip into the pocket. Unlike many metal-bodied Samsung phones, this one does not give that feel of toughness; it feels somewhat delicate. The phone has a vibrant 3.1-inch AMOLED display. The pixel-packed 480 x 800 pixel resolution makes the content played on it look crisp. Although the display is Contact of resistive nature, the OS is Samsung India Electronics Pvt optimized to be used entirely Ltd by fingers. There’s no stylus Phone: +91-22-41511234 provided with the package. Email: [email protected] The display’s vibrance suffers Web site: www.samsungmobile. under direct sunlight; you com can just about read the text Price: Rs. 24,150 on the screen. The front bears call answer/end keys and times. For example, while headphone jack. The phone Specifi cations an odd hexagonal three-way using Google Maps, the text also plays back DivX and XviD Network: Quad-band GSM, button. It oddly does not help appeared very small. The touch files. We transferred some HSDPA at 3.6 Mbps navigate through menus but interfacing system works well standard resolution AVI files Screen: 3.1-inch (480 x 800 pixel rather, it is used to switch and has fewer hits-and-misses without any downscaling and AMOLED) between running applications. than other touch devices. they played flawlessly. The Processor: Qualcomm MSM6246 The buttons on the phone The phone is quite narrow, video quality is also quite 800Mhz are tactile. The phone gives so Samsung chose to fit a nice; this phone can easily Memory: 2 GB internal, microSD a vibrating feedback to every full QWERTY keyboard only double up as a good portable card slot (up to 16GB) press registered on the display. in landscape mode. It takes video player. The loudspeaker OS: Samsung Proprietary OS The phone runs Samsung’s time to get typing quickly is quite audible as well. The Connecitivty: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, proprietary TouchWiz 2.0 and accurately on it. There’s onboard camera takes pretty Bluetooth 2.1, HSDPA, A-GPS, OS. Its interface design is also handwriting recognition, good snaps. Smile detection USB 2.0 quite attractive. The interface but we doubt anybody would works as advertised. It can Camera: 5 mega-pixel auto-focus performs flawlessly thanks to want to use their fingernails to also record video at a DVD- with LED fl ash, Video at 720x480 the Jet’s fast processor. The scribble characters. At the end like resolution. Recording resolution @ 15 fps home screen bears many pre- of the day, the Samsung Jet is high resolution video can be Battery: 1100 mAh installed widgets like world not a smartphone. Installing a problem as the file size for Dimensions/Weight: 108.8 x clock, calendar, Facebook applications is only limited a minute of video is roughly 53.5 x 11.9 mm / 110 g etc. that can be customised to applications. People 12 MB. further. Multiple widgets can who would like to extend the At Rs. 24,150, the Samsung be placed across three home functionality of their phone by Jet is priced a lot above our screen windows. The Internet installing a lot of third-party liking. At this price, one would RATINGS browser renders full-blown programs will be put off by get a phone with an advanced Features ...... 8 websites quite nicely. The this. and highly configurable OS Performance ...... 7 browser gets sluggish at times The call quality was pretty than the Jet’s. The phone Build Quality ...... 6 lag at times depending on clear and signal reception handles multimedia tasks Value for Money ...... 6 the site you visit. There isn’t a good. Audio delivered by rather well and we would have cut-copy-paste functionality. the bundled in-earphones is definitely recommended it Overall ...... 7 The high resolution screen satisfactory. Better ones can if the price was closer to Rs. can be disadvantageous at be connected to the 3.5mm 15,000 to Rs. 17,000.

Intel’s i7-820 QM Mobile CPU running at 1.73 GHz for laptops gets benchmarked and apparently, its very fast If various stores on the internet like Amazon, Best Buy and

50 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com

CM Storm introduces Creative launches the Zen Bazaar Sentinel Advance gaming Mozaic EZ300 media player mouse with an OLED display in 4 GB and 8 GB capacities CoolerMaster NotePal Color Infinite A breath of fresh air he ‘color infinite’ name tag probably refers to the variety of colours Contact this notebook cooler Cooler Master isT available in. From sober greys Phone: +91-94225-01592 to a pastel pink; the colours Email: add much of the style element [email protected] to this sleek notebook cooler. Web site: We got a golden mat finish www.coolermaster.com piece which was certainly nice Warranty: 1 Year Replacement looking. To see how effective it Price: Rs. 2,300 was at cooling, we used one of the slightly more hotter running Specifi cations laptops. We let 3DMark06 run to three speed settings. It draws angle perfectly compensates Dimension: 380 x 300 x 10~50 heat up the system and gauged power through a USB port and for the downward gradient of mm temperatures with and without compensates for it by providing normal sitting posture. The four Weight: 700 g the cooler. The laptop chassis another one on the cooler body. rubberised knobs the bottom Fan Dimension: 90 x 90 x 25 mm definitely was less hot while on Additional features include however can get irritating. Its Max Fan Speed: 2000 rpm the cooler. The groove pattern hooks on the back panel of footprint is quite large (as much visible through the mesh is the cooler to manage wires as as a 17-inch notebook) but it’s RATINGS designed for optimum air flow. well as guide grooves on the quite lightweight; weighing in Features ...... 6 The fan takes in air through bottom for the same. In terms at 700 grams. Laptop coolers Performance ...... 7.5 the back intake and pushes it of usage scenarios, you can use are certainly a niche line of through the mesh. The pattern this on your lap, bed as well products and so can command Build Quality ...... 7 is such that you get a smooth as on a desk. The mesh has that inflated pricing. At Rs. 2,300 Value for Money ...... 5 flow of cool air underneath stoppers to prevent slipping and this one may still be worth a buy Overall ...... 6.5 your palms. The fan runs very in fact the whole aluminium but a little cheaper and buying it silent and sans vibrations on all body is anti skid. The cooler’s would’ve been a no brainer. APC Back-UPS RS 550 Small fry

Contact Elizabeth Jacob his is a UPS that is both have surge protection. In Phone: +91-80-39872000 positioned as a battery terms of features there aren’t Email: backup and surge many as compared to some UPSs [email protected] protection solution nowadays that come with an Web site: www.apc.com Tfor business desktops. It has a LCD screen to display status and Price: Rs. 2,475 rating of 550 VA which comes change settings. There is however out to an output capacity of 300 a resettable circuit breaker in Specifi cations Watts. Therefore it can easily case the UPS shuts down due Battery: 12V, 40 Watts/5min handle basic home or office to an overload. There’s an alarm Frequency: 45-65 Hz systems. Gaming systems are when output is on battery and a Dimensions: 18.55 x 11.5 x 31.3 cm slightly out of reach for this UPS distinctive low battery alarm. The Surge protection: 160 Joules since gaming rigs would require UPS has three sensitivity settings Weight: 5.1 kg a more beefier output capacity. which can be used in case you limited spectrum of 165 to 270V. To test the UPS we ran it on a find it switching to battery However switching between the RATINGS standard office set up to check power too often. Sensitivity sensitivity settings is difficult Features ...... 6 runtime on battery and also to settings can also be used specific since you need to operate with Performance ...... 5.5 check if the switch to battery is to the equipment connected just one button. Still, at Rs. 2,475, Build quality ...... 7 seamless. The documentation to it. For instance equipment it’s not extremely expensive boasted of a 36 minute backup that cannot handle even minor and as an utility that gives you Value for money ...... 6 time, but it delivered 7 minutes. voltage waveform distortions enough backup time to save all Overall ...... 6 The two output ports available can be put on the ‘high’ setting your work, it’s well worth the are standard 3-pin (India) 6A; which operates between a money.

Newegg are to be believed, the Microsoft Zune HD is a major sellout Even as India waits for major private operators to roll-out basic 3G services, in America, T-Mobile

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 51 Bazaar Google’s Android 1.6 a.k.a Donut has CDMA support, Gyration launches the Air Mouse Quicksearch and a text-to- Elite that senses wrist movements speech API performed in the air

A-DATA Nobility NH92 250GB A slim drive with an eye-catching design Contact A-DATA -DATA’s Nobility drives by other manufacturers. Phone: +91-33-40105500 NH92 is a portable It is available in three metallic Email: jerry_lu@.com.tw hard drive with a USP shades. Web site: www. to brag. According to The drive we’ve got for test technocratinfotech.com theirA website, it is the ‘slimmest’ was sized at 250 GB. A 320 GB Price: Rs. 3,300 drive in the market today and 500 GB version is available and the ‘lightest’ drive in an too. The drive has a widely-used Real world tests Specifi cations aluminum case. It looks very miniUSB port, which ensures File Write 4 GB Single File 173 Capacity: 250 GB sleek; at 12mm, its thickness is that a replacement cable will be (sec) Device Interface: USB 2.0 on-par with many of the slender easy to find, in case you lose the File Write Assorted 4GB fi les 217 HDD Interface: 2.5” SATA mobile-phones available today. original. After putting it through (sec) Dimensions: 114 x 75.8 x 12 mm It is also quite light-weight and the tests, it is shown that the File Read Test 4GB Single 126 Weight: 152 g weighs a little more than 150 drive performs at par with other File (sec) grams. Its dimensions allow it drives in its segment. File Read Test Assorted 4GB 132 RATINGS to be carried easily in a cargo At Rs. 3,300, the A-DATA Files (sec) pocket or a purse. The feel of NH-92 has a very fair pricing. Internal File Read Test Single 331 Features ...... 7 4GB File (sec) the texture reminds us of the too. If you’re looking for a sleek Performance ...... 7 etched backplate of the Nokia portable drive, then this drive Internal File Read Test As- 312 Build quality ...... 7.5 sorted 4GB Files (sec) E71. Aluminum also gives it a will fit your needs. Value for money ...... 6.5 decently sturdy feel; better than Photoshop CS2 Image Load 88 (1GB File) (Sec) Overall ...... 7 the plastic casings found on Gigabyte GK-KM-7500 Surprisingly decent kit...

igabyte’s been Contact known for its Priya Ltd. motherboard and Email: [email protected] graphics cards and Web site: www.gigabyte.com.tw Grecently, they’ve entered the Phone: +91-22-42203100 peripheral market with cases. Price: Rs. 2,199 This wireless keyboard mouse combo are powered by Specifi cations AA batteries and come with Frequency : 2.4 GHz RF no charging dock. The design Dimensions: 463 x 160 x 20 mm of the keyboard is good – it’s (keyboard), 100 x 60 x 36.5 mm thin and light-weight. So, if (mouse) you’re using it while sitting Weight: 700 g on a couch away from the problematic. With a direct line are makes us believe that this display or TV, you can easily of sight, we were easily able to product makes good sense for RATINGS rest it on your lap without any use the keyboard and mouse at those with HTPCs. The battery hassles. The mouse with the a distance of some 10 ft. ran perfectly fine for well over Features...... 7.5 AA battery feels pretty light but The keys don’t have a two weeks with average use of Build Quality ...... 6 the performance and range of particularly nice feedback some three hours a day. Performance ...... 7 the keyboard is slightly better and have little travel. There At Rs. 2,199, it’s a tiny bit than the mouse. The keyboard are multimedia buttons at the expensive for a basic wireless Value for money ...... 6.5 works fine through some top of the the keyboard and keyboard and mouse. Still, if Overall ...... 7 obstacles in between it and a volume control dial on the you spend on it anyway, you the PC but the mouse is more right top. These kind of features won’t regret it. began rolling out HSPA+ 3G service in Philadelphia at the insane speeds of 21 Mbps Rumors are afl oat that HP, Dell and Acer might soon be releasing laptops with displays

52 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Bazaar Kingston’s 2,133 MHz HyperX Microsoft’s Bluetooth Mobile memory for Intel’s Core i5 runs Keyboard 6000 is the thinnest at a low 1.65 V mobile keyboard till date

Western Digital Scorpio Blue 500GB High-capacity storage coupled with a high price-tag!

estern Digital test, it took 186 seconds and of these drives aren’t joins the race 204 seconds for a 4 GB single drastically different. of the ever- file and 4 GB assorted folder We were almost shocked to expanding respectively. Comparing it to find that maximum retail price Wportable notebook hard drives the Seagate Momentus 5400.6 of this drive is a whopping Rs. with its Scorpio Blue 500 GB. 500GB drive, there are tests 10,950. The Seagate Momentus All this space is packed into a where both of them have. But 5400.6 in comparison is for 9.5 mm height body; making in general, the performances nearly half that price. The Contact it compatible with most of the Scorpio Blue may be a decent Western Digital Corporation laptops. It uses WD’s anti-shock HDTach 32MB performer but the difference in Email: [email protected] protection measures to reduce Average Read (MBps) 67.9 price difference doesn’t make Web site: www.wdc.com chances of damage. During the Average Write (MBps) 63.3 very good sense. Phone: +91-93210 29204 testing, the drive ran silently CPU Utilization (%) 4 Price: Rs. 10,950 and vibrations were at a bare Random Access Time (ms) 16.1 minimum. Read Burst Speed (MBps) 228.3 RATINGS Specifi cations It took the drive just 50 Capacity: 500GB SiSoft Sandra 2008 Engi- Features...... 7 seconds to write a 4 GB single neer’s Edition Build Quality ...... 7.5 Size: 2.5 inches Rotational Speed: 5400 RPM file and 61 seconds for a 4 GB Drive Index, Read (MBps) 63.8 Performance ...... 7 folder with assorted files. It read Buffer Size: 8 MB Access Time, Read (ms) 14 a 4 GB file at 75 seconds and Value for money ...... 4 Interface: SATA Drive Index, Write (MBps) 64.41 the 4 GB assorted folder at 81 Overall ...... 6.5 Dimensions: 100 x 69.85 x 9.5 mm seconds. In the internal file copy Access Time, Write (ms) 5 Weight: 117 g ASUS SDRW-08D1S-U Optical companion for your netbook Contact ASUS Technology Pvt. Ltd. Phone: +91-22–67668800 he Asus SDRW- write only data discs and rip Email: [email protected] 08D1S-U is a slim, audio CDs to MP3 -- nothing that Web site: www.asus.in portable external DVD- freely available software out there Price: Rs. 3,500 writer. It comes in a two can’t do. Tcool looking colours - black and To test it, we burnt a single 4.3 Specifi cations white. It compliments the look of GB file onto a DVD which took Maximum Write speed: Asus’s Eee PC netbooks. Because eleven-and-a-half minutes. Then, 8x (DVD), 24x (CD) of its thin profile, it can be slid we copied an assortment of files Data Buffer: 2 MB into a side-pocket of a bag. The amounting to 4.3 GB. It took Dimensions: 156.4 x 140.8 x 21 build quality is pretty decent and almost exactly the same time as mm the eject button is tactile. Closing the single file. According to our Weight: 412 g the tray gave a firm affirmation read tests, it took take around of our action. The drive can ten minutes to copy an entire be used either horizontally 4.3 GB DVD onto the test PCs no DVD writers are provided. RATINGS or mounted vertically on the hard drive. Being a laptop optical It might also work for HTPCs Features ...... 7 provided mounting stand. It has drive on the inside, an average where the case doesn’t have Performance ...... 6 a miniUSB port at the back and performance from this device is enough space to hold a large is supplied with a Y-type USB expected and that’s what we got. DVD drive. It’s not very easy to Build quality ...... 7 cable. The drive comes bundled At Rs. 3,500, the drive’s price is find something this compact Value for money ...... 6.5 with Cyberlink’s CD authoring somewhat okay. This product either. We give it our thumbs up. Overall ...... 6.5 software; it is not the full-blown can be handy for people owning version though. It will let you netbooks or where

that support 3D technology for games and movies. Dell’s Latitude Z is rumored to be the fi rst laptop to incorporate ‘Wireless charging’. Its actual implementation yet

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 53 Bazaar MSI Wind U210 featuring an MSI’s ultra-slim X410 swaps out an AMD Athlon Neo processor Intel CULV for AMD’s Athlon Neo starts shipping in the US processor with ATI Radeon X1250 GPU SatGuide P360 Find your way

Contact he mapping software further. A seperate category for SatNav Technologies on this GPS navigation ‘locality’ would’ve been nice. Phone: +91-92233 87281 device is created by Once you’ve selected a POI Email: jayaprakash@satnavtech. SatGuide while the or Street it opens the maps to com underlyingT device is the Mio chart out the route. The turn- Web site: www.satguide.in P360 Digiwalker. The device by-turn directions are voice Price: Rs. 19,999 for India maps is compact enough to easily fit assisted and work quite well in and international regions into a pocket while the build both pedestrian and car mode. quality is solid. It sure looks The voice over is available Specifi cations sleek with a large 3.5-inch in several Indian languages. CPU: Samsung 2443 400Mhz touch screen and metal body. However, the POI database was GPS : SiRF Star III Now lets get on to the software not very impressive in some Display Resolution - 320x240 which is essentially what makes of the categories; particularly Dimension: 17.8 x 72 x 115 mm this PDA a GPS navigator. ATMs. The QWERTY keyboard Weight: 170 g The software navigation is is not available by default not very intuitive and takes a and needs to be activated bit of getting used to. Finger from settings; but is not at all RATINGS touch is fine but we noticed comfortable to type on since Accessories include a car Features ...... 6.5 that in many cases the stylus one button carries two keys charger and a windscreen Performance ...... 5.5 works out better. Searching for requiring a double tap. The suction car stand. Overall it’s locations is via browsing POIs interface is not very smooth a robust GPS Navigator that Build Quality ...... 7 Value for money ...... 4 (points of interest) or searching when it comes to zooming or will take you from point A for streets. The search function scrolling the maps. The lag is to point B but the database Overall ...... 6 is painful as each time, it asks surprising high considering could certainly use some for city and then drills down it has a fairly powered CPU. improvements. Apacer Steno AU380 An average pocket-friendly player

he Apacer AU380 is a allows for connectivity to a PC. noise while using this feature. spartan feature MP3 Transferring songs from the Bottom line, the player has Contact player. Its dimensions PC to the player is realy simple acceptable sound quality but Apacer Technologies Pvt Ltd are comparable to a and requires no proprietary one does not get the feel-good Phone: +91-80-41529061 smallT matchbox. The plastic software. It also supports factor from this player. At the Email: [email protected] body has a decent build and a viewing photos, but we really selling price of Rs. 2,999 for Web site: www.apacer.com detachable clip allows you to doubt anybody would want to this one, there are many other Price: Rs. 1,999 hang the player on you like a do that on such a tiny screen. worthwhile players out there pen. Its looks aren’t anything There’s a direct voice recording which you can go for instead of Specifi cations to talk about; the copper-black button on the player itself, but this one. Screen: 1.1-inch CSTN color color combination will not it also records a lot of unwanted Audio Formats: MP3, WAV, WMA appeal to some. The front bears Photo formats: JPEG , BMP a tiny, non-bright 1.1-inch color Built-in memory: 2 GB screen that feels just a bit too Other features: FM Radio, Voice small for say, viewing long Recorder, FM recording song titles. Navigation isn’t Playtime on internal battery: very intuitive and the UI design Up to 25 hours isn’t going to win any awards. There’s no categorisation of RATINGS music according to artist, Features ...... 7 genre, album etc. Audio quality using the provided earphones Performance ...... 6 is pretty good for a player Build quality ...... 6 in this price range. The FM Value for money ...... 6.5 reception is pretty good. A Overall ...... 6 miniUSB port on the player remains to be seen Windows Mobile phone maker i-mate calls it quits and has shut its Dubai officies There is a possibility that the Samsung Omnia i900

54 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Bazaar Nokia N86 update to bring OCZ packs 256 GB, 512 GB and 1 TB worth face and smile detection space on their Z-Drive SSDs that connect to features to its camera a PC via the PCIe slot Acer Aspire Revo An nettop with NVIDIA fi repower Contact he Acer Aspire Revo Atom processor will serve as a under Windows Media Player Acer India Pvt Ltd. R3600 is the first bottleneck -- so forget playing the played quite smoothly. The Phone: +91-80-40708700 nettop, i.e. a small, low- latest games in full glory. cute-looking web-cam delivers Email: [email protected] power PC to include The Revo’s main intention of a pretty decent video quality. It Price: Rs. 22,999 TNVIDIA’s ion platform on board. high-definition movie playback would have been nice if the Revo Web-site: www.acer.co.in That means its got an Intel isn’t as simple as ‘plug-and-play’. had an optical drive built in. Atom paired with a moderately You’ll need to use a media player At Rs. 23,000, the Revo is a Specifi cations powerful GeForce 9400M that supports GPU acceleration little expensive. If you’re looking Processor: Intel Atom 230 graphics. The diamond-shaped for videos. A 1080p WMV file for a compact, power-saving RAM: 2GB DDR2 casing looks really cool and is download rig that supports full Hard Disk: 160GB portable. The build quality’s just HD, the Revo could fit your Graphics: nVidia GeForce 9400 about decent. requirements. Ports: 6 USB, 1 e-SATA, Card The Revo bundle includes reader, VGA, HDMI a wireless keyboard-mouse PC Mark05 Power supply: 65 W adapter set that’s pretty comfortable CPU Score 1370 with power cord to use. The 2 GB RAM is just Memory Score 2352 Dimensions: 180 x 180 x 30 mm about sufficient, since it runs Graphics Score 2060 the resource-hungry Windows HDD 4426 Vista. In our use, the OS ran smoothly as long as it wasn’t put Overall 1919 RATINGS under heavy load. We would not 3D Mark 2006 Features ...... 7 reckon using this machine for CPU Score 492 Performance ...... 7 heavy multi-tasking or running Overall Score 1312 Build quality ...... 6 processor intensive applications. Doom 3 640x480, medium 26.6 Running Doom 3 at medium detail (fps) Value for money ...... 6 detail on a low resolution gave DivX to VOB video conversion 1097 Overall ...... 6.5 playable frame-rates. But the (secs) Philips GoGear Mix MP3 player Shaped like a pen drive Contact Philips Electronics India Ltd. he Philips GoGear can be described as average. Phone: 1860-1801111 Mix is a digital audio Audio quality is decent.The Email: customercare.India@ player that’s shaped the expected punch from the philips.com like a flash drive. The bass is missing. There are a Web site: www.india.philips.com tinyT dimensions makes it easy couple of equalizer presets Price: Rs. 2,999 to carry it around. It is built as well as the ability to have well and looks neat. The front your custom setting. The data Specifi cations face of the player bears a screen transfer rates from the PC to Screen: 128 x 64 pixel, 4 line LCD that could prove to be a bit the player ranged at a pretty Audio Format: MP3, WAV, WMA small for some. The navigation decent 3.5 MB/s. FM reception Built-in memory: 2 GB buttons are fairly tactile but felt is pretty decent. It supports Other features: FM Radio, Voice a bit flimsy. A dedicated volume FM recording for a maximum Recorder, FM recording control and hold switch lie to of about two hours in the Playtime on internal battery: the side. A switch to the other player’s memory. Up to 25 hours side brings out the seemingly At Rs. 2,999, the GoGear delicate USB head. Mix is priced in range. But RATINGS The user interface has a similarly designed players like Features ...... 7 simple look-and-feel. Songs are the Samsung YP-U5Q offer Performance ...... 6 categorized according to artist, everything that this can, with album and play-list. There is better audio quality and at the Build Quality ...... 6 also a folder view available. same price. This player does Value for Money ...... 6.5 The UI is pretty swift to not offer anything that’s really Overall ...... 6 operate. The audio quality out of the box for us to go from the bundled earphones ahead and recommend it.

Aircel starts selling select Blackberry handsets and their services across major cities Christophe Ducommun, developer of MovieGate application

56 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Bazaar Seagate launches world’s fi rst Sony Ericsson’s MH907 headsets 6 Gbps SATA hard drive, the automatically play when worn, and Barracuda XT pause when one earbud is removed Epson Stylus TX550W For those not willing to spend the least.

n the world of multi- Contact functionality devices, Epson India probably one of the Phone: +91-80-30515000 best marriages of two Email: [email protected] individualI devices have to be Web-site: www.epson.co.in the printer and the scanner. Price: Rs. 8,999 The Epson Stylus TX550W represents the latest breed of Specifi cations such MFDs. The device looks Printing Method: On-demand a lot like ‘office furniture’ due ink jet (Piezoelectric) to its black colored plasticky Maximum resolution: 5760 x body. Its not very heavy 1440 dpi to carry around, but has Scanner type: A4 Flatbed Colour somewhat large dimensions Image Scanner, CIS type sensor, as compared to competitor 2400 x 2400 dpi resolution models. To point out some of Display: 2.5 TFT Colour LCD its USPs, it has a adequately- Memory card slots: CF Type sized 2.5-inch LCD screen that II, , SD/MMC, xD- tilts to an easily viewable angle. economy mode, we think that At Rs. 9000, the TX550W Picture Card It also accepts multi-format pages appear too faint. While is on par with the HP Interface: USB 2.0, Ethernet, memory cards. Other than the they appear pretty decent in Photosmart C4588 MFD in Wi-Fi 802.11b/g typical USB connectivity, you quality under normal mode. terms of price. This model also have wireless connectivity. Under high quality, the photo is quite easy to use, delivers RATINGS This will make it very easy to prints came out fairly well. decent results and has nifty Features ...... 7.5 use this MFD with portable Colors seemed natural and the features like the LCD screen devices such as laptops. level of detail was pretty good. and Wi-Fi. If you’re looking Performance ...... 7 The bundled software makes Scanning an image revealed for an MFD under the 10k Build quality ...... 6 configuration over wireless that the image quality, although range, the TX550W can Value for money ...... 6.5 very simple. After printing slightly washed out, is pretty definitely be considered Overall ...... 7 a variety of test pages in the decent overall. worth buying. Contact Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd. Samsung Marine Phone: +91-22-41511234 Email: Tough nut to crack [email protected] Web site: www.samsungmobile. he Samsung B2100 inferior components used in com Marine is a tough the phone are a put-off. The Price: Rs. 7,030 phone with a B2100 has a low resolution spartan feature set. display that’s low for our Specifi cations AT completely rubberised body liking. It has unsatisfying Band: Quad band GSM gives a feeling of solidity and sunlight legibility and the Dimensions: 113 x 48.9 x 17.4 grip. The back panel stays in camera is pretty bad. It uses mm place thanks to a circular lock a yesteryear 1.3 mega-pixel Display: 120 x 160 pixels, 1.77- and can’t be easily pulled out sensor. The on board torch is inch, 256K Colors TFT like most phones. pretty powerful for a phone. Connectivity: EDGE, Bluetooth The buttons, aside from The 1000 mAh battery gives 2.1 with A2DP, USB being slightly hard to press, a pretty decent up-time. Camera: 1.3 mega-pixel have a tactile feel. At just over During calls, there were a 100 grams, the phone is problems of not proper RATINGS quite light-weight. The phone transmission of audio. Features ...... 6 conforms to the IP57 industry Other than that, the network Performance ...... 7 standard for robustness and is reception was pretty decent. Build quality ...... 8 water, dust and shock resistant. At Rs. 7,030, the phone is a entice the elite adventurer. But Overall, the phone does feel as little overpriced. The fact that for people who have a habit Value for money ...... 7 tough as it is advertised. it does not have modern-day of dropping their phone by Overall ...... 7 While the meager feature features like GPS or a fitness mistake and damaging it, this set is acceptable, some of the application will probably not might be for you. for the Mac, claimed that the performance improvementswill get in Macan update OS X 10.6 to theSnow latest Leopard Windows has made Mobile his 6.5 application operating runsystem. up to 50 Indianpercent telecom faster operator HP

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 57 Bazaar The latest 8-GB iPod Nano Once released, Windows Mobile 6.5 with a built-in camera is will be found on Samsung’s Omnia priced at Rs. 9,400 series of smartphones Linksys WRT320N Wireless Router A futuristic looking dual-band router

he Linksys acted as the server and the terms of performance. The WRT320N router is router was connected to it by range and reception isn’t that Contact part of the modern wire. Two separate zones were great either. Linksys Corporation design series that setup - one where the laptop At Rs. 8,999, it’s an Phone: +91-98204 29532 Tparent company Cisco was placed right next to the expensive router. Other than Email: envisioned. The WRT320N router and the other where the sleek design, it does not [email protected] maintains the slim profile of the laptop was placed some bring any unique features to Web site: www.linksysbycisco. its predecessor, the WRT310N, 25ft away. From the tests we the table that could interest com as well as the futuristic styling. ran, we could conclude that the casual user such as USB Price: Rs. 8,999 The build is sturdy yet it the router is above average in support for example. looks great.This is one of the Specifi cations few routers available today Zone 1 (100 MB File transfer) LAN ports: WAN x 1, LAN x 4 that comes without antennas Signal Strength in Zone 1 (Wireless Mon 3.0, %) 70 RJ-45 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz protruding. It supports the Sequential (MBps) 4 Frequency: latest Draft-N Wi-Fi standard. Standards: Draft 802.11n v2.0, Assorted fi les (MBps) 2.08 The main difference in this 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.3, 802.3u, revised model is the addition Zone 2 (50 MB File transfer) 802.3ab of a dual band -- which Signal Strength in Zone 2 (Wireless Mon 3.0, %) 40 Size: 202 x 34 x 160 mm operates at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Sequential (MBps) 5 Weight: 300 g as well. The router has a easy- Assorted fi les (MBps) 4.77 to-use firmware interface. It Zone 3 (50 MB File transfer) RATINGS supports automatic bandwidth Signal Strength in Zone 3 (Wireless Mon 3.0, %) 5 Features ...... 7 allocation depending on the Sequential (MBps) N/A Performance ...... 6 application being used. Assorted fi les (MBps) N/A Build quality ...... 7 Coming to the performance, Passmark Performance Test Zone 1 / Zone 2 54.32 / 20.86 Value for money ...... 4 we connected a Dell XPS Video Streaming (HD 1080p) Zone 1 / Zone 2 9 / 8 Studio 13 wirelessly to the Overall ...... 6 Video Streaming (DVD) Zone 1 / Zone 2 9 / 9 router. A dedicated system Apple iPod Shuffle Shuffl ing around t’s that time again and new track shuffle. Sadly Apple has apples are beginning to moved the volume controls to fall from, well, Apple trees. the earphone cord so you can This one is really compact kiss using other headphones Iand elongated, whereas the goodbye – in our opinion this previous one was square. The borders on arm-twisting users Contact full metal body has an anodised to use only Apples earphones. Apple India finish and the belt clip is There’s a nifty voice based Phone: 1800-425-0744 rugged. Gone are the controls navigation feature that can tell Email: [email protected] on the body and there’s just one you the name of your playlist Web site: www.apple.co.in power switch that doubles as a and can also tell you the name Price: Rs. 4,900 of the artist or the title of a song headphones and quite frankly RATINGS while it’s playing – neat and Apples own headphones are Specifi cations Features ...... 6 obviously meant to make up for not for purists. However, the Capacity: 4 GB Performance ...... 7.5 the lack of a screen. However earphones do belt out a pretty Weight: 10.7 g Build quality ...... 8.5 you need to download a voice high volume. At Rs. 4,900, the Frequency response: 20 Hz to over pack for this via iTunes. new iPod Shuffle 4 GB is for 20 KHz Value for money ...... 6.5 Because of the controls being someone looking for a really Audio formats: AAC, MP3, WAV, Overall ...... 7 on the earphones it’s impossible tiny MP3 player for music and ALAC, AIFF to test the device with any other nothing else.

claims that the Envy 15 is the “fastest consumer notebook” that it has ever made; running Core i7 processors with ATI Mobility Redeon HD 4830

58 Digit | August 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Bazaar Samsung’s 12 mega-pixel

The Asus Eee PC 1201n is their Pixon12 camera phone

fi rst NVIDIA ion based netbook comes to India at Rs. 30,000 

Sony Alpha 330L The Alpha…and the Omega? We think not..

ony’s hold over photography enthusiasts. The changed. Sony still uses the the camera market live view feature means you traditional Minolta mount for extends to the DSLR can focus using the 2.7-inch flash so you can’t purchase side of things. Sony screen instead of having to any flash unit and fix it to camerasS are finding a home use the optical viewfinder. the camera. The flash on this in the Indian market and There’s one jogdial which camera raises well above the already the A200 has been a means you’re left to depend camera so you won’t ever hit among those who always on the buttons to navigate have the problem of the wanted a cheaper DSLR. Sony and access some of the shadow of the lens barrel brings a mid-ranged camera functions. falling on your photos. for those who want to take it Image quality is very good Until now, we’ve a step ahead. with little grain in well-lit recommended the Nikon The body isn’t as robust scenes.. There’s a visible D60 as a solid DSLR for as some of Canon and difference in image quality a budget over Rs. 30,000. Nikon’s costlier offerings but when you go from an Alpha Those who willing to push it’s still a big step up from 200 to something like this. that budget close to Rs. the Sony Alpha 200. It feels The detail is crisp and colours 40,000 can be given an easy pretty light even though it’s a tiny bit emphasised are recommendation. The Sony a slightly larger camera than good for the most part. There Alpha 330 can be bought for the Alpha 200. The lens still is fine noticeable noise with Rs. 39,990. has a somewhat loose feel ISO sensitivity set to 800 and like the A200. Other makes above especially against dark prefer to use a heavier-feel surfaces. The stock lens kit Contact zoom ring. The handgrip can be used for decent macro Sony India isn’t particularly great either. photography with a little bit Phone: 1800-11-11-88 The little finger slips under of zoom. The stock lens is Email: the handgrip and you’ll find an 18-55mm which is more [email protected] it getting sore after spending or less 3x of optical zoom in Web site: www.sonystyle.com some time with it. layman terms. Price: Rs. 39,990 The user interface looks Sony products and many similar to the ones in other of their DSLRs use the Specifi cations RATINGS DSLRs from Sony. It looks a Memory Stick format but Sensor resolution: 10.2 MP, Features...... 8 bit more professional than fortunately, this one can APS-C size sensor - 23.5 x 15.7 Build Quality ...... 7 the Cyber-Shot range of use both MS and also SD mm, 2.7-inch LCD display, 18- Performance ...... 7 point-and-shoot cameras. memory cards. There’s a 55mm lens, Memory Stick/SD/ Value for money ...... 7 Still, it doesn’t feel like it’s small toggle switch which one SDHC memory cards supported geared towards serious you want to use in the bay. Dimensions: 128 x 97 x 71.4 mm Overall ...... 7 photographers but just Some things haven’t Weight: 491 g

1GB graphics, 16GB of DDR3 RAM and 2 separate solid state drives (SSDs), running in Raid0 configuration Samsung to introduce powerful and efficient

Digit | August 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 59 Bazaar Core i7 The NEC’s xHCI host controller Intel announces Core i7 becomes the world’s fi rst Extreme and Core i7 processors certifi ed USB 3.0 product for laptops

VU Intelligent TV LTV-40i HDTV with a built-in PC!

U’s LTV-40i also used the Spyder3Elite Intelligent TV is colorimeter to measure the like any other 40- TV’s luminance and contrast inch VU TV model ratio, and got a result of Contact Vbut this one comes with 403.5 cd/m2 and 975.65:1 VU Technologies Pvt. Ltd. with a PC integrated within respectively. This panel is just Phone: +91-22-28377300 it. The system specifications about decent but nothing Email: [email protected] are similar to net tops or spectacular. Web site: www.technologies.vu low-power computers. At Rs. 69,990, the TV is a Price: Rs. 69,990 There is no internal Wi-Fi little too expensive. A 40-inch module on that computer. VU TV can be bought for Specifi cations The display adapter is roughly Rs. 50,000. The built- TV Resolution: 1920x1080 connected to the TV using in PC is good enough for for (1080p) a VGA port. The onboard basic computing needs such Aspect Ratio: 16:9 GMA950 graphics solution as working on documents, Contrast Ratio: Native - 8,000:1 can’t handle HD content browsing the internet and Dynamic - 50,000:1 and the VGA link won’t downloading. For anything Brightness: 500 cd/m2 let you use the TV’s native more, we suggest purchasing Colours: 16.7 million resolution of 1920x1080 a HDTV and then setting up Viewing Angle (Horizontal & on the computer. A much your own HTPC. It would be Vertical): 178°/178° lower resolution has to be a cheaper proposition. Response Time: 5 ms used. Even then, with that Ports: 2 HDMI, 1 S-video, 1 D-sub  resolution, content on the VU TV Benchmarks (VGA), coaxial, component, panel is readable when you PC Mark05 composite ports. sit at a distance. PC Specs: Intel Atom N230 CPU Score 1497 Benchmarks show the 1.6GHz, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 4 performance of the PC to Memory Score 2408 USB, Windows XP Home edition be in the same range as Graphics Score 671 an Atom based netbook. RATINGS Its a shame that the PC HDD 4799 can’t handle HD content. Overall 1628 Features ...... 6 The bundled iBall wireless 3D Mark 2006 Performance ...... 6.5 keyboard-mouse combo gets Build Quality ...... 6 the job done. CPU Score 491 Value for money ...... 6.5 To judge the panel, we Overall Score 92 Overall ...... 6 tried playing high-definition WinRAR benchmark 376 content on the TV. We processors, cameras and for mobile devices in early 2010 Intel unveils Light Peak 10Gbps optical interconnect for mobile devices

60 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Laptop test Dell going Z Where’s the mouse? Dell’s new line of high-end Latitude Z Logitech’s Lapdesk N315 has a notebooks to feature wireless charging nifty slide-out mouse pad

Michael Browne usage pattern when they create people in the US have been brands that could not / did not [email protected] a notebook. Different product enjoying their custom Dells for participate in this test such as lines have spawned catering to a long time, but for a choice Samsung, LG, Fujitsu, Toshiba f anything, our notebook the needs of a specific faction of deprived nation we’re new to all and Zenith for a variety of test this year is testament people. Corporate users, college this and we’re gleefully happy reasons. Despite this we got a to change – an evolution of goers, gamers, road warriors, to report an ever increasing good number of models — 31 in sorts, we’re the reason. Not entertainment junkies — there’s user base hopping aboard this all — and as unique a bunch as usI as in Digit, but every one a unique fix for everyone. And bandwagon. we’d hope to get. From David of us users. Notebooks have this is a good thing — for one This time we also awarded to Goliath, from the proverbial walked the product life cycle you have a plethora of choices. two Best Performers, which tortoise to the hare, from in this country, from being Secondly, you get exactly is unusual. However, we felt Playboy Playmate-grade stuff playthings of the rich, to the what you want. A handful of that the gaming notebooks to the mundane, there’s truly drool-worthy devices of the new vendors also offer custom deserved a Best Performer something for everyone. millennium to what they are configurations these days award of their own since the today. Their design ethos has and this is, perhaps, the most testing parameters and weights Desktop evolved — jack-of-all-trades no significant telling point of the assigned were quite different replacements Up to longer. Manufacturers no longer change of market focus from from the other notebooks. Rs. 40,000: try to get cover every possible producer to consumer. Sure There were quite a few Buy me, I’m better than your desktop…really! Most people buying a laptop look to spend around Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 40,000. This is Notebooks have emerged from the shroud of generality and where the bulk of the shopping become more specialised towards specific purposes. In short they’ve happens; volume games are always fun for manufacturers evolved to become about as varied as the human beings using them. and competition is fierce. There The adage ‘something for everyone’ is an understatement is diversity to be had as well; as manufacturers rush to provide tailor-made solutions some notebooks have basic builds and mediocre looks but better, more powerful components under the hood and vice versa. If you’re looking for an affordable stunner Acers Aspire 5810T might be down Laps, notes your alley — a superb looking notebook from Acers new Travel Line series of notebooks with brushed aluminium livered in silver-gray. It’s slim and the exteriors are exceptionally well built. It has a nice, large, matte- and books finished, 15.6-inch display that has nice brightness levels but poor viewing angles. Acer uses Intel’s Laminar Wall Jet cooling technology that claims to keep your lap cool, note we said your lap and not the

Imaging: Vijay Padaya Imaging: Vijay Manas Parekh Photographs: notebook. This system uses parallel layers of jets of air, and is the same concept used to keep the outer walls of a jet engine cool. Since its processor

62 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Healthy Li-ion Dual-display notebooks 13”, 15” MacBook Pro Owners Still Plagued Laptop test Laptop makes advice users to gScreen plans to produce high-end with SATA II Issues, and can only avail of not constantly keep their laptops laptops with two 15.4-inch displays that speeds up to 1.5 Gbps which equates to SATA 1 plugged to keep battery healthy cost approximately 1.5 lakh rupees performance is pretty basic we don’t figure Desktop it’ll heat up much anyways. The replacements floating keypad is good with Between Rs. 40,001 nice feedback and a positive feel and Rs. 60,000: to keystrokes but the keypad For the upwardly mobile itself was uneven and in the When one spends more than centre — there was something Rs. 40,000 on a notebook of a wave. This is probably Surpur Chaitanya Illustrations: certain things are a given — due to misalignment of the lasting build quality, faster and material below the keypad on more powerful components, which it rests. Key spacing is good usability as well as absolutely spot-on. The other reasonable compactness. That’s three Acer Aspire notebooks not to say that one should share a common design — a have lower expectations from nice glossy blue covered lid cheaper notebooks but lets with matte black on the inside. face it — you get exactly what Quite frankly Acer has upped you pay for and a higher price their game since the last time gives the manufacturer more we tested their notebooks — the leeway to play with internal current crop of models have components, chassis materials good looking, well-finished lids and so on. A generic desktop and the floating keypads which notebook is generally between although delicate (judging 14 and 16 inches in size, by an incident where a key and the dark grey colour handle many multimedia heavy anything smaller and it can got detached for no apparent along with the graphics on tasks and we see it lagging in qualify as an ultra compact. Of reason) are very comfortable the lid looks neat. Sadly their the video encoding test where course the distinguishing line to use. Ergonomics is also trackpads are some of the worst all the other dual core options is thin. very good. The Aspire 5536 you will come across — poor outshine it. It does have an Gateway is a new entrant and the 5738Z have 15.6-inch feedback, poor tracking and up its sleeve however, when it to our market courtesy Acer LED displays while the Aspire the dimples on the surface are comes to the battery test — a who acquired Gateway and all 4736 makes do with a 14-inch abrasive to the pads of ones 15.6-inch display that can play its assets. Their NV48 and ID display. This also makes its lid fingers. It was good to see every videos for 273 minutes is pretty 5801 are two very feel sturdier i.e. smaller size, notebook in this category with much unheard of in this price less flex. This also means a healthy 320 GB of storage segment — obviously power the shortcut buttons — plenty of space. We were consumption figures are also pleased to see at least very low, especially since three USB ports on all its sleekness belies a notebook, some large battery pack. had as many as When it comes octo ber 2009 four — plenty to bang for buck, octo ber 2009 of connectivity however, nobody could options for add-on hold a candle to the peripherals. As Acer Aspire 5738Z, its expected only the great combination of Acer Aspire 5536 performance, features and makes a splash in any battery backup means it wins of the graphics tests our Digit Best Buy award in with its ATi Radeon this category. If you’re looking Acer Aspire 5738G video solution. The for a powerful notebook with Aspire 5810T loses out a good mix of features we different beasts — one is built here. It’s combination reckon the 5738Z is a great on traditional compact lines Acer Aspire 5738Z of integrated graphics and deal at Rs. 30,999. If you’re meant as a generic desktop a Core 2 Solo U3500 CPU looking for something really replacement while the ID5801 placed above the keypad of is not enough for it to attractive looking and sleek for comes across as a notebook the two larger models is now under Rs. 40,000 check out the for the multimedia fan; that placed on the right side of the Aspire 5810T — at Rs. 38,401 is other than the gamer. The keypad on the Aspire 4736. The it’s stylish enough to make an NV48 is built well looks good Aspire 4736 also has a good impression in any company. If with a nice steel-grey coloured CPU although all notebooks you want something for playing lid with a glossy finish but other than the Acer Aspire HD movies without skipping is slightly heavy. Inside the 5536 (Radeon 3200) lack a a beat look at the Acer Aspire keypad is good and has nice dedicated graphics 5536 — not only is it feedback while being well laid solution. the cheapest notebook in our out. Gateway did a splendid ASUS’ K40IJ test (Rs. 29,099) but its Radeon job on the trackpad — just the and K50IJ sport HD 3200 solution packs a right mix of feedback and grip identical lid finishes decent punch. or rather slip — great tracking —

Acer Aspire 5810T Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 63 Laptop test 3D notebook screens? GT300 fab issues Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Sony to look NVIDIA receives first test samples of next- forward to notebooks with Stereo 3D generation chip the GT300 family. But fab yields Screens could be as low as 20 percent

accurate and fast. The left-click trackpad lock button is an issues. Lenovo has used good notebooks that are not and right-click buttons are well annoyance preventer of sorts, speakers for the Y550 and for meant for hardcore gamers. placed and long therefore you especially since the trackpad is the first time the beginnings of Notebooks in this category can use them with thumb and not recessed; meaning it gets bass are audible, although the are for power users who want little finger while your index activated easily while typing speakers on the costlier Lenovo power sans portability. That’s finger is on the trackpad. The causing typos. Y650 are much better. not to say you cannot heft S/PDIF and audio out share a HCLs Z39 made us do a The Lenovo Y550 also has one of these around. It’s just single smart detect port. The double take when we saw the distinction of having the that a wonderful large screen ID 5801 is larger, with a 15.6- the amount of RAM — 8 GB most powerful GPU from cannot be incorporated into inch display and has a very is virtually unheard of on amongst all the notebooks here a small notebook. If you are sleek, contoured profile when desktops, let alone notebooks. barring the gaming laptops — shopping for a notebook viewed from the side owing to It has a nice surface finish and the NVIDIA GeForce GT130M priced at above Rs. 60,000 for the speaker being incorporated is well built and sturdy. Looks is a powerful solution and home use you are somewhat inside a casing that starts wise its very plain looking. we reckon this model can of a rare breed and of course from the top of the keypad Lack of shortcut keys and just as easily substitute for you expect a lot more as well and slopes upwards with a such prevent it from being too a gaming notebook. A fully — great components with the gentle curve till it runs into the usable. The Function key on the featured Media Centre remote possibility of customisation, a display. On a negative design outer portion of the keypad unit is also bundled and this great screen suitable for video note the bezel is wide and means any shortcuts involving works well in conjunction and gaming, support for HDMI looks ugly compared to the rest use of the Crtl key are going to with Windows Vista — a sweet in order to hook your notebook of this beauty. Finished in navy be a royal pain. The keys have addition and the unit itself is up to an HDTV. blue with chrome trimming she a slightly firm feedback; people pretty compact. This duo are miles apart is a beauty. Brawny too! – in used to squishy Sony keypad When it comes to value in terms of their personas every respect. A tank like build beware! one cannot deny the appeal of and also the user base they and great quality of materials However keypad feedback the solid Acer Aspire 5738G, will appeal to. Enter the Dell on the exterior coupled with is good as is a good mix of features, build Studio XPS 1640 — classy a fast Core 2 Duo processor, Gateway ID5801 the feel. The and performance for a down build quality including glossy 4 GB of RAM and an NVIDIA trackpad is to earth price — Rs. 40,999. It finished fibre and genuine GeForce G105M GPU mean the glossy and topped the Best Value charts in leather. It’s built like a tank and ID5801 has enough grunt to due to this segment and we’re duly has blatantly muscular looks. tackle anything, well almost this awarding it. HCLs Z39 is a little There is none of the loose anything. fingers too costly for the features on panels that custom assembled The keys are nicely laid tend to offer and its plain looks will put notebook assemblers (like out and the keypad feels stick on many people looking to spend Dell) are known for. Superb very comfortable the surface this much off. If you’re looking build quality and a superb to use. Key coating, at spending around Rs. 50,000 RGB-LED display as an option travel and meaning the Lenovo Y550 warrants along with high-performance feedback is tracking is not mention — great build quality components make the Studio also excellent accurate. The lack and powerful components, just XPS 1640 a standout in any albeit soft and we of a hard Bluetooth live with the mediocre colour crowd. Add to that a very well really liked its design. switch on this notebook combination used. designed pseudo-segregated The trackpad is very is a glaring omission. The keypad and dedicated ATi responsive and tracks quite Lenovo Y550 has a nice onyx Hih g -end Desktop graphics in the form of the accurately. The mouse buttons colour with a matte finish on replacements above Radeon 3670 and you have a feel a bit clicky. Shortcut keys the outer body but the inside Rs. 60,000: recipe capable of feeding nearly are red LED backlit and work is a glossy grey that is as Big bang, big bucks every want except one — the well, they’re also ultra legible. unappealing as the outer part is This is a category created hardcore gamer. The Lenovo The slot loading optical attractive. for high-end, non-compact Y650 is a very different beast drive has a neat eject button The trackpad is textured and — it’s very slim and compact on the edge of the notebook this imparts good feedback, for its massive 16-inch screen face. A shocking omission is the but tracking accuracy is not as and the notebook feels very exclusion of a dedicated Wi-Fi good as the best, courtesy Dell Studio xps 1640 light thanks to the use switch, although a keypad some much unwanted octo ber 2009 of carbon fibre in the shortcut does exist. Acer’s lag. The trackpad is also construction. The Aspire 5738G is identical in small and this may pose notebook is obviously terms of looks, to its siblings an issue for some people. meant for enthusiast in the previous category. The mouse buttons are multimedia users and Obviously this similarity is nice and large and soft to the integrated Blu-Ray only skin-deep and its innards press. The keypad feels writer is testament include a potent NVIDIA like hard rubber with solid to this. The graphics GeForce G105M and 4 GB feedback. Key spacing solution is also very of main memory. Once again is minimal and layout is respectable (NVIDIA the keypad is identical in look good, most people will GeForce GT 105M). A and feel, excellent! Like the be up and running with pity the screen doesn’t other Aspire notebooks the this keypad — we had no support a higher

