Hands on with Asus Eee PC 1000HA

The ASUS Eee PC model 1000HA (without the Wireless N and Bluetooth) was a revelation in terms of netbooks. Compared to the smaller, SSD-toting Eee PCs, this one can really be an all day machine. Costing $480 from Canada Computers - this is one netbook that can replace your laptop if you don't mind the missing optical drive and the smaller 10' inch screen. There are a number of features that make the Eee PC 1000HA a compelling netbook option. The 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor is a sprightly beast that can apparently be tuned down to 1.2Ghz on economy mode and boosted to 1.7GHz using the included Super Hybrid Engine application. Running it on power saving mode for this review was just fine. More on the Eee PC 1000HA after the Jump A tiny computer that can easily switch gears is great to have, you can downclock the processor for those long haul flights and kick it into overdrive when trying to beat a deadline or when it is plugged in. We also like the size of the keyboard which is very usable unlike other netbook keyboards which are absolute hell to type on. The keys themselves could be a bit stiffer but everything else about the keyboard is spot on except for the nagging placement of a page up button where the shift button should be. The touchpad is too sensitive and we managed to click and close browser windows we were still reading. Still it is of ample size and works well. Atom inside Running Windows XP, we popped in a 2GB RAM stick and the Eee PC seems to be snappier than a similar spec ThinkPad X60s which has a low power 1.6GHz Core Duo processor. Is the Atom Processor really that much faster? Its doubtful but we're more concerned about the battery life and the alleged 6-7 hours squeezed out of the Eee PCs 6 cell battery. We'll have more info on that as we put it through its paces. With Windows XP, this netbook runs efficiently and is fast for most uses. We threw on Google Chrome and it just flew, loading websites quickly and with minimum fuss. It is also whisper quiet, we have to glue our ears to the vents to hear if the fan is on at all. Same with the heat generation, the Atom processor seems to run cucumber cool while maintaining performance expected of its Pentium pedigree. Look and Feel Although plasticky with a godawful glossy finish, the Eee PC 1000HA feels more substantial and less toylike than the Eee 700. The 10 inch screen, I think, Is the sweet spot for actually getting stuff done. Fit and finish is not bad, nowhere near as solid as the HP netbooks but still pretty good for what you are paying for. The black model can certainly make you feel at home in a corporate setting and it could actually pass for a higher end Fujitsu or even a VAIO subnotebook. Upgrading the RAM is dead easy, two screws allow you to lift a panel that accesses the RAM (one slot only) and the Hard Drive. With the cheap cost of RAM these days, we suggest bumping up your spec to 2GB since this also shares the load of the integrated graphics card. You get three USB 2.0 ports and a card reader which we think should come standard on any notebook since its so convenient to work on your photos when you are travelling. Black Eee PC Conclusion Its hard to pry us away from our new MacBook but this Eee PC is just so darn light and such fun to use. The LED screen on this is gorgeous and makes the purchase price totally worth it. We have brightness down to 1/4 on the dial and it is still brighter than our ThinkPad on full setting. This means turning down the brightness to save battery life won't come at the cost of our eyesight. Yay! The styling is a bit fancy albeit still generic, the construction is solid enough but the battery seems not to lock into the body completely which makes it feel a tad flimsy. Still, for the price, this is one netbook we wouldn't mind taking out for lattes or to long flights. We'll have more info and photos in the coming days as we use the Asus Eee PC 1000HA as our daily driver. ---- UPDATE Read the Full Review on the Asus Eee PC 1000H here!

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Sony Reader Update

Here at the Canadian Reviewer we are big believers in the possibilities of E-ink technology and eBook and eReader devices like Sony’s Personal Reader System and Amazon’s infuriatingly Insular and unavailable Kindle. These devices do one thing simply and well, they allow you to carry and read hundreds of books in electronic format – saving entire forests of tress and cutting down substantially on packaging, transport and storage resources. We’re happy to report that Sony is taking this initiative seriously – slowly adding more content to its eReader store (still limited to US and Canada based users with stores in France and England opening up soon) and it continues to launch new devices. More on the Sony Reader after the jump. The latest Sony Reader, named the PRS-700, integrates touch controls for navigating pages, the ability to highlight text as well as make notes with a stylus. It also comes with a built in reading light which illuminates the surface in those less-than optimal lighting situations. At US $399, it is a hundred dollars more expensive than the current model, the PRS-505, which we have in our labs and have been using extensively. In other news, Amazon’s next Kindle device has been leaked in a series of pictures. The new Kindle seems to have improved on certain aspects like the built-in keyboard but is still awkward. Amazon’s big win is that its device works wirelessly so you can buy books without a computer, its biggest failure is that it is only enabled for US users so even if it has access to more books it still serves a limited amount of users and does not have a global presence. We advocate electronic books, their portability, reduced footprint and cheaper prices. We only hope this movement gains ground as people begin to see the value of eco-friendly book production.