64 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com SSD good or bad Despite their very high read and high Intel ULV CPUs write performance scores SSDs are still An acronym for ultra low voltage, Intel’s ULVs are Laptop test not as reliable as hard drives and when the latest darling of compact, slim, netbook-like heavily fragmented their performance notebooks. They offer reduced performance with drops drastically extra battery life

resolution like 1440 x 900 the gaming laptop — a rare and turbo mode. The screen and Clear Sky — especially pixels, but a measly 1366 x 768 breed but one that is slowly resolution is a little low for if you like playing at higher pixels is all you get. The screen catching on in India. Obviously a notebook in this category, resolutions. Priced at Rs. has good brightness levels and a gaming notebook needs we’d like a resolution of 1440 73,000 the MSI GX620X is a great colour. Viewing angles are to be powerful in every way x 900 pixels for this screen powerful gaming notebook better than the Y550. The outer since modern games are the size but all we got was 1280 for those looking for playing lid of the Y650 is textured and most demanding applications x 800 pixels. The trackpad slightly older, less taxing looks classy while the inside available so if a notebook can although smooth imparts a games at LAN parties and it is is a shockingly attractive pearl play games well, it’ll surely do very sticky feel to ones fingers reasonably portable. However, white. A media centre remote other software without even and this prevents comfortable if you are looking to play the unit and built in TV tuner adds breaking a sweat. use. The keypad is well laid latest games at high resolutions to the package. All in all a very out though and works well. please ignore this notebook. feature rich, powerful solution MSI GX620X When it comes to that is lightweight and slim Gaming on a budget performance especially gaming ASUS G50V despite its large screen. Speaker MSI’s GX620X comes. Decked performance the GX620X Can I play too? quality is very good (for a in fire engine red (on the lid is not exactly a heavy hitter, At first glance this looks a laptop) and the bass is pretty obviously because all it has little weird with its orange decent. The price will make under the hood is a GeForce bodywork. However, the body you flinch — Rs. 1,03,990 — 9600GT and we’re sorry to say is sculpted well and colour pretty steep and in our opinion that NVIDIAs mobility versions a little hard to justify, the of their desktop GPUs are not octo ber 2009 carbon fibre not withstanding. as powerful. Of course For this reason alone the Dell this is also the case Studio XPS 1640 gets the nod with ATi — those ahead of the Y650 — its more of you who think ASUS G50V powerful, and costs less with the same GPU in the configuration we received desktop and notebook amounting to Rs. 65,900 avatars will offer similar without taxes, add another Rs. performance, think 7,000 to 12,000 depending on again. So while you will which part of India you reside be able to play most in. Of course the Studio XPS games forget about the 1640 can be configured to cost latest games like Crysis well over a lakh with suitably powerful components — it all depends on what you want. It wins our Best Buy award for MSI GX620X its blend of style, performance and features. and the outer trim) and brushed black aluminium Gamin g Notebooks: on the palmrest; this is Identity Crysis? Crisis one good-looking bad Wars? boy. It’s heavy and owing The term ‘gaming notebook’ to the all-metal lid feels is kind of paradoxical simply extremely sturdy. This because in our opinion gaming colour scheme is much on a notebook is somewhat of a better than ASUS’ colour neutered thrill compared to the scheme that involves full experience of gaming on a orange — not the most high-end PC. After all, what can attractive of colours replace a fast Core i7 processor, though it sure looks loud. GeForce GTX 285 and 27-inch The GX620X doesn’t, LCD monitor? — Nothing really, rather it manages to not even a PS3 or an X360, and convey an air of class. if you’re a hardcore computer- It’s reasonably slim based gamer not even a gaming for a gaming notebook notebook. Obviously there is and looks sleek from a downfall — lugging around all angles. The lid has a huge cabinet, LCD monitor a magnetic closing and other paraphernalia is assembly that clicks shut not everyone’s cup of tea. with a nice positive feel. Portability matters to many The touch buttons look a people and LAN-party goers little too bright but work will give up processing grunt well. There is a touch key for something smaller. Enter for selecting between eco Laptop test Palm losing on Windows Microsoft woos students Mobile Microsoft offers college students Palm to stop making WinMo devices, Windows 7 Pro at Snow Leopard prices reports big loss until January 2010

aside the G50V looks good. at lower levels of detail. The should be sufficient Hinge build quality so-so. Open mighty Logitech MX518 mouse for most games. The her up and the screen is matte. is bundled with this notebook, 220-odd frames per Thankfully the resolution is of course its got ASUS branding second in Doom 3 and an ideal 1440 x 900 pixels; on it. You also get a funky octo ber 2009 45 frames per second ideal for a 15.4-inch notebook. bag, in fact the laptop ships in Crysis was enough The screen bezel is a little too inside the bag and not some to convince us that this thick and spoils the look while ugly carton. ASUS is obviously notebook can indeed be adding bulk. The keypad is neat selling this one marked to used by a gamer. And guess and similar in design to Dell gamers on the basis of its Alienware M17x what — this is Dells cheapest laptops with slight impressions exclusiveness, but at a price tag configuration for the Alienware on the top of each key for your of Rs. 1,15,000 the G50V is a display is really clear and M17x, which can be configured finger. The number keypad little to hard to swallow and its crisp with a high resolution of with dual GTX 280 GPUs — is a plus. The backlit, touch- going to take more than some 1920 x 1200 pixels. Viewing pretty mean. Sadly this won’t based buttons shortcut keys fancy lighting and packaging to angles are good. The integrated stand up to a really fast desktop work well and look nice. A blue make us even consider shelling speaker is one of the best we’ve in terms of performance but monochrome LCD displays out so much. seen on a notebook – good then if you want the best, certain system parameters bass, a great mid-range and fastest notebook out there and some might find this Alienware M17x extended highs. This notebook be prepared to shell out Rs. intrusive — thankfully it can be Totally clichéd but ‘here had the best speaker from this 1,39,000 for it or Rs. 2,25,000 disabled. The trackpad surface comes the game’ years bunch. for the highest configuration is good and has a nice blend This is the first Alienware The Alienware branding is — either way you won’t find as of feedback and tracking. And notebook we’ve laid our grubby boldly illuminated in pink, powerful a notebook. It wins best of all its pretty responsive, paws on this year and quite however some of us found this our Digit Best Performance our only grouse is that it’s frankly we’re impressed. Forget too feminine a colour for an award for the best gaming small. Of course the fact that about a weapon for gamers, the obviously masculine product. notebook around and the most it’s recessed into the body is M17x is a weapon incognito The keypad is well laid out powerful configuration. good since your palm or wrist — its amazingly sturdy and really good, suitable for will not accidently activate it construction and ponderous a lot of office work (not that A pple Notebooks: while using the keypad. All in bulk means it can be used to you would want to do that on Hi-yo Silver…away! all, it’s miles ahead of the MSI bludgeon just about any living this notebook anyway) and Apples notebooks are called GX620X’s trackpad. Viewing being to oblivion and that ergonomics is top class. The Macbooks for those who angles on the display are so-so includes a woolly mammoth! trackpad is a let down — it didn’t know. Not only do these although brightness levels are And it’s attractive looking too, lags and tracking accuracy is notebooks run Apples’ own pretty good. One of the USB with a black coloured, matte rubbish — really a shame and OS called “Leopard” or OS ports is placed on the rear — finish all over the body and the the only blemish on a near X but they’re pretty different good for USB printers and lid. The body is very thick; no perfect report card. compared to other Windows- such. The E-SATA and HDMI wonder given it’s innards. The This freak has got premium based notebooks. Whether ports are located conveniently front slopes forward giving it innards to go with its menacing this is good or bad depends and on the side. a very aggressive sports car profile — a quad core processor on whether you’re a fanboy The GeForce 9700M GPU bonnet like look and grilles — something unheard of for a or a hater. Needless to say our is reasonably powerful and will embedded into the front light notebook and not one, but two, Windows-based benchmarks play most games other than up with embedded red LEDs. GeForce GTX 260 GPUs in do not work with OS X, the more demanding ones The lid closes with a nice SLI. A massive 2 GB of GDDR3 however the hardware used by like Crysis and Clear Sky albeit positive snap. The 17-inch video memory (1 GB per card) these notebooks is the same. Gamin g: desktops or notebooks? ave you always worthy size without reducing Alienware M17x High-end PC wondered just how their performance. So a PC Mark05 good a gaming GeForce 9600GT graphics card Overall 8589 9783 notebook is at will be will be more powerful CPU Score 8059 9557 gaming?H We receive hundreds than a GeForce 9600GT M Memory Score 5496 6258 of mails a month from readers (for mobility) notebook Graphics Score 14086 13539 wanting to buy a notebook graphics solution. Just to see HDD 5308 5618 for gaming. We typically ask what happens we tested the 3D Mark 2006 CPU Score 3722 4623 them their budgets and if that Alienware M17x alongside a 3D Mark 2006 Overall Score 13637 15627 is anything under Rs. 75,000 powerful PC. Maxxon CineBench R10 (CPU Score) 9914 10967 (which it usually is) we suggest DivX Encode 7.0 (.VOB to .Divx) * 42 38.5 a desktop instead. If you’re one The PC specs were as File transfer Test (4 GB test file-sequential) (Sec) 23.94 34.68 of those readers, this is for you. follows: File transfer Test (4 GB test file-assorted) (Sec) 20.96 25.13 It’s no mystery that gaming Intel Q9650 CPU, 2 x 2 GB Doom 3 (fps) (1024 x 768, Ultra Details) 220.4 260.4 notebooks are never going 1066 MHz DDR2 RAM, ZOTAC Company Of Heroes (Tales Of Valor) 103.9 167.3 to be as powerful as desktop GeForce GTX 285 GPU and 1 TB STALKER Clear Sky (1024 x 768, Max, DX10) 52.1 67.6 counterparts simply because its WD Black Edition HDD. Crysis (1024 x 768, DX10, medium detail) 45 50 not possible to shrink powerful Here are the scores: * Less is better components to a notebook-

66 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com T oshiba’s new notebook beast Snow Leopard on the hunt Laptop test Toshiba recently launched their 500 GB, Snow Leopard outsells predecessors in 7,200 rpm notebook 2.5-inch drive opening weeks of availability

People who use Apple-based performance available. Whether NVIDIA’s GeForce 9400M go against Apples products are mainly designers it is the anaemic components integrated video solution design ethos but and image-editing professionals or the lack of even a very basic that is acclaimed to be as we’re sure this can who swear by the usability, RJ45 connect and a mediocre powerful as many be improved. The interface and performance of screen the Macbook Air will not discrete second gripe is the gap these products. However, this impress anyone not looking for graphics between USB ports — it’s doesn’t mean someone wanting superficiality. And that’s what solutions. One too small and if you use a regular notebook cannot it is — a superficial gem and of the only gripes a USB drive with a wide priced at Rs. 1,12000, it doesn’t with the Macbook body the adjacent USB buy a Macbook. There are a Apple Macbook Air few people in office who use deliver as expected. Pro 13-inch in port becomes unusable Macbooks and quite frankly All the Macbook Pros comparison to — this is unforgivable they’re as usable as a regular look sleek as well, remember the others is the placement especially given that these notebook. Obviously a few they come in three sizes — of the speakers — behind the notebooks have the space for shortcut keys differ and the 13.3-inches, 15.4-inches and notebook under the hinge as four well spaced out ports. The interface is unique, but the 17-inches. The all-aluminium opposed to on either side of the Macbook Pro 17-inch is the learning curve is relatively flat body and the super slim keypad — this causes a decrease only one with three ports while — Macbooks are designed to profile means they just attract in sound volume and clarity. the others have two each. The be pretty idiot-proof. An added attention in any company. The Apples segregated keypad is a 17 and 15.4-inch Macbook Pros advantage (and kudos to Apple 17-inch and 15-inch models little cumbersome at first, but have identical hardware but for including this) is BootCamp are as slim as the amazing once you get the hang the 17-inch model has a higher — an addition to the of using it. The keys are soft but screen resolution (1920 x 1200 Leopard OS that not squishy and key feedback pixels). The ability to switch allows Windows XP is decent. The adjustable between the integrated NVIDIA to be installed in a backlighting is a little excessive GeForce 9400M and the dual boot. but it gets the job done. When discrete GeForce 9600GT is a octo ber 2009 The Macbook Air is one sees the display quality, plus since you get more battery unique at first glance. brightness and resolution on life with the former and greater Designed to be really slim the 15-inch Macbook Pro the performance with the latter. and sleek and lightweight 13-inch doesn’t look so hot In terms of performance the Macbook Air is built anymore. The 15.4-inch model none of the Macbook Pros are like a tank courtesy its all has a beautiful display that slouches and the two larger aluminium structure appears at least 15 per cent models have very powerful which is built out of Apple Macbook Pro 13 inch brighter and the resolution of processors. Given an identical

Contact Details Brand Company Name Phone no Web site Acer (Gateway) Acer India Pvt. Ltd +91-80-4070 8700 www.acer.co.in ASUS ASUS Technology Pvt. Ltd. +91-22–6766 8800 / 1-800-209 0365 www.asus.in MSI MSI India +91-11-4175 8808 http://in.msi.com/ Dell (Alienware) Dell India Pvt. Ltd. +91-80-2506 8026 / 1-800-425 4026 www.dell.co.in Sony Sony India 1-800-11-11-88 (Toll Free) www.sony.co.in HCL HCL Infosystems Ltd. +91-120-252 6518 hclstore.in HP HP India +91-124-441 7501 http://welcome.hp.com/country/in/en/welcome.html Apple Apple India +91-80-4140 9000 www.apple.co.in Lenovo Lenovo India 1-800-425 3353 www.lenovo.com/in a single piece of aluminium, 13-inch Macbook Pro — this 1440 x 900 pixels is ideal. The set of benchmarks we’re sure in fact this is something all gives them the appearance of keypad layout and spacing is these notebooks would be the latest Macbooks share, being even slimmer because identical across all the models as fast or faster than most therefore the term “unibody”. of the larger screen size. The — a good thing. Windows based notebooks out The Air is compact enough to 13-inch Macbook Pro is little We have two generic design there, but an apples to apples necessitate an external DVD more than a 13-inch unibody gripes with Apple and this (pun!) comparison is just not RW drive and even the ports Macbook released in 2008 with applies to all three Macbook possible between them. What are minimal – no LAN port an SD slot and a permanent Pros. One (and we hope you’re we did notice was OS X seems and a single USB port located battery. That being said it’s an listening Apple) the edge of to be better when it comes on the under part of the body exceptionally well-built and the palmrest is sharp and this to hard drive usage and the accessible by lifting a small good-looking notebook. It has a starts to hurt the wrists after Macbook Pros were faster in the hood-like cover. As sleek and great screen, much better than 15 minutes of typing — sounds file copy tests when compared sexy as the Air is and the fact the display on the Macbook Air. like we’re nitpicking but this to Windows notebooks. that its storage subsystem is It also sports pretty powerful is, in fact, super annoying. If you’re looking to buy SSD based there’s very little components including Obviously a dull edge would an Apple based notebook we

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 67 Laptop test octo ber 2009

Apple Notebooks

Model Macbook Pro 13” Macbook Air Macbook Pro 15” Macbook Pro 17” Price Rs. 74,400 Rs. 1,12,000 Rs. 1,41,600 Rs. 1,57,400 Warranty 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year Plus (+) Exceptional build and Uber compact Superb build, great per- Superb build, great components formance and screen performance and screen Minus (-) Glossy screen All show, no go Pricey Pricey Grand Totals (Our of 100) 55.05 67.42 72.78 73.41 Features (Out of 50) 23.75 30.95 32.95 34.45 Performance (Out of 50) 31.30 36.47 39.83 38.96 Features Specifications Processor Model No / Processor Speed Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 / Intel Core 2 Duo / 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P9700 / Intel Core 2 Duo P9700 / 2.26 GHz 2.8 GHz 2.8 GHz RAM / RAM Type / Memory Speed 2 GB/ DDR3 / 1066 MHz 2 GB/ DDR3 / 1066 MHz 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 MHz 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 MHz Platform Chipset nVidia MCP79 nVidia MCP79 nVidia MCP79 nVidia MCP79 Graphics Solution / Dedicated Video Memory GeForce 9400M / - GeForce 9400M / - GeForce 9400M and GeForce 9400M and (in MB) 9600GT / 512 MB 9600GT / 512 MB HDD Size / Type 160 GB / SATA 128 GB / SATA (SSD) 500 GB / SATA 500 GB / SATA Optical Drive Type DVD RW N/A DVD RW DVD RW Bundled OS Mac OS X 10.5.6 Mac OS X 10.5.8 Mac OS X 10.5.8 Mac OS X 10.5.8 Characteristics Screen Size / Resolution 13.3 inches / 1280 x 800 13.3 inches / 1280 x 800 15.4 inches / 1440 x 900 17 inches / 1920 x 1200 (Native, in pixels) Weight 2.04 kg 1.36 kg 2.49 kg 3.1 kg No of Ports (USB / FireWire) 2, 1 1, 0 2, 1 3, 1 Connectivity: LAN / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi (Y / N) Y / Y / Y N / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Video ports: D-Sub / DVI / HDMI (Y / N) N / N / N N / N / N N / N / N N / N / N Audio Ports: (Mic / Line Out / S/PDIF) Y / Y / Y N / Y / N Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Memory Card Reader / Cards Supported Y / SD, MMC N / NA Y / SD, MMC Y / SD, MMC E-SATA (Y / N) / RJ11 Port N / N N / N N / N N / N Additonal Connects Mini Display Port Mini Display Port Mini Display Port Mini Display Port Build Quality (Body / Keypad / Lid, 9.5 / 8.25 / 8 9.5 / 8.25 / 7.5 9.5 / 8.25 / 8 9.5 / 8.25 / 8 movables) (So 10) Ergonomics Keypad Tactile Feedback / Key Layout & 8.25 / 7.5 / 4 8.25 / 7.5 / 3 8.25 / 7.5 / 4 8.25 / 7.5 / 4 Usability / Shortcut Keys (So 10) Biometrics Login (Y / N) N N N N Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / TouchPad On/Off N / N / N N / N / N N / N / N N / N / N dedicated button (Y / N) Performance Maxxon CineBench R10 CPU score 4968 3453 6152 6182 Display Mate Colour Accuracy (So 10) 7.5 6 7.5 7.5 Webcamera / Speaker Quality (So 10) 6 / 5.75 4 / 4.75 6 / 7 6 / 7 Battery Life Test (in Minutes) 305 218 278 221 HD Movie Viewing (So 10) 7 5.25 7.5 8.25 Wi-Fi file transfer (in MBps) 4.76 4.55 4.76 4.76 DivX Encode 7.0 (sec) * 59.6 97.4 39.2 39.7 Sequential / Assorted file transfer (in MBps) 33.82 / 27.27 38.49 / 36.53 36.57 / 28.52 37.57 / 28.96 * less is better

68 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com octo ber 2009 octo ber 2009

Gaming Notebooks

Brand ASUS Alienware MSI Model G50 M17x GX620X Price (Rupees) Rs. 1,15,000 Rs. 1,39,000 Rs. 73,000 Warranty (Years) 2 years 1 year 2 years Plus (+) Good config, reasonably port- Very powerful config Affordable gaming solution able Minus (-) Crysis scores Bulky, expensive Not future proof Grand Totals 63.03 79.70 54.78 Features (Out of 40) 28.10 29.37 23.78 Performance (Out of 60) 34.93 50.33 31.00 Features Component Specifications Processor Model No Core 2 Duo P8600 Intel Core 2 Extreme Q9300 Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 Processor Speed 2.4 GHz 2.5 GHz 2.26 GHz RAM / RAM Type / Memory Speed 4 GB / DDR2 / 800 MHz 4096 / DDR3 / 1066 MHz 4096 / DDR2 / 800 MHz Chipset PM45 nVidia MCP79 Intel PM45 Graphics Solution NVIDIA GeForce 9700M GT nVidia GeForce GTX 260M x 2 (SLI) Nvidia GeForce 9600GT Video Memory Type / Dedicated Video Memory Size GDDR3 / 512 MB GDDR3 / 1024 MB x 2 GDDR3 / 512 MB HDD Size / Type 320 GB, SATA 320 GB, SATA 320 GB, SATA Optical Drive Type DVD RW Bluray Reader/DVD RW DVD RW Bundled OS Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Windows Vista Home Premium Characteristics Screen Size 15.4 inches 17 inches 15.4 inches Screen Resolution (Native) 1440 x 900 pixels 1920 x 1200 pixels 1280 x 800 pixels Weight 3.3 kg 4.96 kg 2.7 kg No of Ports (USB / FireWire) 4, 1 4, 1 3, 1 Connectivity: LAN / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi (Y / N) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Video ports: D-Sub / DVI / HDMI (Y / N) Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Memory Card Reader (Y/N) Y Y Y E-SATA (Y / N) Y Y N Type of Memory Cards Supported SD, MMC, xD, MS Pro SD, MMC, xD, MS Pro SD, MMC, xD, MS Pro Inbuilt Webcam (Y / N) Y, 2 MP Y Y RJ11 (Y / N) N N Y Additonal connects - Display Port, 2 x headphone out Surround out Extra Accessories provided ASUS gaming mouse (MX518) - Gaming bag Build Quality: Body / Keypad / Lid, movables (So 10) 7.5 / 7.5 / 6.75 8.5 / 8.5 / 8.75 7.5 / 6.5 / 7 Ergonomics Keypad Tactile Feedback / Key Layout & Usability / Shortcut 7.75 / 8 / 6.75 8.5 / 8.25 / 7.5 7.25 / 7.5 / 6.25 Keys (So 10) Biometrics Login (Y/N) N N N Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / TouchPad On/Off Switch or Button (Y/N) Y / N / Y Y / N / N N / N / N Performance PC Mark05 Overall 6426 8589 5673 CPU Score / Memory Score 6126 / 5133 8059 / 5496 5839 / 5129 Graphics Score / HDD Score 7598 / 5342 14086 / 5308 6783 / 5352 SiSoft Sandra 2009 Pro Memory Bandwidth 5.39 Gbps 6 GBps 5.1 GBps 3D Mark 2006 (CPU Score / Overall Score) 2143 / 6656 3722 / 13637 2102 / 5638 Maxxon CineBench R10 (CPU Score) 4910 9914 4729 Display Mate Colour Accuracy Test (Avg) (So 10) 6.25 6.5 6.5 Battery Life Test (Minutes) 85 71 91 Webcam Quality / Speaker Quality / HD Movie Viewing (So 10) 6.5 / 6.5 / 6.5 7 / 8.75 / 8 6 / 6 / 6 DivX Encode 7.0 (.VOB to .Divx) (in seconds) * 57.2 42 66.3 File transfer Test (Sequential / Assorted) (in MBps) 25.30 / 20.22 23.93 / 20.96 23.34/ 18.50 WiFi Performance Test 7.0 (in Mbps) 41 48 39 Wi-Fi 100MB Assorted File Copy (in MBps) 5.56 7.69 4.55 Doom 3 / Company Of Heroes: Tales Of Valor (fps) 133.2 / 62.3 220.4 / 103.9 110.2 / 51.2 STALKER Clear Sky / Crysis (fps) 21.8 / 32 52.1 / 45 16.3 / 26 * Less is better

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 69 T he magic of RGB LEDs Laptop test Dell sued for $4 million Very few displays use RGB LED Dell paid $4 million to settle a dispute technology but the advantage is a colour pending since 2008 against them for gamut that approaches 100% of the deceptive business practices Adobe RGB colour space

How We Tested We segregated notebooks into from every conceivable angle reasons). A disk defragmenter Video Edition was used to the following categories and including the their hard drive was run on each notebook prior judge the quality and colour subcategories: size, type of optical drive, to testing and we used latest capabilities of each notebooks number of USB and FireWire versions of ATi and NVIDIA display. Finally Performance Desktop Replacements ports, video connects, memory display drivers. Test 7.0s inbuilt Wi-Fi test was a. Desktop replacements up to Rs. card reader, presence of E-SATA PC Mark Vantage and 3D used to judge the performance 40,000 and even their weight. We also Mark Vantage are a little too of the wireless component with b. Desktop replacements between rated the build quality of each taxing for many notebooks theoretical data transfers. We Rs. 40,001 and Rs. 60,000 notebook and the ergonomics, whose specifications are not hooked up a desktop PC using c. High-end desktop replacements layout and feel of the keypad. up to the latest desktop PC RJ45 connectivity to a wireless (above Rs. 60,000) The usability and tracking hardware so we used earlier router and used this to connect Ultra Compacts accuracy of the trackpad was versions. PC Mark05 is our to the each notebook for all a. Low power ultra compacts also rated. Presence of dedicated generic benchmark of choice wireless testing. b. Ultra compacts shortcut keys for common because it has one of the Our real world tests consisted functions like multimedia most complete benchmark of subjective tests for movie Corporate Notebooks controls, Wi-Fi on/off, Bluetooth suites from testing the hard watching, web camera quality Apple Notebooks and trackpad disable/enable was drive page file performance, and inbuilt speaker quality. DivX Gaming Notebooks also scored. to office related benchmarks, Encode 7.0 was used to encode These categories need no In terms of performance flash player performance, web a 100 MB .VOB file to DivX and explanations and four of them we ensured a clean install of page rendering, game and 3D this was used to test the CPUs are simply based on usage Windows Vista by uninstalling testing and application startup. encoding capabilities. Sequential patterns. We’d like to test Apple unnecessary software from these It has got to be one of the most and assorted tests were done for notebooks alongside other notebooks, but used the bundled comprehensive benchmarks judging the storage subsystems laptops but unfortunately most OS itself. So if a notebook came around. 3D Mark 2006 was performance. For gaming Windows based benchmarks we with Windows XP preinstalled, used to get an idea of the performance we used Doom use have no OS X counterparts we used that. System Restore graphics and CPU subsystems 3, one of the most scalable meaning an apples to apples and indexing were disabled performance. SiSoft Sandra and hardware sensitive games (pardon the pun!) comparison before testing. All battery saving 2009 Pro was used to get an around. For gaming notebooks just wasn’t possible. features were disabled and the idea of memory bandwidth. we also used three other newer In terms of features we looked notebook connected to the CineBench R10 gives a good games – Crysis, S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear at and graded these notebooks mains at all times except during indication of a CPUs rendering Sky and Company Of Heroes: the battery test (for obvious performance. DisplayMate Tales Of Valor.

compact, since businessmen comes with a complete backup name suggest (i.e. Elite is higher on the go like to travel light. and recovery suite from HP than Pro) the 2530P is meant Something that’s rugged and meaning your data is always for the corporate with deeper not too flashy — businessmen safe. It’s got a very mediocre pockets. It’s even smaller want productivity and usability display in terms of colour and with a 12.1-inch display. The more than pizzazz. Obviously while businessmen don’t need lid has a brushed aluminium performance, since time is a colour accuracy and contrast finish and this goes well with luxury few corporate users have. it would be nice to have a the grey-black body. The Backup software and other slightly better screen. The notebook is quite compact office productivity related tools trackpad works well and the but feels sturdy. HP states are a must as well since the Wi-Fi shortcut switch is usable. the use of certain materials Apple Macbook Pro 15-inch key to effective productivity is To be honest this ones price that increase reliability even prevention of delays. Therefore a surprised us — we expected it to in dusty conditions and this recommend the Macbook Pro good business notebook should be well in excess of Rs. 50,000 notebook is built to withstand 13-inch priced at Rs. 74,400 have all these features. but HP makes it available for as wider variations in temperature. — good value for money and a The four corporate- little as Rs. 40,000 — a Their DriveGuard very well built, great looking oriented products we received solid buy for someone technology that piece of equipment. If you want certainly seemed to meet looking at a solidly protects the hard something really powerful all the parameters set. HPs built, compact, no frills drive in case of a we recommend the Apple ProBook 4410S was the first notebook. sudden impact is Macbook Pro 15.4-inch — class- candidate up for test. It’s got a The octo ber 2009 also incorporated leading hardware and sublime nice textured finish on the lid other HP on this model. The looks and built, though its and the dull maroon colour is notebook processor is an Intel pricey at Rs. 1,41,600. really smart looking. Inside the was an SU9300 — this series is notebook is a mix of glossy and EliteBook known for its ultra low B usiness Notebooks: matte black. It’s compact and 2530P. power consumption. An Tie and Suit, light but a little on the thick As the IBM-style track point is also ready to boot side. The keypad is segregated included although to be with a little less spacing that honest hardly anyone uses We’ve often asked ourselves what Sony uses and owing to one these days. The trackpad — what makes a business this the keypad is more usable is small but works well and notebook? Obviously something — a solid plus for HP. The 4410S tracking is accurate and lag HP ProBook 4410S

70 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Fastest SSDs on earth Pliant technologies, a little known Targeting the no-man’s land between netbooks Laptop test manufacturer Drops Bombshell and notebooks the AMD Neo CPU along with ATi “Lightning” SSD With 180k IOPS, graphics allows for a powerful solution with a very 500/320 MB/s Read/Writes slim and compact footprint

VGN-Z48GD — the echelon spaced keys. The trackpad is of upwardly mobile in Sony’s also small and a little cramped books. Their ‘Z’ series are but tracking is good. Still you hardcore business notebooks will want to invest in a wireless — sleek, feature-rich and mouse to get the best out of expensive. The Z48GD has this notebook. 256 GB worth of SSD under In terms of performance this the hood. And that’s not all, notebooks storage subsystem further inspection revealed blows everything else away, two SSD drives of 128 GB each as expected with the striped configured in RAID 0. We SSD drives. It also has a very figure these drives themselves powerful 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo would cost Rs. 50,000 if not (P9700) processor and this, more. On the outside the coupled with 6 GB of RAM Z48GD is ultra slim and really and a 64-bit OS (necessary light. The display used is a to address more than 4 GB WLED and the lid is very slim of RAM) makes the Z48GD as a result. Since it looks much a potent performer in a smaller than the HP 4410S we diminutive package. A real were surprised to see it had a pocket rocket, and priced display as large as 13.1-inches. likewise too — Rs. 1,49,900 is The body is built of carbon not cheap; but then this level fibre — rugged although there is of pedigree rarely is. It’s our noticeable flex. We’re told this Best Performer award winner on is normal and doesn’t affect account of it’s superb all round durability in the least. Even the performance. lid seems flexible and we were initially concerned about its free. The keypad is use it long enough flex leading to damage of the Sony Vaio VGN-Z48GD well designed and the keys you will get accustomed display. Sony reassured us that are excellently spaced. A small to it; but the two days over this sort of flex is intentional octo ber 2009 fingerprint scanner is provided which we used this notebook as using hard material for the on the right side of the had us running for cover. lid cover would actually risk palmrest to allow biometrics- There are five usability modes cracking of the LED-based LCD based login. The tested battery activated via five shortcut keys. inside. This is because LED- life is good — just over four These usability modes change backlit LCDs are apparently hours — enough to keep you the operating environment much slimmer than regular productive over most domestic according to your needs and LCDs and therefore prone to flights. Priced at Rs. 99,000 the application shortcuts damage i.e. cracking. plus tax the EliteBook 2530P available in each mode can be But wouldn’t is expensive, but those who configured. flexing the lid also appreciate its subtle talents will The Core 2 Duo P8700 and lead to cracking shell out. Radeon HD 4570 are both of the display inside? The Sony Vaio SR46GD pretty powerful solutions. Oh well, we couldn’t get is Sony’s answer to the The Wi-Fi switch is very answers for everything. The businessman wanting conveniently located and famous Sony Stamina Mode is something on a shoestring, if the activity indicators on present and can be used at the Rs. 74,900 can be considered a the notebook are optimally flick of a toggle switch. This shoestring. However, this is as positioned — Sony has their allows shifting between stamina Ultra Compact low as they corporate series of ergonomics spot on. The and performance modes which Laptops: notebooks is likely to be priced. trackpad is accurate but there is internally switches between He ain’t heavy, he’s my The SR46GD is heavier than slight lag, however the tracking Intel integrated graphics and ultra compact! its sibling and the entire body surface is well designed and NVIDIAs GeForce 9300M is made of some fibre-based doesn’t slip or grip too much. giving you either extended By definition an ultra compact compound that isn’t rigid. It’s a If its features appeal to you and battery life or more video notebook is one that is good-looking notebook based you cannot spend any more performance. Unlike its lightweight and small. This on the attractive cylindrical than 74,900 this is a decent buy earlier avatars that required a necessitates a small screen size; design (Sony speak for the and certainly looks a little more Windows restart this version of not more than 13.3-inches. circular section connecting the upmarket than the HP 4410S, Stamina Mode makes do with Anything smaller than base and the lid). The keys are understandable really since it just shutting down all running 11.1-inches and it becomes a not well designed at all and the costs nearly double. applications and switching netbook. Of course an ultra gap between keys is too much If you are looking for modes causes your screen compact notebook can also and the keys themselves too something really classy to blank out momentarily as be a business notebook, since small. In fact this is one of the however, and don’t mind the graphics adapter changes. the very term ultra compact worst designed keypads we’ve shelling out big (really big!) Sadly the keypad is still a pain is generic and doesn’t specify come across. Obviously if you then check out the Sony Vaio to work with thanks to tiny, ill suitability to a particular

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 71 Laptop test

octo ber 2009 Desktop Replacements up to Rs. 40,000

Brand Acer Acer ASUS Acer ASUS ASUS Acer Model Aspire 5536 Aspire 5738Z K50IJ Aspire 4736 F82Q K40IJ Aspire 5810T Price Rs. 29,099 Rs. 30,999 Rs. 33,900 Rs. 34,599 Rs. 36,990 Rs. 36,990 Rs. 38,401 Warranty 1 year 1 year 2 years 1 year 2 years 2 years 1 year Plus (+) Looks good Looks good Good CPU Compact and powerful Built well Built well, looks good Really sleek, built well Minus (-) Keypad build Keypad build horrible trackpad weak graphics Weak CPU Horrible trackpad CPU weak Grand Totals (Out of 100) 54.46 58.83 52.83 52.10 51.60 52.77 54.90 Features (Out of 55) 36.62 40.91 33.77 35.52 34.93 33.99 38.65 Performance (Out of 45) 17.84 17.93 19.06 16.58 16.67 18.78 16.24 Features Specifications Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Intel Dual Core T4200 Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 / Intel Core 2 Solo U3500 / Processor Model No / Processor Speed AMD Athlon X2 QL-64 / 2.1 GHz Intel Dual Core T4200 / 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz / 2 GHz / 2 GHz 2.1 GHz 1.4 GHz RAM / RAM Type / Memory Speed 2 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 2 GB / DDR2 / 800 MHz 4 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 3 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 3 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 4 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 3 GB / DDR3 / 800 MHz Platform Chipset AMD M780/K11 Intel GL40 Intel PM45 Intel GM45 Intel GL40 Intel GL40 Intel GS45 Graphics Solution / Dedicated Video Memory Radeon HD 3200 / 256 MB Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - HDD Size / Type 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA Optical Drive Type DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW Bundled OS Vista Home Basic Vista Home Premium Vista Home Basic Vista Home Premium Windows XP Home Vista Home Basic Vista Home Premium Characteristics Screen Size / Resolution (Native, in pixels) 15.6 inches / 1366 x 768 15.6 inches / 1366 x 768 15.4 inches / 1366 x 768 14 inches / 1366 x 768 14.1 inches / 1366 x 768 14 inches / 1366 x 768 15.6 inches / 1366 x 768 Weight 2.8 kg 2.8 kg 2.6 kg 2.3 kg 2.59 kg 2.36 kg 2.4 kg No of Ports (USB / FireWire) 4, 0 4, 0 4, 0 3, 0 3, 0 4, 0 3, 0 Connectivity: (LAN / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Video ports: D-Sub / DVI / HDMI (Y / N) Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / N Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / N Y / N / Y Audio Ports: Mic / Line Out / S/PDIF (Y / N) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / N Y / Y / Y Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Memory Card Reader / Cards Supported Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD E -SAta (Y / N) / RJ11 Port N / Y N / Y / N N / Y N / N N / N N / N Additonal Connects - - NA - - - - Build Quality (Body / Keypad / Lid, movables) (So 10) 6 / 4.75 / 7 6 / 4.75 / 7 7 / 6.5 / 6.5 6 / 4.75 / 7 7 / 6.5 / 6.5 7 / 6.5 / 6.5 8.25 / 6.5 / 8.25 Ergonomics Keypad Tactile Feedback / Key Layout & Usability / Shortcut Keys (So 10) 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 7.5 / 7.25 / 3.5 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 7.5 / 7.25 / 3.5 7.5 / 7.75 / 3.5 8 / 8 / 6 Biometrics Login (Y / N) N Y N N N N N Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / TouchPad On/Off dedicated button (Y / N) N / N / N N / Y / Y N / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N N / N / N Y / N / Y Performance Synthetic Scores PC Mark05 Overall 3690 3139 4571 4210 3712 4571 2099 PC Mark05 CPU Score / Memory Score 4131 / 2892 2848 / 3087 5048 / 4191 4803 / 4147 5093 / 4117 5060 / 4174 2453 / 3258 PC Mark05 Graphics Score / HDD Score 2092 / 4178 1441 / 5412 1990 / 5384 1991 / 5015 1215 / 4764 2012 / 5066 992 / 4733 SiSoft Sandra 2009 Pro Memory bandwidth 4 GBps 3.8 GBps 4.44 GBps 4.13 GBps 4.32 GBps 4.41 GBps 4.13 GBps 3D Mark 2006 (CPU Score / Overall Score) 1485 / 1261 1012 / 590 1694 / 859 1665 / 744 992 / 564 1767 / 866 657 / 602 Maxxon CineBench R10 CPU score 3227 2403 4067 4075 3900 4292 1514 Display Mate Colour Accuracy (So 10) 5.25 5.25 5.5 5.25 5.75 3.75 5 Wi-Fi Performance Test 7.0 (in Mbps) 57 56 57 35 32 60 36 R eal World Tests Battery Life Test (in Minutes) 108 227 239 107 226 228 273 Webcamera / Speaker Quality (So 10) 6 / 5.5 6 / 5.5 3.5 / 4 5.75 / 4.25 4 / 3.5 4 / 3.5 5.5 / 4.5 HD Movie Viewing (So 10) 6.5 6.25 3.75 5.75 4.25 4.5 5.5 Wi-Fi file transfer (inM Bps) 8.33 7.69 7.69 5.26 3.33 8.33 5.00 DivX Encode 7.0 (sec) * 98.3 111.4 70.6 71.53 72.4 95.6 153 S equential / Assorted file transfer (inM Bps) 20.33 / 16.10 19.57 / 17.45 19.98 / 19.59 16.68 / 16.50 19.15 / 17.56 20.30 / 17.17 21.64 / 20.31 Doom 3 (fps) 35.9 8.2 13.6 18.4 17.3 14.1 12.7 * less is better

74 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com www.thinkdigit.com/d/pmp_test Laptop test

Desktop Replacements up to Rs. 40,000

Brand Acer Acer ASUS Acer ASUS ASUS Acer Model Aspire 5536 Aspire 5738Z K50IJ Aspire 4736 F82Q K40IJ Aspire 5810T Price Rs. 29,099 Rs. 30,999 Rs. 33,900 Rs. 34,599 Rs. 36,990 Rs. 36,990 Rs. 38,401 Warranty 1 year 1 year 2 years 1 year 2 years 2 years 1 year Plus (+) Looks good Looks good Good CPU Compact and powerful Built well Built well, looks good Really sleek, built well Minus (-) Keypad build Keypad build horrible trackpad weak graphics Weak CPU Horrible trackpad CPU weak Grand Totals (Out of 100) 54.46 58.83 52.83 52.10 51.60 52.77 54.90 Features (Out of 55) 36.62 40.91 33.77 35.52 34.93 33.99 38.65 Performance (Out of 45) 17.84 17.93 19.06 16.58 16.67 18.78 16.24 Features Specifications Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 Intel Dual Core T4200 Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 / Intel Core 2 Solo U3500 / Processor Model No / Processor Speed AMD Athlon X2 QL-64 / 2.1 GHz Intel Dual Core T4200 / 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz / 2 GHz / 2 GHz 2.1 GHz 1.4 GHz RAM / RAM Type / Memory Speed 2 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 2 GB / DDR2 / 800 MHz 4 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 3 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 3 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 4 GB / DDR2 / 667 MHz 3 GB / DDR3 / 800 MHz Platform Chipset AMD M780/K11 Intel GL40 Intel PM45 Intel GM45 Intel GL40 Intel GL40 Intel GS45 Graphics Solution / Dedicated Video Memory Radeon HD 3200 / 256 MB Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - HDD Size / Type 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA Optical Drive Type DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW Bundled OS Vista Home Basic Vista Home Premium Vista Home Basic Vista Home Premium Windows XP Home Vista Home Basic Vista Home Premium Characteristics Screen Size / Resolution (Native, in pixels) 15.6 inches / 1366 x 768 15.6 inches / 1366 x 768 15.4 inches / 1366 x 768 14 inches / 1366 x 768 14.1 inches / 1366 x 768 14 inches / 1366 x 768 15.6 inches / 1366 x 768 Weight 2.8 kg 2.8 kg 2.6 kg 2.3 kg 2.59 kg 2.36 kg 2.4 kg No of Ports (USB / FireWire) 4, 0 4, 0 4, 0 3, 0 3, 0 4, 0 3, 0 Connectivity: (LAN / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Video ports: D-Sub / DVI / HDMI (Y / N) Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / N Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / N Y / N / Y Audio Ports: Mic / Line Out / S/PDIF (Y / N) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / N Y / Y / Y Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Memory Card Reader / Cards Supported Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD E-SATA (Y / N) / RJ11 Port N / Y N / Y / N N / Y N / N N / N N / N Additonal Connects - - NA - - - - Build Quality (Body / Keypad / Lid, movables) (So 10) 6 / 4.75 / 7 6 / 4.75 / 7 7 / 6.5 / 6.5 6 / 4.75 / 7 7 / 6.5 / 6.5 7 / 6.5 / 6.5 8.25 / 6.5 / 8.25 Ergonomics Keypad Tactile Feedback / Key Layout & Usability / Shortcut Keys (So 10) 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 7.5 / 7.25 / 3.5 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 7.5 / 7.25 / 3.5 7.5 / 7.75 / 3.5 8 / 8 / 6 Biometrics Login (Y / N) N Y N N N N N Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / TouchPad On/Off dedicated button (Y / N) N / N / N N / Y / Y N / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N N / N / N Y / N / Y Performance Synthetic Scores PC Mark05 Overall 3690 3139 4571 4210 3712 4571 2099 PC Mark05 CPU Score / Memory Score 4131 / 2892 2848 / 3087 5048 / 4191 4803 / 4147 5093 / 4117 5060 / 4174 2453 / 3258 PC Mark05 Graphics Score / HDD Score 2092 / 4178 1441 / 5412 1990 / 5384 1991 / 5015 1215 / 4764 2012 / 5066 992 / 4733 SiSoft Sandra 2009 Pro Memory bandwidth 4 GBps 3.8 GBps 4.44 GBps 4.13 GBps 4.32 GBps 4.41 GBps 4.13 GBps 3D Mark 2006 (CPU Score / Overall Score) 1485 / 1261 1012 / 590 1694 / 859 1665 / 744 992 / 564 1767 / 866 657 / 602 Maxxon CineBench R10 CPU score 3227 2403 4067 4075 3900 4292 1514 Display Mate Colour Accuracy (So 10) 5.25 5.25 5.5 5.25 5.75 3.75 5 Wi-Fi Performance Test 7.0 (in Mbps) 57 56 57 35 32 60 36 Real World Tests Battery Life Test (in Minutes) 108 227 239 107 226 228 273 Webcamera / Speaker Quality (So 10) 6 / 5.5 6 / 5.5 3.5 / 4 5.75 / 4.25 4 / 3.5 4 / 3.5 5.5 / 4.5 HD Movie Viewing (So 10) 6.5 6.25 3.75 5.75 4.25 4.5 5.5 Wi-Fi file transfer (in MBps) 8.33 7.69 7.69 5.26 3.33 8.33 5.00 DivX Encode 7.0 (sec) * 98.3 111.4 70.6 71.53 72.4 95.6 153 Sequential / Assorted file transfer (in MBps) 20.33 / 16.10 19.57 / 17.45 19.98 / 19.59 16.68 / 16.50 19.15 / 17.56 20.30 / 17.17 21.64 / 20.31 Doom 3 (fps) 35.9 8.2 13.6 18.4 17.3 14.1 12.7 * less is better

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 75 Laptop test

octo ber 2009 octo ber 2009 Desktop Replacements between Rs. 40,001 and Rs. 60,000 High-end desktop replacements Low power ultra compacts Ultra compacts

Brand Acer Gateway Gateway Lenovo HCL Dell Lenovo Acer MSI ASUS Dell Dell ASUS Model Aspire 5738G NV48 ID 5801 IdeaPad Y550 Z39 Studio XPS 1640 IdeaPad Y650 Aspire 3810T X400 UX30 Adamo Studio XPS 1340 U6 Bamboo Price Rs. 40,999 Rs. 42,999 Rs. 49,999 Rs. 50,990 Rs. 59,990 Rs. 65,900 Rs. 1,03,990 Rs. 31,999 Rs. 40,000 Rs. 56,000 Rs. 1,15,000 Rs. 59,900 Rs. 98,990 Warranty 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 2 years 2 years 1 year 1 year 2 years Plus (+) Good components looks good, built Very well built Powerful graphics Lots of RAM Superb build quality Sleek, slim, feature rich Very sleek, built well Lightweight Good looks, compact Sublime build quality Very well built, powerful Powerful and well solution and components compact Minus (-) build quality of Slightly expensive Lacks shortcut keys poor viewing angles expensive Slightly bulky Overpriced None in particular Low performance Weak config Expensive None in particular Bamboo? keypad and ergonomics Grand Totals (Out of 100) 60.62 53.79 57.06 58.54 49.90 63.51 57.76 54.40 44.16 48.08 43.53 58.48 58.43 Features (Out of 55) 41.15 36.73 37.84 36.48 32.71 39.31 36.36 37.66 29.25 32.45 28.67 37.66 40.25 Performance (Out of 45) 19.46 17.07 19.22 22.06 17.19 24.20 21.41 16.73 14.91 15.63 14.86 20.82 18.19 Features Specifications Processor Model No / Processor Speed Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 / Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 / Intel Core 2 Solo U3500 Intel Core 2 Solo Core 2 Solo U3500 / Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 / Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz T6400 / 2 GHz T6400 / 2 GHz T6600 / 2.2 GHz Duo T6400 / 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz / 1.4 GHz U3500 / 1.4 GHz 1.4 GHz SU9300 / 1.2 GHz 2.4 GHz P8400 / 2.26 GHz 2 GHz RAM / RAM Type / Memory Speed (MHz) 4 GB / DDR3 / 800 3 GB / DDR2 / 667 4 GB / DDR3 / 800 4 GB / DDR3 / 800 8 GB / DDR2 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 2 GB / DDR3 / 800 2 GB / DDR2 / N/A 4 GB/ DDR2 / 800 2 GB/ DDR3 / 800 4 GB/ DDR3 / 1066 4 GB/ DDR2 / 800 / 800 Platform Chipset Intel PM45 Intel GM45 Intel PM45 Intel PM45 Intel GM45 Intel PM45 Intel PM45 Intel GS45 Intel GS45 Intel GS45 Intel GS45 nVidia GeForce 9400M G Intel PM45

Graphics Solution / Dedicated Video GeForce G105M Intel GMA 4xxx / - GeForce G105M / - GeForce GT 130M Intel GMA Radeon HD 3670 / 512 GeForce GT 105M / 256 Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - GeForce 9400M GT / 256 GeForce 9300M GS Memory (in MB) / 512 / 512 4xxx / - MB / 256 HDD Size / Type 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 500 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 250 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 500 GB / SATA 128 GB / SATA (SSD) 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA Optical Drive Type DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW Blu-ray Writer/DVD RW N/A N/A N/A N/A DVD RW DVD RW

Bundled OS Vista Home Pre- Vista Home Vista Home Premium Vista Home Pre- Vista Business Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Basic Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium mium Premium mium 64-bit Characteristics Screen Size (Inches) / Resolution (Native, 15.6 / 1366 x 768 14 / 1366 x 768 15.6 / 1366 x 768 15.6 / 1366 x 768 14.1 / 1280 x 15.6 / 1920 x 1080 16 / 1366 x 768 13.3 / 1366 x 768 14 / 1366 x 768 14 / 1366 x 768 13.4 / 1366 x 768 13.3 / 1280 x 800 12.1 / 1280 x 800 in pixels) 800 Weight 2.8 kg 2.33 kg 3 kg 2.75 kg 2.35 kg 2.91 kg 2.54 kg 1.6 kg 1.5 kg 1.39 kg 2.49 kg 2.2 kg 1.57 kg No of Ports (USB / FireWire) 4, 0 3, 0 3, 0 3, 1 3, 0 3, 1 2, 0 3, 0 2, 0 3, 0 3, 0 2, 1 3, 0 C onnectivity: LAN / Bluetooth / WiFi (Y / N) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / N / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Video ports: D-Sub / DVI / HDMI (Y / N) Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / N Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y N / N / Y N / N / N Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Audio Ports: (Mic / Line Out / S/PDIF) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N N / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y Memory Card Reader / Cards Supported Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD N / NA Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD MS Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD E -SAta (Y / N) / RJ11 Port / Y N / N Y / N N / N N / N Y / N Y / N / N N / N N / N N / N Y / N Y / Y Additonal Connects NA - - NA - Display Port NA - - - Display Port Display Port NA Build Quality (Body / Keypad / Lid, mova- 6.75 / 4.75 / 7 7 / 6.75 / 7 8.5 / 7 / 8 7.25 / 6.5 / 5.75 6.75 / 6.75 8 / 8 / 8.25 8.25 / 6.5 / 6 8.25 / 6.5 / 8.25 4.75 / 5.25 / 6 6.75 / 6.5 / 7 9.25 / 7 / 9.25 8 / 8 / 8.25 6.5 / 6.5 / 5.75 bles) (So 10) / 6.5 Ergonomics Keypad Tactile Feedback / Key Layout & 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.75 7.5 / 7.25 / 6.75 6 / 7.5 / 5 7 / 6.5 / 2.5 7.75 / 7.25 / 6.5 6 / 7.5 / 5 8 / 8 / 6 5.75 / 5.75 / 3.5 7 / 5.5 / 4.5 6 / 7 / 3.5 7.75 / 7.25 / 6.5 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.75 Usability / Shortcut Keys (So 10) Biometrics Login (Y / N) Y N N Y (face recog N N Y (face recog software) N N N N N Y software) Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / TouchPad On/Off N / Y / Y Y / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / Y N / N / N N / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / N dedicated button (Y / N) Performance Synthetic Scores PC Mark05 Overall 4953 4375 4019 5901 4593 6241 5549 2254 2135 2269 3725 5856 5260 PC Mark05 CPU Score / Memory Score 5018 / 4274 4989 / 4113 4105 / 3674 5523 / 4473 5044 / 4208 6002 / 5146 6110 / 5170 2457 / 3312 2443 / 3346 2441 / 3354 3173 / 3376 5795 / 4957 5784 / 4986 PC Mark05 Graphics Score / HDD 3606 / 4926 1765 / 5423 2989 / 4448 7328 / 4687 2333 / 5269 7448 / 5283 3907 / 4684 1039 / 5204 1156 / 4824 1043 / 5250 1430 / 12735 3562 / 5949 3188 / 4825 SiSoft Sandra 2009 Pro Memory band- 4.67 GBps 4.27 GBps 4.44 GBps 4.7 GBps 4.57 GBps 5.14 GBps 5.59 GBps 4.15 GBps 4.13 GBps 4.26 GBps 4.22 GBps 5.22 GBps 5.3 GBps width 3D Mark 2006 (CPU Score / Overall Score) 1791 / 2226 1692 / 800 1209 / 2146 1972 / 6496 1699 / 939 4442 / 2077 2133 / 2463 658 / 599 656 / 637 654 / 631 1038 / 642 2158 / 2179 1897 / 1800 Maxxon CineBench R10 CPU score 4084 4068 4093 4481 4086 4743 4939 1520 1516 1512 2501 4913 4656 Display Mate Colour Accuracy (So 10) 6.5 5.5 6 6.25 4.75 7 6.75 5 4 4.5 4.25 6.5 6 Wi-Fi Performance Test 7.0 (in Mbps) 36 37 35 33 35 36 30 31 37 36 30 39 37 R eal World Tests Battery Life Test (in Minutes) 94 145 156 129 167 101 90 328 286 276 131 108 110 Webcamera / Speaker Quality (So 10) 6.5 / 5.5 5.25 / 4.25 5.5 / 6 6.25 / 5.5 4 / 4 6.75 / 7.25 6.25 / 7.5 5.5 / 4.5 3 / 4.5 3.5 / 4.5 2.5 / 3 6.75 / 6.25 3 / 4.5 HD Movie Viewing (So 10) 6.75 4.25 6.75 5.5 4 7.75 7 4 4.75 5 2.5 4.5 3 Wi-Fi file transfer (inM Bps) 5.26 5.26 3.45 3.85 5.26 5.00 3.57 5.00 1.85 3.85 5.26 5.00 4.76 DivX Encode 7.0 (sec) * 67.1 69.3 104.8 62.5 67.9 57.5 56.1 155.2 155.1 151.2 103.8 53 61.1 S equential / Assorted file transfer (in 19.06/ 19.89 19.88/ 17.65 21.41/ 20.11 15.17 / 14.67 21.62 / 21.28 25.25 / 23.80 23.95/ 22.61 23.01 / 22.75 29.07 / 20.69 27.30 / 22.62 42.22 / 35.96 27.41 / 23.36 21.68 / 20.92 MBps) Doom 3 (fps) 76.1 18.1 116.5 150.1 16.8 137.3 115.3 8.6 9.8 11.1 8.8 68.5 66.6 * less is better

76 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Laptop test

octo ber 2009 octo ber 2009 Desktop Replacements between Rs. 40,001 and Rs. 60,000 High-end desktop replacements Low power ultra compacts Ultra compacts

Brand Acer Gateway Gateway Lenovo HCL Dell Lenovo Acer MSI ASUS Dell Dell ASUS Model Aspire 5738G NV48 ID 5801 IdeaPad Y550 Z39 Studio XPS 1640 IdeaPad Y650 Aspire 3810T X400 UX30 Adamo Studio XPS 1340 U6 Bamboo Price Rs. 40,999 Rs. 42,999 Rs. 49,999 Rs. 50,990 Rs. 59,990 Rs. 65,900 Rs. 1,03,990 Rs. 31,999 Rs. 40,000 Rs. 56,000 Rs. 1,15,000 Rs. 59,900 Rs. 98,990 Warranty 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year 2 years 2 years 1 year 1 year 2 years Plus (+) Good components looks good, built Very well built Powerful graphics Lots of RAM Superb build quality Sleek, slim, feature rich Very sleek, built well Lightweight Good looks, compact Sublime build quality Very well built, powerful Powerful and well solution and components compact Minus (-) build quality of Slightly expensive Lacks shortcut keys poor viewing angles expensive Slightly bulky Overpriced None in particular Low performance Weak config Expensive None in particular Bamboo? keypad and ergonomics Grand Totals (Out of 100) 60.62 53.79 57.06 58.54 49.90 63.51 57.76 54.40 44.16 48.08 43.53 58.48 58.43 Features (Out of 55) 41.15 36.73 37.84 36.48 32.71 39.31 36.36 37.66 29.25 32.45 28.67 37.66 40.25 Performance (Out of 45) 19.46 17.07 19.22 22.06 17.19 24.20 21.41 16.73 14.91 15.63 14.86 20.82 18.19 Features Specifications Processor Model No / Processor Speed Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 / Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 / Intel Core 2 Solo U3500 Intel Core 2 Solo Core 2 Solo U3500 / Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 / Intel Core 2 Duo T6400 / 2 GHz T6400 / 2 GHz T6400 / 2 GHz T6600 / 2.2 GHz Duo T6400 / 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz / 1.4 GHz U3500 / 1.4 GHz 1.4 GHz SU9300 / 1.2 GHz 2.4 GHz P8400 / 2.26 GHz 2 GHz RAM / RAM Type / Memory Speed (MHz) 4 GB / DDR3 / 800 3 GB / DDR2 / 667 4 GB / DDR3 / 800 4 GB / DDR3 / 800 8 GB / DDR2 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 4 GB / DDR3 / 1066 2 GB / DDR3 / 800 2 GB / DDR2 / N/A 4 GB/ DDR2 / 800 2 GB/ DDR3 / 800 4 GB/ DDR3 / 1066 4 GB/ DDR2 / 800 / 800 Platform Chipset Intel PM45 Intel GM45 Intel PM45 Intel PM45 Intel GM45 Intel PM45 Intel PM45 Intel GS45 Intel GS45 Intel GS45 Intel GS45 nVidia GeForce 9400M G Intel PM45

Graphics Solution / Dedicated Video GeForce G105M Intel GMA 4xxx / - GeForce G105M / - GeForce GT 130M Intel GMA Radeon HD 3670 / 512 GeForce GT 105M / 256 Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx / - GeForce 9400M GT / 256 GeForce 9300M GS Memory (in MB) / 512 / 512 4xxx / - MB / 256 HDD Size / Type 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 500 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 250 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 500 GB / SATA 128 GB / SATA (SSD) 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA Optical Drive Type DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW Blu-ray Writer/DVD RW N/A N/A N/A N/A DVD RW DVD RW

Bundled OS Vista Home Pre- Vista Home Vista Home Premium Vista Home Pre- Vista Business Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Basic Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium Vista Home Premium mium Premium mium 64-bit Characteristics Screen Size (Inches) / Resolution (Native, 15.6 / 1366 x 768 14 / 1366 x 768 15.6 / 1366 x 768 15.6 / 1366 x 768 14.1 / 1280 x 15.6 / 1920 x 1080 16 / 1366 x 768 13.3 / 1366 x 768 14 / 1366 x 768 14 / 1366 x 768 13.4 / 1366 x 768 13.3 / 1280 x 800 12.1 / 1280 x 800 in pixels) 800 Weight 2.8 kg 2.33 kg 3 kg 2.75 kg 2.35 kg 2.91 kg 2.54 kg 1.6 kg 1.5 kg 1.39 kg 2.49 kg 2.2 kg 1.57 kg No of Ports (USB / FireWire) 4, 0 3, 0 3, 0 3, 1 3, 0 3, 1 2, 0 3, 0 2, 0 3, 0 3, 0 2, 1 3, 0 Connectivity: LAN / Bluetooth / WiFi (Y / N) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / N / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Video ports: D-Sub / DVI / HDMI (Y / N) Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / N Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / Y N / N / Y N / N / N Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Audio Ports: (Mic / Line Out / S/PDIF) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N N / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y Memory Card Reader / Cards Supported Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD N / NA Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Y / SD, MMC, MS Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD MS Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD E-SATA (Y / N) / RJ11 Port / Y N / N Y / N N / N N / N Y / N Y / N / N N / N N / N N / N Y / N Y / Y Additonal Connects NA - - NA - Display Port NA - - - Display Port Display Port NA Build Quality (Body / Keypad / Lid, mova- 6.75 / 4.75 / 7 7 / 6.75 / 7 8.5 / 7 / 8 7.25 / 6.5 / 5.75 6.75 / 6.75 8 / 8 / 8.25 8.25 / 6.5 / 6 8.25 / 6.5 / 8.25 4.75 / 5.25 / 6 6.75 / 6.5 / 7 9.25 / 7 / 9.25 8 / 8 / 8.25 6.5 / 6.5 / 5.75 bles) (So 10) / 6.5 Ergonomics Keypad Tactile Feedback / Key Layout & 8.25 / 7.75 / 6.5 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.75 7.5 / 7.25 / 6.75 6 / 7.5 / 5 7 / 6.5 / 2.5 7.75 / 7.25 / 6.5 6 / 7.5 / 5 8 / 8 / 6 5.75 / 5.75 / 3.5 7 / 5.5 / 4.5 6 / 7 / 3.5 7.75 / 7.25 / 6.5 7.5 / 6.5 / 6.75 Usability / Shortcut Keys (So 10) Biometrics Login (Y / N) Y N N Y (face recog N N Y (face recog software) N N N N N Y software) Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / TouchPad On/Off N / Y / Y Y / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / Y N / N / N N / N / N N / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / N dedicated button (Y / N) Performance Synthetic Scores PC Mark05 Overall 4953 4375 4019 5901 4593 6241 5549 2254 2135 2269 3725 5856 5260 PC Mark05 CPU Score / Memory Score 5018 / 4274 4989 / 4113 4105 / 3674 5523 / 4473 5044 / 4208 6002 / 5146 6110 / 5170 2457 / 3312 2443 / 3346 2441 / 3354 3173 / 3376 5795 / 4957 5784 / 4986 PC Mark05 Graphics Score / HDD 3606 / 4926 1765 / 5423 2989 / 4448 7328 / 4687 2333 / 5269 7448 / 5283 3907 / 4684 1039 / 5204 1156 / 4824 1043 / 5250 1430 / 12735 3562 / 5949 3188 / 4825 SiSoft Sandra 2009 Pro Memory band- 4.67 GBps 4.27 GBps 4.44 GBps 4.7 GBps 4.57 GBps 5.14 GBps 5.59 GBps 4.15 GBps 4.13 GBps 4.26 GBps 4.22 GBps 5.22 GBps 5.3 GBps width 3D Mark 2006 (CPU Score / Overall Score) 1791 / 2226 1692 / 800 1209 / 2146 1972 / 6496 1699 / 939 4442 / 2077 2133 / 2463 658 / 599 656 / 637 654 / 631 1038 / 642 2158 / 2179 1897 / 1800 Maxxon CineBench R10 CPU score 4084 4068 4093 4481 4086 4743 4939 1520 1516 1512 2501 4913 4656 Display Mate Colour Accuracy (So 10) 6.5 5.5 6 6.25 4.75 7 6.75 5 4 4.5 4.25 6.5 6 Wi-Fi Performance Test 7.0 (in Mbps) 36 37 35 33 35 36 30 31 37 36 30 39 37 Real World Tests Battery Life Test (in Minutes) 94 145 156 129 167 101 90 328 286 276 131 108 110 Webcamera / Speaker Quality (So 10) 6.5 / 5.5 5.25 / 4.25 5.5 / 6 6.25 / 5.5 4 / 4 6.75 / 7.25 6.25 / 7.5 5.5 / 4.5 3 / 4.5 3.5 / 4.5 2.5 / 3 6.75 / 6.25 3 / 4.5 HD Movie Viewing (So 10) 6.75 4.25 6.75 5.5 4 7.75 7 4 4.75 5 2.5 4.5 3 Wi-Fi file transfer (in MBps) 5.26 5.26 3.45 3.85 5.26 5.00 3.57 5.00 1.85 3.85 5.26 5.00 4.76 DivX Encode 7.0 (sec) * 67.1 69.3 104.8 62.5 67.9 57.5 56.1 155.2 155.1 151.2 103.8 53 61.1 Sequential / Assorted file transfer (in 19.06/ 19.89 19.88/ 17.65 21.41/ 20.11 15.17 / 14.67 21.62 / 21.28 25.25 / 23.80 23.95/ 22.61 23.01 / 22.75 29.07 / 20.69 27.30 / 22.62 42.22 / 35.96 27.41 / 23.36 21.68 / 20.92 MBps) Doom 3 (fps) 76.1 18.1 116.5 150.1 16.8 137.3 115.3 8.6 9.8 11.1 8.8 68.5 66.6 * less is better

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 77 Laptop test octo ber 2009 octo ber 2009 audience. Therefore the Sony C orporate Notebooks Vaio VGN Z48GD is also an ultra compact notebook, but that’s not how Sony positions it. Therefore this category includes Brand HP Sony HP Sony a variety of laptops, some Model ProBook 4410S Vaio VGN-SR46GD EliteBook 2530P Vaio VGN-Z48GD with very difference intended Price Rs. 40,000 Rs. 74,900 Rs. 99,000 Rs. 1,49,900 uses and characteristics with Warranty 1 year 1 year 1 year 1 year only one thing in common — Plus (+) High-quality build Powerful CPU Compact Excellent configura- they’re easy to cart around. Of tion, ultra compact course the trade-off is generally Minus (-) lacks dedicated None in particular Overpriced Just the price graphics performance but that’s not Grand Totals (Out of 100) 53.40 58.46 47.78 65.37 always the case as some of the Features (Out of 55) 38.13 35.50 34.47 34.24 jousters in this tourney proved. Performance (Out of 45) 15.27 22.96 13.31 31.13 Dell Adamo Features Beauty is skin deep Specifications Dell’s offering is suitably Processor Model No / Processor Speed Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Intel Core 2 Duo (MHz) T6570 / 2.1 GHz P8700 / 2.53 GHz SU9300 / 1.2 GHz P9700 / 2.8 GHz upmarket in every visual RAM / RAM Type / Memory Speed (MHz) 3 GB/ DDR2 / 800 4 GB/ DDR2 / 800 2 GB/ DDR2 / 800 6 GB / DDR3 / 1066 aspect — it’s built around onyx Platform Chipset Intel GM45 Intel PM45 Intel GS45 Intel GM45 coloured brushed aluminium and the chassis is rigid — sublime Graphics Solution / Dedicated Video Intel GMA 4xxx / - Radeon HD 4570 / Intel GMA 4xxx / - Intel GMA 4xxx and build quality. There’s nothing Memory 512 MB GeForce 9300M / - suave about it — the Adamo is a HDD Size / Type 320 GB / SATA 320 GB / SATA 120 GB / SATA 256 GB / SATA (SSD) blatant style statement — from its ultra thin lid to the beautifully Optical Drive Type DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW DVD RW crafted floating keypad with soft Bundled OS Vista Business Vista Business Vista Business Vista Business backlighting that illuminates 64-bit automatically when you touch Characteristics a key. The lid mechanism is Screen Size / Resolution (Native, in 14-inches / 1366 13.3-inches / 1280 12.1-inches / 1280 13.1-inches / 1600 superb. The key feedback is pixels) x 768 x 800 x 800 x 900 soft and the keys large and very Weight 2.27 kg 1.99 kg 1.39 kg 1.49 kg comfortable with a slight indent No of Ports (USB / FireWire) 4, 0 2, 1 2, 1 2, 1 in the centre for your fingers — a Connectivity: (LAN / Bluetooth / WiFi) Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y Y / Y / Y finger-sofa anyone? The trackpad Video ports: D-Sub / DVI / HDMI (Y / N) Y / N / Y Y / N / Y Y / N / N Y / N / Y is also responsive. On a negative Audio Ports: (Mic / Line Out / S/PDIF) Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N Y / Y / N note the display isn’t that bright Memory Card Reader / Cards Supported Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS Y / SD, MMC, MS and colours seem slightly dull. Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD Pro, xD Its innards aren’t as impressive E-SATA (Y / N) / RJ11 Port N / Y N / Y N / Y N / Y although the Adamo is quite Additonal Connects - NA - NA visibly geared as a Macbook Air Build Quality (Body / Keypad / Lid, 7.75 / 7.5 / 7.75 6 / 7.25 / 5.75 7.25 / 7 / 6.75 6 / 7.25 / 5.75 competitor. It also has an SSD movables) (So 10) drive, similar to the Macbook Air. Ergonomics Battery life was shockingly Keypad Tactile Feedback / Key Layout & 7.25 / 7 / 5.75 5.75 / 5.25 / 6 7.5 / 7 / 5.75 5.5 / 4 / 6 Usability / Shortcut Keys (So 10) poor though at just 131 minutes, Biometrics Login (Y/N) N Y Y Y the Macbook Air does much Wi-Fi / Bluetooth / TouchPad On/Off Y / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / N Y / N / N better. In terms of performance dedicated button (Y/N) the Adamo is the proverbial Performance tortoise. So it’s sexy as hell…but Synthetic Scores so is Paris Hilton. And this is PC Mark05 Overall 3770 6637 1961 8749 probably something she would PC Mark05 CPU Score / Memory Score 5304 / 4147 6487 / 5316 1828 / 1805 6548 / 5196 buy – at Rs. 1,15,000 the Adamo PC Mark05 Graphics Score / HDD score 1619 / 4333 6534 / 5726 1054 / 3935 3858 / 29275 is for those who want to make SiSoft Sandra 2009 Pro Memory band- 4.5 GBps 5.25 GBps 2 GBps 5.65 GBps style statements, and little else. width For most of us who prefer to 3D Mark 2006 (CPU Score / Overall 1757 / 889 2285 / 4170 649 / 446 2550 / 2286 settle down with the girl next Score) door rather than the flighty Maxxon CineBench R10 CPU score 4192 5229 1562 6427 neighbourhood belle, the Adamo Display Mate Colour Accuracy (So 10) 4 5.25 4 6 proves too sinful an extravagance Wi-Fi Performance Test 7.0 (in Mbps) 36 37 49 42 to indulge. Oh! for the life of a Real World Tests playboy. Battery Life Test (in Minutes) 120 151 248 162 Webcamera / Speaker Quality (So 10) 4 / 3.5 5 / 4.75 3.5 / 3 6 / 4.25 HD Movie Viewing (So 10) 3 3.75 2.75 7 Wi-Fi file transfer (inM Bps) 3.70 5.56 5.56 5.26 DivX Encode 7.0 (sec) * 67.3 53.4 327.6 46.1 Sequential / Assorted file transfer 22.22 / 19.92 28.60 / 25.36 13.62 / 12.79 147.33 / 104.22 (in MBps) Doom 3 (fps) 13.3 136 14.3 80.8 * less is better

78 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Dell Adamo IE 8 = longer battery life? ARM processors scales 2 GHz Laptop test A recent test shows that Internet Explorer 8 ARMs Cortex A-9 scales to 2 GHz, meaning provides more laptop battery time than Firefox, we could well be seeing them in the desktop Chrome, and other browsers processor sphere

Dell Studio XPS 1340 performance. It’s also portable at first use. The 14-inch display is Guts n Glory enough to be lugged around also pretty mediocre, despite the The Studio XPS 1340 goes anywhere and it’s easy on the LED-backlighting. One plus is the way of its larger sibling eye — the proverbial icing on the enormous hard drive — ASUS complete with leather accents the cake. thought it prudent to load the ASUS U6 on the bottom of the lid. It’s UX30 with 500 GB worth of distinctly upmarket looking ASUS U6 Bamboo storage. It’s price was a little over the and feels very solid while When wood is good top at Rs. 56,000 and we cannot see retaining a semblance of ASUS’ U6 series represent their anyone spending this much. Not compactness. The top bezel efforts at extreme portability when the Aspire 3810T gives more is rather wide and although it with good performance. The resolution is just right for a for less. If we were up to blowing integrates a webcamera. The lid Bamboo is a special edition 13.3-inch display — 1366 x 768 close to 60 grand on a notebook mechanism is really sturdy. The notebook livered in (you pixels. Brightness levels are we’d figure the Dell Studio XPS glossy black has a translucent guessed it!) Bamboo. The lid is good but the colour quality is 1340 would get a nod over this in look to it and in places it is covered in the wood as is the very ordinary. The touch based anyone’s books. where embedded LEDs indicate palmrest and the trackpad. The keys atop the keypad work touch buttons just above the rest of the notebook is grey/ well and we like the minimalist MSI X400 keypad. The keypad itself is silver and looks quite exclusive styling. The battery indicator is When ignorance is bliss well laid out with large keys as a result. The keys are spaced located on the front, just below MSI also joins the bandwagon and although not segregated in out but not segregated, similar the trackpad and its bright of people offering compact the truest sense the edges of the to the design used on the orange LED is distinctly visible notebooks based on Intel’s U keys are slightly lower creating previous generation of Dell but not obtrusive. series of Core Solo processors. In the impression of a gap. The notebooks like the XPS M1330. Performance wise there’s not general the effort keys are comfortable to type on Keypad feedback and usability much grunt under the hood is proportionate and feedback is signature Dell – is good and the U6 has a pretty so we didn’t expect much, to the applause slightly soft and on the mushy responsive trackpad although but this notebook isn’t about and we’re not side, but key travel is good and its texture is not good as it performance. It’s about style, cheering much. overall usable. People liking tends to grip your finger pad portability and usability and The X400 is the firm feedback on the Acer owing to the varnished surface. it meets these parameters in notebooks will be disappointed The right side of the keypad spades. Quite frankly a price tag but it’s just a different design feels a little cramped with tiny of Rs. 31,999 is pretty amazing nothing good or bad about it. Enter and Shift keys. Like the — if you’re looking for value The trackpad is responsive but Vaio Z48GD the mode switch for money — you’ve got it! Our MSI X400 not as exact as we’d like and its toggles between integrated Intel only grouse is Acer overlooked compact, small size is no help. In fact the graphics and a GeForce 9300M. an optical drive — a shame but it’s not well trackpad is a grouse because The U6 Bamboo is priced at because this would be a killer built. The body feels like after an hour of use one begins Rs. 98,990, and this includes a product with one. Sans that cheap plastic and the notebooks to miss a USB mouse — a sure two-year, worldwide warranty however, it still manages to bag exterior was a let down. Inside sign of a less than perfect from ASUS. We reckon this our Best Buy award and we feel the textured palmrest also feels trackpad. Trackpad buttons is Rs. 15,000 more than we’d it’s well deserved. Should you cheap – really this is unforgivable are good — mushy with good like for something with this want something good enough and we’re trying to see key travel and comfortable — a configuration although to for most mundane tasks that something good. The keypad is relief from clicky-clacky mouse be honest there’s a lot of is also compact buying this is a also tacky, added to this the keys buttons. uniqueness to the look. no-brainer. The battery life is an aren’t well laid out. Key spacing In terms of performance amazing 328 minutes. feels slightly off owing to the the XPS 1340 has got what it A cer Aspire 3810T large keys and this is not intuitive takes to trail with the best. The A sweet deal AS US UX30 to most peoples’ fingers, who will GPU isn’t particularly powerful The 3810T looks decidedly Lots of show, little go be used to closer key alignments. but it’s more than sufficient upmarket with its slim profile ASUS’ UX30 is their compact, low There’s nothing much to write for even casual gamers. Priced and brushed aluminium lid. power offering. It’s innards are at Rs. 59,900 (configuration Since it’s smaller than the similar to the Aspire 3810T. It’s a dependent of course) the 5810T it looks thicker, but the lot flashier looking however, with Studio XPS 1340 is a great mix thickness of both notebooks a piano black finish reminiscent of style and is the same. It feels extremely of some LCD HDTVs. It also well built in hand and the body borrows the idea of enclosing is clearly well constructed. connectors with a small slider door The lid closes with a definitive from the Macbook Air. The lid is snap. The long power button brushed aluminium and so is the octo ber 2009 with embedded LED is stylish, palmrest. ASUS chose to use the ASUS UX30 so is the silver/grey body. The same trackpads that the K40IJ keypad is really sweet with and K50IJ use — ugh! The home about here and about all great spacing, very nice key keypad has good that we can say that the MSI feedback — ultra usable feedback but X400 is a first effort, and better and very comfortable, usability is not as things are sure to come out of the keypad just good owing to a the mistakes made this round. At feels right. mediocre layout that Rs. 40,000 its one notebook you The screen doesn’t feel intuitive can easily afford to miss.

Dell Studio XPS 1340 Acer Aspire 3810T Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 79 Microsoft's LifeCam Cinema is the only Digital Camera Test Corel's new Digital webcam to offer a Studio 2010 is touch widescreen 720p HD input enabled video capture Shooting Rossi Fernandes [email protected]

s competition between companies builds in times like this where the economy is slow, and demands have already been Stars met by existing cameras, there’s little left that can grab the attention of the customer. There’s almost no one who hasn’t boughtA a camera. Those who’ve bought point and shoots are looking at more expensive digital SLRs. What else could point and shoot cameras offer? It's getting more and more diffi cult to We've seen a few instances where manufacturers are already trying to reduce the megapixel count. Obviously, with fixed impress customers. It's time to see if sensor sizes, there's little in terms of improvement and the higher- this latest generation of cameras can... megapixel-is-better-quality myth seems to have burst. This month, we have cameras that go across categories and this being the festive season, there's going to be something in here that fits your budget and your needs.

Imaging: Rohit Chandwaskar Photography: Manas Parekh

80 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Digital Camera Test Hitachi reveals high-defi nition Fujifi lm's FinePix Real 3D W1 camcorder that records videos is a dual-lens camera that in Blu-ray captures footage in 3D

Canon PowerShot SX120 IS The Canon Powershot SX120 IS is the latest version of the PowerShot SX series which has been crowned as one of the best point and shoot ultrazoom cameras around. This SX120 IS is only a small upgrade over the SX110 IS that had a few issues. It's predecessor, the SX100 IS was poorly built, that much has been addressed in the last two models. A lot of the features from the previous models are present in this SX120 IS model. If you look at the specifications comparison between the SX110 IS and the SX120 IS, there's very little that has changed. For example, this is now a 10MP camera instead of a 9MP one. The amount of digital zoom has been increased but as a feature it's pretty useless. Build quality is identical. The flash has to be manually raised unlike some other cameras where the flash pops out automatically depending on the settings and ambient conditions. Canon PowerShot SX120 IS The body is almost totally plastic so even though this might seem like a prosumer device, it's not. However, it's still better built than most other cameras. A rubberised handgrip would've been a nice The intensity setting for the flash has also been available on touch. Canon cameras for awhile now and is useful as it integrates well with The screen is large, though it's performance is average. It works the rest of the camera settings that are already present and used. well outdoors but in darker areas, there's a bit of lag. Being a point- and-shoot camera, there isn't an eyepiece to look through. Canon Digital IXUS 110IS One of the features many manufacturers are adding to their Canon's Digital IXUS series is designed keeping in mind the kind cameras is the face recognition. The SX120 uses it a lot. Along with of user. These are more stylish models meant for those who want the usual timer functions, the SX120 has a face-timer function which a compact camera that is pocketable. The IXUS 110IS is a 12.1 MP automatically first uses a timer and then clicks a photo when you camera with a 4x optical zoom. The front of the camera is made point the camera at a face. It's particularly useful for a self portrait. of metal and the finish is satiny — pretty classy stuff. The rest of

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 81 Digital Camera Test Adobe releases Photoshop Lightroom 2.5 and Camera Nikon's hybrid projector-camera Raw 5.5 combo starts selling

the camera isn't so special. PowerShot A or SX series of The 2.8-inch LCD screen is cameras for that. Still, it would a widescreen because of the be nice to have a few more dimensions of the camera. metal bits around the controls The controls at the back of and also a nicer screen. There's the camera have no icons or also a HDMI connector so you markings except for the menu can connect your camera to the and function buttons. TV easily. One of the killer features of There's one slight problem this tiny camera is the 720p with the metal body. It video recording capability. conducts heats so you can Video quality is rather easily feel the heat around the impressive even in low-light right side of the camera. This scenarios — a serious plus gets irritating within minutes Controls and the mode of using the camera. The Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS selection is done using a slider other issue we find is with the on the top of the camera. We position of the flash. There's IS comes in attractive colours. such as the image stabilization feel the current interface Canon a small slit for the flash and if We received a bright orange features. This is a decent cameras use is better than you use your left hand fingers model that, to some, looked camera and is probably one earlier versions. There's a lot to hold the camera as well, it's nice while others found it too of the cheapest options if you of animations and transition likely that you'll cover the flash. gaudy for a digital camera. want a really compact camera. effects being used in the The finish on the body isn't as It's sturdy as well but just lacks interface while moving from Canon Digital IXUS exotic as the IXUS 110 IS. a lot of features. one menu to another. 95 IS There are a few differences It's a camera that doesn't The Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS and at first, it seems like the Canon Digital IXUS have too many advanced has a blockier design than the IXUS 110 IS is overpriced. The 100IS controls that a serious pricier IXUS 110 IS. The IXUS interface looks a little dated The IXUS 100IS at first use feels photographer would want. This 95 IS is almost half the price of but the buttons have a nicer and looks like a nicer camera isn't a camera aimed at such the IXUS 110 IS as mentioned feel than the IXUS 110 IS. The than even the IXUS 110IS. The users. You're better off with the on Canon's site. The IXUS 95 SX 120 IS is a superior camera body shape is curved on the in terms of performance edges which gives it a slightly and features didn't have an more compact look and it feels eyepiece, which this model better in hand at the same time. incorporates. The HDMI and USB The small nifty features connectors aren't on the side like the face timer are still or the bottom like on many present on this camera. As a other cameras. Instead, the point and shoot camera, it's connectors have been put on very simple to use. It doesn't the back of the camera where have many of the features that the zoom buttons would are expected but once again, usually be on some cameras. the IXUS series of processors The zoom is controlled by the a follows a different path. Canon trigger-style control. The mode Canon Digital IXUS 110IS hasn't taken out the essentials selection is done using a slider HOW WE TESTED he most importance room turned off to ensure maximum zoom is operated. and the set areas in each was given to the test that only the lights used for The same wideangle test photograph were rated. scene. A test scene the test setup were utilized. photograph was shot with Other than the test scene, comprised of several There were two sets of colour the fl ash on. This was to look the cameras were used Tobjects of different neutral lights used from either for what adverse effects a under everyday conditions – colours with lots of detailed side to illuminate the test fl ash would do. Every camera outdoors and indoors where designs and patterns on it scene. Colour neutral lights comes with a different type of light wasn’t always constant were setup on a table. Every emit light without any kind of lens. Some of these are better and bright. While doing camera was tested mounted tint. This ensured no bias or than the others for different this, all kinds of settings on a tripod to ensure there mistakes during the evaluation kinds of photography. A good and modes were selected. was no movement by the phase. Multiple photographs lens on a point-and-shoot Similarly, videos were also person testing. The cameras were taken using the test should be able to click close- recorded. Some amount of the were shot using the 'Auto' scene. There were shots up photos of objects, so we test weights were given to the shooting mode as this is what with the cameras completely used the macro mode to try ease of use and the overall most users would typically zoomed out and then fully and get as close to the object build quality of the camera. use. zoomed into the center of as possible and still focus. A The quality of the screen, the The room was darkened the scene. The quality of video was also shot under this battery doors and buttons all with the windows blinded the photograph on a bad test scene lighting. All the test matter, so all these were given and all the tubelights in the lens deteriorates when the shots were closely examined scores as well.

82 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Digital Camera Test Pentax announces the K-x Samsung releases a 5 MP prosumer-level dSLR camera system-on-chip image sensor at approximately Rs. 31,000 for high-end mobiles

Canon Digital IXUS 100IS Canon PowerShot A1100 IS mechanism at the back which more compact and better However, occasionally you see to depend on buttons and is designed rather well. The looking design. The A480 a 'charging the flash' alert when menus to switch to them. The buttons are top notch quality continues with the design. We the batteries discharge a little. A1100 IS is much simpler in and it's a really good camera. don’t like the control buttons The top of the camera has that aspect. In features, the IXUS 110 IS on the back of the camera. space for your finger to rest The A1100 IS comes with is very similar to the 100IS. The They are simply plastic buttons on the shutter release button. image stabilization and that only difference between the two etched which gives it a really It makes the camera very is very helpful when you’re cameras is in the optical zoom cheap look and feel. comfortable to hold on to even taking photos with zoom lens. The camera uses two AA without a handgrip. or with low-light where the batteries and the USB data Manual ISO selection is shutter speed has to be slow. Canon PowerShot connectors lie on the side present. The interface from A480 behind a rubber door. The older but higher-end Canon Fujifi lm Finepix Canon’s cheapest offerings other thing you notice is the cameras can be seen on the S1500 are the A4xx series and we’ve smaller screen. The resolution A480. Overall, this is a good While all of the photography tested these cameras in the last doesn’t look like a lot but its camera even though we really world might be focussed on couple of years and it must be good enough for the casual would like better quality in the Sony, Canon and Panasonic said — we're impressed. This user. The user interface is build of the camera. for their ultrazoom camera, line follows the long biscuit- quick to react and there’s not Fujifilm continues to work on package design for a slightly a lot of waiting between shots. Canon PowerShot their point-and-shoot camera A1100 IS business. The S1500 is a The Canon PowerShot 12x optical zoom ultrazoom A1100IS is a 12.1 MP camera camera. with a 4x optical zoom. The The interface looks really AA batteries make the camera outdated and uninspired. It's a little bulky but at the same nowhere as neat as the Canon time easier to hold. The and Sony user interfaces. buttons at the back aren’t Fujifilm also needs to improve so great in terms of feel and on the processing power quality. They are bigger than of this camera. It lacks the some of the other cameras processing power and it shows we’ve tested. The interface is while viewing one photo after similar to that on the A480 another. There's a considerable and both models share quite a processing time even while few features. The A480 has no deleting. While clicking a Canon PowerShot A480 mode selection and users have photograph, you will notice a

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 83 Digital Camera Test Aperture Camera facts The opening that determines the cone A camera is a lightproof box, usually fi tted with a angle and the amount of light that lens that gathers incoming light and concentrates it enters a camera to be directed towards the fi lm or imaging device

OCTOBER 2009 Digital Cameras Test Brand Canon Canon Canon Canon Canon Canon Canon Model Digital IXUS Digital IXUS Digital IXUS PowerShot PowerShot PowerShot PowerShot 100 IS 110 IS 95 IS A1100 IS A480 SX120 IS SX200 IS

Price Rs. 13,995 Rs. 18,995 Rs. 10,995 Rs. 9,995 Rs. 7,995 Rs. 15,995 Rs. 22,995 Overall (Out of 100) 64.98 64.37 60.11 58.54 53.17 60.17 66.49 Features (Out of 40) 29.28 29.42 25.46 24.64 20.02 26.12 30.04 Performance (Out of 60) 35.70 34.95 34.65 33.90 33.15 34.05 36.45 Specifi cations Sensor resolution (Megapixels) 12.1 12.1 10 12.1 10 10 12.1 Sensor size (in inches) 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.5 1/2.3 Sensor type CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD ISO sensor sensitivity range 80 - 1600 80 - 1600 80 - 1600 80 - 1600 80 - 1600 80 - 1600 80 - 1600 Shutter speed range (sec) 15 - 1/1500 15 - 1/1600 15 - 1/1500 15 - 1/1600 15 - 1/2000 15 - 1/2500 15 - 1/3200 Burst speed 0.8 fps 0.8 fps 1.4 fps 1.1 fps 0.8 fps 1.3 fps 0.8 fps Aperture size range (F number) 3.2 - 5.8 2.8 - 5.8 2.8 - 4.9 2.7 - 5.6 3 - 5.8 2.8 - 4.3 3.4 - 5.3 Lens optical zoom 3x 4x 3x 4x 3.3x 10x 12x Lens (mm) 5.9 – 17.9 mm 5.0 - 20.0 mm 6.2 - 18.6 mm 6.2 – 24.8 mm 6.6 - 21.6 mm 6.0 - 60.0 mm 5.0 - 60.0 mm Image stabilization Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes HDMI Yes Yes No No No No Yes Face detection Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Best video resolution 1280 x 720 1280 x 720 640 x 480 640 x 480 640 x 480 640 x 480 1280 x 720 Frame rate 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 Display LCD size (in inches) 2.5 2.8 2.5 2.5 2.5 3.0 3.0 LCD Resolution (pixels) 2,30,000 2,30,000 2,30,000 1,15,000 1,15,000 2,30,000 2,30,000 Battery Type Li-ion Li-ion Li-ion 2x AA 2x AA 2x AA Li-ion

Memory cards supported SD, SDHC, MMC SD, SDHC, MMC SD, SDHC, MMC SD, SDHC, MMC SD, SDHC, MMC SD, SDHC, MMC SD, SDHC, MMC

Dimensions (in mm) 87.0 x 54.5 x 97.9 x 54.1 x 88.5 x 54.8 x 95.4 x 62.4 x 92.1x 62.0 x 110.6 x 70.4 x 103.0 x 60.5 x 37.6 18.4 22.1 21.8 31.0 31.1 44.7 Weight (in grams) 115 145 120 155 140 245 220 Design and quality (Out of 10) Ease of use 5.5 6.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.5 6.5 Button quality 7 5 7 4.5 3.5 5 5 Screen quality 5 5 5 5 5 5.5 5.5 Flash/lens covers 5.5 5.5 5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6 Quality of body 7.5 6.5 7 6 5.5 6 7 Battery door quality 6.5 6 6 6.5 6.5 6 7 Performance (Out of 10) Light scene (Wideangle) 5.63 5.38 6.13 6.13 5.88 5.75 5.75 Light scene (Telephoto) 5.5 5.5 5.25 5.25 5 6 5.75 Macro scene 5.75 5.75 5.75 5.5 5.75 6 6.25 Light scene (Wideangle) 7 7 5.5 5 5 5 7

84 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com USB 3.0 camera Picasa now face friendly Digital Camera Test The fi rst the world has seen, Version 3.5 will feature face recognition unveiled by Point Grey can belt not only on web albums, but also on photos out video in 1080p at 60 fps! stored on a hard drive

OCTOBER 2009

Fujifi lm Fujifi lm Fujifi lm Fujifi lm Nikon Nikon Nikon Samsung Finepix A170 FinePix F200EXR FinePix J27 Finepix S1500 Coolpix L20 Coolpix P90 Coolpix S220 ES55

Rs. 6,999 Rs. 20,999 Rs. 7,999 Rs. 14,999 Rs. 7,950 Rs. 25,950 Rs. 8,950 Rs. 8,990 54.83 55.87 54.29 55.71 53.90 59.36 53.33 60.92 24.68 26.32 24.74 25.71 22.40 27.86 24.98 25.22 30.15 29.55 29.55 30.00 31.50 31.5 28.35 35.7

10.2 12 10.2 10 10 12.1 10.3 10.2 1/2.3 1/1.6 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.3 1/2.3 CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD CCD 100 - 1600 100 - 3200 100 - 3200 64 - 1600 64 - 1600 64 - 1600 80 - 2000 80 - 1600 8 - 1/1400 8 - 1/1500 8 - 1/1400 8 - 1/2000 N/A N/A N/A 4 - 1/1500 1.4 fps 1.4 fps 1.4 fps 1.4 fps NA NA NA 1.8 fps 2.9 - 10 3.3 - 14 2.9 - 16 2.8 - 6.4 3.1 - 6.7 2.8 - 5 3.1 - 5.9 3.2 - 5.8 3x 5x 3x 12x 3.6x 24x 3x 3x 5.7 – 17.1 mm 28 – 140mm 5.7 – 17.1 mm 5.9 - 70.8mm 38 – 136 mm N/A 26 – 624 mm 35-105 mm Yes Yes Yes NA No Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No No No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 640 x 480 640 x 480 640 x 480 640 x 480 640 x 480 640 x 480 640 x 480 640x480 30 30 30 30 N/A N/A N/A 30

2.7 3.0 2.7 2.7 3 3 2.5 2.5 2,30,000 2,30,000 2,30,000 2,30,000 2,30,000 2,30,000 1,50,000 2,30,000 2x AA Li-ion Li-ion 4x AA 2x AA Li-ion Li-ion Li-ion

SD/SDHC SD/SDHC SD/SDHC SD/SDHC SD SD/SDHC SD SD/SDHC

93.0 x 60.0 x 21.9 97.7 x 58.9 x 23.4 92.0 x 55.9 x 20.0 102.5 x 73.0 x 67.8 96.5 x 61 x 29 114 x 83 x 99 89.5 x 55.5 x 18 90.4 x 59.0 x 21.6

120 175 113 324 135 460 100 116

55 55555.56 4.5 5 4.5 6.5 5.5 5.5 6 4 5.5 5.5 5.5 6 5.5 7 5 7 5.5 4 5.5 6 5 5.5 5 6 6 7 6 8 6 6.5 7.5 6.5 5.5 5.5 5 7 7 8 5.5 6

5.25 4.5 5.25 5 5.38 5.25 4.88 6.38 4.5 6 4.25 5 5.25 5.5 4.25 5.75 5 5.25 5.5 5.5 5.75 5.5 4.75 5.25 5 4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5 5 5 6

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 85 Digital Camera Test Samsung's HZ25W ultra Samsung's newly announced L77 claims zoom camera includes a to be the world's thinnest camera with 24x optical zoom lens a 7-MP sensor and 7x zoom

considerably large delay there The panorama feature is a as well. Surprisingly, the startup neat feature that works well. It's waiting time is almost non- simple to use but the processing existent. time is quite a bit. A good feature The LCD display's quality of Fujifilm cameras is the ability isn't so great either. The to zoom in and out of images eyepiece which also is a display smoothly whereas many other in almost all camera is really cameras have intermediate steps laggy with poor refresh rates. in between. Quality also is bad. The image stabilisation isn't very effective. Fujifi lm Finepix J27 With the lens zoomed in, The Fujifilm Finepix J27 is a there's still a lot of movement compact little point and shoot and it seems the camera camera that looks like it was corrects at the last moment made to fit into pockets. The Fujifi lm Finepix A170 when you press down the click. size means that there's only Coming back to the interface space for a miniature 3x optical friendly like on a Sony or a other Fujifilm cameras. The and the usability, the menus zoom to fit into the camera. The Canon camera. The panorama buttons are tiny and the zoom although not pretty, controls feature exists in this particular is controlled by buttons instead could have been camera as well. of a trigger-like control. The designed a little The tiny USB problem is that holding the better. For example, connector is left open camera is a little more difficult the ISO settings without any protection with the zoom at the back. The aren't available in lid or flap. Over time, camera has a glossy finish but the main menu this might get clogged that doesn't help because the but accessible with dust. There are very shape of the body itself is very using a few buttons at the back plain and simple. separate of the camera. All the The interface is also dull button. options and shooting and boring. All the shooting This button modes can be selected by modes have to be accessed also allows going to the main menu. using the buttons instead of a you to change The buttons are tiny dial that could've been easily be the resolution and in comparison to other designed on top of the camera. Fujifi lm Finepix J27 image quality settings. The cameras and feel cheap. The USB connector is placed on ISO settings should have been buttons on the back and There are small display LEDs the side of the camera and has present in the main interface the body itself are made of at the back of the camera that no protection flap to stop dirt along with the shutter speed plastic. It has a really smooth show the status. from getting into the connector. and aperture size settings. The finish which isn't always a nice The flash is located near the Macro performance isn't lack of the jog dial means you're thing, as it makes the camera centre of the camera so there's impressive either and focussing forced to press many more slightly slippery to hold. little chance that your finger takes a long time as well. buttons and browse through The screen is extremely will cover the flash. This is a many more menus for simple laggy with or without enough problem faced with many ultra- Sony Cyber-shot DSC- tasks. On the other hand, it light for the camera to focus compact cameras. HX1 has control buttons which are on. The interface is a little more Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is wasted. There are two buttons attractive than the S1500 which Fujifi lm Finepix A170 an ultrazoom camera. The HX1 for the face detection and image we found rather appalling. Still, Fujifilm Finepix A170 is a comes with a phenomenal 20x stabilization options which in there's a long way to go before plastic body camera with optical zoom — a godsend for our opinion aren't absolutely the interface becomes more controls very much like the those who need a long zoom. necessary as dedicated buttons. In terms of the build quality, it's actually quite good. The buttons at the back might be of average quality but the dial for the mode selection is nice and feels like one on a dSLR. The body and the handgrip has the rough textured feel like SLR cameras. There's a sturdy little slider for the power on switch and the zoom trigger also is designed and built well. The camera is really tiny but it weighs quite a bit with the four tightly fitting AA batteries. A slightly larger camera would feel comfortable in-hand.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 86 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Sandisk Extreme Pro Digital Camera Test Sandisk's new Extreme Pro CF Sony HDR-TG1 cards store up to 64 GB of data Sony's HDR-TG1 is the world's smallest full and write at a speed of 90 MBps HD camcorder