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Nikon D60 – Prosumer and Pro Fun - Review

Nikon has been very busy these past two years securing their foothold in the consumer and prosumer DSLR market. Its popular D40 line of cameras introduced DSLR photography to legions of non-professionals and made it easy for them to take amazing photographs. More after the jump. As a replacement to the famed D40 line, the D60 offers all the benefits of the Nikon system but adds a number of fun features to make photography less technical and much more enjoyable. Nikon’s focus for this segment of the DSLR market is on creativity rather than technical expertise and we believe this will attract even more users to the D60. Rocking a 10.2 Megapixel resolution, a new lens, an innovative dual dust reduction system and enhanced performance features like an orientation sensor for horizontal/vertical shooting, the D60 is well on its way to being the new crowd favorite. Nikon listened to its users and made a list of features and improvements that went into the D60. While the camera body of the D60 is very similar past models, the included lens seems a bit bigger. This is because the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G lens now comes with vibration reduction technology that ensures fewer blurred photos and missed opportunities. There is also an eye sensor that saves the batter while the LCD turns on or off when it senses the proximity of the users eye. Fun features abound in the D60 and include a number of photo color and effect filters that simulate the more expensive screw-on versions and a stop-motion movie mode that stitches 100 JPEGs into short movies for an interesting time-lapse effect. The D60 utilizes Nikon’s aptly named EXPEED technology to maximize image quality and processing speed. The camera also offers creative features that are designed to allow the optimization and adjustment of images without the need for a computer. Image optimization is achieved through functions like Active D-Lighting (which compensates for strong shadows), and the automatic correction of false eye color when using the built-in flash. With its software, Nikon has essentially removed the tedious process of altering images with programs like Adobe Photoshop and given users the ability to create interesting images on the camera before they even reach a computer. We have used the Nikon D60 and its sibling, the D40 here at The Canadian Reviewer for the past two weeks and love the ease of use, sturdy build quality and the amazing pictures we've been able to take. The D60 is a very capable DSLR which is thoroughly enjoyable to use and is perfect for those who are seriously considering getting into DSLR photography for the first time. The D40 may be simpler but it would be a better choice for a first time DLSR buyer. Black's Photography recently had the D40 body on sale for $329. Canadian - a great bargain for a great camera. Inheriting a lot of the technology found on more expensive DLSRs, the Nikon entry level DSLRs D40 and the D60 offer first time buyers a great package and many easy ways to take amazing pictures while learning the intricacies of DSLR photography.

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Cloud Computing and the NetBook Phenomenon - Analysis

The concept of cloud computing has been around ever since the Internet has been able to virtualize applications and software. The big idea is that you no longer need a power hungry or high-spec PC or notebook to be productive since your storage, applications and files can “live” on the Internet. Applications like web based email (Yahoo, Hotmail, Gmail) and Google Docs, which clones he functionality of Microsoft Office but which requires you to be connected to the Internet in order to use it, are ushering a new era of cloud computing which is less hardware focused yet offers universal access from any terminal connected to the World Wide Web. In theory, you don’t have to bring all your files with you since you can access them from almost any computer. Continue reading after the jump! Aside from Google, whose Google Docs and Google Calendar web applications enable web based usability, a number of other notable services are starting to spring up. Adobe, considered a software giant specially since it owns the premium design and web development applications Photoshop, Flash and Dreamweaver has recently unvelied Photoshop Express (https://www.photoshop.com/express/landing.html) which is a pared-down, web based version of the popular image editing and design application that allows users to edit images online. Multiple Access Points One of the more exciting benefits of the Cloud computing model is that you can use your applications from multiple workstations and still have the desired results. As anyone who frequently moves computers will tell you, transferring files and applications and getting them to work on your new system can be a pain. With the cloud computing model, the Internet is your computer and the hardware you use are just the terminals that allow you to manipulate your information. I have been using web based email for years. It has enabled me to avoid cluttering up my PCs with possible viruses as well as gigabytes worth of spam. At the same time, I can freely move from home to work computer without fearing the loss of data (provided that nothing happens to the server where all my mail is located). Similarly, using web based photo repositories like Photobucket and Flickr.com enables users to keep thousands of digital images and photos that can be accessed from any computer connected to the Internet. EEE PC Ripple Effect If you had told me three years ago that we would have affordable yet functional sub-notebooks which were less than three pounds and that could manage most applications I wouldn’t have believed you. Sub-notebooks are considered the sportscar exotics of the portable computer world. They are certainly sexy and put a premium on form but have been known to be impractical because of their lack of functionality and their hefty price tags. Asus has changed the game with their EEE PC subnotebook, a cheaper, Linux powered subnotebook that is an ideal cloud computing appliance. Here’s a small, wireless and truly portable device that can integrate with most of the web services out there and in a short period of time a number of EEE PC wannabees have surfaced on the market. Like Asus, HP, Illus, MSI and a few other computer makers are trading optical drives, large disk capacity and girth for portability and connectivity. These are the signs of a revolution in the making which can perhaps be more successful than the UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) tablets from a few years ago which failed to impact the mainstream for lack of functionality and for their high prices. Why are the EEE PC and its ilk stirring excitement, because their built in keyboards make them useful and acceptable in both the personal computing and enterprise markets as true computers and business machines. Something that toylike UMPCs have struggled with and with good reason. Pushing technologies to the Cloud For cloud computing to move from novel concept to wave of the future, a number of technologies have to first evolve. Widespread Internet access needs to become more accessible and more affordable. City wide Wi-Fi (WIMAX) has been on the radar for four years now but no major developments have pushed it forth. There’s 3G, EVDO, HSDPA, satellite and telecom-based Internet access but they are expensive for the general public to adopt and more suited towards time-critical business applications. Offer better and cheaper wireless Internet and you will see Cloud Computing take off and devices like the EEE PC and even smartphones like Apple’s iPhone become much more than than sleek tech toys but actual personal productivity and communication devices for a new age.

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