Typically, people who want to The Sony DSC-HX1 is priced The side door is huge over-user-friendliness seen on do wildlife photography. Built at Rs. 29,990 and because, it and has the USB and HDMI cameras of some other brands. rather well, use of metal zoom had to be sent back urgently to connectors there. The door The zoom trigger brings up trigger would be nice. Sony, it couldn't be part of the itself is held together by a a help menu when you use it It has inherited most of the complete test process. frail and flexible plastic hinge. in any of the camera settings features from the standard H One of the unique and also menus. Lithium-ion batteries series from Sony. The camera has Canon PowerShot somewhat irritating features is are used so most of the weight a hinge screen that works well SX200 IS the flash unit which pops out is the camera itself. The jogdial but only for vertical movement. Canon's PowerShot SX1xx IS the same time the lens does. It is built well just like on Nikon’s There is no swivel to fold the cameras impressed everyone sticks out the top of the camera dSLR cameras. It isn’t used to screen back on its face. and we've also looked at the by a folding hinge mechanism control the manual focussing The recording supports SX120 IS in this test. The and does come in the way while though. stereo audio recording and the camera is pretty good with just holding the camera with your One of the unique features microphone is placed on the a few tiny improvements over left hand. There is no way to we’ve seen is the ISO sensitivity top of the camera. The jog dial the last two models. The SX200 fold the flash unit back in other range which can be capped. is a feature found on dSLRs IS is a better design than the than to turn off the camera. The camera then will not cross but its also found on SX120 and features a 12x One of the sides has a chrome- that limit so you never end ultrazoom cameras. optical zoom — pretty neat finish and that goes well with up with very grainy images. It can be used for for it's size. the colour and shape of the Video recording resolution is manual control as OCTOBER 2009 camera. rather basic on the P90 whereas well. The jog dial most of the ultrazoom cameras also doubles as a Nikon COOLPIX are aiming at the basic HD button. All these P90 standard — 720p. functions bundled The Nikon There are some modes together for use COOLPIX P90 is a where custom user settings can with these controls prosumer camera be stored. There are also modes make it simpler or alternatively can which change the aspect ratio even in the also be called an of the image to fit TV screens. manual shooting ultrazoom camera. Operation of the huge mode. The P90 has the zoom is silent although there The 20x optical largest zoom is some fine vibration. Image zoom requires a we’ve seen so stabilization at maximum very good image far — 24X optical zoom isn’t too bad either. It’s stabilizing feature zoom (4.0 – very usable but a better quality and the DSC HX1 Canon PowerShot SX200 IS 110.4mm). Like the lens would’ve really made this does a decent job. It works Fujifilm Finepix S1500, shine. At maximum zoom, particularly well up to 8x to One end of the body has a this too has a good handgrip. there’s some quality loss. 10x but any more than that slight curve, this is where you The buttons are all of very good There’s a little bit of yellow and there's a lot of delay added grip the camera and gives the quality. colouration on the screen after which makes even pointing to a mock impression of a wider The screen hinge design is the photo has been captured. distant object a little difficult. grip. It also feels bulkier for very similar to the Sony DSC- On a computer screen though, Sony includes a couple some reason and sturdier than HX1 and only allows vertical the result looks natural. The of unique features that merit the SX120. The control dial at movement. The user interface colours are sober and there is mention. For example, the the back could've been built looks very similar to the ones no overemphasis of colours. smile and face detection feature better. The other buttons have a found on Nikon dSLRs. It is There’s little to hate about can shoot photos depending good tactile feel. very functional and lacks the the Nikon P90. It’s a great on the intensity of the smile. overall camera that now There's actually a manual moves Nikon closer to the setting you can turn on for that. ultrazoom camera market at The other impressive feature least in India. So far, it’s been is the video recording resolution Canon and Sony that have of 1440 x 1080 pixels. Video mostly dominated this area. quality is decent but not very A little more of quality and nice in low-light. Other than performance and this camera that, the Sony proprietary could’ve been a winner. connector to the camera is something that's very irritating. Nikon COOLPIX A microUSB interface would've S220 been convenient. An adapter The Nikon P90 might is provided to allow HDMI have one of the largest connectivity. Sony continues optical zooms but to use MemoryStick as the the S220 is one of the storage format. They're a little smallest cameras around. more expensive than the more It comes in really bright commonly used SD and SDHC colours — we got a dark pink cards. Nikon COOLPIX P90 one. It only has 3x optical

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 87 Digital Camera Test Sony's limited edition digital The US Army is now soliciting proposals photo frame is made with for a 2.3-GP camera that would be used for Swarovski Elements wide aerial surveillance

zoom but a huge 10 MP The camera is pretty fast in resolution. its interface but not as much The screen isn’t very while shooting. impressive because of its poor viewing angles. Visuals Fujifilm FINEPIX immediately turn when you F200EXR move the camera from side to The Fujifilm FINEPIX side. The buttons have been F200EXR is a much better shrunk as well which is fine. camera in hand than some There is little space aside of the other cheaper models. from the screen that takes up It’s built well and is a heavy most of the area at the back. camera for its size. The Using and holding the camera control buttons are a little tiny while shooting is difficult but and a little too flat. carrying is really easy as it fits The 5x zoom lens in such Nikon COOLPIX S220 into any space that can hold a compact design makes a mobile phone. It’s the same good sense for everyone. It’s case while going through the a big step up from the 3x menus. It’s easy to press the optical zooms on many entry adjoining buttons. Because of level compact cameras. The the space constraints, the USB extended lens is twice the port has been moved to the thickness of the camera. bottom of the camera which Although the performance also means that if you were to and feel of this camera is use the camera on a tripod, better than the others, the you have to remove it every interface still has the same single time to transfer data to old look that we don’t like so the PC. much and it’s also pretty slow; The battery door is a little with as much as a two to four delicate and the battery size second delay between clicking has been shrunk down as and previewing. well. It’s a 740mAh battery. There are some more unqiue features — there’s one Nikon hasn’t had enough Nikon COOLPIX L20 space to place a mode where the camera takes two selection dial so all the menus rest of the camera should’ve previewed an image. Most photographs — one with the and options have been put received a similar upgrade. cameras get you back to the flash and one without the into a single shooting button The directional buttons and shooting mode when you press flash. This is great for where on the camera. The menus especially the zoom controls down on the shutter button. you want a guaranteed good from there on are like on a have a bad feel to them. mobile phone. The back of the camera The user interface is a has a slight depression to rest slightly more user friendly your finger right below the version of the one in Nikon lens operation button. dSLRs. Controls on the camera are really basic with absolutely Nikon COOLPIX L20 no control over the aperture Nikon’s L series of cameras size and shutter speed. The are an entry-level range but interface and mode selection the latest L20 model seems is almost identical to the S220 to have got a major facelift. model. There is no mode The details of the design are selection knob on the camera. similar to the L18 and L19 but One of the most annoying the slick and glossy paintjob things is that you have to press has done wonders. The the Scene button after you’ve Fujifi lm FINEPIX F200EXR Contact Sheet Brand Contact Phone Email Web site Canon Canon India Private Limited 1-800-180-33-66 [email protected] www.canon.co.in Nikon Nikon India Private Limited +91-124-468 8500 NA www.nikon.co.in Samsung Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd +91-11-4151 1234 [email protected] www.samsung.com/in/ Fujifi lm Fujifi lm India Pvt Ltd +91-124-432 5500 contact@fujifi lmindia.com www.fujifi lm.in Sony Sony India 1-800-11-11-88 [email protected] www.sonystyle.com

88 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Digital Camera Test Lucid's HYDRA 200 is a chip that Vue's surveillance system lets any motherboard use ATi and comes with two wireless NVIDIA GPUs together cameras and a base station photograph in low-light even more apparent. It’s one The Roundup of specifications, it's got a scenarios. The ability to set of the most comprehensive We're impressed by the cameras very high-resolution sensor, the aperture size and shutter user interfaces of all the that we received. To start with, a brilliant zoom lens and a speed is welcomed but there’s cameras we've seen. Every the Samsung ES55 although very well designed body and very limited control over it. menu and setting has a a cheap camera at just Rs. controls. Even though this The USB connector isn’t the description at the bottom of 8,990, it performs rather well is just a digital camera, the typical microUSB and the cable the screen. throughout the test. Even in last ability to record videos at 1280 supplied with it allows you to Controls like these might year's test, we had a Samsung x 720 is a really nice thing to connect it to a USB port on the impress those who are used with a really good lens. The have. If the SX200 IS is out of desktop or also to a TV using to computers and gadgets your budget, the SX120 composite connects. in general with lots of should be the next in complicated menus. Anyone your list. It has a slightly Samsung ES55 buying a camera for the first cheaper feel but it still The Samsung ES55 is a time might not really like has a 10x zoom and all compact point and shoot with this overwhelming number the manual controls that a nice brushed metal finish at of settings. photographers crave for. the front but somewhat dull at The preview and Another well the back. The controls buttons zooming function performing camera was aren’t of the same quality as allows instant cropping the Canon Digital IXUS the front. The OK button is so and trimming of the 100 IS. Although a little tiny that you have to use your photographs which is a neat older than the IXUS 110 fingernails at times to press it. little feature that can be found ES55 also matches that kind of IS, it is a very good performer The screen bulges out of the on some other cameras as well. performance for a fraction of for a really compact camera. body otherwise it would’ve The camera also has a the price. While all the cameras It's not as pretty as the Canon been a much more compact Photo Help guide feature capture great detail on the Digital IXUS 110 IS but if you camera. which teaches users how to wideangle range of the zoom, want pretty, the IXUS 110 IS is The user interface has a use the camera and its features. the Samsung ES55 does well your next best option. It's only very high resolution and the A simple listing of tasks is even with the zoom lens fully a tiny bit lower in performance fonts and menus are very available with the steps to utilised. The great thing is that than the IXUS 100 IS. impressive. When do the task. These tasks it's also a compact camera, has The Fujifilm FinePix S1500, you go into the can also be used as a a great looking interface. We the Nikon COOLPIX P90 and mode selection and tutorial with step-by-step give it the Best Buy award for the Sony DSC-HX1 were the camera settings, it’s instructions. these very reasons. full-fledged ultrazooms that we Canon has dominated got. We like the Sony DSC- OCTOBER 2009 most of the point-and-shoot HX1 but looking at the shots cameras tests in the past. This that we were able to take, it's time as well, the winner is a nothing really special in terms Canon. The Canon PowerShot of quality. It feels and functions SX200 IS is one of the costliest like the other Sony cameras cameras of the lot. It's not a that we've tested in the past full-fledged ultrazoom camera including some of the older either. It performs exceptionally H series ultrazoom cameras. well in both the features and The Nikon COOLPIX P90 had in the performance tests. The a nice set of features as well camera shines in all the photo but no HD video recording and video tests. If we were functionality. If you want a to rate the cameras on just really huge zoom lens, then quality, the SX200 IS would the Nikon COOLPIX P90 is for Samsung ES55 still be the winner. In terms you.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 89 Motherboard test Give your feedback at www.thinkdigit.com/d/oct09

New processors mean Return To The new chipsets and this in turn means new motherboards. Here is a look at the latest and Mothership the greatest Rossi Fernandes into one gigantic test. [email protected] We split the boards into a number of intelligent categories. A category each for otherboards are Intel and AMD was obviously the building the first step. Next we blocks of any segregated the motherboards system. And there into two subcategories — isM choice aplenty for someone integrated graphics and looking at buying one. LGA discrete graphics. And this is 775-based motherboards where we made a noteworthy are still around in numbers alongside newer Core i7 boards and AMDs new AM3 socket- based boards have also joined the fray. We received an overwhelming number of motherboards although a few brands like EVGA and Palit were missed. This time round, we piled all the motherboards Imaging: Chaitanya Surpur Imaging: Chaitanya Manas Parekh Photography:

90 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com DDR3 for Core i5 AMD shows off DX11 Motherboard test Kingston starts shipping DDR3 kits AMD demonstrates DirectX 11 hardware for Core i5 processors running six LCD screens at once discovery. In general most Green power menu that allows board which is inconvenient. The larger board means that integrated graphics boards more efficient use of power The PCIe x1 slot is right next there is more space between the are based on entry-level using the CPU phase control. to the first PCIe x16 slot, so PCIe x16 slots, but not enough chipsets. However, AMDs There’s also a neat little reading no chance of setting up sound to plug in a second card in the latest 790GX/FX chipsets that displays power efficiency. cards there. You’ll have to use adjoining slot. The first x1 slot are high-end offerings but BIOS updating is also simple one of the other two PCIe slots. lies right under the first x16 they also retain an integrated using a flash drive. Just going Two PCI slots seem like overkill slot. The second x1 lies above graphics solution. Therefore by features and how well it’s for a board of this generation. the x16 slot. Longer sound we put these boards into the designed, it’s a pretty complete One of the smaller complaints cards might still have some high-end segment, where they a motherboard that’s not overly is the XFX site design and problem fitting in there because were tested with a discrete expensive at Rs. 10,500. getting BIOS updates can be a of the high heat sink that lies graphics card. Core i7 boards XFX and ZOTAC, both little annoying. very close in the way. were tested seperately, for their ZOTAC’s X58, is, in For those overclockers or performance is incomparable to comparison to the others, those who might run open rigs, other platforms — obviously on not as impressive. One there are dedicated buttons for account of the faster processors problem is the lack of basic power, reset and also clearing they support. necessary overclocking and the CMOS. Right next to it are memory tweaking options. the DIP switches that allow Intel Core i7 One of the biggest flaws quick switching and overriding motherboards was the lack of the memory of the base clock speed. The Core i7-based motherboards XFX X58i timing settings. If you have BIOS is also quite elaborate and haven’t been affordable and the low-latency, fast memory will be good enough for anyone cost of the board along with NVIDIA only vendors prior to you'll be sorely disappointed. planning on overclocking with the price of DDR3 memory this have built boards based on There is no manual option cooling of the board itself the has put many upgraders off. the X58 chipset. XFX calls its for preventing CPU throttling only thing to worry about. Prices have fallen, and there are board the XFX X58i. The board down due to power saving BioStar's TPower X58 was many options available as you is designed and built really well. features like next. There are LEDs for each are about to see; although they Features and BIOS layout EIST and of the 6 SATA ports on the are all based on a single Intel are good. In terms of board stepping side. Next to those slots is the X58 chipset. These boards do layout, it’s similar to the MSI options — all poster and the lit power and not have a memory controller, X58M board with a similar level these are absent reset buttons. Cooling is taken since the Core i7 processor now of overclocking features and in the BIOS. OCTOBER 2009 care of by a combination of integrates the controller on its thought put into heatsinks and heatpipes. The die. it. It’s a full ATX overclocking menus are well board and has a sorted out and the increments Board design and cleanly routed set of for voltages are small and features heat pipes running good enough for anyone who While the X58 boards are from one end of might want to overclock this all extremely high-end and the board to the board. extremely costly, there’s other. Temperatures Gigabyte’s EX58-UD3R a trend to be followed — are lower than the is an ATX form factor board something every motherboard MSI board. There with only four memory slots. manufacturer follows. The is plenty of space This is a rarity as most boards mATX form factor means between PCI slots Biostar Tpower X58 have six. Like many other slightly less expensive and PCIe slots boards, the adjoining slot to motherboards and it’s which mean you won’t have The benchmarks especially the the first x16 slot and in this something that will also find any troubles with plugging memory intensive ones suffered case the PCIe x4 slot will be its way into compact PCs and in sound cards with a large the most. The cooling solution covered by the graphics card. maybe even high-performance graphics card coming in the used is extremely basic, but There are two x1 slots above HTPC systems. MSI’s X58M is way. doesn’t get very hot with an the first x16 slots, one of which one of the few mATX format There is an LED poster air-conditioning unit running. is blocked by the gigantic motherboards we tested. and dedicated power switches In general, it feels very cheap. northbridge heatsink. The The BIOS on on the board. For example, the Northbridge second slot is unobstructed. the X58M is If you want to know Although a great heatsinks shift a bit if you The cooling solution is similar thorough with exactly what processor board, XFX touch it. Not all is bad though MSI’s distinctive is best for your has persisted — the board is lined with overclocking with the ageing solid capacitors along vital utility called needs, check out the ALC888 sound region. Additionally, in all the Cell menu. September issue for solution — a pity. fairness it is one of the It allows a detailed processor SATA ports are less expensive X58 for accurate comparison test. When placed along the boards around. overclocking you’re done with that, side like many MSI had and overvolting. other boards, another board on Another you will know which but slightly this platform, the interesting motherboard category away from the X58 Pro. Unlike the X58M, menu is the you should look for edge of the the X58 Pro is an ATX board. DFI UT X58 Lanparty

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 91 Motherboard test Next Windows Mobile 802.11n finally approved 1,000 developers are already working WiFi 802.11n gets approval – manufacturers on the Windows Mobile 7 hint at 600 Mbps speeds

to the ones found in other DX58S0 comes with nothing SCSI over Serial ATA and are premium Gigabyte boards with special to interest buyers. This meant for extreme performance the bright blue panel covering is one of the motherboard drives. There’s plenty of space the heatsinks. The BIOS packages to come between the first two PCIe has overclocking options with a free game; in x16 slots and there are two aplenty. this case, Ghost Recon PCI slots in between. The On the more expensive Advanced Warrior. The Express Gate module is also and extreme-enthusiast Northbridge heat sink is conveniently placed in between boards, the Gigabyte EX58- cooled by a flimsy light-weight the PCI slots. The board comes Extreme, cooling is taken care heat sink. The quick guide with a nifty little overclocking of by a similar system used manual says that attaching device called the OC palm. It in the vanilla EX58-UD3R Gigabyte EX58-UD3R the bundled fan is optional. connects to the system allowing board. This has the option to We think it’s a must as this users to overclock and monitor add even more heat pipes and onboard the motherboard and heat sink gets hot quickly and all kinds of activity on the heatsinks — but this seems not one that fits into a PCIe we’ve seen blue screens in the board and off it. overkill. There are two heat slot like some of the other past while trying to run the The DFI LANPARTY UT pipes running between the motherboards from ASUS. board without the fan attached X58-T3eH8 has a very nice Northbridge and the MOSFET The Clear CMOS button is though things cool down a lot bundle. While all the other cooling heatsinks on the side. conveniently placed at the with the fan. The Southbridge enthusiast boards try to be The board has a mix of solid back of the board and can is stable and under control at serious, this one tries to put on block heatsinks as well as fine be accessed from the rear of all times. The board only has a party hat image with its bright fins. The Northbridge is also the cabinet. There are a host solid state capacitors around coloured slots and fluorescent connected to a huge flat heat of other features like support the CPU region. There are small rounded cables. A large portion sink for the Southbridge. The CPU coolers less gap between heatsinks for the MOSTETs. of the motherboard is covered heat distribution over the board the retention pins than regular Like many of Intel’s boards, this with heatsinks and heat fins is effective. one too lacks a PS2 port even surrounding the heat pipes. One of the problems is for the keyboard. The board There’s an additional heat sink with the placement of the is ideal for SLI and Crossfire supplied with the board if you standard PCI slots. There because of the ample space want to attach it to the board or is one after the first two between the two PCIe slots. The to the Northbridge heat sink. PCIe x16 slots. The PCI BIOS is basic in comparison A separate Realtek 885 audio slots are typically higher to all the other boards in its controller module is supplied than the PCIe slots, so category. The SATA ports on that has to be connected to cards with an open cooling the board point upwards which the motherboard using a with a exposed fan such could come in the way of some supplied cable without using as the one we were using cards. Intel has tried to space any PCIe slots. There is no touch the PCI slot. Unlike them out though. dedicated button to clear the the basic X58 board from The ASUS P6T Deluxe is CMOS. Instead, a combination Gigabyte, there’s a neat MSI X58 PRO another quality board. The of presses with the power little power button with the LGA1366 and the absence quality of the processor bracket and reset button is to be used clear CMOS placed right away of retention on one and the back plate behind the besides the usual jumpers. at the top-end of the board. side of the DIMM slots. The board are of the highest quality. Overclocking feature are Most of the overclocking ASUS Rampage II Extreme The board is heavy with a thick plentiful and to extreme detail. features are identical to the is a gigantic looking board. copper pipe running between a The layout of the board might standard board though. There’s Everything has the look of sequence of heatsinks from the seem a little crowded towards also a LED poster display on extreme quality to it. There MOSFETs to the Northbridge the upper region near the this one. are terminals for those who and ending at the Southbridge. expansion ports, but other than The ASUS Rampage II Gene want to use a multimeter to Cooling is very good. There are that it’s well spaced out. is the smaller version of the check voltages on the board. 8 SATA ports Rampage II Extreme board for Power buttons like the ones on out of which two Performance Intel’s Nehalem CPUs. There the Rampage II Gene are also are SAS ports. The ASUS Rampage II Gene are basic heatsinks connected positioned there. The heat sink SAS ports are gave us a well balanced score using anodized pipes. On has a light on OCTOBER 2009 list with all and scored the load, they do heat up quite a top of it which number one slot under plain lot. This board belongs to the gives the board performance score list. The Republic of Gamers family and a very nice look. larger and full ATX version so it comes with the classy The power of the Rampage II Gene, the Start and Reset buttons. There sockets for the Rampage II Extreme performed is also the LCD poster which optional fans similarly in all the tests except gives the user updates on the are put together in the file transfer tests. The temperatures, voltages and at one point so exciting DFI Lanparty X58 errors if any. Although this you don’t have board takes the second place. is an mATX board, there is cables lying all We noticed that the CPU enough space between the two over the place. performance test in Crysis PCIe x16 slots. The audio is Intel’s stock fluctuated a bit across boards powered by a SupremeFX chip X58 board, the ASUS Rampage II Extreme while the graphics benchmark

92 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Facebook Lite DirectX 11 for laptops Motherboard test Facebook launches optimised version of Mobile version of AMD’s DirectX 11 chipsets its well known social networking site rumoured to be out this November stayed pretty much the same. The Gigabyte EP43T-UD3L cooling if you plan on buying There are no optical or SPDIF While looking at the scores based on the slightly inferior a water cooling kit. There is a connectors at the back either. between a Core 2 QX9650 and P43 chipset supports DDR3 transparent panel covering the BioStar's TPower I45 board the Core i7 975 processor for a RAM. Like the EP45-UD3R, top with provision comes with an add-on moment, we see an especially this one too lacks a x4 slot. X1 for water inlet and heatsink and fan that large improvement in the CPU slots on the other hand are in outlet. The board can be mounted on one intensive benchmarks such as abundance and there are also runs perfectly cool of the heatsinks on this the DivX file conversion test two PCI slots. The x1 slots can with just the passive board. The first slot has and Cinebench. accommodate sound cards or cooling solution OCTOBER 2009 any other similar cards as long though. This one Intel Core 2 Boards as they don’t aling with the also happens to be (Discrete Graphics) RAM slots. one of the brightest The Intel LGA775 legacy There are two isolated boards with loads finally comes to an end. In a heatsinks for the Northbridge of multicoloured year’s time, there’s no telling if and the Soutbridge without bright LEDs. There we’ll still see as many LGA775 any interconnecting heat pipes. aren’t any issues or boards as we do now. The Core They do a decent job of keeping complaints about i5 is finally coming in to replace things under control. The good the board but the the Core 2 line of processors. thing about this setup is also problem is that there Biostar TPower I45 that the area around the CPU isn’t anything special Design and features is kept clear so attaching huge with it either. a long queue of jumpers right The Gigabyte EP45-UD3R heatsinks and fans is simple. MSI P45 Neo2 is based on under the first PCIe x16 slot is one of the high-end P45 The MSI P45 Diamond is the P45 chipset as well but which like some of the Gigabyte boards in the market. Gigabyte another DDR3 motherboard is a slightly less expensive boards can block a fan on an has made a name for itself for the enthusiast. The size board. The cooling is done by open card design. The jumpers especially for its P45 boards. of the box gives that away. two blocks of heatsinks one are meant for configuring the The cooling solution is one Although, it’s a high-end board, for the Northbridge and the PCIe slots. Biostar has got a of the newer styles used by it doesn’t match up to the style other for the Southbridge, both good design with this board Gigabyte with the blue badge and design of the ASUS ROG connected by a heat pipe. There and a lot of it has been laid heatsinks and anodized heat series as such. For example, the are two PCIe x1 slots adjacent out rather well. Installing our pipes connecting them together. power, reset and CMOS clear to the first PCIe x16 slot out of huge Cooler Master TX2 cooler This board only has one buttons look really cheap and which one will get obstructd by was hassle free. The processor PCIe x16 slot so this isn’t for bigger, better designed buttons a single slot graphics card. socket is placed on the extreme anyone looking for a CrossFire would’ve been a nice thing to The space around the top end of the board and the solution. There are 3 PCI slots have when you pay so much for processor is relatively clear heatsinks surround the area and one PCIe x1 slot under the a board like this. The primary without any heat pipes or have been cut low. x16 slot. Two of the other x1 heat sink supports water heatsinks in that region The ASUS Maximus II slots are placed above. There is Gene is very much like no x4 slot, so no x4 cards can the Rampage II Gene be put on this board. One of except that the Maximus the x1 slots almost touches the is based on the P45. The heat sink and the other can be Southbridge heat sink used as long as the cards aren’t is slightly banked so it long and touching the RAM doesn’t come in the way modules. The SATA ports point of the graphics card. upwards and are placed out The memory slots have of the path of a PCIe graphics a one-sided clip. This card. There are no fancy power is another board from buttons or LED displays on the RoG (Republic of this motherboard. MSI P45 Diamond Gamers) range from ASUS.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 93 Motherboard test L4D2 Intel CULV Left 4 Dead 2 game gets ASUS joins the Intel CULV processor banned in Australia bandwagon for its notebooks

Installing the heat sink isn’t so on some of the other boards The Northbridge heat sink is lot different from the other much of an issue, but the board in this test. Other than the pretty large with large fins and NVIDIA based boards we’ve flexes sharply where the heat below-par processor mounting removing heatsinks can be a seen. This ROG-series board sink is fitted. The capacitors mechanism, it’s a decent board problem but obviously this isn’t has a good SupremeFX II add- and MOSFETs are placed along with all the features including a major issue. on module which comes with one side of the processor while RAID using a JMicron chip. XFX’s nForce 790i Ultra a shield to reduce any kind of the other side is left relatively While all seems great with board uses the standard interference that an on-board free and open. The only PCIe this board, once again, we’re NVIDIA reference design. The audio chip would pickup. The x1 slot on this board will be surprised to see a LPT and 790 chipset gets very hot and quality of the board might not covered if the graphics card is COMM port at the back. The especially so the Northbridge. be anything spectacular as put on the first slot. The second only PCIe x1 slot lie right below The quality of the heat spreader compared to dedicated high- PCIe slot can be used for other the PCIe x16 slot so adding isn’t so great. Thankfully, a end sound cards but they’re a cards, but it still will be very any more PCIe cards might fan is provided which very big step on any on-board audio close to the graphics card. be impossible. Think carefully neatly fits on the Northbridge solution for sure. The board The two P45-based boards before buying this card. You heat sink. The processor is has the provision for water from ASUS were the ASUS have to resort to the other PCI surrounded by a range of cooling although the water P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi-AP @n and slots for any other expansion. heatsinks and heat pipes block looks separated from Intel’s DX48BT2 connecting them together. the rest of the heat sink and shares some similarities Although this is a pretty high- heat pipes. The bundle comes with the newer DX58SO end board, there are a lot of with pipe fittings adaptors and board. Like the X58, electrolytic capacitors used. screws needed to fit the water there are no PS2 ports. There are dedicated buttons cooling kit. It's showy looking Electrolytic capacitors are for the power and reset which too — the heatsinks and fins used all across the board. is handy. There’s also a LED are contoured with strips of The SATA ports are also poster on the side. There are metal which gives the board a ASUS P5Q Premium spaced out between where SATA ports lined up on one very clean look. There’s also the PCIe graphics cards side in between the RAM slots the glowing Republic of Gamers ASUS P5Q Premium. The WiFi- would normally go. Intel has and the PATA connector. The badge next to the Northbridge AP @n tag on the ASUS P5Q3 tried to project this board as a first two SATA ports are lined heat sink. The power and reset board denotes the inclusion of performance board for gamers. up right at the bottom of the buttons are on the board and a Wi-Fi module that supports For example, the package board. The bundle is nice too. the CMOS reset button at the 802.11n. Both the boards use contains a fancy dog tag. The There are narrow rounded back. Although the sides of the the ADI AD2000b sound chip board has built in IR support PATA cables and instead of the usual Realtek so you can remotely control the plenty of black ALC888. The difference in PC. You’ll need to purchase a SATA cables layout is the location of the remote and setup the software that go well SATA ports on the side. The yourself through. with the colour P5Q Premium has all of them The other X48 board we scheme of the neatly stacked in a row where received was the MSI X48C board. as the P5Q3 has a PATA port in Platinum. MSI calls its cooling ZOTAC’s between. The cooling is simpler solution Circupipe and it is 780i Supreme with a solid heat sink only for extensive. There is a set of board is almost the Southbridge with a blue three heat pipes running from identical EPU badge over it. The P5Q the MOSFET coolers to the to the XFX Zotac 790i Ultra SLI Premium comes with a larger Northbridge which are then nForce 790i Ultra SLI with processors are all lined up with version. Both boards are well channelled to another two minor differences here and heat pipes and heatsinks, most laid out. heatsinks down the there. In terms of design, the of the area around it is kept The MSI P43 Neo3 board. There are two Northbridge heat sink isn’t clear. is a special board that PCIe X1 slots right next as wide as the one on the has many more PCI to the primary PCIe X16 XFX 790i board. There are Performance slots than we’ve seen slot. Three standard PCI solid state capacitors again Even after a really lengthy OCTOBER 2009 slots follow the second along the processor. There’s session of testing, we weren’t PCIe x16 slot. This a Wi-Fi module bundled with expecting too many surprises means you can easily the board. The cables in the with the performance. Synthetic plug in additional LAN package aren’t rounded or benchmarks like 3DMark or sound cards. The anything. There are molex and PCMark05 stayed more CMOS reset button is to SATA power converters or less within the expected positioned behind the bundled with the board in case range. There were hardly any motherboard. The two you’re using a really old power variations in the video encoding buttons on the board supply that only came with tests as well. It has to be said are for the power and molex power connectors. that the P45 chipset generally reset function. The The Striker II NSE is ASUS’s tops the scores. The P35 was a biggest speciality of NVIDIA-powered high-end stable and a one that was used the board is the ability for the LGA775 platform. It for a long time. The P45 builds to use both DDR2 uses the top-of-the-line nForce on that and is probably one of ASUS P5Q3 Deluxe and DDR3 modules. 790i SLI chipset. It looks a the refined chipsets around.

94 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com New high-end Dell display 640 GB Motherboard test Dell launches high-performance 24-inch LCD Samsung spins out a 640 GB 2.5-inch screen - Ultrasharp U2410 hard drive

One of the cheaper P45 boards, Contact Sheet the Biostar TPower I45 was Brand Contact Phone E-mail Web site one of the better performers of ASUS ASUS Technology Pvt. Ltd. +91-22-67668800 [email protected] www.in.asus.com the lot. Intel’s own DX48BT2 Biostar Abacus Peripherals Pvt. Ltd +91-22-40914603 [email protected] www.biostar.com.tw board was among the toppers DFI Xtreme Grafix +91-9987539043 [email protected] www.dfi.com.tw in the class as well. The biggest ECS SES Technologies Ltd +91-22-30862500 [email protected] www.ecs.com.tw variations were seen in the Gigabyte Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd. +91-22-40633206 [email protected] www.gigabyte.com.tw file transfer tests where all the Intel NA NA NA www.intel.com hard drives were defragged Jetway Jetway Information Co. Ltd. +91-9871191716 [email protected] www.jetway.com.tw before the tests and yet there MSI MSI Co. Ltd. +91-11-41758808 [email protected] www.msi-india.com were some differences. Some XFX Rashi Peripherals Pvt. Ltd. +91-22-67090828 [email protected] www.xfxforce.com difference can be attributed to Zotac Aditya Infotech Ltd +91-11-46665666 [email protected] www.zotac.com the difference in performance experienced because of using DDR3 or DDR2 memory. be more than sufficient for doesn’t use an all solid-state AMD Socket AM2+/ Game benchmarks such as most people. The board has capacitor setup. There are only AM3 (Discreet S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky and an HDMI port which is a neat two RAM slots spanning most Graphics) Crysis were also almost identical thing to have. of the motherboard’s length. We talked about how most throughout the test. The MSI G43M2 is another This board is ideal for a really AMD chipsets have a decent G43 board, but this one comes cheap setup but who want graphics performance built Intel Core 2 Boards with some really unexpected some quality. This kind of into the chipset. The AMD (Integrated Graphics) features such as the LPT and board suites those who want a 790FX and 790GX are almost The Intel Core 2 processors the COM ports. On the other DirectX 10 compatible board identical chipsets. The 790GX can run on pretty much any extreme, there’s a FireWire for use with Vista for example. runs a slightly more powerful chipset for LGA775. There connector as well. The heat sink Biostar like in many other version of the 780G graphics aren’t too many chipsets for is slightly larger than the Jetway board packages chip. Even then, boards of Intel processors in recent times I43GM1-HG. The rest of the this kind are typically used by that provide decent graphics board sports standard features. Performance enthusiasts and those who go processing performance. The There isn’t anything special Intel’s onboard graphics in for dedicated graphics cards. Intel G4x series of chipsets are about this board but at the solutions have been disregarded Similarly, NVIDIA has the 780a pretty identical to the P4x series same time, there isn’t anything for the most part. NVIDIA’s chipset which makes up the of chipsets, but they come with wrong with it. 9300 chipset motherboards higher range which makes for an onboard graphics solution. Like the Jetway I43GM1, have been around a while and great SLI-capable boards on the NVIDIA too has the GeForce the ECS G41T-M2 is another you can read the reviews for AMD platform. 9300 range of chipset which basic board and it looks like a those in our last motherboard MSI’s K9N2 Diamond we’ve already seen in the last really cheap one. That’s the first test back in November last year. uses the NVIDIA nForce 780a comparison test. They matched impression you get. It looks like The cost of building systems chipset. MSI’s heat sink design the AMD 780G and also the a stock Intel G41 board with its around it has been a lot more uses the usual spiralling heat NVIDIA GeForce 8200 and green PCB. The layout of the than Intel chipsets. The Intel pipes with thin heat-fins on 8300 chipset in performance. board is basic. The Southbridge G43 and G41 chipset boards them. They aren’t very flimsy We looked some of the newer has no cooling at all. The PCI from Biostar, ECS, Jetway but they can be troublesome Intel chipsets with onboard slot is placed away but there and MSI didn’t while attaching heatsinks like graphics – the G43 and the are two PCI-E x1 slots in really break any we learnt. The cooling solution G41. between but there is only just records. We see works very well though. It’s enough space for a card. The that the G43 a little strange to see different SATA ports are placed in the boards are just kind of RAM clips used for half Features and design OCTOBER 2009 These boards are really basic a tad faster than of the slots. Huge capacitors boards with the most the G41 ones. The are used all across the board. basic of features. They difference in real A PCIe x1 X-Fi audio card is are made for those who world performance bundled along with the board just want a desktop is negligible like the high-end ASUS models. computer for everyday OCTOBER 2009 and won’t really The power control buttons use and have no interest produce any great used aren’t fancy like the other in running too many frame rates even in brands either. A good thing is games. The Jetway pretty dated games. the arrangement of all the SATA I43GM1 is one of such boards The boards sure ports over the length of two and uses the Intel G43 chipset. match up with the SATA ports. The board package The quality of heatsinks is other high-end has almost everything you’ll cheap and so is the processor Jetway I43GM1-HG boards even P45 need. There are the extra back retention mechanism. There are way of the PCIe x1 slots so in many of the video encoding panels, SLI bridges of different only two memory slots which there might be some problems and file transfer tests, so if lengths and power connector will let you install up to 8 GB if you put in a long PCIe x1 you’re building an Intel for an converters. of memory that might seem card. extremely low budget and just The Jetway HA07 Ultra less as compared to some of the The Biostar G41D-M7 is need a graphics solution built belongs to the Hummer range other motherboards. However, also pretty similar to the ECS into the board, these chipsets of boards. As compared to 8 GB still is a lot and it should G41 board. This board too will do just fine. Jetway’s entry-level boards,

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 95 Motherboard test GT300 LED displays NVIDIA rumoured to follow AMD BenQ and NEC start producing in displaying their GT300 GPU LED powered displays

branded memory chip lies in heat sink is used on top of the between it and the processor. MOSFETs. The board layout In terms of just features, it is good and there’s a good matches some of the best mix of PCI and PCIe x1 slots OCTOBER 2009 boards – in the BIOS and on it. It comes packed with overclocking department, not plenty of features as well. The so much. It’s very basic BIOS. dedicated buttons for the Amongst the two LAN ports motherboard controls is also a and HDMI port, lies an ancient nice thing to have. The board COMM port. The board isn’t a is designed for overclockers form factor fully solid state capacitor board. and the brochures that come board. The The Gigabyte MA790FX5- with it state it. There’s a switch same LED sequence UD5P is a high-end board to quickly change the FSB ASUS M4A79T Deluxe based diagnosing panel is based on the AMD 790FX speed physically. A little more present on this board. Like the chipset. The 790FX is pretty cooling would have been these are just a little more TA785GE, this too has all three much the 790GX without the nicer on a board designed for expensive but come with an display connections – DVI, VGA on-board graphics solution. overclocking. The package we abundance of features. One of and HDMI. The SATA ports are Cooling is similar to other received came with a signed the first things you notice is isolated and aren’t hugging the boards except for that it’s a completely solid-state side of the motherboard like on a few things here capacitor board. There is a almost every other board. If you and there. For colourful LED powered display think of using L-shaped SATA example, there’s at the bottom of the board. connectors on the motherboard a tiny isolated There’s a plastic sticker which end, it won’t be possible. heat sink for in place to spread the light It’s kind of funny to see so the SATA chip. through the gap in the board. many features printed on the The package Perhaps, this could have been motherboard. Everything from contains back implemented a little better. A the kind of slots to every single panel for eSATA switch card is provided to make connectivity such as the LAN, come with molex sure that the board uses the the 7.1 audio, the DVI ports, to SATA power entire PCIe x16 bandwidth. The the Firewire connectors are connectors and heat sink itself is very attractive. printed in large characters on eSATA cables as The heatsinks are connected the motherboard. The power well. This should by a copper heat pipe. The buttons and the CMOS clear technically let Biostar TA790GX A3+ pipe is connected using a set of jumper are positioned in one you use any multiple clips within the heat corner of the board. drive as an external drive very certificate of some benchmarks sink so the heat exchange isn’t The ECS A790GXM-A easily. The space between the by those who run it. This is a as much as it could have been if is another that uses the two PCIe x16 slots is sufficient slightly different treatment to a the heat pipe were completely 790GX chipset. It’s not really and there are three PCIe slots. board that we’ve seen. It’s nice consumed by a block of heat geared as a high-performance The topmost one lies in the way to know that you’ve been sold a sink for example. The two PCIe enthusiast board. The board of the Northbridge heat sink well tested product. x1 slots are placed right below is rather decent looking but Gigabyte has cleverly cut The ASUS M4A79T Deluxe the first x16 slot. Although, the with its colourful slots and out space in between so allow is an AMD 790FX chipset first one might not be usable, long cards to be board. Like the P45 boards the other one will. There are installed. from ASUS, this too uses the also two PCI slots below the Gigabyte’s ADI2000B chip for the sound. PCIe x16 slot. This board in other AMD The board doesn’t come with terms of features is a winner for powered board any PCIe x1 or x4 sized slots. its price. All the three display the MA790GP- There are four PCIe x16 slots connectivity options – VGA, UD4H board which can be utilized for any DVI and HDMI are available. has three PCIe other cards. The Southbridge There’s also an SATA port x1 slots, one heat sink is rather plain but meant for eSATA placed right of them right made of copper. ASUS being near the back of the board right next to the heat themselves have kept capacitors next to the external eSATA port. sink and almost out of the way of any PCI There are buttons of all the unusable. A line and PCIe slots. The package power controls and also CMOS of USB slots on contents are very basic. SATA clearing. With everything kept the board are cables and back panels are in mind, this is a very good available behind provided. No fancy fans or board to consider. Gigabyte MA790FXT-UD5P the second PCIe cables here. The TA790GX A3+ from X16 slot. The heatsinks are Biostar is pretty similar in a dark PCB. The positioning connected by two pipes and the Performance design to the TA785GE of the Northbridge chip is blue Gigabyte SilentPipe. The boards we tested scored motherboard and is a full- unconventional and slightly The MSI 790GX-G65 comes almost identical performance fledged ATX board instead towards the back-end of the with the necessary cooling figures across all chipsets. of a HTPC-friendly mATX board. The onboard Qimonda setup for the board. The largest Obviously, a lot depended on

96 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Thinner Adamo Paid movies on YouTube Motherboard test Dell hints at an even thinner version of YouTube talks to studios for streaming its Adamo notebook at less than 10 mm paid movies over the internet

without breaking a sweat. DVI and HDMI connectors. Decent AMD 780G based The HD4200 has a big role to boards can be found as cheap play by trying to replace the as Rs. 3,500. older but popular HTPC OCTOBER 2009 The Gigabyte MA785GM- solution chipset the 780G. This US2H runs on AMD’s 785 board is of the mATX form chipset. It uses the next factor, so it’s perfect for those generation of AMD’s on-board building HTPCs. graphics solutions the HD4200. Gigabyte’s MA785GPMT- It’s weird to see that Gigabyte UD2H runs on DDR3 and hasn’t gone with a fully solid being an AMD 785 chipset, state capacitor board. Those it’s something people will in the processor region are soon start purchasing to solid capacitors while the rest build systems based on AMD Jetway HA07 Ultra are the traditional electrolytic processors. Board prices will ones. The heat sink on the soon drop along with DDR3 the processor and the graphics AMD Socket AM2+/ Northbridge isn’t very sturdy prices into a scenario similar card but the motherboard AM3 (Integrated and wobbles from side to side to what it is today – AMD clearly wasn’t a bottleneck graphics) a little bit. There’s always that 780G boards running on anywhere. The scores seem This category of the worry that it might not be DDR2 RAM. The audio chip is a tiny more consistent than motherboards is dominated the motherboards in the Intel mainly by the slightly older LGA775. Once again, there’s but very popular AMD 780G little to comment on the chipsets and now the AMD performance differences. 785G chipset. The NVIDIA 8xxx series of chipsets has been around but we haven’t seen a lot of users adopting it as much as we’ve seen the 780G dominate most of the market. AMD’s 780G and now 785G boards come with a good onboard solution (HD 3200 in MSI K9N2 Diamond the case of the 780G and HD4200 in the 785G) and making contact with the chip now upgraded to the Realtek also a HDMI port which below. Most of the SATA and ALC889A. The CMOS jumper is makes them perfect for PATA connectors lie on the oddly placed between the two building cheap HTPCs extreme right side of the board. PCI slots. The board can be a MSI 790GX-G65 that can play HD content The board comes with all VGA, little difficult to use. The only

HOW WE TESTED or the AMD boards, a component. It runs a wide processor intensive test was the motherboards tested with Phenom II x4 965 3.4 GHz variety of desktop applications WinRAR. the dedicated graphics card. Fprocessor was used. For and a few graphic tests to For a more real world test that S.T.A.L.K.E.R Clear Sky and Crysis Intel, it was the 3 GHz Intel Core give a final score for the entire we would use every day, we used made up the real world games 2 Duo QX9650 and the Core i7 subsystem. This includes a video compression program. for this part of the test. 975 (3.33 GHz) for x58 boards. everything from the processor, DivX Converter was our choice For boards with integrated We used Corsair Dominator memory, hard drive, graphics because of its reliability. It's graphics, it was older games dual channel kits for DDR2 and card, etc. something we've used for a long such as Doom 3 and Company DDR3 modules; for the Core i7 ScienceMark was used to time now. The standard 100 MB Heroes. 3D Mark Vantage Tri-channel kit we used Kingston get scores for the memory VOB file was to be converted and was replaced by the older 3D memory. Western Digital's 300 benchmarks. We expected to the time noted. Mark 2006. Games like Crysis GB Velociraptor HDDs were used see large differences between There was no simpler way to and Stalker would bring these on all test benches. The ASUS DDR2 and DDR3 systems. The test the hard drive performance boards to a screeching halt. GeForce 9800GTX+ was used on differences in between the and the input/output With motherboards as the discrete graphics boards. All DDR2 and DDR3 scores would subsystem than to do huge file always, there's a very tiny the systems were powered by be more interesting though. copy tests on the hard drive. difference in performance Corsair's HX620 SMPS. For just pure processor and We used a single 8 GB file and between boards using the same The staple diet of any memory subsystem testing, a 3D then a folder with 8 GB of data chipset. Weights are given motherboard or any kind of rendering benchmark had to be in it. Times were recorded. to sections of the test and as desktop performance test used. Cinebench which is basically The graphics benchmarks were always performance was a small has to include PCMark; which a dedicated benchmark utility separated for boards with on- factor. The features and design itself contains a multitude of based on the popular Cinema 4D board graphics and the others. of the board on the hand were tests designed to stress each 3D modelling program. Another 3D Mark Vantage was used for given higher priority.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 97 Motherboard test

OCTOBER 2009 AMD Integrated Graphics Motherboards Brand ASUS ASUS ASUS Biostar ECS Gigabyte Gigabyte Jetway MSI Zotac M4A78-HTPC/ MA785GPMT- Model No. RC M4A785TD-M EVO M4A785TD-V EVO TA785GE 128M A785GM-M MA785GM-US2H UD2H PN78VM2-LF KA780G GeForce 8200 Price (Rupees) Rs. 7,100 Rs. 6,700 Rs. 6,700 Rs. 4,135 Rs. 4,800 Rs. 5,500 Rs. 7,500 Rs. 2,975 Rs. 7,500 Rs. 3,100 Overall (Out of 100) 56.26 60.58 67.21 48.90 60.53 55.85 57.58 46.40 54.92 45.32 Features (Out of 70) 31.39 35.16 40.55 22.89 35.20 31.60 32.32 23.88 30.87 21.44 Performance (Out of 30) 24.87 25.42 26.66 26.01 25.33 24.25 25.26 22.52 24.05 23.88 Features Chipset AMD 780G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G NVIDIA GeForce 8200 AMD 780G NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Socket AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM2+ AM2+ Northbridge / Southbridge 780G / SB700 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 GeForce 8200 780G / SB700 GeForce 8200 Memory Type DDR2 DDR3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 DDR2 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of DIMMs 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 32 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 4 GB / 2 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 No. of SATA / IDE Ports 5 / 1 5 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 2 5 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 1 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 1 N Y / 2 Y / 1 Y / 1 N Y / 1 N No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 1 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 3 / 1 / 0 2 / 0 / 0 1 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 3 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 Multi GPU (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No of PCIe Lanes N / 0 N / 0 Y / 2 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 Integrated Audio Controller Y VT1708S VT1708S Realtek ALC662 Realtek ALC 888S Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC662 Realtek ALC888 N/A Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 6 8 8 8 6 8 N/A SPDIF / Optical Port Y / Y N / Y N / Y N / N N / Y N / Y N / Y Y / N N / Y Y / N No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / 100 Mbps Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N N N N N N N N N No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 4 / 0 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 0 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 0 6 / 0 4 / 0 All Solid State Caps (Y/N) N Y Y N Y Y Y N Y N BIOS options CPU voltage range (volts) N/A 1.125 ~ 1.7 1.125 ~ 1.7 N/A N/A 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.8 ~ 1.55 N/A 1.25 ~ 1.35 CPU Voltage increments 0.05 0.00625 0.00625 0.05 N/A 0.025 0.025 0.025 N/A 0.05 Memory voltage range (volts) 1.8 ~ 2.1 1.1 ~ 1.61 1.1 ~ 1.61 1.95 ~ 2.65 N/A N/A 0.75 1.74 ~ 2.46 1.8 ~ 2.7 2.0 ~ 2.2 Memory Voltage increments 0.1 0.015 0.015 0.1 0.01 0.1 0.05 0.05 N/A 0.1 Board Layout (So 10) Region around the CPU 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 8 7 8 Location of SATA ports 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6.5 8 7 Placement of Memory modules 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 8 7 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 7 8 8 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 Package Bundle No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 1 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 2 / 1 N/A 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 Mentionable Accessories Remote control ------Performance PC Mark 05 CPU 10142 10278 10301 10220 10250 10293 10349 10230 10246 10273 Memory 6586 6365 6463 6307 6284 6578 6413 6023 6044 6205 Graphics 3372 2596 3738 3558 3417 2666 2963 2328 2399 2623 HDD 8719 8753 8761 8724 8754 8756 8731 8856 8778 8884 Overall 9341 7661 9391 9214 9235 7738 7998 7164 7493 7412 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 8242 10142 10168 9602 8609 8286 9343 8253 8072 9462 Cinebench R10 9203 11091 11142 11088 11057 11140 11141 11047 11041 11063 WinRAR 3.8 2146 2442 2401 2325 2267 2159 2197 2204 2199 2301 DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 31 30 30 31 31 31 30 31 31 31 Sequential File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 164 170 170 165 164 163 166 195 165 164 Random File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 195 187 185 191 191 190 186 202 195 196 Doom 3 FPS (800 x 600, medium detail) 55.3 60.1 60.3 57.1 55.3 55.5 59.1 49.8 57.5 62.4 3D Mark 2006 (CPU / Overall) 4618 / 1633 4691 / 1817 4698 / 1821 4655 / 1788 4682 / 1667 4652 / 1650 4706 / 1780 4530 / 1322 4665 / 1642 4542 / 1422 Company Of Heroes (1024 x 768, lowest) 40.9 43.4 43.5 40.8 34.6 39.6 44.6 33.4 39.8 38.9

PCIe x1 slot is too close the x16 slot for any sound great with its dark gray to the heat sink and it cards. Any more PCIe heatsinks. The board does get looks like a close fit for x1cards or x4 cards are out pretty hot with the benchmarks any card. The two slots OCTOBER 2009 of the question. There’s a running. The SATA ports on other than the PCIe x16 basic overclocking switch the sides are solid and divert slot are the PCI slots. positioned next to the the connectors away from the The Southbridge is just a big Northbridge. There are also cards. There is only one PCI block of metal. dedicated chunky buttons slot and two PCIe x1 slots one The MSI KA780G is a very for the power, reset and above and below the PCIe x16 basic looking board yet it packs clear CMOS functions. slot. The heat sinks although in a lot of features. The 780G The ECS A785GM-M close to the PCIe x1 slot but board comes with three PCI is a really compact mATX it’s been cut out keeping slots and a PCIe X1 slot above Jetway PN78VM2-LF board. The board looks in mind x1 cards. Being an

98 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Motherboard test

OCTOBER 2009 AMD Integrated Graphics Motherboards Brand ASUS ASUS ASUS Biostar ECS Gigabyte Gigabyte Jetway MSI Zotac M4A78-HTPC/ MA785GPMT- OCTOBER 2009 Model No. RC M4A785TD-M EVO M4A785TD-V EVO TA785GE 128M A785GM-M MA785GM-US2H UD2H PN78VM2-LF KA780G GeForce 8200 Price (Rupees) Rs. 7,100 Rs. 6,700 Rs. 6,700 Rs. 4,135 Rs. 4,800 Rs. 5,500 Rs. 7,500 Rs. 2,975 Rs. 7,500 Rs. 3,100 Overall (Out of 100) 56.26 60.58 67.21 48.90 60.53 55.85 57.58 46.40 54.92 45.32 Features (Out of 70) 31.39 35.16 40.55 22.89 35.20 31.60 32.32 23.88 30.87 21.44 Performance (Out of 30) 24.87 25.42 26.66 26.01 25.33 24.25 25.26 22.52 24.05 23.88 Features Chipset AMD 780G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G AMD 785G NVIDIA GeForce 8200 AMD 780G NVIDIA GeForce 8200 Socket AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM3 AM2+ AM2+ Northbridge / Southbridge 780G / SB700 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 785G / SB710 GeForce 8200 780G / SB700 GeForce 8200 Memory Type DDR2 DDR3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 DDR2 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of DIMMs 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 32 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 4 GB / 2 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 No. of SATA / IDE Ports 5 / 1 5 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 2 5 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 1 the boards2 has DDR3, Biostar’s E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 1 N Y / 2 Y / 1 Y / 1 N Y / 1 N changed quite a TA785GE runs on No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 lot as well. They ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO DDR2 memory No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 1 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 3 / 1 / 0 2 / 0 / 0 1 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 3 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 both come with which makes it Multi GPU (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No of PCIe Lanes N / 0 N / 0 Y / 2 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 128MB Sideport memory. The a cheaper alternative for those Integrated Audio Controller Y VT1708S VT1708S Realtek ALC662 Realtek ALC 888S Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC662 Realtek ALC888 N/A larger M4A785TD-V EVO also who are on a tight budget for Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 6 8 8 8 6 8 N/A comes with a larger heat sink. building a system. The only SPDIF / Optical Port Y / Y N / Y N / Y N / N N / Y N / Y N / Y Y / N N / Y Y / N Both the motherboards have a missing component is the No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / 100 Mbps more attractive blue heatsink HDMI connectivity. There are Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N N N N N N N N N winged design that makes them LEDs on the board which can No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 4 / 0 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 0 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 0 6 / 0 4 / 0 look like some of the most be used to identify problems All Solid State Caps (Y/N) N Y Y N Y Y Y N Y N elegant looking designs around. BIOS options No fancy copper pipes CPU voltage range (volts) N/A 1.125 ~ 1.7 1.125 ~ 1.7 N/A N/A 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.8 ~ 1.55 N/A 1.25 ~ 1.35 running around all over CPU Voltage increments 0.05 0.00625 0.00625 0.05 N/A 0.025 0.025 0.025 N/A 0.05 the place here. Express Memory voltage range (volts) 1.8 ~ 2.1 1.1 ~ 1.61 1.1 ~ 1.61 1.95 ~ 2.65 N/A N/A 0.75 1.74 ~ 2.46 1.8 ~ 2.7 2.0 ~ 2.2 Memory Voltage increments 0.1 0.015 0.015 0.1 0.01 0.1 0.05 0.05 N/A 0.1 Gate is a common feature Board Layout (So 10) on both boards. The Region around the CPU 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 8 7 8 ATX version has coolers Location of SATA ports 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6.5 8 7 for the Placement of Memory modules 8 8 8 8 8 7 8 7 8 7 MOSFETs Graphics card slot and PCI slots 7 8 8 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 while the Package Bundle cheaper No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 1 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 2 / 1 N/A 1 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 mATX Mentionable Accessories Remote control ------board Performance doesn’t. PC Mark 05 Package CPU 10142 10278 10301 10220 10250 10293 10349 10230 10246 10273 bundles are Memory 6586 6365 6463 6307 6284 6578 6413 6023 6044 6205 no different Graphics 3372 2596 3738 3558 3417 2666 2963 2328 2399 2623 either. ASUS M4A78-HTPC/RC HDD 8719 8753 8761 8724 8754 8756 8731 8856 8778 8884 Once again, Overall 9341 7661 9391 9214 9235 7738 7998 7164 7493 7412 it’s good to see brands like with the board. A small table on ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 8242 10142 10168 9602 8609 8286 9343 8253 8072 9462 Biostar come up with boards the motherboard itself explains Cinebench R10 9203 11091 11142 11088 11057 11140 11141 11047 11041 11063 based on new chipsets so early errors for the combination of WinRAR 3.8 2146 2442 2401 2325 2267 2159 2197 2204 2199 2301 for sale in India. The AMD those status LEDs. Even the DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 31 30 30 31 31 31 30 31 31 31 785G version of their board front panel pins control pins Sequential File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 164 170 170 165 164 163 166 195 165 164 is called the Biostar TA785GE have been clearly marked. Random File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 195 187 185 191 191 190 186 202 195 196 128M. The heatsinks for the The back has a panel which Doom 3 FPS (800 x 600, medium detail) 55.3 60.1 60.3 57.1 55.3 55.5 59.1 49.8 57.5 62.4 Northbridge and Southbridge prevents flexing of the board. 3D Mark 2006 (CPU / Overall) 4618 / 1633 4691 / 1817 4698 / 1821 4655 / 1788 4682 / 1667 4652 / 1650 4706 / 1780 4530 / 1322 4665 / 1642 4542 / 1422 are both very thin. Unlike the The ZOTAC GeForce 8200 Company Of Heroes (1024 x 768, lowest) 40.9 43.4 43.5 40.8 34.6 39.6 44.6 33.4 39.8 38.9 ASUS 785 boards that require comes with a thick Southbridge heat sink which is mostly a AMD 785 board, it supports is no floppy drive connector on big chunk of metal. It covers a Hybrid Graphics. The Hybrid this motherboard. It’s a great big area but it still gets really Graphics allows both on-board HTPC board. hot in no time. A fan would do graphics and dedicated PCIe The ASUS M4A785TD-M wonders for this board but it card to work in tandem. ECS EVO is the mATX version of would mean changing the heat has introduced eJIFFY which the larger AMD 785 board sink a little bit. The layout of works similar to ExpressGate from ASUS — the ASUS the board is unconventional. and allows a quick access to a M4A785TD-V EVO. The biggest The 24-pin power connector is mini operating system. There difference is the additional PCIe placed towards the back end of is a LED poster for error codes x16 slot and the standard PCI the board. This means that the and the buttons for power slot. Nothing at the back of the thick cable will run by close to functions and CMOS clear panels has changed between the CPU fan. As a competition buttons right next to it. There the two boards. The layout of Gigabyte MA785GM-US2H to the 780G, this mATX board

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 99 Motherboard test

OCTOBER 2009 OCTOBER 2009 AMD High-end Graphics Motherboards Brand ASUS Biostar ECS Gigabyte Gigabyte Jetway MSI MSI MSI Model No. M4A79T Deluxe TA790GX A3+ A790GXM-A MA790FXT-UD5P MA790GP-UD4H HA07 Ultra 790GX-G65 K9N2 SLI Platinum K9N2 Diamond Price (Rupees) Rs. 14,850 Rs. 6,395 Rs. 6,390 Rs. 14,990 Rs. 9,900 Rs. 5,500 Rs. 9,000 Rs. 7,500 Rs. 9,500 Overall (Out of 100) 66.27 60.73 56.61 65.48 61.73 62.00 65.84 66.01 66.23 Features (Out of 70) 40.91 35.52 31.43 40.47 36.06 36.37 40.65 39.44 40.99 Performance (Out of 30) 25.36 25.21 25.18 25.01 25.67 25.63 25.19 26.57 25.24 Features Chipset AMD 790FX AMD 790GX AMD 790GX AMD 790FX AMD 790GX AMD 790GX AMD 790GX AMD 750a SLI NVIDIA 780a SLI Socket AM3 AM3 AM2+ AM3 AM3 AM2+ AM3 AM2+ AM2+ Northbridge / Southbridge 790FX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790FX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790GX / SB750 750a SLI 780a SLI Memory Type DDR3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 32 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 DIMMs No. of SATA / IDE Ports 5 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 2 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 2 6 / 2 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 2 Y / 2 No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 1 / 0 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 3 / 0 2 / 3 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 Multi GPU Support (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No Y / 4 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 3 of PCIe Lanes Integrated Audio Controller Realtek 1200 Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC888S Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC889 Realtek ALC888 Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 SPDIF / Optical Port Y / Y 0 / 0 N / Y Y / Y N / Y Y / N N / Y N / Y N / N No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N N N N N N N No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 6 / 1 4 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 2 4 / 1 4 / 0 6 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 1 All Solid State Caps (Y/N) Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y BIOS options CPU voltage range (volts) 0.8 ~ 1.7 0.02 ~ 1.26 NA 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.8 ~ 1.55 1.1 ~ 1.55 1.45 ~ 1.8 Default ~ 1.8 CPU Voltage increments 0.0125 0.02 0.02 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.0125 0.025 0.025 Memory voltage range (volts) 1.5 ~ 2.5 1.66 ~ 2.84 NA Default + 0.75 Default + 0.75 1.7 ~ 2.85 1.5 ~ 2.42 1.9 ~ 2.4 1.8 ~ 2.5 Memory Voltage increments 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 Board Layout (So 10) Region around the CPU 8 8 8 7 7 7 8 8 7 Location of SATA ports 7 7 6.5 8 8 7 8 7.5 7 Placement of Memory modules 7.5 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 Package Bundle No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 3 / 0 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 2 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 2 6 / 1 Dvi-to-HDMI con- X-Fi Extreme Audio Accessories - - - - - Switch Card Molex to SATA power x2 verter, USB/Firewire card, USB/Firewire bracket, SLI bridge, bracket Performance PC Mark 05 CPU 10282 10271 10266 10291 10366 10277 10262 10258 10273 Memory 6210 6288 6152 6481 6795 6797 6136 6228 6236 Graphics 23353 13500 14695 14929 15201 14573 14832 20022 14710 HDD 8803 8760 8806 8745 8835 8771 8717 8808 8627 Overall 10097 9917 10109 10367 10275 10376 10145 12306 9985 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 9064 9616 8358 6905 9779 9493 8788 9584 9795 3D Mark Vantage CPU 37184 35584 35927 36578 36778 35952 36780 36475 35818 GPU 6959 6756 6958 6956 6990 6917 6952 7056 6912 Overall 8734 8471 8715 8722 8764 8667 8720 8838 8659 Cinebench R10 11134 11094 11056 11150 11162 11074 11104 11054 10998 WinRAR 3.8 2363 2371 2210 2293 2388 2352 2248 2251 2393 DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 31 30 30 32 30 30 31 30 30 Sequential File Transfer (8 GB File) (sec) 163 166 161 165 170 161 165 171 166 Random File Transfer (8 GB File) (sec) 193 186 188 190 192 189 189 194 233 STALKER Clear Sky (1280 x 1024, low) 79 76.1 78.2 80.1 79.9 79 78.5 78 79 Crysis (CPU - 1024 x 768, low) 68 61 64 68 67 64 67 68 71 Crysis (Graphics - 1280 x 1024, high) 45 42 44 44 44 44 45 44 43

would be a great HTPC board PN78VM2-LF runs on the are the solid-state capacitors into it which makes this board but it comes with no HDMI GeForce 8100 chipset yet packs in the important regions of the ideal as a base to build a HTPC port. The only PCIe x1 slot a punch for its low price. Even board. The heat sink is made on. The only PCIe slot is above would be useless because of the though it’s a basic board, a big of thin gauge aluminium but it the primary x16 slot. The high first PCIe x16 slot. metal plate at the back ensures works rather well for this chip. heat sink completely comes in This entry-level Jetway the board doesn’t flex. There There’s also a HDMI port built the way of the slot.

100 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com OCTOBER 2009 OCTOBER 2009 AMD High-end Graphics Motherboards Integrated Graphics Core 2 Duo Boards Brand ASUS Biostar ECS Gigabyte Gigabyte Jetway MSI MSI MSI Brand Biostar ECS Jetway MSI Model No. M4A79T Deluxe TA790GX A3+ A790GXM-A MA790FXT-UD5P MA790GP-UD4H HA07 Ultra 790GX-G65 K9N2 SLI Platinum K9N2 Diamond Model No. G41D-M7 G41T-M2 I43GM1-HG G43M2 Price (Rupees) Rs. 14,850 Rs. 6,395 Rs. 6,390 Rs. 14,990 Rs. 9,900 Rs. 5,500 Rs. 9,000 Rs. 7,500 Rs. 9,500 Price (Rupees) Rs. 2,800 Rs. 3,585 Rs. 3,300 Rs. 6,400 Overall (Out of 100) 66.27 60.73 56.61 65.48 61.73 62.00 65.84 66.01 66.23 Overall (Out of 100) 44.73 44.62 53.89 44.15 Features (Out of 70) 40.91 35.52 31.43 40.47 36.06 36.37 40.65 39.44 40.99 Features (Out of 70) 19.86 19.04 28.26 18.45 Performance (Out of 30) 25.36 25.21 25.18 25.01 25.67 25.63 25.19 26.57 25.24 Performance (Out of 30) 24.87 25.58 25.63 25.70 Features Features Chipset AMD 790FX AMD 790GX AMD 790GX AMD 790FX AMD 790GX AMD 790GX AMD 790GX AMD 750a SLI NVIDIA 780a SLI Chipset Intel G41 Intel G41 Intel G43 Intel G43 Socket AM3 AM3 AM2+ AM3 AM3 AM2+ AM3 AM2+ AM2+ Socket LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 Northbridge / Southbridge 790FX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790FX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790GX / SB750 790GX / SB750 750a SLI 780a SLI Northbridge / Southbridge G41 / ICH7 G41 / ICH7 G43 / ICH10 G43 / ICH10 Memory Type DDR3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 Memory Type DDR2 DDR2 DDR2 DDR2 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of DIMMs 8 GB / 2 8 GB / 2 8 GB / 2 4 GB / 2 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 32 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 DIMMs No. of SATA / IDE Ports 4 / 1 4 / 2 6 / 0 4 / 1 No. of SATA / IDE Ports 5 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 2 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 1 5 / 1 6 / 2 6 / 2 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 N / 0 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 2 Y / 2 No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 1 1 1 1 No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 1 / 0 / 0 1 / 2 / 0 1 / 0 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 1 / 0 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 3 / 0 2 / 3 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 Multi GPU Support (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No of PCIe Lanes N N N N Multi GPU Support (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No Y / 4 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 2 Y / 3 of PCIe Lanes Integrated Audio Controller Realtek ALC662 Realtek Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC888 Integrated Audio Controller Realtek 1200 Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC888S Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC889A Realtek ALC888 Realtek ALC889 Realtek ALC888 Creative SB X-Fi Xtreme ALC662 Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 Number of Sound channels 6 6 8 8 SPDIF / Optical Port Y / Y 0 / 0 N / Y Y / Y N / Y Y / N N / Y N / Y N / N SPDIF / Optical Port N / N N / N Y / N N / N No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N N N N N N N Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N N N No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 6 / 1 4 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 2 4 / 1 4 / 0 6 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 1 No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 4 / 0 4 / 0 4 / 0 4 / 1 All Solid State Caps (Y/N) Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y All Solid State Caps (Y/N) N N N N BIOS options BIOS options CPU voltage range (volts) 0.8 ~ 1.7 0.02 ~ 1.26 NA 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.825 ~ 2.025 0.8 ~ 1.55 1.1 ~ 1.55 1.45 ~ 1.8 Default ~ 1.8 CPU voltage range (volts) N/A N/A N/A N/A CPU Voltage increments 0.0125 0.02 0.02 0.025 0.025 0.025 0.0125 0.025 0.025 CPU Voltage increments N/A N/A 0.05 N/A Memory voltage range (volts) 1.5 ~ 2.5 1.66 ~ 2.84 NA Default + 0.75 Default + 0.75 1.7 ~ 2.85 1.5 ~ 2.42 1.9 ~ 2.4 1.8 ~ 2.5 Memory voltage range (volts) NA N/A 1.85 ~ 3.285 N/A Memory Voltage increments 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.05 Memory Voltage increments 0.1 N/A 0.03 N/A Board Layout (So 10) Board Layout (So 10) Region around the CPU 8 8 8 7 7 7 8 8 7 Region around the CPU 8 8 8 7.5 Location of SATA ports 7 7 6.5 8 8 7 8 7.5 7 Location of SATA ports 7.5 7.5 8 8 Placement of Memory modules 7.5 8 8 7 8 8 8 8 8 Placement of Memory modules 7.5 7.5 8 8 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 7 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 6.5 7 7.5 7 Package Bundle Package Bundle No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 1 / 1 1 / 1 2 / 0 1 / 1 No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 3 / 0 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 2 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 2 6 / 1 Accessories - - - - Dvi-to-HDMI con- X-Fi Extreme Audio Accessories - - - - - Switch Card Molex to SATA power x2 verter, USB/Firewire card, USB/Firewire Performance bracket, SLI bridge, bracket PC Mark 05 Performance CPU 9575 9573 9636 9658 PC Mark 05 Memory 6037 6091 6235 6280 CPU 10282 10271 10266 10291 10366 10277 10262 10258 10273 Graphics 3283 3405 2750 2705 Memory 6210 6288 6152 6481 6795 6797 6136 6228 6236 HDD 8714 9923 8824 8835 Graphics 23353 13500 14695 14929 15201 14573 14832 20022 14710 Overall 7681 7727 6686 6686 HDD 8803 8760 8806 8745 8835 8771 8717 8808 8627 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 5691 5798 6050 6012 Overall 10097 9917 10109 10367 10275 10376 10145 12306 9985 CINEBENCH R10 (CPU) 11778 11658 11393 11750 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 9064 9616 8358 6905 9779 9493 8788 9584 9795 WinRAR 3.8 1818 2086 2124 2063 3D Mark Vantage DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 32 31 31 31 CPU 37184 35584 35927 36578 36778 35952 36780 36475 35818 Sequential File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 180 163 172 179 GPU 6959 6756 6958 6956 6990 6917 6952 7056 6912 Random File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 194 193 210 193 Overall 8734 8471 8715 8722 8764 8667 8720 8838 8659 Doom 3 FPS (800 x 600, medium detail) 18.1 19.4 17.5 17.4 Cinebench R10 11134 11094 11056 11150 11162 11074 11104 11054 10998 3D Mark 2006 (CPU / Overall) 3961 / 854 4036 / 855 4015 / 1142 4134 / 1130 WinRAR 3.8 2363 2371 2210 2293 2388 2352 2248 2251 2393 Company Of Heroes (1024 x 768, lowest) 23.03 22.6 26.9 28.2 DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 31 30 30 32 30 30 31 30 30 Sequential File Transfer (8 GB File) (sec) 163 166 161 165 170 161 165 171 166 rather respectable scores Some of the boost is from the a similar. With dropping Random File Transfer (8 GB File) (sec) 193 186 188 190 192 189 189 194 233 across all fields. They also game benchmarks while the prices, these boards along STALKER Clear Sky (1280 x 1024, low) 79 76.1 78.2 80.1 79.9 79 78.5 78 79 have the advantage of being biggest contribution comes with the older AMD 780G Crysis (CPU - 1024 x 768, low) 68 61 64 68 67 64 67 68 71 cheaper than equally well from memory benchmarks and although slightly slower in Crysis (Graphics - 1280 x 1024, high) 45 42 44 44 44 44 45 44 43 performing boards for the file compression benchmarks. graphics benchmarks are Intel platform which is why in The ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO comparable with the rest of Performance general AMD based systems leads the charts overall for the benchmarks. Prices too For boards with onboard are suggest for those who are sheer performance. NVIDIA are much lower than better graphics solutions, the on a really tiny budget. We see hasn’t released any more AMD performing AMD 785G boards. performance can be a concern a new trend this time around chipsets in the meantime. The for some. The boards available where AMD 785 boards leave GeForce 8200 boards from So, what’s the best? for AMD processors have the older AMD 780 behind. Jetway and ZOTAC present We have a clear leader in every

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 101 Motherboard test

OCTOBER 2009 OCTOBER 2009 Intel Discrete Graphics Core 2 Duo Boards Brand ASUS ASUS ASUS Asus Biostar Gigabyte Gigabyte Intel MSI MSI MSI MSI XFX Zotac Zotac P5Q3 Deluxe Model No. Maximus II Gene P5Q Premium WiFi @n Striker II NSE TPOWER I45 EP43T-UD3L EP45-UD3R DX48BT2 P43 Neo3 P45 Diamond P45 Neo2 X48C Platinum 790i Ultra nForce 780i SLI 790i Ultra SLI Price (Rupees) Rs. 17,850 Rs. 18,250 Rs. 17,900 Rs. 19,750 Rs. 7,950 Rs. 6,700 Rs. 13,000 Rs. 11,500 Rs. 5,500 Rs. 10,800 Rs. 6,300 Rs. 10,500 Rs. 22,000 Rs. 11,500 Rs. 16,000 Overall (Out of 100) 70.92 76.57 79.27 68.73 70.33 62.10 65.91 61.20 57.68 72.56 64.69 66.35 62.14 65.42 63.15 Features (Out of 70) 44.33 50.25 53.05 43.48 44.04 36.14 40.01 35.16 31.82 46.61 38.96 40.34 40.34 40.27 41.39 Performance (Out of 30) 26.59 26.32 26.22 25.25 26.29 25.96 25.90 26.04 25.86 25.95 25.73 26.01 21.80 25.15 21.76 Features Chipset Intel P45 Intel P45 Intel P45 AMD 790i SLI Intel P45 Intel P43 Intel P45 Intel X48 Intel P45 Intel P45 Intel P45 Intel X48 NVIDIA 790i SLI NVIDIA 780i SLI NVIDIA 790i SLI Socket LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 Intel P45 / ICH Intel P45 / ICH Intel P45 / ICH Northbridge / Southbridge Intel P45 / ICH 10R P45 / ICH10R P45 / ICH10R 790i SLI P45 / ICH 10R Intel P45 / ICH 10 Intel P45 / ICH 10R Intel X48 10R 10R 10R Intel X48 / ICH9R 790i SLI 780i SLI 790i SLI Front Side Bus Speed (MHz) 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1333 1600 Memory Type DDR2 DDR2 DDR3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 & 3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 8 GB (DDR3) / 4 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of DIMMs 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 GB (DDR2) 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 No. of SATA / IDE Ports 7 / 1 10 / 1 8 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 1 6 / 1 8 / 1 6 / 1 8 / 1 4 / 1 6 / 0 6/1 8/1 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 2 Y / 2 N N Y / 2 N Y / 2 N Y / 2 Y / 1 N N No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 2 4 3 3 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 1 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 4 / 0 3 / 3 / 0 2 / 0 / 1 4 / 1 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 3 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2/1/0 2/2/0 Multi GPU Support (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No of PCIe Lanes Y Y Y Y Y N N Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Integrated Audio Controller SupremeFX X-Fi ADI AD2000B ADI AD2000B SupremeFX II Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Realtek ALC888 N/A N/A N/A Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 N/A N/A SPDIF / Optical Port N / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y N / N N / Y N / N N / Y Y / Y N / Y Y / Y No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 4 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N Y N N N N N N N N N N Y Y No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 6 / 1 10 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 0 8 / 1 8 / 2 4 / 0 8 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 2 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 All Solid State Caps (Y/N) Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N N N BIOS options CPU voltage range (volts) 0.85 ~ 2.4 0.85 ~ 2.10 0.85 ~ 2.10 1.1 ~ 2.4 1 ~ 2.5 0.5 ~ 2.0 0.5 ~ 2.3 1.2875 ~ 1.6 0.833 ~ 2.0175 0.886 ~ 1.8551 0.9111 ~ 1.888 1.25 ~ 2.025 0.5125 ~ 2.0 0.5 ~ 1.8 0.5125 ~ 2.0 CPU Voltage increments 0.00625 0.00625 0.00625 0.025 0.05 0.00525 0.00525 0.0125 0.0125 0.01 0.01 0.0125 0.0125 0.00625 0.0125 Memory voltage range (volts) 1.8 ~ 3.4 1.8 ~ 3.08 1.5 ~ 2.78 1.5 ~ 3.1 1.888 ~ 3.7 1.1 ~ 2.76 1.45 ~ 3.04 1.5 ~ 2.5 1.4 ~ 3.324 1.19 ~ 2.77 1.416 ~ 3.324 1.5 ~ 2.75 1.5 ~ 2.275 1.8 ~ 2.5 1.5 ~ 2.275 Memory Voltage increments 0.01325 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.1 0.04 0.012 0.01 0.012 0.04 0.025 0.025 0.025 Board Layout (So 10) Region around the CPU 8 7.5 7.5 8 8 9 8 7 7 7 8 7 6.5 7 6.5 Location of SATA ports 9 8 8 7 9 8 9 7.5 9 9 6.5 8 8 8 8 Placement of Memory modules 9 7.5 7.5 7 8 7 9 8 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 8 7 7 7 7 7 6.5 7 8 7 7 8 7.5 7.5 7.5 Package Bundle No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 4 / 1 8 / 2 8 / 2 6 / 2 6 / 1 1 / 1 4 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 1 4/2 LED poster, cooling Accessories LED poster Cooling fan Wi-Fi antenna, fan, SupremeFX II Cooling fan - - - - X-Fi audio - - - Wi-fi fit, cooling fan - cooling fan Audio card Performance PC Mark 05 CPU 9658 9671 9658 9624 9662 9641 9625 9619 9661 9652 9647 9639 9627 9615 9636 Memory 6641 6646 6630 6534 6580 6523 6378 6482 6407 6532 6252 6308 6801 6661 6874 Graphics 15370 15381 15567 20103 15373 15062 15375 15082 14729 14716 14738 14895 14269 14341 13626 HDD 8850 8820 8851 8292 8778 8859 8775 8729 8821 8812 8774 8748 8219 8270 8113 Overall 9501 9413 9484 8995 9407 9349 9341 9336 9256 9281 9150 9284 9122 9114 9205 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 6746 6897 6688 6623 6679 6524 6337 6482 6436 6688 6600 6706 7192 6733 6820 3D Mark Vantage CPU 38132 38918 38582 36857 37157 37112 36420 38935 37101 36183 35575 36910 N/A 36453 N/A GPU 6976 7078 7001 6984 6967 6978 6975 6962 6980 6947 6958 6983 N/A 6941 N/A Overall 8766 8898 8802 8759 8743 8755 8742 8760 8757 8705 8709 8759 N/A 8703 N/A Cinebench R10 11711 11502 11847 11701 11828 11721 11650 11643 11798 11759 11614 11859 11493 11795 11211 WinRAR 3.8 2570 2557 2530 2121 2518 2334 2302 2365 2321 2372 2448 2289 2474 1819 2446 DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 29 32.2 33.1 32 30 30 30 30 30 30 31 30 32 31 31 Sequential File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 172 171 162.8 174 175 179 175 175 182 180 177 172 177 175 178 Random File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 192 189.1 193.3 202 196 198 194 193 192 192 200 192 200 204 210 STALKER Clear Sky (1280 x 1024, low) 80.7 81.1 81.2 78 78.8 78.7 78.4 80.2 76.9 76.9 76.8 79.2 78 80 80 Crysis (CPU - 1024 x 768, low) 69 85 84 72 73 72 70 71 70 71 72 71 77 72 74 Crysis (Graphics - 1280 x 1024, high) 45 45 42 45 45 45 45 45 45 44 44 44 44 44 44

category — it’s for you to decide board to go for if price isn’t an next in the line. It might not not just on the board but also the budget you have and what issue. At Rs. 28,500, it’s a lot come with too many fancy in the BIOS and in the way the you need from your system. to pay for a board and it takes audio card modules but is a board is laid out. It matches the For the Core i7 processors, we the budget of an Intel Core i7 really solid board for its price. smaller version of the Rampage strongly believe that the ASUS system very high. The Biostar This board just like any other II Extreme — the Rampage II Rampage II Extreme is the TPower X58 shockingly is the enthusiast board has features Gene. Going away from the

102 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Motherboard test

Intel Discrete Graphics Core 2 Duo Boards Brand ASUS ASUS ASUS Asus Biostar Gigabyte Gigabyte Intel MSI MSI MSI MSI XFX Zotac Zotac P5Q3 Deluxe Model No. Maximus II Gene P5Q Premium WiFi @n Striker II NSE TPOWER I45 EP43T-UD3L EP45-UD3R DX48BT2 P43 Neo3 P45 Diamond P45 Neo2 X48C Platinum 790i Ultra nForce 780i SLI 790i Ultra SLI Price (Rupees) Rs. 17,850 Rs. 18,250 Rs. 17,900 Rs. 19,750 Rs. 7,950 Rs. 6,700 Rs. 13,000 Rs. 11,500 Rs. 5,500 Rs. 10,800 Rs. 6,300 Rs. 10,500 Rs. 22,000 Rs. 11,500 Rs. 16,000 Overall (Out of 100) 70.92 76.57 79.27 68.73 70.33 62.10 65.91 61.20 57.68 72.56 64.69 66.35 62.14 65.42 63.15 Features (Out of 70) 44.33 50.25 53.05 43.48 44.04 36.14 40.01 35.16 31.82 46.61 38.96 40.34 40.34 40.27 41.39 Performance (Out of 30) 26.59 26.32 26.22 25.25 26.29 25.96 25.90 26.04 25.86 25.95 25.73 26.01 21.80 25.15 21.76 Features Chipset Intel P45 Intel P45 Intel P45 AMD 790i SLI Intel P45 Intel P43 Intel P45 Intel X48 Intel P45 Intel P45 Intel P45 Intel X48 NVIDIA 790i SLI NVIDIA 780i SLI NVIDIA 790i SLI Socket LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 LGA775 Intel P45 / ICH Intel P45 / ICH Intel P45 / ICH Northbridge / Southbridge Intel P45 / ICH 10R P45 / ICH10R P45 / ICH10R 790i SLI P45 / ICH 10R Intel P45 / ICH 10 Intel P45 / ICH 10R Intel X48 10R 10R 10R Intel X48 / ICH9R 790i SLI 780i SLI 790i SLI Front Side Bus Speed (MHz) 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1600 1333 1600 Memory Type DDR2 DDR2 DDR3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 DDR2 DDR2 & 3 DDR3 DDR2 DDR3 8 GB (DDR3) / 4 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of DIMMs 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8GB / 4 16 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 16 GB / 4 GB (DDR2) 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 8 GB / 4 No. of SATA / IDE Ports 7 / 1 10 / 1 8 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 1 6 / 1 8 / 1 6 / 1 8 / 1 4 / 1 6 / 0 6/1 8/1 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 2 Y / 2 N N Y / 2 N Y / 2 N Y / 2 Y / 1 N N No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 2 4 3 3 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 1 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 4 / 0 3 / 3 / 0 2 / 0 / 1 4 / 1 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 3 / 2 / 0 2 / 2 / 0 2/1/0 2/2/0 Multi GPU Support (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No of PCIe Lanes Y Y Y Y Y N N Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Integrated Audio Controller SupremeFX X-Fi ADI AD2000B ADI AD2000B SupremeFX II Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Realtek ALC888 N/A N/A N/A Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 N/A N/A SPDIF / Optical Port N / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y Y / Y N / N N / Y N / N N / Y Y / Y N / Y Y / Y No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 4 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N Y N N N N N N N N N N Y Y No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 6 / 1 10 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 0 8 / 1 8 / 2 4 / 0 8 / 1 6 / 0 8 / 2 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 All Solid State Caps (Y/N) Y Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N N N BIOS options CPU voltage range (volts) 0.85 ~ 2.4 0.85 ~ 2.10 0.85 ~ 2.10 1.1 ~ 2.4 1 ~ 2.5 0.5 ~ 2.0 0.5 ~ 2.3 1.2875 ~ 1.6 0.833 ~ 2.0175 0.886 ~ 1.8551 0.9111 ~ 1.888 1.25 ~ 2.025 0.5125 ~ 2.0 0.5 ~ 1.8 0.5125 ~ 2.0 CPU Voltage increments 0.00625 0.00625 0.00625 0.025 0.05 0.00525 0.00525 0.0125 0.0125 0.01 0.01 0.0125 0.0125 0.00625 0.0125 Memory voltage range (volts) 1.8 ~ 3.4 1.8 ~ 3.08 1.5 ~ 2.78 1.5 ~ 3.1 1.888 ~ 3.7 1.1 ~ 2.76 1.45 ~ 3.04 1.5 ~ 2.5 1.4 ~ 3.324 1.19 ~ 2.77 1.416 ~ 3.324 1.5 ~ 2.75 1.5 ~ 2.275 1.8 ~ 2.5 1.5 ~ 2.275 Memory Voltage increments 0.01325 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.05 0.02 0.1 0.04 0.012 0.01 0.012 0.04 0.025 0.025 0.025 Board Layout (So 10) Region around the CPU 8 7.5 7.5 8 8 9 8 7 7 7 8 7 6.5 7 6.5 Location of SATA ports 9 8 8 7 9 8 9 7.5 9 9 6.5 8 8 8 8 Placement of Memory modules 9 7.5 7.5 7 8 7 9 8 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 8 7 7 7 7 7 6.5 7 8 7 7 8 7.5 7.5 7.5 Package Bundle No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 4 / 1 8 / 2 8 / 2 6 / 2 6 / 1 1 / 1 4 / 1 1 / 1 1 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 1 4/2 LED poster, cooling Accessories LED poster Cooling fan Wi-Fi antenna, fan, SupremeFX II Cooling fan - - - - X-Fi audio - - - Wi-fi fit, cooling fan - cooling fan Audio card Performance PC Mark 05 CPU 9658 9671 9658 9624 9662 9641 9625 9619 9661 9652 9647 9639 9627 9615 9636 Memory 6641 6646 6630 6534 6580 6523 6378 6482 6407 6532 6252 6308 6801 6661 6874 Graphics 15370 15381 15567 20103 15373 15062 15375 15082 14729 14716 14738 14895 14269 14341 13626 HDD 8850 8820 8851 8292 8778 8859 8775 8729 8821 8812 8774 8748 8219 8270 8113 Overall 9501 9413 9484 8995 9407 9349 9341 9336 9256 9281 9150 9284 9122 9114 9205 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 6746 6897 6688 6623 6679 6524 6337 6482 6436 6688 6600 6706 7192 6733 6820 3D Mark Vantage CPU 38132 38918 38582 36857 37157 37112 36420 38935 37101 36183 35575 36910 N/A 36453 N/A GPU 6976 7078 7001 6984 6967 6978 6975 6962 6980 6947 6958 6983 N/A 6941 N/A Overall 8766 8898 8802 8759 8743 8755 8742 8760 8757 8705 8709 8759 N/A 8703 N/A Cinebench R10 11711 11502 11847 11701 11828 11721 11650 11643 11798 11759 11614 11859 11493 11795 11211 WinRAR 3.8 2570 2557 2530 2121 2518 2334 2302 2365 2321 2372 2448 2289 2474 1819 2446 DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 29 32.2 33.1 32 30 30 30 30 30 30 31 30 32 31 31 Sequential File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 172 171 162.8 174 175 179 175 175 182 180 177 172 177 175 178 Random File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 192 189.1 193.3 202 196 198 194 193 192 192 200 192 200 204 210 STALKER Clear Sky (1280 x 1024, low) 80.7 81.1 81.2 78 78.8 78.7 78.4 80.2 76.9 76.9 76.8 79.2 78 80 80 Crysis (CPU - 1024 x 768, low) 69 85 84 72 73 72 70 71 70 71 72 71 77 72 74 Crysis (Graphics - 1280 x 1024, high) 45 45 42 45 45 45 45 45 45 44 44 44 44 44 44

scores, we like the DFI UT especially now for Core i7 P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi @n followed board and then use the same Lanparty X58 board as well. boards. by the ASUS P5Q Premium. DDR3 modules for a Core i5 It’s a good overclockers board For those who are upgrading The P5Q3 Deluxe comes with or i7 processor. The MSI P45 in our opinion and the bundle to faster Intel Core 2 powered a Wi-Fi module and also runs Diamond lags a little bit behind and design is also something systems, the best offering comes on DDR3. Those with larger these two boards but it’s also new in motherboards and from ASUS once again – ASUS budgets can go in for this priced a lot lower. Biostar makes

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 103 Motherboard test

OCTOBER 2009 OCTOBER 2009

Intel Core i7 Motherboards Brand ASUS ASUS ASUS Biostar DFI Gigabyte Gigabyte GIGABYTE Intel MSI MSI XFX ZOTAC Model No. P6T Deluxe Rampage II Extreme Rampage II Gene Tpower X58 UT X58 Lanparty EX58-Extreme EX58-UD3R EX58-UD5 DX58SO X58 PRO X58M X58i X58 Price (Rupees) Rs. 24,000 Rs. 28,500 Rs. 17.850 Rs. 12,500 Rs. 19,500 Rs. 21,500 Rs. 14,500 Rs. 17,500 Rs. 12,800 Rs. 12,500 Rs. 10,500 Rs. 13,250 Rs. 12,500 Overall (Out of 100) 71.47 75.94 72.02 72.51 65.73 70.71 66.70 68.52 63.09 69.80 63.67 68.96 58.77 Features (Out of 70) 45.59 49.89 45.63 46.67 39.42 44.74 41.10 42.74 37.16 43.99 40.73 44.90 34.43 Performance (Out of 30) 25.88 26.05 26.39 25.84 26.31 25.97 25.90 25.78 25.93 25.81 22.94 24.06 24.34 Features Chipset Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Socket LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA 1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 Intel X58 / Northbridge / Southbridge Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R X58 / ICH10R ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R QPI (GT/s) 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 Memory Type DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of DIMMs 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 / 6 16 GB / 4 24 GB / 6 16 GB / 4 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 12 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 No. of SATA / IDE Ports 6 / 1 (2 SAS ports) 7 / 1 7 / 1 6 / 1 8/2 6 / 1 8 / 1 10 /1 6 / 0 7 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 2 N N N N Y / 2 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y/2 N No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 2 / 0 / 1 1 / 2 / 0 1 / 0 / 1 2 / 1 / 0 2/0/1 2 / 1 / 1 2 / 2 / 1 2 / 1 / 1 1 / 2 / 1 2 / 2 / 0 1 / 0 / 1 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 Multi GPU Support (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No of PCIe Lanes Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Integrated Audio Controller ADI AD2000B SupremeFX SupremeFX Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 SPDIF / Optical Port Y / Y Y/Y N / Y Y/Y Y/N Y/Y Y/Y Y / Y N / N N / Y N Y / Y Y / N No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N N N N N N N N N N N N No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 8 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 8/1 6/1 8 / 1 8 / 1 8 / 1 8 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 1 All Solid State Caps (Y/N) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y BIOS options CPU voltage range (volts) 0.85 ~ 2.1 0.85 ~ 2.5 0.5 ~ 2.5 N/A 1.06255 ~ 1.6 0.5 ~ 1.9 0.5 ~ 1.9 0.5 ~ 1.9 1 ~ 1.6 0.9 ~ 1.9 0.9 ~ 1.9 N/A N/A CPU Voltage increments 0.00625 0.00525 0.00525 0.02 0.05005 0.00525 0.00525 0.00625 0.0125 0.01 0.01 0.00625 N/A Memory voltage range (volts) 1.2 ~ 1.9 1.51 ~ 2.5 1.51 ~ 2.5 1.5 ~ 2.760 1.455 ~ 2.4 1.3 ~ 2.6 1.3~2.6 1.3 ~ 2.6 1.5 ~ 2.5 1.2 ~ 2.77 1.49 ~ 2.77 1.0 ~ 1.6 N/A Memory Voltage increments 0.00625 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.015 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 N/A Board Layout (So 10) Region around the CPU 8 7.5 8 8 7 8 8 8 9 8 8 8 9 Location of SATA ports 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 9 7 8 9 9 9 Placement of Memory modules 8.75 9 9 9 8 9 9 8.75 9 9 8.5 9 9 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 7.5 7 7 7.5 7.5 6.5 6.5 7 7 7.5 6.5 7.5 7.5 Package Bundle No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 2,1 6 / 1 4 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 0 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 0 4 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 2 4 / 1 LCD poster, SupremeFX, Additional heat- Cooling fan, Ghost Recon Accessories - temperature sensors LCD poster - - sinks - - Advanced Warrior disc - - - - Performance PC Mark 05 CPU 11005 11003 11011 10955 11391 11096 10959 11551 11405 10981 10977 10918 10936 Memory 10447 10248 10562 10243 9930 10502 10330 10707 9843 10268 10280 9942 10082 Graphics 15801 15637 15660 15584 22248 15817 15773 15694 14344 15640 15678 15614 15423 HDD 8914 8578 8880 8890 8679 8879 8885 8769 8513 8842 8857 8743 8866 Overall 10419 10040 10724 9899 10656 10078 9992 10241 10175 10047 9833 9814 10136 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 13959 14328 14324 14103 13882 14070 13629 14004 14404 13943 13941 13821 13113 3D Mark Vantage CPU 43090 43918 45389 44161 45177 45582 45297 45655 43881 44669 44938 43451 43765 GPU 6936 6973 6943 6935 7042 6941 6938 6940 6932 6938 6937 6934 6948 Overall 8777 8830 8808 8787 8926 8808 8801 8807 8780 8795 8797 8779 8799 Cinebench R10 16048 15490 15917 16010 16307 15873 16198 16803 15756 15852 15953 15942 15898 WinRAR 3.8 4779 4722 4734 4752 4530 4697 4517 4639 4747 4747 4740 4574 4370 DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 20.3 18 19 19 19 18 18 20.7 19 19 20.6 20 19 Sequential File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 168.1 174 172 174 168 185 178 165.9 172 186 165.4 171 174 Random File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 194.8 191 180 181 199 190 185 195.6 194 185 193.2 193 190 STALKER Clear Sky (1280 x 1024, low) 79.5 84.9 83.3 83.7 83.1 84.3 82.8 78.9 84.6 84.1 N/A 83.5 82.7 Crysis (CPU - 1024 x 768, low) 93 83 82 82 96 80 82 95 80 84 100 79 78 Crysis (Graphics - 1280 x 1024, high) 44 45 45 44 45 44 44 44 45 45 44 44 45

its appearance once again with decent board to build a system the ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO The ECS A785GM-M is another its rather inexpensive offering around. It’s got a BIOS that’s stands at the top right ahead one that ties with the ASUS — the TPower I45 at Rs. 7,950. better than what the other of M4A785TD-M EVO. In M4A785TD-M EVO. Biostar’s Those who want an Intel board boards in its group had to offer. performance, they’re almost TA785GE is the cheapest with integrated graphics should Performance isn’t too shabby the same. They also happen to 785G offering of the lot. Those look at the really cheap Jetway either. be some of the cheaper boards wanting to build the cheapest I43GM1-HG. At Rs. 3,300, it’s a For the AMD processors, based on the AMD 785 chipset. HTPC or even an everyday-use

104 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Motherboard test

Intel Core i7 Motherboards Brand ASUS ASUS ASUS Biostar DFI Gigabyte Gigabyte GIGABYTE Intel MSI MSI XFX ZOTAC Model No. P6T Deluxe Rampage II Extreme Rampage II Gene Tpower X58 UT X58 Lanparty EX58-Extreme EX58-UD3R EX58-UD5 DX58SO X58 PRO X58M X58i X58 Price (Rupees) Rs. 24,000 Rs. 28,500 Rs. 17.850 Rs. 12,500 Rs. 19,500 Rs. 21,500 Rs. 14,500 Rs. 17,500 Rs. 12,800 Rs. 12,500 Rs. 10,500 Rs. 13,250 Rs. 12,500 Overall (Out of 100) 71.47 75.94 72.02 72.51 65.73 70.71 66.70 68.52 63.09 69.80 63.67 68.96 58.77 Features (Out of 70) 45.59 49.89 45.63 46.67 39.42 44.74 41.10 42.74 37.16 43.99 40.73 44.90 34.43 Performance (Out of 30) 25.88 26.05 26.39 25.84 26.31 25.97 25.90 25.78 25.93 25.81 22.94 24.06 24.34 Features Chipset Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Intel X58 Socket LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA 1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 LGA1366 Intel X58 / Northbridge / Southbridge Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R X58 / ICH10R ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R Intel X58 / ICH10R QPI (GT/s) 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 6400 Memory Type DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 DDR3 Max Memory Supported (GB) / No of DIMMs 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 24 / 6 16 GB / 4 24 GB / 6 16 GB / 4 24 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 12 GB / 6 24 GB / 6 No. of SATA / IDE Ports 6 / 1 (2 SAS ports) 7 / 1 7 / 1 6 / 1 8/2 6 / 1 8 / 1 10 /1 6 / 0 7 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 E-SATA Support / No of E-SATA Ports Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y / 2 N N N N Y / 2 Y / 1 Y / 1 Y/2 N No of PCI Express x16 graphics slots 3 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 No. of PCI / PCI x1 / PCI x4 Slots 2 / 0 / 1 1 / 2 / 0 1 / 0 / 1 2 / 1 / 0 2/0/1 2 / 1 / 1 2 / 2 / 1 2 / 1 / 1 1 / 2 / 1 2 / 2 / 0 1 / 0 / 1 2 / 1 / 0 2 / 1 / 0 Multi GPU Support (SLI/CrossFire/N) / No of PCIe Lanes Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Integrated Audio Controller ADI AD2000B SupremeFX SupremeFX Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Number of Sound channels 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 SPDIF / Optical Port Y / Y Y/Y N / Y Y/Y Y/N Y/Y Y/Y Y / Y N / N N / Y N Y / Y Y / N No of LAN Ports / 10/100 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit 2 / Gigabit 1 / Gigabit Integrated Wi-Fi (Y/N) N N N N N N N N N N N N N No. of rear USB / FireWire Ports 8 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 8/1 6/1 8 / 1 8 / 1 8 / 1 8 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 1 All Solid State Caps (Y/N) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y BIOS options CPU voltage range (volts) 0.85 ~ 2.1 0.85 ~ 2.5 0.5 ~ 2.5 N/A 1.06255 ~ 1.6 0.5 ~ 1.9 0.5 ~ 1.9 0.5 ~ 1.9 1 ~ 1.6 0.9 ~ 1.9 0.9 ~ 1.9 N/A N/A CPU Voltage increments 0.00625 0.00525 0.00525 0.02 0.05005 0.00525 0.00525 0.00625 0.0125 0.01 0.01 0.00625 N/A Memory voltage range (volts) 1.2 ~ 1.9 1.51 ~ 2.5 1.51 ~ 2.5 1.5 ~ 2.760 1.455 ~ 2.4 1.3 ~ 2.6 1.3~2.6 1.3 ~ 2.6 1.5 ~ 2.5 1.2 ~ 2.77 1.49 ~ 2.77 1.0 ~ 1.6 N/A Memory Voltage increments 0.00625 0.01 0.01 0.02 0.015 0.02 0.02 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.01 0.01 N/A Board Layout (So 10) Region around the CPU 8 7.5 8 8 7 8 8 8 9 8 8 8 9 Location of SATA ports 9 9 9 9 8 9 9 9 7 8 9 9 9 Placement of Memory modules 8.75 9 9 9 8 9 9 8.75 9 9 8.5 9 9 Graphics card slot and PCI slots 7.5 7 7 7.5 7.5 6.5 6.5 7 7 7.5 6.5 7.5 7.5 Package Bundle No of SATA / PATA Cables Provided 2,1 6 / 1 4 / 1 6 / 1 4 / 0 4 / 1 2 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 0 4 / 1 4 / 1 4 / 2 4 / 1 LCD poster, SupremeFX, Additional heat- Cooling fan, Ghost Recon Accessories - temperature sensors LCD poster - - sinks - - Advanced Warrior disc - - - - Performance PC Mark 05 CPU 11005 11003 11011 10955 11391 11096 10959 11551 11405 10981 10977 10918 10936 Memory 10447 10248 10562 10243 9930 10502 10330 10707 9843 10268 10280 9942 10082 Graphics 15801 15637 15660 15584 22248 15817 15773 15694 14344 15640 15678 15614 15423 HDD 8914 8578 8880 8890 8679 8879 8885 8769 8513 8842 8857 8743 8866 Overall 10419 10040 10724 9899 10656 10078 9992 10241 10175 10047 9833 9814 10136 ScienceMark (Memory Bandwidth) 13959 14328 14324 14103 13882 14070 13629 14004 14404 13943 13941 13821 13113 3D Mark Vantage CPU 43090 43918 45389 44161 45177 45582 45297 45655 43881 44669 44938 43451 43765 GPU 6936 6973 6943 6935 7042 6941 6938 6940 6932 6938 6937 6934 6948 Overall 8777 8830 8808 8787 8926 8808 8801 8807 8780 8795 8797 8779 8799 Cinebench R10 16048 15490 15917 16010 16307 15873 16198 16803 15756 15852 15953 15942 15898 WinRAR 3.8 4779 4722 4734 4752 4530 4697 4517 4639 4747 4747 4740 4574 4370 DivX Video Encoding (100 MB VOB) (sec) 20.3 18 19 19 19 18 18 20.7 19 19 20.6 20 19 Sequential File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 168.1 174 172 174 168 185 178 165.9 172 186 165.4 171 174 Random File Transfer Test (8 GB File) (sec) 194.8 191 180 181 199 190 185 195.6 194 185 193.2 193 190 STALKER Clear Sky (1280 x 1024, low) 79.5 84.9 83.3 83.7 83.1 84.3 82.8 78.9 84.6 84.1 N/A 83.5 82.7 Crysis (CPU - 1024 x 768, low) 93 83 82 82 96 80 82 95 80 84 100 79 78 Crysis (Graphics - 1280 x 1024, high) 44 45 45 44 45 44 44 44 45 45 44 44 45

desktop PC should consider 790GX chipsets can be used. life tops the chart. MSI’s K9N2 continue to fall depending it. It even uses DDR2 memory NVIDIA too has the nForce Diamond powered by the on several conditions. Once which is extremely cheap at the 780a and 750a chipsets. In NVIDIA 780a chipset follows. you’ve decided the budget and moment. our test, we see ASUS, MSI and There are many factors that what processor you’re going in Those who want to build Gigabyte leading the charts. govern what kind of system you for. As it stands today, AMD’s systems based on the faster for The ASUS M4A79T Deluxe build and what processor you motherboard-processor make a CrossFire, AMD’s 790FX and which is almost at the end of its go for. Prices will almost always great low cost combo.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 105 Stayinvisible.com Gives you a list of proxy servers and Socially anonymous According to a researcher at Worcester Workshop tools such as proxy checkers, IP Polytechnic Institute, companies can track verifiers, and email testers for testing your surfing habits from social networking whether you are indeed anonymous web sites Workshop on Anonymous Browsing Mohamed Rameez observer is unable to track on ‘surf!’ to visit the webpage. displayed. However, you will [email protected] from the source to the user. Also, there are several fields notice that to each webpage, There are two basic methods that you check or uncheck snoopblock.com adds a frame nonymous browsing to browse anonymously. These depending on your needs. on top with advertisements is the process of are •Java: Checking this enables on it. browsing the internet 1. Web based proxy services web deployed Java-based The second popular method while keeping such as https://www. applications such as Java for browsing the internet Aany personally identifiable snoopblocker.com. applets, programmes such anonymously is the usage information secret. With the 2. VPN and proxy clients such as stock tickers or even new of virtual private network help of the IP address, the as Tor and Hotspot shield. Gmail and Hotmail versions clients such as Tor, Java Anon physical location of your A web based proxy to run through snoopblock. Proxy and Hotspot shield. computer can be determined, service such as https://www. However, these programmes We will look at how to install indirectly leading to the snoopblocker.com works by can gather significant Tor, which is available for revelation of your identity. having a web server as an information and When you browse without intermediary between a user hence compromise anonymous browsing tools and a web server. Users are on your anonymity. •Javascript: Javascript is required to run most modern web pages. The drawbacks of enabling this are similar to that of enabling Java. •Cookies: Cookies enable the webpage to perform certain essential web- based functions Google through snoopblocker such as keeping the user signed in at all times and Vidalia comes with added flexibility through a standard internet connected over a secure 128 remembering his service provider, your bit SSL connection. browsing record. However, download from www.torproject. computer is identified via an On snoopblocker.com, the some malicious web sites org as a 10-MB file. The bundle IP address, and sends out a central field is where you post cookies known as contains four components, request to the server on which should type the address of the tracking cookies, which namely Tor, Vidalia, Privoxy the web page is served. The web site you wish to browse. gather information about your and Torbutton. basic principle behind all After this has been done, click activities. Tor is the basic tool that anonymous browsing •Active X : Allows helps in setting up a VPN node tools is the routing of Microsoft active X content on your computer so that you communications through to be displayed. Poses may connect to other users of a third server that is no major threats to Tor for anonymous browsing. committed to protecting anonymity buy may slow Tor being a command line tool, the identities of the end down the loading process it is supplied with Vidalia, a user. Hence, anonymous due to higher bandwidth Graphic User Interface utility browsing is basically requirements. that allows you to quickly and the art of routing web After ticking the easily set up Tor and get it page requests and other required options, entering running. packet information over the required address and Privoxy is a filtering tool the internet over various clicking the ‘surf!’ button, that monitors every web page lines so that an external the requested page is and other internet service

106 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Chrome Filter Private on Android According to its End User Lincence Aggreement, A University of Cambridge student Google reserves the right pre-screen, review, has come up with two apps that Workshop flag, filter, modify, refuse or remove any or all allow you to browse anonymously on Content from any service Android-based phones request from your computer their requests. This to impose content restrictions and filters it off all personal is a process called upon one of the Tor users data, adding an extra layer of relaying. This can be routed through your computer anonymity. Torbutton is an done by clicking on fails in his schemes. add-on toolbar for Mozilla the “Set Up relaying” To view a list of computers Firefox that allows you to button on the Vidalia that are connected through quickly turn anonymous control panel. In the you and computers that you browsing on and off, without menu that pops up, connect to Tor through, click having to go to Tor. you are given three the “View the Network” button Privoxy and Torbutton are options. While you on the Vidalia control panel. optional while you will find can choose to remain a that Vidalia simplifies the passive user of the Tor A word of caution job of getting Tor running services by choosing Anonymous browsing to such a large extent, you the first option (Run remains anonymous only would prefer to install it. as client only), the due to the commitment on second option (Relay the part of providers such as The Vidalia Control Traffic for the Tor snoopblocker.com, the various Panel These settings make you a participating member of the network) makes computers on the Tor network Once installed, the Vidalia Tor network tings you a full part of the to keep it anonymous. Every control panel appears in the Tor network. This time you make a connection system tray (a yellow onion new browsing/other service makes your computer a node request to these servers / icon while connecting, black request you make appears as through which other users computers in order to access when not connected and if it is coming from a totally may browse anonymously. a web site or a file on the green when fully connected). new computer. This provides You are encouraged to use internet, these activities are Double-clicking on this opens you with an added level of this option as it is through logged. However, these logs the control panel. anonymity. other volunteers like you that are kept secret as a matter To start Tor, one must click These settings make you a you are able to utilise the Tor of principle by these very the Start Tor button on the participating member of the network. If you choose the providers. control panel. Once clicked, Tor network. second option you are given Many programs available it starts connecting to Tor. Now you know how to the option of specifying what on the internet claiming Various status messages are to be tools for anonymous displayed till the green bar Give us your feedback at browsing are exactly opposite reaches full, at which point www.thinkdigit.com/d/oct09 of that - they compromise your you are completely connected security and assist individuals to Tor and the status changes enjoy anonymous browsing type of connections is allowed in perpetrating crimes such as to “Connected to the Tor using Tor. However, your role through your computer. You identity theft. network”. At this point, in the Tor network is not just may also choose to give an Also, the providers maintain you may start browsing the limited to this. As you know, anonymous email id. You the services and their assurance internet and all your actions the anonymity of Tor users may also set bandwidth limits of anonymity only because of will be anonymous. is maintained by rerouting on the connections routed a belief in the right of every If you have difficulty the communications around through your computer. individual to have online connecting, or the progress the network through its The third option, (Help privacy (and commercial of the green bar is too slow, various nodes until it becomes Censored users reach the interests). Any attempt at it may be due to the fact that untraceable. You may choose Tor network) makes your misusing this anonymity and your ISP requires you to use a to help Tor network by making computer an encrypted Node freedom given to you online proxy, or you may be part of your computer a node through of the tor network so that for malevolent purposes a local area network in which which others can route anyone (Maybe an ISP) trying (stalking, blackmail, anything the local computers connect illegal) could adversely affect to the internet through a that commitment. It is also local proxy. If this is the case, possible for an individual click on the ‘settings’ button, to have a court subpoena go to the ‘Network’ Tab and the connection records of a tick I use a proxy to server to obtain user specific access the internet. In information, if the court is the fields that appear upon convinced that the network the ticking of this option, you has been used for illegal have to provide the proxy purposes. information given to you by All said and done, your ISP. Tick/Untick the anonymous browsing is remaining options as per mainly a boon, especially to your preferences. our oppressed brethren in The “Use a New identity” countries such as China and Button on the Vidalia control the Middle Eastern ones, panel changes your IP where content control and address on the Tor network censoring are a very real part in such a way that any A list of all users you are connected to, and are connected to you of life.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 107 Drive fast Blink and you’ll miss it Workshop Toshiba has added a new 500 GB, 2.5-inch That’s how fast ‘Lightning’ is and that’s laptop hard drive with a two-spindle the name of the new enterprise SSDs design that runs at 7200 rpm from Pilant Technology Backup your drive Siddarth Raman only on CD/DVD. It allows you [email protected] to add extra files and folders (assuming you have space). Click Next and soon your recovery acking up your hard disk / pen drive will be ready drive is always advised. for use. A good software that Coming to the restoration does the trick is Drive part, reboot your system with BackupB from Paragon. You can the disk or USB drive in place download a trial version for free after setting the appropriate boot at http://www.paragon-software. sequence from the BIOS settings. com/home/db-express/download. Launch the Simple Restore .. Wizard by double clicking on it. After you install and register Browse to the image you’d made the installation, restart your earlier. The next window allows system. As a word of caution, if you to examine the properties you have large volumes of critical of your image, such as size and data, you should back it up in Simple Backup Wizard available free space. Click next. phases rather than copying Now, choose the disk you’d all your data at once. Check recurrence. While recovering Recovery Media. like to restore. The last page of your operating system for any the image, you should select a You can build and store the the recovery wizard will give infections or malware. Click on different destination location. recovery media either on Flash you an option to review all your Back up Disk or Partition to get You cannot recover the drive started. Select the Master Boot from itself. It can also be stored Record (MBR) and the main on computers that are available drive (C: for most users). on connected networks. Check for two important The whole backup process figures - the size of source, and , takes time depending on the size the destination location. Ensure of the image. Once it’s done, click there is sufficient space to store Finish. Click on Check Archive Recovering your partition – the launch screen the image of the data. Integrity. Select any of the listed proposed changes before The next view asks you to archives, click next. This could memory (Pen-drive) or on a CD/ it starts destroying data. Click select where you want to store take some time depending on DVD option; boot from USB is next to begin the restoration your image file – the backup the size of the archive. the most convenient. Choose process. Hopefully, if everything destination page. You may also Before you restore your drive, your option, click next. The first has gone on well, the progress store the image on the drive you you must specify your recovery option is Typical. Use this if bar will eventually reach its end, are backing up. The program media. If you plan to restructure you want to accept the default and you can click finish. Exit the excludes that location from your operating system, you need recovery package and start Wizard and restart your system. the backup location in order to to reboot from somewhere. On burning the disk. It will build If you have followed the correct avoid ending up in an infinite the first screen, click on Build a Linux-based boot disk with a procedure, your current system minimal set of tools for restoring will be replaced with a pristine your image. Advanced is available version that you backed up.

The welcome screen of DBE Building Recovery Media

108 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Workshop Free fonts PC becoming slow 1001freefonts.com, dafont.com and If you are experiencing a drop in urbanfonts.com are some of the many your PC performance, it could be Section Opener sites that offer you free fonts due to the number of fonts installed Make your own font (And more!)

Rasagy Sharma it on the web site. Name the descender can reach. Try and [email protected] font to identify it. You can then keep the letters inside the top download your own font! and bottom lines to prevent them from being cut off. ave you ever wanted to make text appear What you can make using Font just like your Capture (Symbols/Emoticons) own handwriting, butH never found a font that Understanding parts of a font How x-height and baseline affect fonts could do the trick? Is a little personalisation all you need The quality of the font What makes a font look to complete that card you just depends upon how you fill the different from another is how designed, but all the handwriting template sheet, so we should the x-height and cap height fonts seemed too common to keep a few things in mind. In are varied. As evident in the use? Here’s how to get your own any piece of text (say “Digit”), above example, the non- handwriting font using the baseline is the imaginary uniform baseline and varied line on which all the letters sit. x-height makes the font look What you can’t do with Fontcapture The uppercase letters fit between more like rough handwriting, (Overlapping/running hand/cursive baseline and (1) – which gives whereas uniform baseline and handwriting) us the cap height, whereas nearly similar ascenders and letters and send across coded most of the lowercase letters x-height will give the font a messages! are between baseline and (2) – smooth, pleasant feel. Also, for One of the main limitations which gives us the x-height. A making your font legible, use of FontCapture is the lack of few characters have ascender a black marker / gel pen and space: you can’t add fancy and / or descender (like ‘d’ and avoid using very thin strokes frills to a character because ‘g’ respectively), which may cross throughout the font, though the template has a small fixed the x-height. a few elegant fonts do have space for each one of them. The template has small varying the stroke thickness. Getting a running handwriting guide marks to roughly giving After a few tries, you’ll be font takes a while to master, The template used to create the font you an idea about how high able to get a font that nearly for which you must start and the ascender can reach, the looks like something you’ve end the characters at same First, head on to the web site baseline, and how low the written on paper. But that isn’t height. Also, you can’t have (www.fontcapture.com), click all you do with FontCapture. It overlapping characters or on “Create your font now” and can represent alphabets using even simple cursive characters download the font template anything that you fill in the which might extend into available as a PDF file. Print template sheet, which means another character’s area, this sheet and write on it with you can creatively use a few which doesn’t leave much your handwriting as directed characters that you don’t use room for creativity. But you and then scan the sheet (use often to represent some special can still come up with many 200 dpi or higher). Save it as a symbols. In fact, you can use interesting fonts. Possibilities JPEG or PNG file and upload Using markings in the template your own symbols to represent are endless!

110 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Free Windows A phone with XPerience DIY Microsoft will give away free copies of The xpPhone is a fully-featured, sliding QWERTY Windows 7 to chosen people in the US, during cellphone with Windows XP as its operating the launch parties between October 22-29 system! Making Windows XP look and feel like Windows 7 Want to enjoy the most talked about features of Windows 7, but don’t want to shift from good old Windows XP? It’s time to get the best of both worlds, in only 30 minutes flat!

Rasagy Sharma to number the applications [email protected] correctly. [10.00] Splitting ven though many XP Windows and users are still reluctant AeroPeek to make the switch to With Windows 7 comes a new Windows 7, several set of shortcuts to arrange your Enew features and innovative UI open windows. You can “snap” modifications make it nearly open windows to different impossible to resist. For all edges of your screen, which those who still don’t want to is helpful if you quickly want leave their good old XP (and The new & improved Superbar in Windows 7 (Left), Superbar (with options) in XP to divide the screen into two don’t want to install all their using ViGlance separate halves. This is done applications all over again) there with the Windows + Left or are plenty of 3rd party software click on the thumbnail to open it). [05.00] Adding Task Right keys. Pressing Windows to get the best features of ViGlance doesn’t require switching Keys + Space bar on the other hand, Windows 7 in Windows XP. In an installation. Just run the Another feature of the displays the desktop by making fact, it won’t take more than 30 software (And choose between “Superbar” is that it allows you all applications transparent. minutes to get most of them up a few options) and you’re to use combinations such as There are several applications & running on your XP machine! done. Right click on any of Windows + [1] to open the first that allow you to get the same Before you get started, create the notification icons. Check menu on the taskbar and so functionality in Windows XP, a system restore point, just in options to select animations on. It cycles through all open but we’ll just look at Windows case some application starts and other effects. You can also instances of the particular Split. With it’s range of options acting a little funny. For this, go drag and drop the icons, just application if it’s already open the application is a delight to Start > All Programs like you can in Windows 7. otherwise starts the application. for any power user. Install the > Accessories > System Also, similar to Superbar, you To get this functionality, just software and check the list of Tools > System Restore can pin items that might be download ActivateByNum and Shortcuts available. Also, it to create one. open so that their link stays on run it. It’s a small Autohotkey allows you to customise each the taskbar, even when they script (If you use other split (Layout Settings) so you [00.00] Adding the aren’t open. Though ViGlance Autohotkeys, you can just add can enjoy as much flexibility superbar at times doesn’t load the the script as well). as you want to. Download The Superbar minimises the thumbnails quickly, it surely Caution: One of the this nifty app from http:// space taken by each application de-clutters your taskbar and problems with running both www.winsplit-revolution.com/ instance by only displaying gives you a much more fun UI! ActivateByNum and ViGlance download the icon of the application and If you’re looking for more together is that ViGlance grouping similar instances of flexibility or eye candy, try doesn’t change the order [15.00] Shaking off an application as one. You can out any dock software such of the taskbar items, which all inactive windows click on the icon to choose the as RocketDock from http:// means that you must not using AeroShake instances you want to open (Just rocketdock.com/download. drag the taskbar items or else Another UI improvement that ActivateByNum will not be able was seen in Windows 7 is the SUPERBAR USING VIGLANCE FOR KEYBOARD WARRIORS l Add more functionality to your Taskbar! Link: http://www.lee-soft.com/viglance/ Keyboard switching through the taskbar with ActivateByNum l Another alternative is to go for Windows 7 Superbar by Haran- Description: Run ActivateByNum to switch to different application/ Hockey. This uses themes to change the behaviour of the Windows application instances by using the [Win+num] combination Taskbar. Link: http://code.google.com/p/activatebynum/ [Windows 7 Superbar: http://haran-hockey.deviantart.com/art/Windows- 7-Superbar-for-XP-104697395 ] Adding customizable Keyboard Shortcuts l Taskbaric is another small tool that allows you to show open windows Description: Use Autohotkey to write powerful scripts to do nearly as icons on your taskbar, though it lacks other features of Superbar anything with your Windows, with just a few key press! [Taskbaric: http://sites.google.com/site/taskbaric/ ] Link: http://www.autohotkey.com/download/

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 111 Vaio plays spoilt-sport Microsoft’s OEM charge Sony’s Vaio laptops will not be able to run Windows Microsoft recently revealed that it usually 7’s “XP mode” because Sony disables the required charges around $50 for a Windows copy for a hardware virtualisation features on its laptops $1000-PC built by an OEM

make it easier to install. http://www.deviantart. com/download/106952053/ SevenVG_Refresh_with_ Superbar_by_Vishal_Gupta.zip l CAD 2009 EDITION v1.5 by Flawless: For getting the Ctrl+Alt+Del screen in Windows 7 style, download this application. http:// flawless02.deviantart.com/ art/CAD-2009-EDITION-v1-5- for-XP-132794740 l Border Skin by Komalo: This only modifies the borders of Using the [Win+Right/Left] combination to place application on half the screen. the applications to give it an aero look. Though it has a few bugs yet to be fixed, it’s surely worth giving a shot! http://komalo.deviantart. com/art/Border-Skin-Aero- Glass-On-XP-119640021 PowerToys from Microsoft TweakUI allows you to change many features that are generally not available to customize in Windows XP. Similarly, there’s a Power Calculator for advanced calculations (which beats even Use the Windows + Space combination to hide applications and show the desktop the Windows 7 calculator in replacing is manual, so a functionality!). AeroShake feature. What it to Windows Vista, and there’s a little time consuming. http:// PowerToys for XP: http:// does is simple: shake the active plethora of software and themes dopeysneezy.deviantart. www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/ window (the one you’re using) available to give you a Vista or com/art/Windows-7- downloads/powertoys/ and it hides all other windows. Windows 7 like looks. Complete-109505907 xppowertoys.mspx Shake it again and the windows Here are a few of the popular l Seven VG Theme by Vishal These were few of the several are back to where they were. themes, each offering a few Gupta: A very popular theme third-party applications AeroShake software (Autohotkey special features. There are also a by Vishal Gupta, who also available that bring the best script) for XP does the same! few complete “Transformation runs a blog with a lot of other features of Windows 7 to your Pretty nifty replacement of the Packs”, but they’re known to tweaks for Windows users Windows XP. Choose the Windows + [D] key used to have bugs and are at times (http://www.askvg.com/). ones you need and enjoy the hide all windows, in case you difficult to get rid of, so you Different parts of the themes pleasure of Windows 7 while just want to hide other inactive should probably avoid them! are available as setups, which using Windows XP! windows. And being another Remember to first patch the AutoHotKey script, it take uxtheme.dll file before installing very little RAM too. You can these new themes. Download also customize a few options UXTheme Patcher from http:// to choose number of shakes www.softpedia.com/ (Search for and behaviour with Extended UX Theme, followed by your XP displays. Service pack number). l Windows 7 Complete by [25.00] Skinning your DopeySneezy: A complete Windows theme replacement, with a This is something that need replacement utility to allow not be covered in detail, as you to backup all the system Windows 7 looks pretty similar files you need to change. But

SHAKE OFF INACTIVE WINDOWS Use AeroShake to hide all the windows except the one you’re using, by merely shaking the titlebar. Shake it again to bring them back to where they all were. Link: http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2008/11/Aero_ Shake_1.3.exe Using Powertoys like Tweak UI & PowerCalculator to get more out of Windows XP

112 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Digit wishes its readers a Happy, Tips & Tricks Prosperous and Safe Diwali

Microsoft Office tags: Appearing in Excel when 2007 a cell encounters a wrong formula / function, this tag Changing the colour allows you to change the scheme properties of the cell and the To change the default colour rules that govern the formulas. scheme in Office 2007, click •Other Miscellaneous smart on the Office button at the tags: Smart tags appear at top left. Next, click on options various other occasions. For and choose the colour scheme example, when you type a in the customise menu under name that is part of your the Popular tab. outlook contacts list, a smart tag appears that allows you Minimise/Hide the to quickly insert his address, ribbon other details, schedule a To minimise the ribbon, right- Getting around In UltraExplorer...... 82 meeting or create a mailing list. click on the Quick Access Microsoft has also created an Toolbar located immediately Microsoft Office 2007...... 73 Evernote ...... 82 API (Application Programming above or below the ribbon, Essential software...... 76 Google Cheat sheet...... 84 Interface) for developers to and click . create more Smart Tags. To find Minimise ribbon Ultra Explorer...... 77 Working with Sub-titles...... 86 Similarly, to bring it back click these, go to the More Smart on Maximise ribbon. YouTube...... 80 Windows 7...... 88 Tags option in the Autocorrect Options. Quick access toolbar To add more features, right- in the tools toolbar/ribbon a clipboard after pasting Create PDF and XPS click on the toolbar and space, or on right clicking a text/ options anywhere, this Go to tinyurl.com/ttoff and select Customize the Quick red underlined entry in your tag allows options such as download the executable file. Access Toolbar and choose workspace). You will now ‘keep source formatting’ Once installed, you can and ‘match destination save your files as PDF or XPS formatting’. by clicking Save as. •The Bullets, numbering and list smart tag: This appears when you start a list / numbered list and Word/Excel automatically formats it. It allows for various options such as The Ribbon is strictly an option numbering and spacing. from a long list of functions notice small tags while you •Error checking Powerful options in customisation are provided through macros in Word/Excel/PowerPoint work. Some of these are: options. •The Paste smart tag: Appearing in the shape of KeyTips Within any Office application, press [Alt] to highlight all keyboard shortcuts.

Smart tags To enable smart tags, go to Paste smart tag in action Autocorrect Options (found

Keyboard shortcuts need not be known by heart With Office 2007, you can save your documents as PDF and XPS files

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mark spaces, carriage returns, headings of different formatting ‘insert’ tab. First, you need to Macros etc. selectively included. What is create quick parts. This could Regular Office users are familiar -Run a spell check more, Word 2007 comes with be a logo, table or header. In [F7] Quick Style sets, found on the with macros. These are nothing [Shift]+[F7]-Use the the menu that pops up, click but automation of repititive Thesaurus. styles toolbar again, which ‘save selection to Quick Part tasks. makes adopting styles to your Gallery’, and then add a name document even easier. Click on the record macro Word 2007 and description. Once you are button in the ‘code’ toolbox done, all you need to do is click of the Developer tab. Next, Styles Building blocks on the Quick Part you wish to assign a name for your macro. Instead of manually formatting By using building blocks, insert. If you’ll need this macro often, each line in Word, you can you can create the bulk of a you can add it to the Quick use styles. The advantages document using frequently Blogging Access Toolbar. To do this, are numerous. Recognising used and predefined content Yes, the complex formatting check the button in the ‘Assign each line for what it stands such as headers and tables. that would often take hours macro to’ option. Similarly, for in the document (heading, This way, you can save time on a blogging page, can now you can assign keyboard subheading, etc), and utilising by copying content from other be performed in Word posted shortcuts by clicking on the styles option allows you to documents. directly. Click on the Office Keyboard. button and go to Publish > After clicking OK on the pop Blog. On your first post, you ups, the macro starts recording will have to select your service automatically. provider such as blogger or You can perform your Windows Live. If your provider required operations such as is not on the list, enter the URL, inserting a table to a specific and details of the API. format or performing spell check. Only keystrokes and Excel 2007 mouse clicks are recorded. Text that you type in the Pivot table and charts workspace aren’t recorded A Pivot table automatically while recording a macro. extracts meaningful information from the data within it. For Document inspector example, the maximum and Click on the Office button and minimum values in each row/ then select the prepare menu. Publish to your blog directly from Office 2007 column, average, etc. The document inspector is a handy new tool that ensures quickly change the formatting that the office document / for a specific group of lines (eg. spreadsheet / presentation increase subheading sizes by does not have any unwanted 1 point). Word comes with a personal / privileged default set of styles, all of which information such as footnotes can be quickly modified to your and references. The Prepare preference. Another advantage menu also provides for various of this feature is that once you other security features such are done with your document, as digital rights management, you can go to the Table of encryption and content contents menu, found in the management. References tab on the ribbon Complex data analysis is simple with Pivot tables and quickly make a table of Shortcuts contents. The table of contents To access building blocks, After you have entered your There are some useful can be customised with select the ‘text’ menu bar in the data fields, for example, a list of keyboard shortcuts that you salesmen and their respective can use in Office 2007. sales, select the data and go to [Ctrl]+[1]-Single-space all the Insert tab and select Tables the lines in selection and click on PivotTable. In [Ctrl]+[2]-Double-space all the pop-up window, choose the the lines in selection base data for your pivot table. [Ctrl]+[5]-1.5-space all the lines in selection Conditional formatting [Ctrl]+Space-Toggle In the Home tab, click on the AutoCorrect conditional formatting button [Ctrl]+[Del]-Delete the in the Styles menu bar. Here, word to the right of the cursor you have various options such [Ctrl]+Backspace-Delete the as greater than / less than, top word to the left of the cursor 10 and top 10 percentage. You [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[8]-Toggle can also choose highlighting hidden characters that depending upon the range of Creating a document is as simple as dragging and dropping components

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 74 | www.thinkdigit.com Tips & Tricks

A few clicks can extend your battery life What took many lines of formulae earlier is now confined to a button especially in the emphasize and go to the Monitors values in the cell. Advanced effects category. To view these, go to menu bar in the Slide Show tab on the ribbon. Select the Charts Animations > Animations Effects such as bevelling a > Custom Animation > Add Use presenter view option. Create a chart as before, by surface, which required a Effects > Emphasize. You Go ahead, fool around and going to the Insert > Charts separate designer in previous can select options such as glow master the art of real time Menu bar. Now, on the chart presentations. that you have created, add trend lines by right-clicking Miscellaneous Office on the line and clicking add 2007 applications trendlines. You may further right-click the trendlines and Optimising to save choose to format them, as you Power can do with the axes. To format If you’re using a laptop or the chart area or vary shading a tablet PC and would like and scales, right-click the chart. to optimise your power consumption, go to Tools > PowerPoint 2007 Options. In the Others tab, select the appropriate level of SmartArt Graphics performance/battery life. To see how this works, go to the SmartArt Button found Shared Notebook With in the Illustrations menu Some effects that would take a professional designer earlier can now be done in OneNote 2007 bar in the Insert tab. You PowerPoint with a few clicks OneNote is Microsoft’s way of collaboration. To enable in and lightbulb which were this feature, go to Share > unavailable in previous versions Live Sharing session. You of Office. may choose to host or join an already hosted notebook. In Presenter view the earlier case, you will have To utilise this option, plug in an to specify the password to your extra monitor to your computer notebook while in the latter

With SmartArt, illustrations finally got smart have a wide range of options presentations, can be from cycles to hierarchies to performed easily in PowerPoint processes that you can add 2007. To view these options, to your document. Once you go to Design > Themes > select any object, an outline art Effects. Office 2007 also has is added to your presentation. updated effects in animation, Collaborate with Microsoft Office 2007

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case, you will have to enter the IP address/URL of the other notebook too. Once joined, OneNote synchs the notebook being used by the host to all the connected computers, after which modifications made anywhere are made dynamically viewable to all users.

Speeding up picture manager In Windows XP, go to c:\Documents and settings\\ Switch between a rich format with images to a plain unformatted text local settings\ application data\ Removing the Ad Microsoft\OIS. bar Open oiscatalog.cag using a such as Notepad You can disable the Ad bar and delete any line pointing to that appears on the upper a remote location. right corner by right- Vista users, go to C:\ clicking on any Tool Bar Users\\ and uncheck Advertisement. AppData\Local\Microsoft\ This option is not accessible OIS. through the menu bar. Your Office Picture Manager should now start in a jiffy. Extracting Text With , extracting Essential Software text is much easier. Click Tips for some of the software on the Text Viewer icon (a we provide on our DVD, in the pair of glasses on a paper) or Essentials section. use the keyboard shortcut [Alt] + [9]. This removes Foxit Reader all images and formatting Foxit Reader is a free, light from the PDF. You can now weight and feature-rich read your PDF in plain text substitute for Adobe Reader. and even copy text [Ctrl] + The different text editing tools present in Foxit Reader It may not have In addition to [C] from here. To revert back typical PDF readers, features to normal mode, press [Alt] such as adding notes and + [9]. press [Alt] + [7]. Click and Adding text to the creating links within a PDF drag the mouse to select the document document are also available. If Taking a Snapshot area you want to copy it to the you are unable to download, Foxit’s snapshot utility is as clipboard. After extracting text and you can also find it on this effective as the Text viewer. To month’s Digit DVD. activate the Marquee select tool,

Take screenshots within Foxit itself Add text to a particular place in the file

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 76 | www.thinkdigit.com Tips & Tricks

Set Password. Here you will be asked to enter the desired password twice. You also have the option to encrypt the file names for security or personal reasons. Click OK to create the archive. You will need to enter a password to open individual files.

Creating a self extracting archive To create a self extracting (SFX) archive, or one that is automatically extracted to a folder, select the option Create SFX archive and click on OK. When you try to open this file, Create an SFX archive for your data

Use different shapes to help you along your work images, Foxit also lets you to point, you can insert objects add text notes. To add text go such as arrows to your text. to Comments on the menu bar You will find these in the and then click on the Insert Drawing Markup Tools under Text tool. Double-click on the the Comments menu bar. The caret to type additional text. tools range from lines, arrows, You can also add floating different geometric shapes to text, with or without a border. a very variable cloud tool that To do this, go to Comments changes shape with each > Typewriter Tools and click. Try them out, you might click on Typewriter Tool for find it quite fun to use. You text without a border. Use the also have an eraser tool, so Textbox Tool for adding text that you can erase the parts with a border. you don’t need. Highlighting text WinRar 3.80 To highlight text in Foxit, use WinRar, also a regular of our the Highlighting tool in Favorite DVD essentials, is a much View your CPU performance with the WinRar benchmark utility Tools or select the Highlight used tool by one and all for Text Tool from the Comments archiving data and also as process. Make sure that you menu bar. Click and drag the data compression utility. instead of showing you the data, have done the right calculation text you want to highlight. If it will directly ask you for the for bytes or else you will end you repeatedly highlight the Adding Password path so that it can extract the with with many small split up same text, the colour of the To password-protect your files there. Also the archive will files. To open the archived file, highlight intensifies. files, right-click on your file have a slightly different icon just click on the first part of the If you don’t want to selection and select the option and will have an EXE extension file and extract it. highlight, or want to highlight Add to archive. Navigate to instead of the default rar. something and want a different the Advanced tab and click on Similarly, to convert an Benchmarking your type of marking system, existing RAR archive processor use the Underline text tool into an SFX archive, go For those of you who follow or the Squiggly Text Tool. to Tools > Convert our comparison tests, you These are also located in archive to SFX in the would have noticed that we the Comments menu bar. menu bar. Click on OK at log the scores of the WinRar the next dialogue box and benchmark as well. This Adding Notes your SFX archive is ready. WinRar benchmark allows you You can add notes around to measures the performance of the document using the Splitting files how well your CPU compresses Note Tool. Unlike the text To split a file, first add and decompresses data in kBps. tool, notes can be moved your file selection to an To use this yourself, just go around and their colour archive. Select the option to Tools > Benchmark and can also be changed. Split to volumes, hardware test and view the bytes and enter the results. You can compare these Markup Tools desired individual file size, results to the results we obtain If you need added and click OK. This will start to check how well your system emphasis on a particular Secure your archive by adding a password the archiving and splitting is performing.

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Magnify or zoom on to a particular part of the video

between Quarter, Half, Original Cropping a video and Double. By default, the There are two ways to video is set at original. If you crop a video in VLC. You want to zoom in on a specific can either use preset part of a video, then it’s back crops based on aspect to the Video Effects tab in the ratio, or go to Video > Effects and Filters settings. Crop from the menu bar Once there click on the and select the one you Geometry tab and put a check want to use. To precisely on Magnify/Zoom. When you crop your video, open the enable that option, you will see Effects and Filters menu. a small box, similar to a picture Select the Video Effects in picture box, visible on the tab and then select the VLC player’s screen. If you click You can either sharpen or the blur the video with these settings

VLC 1.0.1 can adjust Sigma levels if you VideoLan player is another tool think the video is blurry. on our DVD essentials and is Similarly, you can also add a convenient video playback blur to your video. Go to Video software. The latest version is Effects and click on the Image 1.0.1. Modification tab. Here, not only can you add blur, but Video adjustments also effects such as gradients, With VLC, you can adjust hue, waves and water effects. Just saturation, brightness, gamma click on the option you want values of a video especially if it to try and the video changes is poorly shot. Go to Tools > simultaneously. You can also Effects and Filters from add noise to the video from this the menu bar and navigate to settings window. the Basics tab under the Video Effects and check Image Adjust. Move the blocks to solve the puzzle This unlocks the scroll options Crop tab. Here, you can crop and drag that small box, the to change the the video based on pixels and video will focus on that part settings. Now use individually crop off parts of of the video. To magnify, just the scroll bar to the top, bottom, left and right increase or decrease the Zoom change the colour in real time. bar, located below the Magnify settings. box. This is useful if you want Under the Zoom and Magnify to Magnify or Zoom in on a same settings Similar to Cropping, the zoom particular area within a video, menu, you can function also has two modes which could be a painting or a adjust the video that you can use. The first person. sharpness. Check way is to go to Video > Zoom Sharpen and you Create precision crops using VLC and watch the changes from the menu bar and select Play a puzzle simultaneiously

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 78 | www.thinkdigit.com Tips & Tricks

You can convert any video clip plugins.htm and download iv_ into an interactive puzzle. VLC formats.zip that contains the changes your video into blocks RIOT plug-in. Once installed, and shuffles them around, while modify the images you plan to you need to join the pieces use for the web. Click on the together to get the video back to Save for its original format. Open the Web option under File in the Video Effects tab and go to menu bar. Geometry. Put a check on Next, select between Puzzle game, and start JPEG, GIF and PNG. playing. Under JPEG, you can use the quality slider Creating a video to increase or decrease the quality of the image. wallpaper Under GIF, you can adjust VLC has the feature the slider to change the to use the DirectX colours from 2 to 256 capabilities of your colours and you also The pattern made with the Emboss tool in IrfanView graphics solution and use have the option to save it as a video output mode. it as an interlaced image. First, get rid of your With PNG, there are no existing wallpaper. Go to sliders to adjust, but you Tools > Preferences can change the Colour from the menu bar and reduction by selecting it click on Video on the from the drop down. left. Select DirectX Video With JPEG and GIF Output from the drop images, you have the down list displayed next option to compress the to Output and click on image you are about to Save. Now start up a save. For this, click on video and go to Video on the Compress to size the menu bar and click button towards the right on DirectX Wallpaper. side of the window. Input the value of the size you IrfanView The paint want (in kB) and click on The next essential software dialog most OK. RIOT automatically we are going to give you of us are makes changes to the tips and tricks about is familiar quality for JPEG, and Create really funky designs with the Swirl effect IrfanView, one of the most with colours for GIF and simplest and fastest image will give you an explorers available. We’re outcome with the not going to tell you about the desired size. for zoom, actual view, fit to Effects > Emboss. Now use basics that are possible with There are two viewing panes, window and in-place compare. the Sharpen filter. To do this, just IrfanView, but instead we’re one displays the original image, press Shift + [S] a number of going to tell you about some while the other displays the Abstract patterns times till you see a pattern form. things you could do with optimised image. The area You can create abstract patterns Next for a bit of finishing, you can IrfanView, that you ordinarily between the two holds buttons or images by using various go to Image > Effects > Oil wouldn’t use a software filters in IrfanView. You Paint to smoothen out the edges. like IrfanView for. can either use an existing You can try different filter image or create a new one. combinations or colours and RIOTing with Go to Edit > Show create these abstract patterns of IrfanView Paint dialog from the your own. RIOT stands for menu bar to see Two other effect filters we Radical Image IrfanView’s paint tools. are fond of are the Twirl and Optimisation Tool and Create a new image by Swirl effects. We’ve found an is a very useful plug-in pressing [Ctrl] + [N]. interesting way to use these for IrfanView. With Select the Rectangle Tool with a similar method as this plug-in you can and set the foreground mentioned above. Instead of optimise images for the colour to white. Set the using a single white colour, web. Basically, when pixel width to about 5 use different colours for you save an image, pixels. Next randomly different rectangles and fill the you can choose saving create rectangles of different canvas. Next, go to Images > options and also the shapes around your canvas. Effects > Effect Browser file size. Go to http:// After that apply the Emboss and select Swirl or Twirl, and www..com/ The RIOT interface when you click on Save for Web filter by going to Image > your artwork is ready!

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YouTube Those that are available Here’s a quick list of tricks that would usually carry the HD could jazz up your YouTube option button under the video experience. screen anyway. If the button is coloured red, you’re already Warp watching HD. Alternatively, you If you’re tired of seeing all linear could add &fmt=22 to the URL frames, here’s a cool trick called for the HD view. This increases Webview – or ‘Warp Speed’ - to the resolution to 1280×720, get you literally bouncing. Go to H.264 video @ 1024Kbps; audio http://www.youtube.com/ @ 44.1KHz, 232 kbps stereo. warp_speed and click on any of Do any of these and the display the video thumbnails you see. will switch to a wider screen, The page now occupies the full better resolution (true 720p high screen and all the video links Satellite videos definition) and crisper sound. If

Use the drop down menu to change your settings Played videos are linked

watching, or add &fmt=18 you want to watch only those to the URL in the address videos uploaded in HD, the new bar above. This increases the interface makes it even easier resolution to 480×360, H.264 now. Just click on the Videos Thumbnails are for the squares video @ 512Kbps; audio @ link on the top left of the 44.1 KHz, 128 kbps stereo. The YouTube home page, and then turn into floating balls, are colour coded – the circles resolution, however, is 480p or click on the link which says HD hovering over a dark around them are of the same less. Although HQ is not the in the top centre of the page. background. colour – and every time you same as HD (High Definition), This will open a grid view of all Move the mouse to hover the click on a different kind of the new HQ feature allows you the popular HD quality videos cursor over a particular circle video, a dot of the same colour to view any video at optimal available for view. and other related videos burst appears on the top left corner quality if you just change the out for your reference, with the of the screen. Videos you have settings. Click on ‘Accounts’ in Making your YouTube first one in the centre. Besides, watched are connected by the drop-down menu under you channel look great a tag appears too – this time lines as a quick review of your User ID (top-right of the screen). in a speech balloon – to show viewing history. Click on Playback Setup and If you have a YouTube channel, you what the video is all about. choose the option which says you can spice it up with a few Click on any one of them for High quality videos I have a fast connection. steps. After signing in to your the video player to appear and To watch videos in high quality Always play higher- YouTube account, click on watch your favourite video in modem either click on the ‘HQ’ quality video when it’s Account > My Account > My a new mode. Similar videos button under the video you’re available’. Channel > Channel Design.

Get your hyperlinks to fly Change Playback settings to HD

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 80 | www.thinkdigit.com Tips & Tricks

CHANGE THE BACKGROUND This opens the Edit Your speech bubble (a comic book- Channel page. style text bubble), a note (a text- Try http://backgroundtube.com/ which lets you download images from Click on Themes and box) or a spotlight (a highlighted a whole range of theme categories from ‘Abstract’ to ‘Sports’. Upload Colors and choose from any of area which displays text when the picture to your channel and don’t forget to change the colour coding the preset themes provided the mouse hovers over it) to the according to parameters provided by the web site. above. Click on the new theme video. link, give your new theme a You could choose to seek and text boxes to different locations name, click on the Choose freeze the frame you want to with the click-and-drag action of File button for Background attach the annotation to before the mouse. Image, upload a picture from you use the editor. Once you You could change the time your computer and Save click on one of the buttons, the and duration of every tag. By Changes. Bingo, you’ve got a annotator toolbar appears in the default, every tag appears at the new background. middle of the screen with more point in time that you attach it options. You could type in the and then hangs around for 5 Video annotations text you want to add, edit or seconds before disappearing. You can now add comments to delete earlier annotations, add You could change this by your videos. When you play an annotation link or change its feeding in the start and end times in the H:MM:SS.s format (Hour:Minutes:Seconds:Millise conds) to make it visible for as long as you want. Annotations, by default, Deleting an annotation is easy For HD videos only pop up once they’re published. Active sharing The Menu button at the A great way to let friends, one of your videos, you’ll see bottom of the video player contacts and other YouTube the Annotations Editor button could be used to turn them members know what you’ve above the video player. The off. You could click through been watching is by enabling button that appears on the Add or edit comments using this + Account > MyAccount > the Active Sharing feature bottom- left of the screen gives Playback Setup > you three options of adding a colour. You can drag or resize Annotations and uncheck the box which says Show annotations. You could delete all the annotations by simply clicking on the delete button in the pane on the The tools for annotations are cantered for convenience side of your video player when you view it in My which you can do by changing Account > Annotations and settings in your account. Just then Publish the changes you click on the History button on have made. the top right of the YouTube Sometimes annotations can homepage and click the Start interfere with your viewing even button at the when you’re watching someone Active Sharing How to get to your channel else’s videos embedded on other sites. A simple way to Share your video viewing habits with disable these is to append the Active Sharing code &iv_load_police=3 to the video’s embed code. bottom right of your screen. This will now allow people to see your User ID next to the video you’re watching in real time – and about twenty-five other people who may be watching the video simultaneously. Your viewing history of the last half hour will also be a part of Personalize your channel with your own wallpapers. Block annotations by unchecking the box your Channel page.

| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 81 Digit | October 2009 Tips & Tricks

Ultra Explorer Although Windows Explorer manages your files to an adequate level, other tools give you added functionality and a higher level of operability. One such software is UltraExplorer. •Installation UltraExplorer is available as a free download and is light on resources. •Functionality Ultra Explorer’s functionality is similar to the usual Explorer. You have the usual options to navigate one level up, go back or move forward. The bar at the bottom gives you the file count, size and other details. •Navigation Double-click anywhere to go one level up. The Folder window on the left is similar Some of the features seen need to be enabled. to Windows Explorer. UltraExplorer also has multi- pleased with the drag and drop Filter. It’s simpler and more different colour and font. If you tabbed browsing. To do this, option. If you want to sort out utilitarian when compared to plan to use the software more go to File > New Tab or use only MP3 files, and you’re too the Filters Window. The Drives extensively can use extra plug- the keyboard shortcut [Ctrl] bored to create new filter or toolbar gives easy access to all ins, get shell extensions, custom + [T]. type in *.mp3, simply drag mapped drives. It also allows theme their environment by •List/View window an MP3 file on to your Filter easy access to USB drives, CD giving a different skin to every To enable this, go to View Window and UltraExplorer will drives and other externals toolbar (Tools > Customize) > Windows > List View do the rest. connected to it. and several other minute Window. This helps you see the •DropStack window If you’re familiar with tweaks. You can use the changes you are making within If you’re transferring files from Windows, you’ll know Windows + [E] key to access the destination window from multiple locations and the the different view modes - UltraExplorer. To do this, go to the source window (eg. a move destination is the same, you Thumbnails, List, Details, Icons Tools > Shell Extensions operation). You can now keep would have to open all the are common. > Win+E hook. tab on both. windows, either laboriously The number of ways What is interesting to •Favourites window drag and drop each one, or to enable these modes is observe is how much utility There’s also a Favourites Cut and Paste. The DropStack numerous. The most obvious they’ve managed to pack in a window that you need to enable serves as a temporary location is View > Column Mode. It is mere Explorer. in a way similar to the List/ for all your file operations. Drag similar to the Treelist view, but view window. You can drag and files on to the drop stack and allows you to view the folders Evernote drop the most commonly used then you can batch process and subfolders horizontally. Evernote allows you to take programs or folders into the operations on them. The scope Each window can have a notes and synch your notes side dock. for utility is excellent •Indexing service (zipping together files Using UltraExplorer’s indexing in different regions, service, you can create real-time batch conversions filters. The Filter Window and mass transfers are (View > Windows > Filter typical examples). Window) allows you to create, •Viewer window filter in and filter out (filter The Viewer window all similar matches out of the lets you preview the list) search options. It’s fully file before opening. customisable with extensions This is extremely (eg, MP3, TXT) and wildcard useful for small text, options. If you want to search binary, HTML or for a file that starts with A and media files. It opens ends with T and is a JPEG, you pictures, text files, can run a search for a*t.jpeg. , MP3s and AVI For one character, use ?, while files. * is the wildcard for multiple •Quick filter bar characters, or view only folders. To activate the quick Taking and highlighting screen shots with Evernote •Drag and drop search filter bar, go to View > UltraExplorer seems quite Toolbars > Quick Evernote’s web interface

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 82 | www.thinkdigit.com Tips & Tricks

between your PC, Mac and highlight anything within that mobile phone. Evernote is image using a pen tool. Press limited to a 40 MB storage [Prt Scr] again to adjust the space per month, but works image borders. To save this as a across various mobile platforms note, either click on the logo or such as iPhone / iPod Touch, just hit [Enter]. To discard the Blackberry, Palm Pre and clip, just press [Esc]. Windows Mobile. Notes using Twitter Managing notes Follow myEN on Twitter. You By default, your username will receive an email to link is considered as a notebook your Twitter and Evernote where your notes are stored. account. Once that’s done, all You can also create multiple you need to do is tweet myEN. notebooks for office and Just use @myEN and your holidays. This lets you organise tweet will be saved as a note. your data better. Tags is another way to classify your notes, images, Login and create a new note instantly Evernote on the iPhone tweets, web clips or audio clips. Once you login to the Evernote You can manually add a tag application on your iPhone, when saving a note, or select you can capture photos that the tag you have created from a becomes a note. You can also drop down list. record audio, take iPhone screen captures and turn them Web clipping with into notes. To take a photo, tap Evernote the option Snapshot. To create a note, tap on Text. Similarly, tap Go to Evernote.com and click on Voice to create an audio clip. Downloads. Next click on Web Clippers located on the left side Creating notes You can either type out a note or use the Ink mode to scribble the note out. To create a new text note use [Ctrl] + [0] or Taking and highlighting screen shots with Evernote boundaries of the clip and click Taking a snapshot on the Evernote logo to save the image to your notes. To To use the snapshot feature, highlight something within the press [Prt Scr], which creates image, hit [Prt Scr] a second a cropping tool. Adjust the time, and you will be able to Write out notes with the Ink Mode of Evernote of the web page. Drag the Clip to Evernote button onto the browser link bar located just below the address bar to use the web clipping feature. Write out notes with the Ink Mode You can now select anything of Evernote from images, text, links or audio and create a note with them. To add notes, click and drag the text or select the Using Evernote on the iPhone image that you want to make a note of. Click on the Clip to Evernote browser button. After [Ctrl] + [9] for Ink mode. you login, add a title for the Click on the star shaped button note, create or add a tag to the on the Ink mode toolbar to note, and also add some text if enable auto shape mode. Auto needed. Click Done and your shape straightens out lines and note will be stored and can be Evernote interface on the desktop curves to give a sharper written accessed from anywhere. text.

| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 83 Digit | October 2009 Tips & Tricks

Google Cheat Sheet

Google Search Example Function Example Function Apples OR Oranges Any one of the number listed m_Mars Mass of the heavenly body “Apples and oranges” Exact phrase r_Moon Radius of the heavenly body Apples -Oranges Without a particular word Pi Value of any constant ~Tech Blogs Looks for items similar and related Site: www.thinkdigit.com Searches within the site to “tech” Cache: www.thinkdigit.com Searches Google’s cache of the site +Orange Excludes synonyms and plurals from intitle: digit Pages with names containing “digit” the search in the title Apple *** Orange A number (here, 3) of words be- allinurl: forum Search with the word forum in the tween the two words url 2 + 2 Add two numbers safesearch: pornography Academic material, safe search 2 plus 2 Add two numbers Link: www.thinkdigit.com Sites that link to a site 2 – 2 Subtract two numbers Info: www.thinkdigit.com Information about a site 2 minus 2 Subtract two numbers Related: www.thinkdigit.com Sites related to the specified site 2 * 2 Multiply two numbers -inurl:html -inurl-html Searches for the format in the index 2 / 2 Divide two numbers “index of” *.(format) of files 2% of 2 Finds out a percentage of a number +the/+if Forces inclusion of words otherwise 2^2 A number raised to another omitted during search 12 Kmph in Mph Unit conversions filetype: .mp3/./.avi Searches for the particular formats

Google Reader Shortcut Function Gmail [J] Next file Shortcut Function [K] Previous file [C] Compose mail Spacebar Move downwards [O] Open mail [Shift]+Spacebar Move upwards [X] Select mail [N] Select next file [S] Star mail. Press repeatedly to cycle stars. [P] Select previous file [1] Report spam [S] Adds star to file [N] Next mail [Shift]+[S] Shares current file [P] Previous mail [M] Toggles “read” state [K] Next conversation [T] Add tags to file [J] Previous conversation [Shift]+[A] Mark all as read [R] Compose reply [Shift]+[X] Expand/collapse a folder [A] Reply to all [Shift]+[O] Open current file [F] Forward mail [G] + [A] Goes to “All Items” [U] Return to Inbox (or refresh) [G] + [S] Goes to “Starred Items” [Tab] [Enter] Sends message [/] Quick guide to all shortcuts [Y] + [O] Archive current mail, go to next [G] + [A] Go to “All Mail” YouTube [G] + [S] Go to “Starred Mail” Shortcut Function [G] + [C] Go to contacts Spacebar Pasue/Play video [G] + [D] Go to Drafts Right Arrow Fast Forward [G] + [I] Go to Inbox Left Arrow Move back / Go to search box Up Arrow Increase volume [Esc] Removes cursor from the current field Down Arrow Decrease volume [Enter] Opens mail, expansion toggle for con- [F] Full Screen versations [Escape] Return to regular view

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 84 | www.thinkdigit.com Tips & Tricks

Google Docs Shortcut Function Shortcut Function [Ctrl]+[A] Select all [Ctrl]+Up Arrow Go to top-most cell in data region (cur- rent column) [Ctrl]+[B] Bold [Ctrl]+[Page Down] Move to next worksheet [Ctrl]+[C] Copy [Ctrl]+[Page Down] Move to previous worksheet [Ctrl]+[D] Copy down (used in combo with Shift + arrow keys) [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[F] Full screen [Ctrl]+[E] Center alignment [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[L] Bulleted list [Ctrl]+[F] Find and replace [Ctrl]+[Shift]+Spacebar Insert non-breaking space [Ctrl]+[G] Find next [Ctrl]+Spacebar Remove formatting [Ctrl]+[Shift]+[G] Find previous [Ctrl]+[1] Header style 1 [Ctrl]+[I] Italicize [Ctrl]+[2] Header style 2 [Ctrl]+[J] Full justify [Ctrl]+[3] Header style 3 [Ctrl]+[K] Insert link [Ctrl]+[4] Header style 4 [Ctrl]+[L] Left alignment [Ctrl]+[5] Header style 5 [Ctrl]+[M] Insert comment [Ctrl]+[6] Header style 6 [Ctrl]+[M] Insert new slide [Ctrl]+[7] Toggle numbered lists [Ctrl]+[P] Print [Ctrl]+[8] Toggle bulleted lists [Ctrl]+[R] Right alignment [Ctrl]+[9] Change list dialog [Ctrl]+[R] Copy Right (used in combo with Shift + [F2] Edit active cell arrow keys) [Enter] Move to next cell in column [Ctrl]+[S] Save [Esc] Cancel cell entry [Ctrl]+[U] Underline [Shift]+[Enter] Move to previous cell in column [Ctrl]+[V] Paste [Shift]+[Page Up]/[Page Extend the selection up/down one [Ctrl]+[X] Cut Down] screen [Ctrl]+[Y] Redo [Ctrl] + Spacebar Select entire column [Ctrl]+[Z] Undo [Shift] + Spacebar Select entire row [Ctrl]+[End] Go to last cell in data region [Shift] + arrows Manual select [Ctrl]+[Home] Go to first cell in data region [Page Down] Move down one screen [Ctrl]+Left Arrow Go to left-most cell in data region (cur- [Page Up] Move up one screen rent row) [Shift]+[Tab] Move to previous cell or row [Ctrl]+Right Arrow Go to right-most cell in data region [Ctrl]+[.] Superscript (current row) [Ctrl]+[,] Subscript [Ctrl]+Down Arrow Go to bottom-most cell in data region [Tab] Move to next cell or row (current column)

Google Maps Shortcut Function Blogger Arrow Keys Pan in the particular direction Numpad arrow keys Pan more in the particular direction Shortcut Function [Ctrl] + [B] Bold [=] Zoom In [Ctrl] + [I] Italic [-] Zoom Out [Ctrl] + [L] Blockquote More Google Services Check these out [Ctrl] + [Z] Undo http://labs.google.com/ Find sets based on your inputs [Ctrl] + [Y] Redo sets [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [A] Add hyperlink (a=href) http://www.google. An archive of all special Google logos com/holidaylogos.html [Ctrl] + [Shift] + [P] Preview http://www.google. Trends and insights [Ctrl] + [D] Save as draft com/intl/en/press/zeit- [Ctrl] + [P] Publish geist/index.html [Ctrl] + [S] Save http://www.google. Thirsty for information? Google has the [Ctrl] + [G] Indic script transliteration com/googlegulp/ right drinks for you

| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 85 Digit | October 2009 Workshop

Working with subtitles ince the advent of the dialogues then you need to add at which the last dialogue is of the duration of the first CD. video culture, many a delay of 2 seconds. Similarly, spoken. Scroll to the point Now select all subtitles [Ctrl] have felt the need to you may need an advancement on the video where the + [A] and hit [Ctrl] + [C] manipulate subtitles for (negative delay) of -2 seconds. first dialogue is spoken (eg. to copy the same. Open the theirS videos. To add delay, open the subtitle ). Next select the subtitle CD1 SRT and scroll down to 4:25 file by going to File>Load that should appear at that the last entry. Hit [Ctrl] + Synching subtitles Subtitle or [Ctrl] + [O]. point. Now go to Video > [V] to paste, and then save the Next go to Edit > Timings Synchronisation > Mark as changes in a new file which will One of the most common > Set delay. From the drop first sync point or hit [Ctrl] have the combined subtitles reasons why subtitles may be down list, change to either + [1]. Go to the point on the out of synch is a simple delay. positive (+) or negative (-) video where the last dialogue Adding subtitles This is a relatively easy problem delay and enter the delay in is spoken and simultaneously Subtitle Workshop also allows to fix. The second cause of milliseconds. select the last subtitle entry. you to add subtitles to your subtitles being out of synch Hit [Ctrl] + [2]. The own video. In doing so, there has to do with the frame rate. Mismatching application will now ask you if are a few terms we need to The frame rate of the movie framerates you wish to synchronise as per understand viz. Show, Hide and and that of the subtitles does To find out the framerate of a Duration. Show is the point not match. This causes the particular video file open it in at which the subtitle will subtitles and the movie to go VLC player and go to Tools appear. Hide is when it will at different speeds. In such a > Codec Information or fade. And the duration is the case even if the subtitles and [Ctrl] + [J]. Then open time-period for which it will the dialogues start at the same the corresponding subtitle remain on the screen. To add time, towards the end of the file for that video in Subtitle subtitles click File > New. video you may get a delay. The Workshop4. On the top panel Next load your video. The third is a combination of these of the interface, switch the best way is to pause video two reasons. This is when the Modeo t Frames from the where you want the subtitle process of scaling comes into drop-down menu. You will to appear, hit the [Insert] Sync subtitles the picture. have options such as 23.976 key and begin typing the fps. Choose the appropriate subtitle script. Increase Solutions one. Click File > Save to the reference points. Click Yes. duration and then move on The easiest fix for mismatching save the changes on to the to the next dialogue and hit subtitles is to search for the same file. Note that the time Combining subtitle files [Insert] a new subtitle entry exact file name with date stamp will not get affected At times we get subtitle files with the corresponding time and other meta data (such with this change and that the that are meant for two CD stamp will be created. You as1D”, “ C [2008], 700MB). subtitle format must depend video files, while the video file can also change the position Often, this should give you on framing to keep time. that we have is a single CD of the subtitles by using the the subtitle file you’re looking 700B M .Avi. What do you do vertical scroll bar on the left for. The operations described For synchronising in such a case? The quick fix of the video window. Similarly below are performed using To synchronise using scaling, solution is to apply a delay colour, bold, italics formatting an easy to use subtitles you will have to open both the (equal to the duration of the options are available. Once you manipulation software known video file as well as subtitle first CD) to the second subtitle are done click on File > Save as Subtitle Workshop4. file in Subtitle Workshop. Go file. The long term fix is to As. The application supports to Video > Open to open the try and combine the two files. almost all known subtitle Delay in subtitles video. Go to File > Load Let’s consider the files to be formats. Choose a file type that When you start playing a video, Subtitles for adding subtitles. SRT. Open the CD2 SRT file in supports the formatting you note the exact time when the The subtitle entries are Subtitle Workshop. Add a delay have added (if any). first dialogue starts. Next note displayed in the bottom panel the instant when the first of the screen. To synchronise subtitle appears. The difference mismatching subtitles the idea between the two timings is is to fix on two synchronising the delay. For example, if the points. One point is the time subtitles start appearing around when the first line is spoken two seconds before the actual and the other is the point SOME COMMON SUBTITLE FORMATS SubRip (SRT) : By far the most SubViewer(SUB) : This format common text-based subtitle supports metadata. Accuracy is up format. It doesn’t support rich to 10 Milliseconds. This format is formatting or metadata. It allows YouTube friendly for precision of up to 1 millisecond RealText (RT) : An HTML-based MicroDVD(SUB) : A text-based format that allows a certain that keeps timing based on amount of text formatting. framings Adding subtitles to a video

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 86 | www.thinkdigit.com Tips & Tricks

RoboForm you launch your and Close’ button. To RoboForm remember it. You go to a web site that you browser, you simply create another identity, haven’t visited in a long while need to click the passkey go to Identity > New [25.00] Create and try as you might, you just through the toolbar and it logs Identity in the identity editor. SafeNotes can’t login. You try the four or you into the web site with a Once you’ve saved the data, go Regular post-it notes are seen five password and username single click. to any page with a form and by all. With SafeNotes you combinations that you have, Roboform will automatically can have a digital equivalent but not one works. You can [12.00] Fill forms prompt you to fill it with a of regular post-it notes with make your browser remember your passwords. But is it really safe? And what if you want to have access to your information from another computer. RoboForm is a tool that lets you manage all your login information as well as automatically fill out those pesky and usually cumbersome registration forms. It comes in both a downloadable as well as online version. The online Creating a passcard version is better suited to keep passwords synchronised across To start filling forms single click. password protection. To different machines. automatically you will first have create a new SafeNote go to to set up Form Filling. Click [21.00] Generate RoboForm > SafeNotes [00.00] Download “Setup Form Filling” button random passwords > New. Assign a title to the and install RoboForm on the tool bar. You will first Since RoboForm remembers note and select which folder Head over to www.roboform. be asked to enter your name passwords for you, a by it should be saved in. Type in com/download to download the and country. The geographical product of this functionality the text box and click ‘Save application. The application information is important to is that you can use random and Close’ when done. The interface is through a tool configure information such passwords. They will be notes can be accessed through bar that integrates with IE or as phone numbers and area gibberish, but you don’t have the RoboForm button via a Firefox. During the installation, codes. The next step is actually to remember them. Password breadcrumb type of navigation. it will ask if you want it to filling out information in the Generator creates random be installed for all users and Identity Editor. This takes some passwords of any length. [28.00] Setup if you want the adapter for time, but think of it this way - Randomness of generated Roboform Sync Firefox. Check or uncheck you’re only going to be doing passwords makes them We need access to passwords the box accordingly. You will it once. Also, you can fill in as harder to compromise. To from multiple computers; be also be prompted to enter a much or as little info as you generate a password, click it your office PC, notebook or master password. Once this want. There are tabs for credit on the “Generate” button in home desktop. To achieve this password is entered, you don’t card, address, business and the tool bar when you’re on a RoboForm syncs passwords need to remember any further even custom info where you registration page. Click fill to and data files with its servers. passwords. The RoboForm can enter your own fields. Once enter the password and make These are encrypted by AES installation wizard will also ask you’re done, click the ‘Save a normal passcard to have encryption with your Master you to specify the time interval Password as the key. To sync at which this password should your RoboForm data you be purged from cache. The will have to install an add-on default is after 120 minutes of known as GoodSync. Click on inactivity. the Sync button in the toolbar and it will prompt you to [6.00] Make install the add-on. Click Yes Passcards to install. You will also have Roboform saves login to register with RoboForm information in the form of online (online.roboform.com/ passcard. Each passcard signup). Once your account contains the username, URL is registered, sign into it by and password for a particular clicking on the Sync button. web site login. To create a RoboForm will now sync data passcard, simply login to a web with its servers. To get access site normally. Roboform will to the data and passwords prompt you to save the login on another computer, simply into as a passcard. Change the install RoboForm on that passcard name (if you wish) machine or access the web and click Save. The passcard interface at https://online. even automatically clicks the roboform.com. submit button so now, once Entering info in the identity editor

| www.thinkdigit.com | vol 9: 87 Digit | October 2009 Tips & Tricks

into problems the OS Windows 7 the note title bar for additional someone. Choose the option later on. Go to Control Panel notes. Press [Alt] + [4] to depending on your need. AppLocker > Backup and Restore > close the note windows (your AppLocker is a new Windows Create a System Repair notes are automatically saved). Disc, and let Windows 7 Restore the Quick 7 feature that ensures users build a bootable emergency Launch Toolbar on your PC only run the disc. If the worst happens Calibrate your display programs and applications you then it could be the only way A lot of Windows Vista and specify. You can easily block to get your PC running again. The colours you see on your XP users will find the absence Startup Repair scans your screen varies widely depending of a Quick Launch toolbar in computer for the problem on your monitor, graphics cards Windows 7 annoying because you and then tries to fix it so your settings, lighting and more. sort of get used to it. It is disabled computer can start correctly. Fortunately, Windows 7 by default but it only takes a Though it can’t fix hardware provides a Display Colour moment to restore it back. failures such as a failing hard Calibration Wizard that helps Open the “Run” dialog box disk or incompatible memory you ensure that colours are by pressing Windows + [R] , Startup Repair does a represented accurately on your and type gpedit.msc good job at fixing certain screen and everything looks On the left hand problems, such as missing or crisp and sharp. pane, Navigate to User damaged system files. Click Start (or press the Windows Use Sticky Notes key) and type dccw in the “Search programs You can use Sticky Notes to and files” box to start Safeguard your data from unauthorised write a to-do list, jot down a the Display Colour access phone number, or anything Calibration Wizard. else that you’d use a pad of Alternatively, you other users from accessing paper for. To write a note using can go to Control executables, Windows Panel > All Installers, scripts, a specific Control Panel publisher or path. Items > Display Go to the Run dialog box and click on and type Gpedit.msc. “Calibrate Colour” Then go to Computer from the left pane Windows 7 now lets you calibrate your screen Configuration > Windows of the window. Settings > Security Settings > Application Other mouse gestures Configuration, Administrative Control Policies > Templates, and Start Menu and AppLocker. Right-click on one With mouse gestures in Taskbar. of the options (executables, Windows 7, instead of right- Double-click on the “Show installers, or script ) and create a clicking a Taskbar icon to QuickLaunch on Taskbar” in new rule. access the jump list, you can the right pane. AppLocker also lets IT left-click and drag upwards Select Enable, Click on personnel control what to smoothly call it up. In Apply and then press Ok. applications users can run on addition, clicking and dragging Right click on Taskbar select workstations. down the address bar in Toolbar > New toolbar. Internet Explorer will open the Navigate to C:\Users\(user Startup repair browsing history. name)\AppData\Roaming\ If you’ve downloaded Microsoft\Internet . Select the Folder Windows 7, it’s a good idea With sticky notes you’ll no longer EasyConnect Explorer “Quick Launch” and click on to create a system repair disc forget your tasks With Easy Connect in “Select Folder”. straight away in case you run Windows 7, offering help or Now You should see Quick a tablet pen, simply getting help is just a few clicks Launch Toolbar on Taskbar. start writing on the note away. You can use Windows To make it look like it would where you want the ink Remote Assistance to invite in Windows Vista, right click to appear. someone to connect to your the taskbar, uncheck “Lock Launch StikyNot. computer and assist you, even the Taskbar”, and you should exe from the Run Dialog if that person isn’t nearby. see the Quick Launch toolbar, box (You can even To access Easy Connect, probably to the right. Right- type notes in the Start type Troubleshooting in the click its divider, clear Show Text menu search box) and Start Menu and then select and Show Title to minimise the then type notes at the Get Help from someone you space it takes up. Complete the keyboard. Right-click a trust. You would now get the job by right-clicking the bar note to change its colour, option to offer your help to and selecting View > Small and click the + sign on someone or get help from for the true retro look. Backup and restore saves you a lot of time Icons

Digit | October 2009 | vol 9: 88 | www.thinkdigit.com Q&A Opera update Safe browsing The final build of Opera out with Mozilla to check Firefox add-ons in added improvements such as an effort to close security holes Turbo and easy tab management Your questions, our answers

All your computer niggles and nags are dealt with here!

Weird problem I hope your power supply is even then. If it does, it could that says “Scan for and Attempt with PC going to sleep perfectly fine. If it’s more than a be a problem with the LCD Recovery of Bad Sectors.” Click I have a PC running an Intel couple of years old, you should display. Otherwise, it could on Start. If there are physical Pentium 4 3.06 GHz processor, try using a different power be a resolution problem. Try bad sectors, the only fix to 512 MB DDR1 RAM, installed on supply from a friend to see if reinstalling the graphics drivers. give the drive for repairs or an Intel D865GSA desktop board. that’s the problem. Also, check If nothing works, you have no replacement. A few days back, the mother- for loose connections - RAM and other choice but to take it to board has been going into sleep power cables specifically. your local service centre to get CPU usage is mode as told by my friend and If nothing works, it could it fixed. always too high dealer. So, I have replaced the be a bug in the My computer specifications are: motherboard and memory. Now, motherboard Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 I run a Biostar G31D-M7 board. which can Make your own MSI radeonR4850 I’ve also had to replace my 512 be fixed by a MSI P45 Neo motherboard MB DDR1 RAM with a 1 GB stick of BIOS update. 800 Watt PSU DDR2 RAM. Look up for the Be a part of the first ever community created My PC is taking too much I’ve installed Windows Vista manufacturer’s Digit Fast Track. You get to collaborate, time to boot. When I play FIFA Ultimate on my machine. When site for a list of create and control everything from the cover 09, the game lags and the CPU I was using my machine with bug fixes. Be to the contents. Post your troubleshooting temperature rises to 65C. The the old configuration, it didn’t extremely careful queries and answer those already posted CPU usage is also too high at support Windows Aero, but now if you go ahead within the wiki. For more information, some 50 to 56 per cent when it is working rather well. Now the with flashing www.thinkdigit.com/digitosp there’s nothing running on the problem that I’m facing is that the BIOS. You PC. Is this caused by some kind of sometimes my system doesn’t can damage the malware or virus? start properly and it hangs board. Bad sectors on Shreyan Mohapatra during start-up. If I restart it by 1 GB of memory is a little pressing reset button, it doesn’t too less for Windows XP to run I have an Intel Core 2 Duo PC with Yes, it could be malware. respond and locks up again at within VMware. It’s worth trying a 320 GB hard drive and 2 GB In the task manager, look at start-up. I have to leave it idle for but another GB of memory RAM. My hard disk has developed what application is using the some time. After that, it starts would definitely help bad sectors on it. I want to know most CPU resources. Sort by properly otherwise I have to whether this is bad for my drive. overall memory consumption repair my operating system using Laptop display Can these sectors be fixed or and also CPU utilisation Also, the installation DVD. The same problems not? What is a bad sector? What look for services or applications problem occurs when I play a Some two to three days back, I does it mean and what causes that are taking up lots of game like Virtua Cop. After play- noticed a slight problem with my them to occur? memory. Try closing those. If ing a while, the PC shuts down laptop’s LCD. Just at the bottom Pawan Maurya that doesn’t work, uninstall automatically and then, suddenly, of the screen, near the taskbar your motherboard and graphics the start-up problem occurs where the shortcut icons and A bad sector is a small card drivers and reinstall them. again. time are generally displayed, portion on the hard disk that The last option would be to I want to know why these I could see a thin line blinking has suffered some damage and try scanning the system for start-up problems are occurring across the LCD. It frequently went is therefore unusable. The bad malware. over and over again. What is on and off and then remained for sectors will not cause you harm the solution for this and what is seconds. Could you please tell me in day to day operation. The Is this the right this problem of board going into what it is and how to rectify this scandisk utility marks the bad time to go in for a sleep mode? I also want to use problem? sectors so that the operating graphics card? Windows XP within Vista through My system configuration is: system skips them and no data I need suggestions regarding VMware. Will my machine allow HP Commercial 6530s, Intel Core is written there. As for causes - it me to do so? 2 Duo CPU T5870 2 GHz, Windows can be physical damage during Get Help Now! S.D. Sharma Vista Home Premium, 3 GB RAM. the manufacturing process itself E-mail us your computing I am far away from the service or wear and tear or just faults problems along with your contact details and complete system The problem you’re facing centre. that show up randomly. could be because of a poor Noklam Bisai You can try fixing the configuration to sos@thinkdigit. com, and we might answer them power supply. If you haven’t Arunachal Pradesh problem by right-clicking on here! Since we get many more reinstalled Windows, then the hard drive with bad sectors mails per day than we can handle, maybe the older drivers are Try opening up an image in Windows Explorer. Click on it may take some time for your causing some problems. Try a in full screen or play a movie Properties and click the Tools query to be answered. Rest fresh install and download the at full screen. See if that line tab. Under error checking, click assured, we are listening! latest drivers from the internet. keeps flashing and showing up “Check now”. Check the box

130 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Q&A Win Mo ready to go AMD adds more cores Windows 6.5 mobile handsets start Six-core AMD Phenom II processors to lining up for release be out sometime next year

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 2.80 of duty 4. Is this temperature GHz normal for a laptop? When I’m Memory: 1 GB DDR 2 not playing and just surfing the Standard VGA graphics adaptor web, the temperature stays at an 250 GB hard drive average of 50C. Moser Bear DH-22A8S DVD drive I’ve tried to overclock my fan Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit but according to users on vari- Over the last few days my ous forums, the PC BIOS does DVD/CD ROM drive has been not permit this. I’m thinking of unable to read or write any buying a cooling pad but are discs. Whenever I insert a disc, there any other solutions to cool the following message appears - down my laptop? “Insert a disc”. Can you help me Amon Pereira with this problem? Also please suggest a 19-inch A temperature of 79 C is LCD monitor and a midrange quite high for the laptop but graphics card for the upcoming as long as you’re not getting Dirt 2 will be one of the first games to run on DirectX 11 release of Windows 7. stability issues, it should be purchasing a graphics card. I NVIDIA based motherboards Bijesh okay. The only way to cool am about to buy a mid ranged that let you use the power of two things down is to use a laptop graphics card in the month of or three cards by connecting The DVD drive has most cooler like you said. You could September. I have read in Digit them together using a SLI- likely worn out as they often do take the laptop to Dell and see if that Windows 7 is going to be bridge. CrossFire works in the after two years or so. You should they can service it and clean up released very soon and DirectX 11 same way but is designed by take it over to the vendor for the insides for you. There could games will be coming at the end AMD/ATI for their cards. repair or replacement if it’s still be a lot of dust clogged in the of the year. HTPC is a term used for under warranty. heat sinks or the fan might be So, should I buy my graph- Home Theatre PC. They are Look for the Samsung running slower. ics card in September or should just like any other PC but SyncMaster D190S and AOC I buy it after the release of they are built with low power F19. They should be between Registry problem Windows 7? Will DirectX 11 games components that require little Rs. 6,500 and Rs. 7,500. You My PC configuration is as follows: have compatibility problems? cooling and run quiet. can easily find 22-inch monitors Processor: Intel 2.8 GHz Dual core I have been reading Digit around Rs. 10,000 and Rs. Motherboard: Intel D945, magazine for the past four Graphic card 12,000. Your current PC will run 80 GB hard drive, 1GB memory, months. It is a very nice maga- problem Windows 7 just about okay. A XFX 9400GT 512MB zine. Whenever I read it, I come I own a GeForce 8500GT graphic graphics card might let you run I run Windows XP SP2. across terms like oveclocking, card. I recently installed a fresh the fancier Aero theme. Your Whenever I try to open up Task SLI, CrossFire, HTPC etc. I don’t copy of Windows XP on my PC memory is more important. Manager or Registry Editor, it know what the above mentioned infected with virus. I installed Upgrading to 2 GB will help. says that it is disabled by your terms mean. Can you tell me? the drivers for the graphics card If you are thinking of playing Administrator! I formatted my Bharat Razdan and after the reboot, it showed some games as well, then we PC twice but there has been no a black screen with the mouse recommend you to upgrade change in the problem. I also One or two DirectX 11 pointer. I tried restarting the your entire system. If not, a can’t run games like Street games might be out this year computer, but it shows up the cheap GeForce 8400GS or Fighter 4 at the minimum resolu- but the big lot will only come same thing. Also, the audio hard- 9400GT from Palit, ZOTAC or tion. At first, when I install the next year. It’s not wise waiting ware is not working, even after I POV will be sufficient. game, it runs properly but when I for those games and then installed the drivers. restart my PC, it starts giving me buying a DirectX 11 card. The Len Laptop errors that Visual C++ has failed performance of those games on overheating problems to load the floating module. It mid ranged cards is yet to be You could try uninstalling I have a Dell Studio XPS 13 (Intel also happens with games like seen. You can go for a sub-Rs. the drivers through the 2.4 GHz, 4 GB DDR3 RAM, 320 Crisis Warhead and Delta Force 10,000 card for now and then Windows Safe mode and see if GB hard drive) that heats up to Xtreme 2. upgrading to something better it still boots up with the blank about 79 C while playing Call when the time is right and there screen. Try downloading an are plenty of DirectX 11 games older version of the drivers as around. There is no shortage of well. Also, try using the disc that good DX9 games to play in the was provided to you with the meantime. card. Try the same thing with Overclocking is running a the audio hardware. You could component such as a processor, also try using Windows Update graphics card, and memory to download the drivers for you. faster than what it’s meant to. For these components, it’s DVD drive usually increasing the core problems speed or the memory speed. My system specifications are as SLI is a standard used by follows. Laptop coolers can help maintain temperatures

132 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Q&A OEMs like Google Join in Sony systems to ship with Google Digit Open Source Wiki launches - Chrome browser www.thinkdigit.com/digitosp

Your PC is most likely Data recovery isn’t perfect infected by a virus. There are every single time. So while many worms and viruses that software might be able to disable the registry editor and recover most of the data, there task manager. The only easy are always bits of pieces of the solution is to use an antivirus files that aren’t intact. This to remove it. If the games you might be fine for documents mentioned require some Visual but executables and archives C++ runtimes, you’ll have to won’t open with the least bit of download those and install corruption of missing data. The them if they are corrupted. bad news is that it might not be possible to recover the files Data recovery accurately. query You could try contacting I have an Intel Core 2 Duo proces- Stellar or some of the other sor, 250 GB hard drive and 2 GB physically data recovery RAM. My hard drive crashed and services. They might be able to I recovered data using Stellar recover data from the drive but Phoenix. I am a MCA student and remember that it could be very this data is very precious to me. expensive. For some reason, file recovered with formats such as JPG, PDF, Windows XP RAR and ZIP aren’t opening. It problems says unsupported type or version. My PC configuration is: Even EXE files run but it show a Intel Core 2 Duo E4600 command prompt window and Gigabyte S2C 945 GCM mother closes instantaneously. I checked board the properties for the files but 2 GB DDR2 RAM everything seems okay. I tried 160 GB Hitachi HDD Speedfan has a built-in drive health feature that displays basic statistics about different operating systems such Samsung DVD writer the drive as Windows XP, Windows Vista Intex cabinet with 450 W SMPS and Linux. I also tried different Viewsonic 19-inch TFT with only 1. Whenever I boot in XP, a fraction of a second but other- registry and system diagnostic D-Sub connector Windows runs fine but when I wise, it works fine. tools but nothing seems to work. I have Windows Vista and XP boot into Windows Vista, the 2. My HDD activity light flick- Vikram Paliwal installed on my system. monitor goes blank randomly for ers without any program running and its operation is noisy too. Also my operating system fails every now and then. 3. Is a 450 watts power supply enough if I add one more hard drive and a graphics card? Also, suggest a mid-range graph- ics card for my configuration. Paramjit Saggu Chandigarh

Windows normally flashes the display just before it boots into the desktop. It shouldn’t cause any serious problems. The hard drive LED flickering could be because of a highly fragmented hard drive. Try defragging the drive sometime. If the hard drive is really old, it could be some issue with the drive. Try running a diagnostic tool or use Speedfan’s internal drive diagnosing feature. The 450W PSU will run an additional hard drive easily. Whether it runs the graphics card depends on the kind of card itself. A basic entry-level Stellar Phoenix is a general data recovery software card like a GeForce 8400GS

134 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Icy cool Q&A Some overclockers are apparently making Dragon Ball Z: Sagas their own thermal paste using diamond dust The first Dragon Ball Z game to be released on a And reportedly the cooling is remarkable non-Japanese console, the Xbox

outside Windows or in any other operating system or system. Four fans are much more than enough for the case as long as two of those fans are pulling in air and the other two are blowing out air. The graphics card temperature of 65C isn’t very high as well so there’s nothing to be concerned about. Error at Windows startup I have an Intel core 2 Duo 6300 1.86 GHz processor powered by 1.5 GB ram and 160 GB hard drive with a GeForce NVIDIA 7300 GT PCI graphic card with XP installed. Whenever I log in any user account, I get an error “Windows cannot access SVCH0ST.EXE. You may not Startup viruses can be disabled by using the Windows msconfig tool have appropriate permission to access it”. This error started won’t be a problem but a you might have to change some When I installed Vista 64-bit when I removed this file as it slightly more powerful card settings such as the boot order. on my PC, the DVD drive does not was affected by a worm. How might. A mid-range graphics respond very well. It won’t open do I fix this file and the error? card would be a Radeon About my PC DVDs and the Autoplay feature is I have attached a screenshot of HD4850 or a NVIDIA GeForce I have the following queries to be also disabled. It shows the basic the error. 9800GTX. Prices are around Rs. solved by you. I have Kaspersky preparation screen for the blank Gurleen Singh 7,000 – Rs. 9,000 depending on Antivirus 2009 licensed up to disk. Also, when I play games like the make. January 25, 2010. Whenever GTA 4, I think my graphics card The missing file isn’t the I start my computer, it says gets hot and the temperature SVCHOST.EXE that Windows OC fail error “C:\WINDOWS\system32\ rises to around 65C. has. It’s a virus or worm that I have a problem with my config\win.exe”, then it Give me an idea of how I can was removed. The missing link computer. Whenever it boots, it says make sure that you type the cool that. I have four fans in my is the reason you are seeing displays an error message with a name correctly, and try again. cabinet. How can I direct them this error. First, make sure that note “OC failed. Please press F10 Nilash Pritish for proper air flow? the file has been deleted from to change options on OC Fail”. the hard drive. Then, open up Can you tell me what it means The error with C:\ The DVD drive might msconfig from the Start > by OC Fail, and will it harm my WINDOWS\system32\ be having some problems. Run window. Go to the Startup system? After continuing and config\win.exe that you’re Typically drives go bad after tab and disable or delete booting, the OS is erratic, the getting is because of a virus. The around two years or so. Check the entry that points out to mouse movement is jerky and virus might have been removed to see if the drive works fine SVCH0ST.EXE. the desktop won’t respond. What by the antivirus but Windows can I do? still tries to run it every time My computer configuration is: it boots. You can remove this Intel Pentium D820, Intel 945GV startup entry by clicking on motherboard, 512 MB RAM, 80 Start > Run. Type msconfig. GB HDD, Windows XP SP2. It’s a Look for an entry under Startup HP DX2280. for win.exe and delete it. Athreya Rao Overheating The error OC fail problems means overclocking failed. Digit’s Q&A section is one of the Overclocking is forcing the most interesting sections of the processor or memory to run magazine. My PC configuration is: faster than the default speeds Processor: Core 2 Duo E4600, 4 that it’s supposed to. Get into GB Transcend RAM, Palit GeForce the BIOS by pressing the Del 8600GT, 250 GB SATA hard disk, key when that error shows up. LG DVD-RW and HCL 700SFL Reset settings to defaults. Save monitor. and reboot. It should work but My problems are:

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 135 Tech@Work Digit web awards Recession ends For more on social and business According to several reports, the global networking and job portals, read the recession has finally ended. However, Digit web awards special employment figures would grow gradually Changing lanes post recession An insight on improved job search techniques

Rishi Das in to three categories – non is underway. Companies applicants from both junior and Co Founder and CEO, serious, serious but unhealthy, diversify to reduce their risk senior industry professionals. CareerNet Consulting and serious and healthy. While and consolidate their market Don’t wait for the next [email protected] the first category is already leader positions. Effectively, recession to up-skill yourself. out of business, the second before committing your Continuous learning to up-skill category of companies is services to any organisation is a key and is sure to add value ith the global grappling with the reality of the find answers to a list of in the long term career path of economic situation. However, the clear questions such as market an individual. downturn winners are the companies positioning of a company, subsiding, who are serious and are with pre- and post-recession growth Widen your job Wthe next two years or so are a healthy business model. cycles, employee perspectives search channels expected to usher in a recovery Companies with sound growth and the business potential of Break away for the traditional phase, there is a silver lining strategies, cost optimisation the company. This will give a job search channels such as amid the dark clouds on the solutions, steady cash flow clearer picture if the company job boards and newspapers. horizon that hints at better times Test the strength of your just round the corner. Markets network and actively use social are slowly going in the growth networking sites for assistance phase and instead of the usual from your old friends and pink slip news, companies have colleagues. This will help gradually started hiring. This you tap hidden job markets situation is ideal for job seekers and employee references who were in staying put during add weight to your resume. the downturn and are now Moreover, you will be privy to looking for new opportunities. more intricate details about However, it will be best to take the company, job profile and the next career decision while the culture of the firm. From keeping the following aspects in a compensation point of reckoning before making your cycles are the ones that have is well structured and view, individuals can expect a golden leap. been able to weather the storm. functionally sound to usher to 15 – 25 per cent rise in their These are the ones to be looked the next orbital of growth. compensation if they go in Industry at as a potential employer. for a job change. However, it introspection However, be wary of companies Actuate continuous will be advisable to look at Analyse whether your current that have massively laidoff learning the stock option plans more industry is going to grow resources during the recession. The onset of recession made seriously now as the markets slow or boom post recession. In any business environment, us understand the importance have bottomed out and will If the answer lies in the prior employee layoffs are essentially of continuous improvement of only grow from here. category, search for similar or a function of business our skills. During recession a This downturn has set up enhanced roles that align in restructuring and people majority of finishing schools a lot of different benchmarks industries expected to grow performance. Nevertheless, witnessed huge rush of in the industry. It has forced in the near future. Actively there have been companies and individuals alike research and map your career several layoffs due www.thinkdigit.com/d/pmp_test to be pragmatic in good as well graph in two or more high to poor cash flows as bad times. Though, no one growth industries and select and unplanned can claim to know the future or the one that better aligns to growth. It’s wise to know what will unfold in the your interests and strengths. stay away from such time to come, it will be best for companies. employees to tread the path Select a promising We also witness of continuous learning, taking organisation a slew of M&As as right decisions on career and The recent downturn has a lot of business keep themselves abreast with distinctly bracketed companies consolidation upcoming industry trends.

136 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Killer rigs Make your dream configuration Pricewatch a reality. Latest prices of PC The latest prices of components Section Opener Agent 001 140 components 142 for you To protect and serve Agent 001 goes cabinet and power supply hunting, specifically for HTPC and high-end applications

Agent001 not as feature rich as the others mentioned CoolerMaster, Antec, Scythe and NMB. [email protected] above but for some affordable cannot be Larger fans are better for although their rpm beaten. is lower than a smaller fan they will actually For those looking at high-end rigs for move more air and silently owing to the childhood friend of mine recently gaming or generally powerful PCs we larger diameter of the fan blade. The figure to upgraded to a GeForce GTX recommend larger, tower-type cabinets. By look at when shopping for fans is their CFM 260 graphics card after much high-end I mean a quad core processor, 2-3 rating indicating the cubic feet of air they can persuasion. When we opened his hard drives, 4 GB of RAM and a graphics move in a minute, the higher this rating the Acabinet to install it, I was horrified at the card in the range of Rs. 15,000 or above. better the fan. Of course the higher the rpm signs of rust. Then we discovered his system You can opt for a steel based chassis or the noisier the fan – keep in mind. would not boot after adding this card. I one made of aluminium. The latter resists If you really want something that is big, immediately suspected the power supply, corrosion and that is why I recommend it. looks good and built of aluminium, therefore especially when I noticed it was a non- Steel cases without proper treatment tend light and resisting corrosion look at the branded 400 watt unit and his older GeForce to rust around the edges and this gradually CoolerMaster ATCS 840 – a superlative 7300GS would work fine. Thus began the worsens, especially if you live in a coastal case with very good cooling (it actually has hunt for a new cabinet and power supply. region or any area with higher humidity. 3 x 230 mm fans!). Priced at Rs. 15,000 Since HTPCs are super hot, HTPC Cooling is also important; just having four the ATCS 840 represents the pinnacle of cabinets are also the in thing and most and five fans isn’t sufficient. The case should a high-end cabinet and supports liquid vendors will be quick to point you to one. have good airflow. Sometimes wrongly cooling solutions and up to 6 hard drives I recommend these cabinets with caution placed fans can create cross currents of air, with no problems whatsoever. The intake – sure they’re compact but the cheaper which is not good for cooling. You want the fans also have dust filters – goodbye to ones are tacky and the cooling system flow of air to be regular and strong and in regular cleaning. The Antec 1200 is priced woefully inadequate, unless you’re building general cool air should be sucked into the at Rs. 13,000 and is another superb gaming something based on the Atom platform. The case from the front and possibly the sides chassis albeit not built of aluminium and attraction is the diminutive size, which some and blown out through the rear. A couple of without dust filters for the fans. This may be people will kill for – an unobtrusive cabinet fans on the top of the case do not harm since an issue for someone living in a dusty area, to be tucked away behind furniture with they assist the process of exhausting air out. but in general I advocate the use of dust a 42-inch LCD TV getting all the glory is a Cabinets that create a turbulence of air inside filters since even regular cleaning does not much sought after scenario. With shopping them are no good for cooling. Fans are of guarantee protection from a gradual rise in for HTPC cabinets do consider the better equal importance and most manufacturers temperatures. This is because dust slowly brands – their cabinets are built better offer very cheap fans with their cases. For works its wicked magic on fans inside the and smarter (by the latter I refer to better someone blowing a lakh on a souped up case and on components reducing their cooling), and generally expansion support gaming rig I recommend buying your speed by gradually eroding their bearings. is better. Brands like CoolerMaster and own fans. Look at brands like If you must buy something good and costly Antec have some good models albeit pricier make sure it has dust filters since intake fans than other offerings in the market. Check attract a lot of dust. out the Antec Fusion Remote Black, priced If you are going for a powerful dual GPU at Rs. 10,400. For the price you get a fully system like something based on a GTX 260 functional remote unit that works with the SLI, I recommend Corsairs HX 750 priced at cabinets built in LCD display for a hands-free Rs. 8,500. For single high-end graphics cards HTPC experience. The cabinet is built very opt for Corsairs TX 650 priced at Rs. 6,500. well and cooled via two 120mm fans. An For a basic system I recommend a cabinet Antec 430-watt power supply available for like CoolerMasters Elite 330 priced at Rs. Rs. 4,100 would be an ideal companion. Not 2,500. If you want something a little only is it rated at above 80 percent in terms more powerful in terms of cooling

of efficiency but it’s also very suitable for Shrikrishna Patkar and of course something that looks high-end HTPC applications. CoolerMasters better, CoolerMasters 690 is also Media 260 is also available for Rs. 8,100 and available for Rs. 4,000. A good this is a really spacious case but available power supply for any generic without power supply. Corsair’s PC is Corsair’s VX 450 – VX400 is a good PSU for this case priced at Rs. 3,800. If you available for Rs. 3,800. If you’re want to really squeeze it opt looking for an ultra cheap HTPC for a VIP Gold 400 watt, chassis look at the Zebronics priced at Rs. 2,100. I don’t Cube, available without a power recommend cheaper power supply for Rs. 2,500 – it’s obviously supplies..

138 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com CM UCP900 goes gold Silverstone Raven CoolerMasters UCP 900W Silver which The Raven is a unique concept with the we tested has a new revision, the UCP motherboard mounted at a 90 degree tilt from Agent 001 900 is now available with a 80+ Gold regular cabinets meaning the connectors stick out rating from the top. Pretty unique, and works well too

I want to buy a S60 based mobile Premiere 6.5 for my video projects and the available now since they will not suffice phone & my budget is 15,000. It should system configuration is as follows: AMD for anyone needing accurate colours. support 3G, should have good music qual- Athlon X2 5200+, Asus M2N-MX SE There is one recommendation – Dells ity, should support maps and also should Motherboard, 2*512MB DDR2 RAM, 2209WA – this is an IPS panel and for Rs. be well build. candy bar or slide either of 2*250GB Seagate HDD in RAID 0, Sony 16,000 is your best bet for a great them will do. I would prefer a Nokia device. DVDWriter, iBall Cabinet and LG 17-inch CRT monitor. Prabal chowdhury monitor. Now I am planning to upgrade to I suggest looking at Nokia’s 5800 a new configuration with Adobe Premiere I want to buy a cell phone. My budget Xpress Music. It’s a touch screen based CS3 as my video editor. Please suggest me is Rs. 13000. I figured out Nokia 5630 device and should serve your needs as it the best hardware configuration within a Xpress music and Sony Ericsson w595. has all the features you need. budget of Rs. 60,000. Please suggest something. I don’t want any Manoj other brands. I’m going to buy a new desktop PC. Sky Digital Studio Naveen Kumar Please recommend best gaming configura- It totally depends on what you are tion I can get in Rs. 30,000. Also please looking at. If you want better music keep in mind of AMD Phenom II processors. quality I recommend the Sony Ericsson Yadwinder Paul Singh w595. If you’re looking for a Symbian Rs. 30,000 is a small budget for a based device with better application gaming PC. If you are willing to play the support then look at the Nokia. Either latest games at lower resolutions and way you can’t go wrong with your choice. lower levels of detail this budget will just about do, especially since you want I have Intel Core2 Duo 2.2GHz, 3 GB everything including a monitor. memory, Intel D945 Board & Radeon I recommend taking a close look at HD4650 Graphics card. I want to know that our Killer rigs section. Look at our Basic will this hardware support games devel- Rig for Rs. 21,350. Now simply add in a oped on cryengine3 like Crysis 2. If no graphics card like the GeForce 9800GT please suggest the upgrade. and for Rs. 9,000 extra, you are covered You configuration is indeed a weak for Sarang Bokil for a very nice gaming rig for Rs. 30,000 CS3. Normally I would suggest a Core 2 This card will definitely not be able to Quad system but I’m going to give you a play Crysis 2, especially since it barely I want to buy DELL TFT monitor Core i7 since after we extensively tested runs Crysis. You cannot buy a card today weather I should buy 18.5 inch i.e. E1910H these CPUs in our test lab, we found them for a game being released in the future. If or 19 inch i.e. 1909W. Can I buy 18.5 inch? to be superb for any kind of 2D image you want the fastest card available today, Rishab Garg editing and 3D rendering. I am not it is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 285. ATI’s recommending peripherals like keyboard Radeon HD 5870 is also headed for the and mouse as any brand is good enough market soon. I suggest you hold your depending on your usage. You already horses a bit and hang on to your cash for have a monitor and I recommend you use the next 3-4 months. Things are going to that for now, as high-end LCDs are costly. get more interesting with DX 11 cards. I refrain from suggesting cheaper LCDs like the 19-inch and 22-inch ones please tell me the difference between core 2 duo and quad core and which is better. Guide me to buy a best laptop rang- Category Component Price ing between 45k and 55k, which can be used in college with bulk storage good CPU Core i7 920 14,500 performance of network net systems and Motherboard MSI X58 Pro / Bi- 12,500 good processing speed. ostar Tpower X58 Pratyush Rai RAM Kingston DDR3 1 x 5,000 A Core 2 Duo is a dual core processor 3 GB (1333 MHz) based on Intel’s Core architecture which the term quad core is generic and refers to Hard Drive WD Caviar Black 7,000 a processor with four cores. There are Edition 1 TB many quad core processors available. The Graphics Card ZOTAC GeForce 6,000 Core architecture-based equivalent is the There will be hardly any difference 9600GT Core 2 Quad. They also have a Nehalem between an 18.5-inch and a 19-inch in based quad core called the Core i7 Power Supply Corsair VX550 5,500 terms of what you see. Rather opt for a processor, this family also has many 22-inch display if you budget permits you, Cabinet CoolerMaster Elite 2,500 models. AMD also has their Phenom and as these are hardly Rs. 3000 to 4000 more 330 Phenom II processors, which are quad than a 19-inch monitor. DVD Writer LG G55n 1,400 core. I recommend the Acer 5738G, we tested it and it’s powerful enough with I am a Photographer & Videographer TOTAL PRICE Rs. very good performance for its price, by profession. Presently I am using Adobe 54,400 which is Rs. 40,999.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 139 nBasic rig = Rs. 21,350 KILLER RIGS nMultimedia cum gaming rig = Rs. 80,700 everything you will ever need to build your nUltra high-end PC / Gaming rig = Rs. 1,52,200 own PC. whatever your budget. HARD DISK CABINET MONITOR nSeagate 250 GB 7200.11 / Rs. 1,900 nZebronics Antibiotic / Rs. 2,100 nViewSonic VA1928wm / Rs. 8,200 nSeagate 1 TB 7200.11 / Rs. 5,200 nCoolerMaster 690 / Rs. 4,400 nAOC 2230fm / Rs. 14,000 nWestern Digital Velociraptor 150 GB nCoolerMaster ATCS 840 / Rs. 12,000 nDell S2409W / Rs. 15,000 / Rs. 9,900 or Western Digital 1 TB Black Edition / Rs. 6,800

POWER nVIP 350 Watts / Rs. 850 nCorsair TX 650 / Rs. 6,500 nCoolerMaster RealPower Pro 850W / Rs. 11,200

GRAPHICS CARD nNone nZotac GeForce GTX260 / Rs. 15,000 nZOTAC GeForce GTX 295 / Rs. 29,000 MOTHERBOARD nASUS NVIDIA 7025 M2N68-AM / Rs. 2,250 nASUS P5Q / Rs. 8,500

nASUS P6T Deluxe card / Rs. 21,000 video

MOUSE SPEAKER nLogitech 3 button scroll / Rs. 300 nNone nLogitech MX518 / Rs. 1,300 nAltec Lansing MX 5021 nRazer DeathAdder / Rs. 2,500 / Rs. 6,500 nLogitech Z5500 KEYBOARD / Rs. 14,000 nLogitech Multimedia / Rs. 400 nLogitech G15 / Rs. 4,400 nLogitech G15 / Rs. 4,000

SOUND CARD nNone / NA nASUS Xonar DX / Rs. 3,700 nASUS Xonar DX / Rs. 3,700

MOUSE NLOGITECH 3 BUTTON SCROLL / RS. 300 NLOGITECH MX518 / RS. 1,300 NRAZER DEATHADDER / RS. 2,500 card sound ram

CPU nAMD Athlon XP 6000+ / Rs. 2,850 nIntel Core 2 Duo E8400 / Rs. 8,200 nIntel Core I7 / Rs. 14,600

RAM n2 x 2 GB DDR2 800 MHz (Kingston Value) / Rs. 2,500 n2 x 2 GB DDR2 800 MHz (Corsair XMS2) / Rs. 3,000 n2 x 3 GB DDR3 Corsair Dominator 1066 MHz DDR3/ Rs. 9,000 Price watch

Motherboards Model Market Price Tested In Socket Speed FSB L2 Cache ASUS M3N78-EM Rs. 4,300 November 2008 AM2+ 1 6 4 ASUS P5Q Deluxe Rs. 14,900 June 2008 LGA775 2 6 6 ASUS P5Q-PRO Rs. 9,650 LGA775 2 6 6 ASUS P5Q-E Rs. 11,350 LGA775 2 6 8 ASUS P6T Deluxe Rs. 20,975 October 2009 LGA1366 3 6 8 ASUS Rampage II Extreme Rs. 26,000 October 2009 LGA1366 3 6 6 (Best Performer) ASUS Rampage II GENE Rs. 16,450 October 2009 LGA1366 2 6 6 ASUS M4A79T Deluxe Rs. 13,050 October 2009 AM3 4 5 6 GIGABYTE EX58-UD5 Rs. 16,950 October 2009 LGA1366 3 6 8 Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R Rs. 8,900 LGA775 1 6 8 GIGABYTE MA790GP- Rs. 9,100 October 2009 AM2+ 2 6 4 UD4H Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R Rs. 14,250 LGA1366 2 6 8 MSI X58 PRO Rs. 11,300 October 2009 LGA1366 3 7 6 MSI P7N Diamond Rs. 15,200 LGA775 4 6 6 MSI X58 Rs. 20,250 LGA1366 3 10 8 XFX nForce 790i Ultra Rs. 21,050 October 2009 LGA775 3 6 6 Zotac 780i Supreme Rs. 14,500 LGA775 3 6 6 Zotac nForce 750a Rs. 6,500 AM2+ 2 6 4

Digital Cameras

Model Market Price Tested in Sensor Optical Zoom LCD Screen Size Canon Powershot SX120 Rs. 14,995 October 2009 10 MP 10x 3.0 inches Canon IXUS 100IS Rs. 12,999 October 2009 12 MP 3x 2.5 inches Canon Powershot A480 Rs. 7,499 October 2009 10 MP 3.3x 2.5 inches Canon A1100IS Rs. 9,499 October 2009 12 MP 4x 2.5 inches Canon IXUS 95IS Rs. 10,500 October 2009 10 MP 3x 2.5 inches Canon SX200IS (BEST Rs. 21,500 October 2009 12 MP 12x 3.0 inches PERFORMER) FujiFilm FinePix F200 Rs. 17,999 October 2009 12 MP 5x 3.0 inches FujiFilm FinePix S1500 Rs. 12,500 October 2009 10 MP 12x 2.7 inches Kodak C140 Rs. 4,999 8 MP 3x 2.4 inches Nikon P90 Rs. 23,995 October 2009 12 MP 24x 3.0 inches Nikon Coolpix L20 Rs. 7,750 October 2009 10 MP 3.6x 3.0 inches Nikon S220 Rs. 8,500 October 2009 10 MP 3x 2.5 inches Olympus FE25 Rs. 5,995 10 MP 3x 2.4 inches Panasonic FS4 Rs. 6,750 8 MP 4x 2.5 inches Samsung ES55 (BEST BUY) Rs. 6,990 October 2009 10 MP 3x 2.5 inches Sony HX1 Rs. 29,800 October 2009 9 MP 20x 3.0 inches Sony S930 Rs. 7,800 10 MP 3x 2.4 inches Sony H20 Rs. 17,500 10 MP 10x 3.0 inches

External HDDs

Model Market Price Capacity Interface Warranty (Years) Seagate Freeagent GO Rs. 5,150 500 GB USB 5 years Seagate Freeagent GO Rs. 3,250 250 GB USB 5 years Maxtor One Touch 4 Mini Rs. 3,200 250 GB USB 5 years Transcend StoreJet Rs. 2,725 160 GB USB 2 years Western Digital MyPassport Rs. 2,850 160 GB USB 3 years Western Digital MyPassport Essential Rs. 4,100 640 GB USB 3 years Western Digital MyPassport Studio Edition Rs. 7,800 1 TB USB, FireWire, eSATA 3 years

142 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Price watch

Processors Model Market Price Tested In Socket Speed FSB L2 Cache AMD Sempron 140 Rs. 1,950 September 2009 AM2+ 2.7 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 1 MB AMD Athlon X2 5200+ Rs. 3,200 November 2008 AM2+ 2.7 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 1 MB AMD Athlon X2 7850 BE Rs. 3,350 September 2009 AM2 2.8 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 2 MB AMD Athlon II X2 250 Rs. 4,100 September 2009 AM2+ 3 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 2 MB AMD Athlon II X2 550 Rs. 5,450 September 2009 AM2+ 3.1 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 1 MB AMD Phenom X4 9650 Rs. 6,025 November 2008 AM2+ 2.3 GHz 3600 MHz HyperTransport 2 MB AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE Rs. 7,500 September 2009 AM3 2.8 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 1.5 MB AMD Phenom II X4 810 Rs. 8,350 September 2009 AM2+ 2.6 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 2 MB AMD Phenom II X4 920 BE Rs. 9,650 AM3 2.8 GHz 3600 MHz HyperTransport 2 MB AMD Phenom II X4 945 Rs. 12,075 September 2009 AM2+ 3G Hz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 2 MB AMD Phenom II X4 955BE Rs. 13,100 September 2009 AM3 3.2 GHz 2000 MHz HyperTransport 2 MB Intel Dual Core E2200 Rs. 3,000 September 2009 LGA775 2.2 GHz 800 MHz 1 MB Intel Dual Core E5200 Rs. 3,375 September 2009 LGA775 2.5 GHz 800 MHz 2 MB Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Rs. 5,900 September 2009 LGA775 2.8 GHz 1066 MHz 3 MB Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Rs. 8,850 September 2009 LGA775 3 GHz 1333 MHz 6 MB Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 Rs. 8,650 September 2009 LGA775 2.33 GHz 1333 MHz 4 MB Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Rs. 8,750 September 2009 LGA775 2.4 GHz 1066 MHz 8 MB Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 Rs. 12,100 LGA775 2.66 GHz 1333 MHz 6 MB Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Rs. 12,601 LGA775 2.83 GHz 1333 MHz 12 MB Intel Core i7 920 Rs. 14,900 September 2009 LGA1366 2.66 GHz 4.8 GT/s QPI NA

Monitors

Model Market Price Tested in Size Resolution Contrast Ratio Response time Acer V203H Rs. 7,250 20-inch 1600 x 900 10000:1 5 ms ASUS VM193D Rs. 6,850 19-inch 1440 x 900 800 : 1 5 ms BenQ E2200HD Rs. 9,950 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 1000 : 1 5 ms Dell 1909W Rs. 6,800 19-inch 1440 x 900 1000 : 1 5 ms Dell S1709W Rs. 7,200 17-inch 1440 x 900 600 : 1 8 ms Dell S2409W Rs. 14,750 24-inch 1920 x 1080 1000 : 1 5 ms LG 177WSB Rs. 6,300 May 2008 17-inch 1440 x 900 700 : 1 8 ms LG W1942T Rs. 6,900 19-inch 1440 x 900 700 : 1 5 ms Samsung 2033 Rs. 7,250 20-inch 1600 x 900 15000 : 1 5 ms Samsung 733NW Rs. 6,550 17-inch 1440 x 900 1000 : 1 8 ms Samsung 943NWX Rs. 7,500 19-inch 1280 x 1024 1000 : 1 5 ms ViewSonic VA1918WM Rs. 6,600 19-inch 1440 x 900 1000 : 1 5 ms VIEWSONIC VX2255WMB Rs. 12,500 May 2008 22-inch 1680 x 1050 1000 : 1 5 ms ViewSonic VX2240W Rs. 9,900 22-inch 1680 x 1050 1000 : 1 2 ms

Graphic Cards

Model Market Price Tested in Core Speed Type of memory Memory

EVGA 9600GT Knock-out Rs. 6,650 November 2008 700 MHz GDDR3 512 MB Power Color HD4850 Rs. 6,600 August 2009 625 MHz GDDR3 512 MB Power Color HD4670 Rs. 4,650 August 2009 750 MHz DDR3 1024 MB Palit GeForce 9400 GT Super Rs. 2,525 August 2009 550 MHz GDDR2 1024 MB Palit Radeon HD 4870 SONIC Rs. 13,500 October 2008 750 MHz GDDR5 512 MB Palit GeForce GTX 260 Rs. 1,0750 650 MHz GDDR3 896 MB Palit GeForce GTX 275 Rs. 1,3900 633 MHz GDDR3 896 MB XFX GeForce 8600 GT Rs. 3,150 540 MHz GDDR3 256 MB ZOTAC GeForce GTS 250 Rs. 9,250 738 MHz GDDR3 1024 MB ZOTAC GeForce GTX 285 Rs. 26,000 Feb 2009 648 MHz GDDR3 1024 MB

144 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Trine Feature Enter the mad house A beautiful platform, side-scrolling ESC 150 Batman: Arkham Asylum reviewed 152 game reviewed Pimp My Gadget

Kumar Jhuremalani pimping your gadgets, read on to find out Portable (PSP) are becoming quite popular. Siddharth Parwatay more. Personalising these devices would definitely [email protected] The easiest thing to do for small require a bit more than just key chains or [email protected] handheld devices is to attach accessories lanyards. There are places where you can to them. These could vary from small buy and replace the entire body of these keychains or lanyards that can be attached devices. There are two uses for this, first you to mobile phones. If you notice, most could save the original body from the usual ou’ve just bought yourself a shiny pen drives now days come with a small rough handling and scratches and use it new mobile phone or you might attachment option, you could easily use this later, or do the reverse by using the device have just assembled a new PC and to attach a lanyard of your choice, which completely, and when bored change the we’re sure you are happy with it. makes the device different from the others body, which in both cases offers protection. YBut there is always a feeling deep down available and at the same time makes it easy To further customise a PSP or DS, there is inside that something is missing, there is for you to identify. something even better you could do – skin something that makes you feel that this it. No, we don’t mean peel the skin off your new gadget or device is not completely device, but instead, put on a fancy new skin yours. We believe you, this feeling is that personifies your individuality. These present in almost all of us – the need to skins are available in sticker format and personalise or customise everything we are made specifically for these devices, so own. Be it a mobile phone, a computer or there’s no cutting of any sorts needed, it’s even something as small as a flash drive, just a simple sticker, but looks great and we need it to be unique and different from you won’t be able to know the difference. the one owned by the average Joe. So what One might even think that it is the natural can you actually do to make your gadget design of that device. more like you, well that’s what we’re here to tell you. Hello Kitty lanyards have become quite a craze There are many things that you can these days customise, but what we’re focusing on here, is all about our gadgets and other technology For mobile phones, another option is products. Even so, the few of us who admit buying a funky external cover, but again, to geekdom, will not shy away from wearing these are sold in bulk, so you might come that attitude on t-shirts, shoes, etc. so there’s across a random person with the same a bit about that too along the way. cover as you. You must have heard of the show called Other than mobile phones and flash ‘Pimp my Ride’, where all the bling is added drives, portable gaming devices such as to a person’s car, well we’re talking about the Nintendo DS and Sony Playstation

TO SKIN A CAT

We had a word with Eshan P Paarekh, laptops, PSP, cigarette lighters, and pen Choose from a very extensive list at decalgirl.com Director of SkinJam, and found out what it drives. was all about. Do you give customers a chance to Not only can you skin just the PSP and submit their own designs or is it always DS, but there are a range of devices such as Could you explain what SkinJam is to designs set by you and your staff? our readers? We have more than 350 designs in our mobile phones, mp3 players, video game SkinJam! Is about personalisation and shop and the customers can select from consoles and even laptops. The web site protection of your gadgets. More gadget that. www.decalgirl.com offers skins for specific lovers will be amazed by the great concept How much does SkinJam charge for this products and the entire range is listed on of SkinJam’s custom made high quality skin unique service? their site. Again, there is a small chance that wrap service. We charge Rs. 700 – Rs. 1,000 for the cell the same skin might be used by someone What made you bring this unique and phones and for PSP and laptops it is Rs. else, and you will lose out on the entire interesting idea to the Indian market? 1,800. personal and unique look that you are going We thought that SkinJam is a very good Can your skins be delivered to a person’s for. Well, don’t be disheartened, decalgirl. idea for us because something like this home, where he can apply it to his com also offers customers a chance to get has never been introduced in India. As it is gadget on his own, or will he have to templates and design their own skins, but a very creative thing to do and also helps visit your store? these templates can be used only for the people to personalise their gadgets. We do not give the skins in hand to any products listed there. To take this one step What are the products that you have customer. The customer will give us their further, there are some stores that offer even made skins for up until now? gadget and take it back modifi ed after 2-3 more personalisation by adding crystals and We have done it on all kinds of cell phones, hours. We do the procedure in our shop. gems to gadgets. You might have seen some celebrities on the television walking with a

146 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Join the revolution Feature Go Joe Take part in Digit’s fi rst open G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra Mecha source project. Go to 154 reviewed 156 This month’s Unwind geek culture www.thinkdigit.com/digitosp

Customising a digital camera is also possible now

Alright, enough about the small devices, what about adding that custom feel to mobile phone covered in diamonds; well, your best asset? Stop thinking too much, you can have that done to your phone to. all we’re talking about is your computer, Just visit the store called SkinJam, located which most of us geeks would have in Mumbai and Bengaluru, and you can get understood right away. The phone covered with expensive crystals – toys this done. You have more of an option to One of the best ways to start off your for the rich and famous personalise considering the fact that there is customisation experience is by modifying no limit to certain models that you can have your cabinet. Those of you who have deep to Waseem Yusuf, a 21-year old B.Com a skin added to, in comparison to decalgirl. pockets and don’t mind spending quite a graduate who has converted his hobby of com where you have to stick to the models bit can just buy the most expensive cabinet case modding into a profession and has present on the site. out there which will be unique in a way, as also started his own web store. There is a chance you can even get a not many people will actually spend that Where does one start with case modding, skin for your PC cabinet which will look much on it. But, for the rest of us who fall well firstly we’d suggest you purchase a uber cool. The main drawback here is that under the value segment will need to look fairly priced cabinet that you know you’re you can’t do it yourself and the designs are for other means to satisfy our thirst for going to use to mod, and won’t feel sad even mostly fixed, but you can see the employees customisation. The customisation we’re if something were to it in the process. This of the shop work on your gadget, good talking about is case modding, which point is also agreed by Yusuf, who himself for the people who don’t want to get their started as a hobby for some, who have found modding tricky when he first started. hands messy. now turned it into a profession. We spoke Case modding, doesn’t necessarily have INSIDE THE MIND OF A CASE MODDER

We also got in touch with Waseem Yusuf Initially, it was a little tricky to do it, but colours or cars/bikes. But modding is a way and found out what drove him to this once I got the hang of it it was much easier. of expressing oneself and so I try to get extreme profession Modding isn’t just about cutting sheets and inspiration from who I am. placing cooling fans. Each mod is unique and Do you mod anything other than PC What made you take up Modding as a requires different skills. This makes each mod cabinets? (eg. Xbox360s, PS2s, PS3s, etc) profession? special in its own way. Like I said, modding We haven’t tried modding consoles, but yes Since childhood, I’ve always been is like art. it’s a great idea to mod one’s consoles to fascinated by computers. I saw a Where do you draw your inspiration or make them unique. computer for the fi rst time when I was in ideas for each unique mod? What are the tools that you use for 3rd standard and there was instant love I get inspired by a lot of things such as modding? between the two, which has been growing We use some basic tools such as Dremel, ever since. So as my love for computers, Drill, Spray Paint, Hole saw, Jig saw, Double I wanted to try something different. It all Sided Tape, Laser Cutting, Laser Etching. started as experimentation with my PC and Every mod requires use of different tools; the results have been pretty impressive! hence, at times not all of these tools come Slowly I started modding my friends’ into use. More than the tools one needs computers and fi nally took it up as a the skills. Jobs such as etching the Logo profession. Though I believe modding is a on the acyclic sheet require highly specifi c way of expressing oneself and not exactly a machines. profession, every mod is like a work of art. How easy is it to obtain these tools? Did you start with a normal job and then These tools are used in many other industries just realised that it’s not for you? and can be obtained from most hardware I was a trainer at NIIT for Java and .NET. shops. Modding is more about skills, I’m basically very creative, so teaching creativity and one needs to concentrate & programming language was quite boring put in a lot of effort. I have always believed for me. I decided to start my own business; in quality and to get the best quality one as I said, my love for computers have always needs to be precise in his work. And to get been there all my life and slowly I realised perfection, the quality of tools used matter this is what I wanted to do in life. a lot. In the initial phase when you started, were you just good at it, or did you To read the full conversation we had with Yusuf visit practice a lot before opening up shop? http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/97843

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 147 Facebook keeps growing Leap of faith Facebook claims to be the largest social A shoebox sized robot is being Feature networking site as it has 300 million delevoped by the US military that can active users online per month from leap over obstacles over 25 feet and around the world can navigate with the use of GPS

to mean that you need to cut a piece of your up motherboards so that they can fit into attitude. For a long time when it came to cabinet, a nice paint job for your cabinet is the unique designs created and even create zany, smarty or eyebrow raising t-shirt prints also considered a mod. Yusuf specialises transparent casings for hard drives with the only option was the Tantra retail brand; in glossy paint jobs and side panel cuts LEDs lined on the inside, something we famous for their collection of one-liners. But for various clients. He has now moved on have yet to try. why go by someone else’s creation, when to modifying cabinets keeping a theme in A complete overhaul is also a possibility you’re more of a wise guy yourself? And mind. One of the mods he has done was for once you have a particular theme or certainly, why would you want to wear one the CEO of Vodafone India. concept in mind. Check out some of the of those boring brands that make unwitting Once you have cut and put a shiny coat crazy mods below that really inspire us to promotional signboards out of you. Custom of paint on your cabinet you can add more do something insane. designed T-shirts are a way to express your class by using custom made fan grills and also customise the internal hardware of the Check out the Digit Extreme Mod Project at computer. If you have a transparent side http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/40962 panel, you might want to show off what’s inside your cabinet. You can replace all One of the greatest expressions of individuality. With custom T-shirts you the normal cooling fans within the cabinet product customisation – though on the can make a statement by wearing a T-shirt with fans with LED lights or separately non gizmo side – is in the form of custom that says “di9it inside” or even profess install LEDs to highlight your hardware. t-shirts. You can say a lot to the world at undying love for your favourite band Cutting the cabinet is just the basics of large by just wearing a slogan, picture or through pictures or lyrics. You even have case modding, but how much further can sketch. It’s the literal form wearing your the option of being as fabulously offensive that go. Well, a couple of years ago Team Digit had done an extreme monster mod and fit an entire computer into the case of a CRT monitor. Not only that, but at that time we moulded out a monster. Check out the link to get a blast from the past. Some of the really risky things that have been done by people are completely cutting

Who says computers can’t have wheels?

A case mod made completely of Lego

Oh no! the Incredible Hulk ripped out my PC Believe it or not, but there’s a PC in that guitar An extreme Doom 3 cabinet

148 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com More WiFi Power of the sun The next generation Wi-Fi technology, Students from Tuft University and 802.11n, has fi nally been approved the Boston Architectural College have Feature as the standard, even though it was created a house that runs completely conceived seven years ago on Solar Energy

A corny design from tshirts.in Some inkfruit designs or fantastically tongue-in-cheek witty as you “PC Problem? Date a geek” and others that by far the most artistic designs and actual want. are too raunchy to even mention! Dilsebol. photographs of T-shirts being worn. We There are many websites that have com really has nothing to offer that’s worth quite liked some of the Pac man and Tetris entered the fray to offer custom T-shirts writing home about. The design tool is prints. Being the sentimental geeks that we among other customised stuff like mugs, very buggy, while browsing through other are the first thought they evoked was “now mouse pads and stickers. A class of web designs is painful. The only thing worth that’s cool”. Then there are noteworthy sites in this segment are primarily photo mentioning was the option to modify vector art creations. The web sites offers its printing web sites such as zoomin.com that pre-existing designs. Now we come down designer community several competitions also let you print photos on T-shirts. Then to the last category of web sites that allow and prizes. So if you feel you have it in there are dedicated personalisation web you to submit designs into the general pool you, be a prosumer and submit your own sites like early entrant myntra.com and of designs, but if the design is ever to see designs. several others including pringoo.com and the front of a T-shirt it needs to be really Next up bluebustees.com has two dilsebol.com. The last category of T-shirt good and hence approved. The benefit of very disparate and interesting categories web sites do allow you to submit your own this is that you get access to a set of really for browsing, viz. Parents Approved and designs but for shopping on the fly you high quality designs and a vibrant active Parents NOT Approved. Without going need to bank upon the hundreds of crazy designer community. In this space we have into details the category names should designs already created by their designer tshirts.in, inkfruit.com and bluebustees. give you a fair idea of what you can expect communities. Let’s have a look at some of com. tshirts.in may not look all hot a site in each. So go ahead create your own or the web sites and what they have to offer. but has some really nice designs. choose designs that speak to you and myntra.com is by far India’s largest The slogans are insanely funny and the express yourself. We’re pretty sure you’ll on-demand consumer products t-shirts quite affordable. inkfruit.com has turn a few heads. personalisation brand. The web site is easy to navigate and their after sales service is T-SHIRT PRINTING TECHNOLOGY excellent. For customising products the web site has a nice applet which lets you We were quite curious to know more for poly-cotton T-shirts. The design is fi rst add text and upload your own images about the actual technology that enables printed on paper with a special ink, which while showing an instant preview. The printing on T-Shirts. What are the different doesn’t get absorbed on the paper. Then user-generated designs and one-liners processes? Which one is more suited for a the paper is heat-pressed on the cloth so are not as snappy as some of the other particular cloth or colour scheme etc. So, the colour gets absorbed on the cloth. The players but there is certainly quantity. we met Mr. Mukesh Bansal, CEO of Myntra. fi nish comes out good but this is limited to You have loads and loads of categories com for some insights into this fi eld. white polycottons. At the most very light and thousands of designs to choose from. There are currently four types of printing colours. Then there is something called Look for the Digital world and Nerd technologies being used. Screen Printing DTG (Direct to Garment) Printing. This is categories under Life. The pricing too is a more traditional type of technology. It basically a modifi ed inkjet and can work is reasonable. Head over to myntra.com is used for printing T-shirts in bulk where on any kind of surface. It supports 32 bit for a clean shopping / gifting experience you have only a fi xed number of colours. colour printing. The machine pretty much and look out for their collaborative If there are are four colours a screen will also looks like an inkjet printer. Lastly there be printed for each of the colours. Only is Print and Cut which is used for intricate offers. pringoo.com is yet another custom the part that is treated gets transferred designs. In this form the design is fi rst design franchise offering you pretty much with a run of each screen. That way there printed on a special media and the outline everything including custom T-shirts, is a limitation of six to eight colours. So, is cut before being heat pressed onto the stickers and even chocolate wrappers in this type of printing you need bulk for fabric. Vendors need to make a choice powered by Cadbury’s. The designing the economies of scale to apply, otherwise between these technologies depending applet works really well but doesn’t offer one T-shirt will cost you Rs. 5000 which on the formulation of design; whether it as many fonts as Myntra. The community is not very practical. For printing single consists of a photograph, slogan, or vector generated designs are especially witty. The T-shirts one of the technologies available graphics etc. and the type of fabric and “computer age” and “gaming” categories is sublimation. This can work only work colour that was chosen. have nice designs. We found one that says

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 149 Xxx Xxx Game review xxxxx xxxxx

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS OS ...... Windows XP SP2/Vista SP1 CPU ...... P4 2.8 GHz/Athlon 64 3000+ RAM ...... 1 GB Free Memory ...... 12 GB Graphics ...... NVIDIA 6800/ATI X700 Get, Set, Gotham!

Faiyaz Shaikh distance, with enemies and guns that they [email protected] may be wielding getting highlighted. This game will sometimes present opportunities to use Batman’s stealth arkness descends on Gotham skills along with his arsenal of gadgets to City. The night sky is obscured isolate and take down the inmates with by dark clouds lashing rain over a stealth. Such sequences are typically dark Gothic cityscape. Moonlight set in a room with a handful of Joker’s Dpierces through this gloomy curtain, henchmen patrolling. Switching to illuminating a deserted road — the Dark Detective Mode will highlight vantage Knight approaches. A Serious House on Serious Earth The Joker has a party planned for The Batman and the venue could not be any better than Arkham Asylum. The asylum is a mansion on a virtually isolated island with a dubious reputation of ‘treating’ some of Batman’s deadliest foes and The Joker has most of them on his party list. These guys are not the control of the facility ones to resort to crime as a means to an end and unravel The Joker’s real as they seem to have transcended beyond the plan. petty criminal; proposing an alternate, almost dystopian view of the world. The Dark Knight The Joker is escorted by Batman to Returns points and hiding Arkham Asylum after a failed attempt to The game is played in a third person places, helping you to plan attack the Mayor’s office. Around the same perspective with an over-the-shoulder camera your course of action. time, a mysterious fire breaks out in the city’s system. With a push of a button a special There are a variety of ways in penitentiary, the Blackgate Prison and all visor in Batman’s cowl is activated, switching which Batman can take down his foes the inmates are evacuated into the asylum. the worldview to Detective Mode. In this without being detected, like inverted The hospital turns into a real madhouse mode, points of interests are highlighted takedowns (as seen in the movies) and after Joker, along with Harley Quinn, takes in stark contrast while everything else is using a Sonic Batarang to lure enemies into control of the security systems and sets all darkened with a dark blue hue. This also traps. Fear is something that Batman has the inmates loose. It is a long and testing helps Batman preempt enemy encounters as always used against his enemies to great night for Batman as he works to regain he can see through walls at a limited advantage and you will find scared and

156 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Xxx Xxx xxxxx xxxxx RATINGS Game review Genre ...... Action, Stealth, Beat ‘em Up Platform ...... Microsoft XBOX 360, PlayStation 3 Developer ...... Rocksteady Studios Publisher ...... Eidos Interactive and Warner Brothers/DC Comics Distributor ...... E Xpress Price ...... Rs. 2,499 Score ...... 8.5/10 isolated enemies firing at nothing, out of night are clearly visible on him. The artists All of these secrets are not accessible from the sheer nervousness. of the game have used certain artistic license beginning of the game as they may require to deliver the visual feedback. As the game gadgets that become available at a later stage Journey into Knight progresses Batman sports a stubble, his cape of the game. This means that if you want to The game uses to the famed Unreal 3 and has holes in it and there are cuts and bruises achieve 100% game completion, you’ll have PhysX engine along with other technologies through his armor. to do some back tracking with a complete like SpeedTree, IDV, ScaleForm, etc. to render arsenal of Wayne Tech equipment. the dark and gloomy landscape of Arkham Riddle Factory As mentioned earlier, progressing through Asylum, with a slick vector based heads up You are having so much fun playing the game and locating these secrets will display (HUD). Along with the customary this game that the Story Mode unlock a bit of Batman lore. In addition to health display, the HUD is also used to access this however, it will also unlock challenge and switch between gadgets in Batman’s mode stages. Just like in the game, there are utility belt. If you cannot find your way to two types of scenarios—stealth and combat. the next objective or locate that last secret There are a total of four combat challenges in a location, the game menu can be used and four stealth challenges available to be to bring up a 2D schematic of Arkham. unlocked. Each of these stages also has Although the game characters might an “Extreme” mode, effectively taking the seem a little buffed up, they are modeled total number of challenges to 16 stages. On with an uncanny resemblance to some completion of these challenges, your total score for that stage is calculated and uploaded on the online leader boards. Worlds’ Finest It is not easy making a crossover game, especially ones based on a superhero and understandably solid games in this genre are few and far in between. The good news is that Arkham Asylum is easily one of the best games ever made in this category. In may seem a little short fact, even if you are not a big fan the Batman lasting between eight to ten mythos you’ll still enjoy this game. hours. After you beat the single With the exception of gunplay, this game player mode, there are a couple of has something for every typical gamer. other things to keep you busy. There are sections of the game that require The Riddler also has a challenge for stealth and patience and works well for of the comic book art. Batman this night and he has hidden those who look for a bit of strategy in a The Joker constantly tries away secrets throughout Arkham. game. The combat system is robust and to breakdown Batman’s psyche These are sometimes placed in plain sight free flowing that at times warrants good by mocking him using the facilities while others are hidden away behind grates reflexes with the gamepad, especially in video feed and the PA system. And The and breakable walls. These secrets come the later part of the game and in Challenge Joker is only one of Batman’s problems in various forms like the Riddler’s Trophy, Mode. And for those gamers that enjoy this night along with The Scarecrow, Poison Patients Interview Tapes, The Chronicles of exploration, there are secrets to be found Ivy, Killer Croc, Bane and Mr. Zsasz. Arkham and some more. The game measures and rewards to be unlocked. Due to Batman’s training and completion of your game by the progress Arguably, the only things that go against conditioning tt may not be easy to break his you’ve made in the Story Mode along with this game is it’s short length and somewhat constitution, but the effects of this grueling the number of secrets you have discovered. disappointing boss battles.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 157 Xxx Xxx Game review xxxxx xxxxx

than the regular supply of undead skeletons. The most heavily underused aspect of Chasing the game is the very robust physics engine. Boxes, bricks, planks, pulleys, lifts and boards behave in a realistic manner. There are a few places where you have to creatively use a combination of these to get to a the fi reball particular point. Say there is a swinging mace chained to a bar jutting out of the wall. You Aditya Madanapalle use the magician to levitate the mace in such [email protected] a way that it is tied up to the bar, and cannot swing any more. Using the magician to create a crate, then impaling the crate on spikes in rine is a 2D platformer that is part of an a wall, and using it as a ladder is a common emerging trend of the gaming industry to approach. The puzzles themselves get SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS revisit it’s roots, and re-think the whole idea repetitive, and not a single one is a challenge. OS ...... Windows XP, of 3D gameplay. Trine is based on a robust You will not need to repetitively try to solve a physicsT engine, that encourages players to think puzzle, then look up for a walkthrough video Vista or higher of creative ways to overcome obstacles using their on YouTube at any point of the game. The CPU ...... 2 GHz (dual surroundings. lack of a challenge, and the underuse of such core recommended) There are three characters that the game starts a great game engine is very disappointing. with. Pontius, a Knight, Zoya, a thief, and Amadeus, The checkpoints in the game are automated, RAM ...... 512 MB a magician. The souls of these three heroes are with no ability to save progress to a specific Free memory ...... 600 MB combined into a single entity as the three reach out point. This often puts you back by a large Graphics ...... NVIDIA to grab an artifact at the beginning of the game. distance, which makes you replay the same At this point, there is a charming exchange of parts over and over again. 6800 or better words between, which only surfaces in the chapter The only real challenge in the game comes transitions. From then on, the player can switch to up unintentionally. If any one of the three any of the characters during the gameplay to use the characters die, then you will be forced to play abilities unique to these three heroes. The magician for a while with just the other characters. can conjure up boxes to overcome obstacles, the This will force you to use the abilities of the knight is for melee combat using a sword, and the characters left alive in inventive ways. Players thief uses a grapple hook to swing across chasms, can choose to challenge themselves by trying and a bow for ranged combat. Later on into the game, to play the game with only two characters. the heroes get additional abilities, but these are too The increased difficulty levels just add to few and far between for the development angle to the numbers of the undead hoard, and the be engaging. The magician gets the ability to draw abundance and strength of powerups. The up planks and floating triangles. The thief can use game is very short, about six to eight hours multiple arrows, and arrows tipped with fire, and the of gameplay, but every minute of the game knight eventually gets a very powerful hammer. Some feels terribly long drawn out because of the levels require the player to light torches, which Zoya force of numbers of the undead skeletons. At can achieve with fiery arrows, and Pontius with his the end of the game, there is a typical tactic blade. The Wizard is however, useless, as he does not of introducing the element of time to escape, know the fireball spell, which Zoya points out. which makes sure you have to retry the level The levels are very detailed and beautiful, and a couple of times. the story follows a typical fantasy template of an evil The story wraps up in the end, with a power overcoming a kingdom. Traveling through short montage of how the three characters the platformer, looking at the intricately detailed end up. In short, the game is great eye-candy, surroundings is a pleasure, a pleasure heavily marred and a novel new platformer worth playing by the seemingly endless number of skeletons that once but definitely not another Braid, Little spawn and try to hamper your progress. What would Big Planet or World of Goo. The game is a have been a great tourist adventure has been turned little like Amadeus, a lot of cool tricks up his into a cute little inappropriate nightmare. The combat sleeve, but missing out on the elements that soon becomes repetitive, and enduring the combat are most obviously necessary. is a pain. There are a handful of new enemies that show up, spiders that spit venom and vampire bats RATINGS that fly out and bite you when disturbed. The range of enemies is very limited, and relies on numbers rather than AI or creative use of weapons. There are a Consoles ...... PC, PS3, XBOX 360, few boss monsters in between, but the novelty soon wears off. A frog with crystal amour on its back, and Publisher ...... Nobilis a giant skeleton, are the only boss monsters that Developer ...... Frozenbyte you actually fight against. Sometimes, you kill a boss Rating ...... 5/10 monster by dropping it into a void, and at other times you have no choice but to simply evade it. Later on in the game, the boss monsters are actually easier to kill

156 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Xxx Xxx Game review xxxxx xxxxx The rise of Cobra points. These are either dropped by the fallen enemies and structures Faiyaz Shaikh or found behind destructible object. So, for most part your focus in [email protected] going to be killing, destroying and collecting to rack up your score. Slain enemies sometimes drop a score multiplier that remains active for a few seconds, multiplying the score you earn during that period. xperiencing G.I. Joe again after all these years, reminds us of At every checkpoint in the game your total score is tallied and those days when we would setup elaborate battlegrounds in reaching a certain score rewards you with precious Battle Points. our rooms, using common household items, to pit G.I. Joe These points are used to unlock other characters in the team roster action figures against Cobra Command action figures. Now, — quite essential, as this is the only thing that really keeps the game Ea couple of decades later, when we picked the latest game based in fresh. the G.I. Joe universe, the feeling was one of nostalgia and mirth at the ignomity of two well-equipped power hungry groups fighting for On to the genocide control over the world. It all reeks of unrelenting military machismo, The mission levels are roughly divided into set piece arenas where it where even a female G.I. is a Joe. is either dodge and shoot or get behind cover and shoot. You attempt each mission with two characters playing either co-op with another The Factions person or in single player mode, switching between the two with push Like most war stories, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra has two parties that of a button. Even though the game seems to give a lot of emphasis on are at each other’s throats and then there is a weapons manufacturer. taking cover, the system is not as robust as we have come to expect The weapon’s company in this story goes by the name of M.A.R.S after some of the other games. and it is developing warheads for the U.S. Army (G.I. Joe) and is There are situations where things can get pretty hairy as simultaneously selling some nifty nanotechnology to a group you are taking on foot soldiers, turrets and heavy cavalry fighting to bring a new world order (Cobra). So the stage simultaneously. The game provides a few tricks to help is set — for most part of the game, you get to play one of you get through such situations—you can sometimes the several operatives of G.I. Joe, which is a super secret call for back up in the form of vehicle drop, artillery division of the U.S. Army. fire or firing from space using a weapon satellite. In addition to this, each Joe has special ability that Theatre of War can be a life saver most of the times. This ability is The game is set across the regular gamut of tilesets available either in the form of enemy drops or by of frigid, jungle and desert landscapes. Each of building up the ability meter by taking down targets. these locations has four to five missions, along Each character can store up to three uses of the with another locked mission. Mission objectives special ability at a time. Causing mayhem ‘efficiently’ are quite straight forward and they can fit into three builds up the Accelerator Suit meter. After the meter categories — rescue mission, search-and-destroy, and is filled up, you can unleash it to transform both intelligence gathering. You start the game in a mission room the characters into super soldiers, firing bullets to select two G.I. Joe characters for your next venture. The game and rockets at godly speed and taking virtually no damage for a few has a fairly impressive roster of 12 G.I. Joe characters and four Cobra seconds. characters to choose from. Each of these characters belong to either one of the three classes — Mission Review a combat soldier, heavy infantry or commando. Soldiers are all-round Even though the game does not have a lot of depth, it’s paced well fighters and are very handy in every mission. Heavy infantry class enough to keep it interesting till the end. There is a constant trickle is great against vehicles and structures and the commando class of new playable characters, right until towards the end of the game specialises in melee combat. After a mission brief, you are thrown where you get to play as some of the Cobra characters. If you have onto the mission map with the four locations mentioned earlier. Some enjoyed games like Brute Force or even Contra, there is a good chance of these locations (along with their respective missions) are initially you will find this one fun to play. The fun however, does not last long locked and requires completion of certain other missions before they and the game can be completed in eight to ten hours—maybe that’s are playable. At most points in the game, there are multiple missions lengthy enough for a mindless shooter. available at a time and they can be attempted in any order you choose. Despite all its flaws, this game is fun to play as it has a certain old school charm. Unlock able characters and multiple difficulty levels Mission Directives add a fair bit of replay value to the game. So, if you are a fan of the G.I. These missions have a primary objective that you eventually reach as Joe universe or are looking for a decent co-op shooter, you might want the level design is quite linear. The secondary objective is to gather to grab a copy now; otherwise you could wait for a price drop. collectibles like intelligence and contacts of other G.I. Joe members. Collecting these gives you different rewards — gathering intelligence RATINGS Score: 6.5/10 may unlock concept art in the game’s gallery or it may unlock another side- mission. Locating contact of a G.I. Joe makes that member Genre: Action, Shoot ‘em Up available to be unlocked in the team roster. In addition, all of these Platforms: PS2, PS3, PSP, X360, Wii, DS items also add points to your total score. Developer: Double Helix Games, Backbone Sometimes these collectibles are behind a special door that requires a particular class of character to open. If you find yourself Entertainment without the right class of character, there will most likely be a teleport Publisher: Electronic Arts device somewhere in the level. Using these machines you can swap Distributor: Milestone Interactive Software (PS2, PS3, one character for another and crack that door. There is also another PSP, Wii, DS) Redington (X360) queer collective object in the form of Point Clusters, another source of Price: Rs. 999 to Rs. 2,499 (depends on platform)

156 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 156 Mechas Series Games

Digit |October 2009|www.thinkdigit.com How we unwind Worlds. impractical, real Although life modelsare beingbuilt. tripodsinWarThe earliestdescriptionofaMechawasprobably the ofthe gigantic Transformers onesseeninany robots ofthe -suchasthe storylines. arecontrolling calledMechas.Mechasare them notto beconfusedwith Gigantic robot like exoskeletons people-orinsomecases,aliens butwith Geek culture : hidden initsfeet. along onwheels Kikai Co. thatrolls from Sakakibara is amechonhire The Landwalker or animals. giant robotic dinos while fightingwith destroy skylines A bunchofkids Power Rangers: books. number ofsci-fi also hasalarge gaming, theseries Mecha combat Heavy GearII: Escape digit.com/d/45750. review athttp://www.think- visit District 9:Arefreshing on take Movies ation, check out the Digit ation, checkoutthe rescue operations. ing debrisduring company forclear- another Japanese isaMechafrom The T-52 Enryu mecha school. foot statue,anda set upthis56 that Japaneven culture issohuge Gundam: The AdventureQuest. people whomade from thesame Mecha MMORPG browser based MechQuest: Mecha A trial logging. trial logging. meant forindus- is aprototype Timberjacklegged thesix lumberjack, Half Tractor, half series. other Mechainthe but there are the mostfamous, AT-AT walker is Star Wars: The fighter style. in thestreet ated mechaaction School coinoper- Warriors: Armored by TheDadaW The Green Waltz: Afree album Music “Pixel Song1”. “Little Man”and tracks like the Old over to http://tinyurl.com/m5hcmt game the isover,think you are forced oneleve. Head to that rethink game. timeyou isinjustonelevelis almostallthere ofthe Butevery simpleup from game. this Anelephant,abutton, andadoor... that aboutgame anya few game things designthat developer canpick While beinganinteresting andhighlyaddictive flashgame, are there Elephants doforget Digit Diary are Undead. intobandage...” asthe To scare people:“Meeatdeadpeople!”or“Ilike chicksthat birds.” isfor the guide.” or“Thisoutfit atcolleague:“MaybeyouPissed off shouldget astrategy undeador“Iawait yourper ofthe command”asanelf. voice ofaKnightor“Thedeadstand ready” inahoarsewhis- Asking for “Iawait instructions: yourgruff command.”inthe To address your boss:use“Milord” or“Chieftain” as anorc, or“ready towork” inaneasygoingvillager voice To needdoing?”inaconfusedvoice, acceptwork: “Something To complain “work, aboutwork: work” grunt like anorc use: guide for office Warcraft3 workplace. Here useinthe isahandywc3 roleplay unitsin the quotes that himbyusingthe everyone irritated got ontosomeWarcraft3 instead.didnotjoinin,but Raaabo regularThe teamdeviatedabitfrom Quake3 the fare and eatherman. Weeatherman. someone hard. of“lol”used forbrother beingawesome atagame ortrolling kekekekeke: pwned. pain and/orhumiliation.Usuallyusedafteragamer hasbeen Schooled: To afteralotof get something schooledisto learn time you someone are chattingwith lingo,soyou next don’twt?the internet upto datewith Stay 1337sp33k An expression of mirth andlaughter, big Anexpression ofmirth the month’s PlayDVD. month’s isinthis updated installer MMORPG. Jum Anarchy Sci-Fi Online:Agreat Game p in with the the p inwith Escape

The Penguin is NEWS inbflat.net Growing Fat One of those websites you must visit for the sheer novelty of the idea. Inbflat.net has taken a number of videos from YouTube, has long been known as a bloated Operating and arranged them in an array. The videos are of musicians System. Those who use Linux, stand by how small and efficient the displaying their skills in different instruments. Play the videos Kernel is. However, in the most recent LinuxCon, Linux Trovalds, together, or play some of them, or play a selection at different the creator of Linux accepted that the Linux Kernel is growing to times to remix and create your own track. There are 20 videos be a bloated Operating system, and is no longer as streamlined as it to buffer, so you will need a lot of patience or a great internet used to be. In his words, Linux is now “bloated and huge”. This was connection for this to work smoothly though. in response to a question on efficiency posed by one of the officials from Novell, the company that is responsible for the SUSE Linux distro, one of the most commonly used Linux distros. Trovalds continued to state that the reason for the bloat was because of the tremendous lines of code added to the Kernel, and that it was an unavoidable artefact of the pace at which the operating system is growing. This has lead many to wonder if Linux does get adopted on a wider scale, and does eventually become more efficient and consumer friendly, then the chances are that Linux also will become an Operating System with the same number of bugs and holes as Windows. tech art: Net.Art

For those who came in late

Muddled by so many terms used in the mag? Here’s your short guide to the tech lingo

Biometric: Computer interfaces that read off humans, typically for security purposes. These can range from fingerprint recogni- tion to Iris recognition. Both the hardware as well as the software are referred to as “biometric”.

SCSI: Pronounced as “skuzzi”, an older file transfer standard meant for server hard drives, and later used for a range of I/O devices.

SAS: Serial Attached SCSI, a data transfer standard for moving data from external devices such as hard drives and tape drives, found ounly on high end boards.

SATA: Serial ATA - a standard interface between modern computers and the storage medium, replacing the older PATA connectors (Prallel ATA). This standard considerably reduced the number of pins.

Image Credit: Joachim Schmid CMOS: Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor, a proc- Net.Art is a rather strange art form, which is basically coding an ess for making integrated circuits. A CMOS sensor is a type of HTML page with irregular, illegible and often useless characters in integrated circuit with an array of light sensors, used in digital them. The lines, the letters, the numbers, radio buttons, check boxes cameras. and in some cases, the animations used are either jarring, outra- geous, or just simply strange. The reason why people indulge in this CCD: A charge-coupled device, a method in which informa- art form are various and complicated. To some people who take it at tion collected by a chip is collected. A CCD is one of the two face value, it is just something unconventional and cool. To others, it commonly used types of sensors for digital photography. is a way of questioning the establishment of the Internet, about the standards used by the browsers, or the design principles of websites. F-number: The ratio of the aperture in a lense to it’s focul Head over to http://0100101110101101.org to check some examples length. Generally, the smaller the f-number of a lens, the better. out, but don’t linger too much, or you will get a headache.

Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com 157 Community Interact with forum members and give us feedback http://www.thinkdigit.com/d/thinkdigit/oct09/

158 Digit | October 2009 | www.thinkdigit.com Community

Win! Win! Win! The September winner of Green Technology Contest was Rizwan A Salam from Trivandrum A brand new Hero Electric bike – MAXI was handed over to Rizwan A Salam by Mr. Suresh Babu, Legal Manager of Marikar Group of Companies. Take part in the Digit Festival Contest and stand a chance to win your very own MAXI. You can also win prizes everyday by answering daily ques- tions. To fi nd out how to participate in the Digit Festival Contest head over to page 141.

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